Ukraine Russia war latest: Kyiv strikes three Russian air defence systems as surprise Kursk attack rolls on
The value of the Russian air defence systems reportedly damaged by Ukraine in just one day is over £24 million
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ukraine has claimed to have destroyed three Russian air defence systems in just one day, worth tens of millions of pounds.
Ukrainian navy commander Oleksii Neizhpapa said they had hit two Russian anti-missile Pantsir-S1 systems and one OSA anti-aircraft vehicle in one day. The Pantsir’s have an estimated value of $15m (£12m).
“Our soldiers continue to turn Russian equipment into scrap metal,” he wrote on a Facebook post.
He shared a video apparently showing a drone hitting a Pantsir-S1 vehicle. Both Pantsir-S1’s were destroyed in occupied Kherson, southern Ukraine, he added.
It comes as Ukraine has launched a surprise counterattack in the Russian border region of Kursk, targeting “at least three” different points of the frontline in that direction.
According to war trackers, Ukrainian troops launched a second day of multiple attacks on Sunday on the eastern and western flank of what they already control in Kursk, after partially capturing the region last August.
The Institute for the Study of War, a US based think tank mapping the frontline, said Ukraine had made advances to the northeast of Sudzha, the only city in Kusk controlled by Kyiv.
Zelensky says Russian and North Korean troops suffered significant losses in Kursk
Ukraine-Russia war map: Where are Putin’s forces making gains on the frontline as 2025 begins?
Ukraine ends Russian gas pipeline to Europe – but how much will it cost Moscow?
The Natalia Grace saga: Ukrainian adoptee accused of faking her age has a new family
Putin and Trump are deluded about one another – and Ukraine will pay the price
Putin and Trump are deluded about one another – and Ukraine will pay the price
With Donald Trump vowing to the end war in Ukraine quickly, Tom Watling speaks to American and British former officials about the overconfidence of both the US president-elect and the Russian leader
Russia claims control over another village just south of Ukraine’s Pokrovsk
Russian forces have reportedly captured the village of Dachenske, just south of the important Ukrainian logistics hub of Pokrovsk, the Russian defence ministry claimed on Monday.
Earlier, they claimed to have taken control of the Ukrainian town of Kurakhove to the south.
The Independent could not verify these claims, however Ukrainian war tracker DeepState, known to have close ties to the military, recorded Dachenske as at least partially under Russian control.
Ukraine is right to turn off the flow of Russian gas – whatever the cost
Ukraine is right to turn off the flow of Russian gas – whatever the cost
Editorial: Almost three years after Putin’s invasion, it almost beggars belief that cheap energy from Russia was still being piped across war-ravaged Ukraine into Europe. Stopping it has triggered another global price spiral, and may yet have dire political consequences – but EU leaders cannot afford to maintain this habit
Ukraine ends Russian gas pipeline to Europe – but how much will it cost Moscow?
Ukraine ends Russian gas pipeline to Europe – but how much will it cost Moscow?
Russia will no longer transport gas to Europe via Ukraine’s pipelines, further limiting its ability to raise capital
US says Ukraine’s Kursk attacks key to any negotiations with Putin
US secretary of state Anthony Blinken has described Ukraine’s partial control over the Russian border region as key to any possible future negotiations with Russia.
Speaking in Seoul, South Korea, Mr Blinken said: “The positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region are very important, because, of course, this is what will matter for any negotiations that may take place in the coming year.”
His comments came as Ukraine launched its second day of attacks on the eastern flank of it’s attack in Kursk on Sunday, causing some concern among Putin’s troops, according to online reports.
Russia-appointed officials in Crimea declare emergency as oil spill reaches Sevastopol
Russia-appointed officials in Crimea declare emergency as oil spill reaches Sevastopol
Russia-appointed officials in Moscow-occupied Crimea have announced a regional emergency after oil was detected on the coast of Sevastopol
Ukraine will ask allies to boost its air defenses at a meeting in Germany, Zelenskyy says
Ukraine will ask allies to boost its air defenses at a meeting in Germany, Zelenskyy says
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will again call on allies to boost its air defenses at this week’s meeting in Germany as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes over later this month with a vow to end the war quickly
Ukraine-Russia war map: Where are Putin’s forces making gains on the frontline as 2025 begins?
By the time February 2025 arrives, marking three years since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the situation on the front line could look very different.
Currently, Russian forces are advancing in the east, slowly but surely, and they are shrinking Ukraine’s partial hold of the border region of Kursk.
That the Russians haven’t been more successful is a testament, above all else, to the resilience of Ukraine’s troops on the ground, many of whom have been fighting continuously for years. Dysfunction in the Russian military, with Mr Putin as its de facto commander-in-chief, is another.
But US president Joe Biden has sent the final military package of his tenure to Ukraine, ending the support (for now) of Kyiv’s most heavily-armed ally. US president-elect Donald Trump will soon re-enter the White House on the promise of ending the fighting altogether, even if that potentially means rewarding Mr Putin for his illegal land grab.
Ukraine-Russia war map 2025: Where are Putin’s forces making gains on the frontline?
Russian forces are advancing in the east, slowly but surely, and they are shrinking Ukraine’s partial hold of the border region of Kursk
Ukraine downs two missiles, 79 drones launched by Russia overnight
The Ukrainian air force said it shot down two Kh-59 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight.
Of 128 drones launched, 79 drones were shot down and 49 did not reach their targets, the air force said.
The attack damaged enterprises and private residences in five Ukrainian regions without causing any casualties, the air force added.
Russia says it captures Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine
Russian forces have seized control of Kurakhove, a town in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, the Russian defence ministry claimed this morning.
Gaining control over Kurakhove “has significantly hampered the logistics and technical support” of Ukrainian troops, the ministry said.
Kurakhove lies 32km (20 miles) south of Pokrovsk, an important Ukrainian logistics hub towards which Russia has been advancing for months. The two towns are also Russia’s two most prioritised sectors of the frontline.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments