Tension in Pokrovsk, Russian oil depot was raided
On the morning of January 21, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that the Russian military had launched 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 131 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Ukrainian forces overnight. Kyiv said it shot down 72 Russian UAVs, while 59 others lost signal.
The Ukrainian side added that of at least 152 clashes taking place on the battlefield, more than half of the clashes occurred on the outskirts of Pokrovsk city, Donetsk province. Ukraine said it repelled 73 Russian attacks on this city.
The President of Ukraine said there are 100 brigades that need weapons, there is no need to lower the military age
Also in Donetsk, the Russian Ministry of Defense on January 21 announced control of the Vovkove settlement, 10 km southwest of Pokrovsk. According to Ukrainska Pravda newspaper, Russian forces recently decided not to directly attack Pokrovsk, but instead raided the southern areas of the city and cut off Ukraine’s logistics lines. Thereby, the supply route for Ukrainian forces defending Pokrovsk gradually decreased. Ukraine’s weapons and human resources supporting Pokrovsk are also gradually depleted.
Ukrainian artillery at a location near Pokrovsk
In other developments, the Ukrainian army on January 21 announced it had attacked an oil depot in Voronezh province and an aircraft factory in Smolensk province of Russia. Ukraine said that its military UAVs had raided the Liskinskaya oil depot in Voronezh for the second time in a week. Meanwhile, the factory in Smolensk that Ukraine attacked is where Russian fighter aircraft are manufactured and upgraded.
Moscow and Kyiv did not comment on each other’s statements.
The attacks in the city of Smolensk damaged two residential buildings. A UAV crashed into a high-rise building causing a fire. The Governor of Smolensk said no casualties were recorded, while the Russian Ministry of Defense on January 21 announced the interception of 10 UAVs attacking Smolensk and a total of 55 UAVs targeting Russian territory, according to Kyiv Post.
Ukrainians are tired of conflict, not sure Mr. Trump can be the savior
President Zelensky sent a message at WEF Davos
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on January 21 gave a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025, taking place in Davos, Switzerland. At the event, Mr. Zelensky called for Europe to assert its strong global position and at the same time have the ability to ensure peace and security for itself and for other countries.
Mr. Zelensky said that although Europe’s economic potential is greater than Russia’s, Moscow is the one with much greater capacity to produce ammunition and military equipment than Europe.
“Ensuring practical security for Ukraine is also a guarantee for Europe. If Europe has to spend 5% of GDP on the defense budget, then so be it,” Reuters quoted Mr. Zelensky as saying. The Ukrainian leader also emphasized that Europe needs to ensure that no country has to depend on energy from a single supplier.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky spoke at the 55th World Economic Forum on January 21
Mr. Zelensky’s direct appearance and speech at the WEF is said to be an effort by Kyiv’s leadership to enlist international support, in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict entering a new phase related to the change of ownership of the White House. The United States has so far been the country providing the largest military aid to Ukraine for nearly three years, but US President Donald Trump’s inauguration puts a question mark on Washington’s upcoming support plan for Kyiv.
Mr. Trump is someone who wants to end the conflict soon and is likely to force Russia and Ukraine to sit at the negotiating table. However, sheets The Telegraph Zelensky quoted advisers as warning that it would be a “catastrophic mistake” if the US forced Ukraine to negotiate before Kyiv gained advantages on the battlefield.
Mr. Trump’s foreign policy: End the war in Ukraine, buy Greenland
Speaking at WEF Davos on January 21, Mr. Zelensky said his team was working to arrange a bilateral meeting between the Ukrainian leader and President Donald Trump.
Ukraine arrested military doctor on corruption charges
On January 21, Ukraine announced the arrest of a medical officer in the country’s army who was arrested on charges of illegally profiting since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine, AFP reported.
The suspect holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Central Military Medical Committee of Ukraine and is responsible for evaluating and deciding whether a soldier’s condition ensures that he can participate in combat or not. The suspect is also the head of the psychiatrists in the Ukrainian armed forces.
According to records, the suspect owns illegal assets worth more than 1 million USD obtained in nearly 3 years. In addition, he did not declare his assets and registered his assets under the names of his wife, daughter, son and other individuals.
Investigators discovered that for nearly 3 years, this person bought several properties in Kyiv and Odesa city, and also bought many luxury cars. The suspect was charged with unjust enrichment and providing false information during the asset declaration process. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption work has recently focused on medical commissions, which can decide whether people coming for conscription examinations are eligible for military service. This leads to cases where people bribe doctors to falsify results, thereby avoiding military service.
