As I start writing tonight’s update at 7:25 PM EST/2:25 AM local time in Ukraine, air raid alerts for drone swarms are up over all of eastern Ukraine.
Today was what is likely to be the final Ukrainian Contact Group meeting at Ramstein AFB in Germany.
⚡️Zelensky joins Ramstein summit in Germany.
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the Ramstein airbase in Germany on Jan. 9 to take part in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 9, 2025 at 6:06 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the Ramstein airbase in Germany on Jan. 9, delivering an opening address to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting.
Zelensky is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings during the summit, which will be the last gathering in this format before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
“It’s clear that a new chapter starts for Europe and the entire world just 11 days from now, when we have to cooperate even more, rely on each other even more, and achieve greater results together,” Zelensky said in his opening address alongside outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Trump’s imminent return to the White House has caused concern about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine, as the president-elect has often criticized the Biden administration’s assistance provided to Kyiv.
During the meeting, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a $500 million aid package for Ukraine, including air defense missiles, ammunition, and equipment for F-16 fighter jets.
Around $3.8 billion remains allocated under the presidential drawdown authority (PDA), leaving it uncertain whether Trump will continue using this tool to funnel arms to Ukraine.
Speaking at the meeting, Zelensky urged the allies not to relent in helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.
“We’ve come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now and not keep building on the defense coalitions we’ve created,” the president noted.
The UDCG comprises 57 countries, including all 32 NATO members, and was formed in April 2022 to coordinate international support for Ukraine. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz implied earlier this week that the Jan. 9 meeting might be the last one in the current format.
Zelensky highlighted bilateral security agreements Ukraine has concluded with individual countries and called on allies to invest in Ukraine’s defense industry, namely in developing drone capabilities.
Ukraine’s head of state further pointed to Russian hybrid operations targeting NATO countries, mentioning recent reports of damaged undersea cables or “destabilization efforts in Africa.”
“We are also learning more about how Russian intelligence paid militants in Afghanistan to target coalition soldiers when your troops were present there… American soldiers, NATO country soldiers. How can this be forgiven or forgotten?” Zelensky asked.
The Insider recently published an investigation into Russian military intelligence (GRU) allegedly paying off terrorist groups in Afghanistan to attack coalition soldiers. Trump, who was president when the U.S. intelligence pointing to Russian-sponsored killings surfaced in 2020, was at the time criticized for inaction and for doubting the reports.
🔥”Ukraine has effectively destroyed two-thirds of Russia’s military resources.” – U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during a press conference following “Ramstein-25.”
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 1:20 PM
And yet the Russians are not slowing down, nor stopping. Either the assessments Secretary Austin are getting from DIA are wrong or the entire sanctions regime has failed to stop Russia from acquiring new military resources. Given that DIA stands for Do It Again…
Here is the video of President Zelenskyy’s address at the contact group meeting today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
When We Come and Belong Together – No One Is Too Small to Make a Real Impact on History – Speech by the President at the Ramstein Meeting
9 January 2025 – 15:49
Thank you very much!
Thank you for your words, strong words about our people and about us.
Thank you very much, Secretary!
And I’m grateful to you, for your personal leadership during all these years and your personal involvement, and the United States for coordinating this format and working together with us since the start of the full-scale war.
Minister Pistorius, I dearly appreciate your help and Germany’s impactful support for all our people, for Ukraine.
Ladies and gentlemen! Dear our friends!
It’s clear that a new chapter starts for Europe and the entire world – just 11 days from now, a time when we have to cooperate even more, rely on one another even more, and achieve even greater results together. And I see this as a time of opportunities.
And in almost three years of full-scale war, we’ve shown that when we come and belong together – no one is too small to make a real impact on history. And we’ve come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now and not keep building on the defense coalitions we’ve created – especially since they’re already helping us grow and strengthen what’s basically our shared defense power. No matter what’s going on in the world, everyone wants to feel sure that their country will not just be erased off the map. That used to depend on a handful of big capitals, but now it’s on all of us – on how we work together, how ready we are to own our future, and how well we can convince our partners to stand with us. The more determination we show in defending our interests – the more interest our partners, and especially the U.S., will see it’s good to stay on our side.
