President of France Emmanuel Macron stated that France provides Ukraine with two-thirds of its intelligence, effectively replacing the United States in this regard, Macron made this statement during a speech to the military at the Istres-Le Tubé base.

According to Macron, the changes began after the United States suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine in March 2025 as part of political arrangements regarding peace negotiations with Russia.

Since then, Europe has taken on a key role in supporting Kyiv, including through a coalition of more than 30 countries providing Ukraine with financial and technical assistance.

"The message we are sending to our Ukrainian partners, to other Europeans, and to the world is that we are ready. We are ready to support these resistance efforts. We are ready to deter new aggressions or to ensure peace on our land," added the President of France.

Macron: France provides two-thirds of intelligence for Ukraine

5 hours ago, bultaco44 said:

Ukraine is winning the war

:Rofl:

Oh, those annoying goalposts

Carry on

You are quite entertaining

If you look at the context behind your editing, they are saying the same thing.

But what else to expect from a poster who doubles down on disingenuous sleaze.

You are not entertaining, More like a persistent tiny buzzing mosquito in an ear.

Look dude -- if you believe that Russia will win this war and that Ukraine never had any chance against Russia, you indeed may end up being right on the former, but you're obviously wrong on the latter,

Possible momentum shift again towards Russia.

Russia's attacks on civilian energy infrastructure and the usual intentional war crime murdering of civilians is taking a big toll on Kyiv.

Plus it's been an extremely cold winter.

This in the context of Putin's pal Trump having limited Ukraine's air defenses. (Yes, blood on Trump's hands, but what else is new?).

So Putin is trying to waar down the morale of Ukrainians in a more aggressive manner and it has the potential of working for him,

Ukraine does indeed have a blueprint for victory which involves ruining oil money fueled Russia's war economy.

But that won't necessarily work on time.

I'm not quite there yet to shift the current winning momentum to Russia, but depending on developments in the following weeks, may get there.

Italy has begun delivering powerful industrial boilers to Ukraine amid the country’s difficult energy situation, according to Ukrainian Foreign MinisterAndrii Sybiha.

The delivery is aimed at critically important facilities most affected by the emergencies, ensuring rapid support for local communities. The equipment ranges in capacity from 550 to 3,000 kW, with a total value of 1.85 million euros.

"This will help the most affected communities quickly restore heat and critical infrastructure," Sybiha emphasized, highlighting the importance of rapid support.

Italy provides support package to Ukraine amid energy emergency

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Russia's attacks on civilian energy infrastructure

Attrition

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

and the usual intentional war crime murdering of civilians

If intentional it's really poorly done. Have you got the numbers for civilian losses ?

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

This in the context of Putin's pal Trump having limited Ukraine's air defenses

He needs it in Israel

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

So Putin is trying to waar down the morale of Ukrainians in a more aggressive manner and it has the potential of working for him,

Attrition

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Ukraine does indeed have a blueprint for victory which involves ruining oil money fueled Russia's war economy.

They should use it then

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

if you believe that Russia will win this war and that Ukraine never had any chance against Russia

I don't know.

Both parties have taken big losses since Boris Johnson showed up.

No winners there

But I can't see an end to this without Russia getting their guaranties

And how can that be set up ?

On 1/14/2026 at 6:23 PM, bultaco44 said:

Ok

Your thread title and first words of the thread gave me another idea.

More or less that anyone who would question your prediction on a ukrainian victory, was"parroting russian propaganda"

A bit rich, wouldn't you say

I know that information is hard to come by, but your stuff is a tad too onesided.

Makes me wonder why Ukraine didn't .....win a couple of years ago !

You are posting propaganda, my friend; mixed with truth and some facts.

Sadly life is too short to figure out what is snot and what is beard

All the best

I don't want to make any assumptions, but in case English is not your first language, I should point out that, "is winning" does not mean the same thing as, "has won."

8 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

I don't want to make any assumptions, but in case English is not your first language, I should point out that, "is winning" does not mean the same thing as, "has won."

Thank You

On January 13, 2026, the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a missile strike on the Atlant Aero enterprise in Taganrog, Rostov region. Ukrainian-made missiles were used in the attack.

The facility carries out a full cycle of work — from design to production and testing — of Molniya-type strike and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles.

In addition, the plant manufactures components for Orion drones, which are used by the Russian occupation forces.

In addition, on the night of January 16, Ukrainian defenders struck an ammunition depot of a unit from the 76th Air Assault Division in the city of Prymorsk, in the temporarily occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region.

Strike on Russian plant producing Molniya drones: General Staff reveals new details

Putin cheerleaders need to watch this

On Friday, January 16, Finland’s Ministry of Defense announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth €98 million.

The country’s Defense Minister, Antti Häkkänen, emphasized that the package addresses Ukraine’s urgent needs in the war. He noted that the aid was formed on an accelerated schedule to ensure that the military receives it as quickly as possible.

Details of the aid package’s contents are not being disclosed for security and operational reasons. The delivery methods and schedule are also being kept confidential.

"The procurement program to support Ukraine through domestic defense industry production is also progressing this year as planned. Finland continues to support Ukraine with defense equipment, as this remains the most effective way to contribute to establishing a just peace," Häkkänen stressed.

Since the start of the full-scale war, Finland has provided Ukraine with approximately €3.1 billion in aid, including this new package.

Finland announces new military aid package for Ukraine worth nearly 100 million euros

Germany is allocating an additional €60 million to Ukraine for winter and energy support. The funds will help improve heating and energy supply, especially in frontline regions, according to a statement from Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha.

I highly appreciate Germany’s additional€60 million package for winter and energy support for Ukraine, announced today by my friend and colleague, Minister Wadephul," Sybiha said.

These funds will help improve heating and energy supply, especially in frontline regions, so that people feel protected even in harsh winter conditions.

"We value Germany’s steadfast solidarity. This assistance will help keep our people warm and protected by strengthening heating and heat supply systems," added the Foreign Minister.

Germany allocates additional aid package to Ukraine: How funds will be used

Russian authorities are trying to create an alternative picture of the fighting by systematically spreading false claims that Kupiansk has allegedly been captured, according to the analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

According to ISW analysts, Russian military commanders continue to claim that Russian forces allegedly control all districts of Kupiansk and that attempts by Ukraine’s Defense Forces to retake the city have failed.

At the same time, there is extensive evidence that Ukrainian troops have liberated most of the city and surrounding areas.

Manipulation aimed at influencing peace talks

Analysts say the disinformation campaign is part of a broader Kremlin information strategy designed to influence the position of the US and its partners regarding potential peace negotiations.

By doing so, Russia is trying to impose a narrative of the supposed inevitability of its victory and pressure Ukraine and the West into accepting Russian demands under the threat of future offensives.

Kupiansk is a 'pain point': ISW reveals why Russia is bluffing about control

Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian training ground, from which Oreshnik launches are conducted. This was a strike against a facility used to attack the outskirts of Lviv on January 8, according to Militarnyi.

The attack was at the 4th State Central Inter-Service Training Ground Kapustin Yar in the Astrakhan region. The site is actively used for testing the medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik.

The Russian Telegram channel Radar VRV reports that air defense was deployed at the site during the attack, but the strike drones hit the assembly and testing building.

In addition to Oreshnik, the ground is used to test various short- and medium-range missiles, cruise missiles, air defense systems, and S-400 launchers.

Ukrainian drones strike Russian training ground used for Oreshnik launches

On 1/16/2026 at 12:24 AM, Jingthing said:

Russia invaded Ukraine.

That was Putin's choice.

In the modern world, if a good country see evil approaching such as narcotics or nazists, the good country simply does not have another choice. America has recently demonstrated this by defeating the evil of drug trafficking from Venezuela. Inspired by this example, Vlad is ready to put an end to Nazism.

On 1/19/2026 at 12:02 AM, zmisha said:

In the modern world, if a good country see evil approaching such as narcotics or nazists, the good country simply does not have another choice. America has recently demonstrated this by defeating the evil of drug trafficking from Venezuela. Inspired by this example, Vlad is ready to put an end to Nazism.

Vlad represents the "Nazi" side in this war, we don't need Z fascist propaganda here.

The idiocy and amorality of Trump is another thing. He has openly stated the reason himself why he took out Maduro and left his murderous regime fully intact -- OIL.

I stated before I'm feeling on the edge of calling a momentum shift back to Russia because of the success of Putin's terrorist freezing of Kyiv. But this news suggests it would be premature to call that shift.

Opinion | Ukraine building high-tech defense against Russian drones, missiles - The Washington Post

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/20/ukraine-kyiv-air-defense-russian-drones-missiles/

‘Unconquerable’: What a visit to frigid Ukraine convinced me

AI-powered air defense could counter Moscow’s greatest advantage — and keep Kyiv in the fight.

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

He has openly stated the reason himself why he took out Maduro and left his murderous regime fully intact -- OIL.

Well, as far as I know, Trump is not a priest, but a president. The difference is that priests are concerned with the purity of the souls of all people on earth, while presidents are only interested in the interests of their country.

3 minutes ago, zmisha said:

Well, as far as I know, Trump is not a priest, but a president. The difference is that priests are concerned with the purity of the souls of all people on earth, while presidents are only interested in the interests of their country.

Trump is only interested in the interests of Trump.

He's the most corrupt president in American history, and very openly so.

You're just here to play head puck mind games to promote the genocidal war criminal Russian dictator. Do you think you're fooling anyone otherwise?

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Trump is only interested in the interests of Trump.

He's the most corrupt president in American history, and very openly so.

You're just here to play head puck mind games to promote the genocidal war criminal Russian dictator. Do you think you're fooling anyone otherwise?

I've never tried to convince anyone to support Vladimir Putin. I believe that all countries in the world are competitors. Supporting a competitor is simply stupid.

4 minutes ago, zmisha said:

I've never tried to convince anyone to support Vladimir Putin. I believe that all countries in the world are competitors. Supporting a competitor is simply stupid.

More cynical mind games.

Ukrainian paratroopers destroyed a Russian reconnaissance drone worth $7.5 million over the Sumy region, according to the Telegram of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.

“Recently, paratroopers spotted an enemy Forpost drone conducting reconnaissance over Ukrainian Defense Forces positions. The hostile UAV was immediately destroyed,” the Air Assault Forces reported.

It was noted that this ‘Forpost’ reconnaissance UAV is the second one shot down by the 80th Brigade’s air defense units. The first drone was also downed over the Sumy region by the Halych paratroopers in summer 2025.

Ukrainian paratroopers take out $7.5M Russian Forpost drone

The Russian Forpost reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle is a licensed version of the Israeli IAI Searcher Mk II, originally developed by Israel Aerospace Industries.

In 2010, Russia signed a $300 million contract to assemble these UAVs using Israeli components at the Kazan Helicopter Plant.

According to data given to Verstka by an unnamed source and cited by United24 in its reporting on the issue, the city of Moscow experienced a major decline in the number of contract soldiers that it recruited to fight in the ongoing war in Ukraine in 2025. 

Only 24,469 individuals were sent to the frontlines from the city last year, based on data provided to Verstka from a source inside the Moscow mayor’s office. This represented a 25% decrease in contract soldiers from the previous year. 

“There is a powerful negative growth,” one of the sources explained. “December has always been slow, but now it’s really bad. Now it's just all sorts of riffraff.”

“It's not that there are no idealists left, there are simply no healthy men,” the unnamed source added. “Medical staff have to make concessions and turn a blind eye to those who are clearly inadequate and unfit for service. There is no education, no experience, no motivation. Nothing.”

New data hints that Russia is running out of soldiers

Ukraine will deploy an air defense system using autonomous, AI-guided interceptors within the next few months, The Washington Post reports.

As part of the initiative, Ukraine has signed an agreement with the US defense software company Palantir to create an AI Dataroom. The system will use data and imagery collected by Ukraine over four years of war to train artificial intelligence capable of predicting enemy attacks and directing autonomous interceptors to counter them.

The Washington Post notes that if the project proceeds as planned, Ukraine could have the foundation of a nationwide autonomous missile air defense system in place within six months.

"No country in the world has the experience of defending itself against air attacks on the scale Ukraine is facing today. In learning how to counter these attacks, Ukraine is building … the next generation of AI-enabled air defense," Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.

Ukraine to close its skies with AI air defense system: WP reveals timeline

The outlet adds that Ukraine’s air defense interceptors must be cheaper than the drones and missiles used by Russia and capable of reacting faster than humans across the entire country.

1 hour ago, zmisha said:

I've never tried to convince anyone to support Vladimir Putin. I believe that all countries in the world are competitors. Supporting a competitor is simply stupid.

How is Ukraine a competitor to the EU, Canada, Australia etc.?

8 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

How is Ukraine a competitor to the EU, Canada, Australia etc.?

The entire history of humanity is one of endless wars over territory. Right now, the president of a NATO country is trying to politely explain to you that the concept of "friendship" in geopolitics never prevents you from taking a piece of your friend's territory.

According to data from Russia’s Ministry of Finance, the volume of gold on the NWF’s balance sheet dropped by 71% between May 2022 and January 2025—from 554.9 metric tons to just 160.2 tons.

The Ministry of Finance sold gold from the NWF in nearly every month of 2023 and 2024. In 2023 alone, the fund’s holdings were reduced by 196 tons—about one-third of its starting total.

The pace accelerated in 2024, with a further 171-ton drawdown. Despite a mid-2024 addition of 72.4 tons of newly purchased gold, the bulk of this was promptly resold.

The pattern continued through the end of the year. By January 2025, the total volume of liquid assets in the NWF—comprising gold and yuan-denominated holdings—stood at 4.1 trillion rubles. Though nominally up 350 billion rubles from the previous year, this total represents a 60% decline from pre-war levels, when the fund’s assets exceeded 9.7 trillion rubles.

Russia’s Krasnodar Krai has been under attack for the second day in a row. The strikes hit a port, according to Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev.

"Tonight, port terminals in the settlement of Volna in the Temryuk district were hit," he said.

The Governor also added that a fire is ongoing at the terminal site, with four tanks containing petroleum products burning.

Russian authorities deployed 97 personnel and 29 pieces of equipment to deal with the aftermath.

Illustrative photo: A port was attacked in the Krasnodar Krai (Getty Images)© RBC-Ukraine (UK)

Attack on the Afipsky oil refinery

On the night of January 21, unidentified drones attacked the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia, causing a fire on the facility’s grounds.

According to local media, the blaze broke out after drone debris fell on the refinery’s territory.

Russia reports strike on port in Krasnodar Krai