Month: January 2025

In the UK, 200 Ukrainian pilots have completed basic training for operating F-16 fighter jets, according to the British Embassy in Ukraine.

Ukrainian pilots underwent flight, ground, and language training.

RAF instructors taught them general aircraft handling, flying by the aircraft’s instruments, low-level navigation and advanced formation flying,” the Embassy statement says.

F-16 transfers to Ukraine

In 2023, Ukraine and its allies formed an aviation coalition aimed at providing F-16 fighter jets. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine required at least 128 F-16 jets.

By August 2024, it was confirmed that the first F-16 jets had arrived in Ukraine, though the exact number remains unclear. The Netherlands and Denmark were the first to deliver F-16s, followed by Belgium, which pledged to provide 30 jets by the end of 2028.

In August 2024, Ukraine lost one of the F-16s due to a mass enemy attack, resulting in the death of experienced pilot Oleksii Mes, known as Moonfish.

Ukrainian pilots continue their F-16 training in several countries, including the US.

Israel will deliver “blows with a force not seen in Gaza for a long time” if the terrorist group Hamas does not release the hostages it has held for the past 14 months and does not stop its rocket attacks, states Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to The Times of Israel.

“If Hamas does not soon allow the release of the Israeli hostages from Gaza, despite Israel’s willingness to make far-reaching compromises in accordance with the principles outlined by the US president, and continues to fire at Israeli communities, it will receive blows with a force not seen in Gaza for a long time,” Katz stated.

It was reported that last night Hamas fired two rockets at the city of Netivot. There were no casualties or damage.

“The IDF will intensify its activities against the terror nests in Gaza until the release of the hostages and the elimination of Hamas,” the minister noted.

He also urged the residents of the Gaza Strip to rise up against the Hamas terrorists who are using them as human shields and to work towards the release of the hostages to prevent suffering and end the war.

War between Israel and Hamas

On December 26, Hamas and Israel exchanged accusations over the delay in implementing a ceasefire, which had been previously agreed upon. Militants claimed that Israel had introduced additional conditions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the group of deviating from the agreements that had already been reached.

Today, on January 1, the terrorist group Hamas launched rockets from the Gaza Strip at southern areas of Israel.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, the hostages held in Gaza have been subjected to torture, including sexual and psychological abuse, starvation, burns, and lack of medical care.

Since the beginning of the day on January 1, 101 combat clashes have occurred at the front. The Russian troops are focusing their efforts in the Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, and Vremivka directions, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the General Staff, border towns and villages continue to suffer from Russian artillery shelling. Today, affected settlements include Tymonovychi, Yanzhulivka, Karpovychi, Zaliznyi Most, Mykolaivka in the Chernihiv region, and Tymofiivka in the Sumy region.

Frontline situation

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy has made three attempts to advance towards our positions in the areas of Koliskivka, Zahryzove, and Nova Kruhlyakivka since the start of the day.

The aggressor has also increased the number of attacks to six in the Lyman direction, attacking near Novoserhiivka, Tverdokhlibove, Kopanky, Makiivka, and Ivanivka.

In the Kramatorsk direction, our defenders repelled nine attacks by the enemy near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Predtechyne. One combat clash is ongoing.

In the Toretsk direction, the enemy attempted to advance five times in the areas of Toretsk and in the direction of Shcherbynivka. Fighting is currently ongoing.

Enemy activity is also sustained in the Pokrovsk direction. Seventeen clashes of varying intensity have occurred today. Enemy attacks have been repelled in the areas of Vozdvyzhenka, Myrolyubivka, Lysivka, Novyi Trud, Solone, Kotlyne, Pishchane, Pokrovsk, Novooleksiivka, and Novovasylivka. Seven clashes are still ongoing.

Intense fighting took place in the Kurakhove direction. 11 combat clashes took place throughout the day near Ukrainka, Petropavlivka, and Kurakhove, with three enemy attacks still ongoing.