Yesterday I held a special meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff. And the focus was on the production and supply of drones for our soldiers, for our army and electronic warfare.
Drones are something that has already changed the nature of war, and the changes are far from over. Today, there is a direct dependence – to stop the advance of the enemy, to stop losing people and territories we need drones. Drones deter the enemy – keep them at the distance. It can be done. Production of drones in Ukraine is more cost-effective than anywhere else. This year, we in Ukraine want to set a record for the number and quality of drones we produce and get from our partners. And we’re focusing on drones that our brigades need to hold the front lines, and drones essential for ensuring security like maritime drones, and drones made for deep strikes on the enemy’s military facilities and infrastructure in their territory. We’ve already signed a significant number of contracts, with many more still in the works. I urge all of you to get even more actively involved in building up this arsenal of drones. Ukrainians have the most experience in Europe with using drones, and we also have the biggest capacity in Europe to produce drones. So, first, please invest more in this Ukrainian strength, because after the war it will also be your strength. Second, invest in the talented people in your countries who can help make all of us stronger in the drone field.
Next.
With most of the countries represented here, we already have bilateral security cooperation. I’m grateful to those countries with which we’ve signed bilateral security agreements – 27 of them as of today. And fully implementing these agreements is a real contribution not only to our security in Ukraine but also to your security.
But we are a bigger number here in Ramstein. Much bigger. Let’s pull our strength together and make such agreements with all the participants. And I’m asking my Minister of Defense to work with the Secretary and with all the ministers to increase the number of these documents, of course, if partners will support this idea. And I know that it will strengthen our frontline, and it will protect, which is very, very important especially in winter, it will protect our energy sector too – not only in Ukraine but also in your lands. It will boost the security programs. And now we see all the reports with underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. And we all see drone incidents in some countries that are raising serious concerns. We see destabilization in Africa, which threatens Europe with new migration waves. And we’re also learning more about how Russian intelligence paid militants in Afghanistan to target coalition soldiers when your troops were present there – Moscow cashed in to kill your soldiers – American soldiers, NATO countries soldiers. How can this be forgiven or forgotten?
Russia’s hybrid aggression and sabotage against the entire Western world is ongoing, and only by keeping and strengthening our cooperation, by boosting our agreements and coalitions can we truly protect the normal lives of people in all our countries.
I do everything I can to end this war with dignity for Ukraine and all of Europe this year. And I know I can count on your support. And we all must remember that ending the war is our shared goal – our, not Russia’s, it’s what Ukrainians, Europeans, Americans, and many of our global partners want. Countries as far apart as Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina also wish us peace. But here is the thing – Putin is not just holding on to his investments in aggression, he’s doubling down. He’s even started, basically, hiring soldiers from North Korea to keep this war going. North Korea studies modern warfare. They do not value their people, and we know it, they lose them – 4,000 as for today. But Pyongyang gets experience cheap to re-export the war, maybe there in the Indo-Pacific.
At the same time, this collusion with North Korea shows Putin’s weakness – because no ruler in Moscow would ever lower themselves to beg in Pyongyang unless facing critical problems. So we’ve got to keep the pressure on Russia. That’s what ensures our soldiers get the weapons they need. That’s what sanctions are for. And I’m asking all our partners – especially the U.S. and the EU – to turn up the heat on Russia’s energy sector. Sanctions are needed against every element of Russian energy, and the Russian tanker fleet must be stopped. Russia’s war budget for 2025 is 25% bigger than last year’s. If we want to stop the killing, we’ve got to cut off Putin’s cash flow. Putin will start thinking about peace only when his inner circle tells him he’s out of money.
