Month: January 2025

The death toll from the Russian shelling of Kyiv on January 1 has increased. So far, 2 victims have been reported, according to the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko.

According to him, the aftermath of the Russian strike on the capital has been underway since the morning.

“Unfortunately, we already have 2 killed. My condolences to the families and friends” stated Tkachenko.

The rescue operation in the Pecherskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts continues.

Russian attack on Kyiv

On New Year’s Eve, Russian troops attacked Kyiv with drones. In particular, there were fires in the Pecherskyi district, for example, the roof of the National Bank building was on fire in Kyiv due to the attack by the Shahed.

One woman was reported to have been injured. Later, the number of victims in Kyiv gradually increased to 7 people, and a woman’s body was found under the rubble in Pecherskyi district. 2 pregnant women were among the victims.

Read all about the consequences of the Russian attack on Kyiv on January 1 in RBC-Ukraine’s report.

On January 1, 2025, gas exports through Soviet-era pipelines running through Ukraine were halted, marking the end of decades of Russian dominance in Europe’s energy markets, Reuters reports.

Despite nearly three years of war, gas supplies continued, but Ukraine cut off the transit on January 1 at 7:00 GMT.

However, this halt is not expected to impact consumer prices in the European Union, unlike in 2022, when reductions in Russian gas supplies led to a price surge, exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis and undermining the EU’s competitiveness.

The last remaining buyers of Russian gas in the EU via Ukraine, such as Slovakia and Austria, have arranged alternative supplies. Hungary will continue receiving Russian gas through the TurkStream, which runs via two pipelines under the Black Sea.

The break in gas supply also affected the Russian-occupied region of Transnistria in Moldova, which has cut off heating and hot water to households due to its dependency on the same gas transit routes.

The European Commission has stated that the EU had prepared for the cut-off.

“The European gas infrastructure is flexible enough to provide gas of non-Russian origin. It has been reinforced with significant new LNG (liquefied natural gas) import capacities since 2022,” Spokesperson for the European Commission said.

Ukraine, which decided not to renew the transit agreement, emphasized that Europe has already made the strategic decision to move away from Russian gas.

“We stopped the transit of Russian gas. This is a historic event. Russia is losing its markets; it will suffer financial losses,” Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko stated.

Cost to both sides

Ukraine will lose around $800 million annually in transit fees, while Gazprom is set to lose about $5 billion in gas sales.

Russia and the former Soviet Union spent half a century building up a significant share of the European gas market, which at its peak was around 35%. Still, the war has all but destroyed Gazprom’s business in this area.

The Yamal-Europe pipeline, which runs through Belarus, was also closed, and in 2022, the Nord Stream route across the Baltic Sea to Germany was blown up.

In total, a record amount of gas was delivered to Europe via various routes in 2018 – 201 billion cubic meters. In 2023, Russia delivered around 15 billion cubic meters of gas via Ukraine, which is less than the 65 billion cubic meters when the last five-year contract came into force in 2020.

As reports indicated, Naftogaz’s five-year contract with Gazprom expired on January 1, 2025. Ukraine shut off the gas valve on January 1 at 7:00 GMT, depriving Moscow of approximately $5-7 billion in annual revenue.

As Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko stated, “citizens will not feel this event at all because we will provide gas, and accordingly heat, to the homes of every Ukrainian.”

Ukrainian troops are destroying the Russian occupiers in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. The fighting is taking place in the private sector of the city, according to North command.

“Russians are hiding in the private sector,” the military said.

Therefore, the tank crew of the 32nd Brigade arrived to help the infantry and buried the insidious plans of the Russian occupiers with accurate fire.

Situation in Pokrovsk sector

On December 31, the Russian occupants attacked the frontline in Ukraine almost 200 times. Most of the attacks took place in the Pokrovsk sector.

In particular, in this section of the frontline, the Armed Forces of Ukraine stopped 57 assaults and offensive Russian actions toward 16 settlements, including the city of Myrnohrad.

According to the Institute for War Studies, over the past day, Russians managed to advance near Pokrovsk, Siversk, Chasiv Yar, Kurakhove, and Kreminna.

Over the past 24 hours, from December 31 to January 1, Russian forces lost 1,250 soldiers, 13 armored combat vehicles, and 4 artillery systems, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.

The total combat Russian losses from February 24, 2022, to January 1, 2024, are estimated to be:

• personnel – about 790,800 (+1,250) Russian troops were eliminated;
• tanks – 9,672 (+4);
• troop-carrying AFVs – 20,043 (+13);
• artillery systems – 21,532 (+4) ;
• MLRS – 1,256;
• anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,032;
• aircraft – 369;
• helicopters – 329;
• UAV operational-tactical level – 21,131 (+50);
• cruise missiles – 3,003;
• warships/boats – 28;
• submarines – 1;
• vehicles and fuel tanks – 32,675 (+49);
• special equipment – 3,672 (+1).

