AP correspondent Ed Donahue reports the violence in New Orleans is delaying a big football game.
Month: January 2025
As of the evening of January 1, the frontlines witnessed 125 combat engagements, with the Pokrovsk direction remaining the most intense hotspot, where 35 enemy attacks have already been recorded, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the General Staff, the enemy launched one missile strike and 26 airstrikes, deploying seven missiles, 34 guided bombs, and 562 kamikaze drones, and conducting over 3,000 artillery attacks on Ukrainian military positions.
In the Kupiansk direction, the adversary attacked Ukrainian fortifications seven times near Kolisnykivka, Zahryzove, Lozova, and Nova Kruhliakivka. Five clashes are ongoing in this area.
In the Lyman direction, Russian forces attempted 16 assaults throughout the day on Ukrainian positions near Novoserhiivka, Tverdokhlibove, Kopanky, Makiivka, Ivanivka, and the Serebrianske Forestry. Two enemy attacks near Torske and Terny are still underway.
In the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled 14 enemy attacks near the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Predtechyne. Two clashes are ongoing in the area.
In the Toretsk direction, the Russian army launched seven assaults on Ukrainian defensive positions throughout the day. All attacks near Shcherbynivka were repelled, though three enemy offensives near Toretsk and toward Dyliivka continued.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy conducted 35 assault and offensive operations daily. The most intense activity by Russian forces remains near Vozdvyzhenka, Myroliubivka, Lysivka, Novyi Trud, Solone, Kotlyne, Pishchane, Pokrovsk, Novooleksiivka, Zelene, Novoolenivka, Dachenske, and Novovasylivka. Thirteen assaults on Ukrainian positions are still underway.
In this direction today, Ukrainian forces eliminated 161 enemy personnel and wounded 143 more. They also destroyed an armored personnel carrier and five vehicles, damaging three additional vehicles and one enemy armored combat vehicle.
The enemy is also intensively attacking in the Kurakhove direction, with 18 clashes recorded near Ukrayinka, Petropavlivka, and Kurakhove. Four engagements remain ongoing. Enemy losses in this sector include 86 personnel killed or wounded, along with the destruction of five armored combat vehicles and damage to one infantry fighting vehicle.
In the Vremivka direction, Ukrainian forces repelled 17 enemy attacks near Dachne, Konstyantynopil, Yantarne, Novosilka, Rozlyv, and Novyi Komar, with six engagements still ongoing.
In the Orikhiv direction, Ukrainian troops successfully repelled a single enemy attack near the settlement of Novoandriivka.
In the Prydniprovskyi direction, the enemy launched two unsuccessful assaults near the island of Zabych today.
In the Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders repelled 32 enemy attacks throughout the day, with one battle still ongoing. Additionally, the enemy carried out one missile strike and nine airstrikes, employing seven missiles and eleven guided bombs, along with 202 artillery shellings.
In the Kharkiv, Hulyaipole, and Siversk directions, the enemy has not conducted any assault operations since the start of the day.
Russia’s losses in the war
According to the General Staff, Russia has lost over 790,000 personnel since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In the past 24 hours alone, Russian forces suffered an additional 1,250 casualties.
Ukrainian troops also destroyed four tanks, 13 armored combat vehicles, four artillery systems, one helicopter, 50 operational-tactical drones, 49 vehicles, and one piece of special equipment belonging to the occupiers.
The suspect in the New Orleans vehicle attack has been identified as a 42-year-old US citizen from Texas. An Islamic State flag was found in the vehicle and two improvised bombs have been made safe. Also on the programme: Russian gas supplies to much of Europe through Ukraine have stopped, after Kyiv refused to renew a transit agreement with Moscow; and scientists have developed a new way of studying DNA in human remains that they say will change our understanding of history. (Photo: New Orleans Police Chief Ann Kirkpatrick speaks next to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry at a news conference. Credit: Reuters)
Russia started the new year with a massive drone attack on Ukraine. In response, the Netherlands will continue to support Kyiv, stated Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
The Dutch Defense Minister said that Russia launched more than 100 drones toward Ukraine on the first day of the new year. According to him, this demonstrates Moscow’s continued aggressive policy against Ukraine.
Brekelmans noted that the Netherlands remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine. He also noted that Russia’s New Year’s attack is another confirmation of its true intentions for 2025.
According to the Minister, European countries should not only support Ukraine but also strengthen their own defense capabilities in the face of a growing threat.
“Continuously support Ukraine against Russian aggression. And at the same time, quickly and significantly strengthen our armed forces in Europe,” the Minister emphasized.
Attack on Ukraine
As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, Russia launched more than 100 drones at Ukraine on New Year’s night.
We also covered how drones were shot down over the capital on New Year’s night.
Read more about the aftermath of the January 1 attack on Kyiv in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the incident of a pickup truck driving into a crowd in New Orleans. He emphasized that violence, terrorism and any other threats to human life have no place in the world, according to the President.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is shocked by the news of the attack in New Orleans, which killed innocent people and injured many others.
He expressed hope that those responsible for this horrific attack would be brought to justice.
“Violence, terrorism, and any threats to human life have no place in our world and must not be tolerated. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and we wish a swift recovery to all those injured,” the President added.
He emphasized that Ukraine supports the American people and condemns the violence.
Driving into a crowd in New Orleans
Today, on January 1, a car drove into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans. It is known that 10 people were killed and dozens more were injured.
Media reported that police shot the driver when he got out of the car.
According to US President Joe Biden, the FBI is investigating the incident as a terrorist act. In addition, a flag of the ISIS terrorist group was found with the driver.
Russian military reported another attack by unidentified drones on the evening of Wednesday, January 1. Russian air defense systems were active in five regions, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
According to the hostile ministry, drones allegedly attacked Russia this evening. Between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM Moscow time, Russian air defense systems allegedly destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones.
Two drones were over the Belgorod region, four over the Voronezh region, five over the Rostov region, two over the Tula region, and one over the Oryol region.
Drone attacks in Russia
On the evening of Wednesday, January 1, the “carpet regime” was declared at the airport in the Russian city of Saransk. The reason was allegedly the threat of drones.
Additionally, in the city of Yartsevo, Smolensk region, a drone attack took place on the night of December 31.
Recently, the Russians also reported a drone attack. On the night of Tuesday, December 31, Russian air defense systems allegedly downed 68 drones.
Péter Magyar, an opponent of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, called for early parliamentary elections. So far, they are scheduled for 2026, Bloomberg reports.
“Let there be a new election, to return the right of deciding their fate to the people,” Magyar addressed Orbán in a New Year’s speech.
Bloomberg emphasizes that Orbán’s Fidesz party is losing ground in the ratings to Magyar’s new Tisza party, which was formed in April last year. Several polls conducted in the second half of 2024 showed that Tisza has a significant advantage over the ruling party.
As the agency reminds, support for Fidesz is falling as weak economic growth and high inflation have undermined confidence in Orbán’s management of the economy. The ratings were also affected by high-profile scandals involving the party. However, Orbán is counting on an economic recovery this year to boost his chances in the elections.
Magyar’s visit to Kyiv
On July 11, 2024, Péter Magyar visited Kyiv. At that time, he handed over medical equipment to hospitals in the capital against the backdrop of the Russian attack on Okhmatdyt.
Also in June, he emphasized that he opposed the supply of weapons to Ukraine, but wanted to support the country by any other means.
Magyar also acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the aggressor.