And one more thing. The key to resisting aggression is motivation. And we know it. Motivation to risk your life to save your country. But motivation needs fuel, and the best fuel is success – I mean successful actions, successful agreements. When our troops can shoot down Russian missiles, including ballistic ones, and keep Russian aircraft away from Ukraine, it provides the motivation we desperately need. And we’ve had talks with the U.S. about licensing the production of air defense systems and missiles here in Ukraine, and this could become a significant part of our security guarantees – and it’s absolutely doable. But we must keep in mind that the last NATO Summit promises haven’t been fulfilled yet – we need, very much, we need the air defense systems you gave us already, thank you so much, and we need very much the systems you promised us. You’ve seen what happened yesterday in our city of Zaporizhzhia – Russia’s bombs killed 13 people, 112 were injured. That was just one day, just one attack, one strike from the air. We must stop Russia’s terror. And you can do it. And we ask for urgent deliveries of air defense systems.
We also need to deliver on all our agreements for frontline supplies. And I want to thank again every country helping us with artillery, armored vehicles, and everything else we need. Our men and women on the frontlines need to feel that the world has their back, and nothing proves that better than making sure they have what they need to hit back at Russian attacks.
Last year France came up with the idea to deploy partners’ contingents in Ukraine, and you know it – to make peace closer. And we all understand – as for today, Putin’s aims remain unchanged. And he wants to totally destroy Ukraine – and to break all of us and you too. That’s why our goal is to find as many instruments as possible to force Russia into peace. I believe that such deployment of partners’ contingents is one of the best instruments. Let’s be more practical in making it possible. And we’ve heard signals also from some of our partners, from the United Kingdom – in support of this. And we must be brave, and we must propose truly strong instruments. Take, for example, the Kursk operation – it’s one of our wins, I think one of the biggest wins, not just last year, but throughout the war. Russia had to pull almost 60,000 troops off the Ukrainian front to deal with it. And as of this Monday, it’s been five months since our troops have maintained a buffer zone on Russian territory. Many of Russia’s threats and bold claims turned out to be bluffing – especially after Ukrainians moved into the Kursk region. And I’m sure even more of their threats will prove to be bluffs if we all work even harder together to push Russia toward peace.
Thank you for your attention. Thank you, Secretary! Stay confident.
Слава Україні!
“The whole [Trump] team is obsessed with strength and looking strong, so they’re recalibrating the Ukraine approach,” said one of the officials.
— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 1:07 PM
From The Financial Times:
US president-elect Donald Trump has pushed back his campaign pledge to end the war in Ukraine in “24 hours” to several months, in a shift European partners have interpreted as a sign that his administration will not immediately abandon support for Kyiv.
Two European officials told the Financial Times that discussions with Trump’s incoming team in recent weeks revealed they had not yet decided on how to solve the conflict, and that support to Ukraine would continue after the US president’s inauguration on January 20.
“The whole [Trump] team is obsessed with strength and looking strong, so they’re recalibrating the Ukraine approach,” said one of the officials.
The incoming administration was also wary of comparisons being made with Joe Biden’s calamitous US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which was something the Trump camp would not like to see repeated in Ukraine, the official added.
Trump earlier this week suggested that “six months” was a more realistic target to end the war. His appointee as special envoy for the war in Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, told Fox News on Wednesday that the aim was to stop the conflict in “100 days”.
“I would like to set a goal on a personal and professional level — I would set it at 100 days and move all the way back,” Kellogg told Fox News when asked about a Ukraine peace deal. “And figure a way we can do this in the near term, to make sure the solution is solid and it’s sustainable and that this war ends so that we stop the carnage.”
European leaders and officials have been making the case to Trump and his team that continued US military aid is needed to put Kyiv in a stronger position for peace talks and help bring Moscow to the negotiating table, nearly three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
French officials said last month that strengthening Ukraine’s position on the battlefield meant stopping Russia’s advances in the east of the country because there would be no talks if Moscow was still taking territory.
Washington’s continued military support is crucial for Ukraine’s defence, even as European nations have also contributed with armament and a significant financial lifeline to Kyiv.
More at the link.
As someone who has been doing martial arts for almost forty years and teaching them for over twenty, I will say that people obsessed with strength and looking strong are weak.