Frontline situation and Russian shelling

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine’s Defense Forces have succeeded near Kreminna in the Luhansk region and the Kursk region. However, the Russians continue to press on five fronts.

On the night of December 31, the Ukrainian military shot down a Russian helicopter for the first time in history using a Magura V5 naval strike drone.

Head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, called the operation historic.

On the morning of January 1, explosions sounded in Kyiv. Ukraine’s air defense forces shot down Russian Shahed kamikaze drones.

On January 1, 2025, Ukraine becomes a full member of the International Criminal Court. Thus, 125 states are already parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, Ukrinform reports.

As of today, Ukraine is a full member of the International Criminal Court, having previously ratified the Rome Statute. The ICC’s jurisdiction includes the most serious international crimes, including genocide, crimes of aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdall said that Ukraine now has the right to vote when approving the budget, adopting changes, and amendments to the Rome Statute, electing judges, the future prosecutor and his deputies, etc.

When asked about a Ukrainian judge at the ICC, the spokesperson noted that it is quite possible that Ukraine, as a member, could nominate candidates. The decision will depend on the Assembly’s vote. He added that there are certain experience requirements for ICC judges, particularly in international or criminal law.

“Specific experience in terms of either international law or criminal law, and of course, being, qualified for the highest judicial positions in their own respective countries. And then, also there is every three years election of six judges at the ICC. So of course, we hope that Ukraine will be participating in all the various possibilities of cooperation and supporting the ICC, including with presenting candidates for judges and also with having more colleagues from Ukraine,” Fadi el-Abdall said.

Among the requirements for ICC judges is fluency in at least one of the two official languages – English or French.

The spokesperson emphasized that the ICC does not pursue cases against states, it is always about individual responsibility for crimes. Fadi El Abdallah explained that Ukraine does not need to launch a new investigation against Russian war criminals. He did not rule out that new cases and charges could be initiated.

Rome Statute ratification

The Rome Statute is an international treaty that established the International Criminal Court. It defines how the ICC operates and the crimes that fall under its jurisdiction.

In 2024, Ukraine ratified the Rome Statute. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the relevant law on Independence Day, August 24.

This step allowed Ukraine to become a full member of the ICC. Read more about the ratification of the Rome Statute in RBC-Ukraine’s article.

Italy has announced the allocation of 13 million euros to restore Ukrainian energy infrastructure. And for the first time, the DIU destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter using a Magura V5 maritime drone.
 

Read more about what happened on Tuesday, December 31.

Historic strike: Ukrainian intelligence destroys Russian Mi-8 helicopter with naval drone

Today, December 31, Ukrainian soldiers from the special unit of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) “Group 13” destroyed an aerial target for the first time in the world using a Magura V5 strike naval drone. The target was a Russian Mi-8 helicopter.

The unique operation took place in the Black Sea near Cape Tarkhankut in temporarily occupied Crimea.

Italy contributes €13 mln to restore Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

Italy has announced a contribution of €13 million to Ukraine’s Energy Support Fund. The aid is aimed at restoring the country’s energy infrastructure, which has been damaged by Russian attacks.

According to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this contribution is one of the largest among donor countries and aims to stabilize electricity supply for millions of Ukrainians enduring the hardships of war.

Russia strikes Sumy region with missiles, destroys infrastructure objects

On the morning of Tuesday, December 31, the Russian army once again attacked Ukraine on a large scale. Russia launched a missile attack on the infrastructure of the Shostka community.

As a result of the Russian strike, some infrastructure facilities were destroyed. 12 multi-story residential buildings, 2 educational institutions, and other social facilities were damaged. Emergency rescue units are working on the spot.

Ending war in Ukraine to be Türkiye’s priority in 2025, President Erdoğan

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye, has declared that ending the war in Ukraine is a top priority for Istanbul in 2025, the Turkish news agency TRT Haber reports, citing Erdoğan.

“Our priority remains to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, who are our neighbors on the Black Sea, with a just peace. We hope a new era will begin in our north in 2025,” Erdoğan stated.

Urban battles continue in Toretsk, enemy attempting to break through via Shcherbynivka – Ukraine’s Forces

Intensive urban battles continue in Toretsk, Donetsk region. The Russian troops are attempting to break through the village of Shcherbynivka and capture the refractory plant, according to the spokesperson of the Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Group of Troops, Viktor Trehubov, during a national marathon broadcast.

“Urban battles are a specific type of combat with very high intensity. In Toretsk, there are both urban battles and an attempt to break through through Shcherbynivka. Recently, the 3rd Assault Brigade repelled an enemy attack in Leonidivka and destroyed 9 enemy BMPs,” Trehubov said.