At least four people have died in Russia’s most intense aerial bombardment of Ukraine so far this year, with strikes targeting Kyiv and Kharkiv overnight.<\/p>\n
In Kharkiv, the strikes claimed four lives and injured at least six others, with missiles striking targets on the outskirts of the northeastern city.<\/p>\n
The attack came hours after Russia was roundly condemned at an emergency UN Security Council meeting for firing its Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile at Lviv, just 50 miles from the border with Nato member Poland.<\/p>\n
US deputy ambassador to the UN Tammy Bruce accused Russia of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of its nearly four-year war in Ukraine at a time when the Trump administration is trying to broker a ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Zelensky says negotiators will submit security guarantees to the USUkraine\u2019s peace negotiators will finalise a document on security guarantees with the US and submit it for review \u201cat the highest level\u201d, Volodymyr Zelensky said.<\/p>\n
Ukraine, he said, is \u201ccoordinating meeting schedules with US president Trump\u2019s representatives \u2013 our documents are largely ready for signing\u201d.<\/p>\n
Zelensky did not share more details on the guarantees document.<\/p>\n
If Russia does not agree to end its war then pressure on Moscow must be maintained in other ways, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that the American side is in contact with Russia regarding the political framework for ending the war. We have defined our vision, and there must be clear feedback from Russia \u2013 whether they are willing to end the war on real terms,\u201d Zelensky said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is no such willingness, pressure on the aggressor must continue to increase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arpan Rai13 January 2026 06:17<\/p>\n
Watch: Russia reports striking transportation facilities, Ukraine claims repelling attacksRussia reports striking transportation facilities, Ukraine claims repelling attacksArpan Rai13 January 2026 06:02<\/p>\n
UK and US condemn Russia\u2019s Oreshnik ballistic missile strike on UkraineThe U.K. and the U.S. have condemned Russia’s use of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile in Ukraine, calling it a \u201cdangerous and inexplicable escalation\u201d at an emergency meeting called by the UN Security Council (UNSC).<\/p>\n
Russia Friday claimed it fired the hypersonic missile at a critical target in Ukraine in response to what it described as an attempted drone strike on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, a claim refuted by Kyiv.<\/p>\n
Arpan Rai13 January 2026 05:51<\/p>\n
Four dead in most intense Russian air raid of 2026 so farAt least four people have been killed in Russia’s most intense overnight aerial bombardment of the year so far, according to Ukrainian officials and media.<\/p>\n
Ukraine\u2019s capital Kyiv came under a short but intense attack from Russian missiles, head of Kyiv\u2019s military administration Tymur Tkachenko said.<\/p>\n
Reuters reported its witnesses heard explosions in the city, but there was no immediate word on casualties or damage.<\/p>\n
In Kharkiv, 30km (18 miles) from the border and also a frequent Russian target, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said four people had died in a strike on the outskirts of the city.<\/p>\n
Syniehubov said six people were injured.<\/p>\n
Telegram channels monitoring Ukraine said about 20 ballistic missiles were launched within about an hour overnight, in what they described as the most sustained strike on Ukraine so far in 2026.<\/p>\n
Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone strikes in Kyiv (Reuters)Arpan Rai13 January 2026 05:22<\/p>\n
Russia using African mercenaries as suicide bombers in Ukraine warRussian forces are using African citizens as \u201cmeat for the meat grinder\u201d in their war against Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian official.<\/p>\n
Videos from the war frontline show Russia\u2019s troops allegedly strapping a landmine to an African mercenary\u2019s chest and asking him to run as a human bomb through no man\u2019s land and target Ukraine\u2019s positions, reported The Telegraph.<\/p>\n
An unseen man, believed to be a Russian soldier, uses racist insults and tells the mercenary that he is being used as a \u201ccan opener\u201d who will blow himself up to \u201copen\u201d an enemy bunker.<\/p>\n
The Independent has not verified the authenticity of the video independently.<\/p>\n
Ukraine\u2019s ambassador to South Africa, Olexander Scherba, confirmed participation of several African nationals in Moscow\u2019s war on Ukraine who are being used in Vladimir Putin\u2019s meat grinding war.<\/p>\n
Scherba said several members of a South African political party with close ties with Russia embroiled in a recent scandal were forced into combat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere might be all kinds of charm offensives on the African continent, but once an African person comes to this war, they just become meat for the meat grinder,\u201d he told The Telegraph.<\/p>\n
The scandal shows Russia \u201clooks at Africa through imperial eyes, he said.<\/p>\n
Arpan Rai13 January 2026 04:54<\/p>\n
Ukraine launches air attack on Russia’s TaganrogUkraine has attacked Russia\u2019s Taganrog city in the southern Rostov region, officials said this morning.<\/p>\n
Rostov governor Yuri Slyusar said Russian air defence systems were trying to repel a Ukrainian air attack.<\/p>\n
\u201cDetails on the impact on the ground are being clarified,\u201d he said on his Telegram channel.<\/p>\n
The Russian city hosts a number of military facilities and has come under frequent attacks throughout the war.<\/p>\n
In November, Ukraine’s armed forces reported successful strikes on several strategic Russian targets, including the Taganrog Aircraft Repair Plant and the Atlant Aero drone manufacturing facility in Rostov oblast.<\/p>\n
Arpan Rai13 January 2026 04:35<\/p>\n
Ukraine saw sharp rise in civilian casualties in 2025, UN monitor showsThe year 2025 was the deadliest for civilians in Ukraine since 2022, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said.<\/p>\n
These deaths in Ukraine have gone up after intensified hostilities on the war frontline and expanded use of long-range weapons from Russia.<\/p>\n
Conflict-related violence in Ukraine killed 2,514 civilians and injured 12,142 in 2025, a 31 per cent rise in the number of victims from 2024, the monitor said in a monthly update on civilian harm. <\/p>\n
The vast majority of the casualties verified by the watchdog occurred in Ukrainian government-controlled territory from attacks launched by Russian armed forces, the statement added. Ukrainian officials generally cite the UN figures as accurate.<\/p>\n
Almost two-thirds of all casualties last year occurred in frontline areas, with older persons particularly affected as they remained in their villages. Civilian casualties caused by short-range drones also increased sharply, it added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe expanded use of short-range drones has rendered many areas near the frontline effectively uninhabitable,” said Danielle Bell, head of the monitoring mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2025, many people who had endured years of hostilities were ultimately compelled to leave their homes,\u201d confirming displacement of civilians as another impact of the war.<\/p>\n
Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone strikes in Kyiv (Reuters)Arpan Rai13 January 2026 04:21<\/p>\n
Watch: Kyiv strikes oil rigs in Caspian Sea with dramatic drone footage releasedKyiv strikes oil rigs in Caspian Sea with dramatic drone footage releasedArpan Rai13 January 2026 04:08<\/p>\n
Britain condemns Russia’s Oreshnik missile attack on Ukraine at UNBritain’s envoy to the UN said Russia\u2019s use of hypersonic ballistic missile on Ukraine last week that killed four and injured several others should be \u201cuniversally condemned\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis hypersonic missile capable of travelling at over Mach 10, is reported to have hit a site in the region of Lviv, just 50 miles from the Polish border,\u201d ambassador James Kariuki, UK Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affaires to the UN, said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch action is reckless \u2013 it threatens regional and international security, and carries significant risk of escalation and miscalculation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Arpan Rai13 January 2026 03:53<\/p>\n
Greenland could vote to join Russia if Trump does not hurry, says Kremlin officialGreenlanders could vote to join Russia if US president Donald Trump did not move quickly to secure the Arctic island, a senior Russian official said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrump needs to hurry. According to unverified information, in a few days there could be a sudden referendum, at which the entire 55,000-strong Greenland could vote to join Russia,” said Russian security council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev.<\/p>\n
“And then that\u2019s it. No new little stars on the (US) flag,” he said.<\/p>\n
While Russia makes no claim to Greenland, it has long monitored the island\u2019s strategic role in Arctic security, given its position on North Atlantic routes and the presence there of a major US military and space surveillance facility.<\/p>\n
Trump has revived his push for the United States to take control of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, arguing Washington needs to own it to deter Russia.<\/p>\n
The US president has said its location and resources make Greenland vital for national security, prompting firm objections from Denmark and Greenland.<\/p>\n
Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh (AFP\/Getty)Arpan Rai13 January 2026 03:28<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At least four people have died in Russia’s most intense aerial bombardment of Ukraine so far this year, with strikes targeting Kyiv and Kharkiv overnight. In Kharkiv, the strikes claimed four lives and injured at least six others, with missiles striking targets on the outskirts of the northeastern city. The attack came hours after Russia […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n