The EU response:
⚡️EU ready to lead in Ukraine support if US steps back, chief diplomat says.
The European Union is prepared to take a leading role in supporting Ukraine if U.S. backing wanes, EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Jan. 9 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
kyivindependent.com/eu-ready-to-…
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 9, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Here are the details from The Kyiv Independent:
The European Union is prepared to take a leading role in supporting Ukraine if U.S. backing wanes, EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Jan. 9 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, German media outlet Tagesschau reported.
“If the United States is not ready for it, the European Union is ready to take the lead,” Kallas said.
President-elect Donald Trump and his team have expressed skepticism about the ongoing financial U.S. support for Ukraine. Michael Waltz, Trump’s incoming national security advisor, said on Dec. 15 that “a blank check… just isn’t a strategy.”
Kallas emphasized that, regardless of leadership, the U.S. has “no interest in Russia being the strongest power in the world.”
A report by The Wall Street Journal indicated that Trump’s team may propose delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership by 20 years in exchange for Western arms supplies and European peacekeepers to oversee a ceasefire with Russia. Trump has pledged to bring a swift end to the war but has yet to provide detailed plans for achieving peace.
Very revealing charts. If the UK was included (it’s EU27 only) then it’d be sat comfortable above the line, of course.
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Norway:
🇳🇴 Norway to allocate over €2 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2025 – Ukraine’s defence minister
— Ukrainska Pravda 🇺🇦 (@pravda.ua) January 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Norway and Denmark:
⚡️ Denmark, Norway to buy $183 million in arms for Kyiv from Ukrainian manufacturers in 2025.
Denmark has reserved $139 million for further purchases under the “Danish model,” buying arms for Ukraine directly from Ukrainian arms manufacturers. Norway is expected to contribute another $44 million.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 9, 2025 at 8:58 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Denmark and Norway are expected to spend 178 million euros ($183 million) on arms purchases from Ukrainian manufacturers in 2025, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on Jan. 9.
Denmark has reserved 135 million euros ($139 million) for further purchases under the “Danish model,” buying arms for Ukraine directly from Ukrainian arms manufacturers. Norway is expected to contribute another 43 million euros ($44 million) to this initiative.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have already received weapons worth almost 538 million euros ($554 million) through direct purchases from Ukraine’s defense industry, according to the ministry.
The sources of funding were 390 million euros ($402 million) in proceeds from frozen Russian assets, 125 million euros ($129 million) from the Danish government through the Danish National Ukraine Fund, 20 million euros ($21 million) from Sweden, and another 2.7 million euros ($2.8 million) from Iceland.
At the end of September 2024, Denmark announced it would invest 4.2 billion Danish kroner ($630 million) in the Ukrainian defense industry. Denmark is the first country with which Ukraine has started joint weapons production, as President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Danish funds were used to purchase domestically made arms, such as the Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems capable of firing 155 mm NATO-standard shells.
Lithuania has also adopted the Danish model for Ukraine. It will invest 10 million euros ($10.3 million) in producing the Ukrainian long-range drone-missile Palianytsia.
Canada:
⚡️Canada to allocate $305 million in military assistance to Ukraine.
Canada has pledged $305 million (CAD $440 million) in additional military assistance to Ukraine, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Jan. 9.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 9, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The announcement includes $138 million (CAD $200 million) allocated to Czechia’s initiative for procuring and delivering large-calibre ammunition to Ukraine.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 9, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Georgia:
🗣️”Just one small but big correction that I have to bring to your presentation: I’m not the former president, I am the only legitimate president of #Georgia even today, despite the pretensions of the ruling party to have a new president”,
Salome Zourabichvili at the Hudson Institute conference.— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 9, 2025 at 11:52 AM
According to Salome Zourabishvili, she will attend Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20 and hold high-level meetings in Washington. No representatives of Georgian Dream have been invited to Donald Trump’s inauguration.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 5:22 AM
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 43
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Day 43 🇬🇪🇪🇺. Tbilisi’s Rustaveli avenue is filled with Georgian protesters again.
We demand:
1. New free and fair elections
2. Release of political prisoners
#GeorgiaProtests #Tbilisi— Gocha Gogsadze (@gochag.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM
#GeorgiaProtests activists in #Zugdidi have refused to comply with the Georgian Dream’s new law banning face coverings for protesters, despite facing fines of 2,000 GEL or more each time. They say they have already been charged multiple times for wearing balaclavas.
🧷 batumelebi.ge/news/557877/— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 9, 2025 at 10:40 AM
I can’t think of any state in Europe after 1989 that required a full and complete rebuilding of every single institution from scratch.
That is Georgia now. I feel like we have no state. We have a territory on which we exist. Only it’s worse really, 1/— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 4:53 AM
because at least on a territory you are free to start crafting, while here and now we first have to defeat a hostile takeover. It’s a weird feeling really, having to watch your state crush against the rock bottom and the pieces not even being worth picking up to save them for later. 2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 4:53 AM
An encouraging part is that Georgia already crafted itself once from scratch in 2004-2006. We have an experience in doing the impossible. And we will, I am sure, once these occupiers are unseated, because the public is so ahead of the so-called “elites.” 3/3.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 4:53 AM
I can think of one state in North American that requires a “full and compete rebuilding of every single institution from scratch.”
Back to Ukraine.
Here’s the final butcher’s bill from yesterday’s attack in Zaporizhzhia:
The number of injured in russian aerial attack on Zaporizhzhia has risen to 116!
13 civilians were killed.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 8:27 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Editor’s Note: The story was updated to include the latest information about the Russian attack.
Russian forces targeted an industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia on Jan. 8, killing 13 people and injuring 122, including a child, according to State Emergency Service. Search and rescue operations have now been completed.
At least 59 people have been hospitalized, with 10 in critical condition, Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov reported in the morning on Jan. 9. The attack was conducted using KAB-guided bombs, Fedorov said.
According to the National Police, the bombs exploded among a crowd of people between the infrastructure facility’s administrative building and the road.
The attack damaged apartment buildings, an industrial facility, and other infrastructure. A tram and a minibus carrying passengers were also hit, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.Four administrative buildings and 27 cars were damaged, the State Emergency Service said.
The attack is part of a broader wave of Russian assaults across Ukraine. Regional authorities reported at least two civilian deaths and 13 injuries nationwide over the past day.
Overnight, Russia launched 64 Shahed-type attack drones and various dummy drones across Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Air defenses intercepted 41 drones over nine oblasts. Of the remaining drones, 22 dummy drones were lost in Ukrainian airspace, three returned to Russia, and one flew to Belarus.
The Kursk cross border offensive:
Russian BM-21 Grad MLRS destroyed by FPV drone strike on the Kursk front. t.me/rozvidka_noe…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Units of the 47th Brigade “Mahura” repelled a massive Russian assault in the Kursk region.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 5:29 AM
⚡️Ukraine’s 47th Brigade releases video of ‘massive’ Russian attack repelled in Kursk Oblast.
Russia deployed “a huge number of soldiers,” with Ukrainian forces killing 45 troops and injuring 53, Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade claimed.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 9, 2025 at 7:53 AM
The Kyiv Independent has the details:
Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade said on Jan. 9 that it had, together with other units, repelled a “massive” Russian assault in the embattled Kursk Oblast, releasing footage of the engagement.
The report came days after Ukraine reportedly launched renewed offensive operations in Kursk Oblast, which is seen as a crucial bargaining chip for potential peace negotiations. Almost 50 Russian ground assaults were repelled in Kursk Oblast over the past day, the General Staff said.
The Russian attack reportedly involved about 50 vehicles, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and buggies.
According to the brigade, Russian troops initially tried to demine the approaches to Ukrainian positions and attacked in six waves. Russia deployed “a huge number of soldiers,” with Ukrainian forces killing 45 troops and injuring 53, the military claimed.
