(Image by NEIVANMADE)
A quick housekeeping note. It’s been a long and very draining week. I’m fading fast, so I’m just going to run through the basics and then go and rack out.
Russia unleashed a drone swarm on several parts of Ukraine, including Kyiv, overnight/early this morning. Right now, at 8:00 PM EST/3:00 AM local time in Ukraine, air raid alerts are up for most of central Ukraine from another set of drone threats.
While Ukraine targets oil refineries to stop russia’s war machine, russia targets homes to stop hearts. Last night, russian drones killed three civilians in Kyiv Oblast.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 4:16 AM
WARNING!! WARNING!! GRAPHIC CONTENT!! WARNING!! WARNING!!
russia killed 3 people in the Kyiv region last night.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 7:18 AM
All Clear!!
Here are the details from The Kyiv Independent:
Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least six people and injured at least nine over the past day, regional authorities reported on Jan. 24.
Russia launched 58 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.
Twenty-five drones were shot down over seven oblasts, while 27 were lost in the airspace without causing damage, according to the statement.
Drone attacks in Kyiv Oblast killed three civilians and injured a 26-year old man, the regional police department said. Two of the people killed in the attacks were a married couple in Brovary and another man in the Fastiv district, according to the State Emergency Service.
Russian attacks against Donetsk Oblast over the past day killed two people and injured five, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.
Two civilians were killed and two injured in an attack against the city of Kostiantynivka, two were injured in Kramatorsk, and one in Pokrovsk, according to the statement.
In Kharkiv Oblast, a 54-year-old woman was killed in a drone attack against the village of Petropavlivka, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Three civilians were injured in Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast, said the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin. Two apartment buildings and nine houses were damaged.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
“Shahed” Strikes on Houses in Brovary and Hlevakha – These Are Drones Already Produced in Russia – Address by the President
24 January 2025 – 21:38
Dear Ukrainians!
Key points of the day.
Today’s night and morning were devoted to rescue operations after a Russian drone attack. In total, over 50 drones of various types were involved, and a significant portion of them was shot down. However, there were still several hits. Tragically, people were killed. my condolences. these “Shahed” strikes on houses in Brovary and Hlevakha – these are drones already produced in Russia. Initially, Iran transferred ready-made “Shahed” drones to Russia, but later they mastered their own production in Tatarstan – one of the national territories that Moscow still controls. And although these “Shahed” drones are technically Russian, they still could not have been produced there without foreign supplies. Every such “Shahed”, like every Russian missile, is built using foreign components – critical components without which Russian terror would be impossible. Thirty-one “Shahed” drones last night means approximately 2635 components from other countries: chips, switches, transceivers. All supplies of any components for terror to Russia must be cut off to stop this terror. And this applies not only to protecting lives in Ukraine. Right now, Russian “Shahed” drones are hitting our people’s homes and infrastructure, but at any moment, the Russians can move the terror to any other country – wherever they are ordered to. And now different countries are already facing incidents with drones on their territories; while everyone in the world has already seen how warfare is changing due to drones. We must consciously and fundamentally deprive regimes like Russia of such terrorist capabilities. And absolutely all those who help Russia develop its terrorist potential, circumvent sanctions, and build weapons production facilities – they all must be held accountable.
And today I would also like to thank all our warriors who ensure Russia’s responsibility and justice for us in Ukraine: our warriors delivering long-range strikes on Russia’s territory – on military facilities. Our army, Special Operations Forces, special services: the Security Service of Ukraine, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Defense Intelligence – all those who contribute to Ukraine’s long-range capabilities – I thank you!
I want to particularly commend all our employees of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, all those who diligently serve to carry out the tasks of the Foreign Intelligence Service. Today is the Day of our Foreign Intelligence. I honored our intelligence officers with awards and thanked them for their service. We will continue developing the capabilities of our intelligence.
And one more thing.
I held a meeting of the Staff today. On several issues. The report was made by the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service on Russia’s military potential and Putin’s readiness to continue the war and manipulate world leaders, and in particular, he wants to manipulate the desire of the President of the United States of America to achieve peace. I am confident that no Russian manipulations will succeed anymore. And another topic of today’s Staff meeting is the provision for all our units on the front line: this is weapons, this is people. I thank everyone in our state who is addressing this issue responsibly.
Glory to Ukraine!
The US:
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Jan. 24 new guidance that halts spending on most foreign aid grants for 90 days. This directive, which took State Department officials by surprise, appears to include funding for military assistance to Ukraine, Politico reports.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The Kyiv Independent has the details.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Jan. 24 new guidance that halts spending on most foreign aid grants for 90 days. This directive, which took State Department officials by surprise, appears to include funding for military assistance to Ukraine, Politico reports.
According to a document obtained by the news outlet, the guidance requires staff to issue “stop-work orders” on nearly all “existing foreign assistance awards” and is effective immediately.
The Kyiv Independent can’t imemdiately verify this information.
Rubio’s guidance goes beyond President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, which called for a 90-day pause on foreign aid grants while the secretary reviews them. The president’s order left some ambiguity about whether already appropriated funds or Ukraine aid would be affected, but Rubio’s directive makes it clear that no further actions will be taken to disburse funds for already approved programs, according to current and former officials familiar with the matter.
The sweeping nature of the mandate shocked many within the department. “State just totally went nuclear on foreign assistance,” one official told Politico. While the document allows some exceptions—such as foreign military financing for Egypt and Israel, emergency food assistance, and “legitimate expenses incurred prior to the date of this” guidance—its broad scope leaves room for interpretation. It also states that decisions must remain “consistent with the terms of the relevant award.”
Officials believe the halt will affect key allies, including Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan. One State Department official and two former Biden administration officials, all speaking anonymously, voiced concerns about the potential impact on these partners. The guidance could expose the U.S. government to lawsuits for unfulfilled contracts if the terms are found to be violated. However, the directive states that decisions regarding the continuation, modification, or termination of programs will follow Rubio’s review.
The omission of Ukraine aid is particularly concerning for American officials who see supporting Ukraine as essential to defeating Russia. While Republicans, including Trump, have long criticized what they view as wasteful foreign aid under Democratic administrations, Trump has recently intensified his stance on Russia. He has threatened Moscow with sanctions if it does not end its nearly three-year invasion of Ukraine and declared that “Putin bears responsibility for ending the war.”
The guidance was reviewed and cleared by several senior State Department officials, including counselor Michael Needham and policy planning director Michael Anton. The department is now tasked with preparing a report within 85 days of the guidance’s issuance.
I will remind everyone that Michael Anton is the author of the “Flight 96 Election” agitprop essay from 2016.
More on this from The Financial Times:
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has ordered an immediate halt to work on virtually all existing foreign aid programmes pending a review into whether they are consistent with President Donald Trump’s policies, according to an internal cable seen by the Financial Times.
The move will affect international assistance contracts administered by Washington, including through the US Agency for International Development, worth billions of dollars and spanning countries around the world.
In the cable sent to the state department and USAID on Friday, Rubio said that all new foreign aid disbursements were to be suspended, and contracting officers and grant officers needed to “immediately issue stop-work orders . . . until such time as the secretary shall determine, following a review”.
The review period is expected to last as long as 85 days, leaving the fate of hundreds of US foreign aid contracts, which were worth more than $70bn in the 2022 fiscal year, potentially in limbo for as long as three months.
Rubio also ordered that all foreign aid disbursed through any agency or department be approved by the secretary of state, centralising the vetting of all international assistance programmes within his office.
Rubio’s cable implements an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office. In it the president bashed the “foreign aid industry and bureaucracy” as “not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values”, and asked for assistance to be suspended.
I cannot stress how bad this is going to be. Not just in Ukraine, but in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, and dozens and dozens more states and societies around the world.
Slovakia:
🇸🇰🇪🇺Right now, there are large protests in many cities in Slovakia for Slovakia’s European path and against the pro-Russian policies of Fico’s government.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I applaud the Slovakians and the example they’re setting, but now is not the best time for me in regard to being able to include more information of anti-Russian proxy activities in EU member states. Maybe we could reschedule for mid-February?
More seriously, this is important and combined with what we’re seeing in Georgia, it will bear watching.
Georgia:
Protest marches are still being held in Tbilisi today in support of individuals imprisoned by the GD regime.
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 57— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Protest marches continue in Tbilisi. Journalists, actors, and other artists have gathered. The street is blocked, and they are heading toward Rustaveli Avenue.
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 57— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Day 58 large-scale, continuous; day 88 overall. Various protest marches, mostly in support of the regime prisoners.
“Georgia is alive and independent,” this banner says.
We want new, fair elections, and the release of the regime prisoners.
#terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Day 58 continuous. I couldn’t be there but it seems that today brought the more dynamic spirit of the December days since a large amount of people marched instead of gathering just to block the Rustaveli. Various locations, including the embankment, is crowded. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Today, from the payment machines in Tbilisi buses, you can hear: the declaration of Georgia’s independence, “I am Georgian and therefore I am European”, the EU and Geo anthems, pro-Russian statements by GD members, and support from the EU.
#GeorgianProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Even the buses are protesting!
The regime Ministry of Internal Affairs announces a 3 to 6 years jail time for whoever is responsible for protest audios played by public transportation payment devices, under the criminal penalty of hacking.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 9:25 AM
As is the case with every authoritarian regime, regardless of extreme right or left, the Georgian Dream’s has no sense of humor.
Also, they aren’t too bright:
Since public transportation payment devices play protest audio recordings uninterruptedly, Tbilisi City Hall states the devices will be disconnected and transportation will in the meantime be free.
Traffic disruption would be better but not paying into the regime budget is good too.— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 2:58 AM
This is how the Tbilisi City Hall attempts to tackle the reach of the hacked public transportation payment device audio that’s been preaching the truth to people all day. In tape we trust!
