Ukraine-Russia war: Partisans blow up Russian soldiers in car
Ukrainian partisans have blown up a vehicle carrying four Russian soldiers travelling through the occupied city of Melitopol.
The troops were all wounded and some may have been killed in the attack, which took place in the centre of the south-western city, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) said.
“The streets adjacent to the scene were blocked, and several cars with medics arrived,” it said.
”The exact number of losses of the enemy is being clarified.”
Melitopol, an important city for Ukraine as they look to cut off Crimea, and the surrounding areas of Zaporizhzhia, have become one of the main strongholds for Ukrainian insurgents in the occupied south and east.
Three Russian officers were also killed in November when partisans bombed a meeting between FSB agents and the Rosgvardia national guard.
03:12 PM GMT
That is all for today
Thank you for following our coverage of the war in Ukraine today.
03:11 PM GMT
Today's headlines
Ukraine shot down a £274million Russian A-50 spy plane and severely damaged an Il-22 airborne command centre, it emerged
The Kremlin denied to comment as Russian military bloggers speculated that the aeroplanes may have been shot down by friendly fire
Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, said the A-50 exploded in mid-air and the Il-22 limped to an air base
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Russia is preparing for a new winter offensive on frozen ground
The United Nations appealed for £3.3billion in aid for Ukraine in 2024
Ukrainian partisans in Melitopol blew up four Russian soldiers travelling in a car
Nato distanced itself from a leaked German army document outlining how a war between the bloc and Russia could begin
A senior Ukrainian spy said Russia’s hypersonic Kinzhal missiles are “very inaccurate”
Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria demanded tariffs on imports of Ukrainian grain
02:48 PM GMT
Ukraine aiming to exhaust Russia over winter, says Syrskyi
Ukraine’s aim is to exhaust Russia as it adopts a defensive, entrenched posture this winter, the country’s second seniormost army commander has said.
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said the armed forces were now engaged in “active defence” centred on smaller counter-attacks.
“Our goals remain unchanged: holding our positions ... exhausting the enemy by inflicting maximum losses,” he told Reuters at a forward operating base in the Kharkiv region.
He added: “Offensives at the level of a battalion are a major rarity.”
02:36 PM GMT
Budanov: A-50 exploded, Il-22 limped home
The A-50 spy plane attacked by Ukraine on Sunday exploded mid-air, Kyrylo Budanov has said.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief told the Financial Times that the Il-22 was “badly damaged” but limped to a Russian air base at Anapa, on Russia’s Black Sea coast.
“The A-50 was shot down and it exploded,” he said. “The Il-22 was badly damaged but, unfortunately for us, it managed to make an emergency landing in Anapa.”
He added: “There are just eight A-50s in good condition.”
02:26 PM GMT
Ukraine aircraft attacks 'seemed to be impossible'
Ukraine’s successful attacks on the A-50 and Il-22 aeroplanes on Sunday night had long “seemed to be impossible”, its air force spokesperson has said.
Commenting on a new photograph showing the heavily-damaged Il-22 at an air base after being attacked, Col Yuriy Ihnat wrote on Facebook: “The target is destroyed, resuscitation will not help!”
He added: “The long-range radar detection aircraft A-50 was and is a priority target for us. And until today, the destruction of this aircraft seemed an impossible task for the air force.
“And then the Il-22 (air command post) was also targeted! Two ‘fat’ targets at once!”
Col Ihnat said there were “wounded among the crew”. Russia has not officially commented on the incident and the casualty toll is not known.
02:17 PM GMT
EU states demand tariffs on Ukrainian grain
The farming ministers of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have written to the European Comission to demand tariffs be imposed on Ukrainian grain.
The ministers said farmers in their countries have “suffered significant damages” since the European Union suspended quotas and duties on grain imported into the bloc from Ukraine last year.
“This is why Brussels needs to introduce measures that protect the markets of member states bordering Ukraine while helping them make use of their full export potential,” the letter read.
“One of these could be introducing import duties on the most sensitive agricultural products.”
01:46 PM GMT
Pictured: The front line today
01:25 PM GMT
Hypersonic Kinzhal missiles 'inaccurate', says senior Ukrainian spy
Russia is failing in its attempts to destroy Ukraine’s military-industrial base because even its hypersonic Kinzhal missiles are inaccurate, Ukraine’s deputy military intelligence chief has said.
Maj Gen Vadym Skibitsky told the RBC-Ukraine news agency: “These are, first and foremost, the facilities of our defence-industrial complex, headquarters, command and control systems and individual units that are stationed on the front line.
“How precise are these strikes? The goals that the Russian Federation is pursuing, it is not achieving.
“The weapons that Russia is using, in particular the Kinzhals, are very inaccurate. And, unfortunately, it is mainly civilians who suffer from them.”
12:53 PM GMT
Nato distances itself from leaked German wargame document
Nato has distanced itself from a German army wargame document leaked to the newspaper Bild that outlined how a war with Russia could begin.
Janis Sarts, Nato communications director, said.“Bild received a training scenario, which always represents an imaginary situation to test military capabilities in a particular area.
“Previously, scenarios were completely fictitious, with non-existent countries and geographic areas. Now existing countries and geographies are more applicable.
“This is not secret intelligence analysis predicting how a situation will develop!”
12:42 PM GMT
Pictured: Russian Il-22 shot down over the Sea of Azov
12:26 PM GMT
Watch: Leopard and Humvees on frontline
German-supplied Leopard 1A5BE in service with the Ukrainian 59th Motorized Brigade, flanked by two US-supplied HMMWVs. pic.twitter.com/QJCg5qUxla
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 14, 2024
12:09 PM GMT
Zelensky: I'm in Switzerland to strengthen Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky has said his visit to Switzerland for Davos will “strengthen Ukraine’s defence and economic resilience”.
“I will express gratitude to Switzerland for its consistent support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
“I believe that Switzerland’s participation in the Peace Formula, as well as its relevant experience, can help bring our vision of just peace closer.
“I will also discuss the return of Ukrainian children stolen by Russia, sanctions, ways to use frozen Russian assets, humanitarian mine clearing, financial assistance, and recovery.
“In Davos, I will hold important bilateral meetings with EU and Nato representatives to advance our Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as with other leaders and CEOs, to strengthen Ukraine’s defence and economic resilience.”
11:49 AM GMT
Pictured: Zelensky arrives in Switzerland for Davos
11:33 AM GMT
Russian attack wounds five in Kherson
A Russian drone and artillery attack on a southern Ukrainian village on Sunday night left five people wounded.
Ukraine’s national police said the drone “targeted” four rescue workers in the village of Stanislav, Kherson.
A fire engine, an ambulance and a clinic were damaged and later Russian artillery shelling injured a 77-year-old woman.
11:15 AM GMT
North Korea's foreign minister visits Moscow
North Korea’s foreign minister will visit Moscow on Monday as ties between the two countries continue to deepen.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said: “North Korea is our closest neighbour and partner, with whom we are developing and intend to further develop partnerships in all areas.”
He added that the visit of Choe Son Hui would bring “intense and fruitful negotiations”.
In September, Vladimir Putin welcomed Kim Jong-un to the Vostochny space centre in Russia’s far east and promised to help North Korea build satellites.
10:50 AM GMT
Kremlin declines to comment on downed aircraft
The Kremlin has declined to comment on Ukraine’s claims that it shot down two Russian aircraft.
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, told reporters he had “no information” about the incident and said further questions should be directed to the defence ministry.
10:38 AM GMT
Ukrainian partisans blow up four Russians in Melitopol
Ukrainian partisans wounded four Russian soldiers in the occupied city of Melitopol on Sunday.
The troops were blown up as they travelled through the city centre, Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence said.
“The streets adjacent to the scene were blocked, and several cars with medics arrived,” it said.
10:16 AM GMT
MoD dismisses 'inflated' Russian army recruitment figures
Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has dismissed Russian army recruitment figures as “substantially inflated”.
In it latest defence intelligence briefing, the MoD said claims by Dmitri Medvedev, former Russian prime minister and current deputy chair of its security council, were “highly likely” to be exaggerated.