“Tanks, BMP-2, BMD, APCs (armored personnel carriers), buggies and Lancets — our soldiers and comrades burned Russian equipment worth tens of millions of dollars,” the brigade said.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
No further details on the attack were disclosed. The Russian military has not commented on Ukraine’s claim.
Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale operation in Kursk Oblast in early August, allegedly capturing up to 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian soil. Since then, Russia has deployed reinforcements — including North Korean soldiers — in the area and reportedly retook around half of the lost territory.
Something is burning heavily on the border of the Starooskolsky district and the Kursk region. Meanwhile, Russian public pages reported a drone attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, claiming their air defense shot down all targets. Debris fell on an enterprise, causing a fire.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Kherson:
Russian troops dropped 4 aerial guided bombs on Kherson today.
💔9 injured
🛑39 residential buildings
🛑a kindergarten
🛑a factory
🛑a garage
🛑a collegeDamaged
📸Olexandr Andryushchenko @Vgoru
— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Russia launched an airstrike on residential neighborhoods in Kherson in broad daylight.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Vovchansk:
What remains of Vovchansk is russia’s signature — ruins and death.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The Serebryansk Forest:
Tank crews of the 63rd Brigade are attacking enemy positions in the Serebrianske Forest.
Fire is being directed at the Russians from a distance of up to 100 meters.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Kupiansk:
⚡️ Russian forces 2 km from Kupiansk’s outskirts, official says.
The situation in the town is “very difficult,” Andrii Besedin, head of the Kupiansk town military administration, said.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 9, 2025 at 7:04 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
The key northeastern Ukrainian town of Kupiansk now lies only 2 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the front line as Russian troops sustain their attacks, Andrii Besedin, head of the Kupiansk town military administration, said on national television on Jan. 9.
Russian troops ramped up their efforts near Kupiansk last September and approached its industrial outskirts in the northeast. Ukrainian forces repelled several Russian attempts at entering the town throughout December.
“The situation is very difficult; the front line is 2 kilometers from the town’s outskirts. Russia is constantly attempting to attack,” Besedin said.
The Russian army also conducted 12 attacks on Jan. 8 in the direction of the settlements of Holubivka and Petropavlika, located nearly 6 kilometers (3 miles) from Kupiansk, according to Besedin.
Russian troops are trying to reach the main Svatove-Kupiansk highway to enter the eastern part of the town, Besedin added.
“The situation is very difficult and threatens the Kupiansk and Vovchansk sectors (of the front line). Russia is trying to gain a foothold in the town of Dvorichna, on the western bank of the Oskil (River). If they manage to transfer equipment to the western bank, there will be a threat of a rear attack in the Vovchansk sector and Kupiansk,” he said.
Besedin added that residents of the Kupiansk community, despite the poor infrastructure, are not in a hurry to evacuate. On average, only five people leave the community’s 12 settlements per day.
Some 900 people, primarily elderly, remain in the eastern part of the community and firmly refuse to be evacuated, according to the local military administration.
Kharkiv:
Today’s sunset in Kharkiv
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Kherson Oblast:
Volunteer Pavlik Kyliushyk delivered gifts to one of the most dangerous villages in Kherson region. Children were beyond overjoyed because they have seen anyone coming to this area for a long time. So todays word is дякую Thank you❤️
— Sofia (@sofiaukraini.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 7:27 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
@patron__dsns Сьогодні день народження у моєї людської мами 👩🏼❤️🐶 Вона часто каже, що головне – це робити світ кращим. І я бачу, як вона це робить. Тихенько, без галасу. Іноді зовсім не думає про себе, забуває поїсти чи відпочити. Але завжди думає про інших. Про тих, хто поруч, і тих, кого ніколи не бачила. Про мене, бо «а поміряй ще ось цей комбінезон, здається, він трохи тепліший». І про безпритульних тваринок, яких годує і прилаштовує в родини (а коли ніхто не хоче брати, то прилаштовує у нашу, в село до Михайлових батьків). Про дітей, які майже живуть у лікарнях, і дітей, які не мають сімʼї. Про людей, які захищають нас. І про тих, кого вона рятує у своїй роботі. Її серце — це цілий всесвіт, у якому для всіх є місце. Якщо б я міг загадати одне-єдине бажання, то хотів, щоб вона була щаслива. Безумовно, до кінчиків своїх мрій. Щоб вона ходила на улюблені вистави і усміхалася так, як тільки вона вміє. Щоб прокидалась вранці і пила свою каву не поспішаючи. Я знаю, що її щастя відчув би увесь світ, бо у ньому нарешті все стало на свої місця: припинились війни, усі вуличні тваринки були ситими та мали дім. Скрізь панувала б справедливіть, а діти ніколи не хворіли. Бо щастя моєї мами залежить від щастя інших. Ось тому воно таке потрібне та важливе. І ще, бо я її люблю ❤️ Коли вона гладить мене, я думаю: «Як добре, що ти тут. Як добре, що у мене є ти. Як добре, що ти взагалі існуєш. Бо без тебе було б… порожньо. От наче все є, але немає найважливішого». Але якби мами не було, то я б всеодно її знайшов. Бо у мене чудовий нюх і я вмію шукати. Хочете знати, як вона пахне? Іноді квітами, іноді землею, іноді фрикадельковим супом, та завжди — найчудовішою жінкою у світі ❤️ І цей запах я не сплутаю ні з чим! І якщо ви зараз читаєте цей допис, то чим він не привід зателефонувати своїй мамі і сказати, як сильно ви її любите? Чи приїхати до неї і міцно обійняти. Бо у вас теж найкращі мами, я знаю 🥹 Моя мама вже лизь отримала, то передаю ще й вашим 👅
Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
Today is my human mother’s birthday 👩🏼❤️🐶 She often says that the main thing is to make the world a better place. And I see her doing it. Quietly, without noise. Sometimes she doesn’t think about herself at all, forgets to eat or relax. But she always thinks about others. About those who are nearby and those whom I have never seen. About me, because “measure this overalls again, it seems to be a little warmer.” And about homeless animals, which she feeds and places in families (and when no one wants to take, she places in our village with Mykhailo’s parents). About children who almost live in hospitals and children who do not have a family. About people who protect us. And about those whom she saves in her work. Her heart is a whole universe in which there is a place for everyone. If I could make a single wish, I wanted her to be happy. Certainly, to the ends of your dreams. So that she goes to her favorite performances and smiles as soon as she knows how. To wake up in the morning and drink her coffee slowly. I know that her happiness would be felt by the whole world, because everything in her finally fell into place: the wars stopped, all the street animals were full and had a home. Justice would reign everywhere, and children would never get sick. Because my mother’s happiness depends on the happiness of others. That is why it is so necessary and important. And also, because I love her ❤️ When she strokes me, I think, “It’s good that you’re here. It’s good that I have you. It’s good that you even exist. Because without you it would be… empty. It’s as if everything is there, but there is no most important thing.” But if my mother wasn’t there, I would still find her. Because I have a great sense of smell and I know how to search. Want to know how it smells? Sometimes with flowers, sometimes with earth, sometimes with meatball soup, and always with the most wonderful woman in the world ❤️ And I will not confuse this smell with anything! And if you are reading this post now, why is she not a reason to call your mother and say how much you love her? Or come to her and hug her tightly. Because you also have the best mothers, I know 🥹 My mother has already received a lick, so I will also pass it on to yours 👅
Open thread!
frog
Is it a “Contract” group meeting (from the posting title), or a “Contact” group?
KatKapCC
Well, knock me over with a feather.
And if Trump wants to be on the side of strength, Ukraine has it ten-fold over Russia. Perhaps not in certain technical senses, but in moral, emotional, and humane ways, it is simply not a question.
Adam L Silverman
@frog: Fat fingered typo. Fixed.
YY_Sima Qian
@KatKapCC: That’s probably a good thing. No way a “peace settlement” on such a short timeline would have been favorable or just for Ukraine.
Adam L Silverman
@YY_Sima Qian: Ain’t going to be a peace settlement. I didn’t have time to run down the actual source, but apparently Peskov came out with new demands from Putin on what it would take to reach a negotiated settlement. They are even more maximalist than the previous maximalist ones.
KatKapCC
@Adam L Silverman: Quelle surprise.
Gin & Tonic
@KatKapCC: I’m probably not going to find it again, but a few days ago I saw a Twitter thread pointing out in a fair degree of detail how Ukraine fulfills almost all of MAGA’s stated ideals. I obviously didn’t agree with every point, but it was an interesting take, and did not essentially distort the situation on the ground (IIRC the author was an American but living in Ukraine.)
KatKapCC
@Gin & Tonic: Yeah! It’s also baffled me how so many Maga idiots idolize Putin over Zelensky, when the latter is so much closer to their (admittedly silly) notions about what a tough masculine man is like. I mean, sure, he’s on the shorter side, but he’s gotten himself jacked since the full-scale war started, he’s undaunted even by assassination attempts and threats, firm in his convictions, unafraid of seemingly anything, stayed in his country rather than flee to safer places, constantly visits front line areas, etc etc. Meanwhile Putin’s aging ass looks like half-melted silly putty, sits at a table half a mile long to avoid germs, rarely seems to venture outside his comfort zone. I know people like to claim he’s some martial arts whiz, but forgive me if I don’t necessarily believe that, considering anyone he would fight would probably be in fear for their life if they bested him.
YY_Sima Qian
@Adam L Silverman: That’s why I had “peace settlement” in quotation marks. Putin has every incentive to drag the attritional warfare on & on, to see if Europe eventually fractures on supporting Ukraine, & if Trump helps to deliver him a win.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
YY_Sima Qian
@Gin & Tonic:
@KatKapCC:
At its core, MAGA is all about asserting displays of domination over foreigners & domestic enemies, asserting the most primitive & naked kind of primacy/hegemony (w/o the liberal veneer of “liberal internationalism”) – absolute dominance in its sphere of influence (i.e., the “Donroe Doctrine”) & exploitation in the ROW, Herrenvolk ethno-nationalism & oppression (& ruthless exploitation) of minorities, unapologetic kleptocracy & plutocracy for the domestic economy.
All of these make them simpatico w/ the likes of Putin, Orban & Modi, certainly not Zelenskyy.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Gerashchenko_en/status/1877248956016546270#m
Jay
@YY_Sima Qian:
The “Ukraine is MAGA” point that was made, was that all the stated cultural, religious, traditionalist, economic, family “values” that MAGgAt’s claim to value, are core to Ukrainian Society.
That MAGgAt’s prefer Putin and ruZZia, shows that your list, is actually their only values.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Gerashchenko_en/status/1877423263137280089#m
Apparently, there are 8 ships so far, sitting off the Coast near Tartus.
While ruZZia can evacuate people and some equipment from the airbase, most of the equipment needs to be shipped by sea.
Could wind up being a windfall for the Syrians.
Adam L Silverman
@KatKapCC: Zelenskyy is Jewish. Putin has spent 20 plus years pushing the agitprop that he and Russia are the last defenders of white Christendom.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: The Israelis will blow it up. Like they did with the Syrian naval assets three weeks ago. Which is why the new government wants to hang on to this stuff.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
wjca
I’m not sure how to go about it. But suppose someone gets thru to Trump that he will look weak, specifically weak compared to Biden, if he cuts support for Ukraine. Whereas he can look macho if he ramps up US support.
US support for Ukraine might just jump. Especially since he can still brag that he’s not sending any troops. He could even cut troop levels in places in Europe where he claims the government isn’t paying its share, just to make himself feel better.
Admittedly, whether that is even possible depends on what leverage Putin has over Trump.
YY_Sima Qian
@wjca: Trump is the kind of wild card where he could completely abandon Ukraine, or blunder into a nuclear war w/ Russia.
On 2nd thought, he probably would fold against Putin long before it gets to the latter situation.
Eric NNY
Why is a bomb-sniffing JRT making me cry? Wow.