In the Vremivka direction, the aggressor launched 12 attacks on our positions near Dachne, Kostiantynopil, Yantarne, Novosilka, Rozlyv, and Novyi Komar. Five combat clashes are ongoing.

In the Orikhiv direction, one combat clash occurred near Novoandriivka since the start of the day, with no success for the enemy.

Today, in the Prydniprovskyi direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled one attempt by the enemy to push our forces from their positions.

In the Kharkiv, Huliaipole, and Siversk directions, the enemy has not carried out any active operations since the start of the day.

In the Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders repelled 31 enemy attacks, with two combat clashes ongoing. Additionally, the enemy launched one missile strike and nine airstrikes, using seven missiles and eleven guided bombs, and carried out 198 artillery shellings on our positions and settlements.

No significant changes have occurred in the remaining directions.

Russian losses in Ukraine

As of the morning of January 1, the Russian losses in Ukraine amounted to 1,250 military personnel on December 31. Ukrainian forces destroyed 4 tanks, 13 armored fighting vehicles, 4 artillery systems, 1 helicopter, 50 operational-tactical UAVs, 49 vehicles, and 1 unit of special equipment belonging to the enemy.

Since the beginning of the day on January 1, 101 combat clashes have occurred at the front. The Russian troops are focusing their efforts in the Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, and Vremivka directions, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the General Staff, border towns and villages continue to suffer from Russian artillery shelling. Today, affected settlements include Tymonovychi, Yanzhulivka, Karpovychi, Zaliznyi Most, Mykolaivka in the Chernihiv region, and Tymofiivka in the Sumy region.

Frontline situation

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy has made three attempts to advance towards our positions in the areas of Koliskivka, Zahryzove, and Nova Kruhlyakivka since the start of the day.

The aggressor has also increased the number of attacks to six in the Lyman direction, attacking near Novoserhiivka, Tverdokhlibove, Kopanky, Makiivka, and Ivanivka.

In the Kramatorsk direction, our defenders repelled nine attacks by the enemy near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Predtechyne. One combat clash is ongoing.

In the Toretsk direction, the enemy attempted to advance five times in the areas of Toretsk and in the direction of Shcherbynivka. Fighting is currently ongoing.

Enemy activity is also sustained in the Pokrovsk direction. Seventeen clashes of varying intensity have occurred today. Enemy attacks have been repelled in the areas of Vozdvyzhenka, Myrolyubivka, Lysivka, Novyi Trud, Solone, Kotlyne, Pishchane, Pokrovsk, Novooleksiivka, and Novovasylivka. Seven clashes are still ongoing.

Intense fighting took place in the Kurakhove direction. 11 combat clashes took place throughout the day near Ukrainka, Petropavlivka, and Kurakhove, with three enemy attacks still ongoing.

In the Vremivka direction, the aggressor launched 12 attacks on our positions near Dachne, Kostiantynopil, Yantarne, Novosilka, Rozlyv, and Novyi Komar. Five combat clashes are ongoing.

In the Orikhiv direction, one combat clash occurred near Novoandriivka since the start of the day, with no success for the enemy.

Today, in the Prydniprovskyi direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled one attempt by the enemy to push our forces from their positions.

In the Kharkiv, Huliaipole, and Siversk directions, the enemy has not carried out any active operations since the start of the day.

In the Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders repelled 31 enemy attacks, with two combat clashes ongoing. Additionally, the enemy launched one missile strike and nine airstrikes, using seven missiles and eleven guided bombs, and carried out 198 artillery shellings on our positions and settlements.

No significant changes have occurred in the remaining directions.

Russian losses in Ukraine

As of the morning of January 1, the Russian losses in Ukraine amounted to 1,250 military personnel on December 31. Ukrainian forces destroyed 4 tanks, 13 armored fighting vehicles, 4 artillery systems, 1 helicopter, 50 operational-tactical UAVs, 49 vehicles, and 1 unit of special equipment belonging to the enemy.