“In its efforts to meet recruitment targets, the Russian military has since April 2023 allowed school leavers to sign contracts with the Russian army,” it added.
“Recent data published by Mediazona and the BBC Russian Service suggests that at least five Russians born in 2005 have died in the conflict.
“It is highly likely that Russian military recruitment to sustain the war has disproportionately drawn from impoverished and rural regional communities of Russia.”
09:47 AM GMT
Ukraine claims responsibility for shooting down Russian aircraft
Ukraine has claimed responsibility for the destruction of two Russian aircraft.
Gen Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, said: “The Air Force of Ukraine destroyed an enemy A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and an enemy IL-22 air control centre.
“I am grateful to the Air Force for the perfectly planned and executed operation in the Azov Sea region!
“Glory to Ukraine!”
09:33 AM GMT
Davos talks will achieve nothing, says Kremlin
Talks in Davos on Ukraine’s peace proposals will achieve nothing, the Kremlin has said.
Dmitry Peskov, its spokesman, said discussions at the World Economic Forum’s annual summit in Switzerland would be fruitless because Russia is not involved.
“This is simply talking for the sake of talking,” he said.
“This process cannot be aimed at achieving any specific results for the obvious reason: we are not participating.
“Without our participation, any discussions are devoid of any prospect of any results.”
09:17 AM GMT
In pictures: Ukrainian artillerymen prepare strikes
08:44 AM GMT
German army's Russia-Nato wargame revealed
The German army has predicted war with Russia in an official document leaked to Bild.
The wargame predicted that Russia will start “covert and then increasingly overt” cyber attacks in July and will conduct large-scale military exercises in Belarus and on its own territory.
Moscow would then transfer soldiers and missiles to its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, after which an artificial “border conflict” would trigger unrest.
The document then describes a Russian invasion of Nato territory, after which 300,000 Nato soldiers are deployed and war begins.
Maria Zakharova, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, described the report as a “horoscope”.
08:26 AM GMT
Britain to send 20,000 troops to largest Nato exercise since Cold War
Britain will send 20,000 soldiers to join the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War.
Steadfast Defender 2024 will involve 100,000 troops in Germany, Poland and the Baltic States and take place in February and March.
It will simulate a ground war with Russia.
Read more: Shapps set to send 20,000 military personnel to eastern Europe
08:12 AM GMT
UN appeals for £3.3bn in Ukraine aid
The United Nations has appealed for £3.3billion ($4.2billion) in aid to Ukraine in 2024.
It said it aims to assist 8.5million in Ukraine and 2.3million refugees elsewhere in Europe.
“A recent wave of attacks underscores the devastating civilian cost of the war, while a bitter winter is ratcheting up the urgent need for life-saving humanitarian aid,” the UN said.
08:00 AM GMT
We will not accept frozen war, says Zelensky adviser
An adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky has said the Ukrainian government would not accept a “freezing” of the war with Russia.
Andriy Yermak made the remarks at Davos in Switzerland, where Mr Zelensky will visit on Monday.
“This president and this team of his will never agree and will not accept any freezing of the conflict,” he said.
“This is unacceptable to Ukrainian society... Ukraine does not need frozen conflicts. Ukraine needs a just peace.”
07:46 AM GMT
Ukrainian missiles shot down over Russia
A salvo of three Ukrainian missiles was shot down over Russia’s south-western Kursk region on Monday.
The Russian defence ministry said the Tochka-U rockets were downed by anti-air defences in the early hours.
It did not disclose any information on damage or casualties.
07:29 AM GMT
Russia preparing winter offensive on frozen ground
Russia is reported to be preparing a new winter offensive on frozen ground in southern and eastern Ukraine.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based think tank, said there was growing speculation among Russian bloggers and commentators about an impending “large-scale offensive effort”.
But it added that Russia would not be able to achieve “operationally significant breakthroughs” because of Ukrainian drones, artillery and entrenched positions.
Bitterly cold winter conditions have slowed combat between Russia and Ukraine in recent weeks but the frozen ground could offer a major opportunity for breakthroughs before it begins to thaw.