Russian forces conducted a series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine overnight on January 24 to 25.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles/S-300 air defense missiles from Bryansk Oblast and 102 Shahed-type, Gerbera-type, and other strike drones – of which 70 were Shaheds – from the directions of Kursk, Bryansk, and Oryol cities; Shatalovo, Smolensk Oblast; and occupied Donetsk City.[55] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 87 drones, that 15 drones struck 10 locations, and that officials are still clarifying the impact of the missile strikes. Ukrainian officials reported that drone strikes damaged residential areas and a shopping center in Kharkiv City, and an industrial enterprise and civilian infrastructure in Poltava Oblast.[56]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on January 25 that Russian forces launched over 1,700 long range strike drones, over 1,380 glide bombs, and 69 missiles against Ukraine in the past week (about January 18 to 25).[57]
Kyiv City Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported on January 25 that 1,676 high rise buildings in Kyiv City remained without power due to Russia’s January 23 to 24 strikes against Kyiv City energy infrastructure.[58]
Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets published footage on January 24 showing Ukrainian forces using the STING interceptor drone to down a Russian Shahed-107 drone, which Russian forces began fielding as of November 2025.[59] Wild Hornets reported that a single Ukrainian drone unit used STING interceptor drones to down 22 Russian aerial targets within six hours.[60]
Ukraine reports that air defenses shot down or suppressed 87 Russian drones overnight. Russia also launched ballistic or S-300 missiles and more than 100 UAVs, including Shaheds, from several directions. Impacts were recorded at multiple locations.
Ukrainian forces conducted a strike reportedly with HIMARS against Russian energy infrastructure in Belgorod Oblast on the night of January 24 to 25. Footage published on January 24 shows explosions and fires at the Belgorod Thermal Power Plant (TPP) in Belgorod City after a likely Ukrainian strike.[15] Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes damaged energy infrastructure and caused fires in Belgorod City and claimed the strike was with a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).[16]
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“Empires do not collapse entirely without violence, but the level of violence can vary. […] Unfortunately, Russia’s story is different. This empire is receding into the past through major wars, through attempts to reconquer lands once appropriated, with Ukraine at the epicenter of this process.”
— Kristian Kiehling (@kristiankiehling.bsky.social) Jan 26, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Kremlin officials continue to reiterate Russia’s commitment to its original war aims and reject Western security guarantees for Ukraine, amid continued reporting that negotiations will resume in the coming days.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov made a statement suggesting that the Kremlin is using its participation in ongoing negotiations with the United States to stave off a significant increase in US pressure against Russia that could impede its war effort.
Russia continues to intensify recruitment efforts for the Russian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) that may also staff the conventional Russian ground forces.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov appointed Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov as a Ministry of Defense (MoD) advisor on defense technology on January 25.
Ukrainian forces recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian forces recently advanced near Borova, in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, and near Novopavlivka.
**General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine**
*Operational information as of 22:00 on January 25, 2026, regarding the Russian invasion*
The defense forces are focusing their efforts on disrupting the Russian invaders’ plans for an offensive and exhausting their combat potential.
Since the beginning of the day, there have been 129 combat clashes.
The enemy carried out 61 air strikes and dropped 155 guided bombs. In addition, it used 4,983 kamikaze drones and carried out 2,782 shellings of populated areas and positions of our troops.
– In the North Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Ukrainian soldiers repelled one enemy attack today, the enemy carried out two air strikes, using three guided bombs, and carried out 69 shellings of our troops’ positions and populated areas.
– In the South Slobozhanskyi direction, the enemy stormed the positions of our units in the areas of the settlements of Zelenе, Vovchansk, Prylipka, Starytsia, and in the direction of Izbytskyi. Ukrainian units repelled eight attacks, and another combat engagement is currently ongoing.
– Ukrainian defenders repelled six attacks in the direction of Pishchane and Petropavlivka in the Kupiansk direction.
– In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped 12 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Serhiivka, Drobysheve, Kolodyazi, Novoselivka, and Zarichne.
– In the Sloviansk direction, our defenders repelled two attempts by the occupiers to advance in the area of Platonivka and towards Yampil.
– One attack was stopped in the Kramatorsk direction, in the area of the settlement of Orikhovo-Vasylivka.
– In the Kostyantynivka direction, the occupiers stormed the positions of our defenders nine times today near the settlements of Pleshchiivka, Kleban-Byk, Shcherbinivka, and in the direction of Kostyantynivka and Sofiivka.
– In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy carried out 38 attacks. The occupiers tried to advance near the settlements of Shakhov, Dorozhne, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetsk, and towards Filiya and Novopavlivka. Fighting is still ongoing in some locations.
According to preliminary estimates, today our soldiers eliminated 52 occupiers and wounded 36 in this direction; they destroyed 25 unmanned aerial vehicles, two motor vehicles, and a ground-based robotic complex, and also hit eight motor vehicles and ten enemy personnel shelters.
– In the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian units stopped five attacks by the occupiers in the areas of the settlements of Zelenyi Hai, Verbove, Krasnohirsk, and in the direction of Novyi Zaporizhzhia.
– In the Huliaipole direction, there were 14 attacks by the occupiers in the areas of the settlements of Solodke, Huliaipole, Dorozhnyanka, and in the direction of Varvarivka, Zeleny, and Pryluky.
– In the Orikhiv direction, the enemy twice attacked the positions of our defenders in the areas of Plavni and Stepove.
– In the Prydniprovsk direction, the enemy attack ended without result.
Let’s defeat the enemy and bring our victory closer!
Glory to Ukraine!
Trump has exposed how vacant every single high profile conservative belief was: free speech, states’ rights, letting the market decide, NATO, right to bear arms, democracy, all of it. It’s been an empty, malicious political project for decades and decades