Another wave of nighttime drone attacks hit the Kyiv region on Jan. 24. Two people died in Brovary after drone debris hit a residential building, and another person lost life in Hlevakha.

Destroyed houses and cafés had become a symbol of the incessant terror that affected the sleeping settlements of the Ukrainian capital metropolitan area. In response, Ukraine launched a massive counterattack, sending 121 drones to 13 Russian regions. Among other targets, the microprocessor plant in Bryansk and the refinery in Ryazan were hit, directly affecting the Russian missile guidance system production and fuel logistics.

According to the DeepState project, Russian forces had practically seized Velyka Novosilka and the locality of Vremivka. The loss of this defence node was a blow to the stability of the southern front. In Kharkiv, drones struck three districts, cutting off thousands of people from water and electricity supply in the middle of winter, a brutal method of pressuring civilians. Heated discussions were going on internationally. Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump's envoy, proposed financing U.S. arms purchases for Ukraine from frozen Russian assets. The US administration was being plagued with infighting over a 90-day suspension of foreign aid. While military aid deliveries appeared ensured, humanitarian programs on which the survival of millions of Ukrainian refugees and elderly people in the frontline zone depended were at risk.

On Jan. 27, the spokesman for the Khortytsya group of the army reported on a change in Russian tactics near Pokrovsk. The enemy had begun to avoid direct urban assaults in favour of operating in small teams with a view to encircling the city. Reports came from the Kursk region that North Korean units had withdrawn from the front line after suffering significant losses. According to the ISW, Ukrainian forces had retaken some positions in Toretsk, while the Russians had made advances near Chasiv Yar and Kurakhove. The British Ministry of National Defence pointed out the expansion of the Russian foothold on the Oskol river towards Dvorichna. During the night, Ukraine was attacked by 104 drones, 57 of which were shot down. At the same time, after the Ukrainian attacks, the refinery in Ryazan stopped operating, and the Ukrainian army reported the destruction of an S-400 radar system. The European Union decided to extend sanctions against Russia for another six months.

On Jan. 28, an announcement was made on the delivery of approximately 90 Patriot missiles to Ukraine from Israel (via the US and Poland). Meanwhile, the US administration eased the freeze on aid for life-saving programs but suspended the "Uniting for Ukraine" program for refugees. The Insider outlet published a report indicating that Russia's stockpiles of Soviet-era equipment were running low, which could affect the course of the war in 2026.

On Jan. 29, Russia launched a massive attack using an Iskander-M missile and 57 drones, causing damage in five regions. Ukraine responded with a massive strike of over 100 drones on targets deep inside Russia, severely damaging the Lukoil refinery in Kstovo and the Andreapol oil pumping station in the Tver region, which forced the Russians to close the BTS-2 pipeline and halt deliveries to the Ust-Luga terminal. NATO declared that it would maintain financial support for Ukraine at the level of $41.6 billion until the end of 2025. Also, a new drone, "Steel Eagle", developed jointly by Finnish and Ukrainian companies was presented.

On Jan. 30, the Ukrainians continued their attacks on Russian fuel infrastructure, striking the Novozybkov pumping station on the Druzhba pipeline in the Bryansk region. Sweden announced a record 18th military aid package worth $1.2 billion, including CB90 attack boats and support for the Ukrainian defence industry. The SBU identified the Russian commanders responsible for last year's attack on a hypermarket in Kharkiv, charging them with war crimes.

On Jan. 31, the DeepState project reported that the Russians had regained control of Novomlynsk in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian Special Forces confirmed that they had not observed the presence of North Korean troops on the front line for three weeks, which was attributed to their heavy losses. The ISW highlighted a concentration of Russian forces (6th Army and 1st Guards Tank Army) around Kupiansk, suggesting preparations for a long-term encirclement operation. During the night, Russia launched 102 drones, 59 of which were destroyed. In the evening, three Russian ballistic missiles struck the historic part of Odessa, injuring seven people and destroying buildings such as the Bristol Hotel and the Philharmonic. Ukraine carried out a successful drone attack on a refinery and an oil depot in Volgograd and destroyed the Kursk group's command post in Rylsk. Finland approved a 27th aid package (€198 million), and the Netherlands announced the delivery of further F-16s in 2025. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine approved for deployment the new "Hromylo" drone and confirmed the possession of long-range (2,000 km) drones capable of carrying 250-kilogram bombs.

Illustrative photo/AI generated