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Back to Ukraine.
Interceptions of Russian Lancets during daytime are not rare anymore, but this one is the first published video of the interception of Russian thermal imaging Lancet loitering munition by FPV drone. t.me/ssternenko/3…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast:
The Donetsk region town of Velyka Novosilka is nearly surrounded and Ukrainian troops left in the pocket are under severe pressure from Russian forces attacking from three sides. All major roads in and out have been captured by the Russians, with the river complicating matters.
— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Pokrovsk:
⚡️ Russian army failing to outflank Pokrovsk, Ukraine’s military says.
Russian forces are trying to bypass the city from the north and south, but so far without success, a military spokesperson said.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 24, 2025 at 7:42 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
The Russian army is failing to outflank Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast in an attempt to cut off the town’s logistics routes, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces, Viktor Trehubov, said on Jan. 24 on national television.
The area near Pokrovsk, a crucial logistics hub for Ukrainian forces, has been the focus of fierce fighting for months as Russia intensifies its offensive in Donetsk Oblast.
Russian forces are trying to bypass Pokrovsk from the north and south, but so far without success, according to the spokesperson.
“So far, these attempts have been more or less effectively repelled. They have begun to attack the town more actively with long-range, different types of missiles and FPV (first-person-view) drones,” Trehubov said.
“Unfortunately, they are hitting the town, but their plan to surround it is still very far from realization,” he added.
Trehubov stressed that the Pokrovsk sector of the front line is the primary vector of Russia’s offensive.
“This is the main point of concentration of their efforts, and it has been for a long time. There is the largest number of clashes there,” he said.
Russian troops are continuing to push on the Lyman, Siversk, Kramatorsk, Toretsk, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove axes, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. Pokrovsk and Kurakhove remain the focal points of the Russian eastern offensive, now in its fifth month.
Kharkiv:
Explosion reported in Kharkiv! Earlier, local monitoring channels reported at least six russian drones over the city.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Explosions in Kharkiv ‼️ the city is under the massive russian drone attack right now ‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 10:48 AM
These new russian ‘Molniya’ drones are completely silent. I had no idea we were under attack until one exploded.
They just keep finding new, more effective ways to kill us.— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Russian drones over Kharkiv again. They just can’t resist the urge to be genocidal bastards
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Ryazan and Bryansk, Russia:
Ukrainian General Staff revealed details of the January 24, 2025 drone strike: SBU and SOF in coordination with other defense components attacked facilities supporting the Russian occupation army. The attacks caused fires at the Ryazan Oil Refinery and the Ryazan Oil Pumping Station.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 5:07 AM
A Ukrainian drone hits Ryazan oil refinery in fascist Russia on the night of Jan. 23-24. Russian anti-aircraft fire can be heard as the drone approaches, but it appears to strike its intended target.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Another Russian oil refinery up in flames – this time in Ryazan. Video shot at 54.576938, 39.741530. Refinery is over 480 km from nearest Ukrainian-held territory. There were other Ukrainian drone attacks overnight on Jan. 23-24 at Engels airbase in Saratov Oblast and in Bryansk.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Additionally, the “Kremniy EL” microelectronics plant in Bryansk, a key enterprise producing microchips for Russia’s strategic weapons systems, including missile complexes and air defense systems, was hit.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 5:07 AM
The Kyiv Independent has the details:
Editor’s note: The article was updated with a confirmation by the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOS) struck the Ryazan Oil Refinery and the Ryazan Thermal Power Plant in an overnight drone strike on Jan. 24, an SBU source told the Kyiv Independent.
The attack was later confirmed by the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
The news comes as Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting 121 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 37 in Bryansk Oblast, 20 in Ryazan Oblast, and 17 in the Kursk and Saratov oblasts each.
The refinery, one of Russia’s largest, has the capacity of 17 million metric tons of oil per year. At least three oil depots and a workshop were set ablaze, according to the source.
Drones also attacked the Kremniy EL microelectronics plant in Russia’s Bryansk and other facilities in the city, the independent Telegram news channel Astra reported, citing Russian Emergencies Ministry sources.
It is not immediately clear whether the plant, which produces components for the Russian military, suffered significant damage in the attack. The drone strike also damaged windows and the facade of a building of the Investigative Committee, and the Institute of Management and Business caught fire, according to Astra.
Andrii Kovalenko, the counter-disinformation chief at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, also reported on the attack against the Kremniy plant.
The facility has suspended operations after sustaining hits, Kovalenko claimed, saying that the plant produces microelectronics for Russian air defenses, Iskander missiles, electronic warfare equipment, and drones.
This is the third time the plant was hit during the full-scale war, Kovalenko said. The city of Bryansk lies around 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Russia’s border with Ukraine.
The General Staff also confirmed the attack against the Kremniy plant, without revealing details on possible damage.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify all the claims.
More at the link!
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
💙😻 Best brother in arms!
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Good night
— Eugene Kibets (@eugenekibets.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Open thread!
