Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated
12 hours ago

Ukraine-Russia latest: Putin’s forces claim capture of strategic town as Zelensky makes Trump appeal

Ukrainian brigade confirms withdrawing strategically from some areas to avoid encirclement

Tara Cobham,Namita Singh,Andy Gregory
Monday 27 January 2025 13:36 GMT
Comments
Trump describes Ukraine war as ‘bullets whacking and hitting men’

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.

Russia claims to have captured the strategically important Ukrainian town of Velyka Novosilka, as Vladimir Putin’s forces continue their push in the Donetsk region.

A spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern forces confirmed on Monday that Russian troops had entered the town, but said that fighting continued on the outskirts.

With concerns that Russia could advance further towards Pokrovsk, president Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that he had replaced the commander of military formation responsible for defending the key city for the third time in a year.

Mr Zelensky has also made a demand for Kyiv to be included in talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine that he believes could happen under Donald Trump’s US presidency.

The Ukrainian president said that the terms of any deal that might arise under the new US president were still unclear – and might not even be clear to Mr Trump himself – because Vladimir Putin had no interest in ending the war.

Meanwhile, Russia claimed its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 32 Ukrainian drones overnight.

13 hours ago

Starmer and Irish PM discuss Ukraine war

Sir Keir Starmer and Micheal Martin have discussed the Ukraine war in a call on Monday morning, the Irish premier has said.

Speaking after the call, Mr Martin said: “I was pleased to speak again with British prime minister Keir Starmer this morning, following my appointment as Taoiseach.”

He added: “We discussed global issues, including Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, in particular the need for a surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Later today I will be attending an event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

“We discussed the importance of remaining committed today to combatting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, intolerance and racism.”

Andy Gregory27 January 2025 13:15
13 hours ago

Full report: Zelensky believes Trump could end Russia’s war – but only if Kyiv included in talks

Volodymyr Zelensky has stated his belief that a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine could be made under Donald Trump’s presidency but demanded Kyiv be included in any peace talks.

The Ukrainian president also said on Saturday that the terms of any deal that might arise under the new US president were still unclear – and might not even be clear to Trump himself – because Vladimir Putin had no interest in ending the war.

My colleague Tara Cobham reports:

Zelensky believes Trump could end Russia’s war but only if Ukraine included in talks

Ukrainian President issues demand to US President after Vladimir Putin states Moscow is ‘ready for negotiations’

Andy Gregory27 January 2025 13:00
13 hours ago

Pictured: Russia’s Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine arrives at Northern Fleet base

(AP)
(AP)
Andy Gregory27 January 2025 12:45
13 hours ago

Desperate Ukrainians resorting to illegal routes and ‘rogue advisers’ to bring children to UK

Desperate Ukrainian families are resorting to illegal routes and “rogue advisers” to bring their children to Britain after “catastrophic” changes to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, ministers have been told.

The government, which has vowed “ironclad” support for Ukrainians, has been warned repeatedly since taking office that changes to the Ukrainian sponsorship schemes – made overnight last February by the Tory administration – are preventing children from joining their parents in the UK.

This has now created the “inevitable” situation in which families are resorting to bringing children to the UK via irregular routes, leaving them at risk of exploitation by criminals and people traffickers, a charity supporting Ukrainians told the home secretary this week.

Speaking to The Independent, one Ukrainian mother said she was left with no choice but to bring her children from Ukraine illegally after their carer grandparent fell ill, and urged the government to change course to allow families to reunite in safety.

Desperate Ukrainians using illegal routes to bring children to UK, ministers warned

Exclusive: Mother forced to bring children to UK illegally urges Starmer to ensure families can be reunited

Andy Gregory27 January 2025 12:30
14 hours ago

Pokrovsk remains Russia’s key target in Ukraine’s east, Kyiv warns

Viktor Trehubov, a military spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern front, that the logistics hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region remained the main Russian target, after Vladimir Putin’s forces seized the town of Velyka Novosilka.

Around 7,000 people are believed to remain inside Pokrovsk, which had around 60,000 residents before the invasion.

“The Pokrovsk direction accounts for at least half of all combat clashes, there is a lot of fighting there. It is the most active direction,” Mr Trehubov told Ukrainian TV. “They are trying to bypass the city, cut the supply lines and drive our troops out of the city.”

Andy Gregory27 January 2025 12:15
14 hours ago

Ukraine confirms withdrawal from key Donetsk town

The Ukrainian military has confirmed its withdrawal from the key Donetsk town of Velyka Novosilka, a day after Russia said it had captured it.

Viktor Trehubov, a military spokesperson for Ukraine's eastern front, confirmed that Russian troops had entered the town but said fighting continued on the outskirts.

Andy Gregory27 January 2025 12:00
14 hours ago

Zelensky replaces eastern commander as Ukraine withdraws from key Donetsk town

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has replaced the commander of the eastern front, the most heated battlefield of the Ukraine war, after Russian forces captured another strategic town there.

Brigadier-General Andriy Hnatov was replaced as the battlefield commander in the east by Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, overall commander of ground forces, who will keep his previous duties. Hnatov was given a role overseeing training and communications.

In his nightly video address late on Sunday, Mr Zelensky said the aim was to strengthen the command of troops in the Donetsk region.

The Ukrainian military confirmed on Monday that it had withdrawn from the Donetsk town of Velyka Novosilka, a day after Russia said it had captured it. Viktor Trehubov, a military spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern front, confirmed that Russian troops had entered the town but said fighting continued on the outskirts.

Andy Gregory27 January 2025 11:45
14 hours ago

EU foreign ministers agree rollover of Russia sanctions after Hunarian opposition, diplomats say

European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to renew the bloc's wide-ranging sanctions on Russia, imposed over the war in Ukraine, diplomats have told Reuters.

Following some opposition from Hungary to extending the sanctions, foreign minister Peter Szijjarto had suggested prior to the meeting in Brussels that Budapest was hoping for EU guarantees to protect its energy supply.

Andy Gregory27 January 2025 11:30
15 hours ago

In Focus | Russian spy ships are coming into our waters and we must respond

In a comment piece for Independent Voices, Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at the Chatham House think-tank’s Russia and Eurasia Programme, writes:

There have been strong words from Defence secretary John Healey after a British submarine had to warn off a Russian spy ship in UK waters. His message for Russia was: “We know what you are doing. And we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.”

It’s the “robust action” part that’s important. In the run-up to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western leaders also told Vladimir Putin that they knew what he was doing – but without the threat of consequences for doing it that were meaningful for the Kremlin, there was no reason for him not to go ahead and do it.

Now, Healey’s claimed change to “rules of engagement” is a clear warning to Russia. Whether it will be heeded is another question. Turkey, for instance, clearly explained its rules of engagement to Russia in 2015 in response to repeated airspace violations by Russian military aircraft operating in Syria. Russia chose to disregard those warnings until Turkey shot down one of those aircraft, after which Russia chose to treat Turkish warnings with greater respect.

Russian spy ships are coming into our waters and we must respond

The defence secretary has revealed the growing threat from Russia after one of their ships was discovered spying in British waters, writes Keir Giles. It is part of a worrying pattern of behaviour that can only be met by bolstering our key defences

Andy Gregory27 January 2025 11:15
15 hours ago

Russia claims to have retaken village in Kursk

Russian troops regained control from Ukraine of the village of Nikolayevo-Darino in Russia’s western Kursk region, Vladimir Putin’s defence ministry has claimed.

Moscow’s forces have been fighting to eject Ukrainian troops from Kursk since 6 August, when Kyiv staged a surprise incursion over the border into Russia.

Andy Gregory27 January 2025 11:00

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in