Vladimir Putin’s forces are focusing on attacking on the outskirts of a key eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk amid reports of heavy troop losses.
Around half of Russian attacks across the 620-mile front have focused on the area around the city, seen as a gateway to the rest of the Donetsk region, over the last week, Kyiv said.
“The enemy is trying to advance around the clock,” Maksym Bakulin, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian National Guard units fighting in Pokrovsk said.
The Russian defence ministry also claimed its troops had taken control of the village of Novoielyzavetivka, less than 10 miles to the southwest of Pokrovsk. The Ukrainian military has not confirmed Russia’s claims but DeepState, a Ukrainian war tracker known to have close ties to the military, records the town as being occupied.
Six people have also been killed after Russian drones blasted a hole in an apartment building in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, the town’s authorities said. Ten others were injured.
"This is a terrible tragedy, a terrible Russian crime. It is very important that the world does not stop putting pressure on Russia for this terror," Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky added.
Key Points
- Russian troops focus on attacking Pokrovsk, Kyiv says
- Six killed as Russian drone strikes apartment block in Ukraine
- Putin's losses climb to 834,000, says Ukraine's military
- Ukraine probes defence minister amid arms procurement row
Sweden announces aid package for Ukraine
14:47
,
Tom Watling
Sweden's defence ministerhas announced the country’s 18th aid package to Ukraine, worth 13.5 billion Swedish crowns (£985 million)
UPD: Sumy death toll rises to six
14:36
,
Tom Watling
The death toll from a Russian drone strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy has risen to six, with 10 more injured.
Previously, the death toll was at four.
One of the injured is a child, according to Ukrainian authorities.
A Russian drone blasted a hole in an apartment building at around 1 am local time on Thursday.
The drone blew out a wall and surrounding windows, the Sumy regional administration said.
Four people were rescued from the rubble, and a child was among the wounded, it said, adding that 120 people were evacuated.
The dead were three older married couples, Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office said.
The regional administration announced two days of mourning in the city.
Russian fighter jet pictured over Sea of Japan
14:16
Ukraine investigates defence minister amid arms procurement dispute
13:30
,
Alexander Butler
Ukrainian investigators have opened a criminal case involving defence minister Rustem Umerov, a move likely to deepen a standoff in his ministry over arms procurement that could strain Kyiv's ties with important Western allies.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) told Reuters in a statement that its investigation, requested by a corruption watchdog, would examine whether there had been an abuse of authority by Mr Umerov but gave few other details.
The watchdog, the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, has accused Mr Umerov of acting illegally by sidelining the head of the defence procurement agency, whose contract
Mr Umerov is refusing to renew after criticising the agency's work.
Mr Umerov said last week that the DPA, which coordinates weapons purchases, had failed to deliver results for Ukrainian forces, comments that brought ministry infighting over arms procurement out into the open.
"Despite the publicised scale of procurement, our defenders on the frontlines have not experienced its tangible impact," he wrote on Facebook.
The dispute comes at a critical time in the war with Russia as president Donald Trump reviews US support for Ukraine's military and as Kyiv tries to convince its Western partners that it is winning the battle against endemic corruption.
Weapons supplied by Ukraine's Western allies including tanks, rockets, missile defences and ammunition are vital to Kyiv's war effort.
Putin's losses climb to 834,000, says Ukraine
13:15
,
Alexander Butler
Russia has now lost more than 834,000 troops in its invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military officials.
The General Staff of the Ukraine Armed Forces said today that Russia had seen a total of 834,670 troops killed or injured, and of these 1,670 casualties were reported in the past 24 hours.
The latest Russian losses also include 9,876 tanks, 20,573 armoured fighting vehicles, 35,269 vehicles and fuel tanks, 22,366 artillery systems, 1,263 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,050 air defence systems, 369 airplanes, 331 helicopters, 23,399 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
North Korea troops partially withdraw from frontline in Russia’s Kursk after weeks of heavy losses
13:15
,
Alexander Butler
Why peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are not as simple as Trump makes out
13:00
,
Alexander Butler
Why is Russia focusing its efforts on capturing the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk?
12:46
,
Alexander Butler
Russian forces are closing in on the strategically important eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk after capturing a string of villages to its south.
Pokrovsk is a road and rail hub in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, which had a pre-war population of some 60,000 people. While most people have fled, a Ukrainian military spokesperson estimated this week that 7,000 remain in the city.
It lies on a key road used by the Ukrainian military to supply other embattled eastern outposts including the towns of Chasiv Yar and Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region.
Ukraine's only mine that produces coking coal – used in its once vast steel industry and vital for the country's pre-war economy – is just a 20-minute drive to the west of Pokrovsk.
Moscow says it has annexed Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region and sees taking control of Pokrovsk as an important stepping stone to incorporating the entire region into Russia. Kyiv and the West reject Russia's territorial claims as illegal and accuse Moscow of prosecuting a war of colonial conquest.
Control of the city, which the Russian media call “the gateway to Donetsk”, would allow Moscow to severely disrupt Ukrainian supply lines along the eastern front.
Russian drone strikes apartment block in Ukraine, killing four, governor says
12:43
,
Alexander Butler
A Russian drone struck a multi-storey apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy early on Thursday, killing four people and injuring nine, including a child, the regional authorities said.
"This is a terrible tragedy, a terrible Russian crime. It is very important that the world does not stop putting pressure on Russia for this terror," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said via the Telegram messaging app.
Russia launched 81 drones at Ukraine overnight, damaging businesses and homes around the country, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday.
The air force shot down 37 drones, 39 others did not reach their targets. It did not specify what happened to the five remaining drones.
Sumy Governor Volodymyr Artyukh, shown in a video on Telegram in front of a crane and piles of rubble, said emergency services were pulling residents out from parts of the building.
The attack ruined five apartments and damaged over 20 cars, authorities said. Work on site continued into Thursday morning, with emergency services sharing pictures of rescuers sifting through the rubble.
The region borders Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August 2024, and has been regularly attacked by Russian drones.
Putin's troops focus on attacking Pokrovsk
12:14
,
Alexander Butler
Vladimir Putin’s forces are focusing on attacking the key eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk amid reports of heavy troop losses.
Around half of Russian attacks across the 620-mile front have focused on the town, seen as a gateway to Donetsk, over the last week, Kyiv said.
“The enemy is trying to advance around the clock,” Maksym Bakulin, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian National Guard units fighting in Pokrovsk said.
Russia has seen a total of 834,670 troops killed or injured, and of these 1,670 casualties were reported in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian military said.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Transport Minister at the Kremlin
12:02
,
Alexander Butler
Zelensky believes Trump could end Russia’s war but only if Ukraine included in peace talks
11:14
,
Alexander Butler
Revealed: Desperate Ukrainians resorting to illegal routes and ‘rogue advisers’ to bring children to UK
10:30
,
Alexander Butler
Trump describes Ukraine war as 'bullets whacking and hitting men'
10:00
,
Alexander Butler
Pictured: Russian drone strikes apartment block in Ukraine,
09:25
,
Alexander Butler
Ukraine-Russia war map: Where Putin’s forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine
09:00
,
Alexander Butler
Why peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are not as simple as Trump makes out
08:30
,
Alexander Butler
Russian drone strikes apartment block in Ukraine, killing four, governor says
08:11
,
Alexander Butler
A Russian drone struck a multi-storey apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy early on Thursday, killing four people and injuring nine, including a child, the regional authorities said.
"This is a terrible tragedy, a terrible Russian crime. It is very important that the world does not stop putting pressure on Russia for this terror," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said via the Telegram messaging app.
Russia launched 81 drones at Ukraine overnight, damaging businesses and homes around the country, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday.
The air force shot down 37 drones, 39 others did not reach their targets. It did not specify what happened to the five remaining drones.
Sumy Governor Volodymyr Artyukh, shown in a video on Telegram in front of a crane and piles of rubble, said emergency services were pulling residents out from parts of the building.
The attack ruined five apartments and damaged over 20 cars, authorities said. Work on site continued into Thursday morning, with emergency services sharing pictures of rescuers sifting through the rubble.
The region borders Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August 2024, and has been regularly attacked by Russian drones.
Russia launches 81 drones during overnight attack
07:46
,
Arpan Rai
Russia launched 81 drones at Ukraine during an overnight attack, the Ukrainian military said this morning.
The Ukrainian air force shot down 37 drones and 39 others did not reach their targets. It did not specify what happened to the five remaining drones.
Photos: Belarusian troops patrol border near Ukraine
06:40
,
Arpan Rai
Putin's losses climb to 834,000, says Ukraine
06:24
,
Arpan Rai
Russia has now lost more than 834,000 troops in its invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military officials.
The General Staff of the Ukraine Armed Forces said today that Russia had seen a total of 834,670 troops killed or injured, and of these 1,670 casualties were reported in the past 24 hours.
The latest Russian losses also include 9,876 tanks, 20,573 armoured fighting vehicles, 35,269 vehicles and fuel tanks, 22,366 artillery systems, 1,263 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,050 air defence systems, 369 airplanes, 331 helicopters, 23,399 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
Ukraine investigates defence minister amid arms procurement dispute
05:43
,
Arpan Rai
Ukrainian investigators have opened a criminal case involving defence minister Rustem Umerov, a move likely to deepen a standoff in his ministry over arms procurement that could strain Kyiv's ties with important Western allies.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) told Reuters in a statement that its investigation, requested by a corruption watchdog, would examine whether there had been an abuse of authority by Mr Umerov but gave few other details.
The watchdog, the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, has accused Mr Umerov of acting illegally by sidelining the head of the defence procurement agency, whose contract
Mr Umerov is refusing to renew after criticising the agency's work.
Mr Umerov said last week that the DPA, which coordinates weapons purchases, had failed to deliver results for Ukrainian forces, comments that brought ministry infighting over arms procurement out into the open.
"Despite the publicised scale of procurement, our defenders on the frontlines have not experienced its tangible impact," he wrote on Facebook.
The dispute comes at a critical time in the war with Russia as president Donald Trump reviews US support for Ukraine's military and as Kyiv tries to convince its Western partners that it is winning the battle against endemic corruption.
Weapons supplied by Ukraine's Western allies including tanks, rockets, missile defences and ammunition are vital to Kyiv's war effort.
Why is Russia focusing its efforts on capturing the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk?
05:15
,
Andy Gregory
Russian forces are closing in on the strategically important eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk after capturing a string of villages to its south.
Pokrovsk is a road and rail hub in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, which had a pre-war population of some 60,000 people. While most people have fled, Ukraine estimated last month that up to 11,000 still remain in the city.
It lies on a key road used by the Ukrainian military to supply other embattled eastern outposts including the towns of Chasiv Yar and Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region.
Ukraine's only mine that produces coking coal – used in its once vast steel industry and vital for the country's pre-war economy – is just a 20-minute drive to the west of Pokrovsk.
Moscow says it has annexed Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region and sees taking control of Pokrovsk as an important stepping stone to incorporating the entire region into Russia. Kyiv and the West reject Russia's territorial claims as illegal and accuse Moscow of prosecuting a war of colonial conquest.
Control of the city, which the Russian media call “the gateway to Donetsk”, would allow Moscow to severely disrupt Ukrainian supply lines along the eastern front.
North Korea troops partially withdraw from frontline in Russia’s Kursk after weeks of heavy losses
05:00
,
Andy Gregory
UK on alert over rise in drug-resistant bacterial infections in Ukraine
04:44
,
Arpan Rai
The number of drug-resistant infections is rapidly rising in Ukraine, according to reports - with the UK’s government agency for health security on alert over a risk of case numbers increasing.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) infections occur when bacteria evolves to learn how to defend itself against common antibiotic and other medicines, making treatment ineffective.
Overuse of antibiotics is the main cause of the so-called “silent pandemic” of AMR infections, with a type of infection called Klebsiella pneumoniae now becoming a major issue for hospitals near Ukraine’s frontline, with a type of infection called Klebsiella pneumoniae now becoming a major issue for hospitals near Ukraine’s frontline.
A US shutdown on foreign aid is hitting from Africa to Asia to Ukraine. Here's how
04:00
,
Andy Gregory
US-funded aid programs around the world have begun firing staff and shutting down or preparing to stop their operations, as the Trump administration’s unprecedented freeze on almost all foreign assistance brings their work to a sudden halt.
Allies including Ukraine also are struggling to save part of their security funding from the 90-day freeze, ordered by US president Donald Trump last week. Trump also just paused federal grants and loans inside the United States.
Read more details here:
Slovakia summons Ukraine ambassador as rifts over gas intensify
03:50
,
Arpan Rai
Slovakia's foreign ministry has summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to protest against earlier Ukrainian comments over gas transit.
The European neighbours are engaged in a deepening rift after Ukraine ended Russian gas transit to Slovakia at the start of the year.
Ukraine's foreign ministry on Tuesday said that Slovak prime minister Robert Fico had been "poisoned by Russian propaganda", which followed a comment by Mr Fico who called Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky an "enemy" of Slovakia due to the gas transit dispute, according to Slovak media.
France invites foreign ministers including Rubio to Ukraine meeting
03:16
,
Arpan Rai
France has invited foreign ministers from Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Britain and the European Union as well as new US secretary of state Marco Rubio to discuss the war in Ukraine on 12 February, diplomats said yesterday.
It was not clear yet whether Mr Rubio would attend the talks, said the diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a meeting that has not yet been officially announced.
In ‘2,000 Meters to Andriivka,’ Oscar-winner takes viewers back to Ukraine’s frontlines
03:00
,
Andy Gregory
The day Mstyslav Chernov won the Bafta for his documentary 20 Days in Mariupol was the day he learned two soldiers he knew had been killed in combat.
They were primary subjects of his new film 2,000 Meters to Andriivka, a harrowing portrait of modern warfare that puts audiences on the frontlines of the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Lindsey Bahr reports:
One killed as Russian drone strikes apartment block in Ukraine
02:55
,
Arpan Rai
At least one person was killed in a Russian drone attack on a multi-storey apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy.
Three others were also injured in the drone strike, regional governor Volodymyr Artyukh said.
The governor, standing in front of a crane and piles of rubble, said emergency services were pulling residents out from parts of the building that had been damaged in the strike.
UK on alert over rise in drug-resistant bacterial infections in Ukraine
02:00
,
Andy Gregory
The number of drug-resistant infections is rapidly rising in Ukraine, according to reports – with the UK’s government agency for health security on alert over a risk of case numbers increasing.
Last week, the BBC reported on a sharp rise in cases faced by clinicians in Ukraine. While globally, 1.4m people died from antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections in 2023. In the same year, 58,000 people had AMR infections in the UK.
The UK Health Security Agency has called it a global crisis with the agency calling for action to drive down infections around the world.
Here, The Independent asks what is helping drive the increase in Ukraine and what can be done about it:
What Trump 2.0 could mean for Ukraine
01:00
,
Andy Gregory
Donald Trump has been critical of US support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, and has said he could end the war in 24 hours if elected – although advisers concede it will likely take months if not longer.
He has suggested Ukraine may have to yield some of its territory if a peace deal is to be struck.
Trump and his pick for national security adviser, US Representative Michael Waltz, have criticised the Biden administration’s decision in November to allow Ukraine to use US-provided missiles to strike within Russian territory.
Trump has also said that under his presidency the US would fundamentally rethink Nato’s purpose and Nato’s mission.
While there is no fully fleshed-out Trump peace plan, most of his key aides favor taking NATO membership off the table for Ukraine as part of any peace agreement, at least for the foreseeable future. They also broadly support freezing the battle lines at their prevailing location.
Desperate Ukrainians resorting to illegal routes and ‘rogue advisers’ to bring children to UK
00:01
,
Andy Gregory
Desperate Ukrainian families are resorting to illegal routes and “rogue advisers” to bring their children to Britain after “catastrophic” changes to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, ministers have been told.
The government, which has vowed “ironclad” support for Ukrainians, has been warned repeatedly since taking office that changes to the Ukrainian sponsorship schemes – made overnight last February by the Tory administration – are preventing children from joining their parents in the UK.
This has now created the “inevitable” situation in which families are resorting to bringing children to the UK via irregular routes, leaving them at risk of exploitation by criminals and people traffickers, a charity supporting Ukrainians told the home secretary this week.
Speaking to The Independent, one Ukrainian mother said she was left with no choice but to bring her children from Ukraine illegally after their carer grandparent fell ill, and urged the government to change course to allow families to reunite in safety.
Read more details in this report:
What is Russia’s strategic partnership with North Korea?
Wednesday 29 January 2025 23:00
,
Andy Gregory
Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership” pact in Pyongyang on 19 June 2024, including a mutual defence clause in case of aggression against either country.
Mr Kim expressed “unconditional support” for “all of Russia’s policies”, including “a full support and firm alliance” for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Mr Putin has said Russia would help North Korea build satellites.
The US and South Korea say North Korea has shipped ballistic missiles, anti-tank rockets and millions of rounds of ammunition for Russia to use in the war. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied weapons transfers.
Ukraine, South Korea and the US say Kim has sent more than 11,000 troops to fight for Russia in its western Kursk region, part of which has been held by Ukraine since August. Ukraine says many North Korean soldiers have been killed and wounded.
F-35 military jet suffers ‘significant damage’ in crash at Alaska base
Wednesday 29 January 2025 22:30
,
Andy Gregory
A US Air Force pilot was reported to be safe after a single-seat F-35 fighter jet crashed on Tuesday at a base in Alaska.
EU won’t ban Russian LNG until it secures alternatives, diplomats say
Wednesday 29 January 2025 22:00
,
Andy Gregory
The European Commission did not propose a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in its latest package of sanctions because member states raised concerns about needing to first secure alternative fuels, diplomats have told Reuters.
“First you have to have a deal because otherwise you will be left without gas from Russia and without the US,” one of the diplomats said.
Moscow had been using northern European ports to do ship-to-ship transfers of LNG for onward journeys to Asia. But a ban announced by the EU last June has seen more Russian LNG staying in Europe, prompting some member states to push for tighter rules and an all-out ban.
However, the Commission did not propose tougher measures after pushback from some member states, and EU sources have told Reuters that the cold winter weather, gas stocks drawdown and the timing of the upcoming German election put a further dampener on the idea.
“There was never an original measure, so I don’t think it’s useful to talk about it in terms of watering down,” one European diplomat told Reuters.
“The general idea was floated by the Commission in confessionals in order to test the waters ... Apparently one or more member [state] signalled enough opposition for the Commission not to deem it opportune to propose such a measure now.”
Western officials warn Ukraine over weapons procurement dispute
Wednesday 29 January 2025 21:30
,
Andy Gregory
Western officials have urged Ukraine to resolve an escalating rift between its defence minister and procurement, warning that it could jeopardise trust in the country and disrupt weapons supplies.
The row began last week when the Defence Procurement Agency’s board unanimously voted to extend director Maryna Bezrukova’s contract for another year. However, defence minister Rustem Umerov overruled the decision, accusing her of poor performance and failing to deliver arms to frontline troops.
The decision provoked an outcry from politicians and anti-corruption watchdogs who alleged that Mr Umerov’s move to dismiss Ms Bezrukova was illegal under Ukrainian law.
In a statement on Monday, G7 ambassadors urged Kyiv to resolve the situation “expeditiously and focus on keeping defence procurement going”, saying: “Consistency with good governance principles and Nato recommendations is important to maintain the trust of the public and international partners.”
France invites foreign ministers including Rubio to Ukraine meeting
Wednesday 29 January 2025 21:00
,
Andy Gregory
France has invited foreign ministers from Ukraine, the UK, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain and the European Union, as well as new US secretary of state Marco Rubio, to discuss the war in Ukraine on 12 February, diplomats have told Reuters.
Video report: The extraordinary lengths North Korean soldiers will go to avoid capture in Ukraine
Wednesday 29 January 2025 20:30
,
Andy Gregory
Alleged Russian spy says suspicions first raised on her way to base training Ukraine forces
Wednesday 29 January 2025 20:01
,
Andy Gregory
A woman accused of spying for Russia has told jurors she began to raise questions while on her way to a US Army base believed to have been used to train Ukrainian soldiers on the Patriot missile system.
Bulgarians Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, were allegedly part of a group which carried out surveillance on places and people of interest to the Russian state between August 30 2020 and February 8 2023.
Ivanova has claimed she was deceived, betrayed and controlled by her long-term partner Biser Dzhambazov, 43, who has admitted being in on the plot.
In late 2022, she began questioning what she was doing for the first time on the way to Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, southern Germany, the defendant said.
Emily Pennink reports:
Map: Where Putin’s forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine
Wednesday 29 January 2025 19:34
,
Andy Gregory
Russia has claimed to have captured another key Ukrainian town as it looks to consolidate gains ahead of potential peace talks pushed by Donald Trump.
After months of heavy fighting, Russian forces claimed control of the town of Velyka Novosilka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Monday. The town is small, with a prewar population of only 5,000, but it has served as a key assembly area for offensive and defensive Ukrainian operations in the wider area, says Frontelligence Insight, a Ukrainian war tracker. It is also a key route linking towns further east to the rest of unoccupied Ukraine.
It is the second significant town in Donetsk to fall to the Russians this month after Moscow claimed control of Kurakhove roughly 20 miles to the northeast.
Russian forces have been steadily advancing in eastern Ukraine for months in an attack that has centred on the city of Pokrovsk, a linchpin of the wider Donetsk region’s defence. Ukraine’s general staff said there had been 85 Russian attacks on Monday in that direction.
Tom Watling reports:
Russia suffers 1,670 casualties, Ukraine claims in daily update
Wednesday 29 January 2025 19:07
,
Andy Gregory
Ukraine claims to have inflicted a further 1,670 casualties among Vladimir Putin’s forces in another day of intense fighting along the front line.
Nearly 200 combat clashes were reported in the Ukrainian military’s daily update, with Russia said to have carried out 33 air strikes, fired more than 5,000 artillery shells, and deployed nearly 2,500 kamikaze attack drones.
The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces claimed its troops had destroyed 10 Russian tanks, 24 armoured vehicles, and 29 artillery systems.