Key developments on Jan. 28:
- Putin claims Zelensky doesn't have a proper to signal any potential peace deal
- 'Pure propaganda' — Kharkiv Oblast governor denies Russian claims of capturing Dvorichna
- Italian parliament extends army help for Ukraine by way of 2025
- SBU says it dismantled Russian spy community focusing on F-16 jets
- Authorities dismisses Deputy Protection Minister Klimenkov amid procurement tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his declare that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is "illegitimate" and stated that he has no proper to signal any paperwork in potential peace negotiations, in accordance with an interview with the state TV channel Rossiya 1 broadcast on Jan. 28.
"Negotiations could be held with anybody," Putin stated. "However resulting from (Zelensky's) illegitimacy he has no proper to signal something. If (Zelensky) needs to participate in talks, I’ll delegate individuals who will conduct such talks. However the (key) problem is the last word signing of the paperwork."
Russia has broadly used the declare that Zelensky is illegitimate in its propaganda in an effort to discredit the Ukrainian authorities. Main Ukrainian constitutional attorneys and authorized specialists imagine the declare is fake and unfounded.
Putin additionally talked about Zelensky's Sept. 30, 2022 decree to ban negotiations with the Russian president. The transfer got here in response to Russia's illegal annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, that are partially occupied.
Putin claimed that, resulting from his alleged illegitimacy, Zelensky can not raise his ban on negotiations with Russia. The decree needs to be revoked earlier than such negotiations start, and the "legitimacy" of Ukrainian negotiators needs to be "verified by attorneys," Putin added.
"If we begin negotiations now, they are going to be illegitimate. There’s a drawback right here: when the present head of the regime signed this decree (on banning negotiations), he was a professional president, and now he can not revoke it," Putin stated.
He claimed that the decree can solely be revoked by the speaker of Ukraine's parliament, who should have turn out to be the nation's performing president after the alleged expiry of Zelensky's time period.
"If there’s a will, any problem of a authorized nature could be resolved. However to this point, we haven't seen such willingness," Putin stated.
Underneath the martial legislation act handed by Ukraine after Russia launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, presidential, parliamentary and native elections are banned.
If martial legislation had not been imposed, the following presidential election would have been held on March 31, 2024, and Zelensky's time period would have ended on Might 20, 2024.
A few of Zelensky's critics declare that the Structure doesn’t authorize extending his presidential time period underneath martial legislation. They argue that he ceased to be a professional president on Might 20. However main constitutional attorneys dispute this declare, saying the Structure permits such an extension.
Earlier, Putin stated that Russia is prepared to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump concerning the warfare in Ukraine.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
'Pure propaganda' — Kharkiv Oblast governor denies Russian claims of capturing Dvorichna
Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov on Jan. 28 refuted the Russian Protection Ministry's claims that Russian forces had captured the village of Dvorichna within the Kupiansk district, emphasizing that preventing within the space is ongoing, Ukrinform reported.
"This isn’t the primary assertion of this type from the Russian aspect; it’s pure propaganda and doesn’t mirror actuality," Syniehubov stated.
Situated 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Kharkiv and 17 kilometers (10 miles) north of Kupiansk, Dvorichna sits on the western financial institution of the Oskil River, a key geographic characteristic within the area.
Russia has been trying to safe a foothold on this financial institution for months, aiming to outflank Ukrainian defenses and threaten a rear assault in Kupiansk.
Andrii Besedin, head of the Kupiansk city army administration, famous earlier in January that Russian troops had been making an attempt to ascertain a bridgehead in Dvorichna to facilitate additional advances.
Russian forces have ramped up operations close to Kupiansk since September, reaching the commercial outskirts of the city within the northeast. Ukrainian troops efficiently repelled a number of Russian assaults all through December.
Italian parliament extends army help for Ukraine by way of 2025
The Italian parliament's decrease home on Jan. 28 accepted the prolongation of army help for Ukraine till Dec. 31, 2025, the Italian information company ANSA reported.
Earlier, the Italian Senate accepted the measure with 192 votes in favor and 41 towards.
The parliamentary opposition was divided on the choice to increase army support to Ukraine. Three events supported the choice, whereas two events opposed it.
Italy's 10 army support packages to Ukraine have included superior weapons methods just like the French-Italian SAMP/T air protection models.
Protection Minister Rustem Umerov introduced on Jan. 16 that Ukraine would obtain one other army support package deal from Italy. Previous to that, Umerov met his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto, in Kyiv.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took workplace in late 2022, has persistently supported Kyiv and pledged unwavering help till the warfare ends.
The Kyiv IndependentChris York
SBU says it dismantled Russian spy community focusing on F-16 jets
Ukraine's Safety Service (SBU) reported on Jan. 28 that it had dismantled a Russian spy community tasked with gathering intelligence on Ukrainian plane for strikes on aviation infrastructure.
The operation, carried out close to a army airfield, led to the arrest of two brokers who had been caught photographing a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet throughout takeoff, the SBU stated.
The SBU recognized the suspects as two residents of Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast, aged 22 and 21, recruited by a feminine officer of Russia's Federal Safety Service (FSB) whose identification has been established.
The brokers had been allegedly tasked with gathering detailed data on army airfields housing F-16 jets and helicopters, together with their geolocation and photographic proof. This intelligence was reportedly meant to assist Russia alter its missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian aviation amenities.
To meet their mission, the brokers deliberate to journey throughout 5 areas of Ukraine, utilizing public transportation and renting short-term lodging close to airfields for espionage functions.
The SBU stated it had intercepted and documented their reconnaissance efforts at an early stage, stopping any profitable knowledge switch. Each suspects had been detained whereas photographing an F-16 jet and have been taken into custody. They now face life imprisonment on treason costs.
Ukraine acquired its first F-16 jets in August 2024, a 12 months after the NATO-led fighter jet coalition pledged to coach Ukrainian pilots and provide plane.
Regardless of challenges, together with a lethal crash throughout a large Russian assault on Aug. 26, Ukrainian pilots have successfully used the jets to counter Russian aerial threats.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
Authorities dismisses deputy protection minister amid procurement tensions
Ukraine's authorities has confirmed the dismissal of Dmytro Klimenkov from his place as deputy protection minister, stated Taras Melnychuk, the federal government's parliamentary consultant, on Jan. 28.
The choice follows ongoing tensions inside the Protection Ministry over its weapons procurement course of, which has been closely scrutinized amid reform efforts.
Protection Minister Rustem Umerov introduced Klimenkov's dismissal final week, claiming his deputy had "failed" the duty of protection procurement. Concurrently, Umerov stated he wouldn’t renew Maryna Bezrukova's contract as head of the Protection Procurement Company (DPA).
Klimenkov joined the Protection Ministry from the State Property Fund, the place he labored underneath Umerov's management. Appointed deputy protection minister on Oct. 5, 2023, he was answerable for overseeing procurement for the Armed Forces.
Bezrukova, appointed in January 2024 to steer procurement reforms following corruption scandals, had her contract prolonged by the DPA's supervisory board earlier this month. Underneath Ukrainian legislation, supervisory boards can rent and hearth state enterprise leaders, making Umerov's refusal to resume her contract legally contentious.
Anti-corruption activists and lawmakers criticized the transfer, labeling it "illegal" and warning that such actions may undermine efforts to reform Ukraine's protection procurement system.
Bezrukova's tenure highlighted inner disputes over procurement practices. In the beginning of her position, Bezrukova reported stress from Klimenkov to signal a contract for 500,000 artillery shells from a producer owned by the Strategic Industries Ministry.
The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell