Presenting the latest updates on Thursday, January 9:
Fighting
- In a tragic incident, a Russian-led bomb attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, resulted in the loss of 13 innocent lives and left around 30 individuals wounded as confirmed by Governor Ivan Fedorov through social media.
- Furthermore, another strike by Russian forces claimed two lives in Stepnogirsk village near Zaporizhzhia and close to the conflict zone according to Fedorov.
- Governor Roman Busagrin reported the death of two firefighters while extinguishing a fire caused by Ukrainian forces targeting an oil depot in Saratov, Russia – located approximately 500km from Ukraine’s border.
- The United States raised concerns at the UN Security Council about North Korea gaining combat experience through its alliance with Russia against Ukraine, potentially enhancing its military capabilities for future conflicts.
- Nada Al-Nashif expressed deep worries at a UN Human Rights Council meeting regarding an increase in reports of executions of captured Ukrainian soldiers by Russian armed forces.
Military aid
- Amid escalating tensions, the US is prepared to offer Ukraine an additional $500m worth of weaponry from existing stockpiles swiftly before Donald Trump assumes office as President. This decision was made under President Joe Biden’s administration.
- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the importance of US support for Kyiv ahead of announcing a new military aid package for Ukraine.
Politics and diplomacy
- Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen stressed that NATO membership is crucial for providing credible security assurances to Ukraine against potential Russian aggression during her visit to Kyiv where she met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Post from www.aljazeera.com