Ukraine-Russia latest: US pledges $500m in weapons and ammunition for Kyiv to fight Putin’s forces
Nearly £3.25bn in US funds earmarked by the Joe Biden administration for Ukraine may not be delivered before Donal Trump returns to the White House
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.The US will send half a billion dollars in military aid to Ukraine ahead of US president-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the country’s top diplomat has announced.
Speaking during the 25th and possibly final meeting of Ukraine’s western backers at the Ramstein air base in Germany, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Washington would supply one more trove of military support.
The $500m (£406m) package includes air defence missiles, air-to-ground munitions and support equipment for F-16 fighter jets. The US has sent roughly £50 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion nearly three years ago.
The announcement, however, suggests that the remaining $3.8bn of the funds set aside for Ukraine by the Joe Biden administration will remain unused ahead of Mr Trump’s return, despite previous commitments to use all the money.
Meanwhile, Russia launched dozens of glide bombs across Ukraine over the last 24 hours, Ukraine’s military reported in its latest update, as the casualty toll from an attack on civilian-populated Zaporizhzhia reached 126.
The Ukrainian general staff said Russia had launched 62 glide bomb attacks on Wednesday. The munitions, nicknamed “building-destroyers”, can carry warheads weighing up to 3 tonnes and blow holes deeper than bomb shelters.
Ukraine Kursk offensive: What Kyiv stands to gain and lose in surprise counterattack on Russian soil
Russia claims it has captured another town in eastern Ukraine but Kyiv doesn't confirm the loss
Ukraine-Russia war map: Where are Putin’s forces making gains on the frontline as 2025 begins?
How 2025 could bring Putin closer to victory over Europe
Russian drones cross into allied Belarusian airspace
More than a dozen Russian drones launched at Ukraine overnight crossed into Belarusian airspace, a report has found.
Dozens of Russian drones appear to have misfired and crossed into Belarus, an ally of Moscow, over the past three years.
Ukraine-Russia war map: Where are Putin’s forces making gains?
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
Finland says oil tanker linked to subsea cable damage has serious deficiencies
Finland’s public transport agency said on Wednesday that an oil tanker suspected of damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea has been found to have serious deficiencies and will not be allowed to operate until repairs have been made.
Baltic Sea nations are on high alert following a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Nato military alliance has said it will boost its presence in the region.
Finnish police seized the Eagle S tanker carrying Russian oil on 26 December and said they suspected that the vessel had damaged the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 power line and four telecoms cables by dragging its anchor across the seabed.
While the police investigation is ongoing, Finnish authorities also checked the vessel’s condition in a port state inspection that was concluded on Wednesday.
“Correcting the deficiencies will require repair assistance from outside the vessel and will take time,” director of Maritime Affairs Sanna Sonninen at Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom said in a statement.
Ukraine is right to stop 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
Mapped: Ukraine-Russia frontline
Below, you can see the latest updated maps of the front line in Ukraine and the Russian region of Kursk.
We have also highlighted the most significant flashpoints across the roughly 640-mile front line, including Kurakhove, which the Russians claimed to have captured at the start of this week.
What does Ukraine stand to gain with latest Kursk counterattack?
What Kyiv stands to gain and lose in surprise counter-attack on Russian soil
Russian military commentators are ‘worried’ about the multipronged Ukrainian attack in the border region
Russian governor visits site of Ukrainian drone strike
The governor of the Russian Saratov region has visited a damaged oil facility after a Ukrainian drone strike in the area caused a huge fire.
Ukraine military confirms responsibility over Engels strike
The Ukrainian military has confirmed responsibility for a drone strike against a Russian oil base in the city of Engels.
They said they hit the Russian oil base, known as Kristall, to “reduce [Russia’s] ability to strike peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilian objects”, as well as to “create serious logistical problems for Russian occupiers’ strategic aviation”.
They claimed the oil base, located near a major Russian military airbase, was fueling bomber planes that were later being used to fire missiles at Ukraine.
It is not usual practice for the Ukrainians to officially state responsibility for attacks deep inside of Russia.
You can read their full statement below.
Ukraine military says it shot down 41 Russian drones launched overnight
The Ukrainian military said on Wednesday that Russia launched a total of 64 drones at the country overnight.
Of those drones, Ukraine‘s air force shot down 41, while 22 “imitator drones” did not reach their targets, the air force added.
Drone debris fell on a private residence in the Kyiv region, damaging its facade and windows without causing any casualties, according to the local authorities.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments