Russia has misplaced 1,020 troopers killed and wounded over the previous day, bringing its whole variety of personnel losses to 1,235,060.
Supply: Common Employees of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Fb
Particulars: The overall fight losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 26 January 2026 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses – ed.]:
roughly 1,235,060 (+1 020) army personnel
11,608 (+3) tanks
23,951 (+1) armoured fight automobiles
36,644 (+32) artillery methods
1,626 (+2) multiple-launch rocket methods
1,286 (+0) air defence methods
434 (+0) fixed-wing plane
347 (+0) helicopters
115,813 (+917) operational-tactical UAVs
4,205 (+0) cruise missiles
28 (+0) ships/boats
2 (+0) submarines
75,906 (+147) automobiles and gasoline tankers
4,051 (+1) particular automobiles and different tools.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said {that a} doc on US safety ensures for Ukraine is totally prepared for signing.
Supply: Zelenskyy at a joint press convention with the leaders of Lithuania and Poland in Vilnius, as reported by European Pravda
Quote: "The doc is 100% prepared, we’re ready for companions to verify readiness, the date and the place the place we are going to signal it."
Particulars: Zelenskyy mentioned the settlement will should be ratified by the US Congress and Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).
The president additionally talked about the European component of the safety ensures, saying it ought to embrace the work of the Coalition of the Keen and the date Ukraine joins the EU.
Quote: "Second safety ensures for Ukraine are European safety ensures, the Coalition of the Keen, and most significantly – membership within the European Union. These are financial safety ensures for Ukraine. We would like the yr 2027; we’re speaking a few particular date when Ukraine will probably be prepared."
Particulars: Zelenskyy added that Ukraine will probably be ready to open all negotiating clusters within the first half of 2026 and totally prepared to affix at a "technical stage" in 2027.
"We would like a particular date [for EU accession – ed.] in our treaty on ending the battle so that each one events will adhere to those agreements, together with the aggressor, who will signal a 20-point plan if the second comes," the president famous.
Background:
On 8 January, Zelenskyy mentioned {that a} bilateral doc on safety ensures for Ukraine was successfully able to be finalised on the highest stage with US President Donald Trump.
Throughout their assembly in Davos, Trump and Zelenskyy mentioned safety ensures for Ukraine.
Politico, a Brussels-based politics and coverage information organisation, reported that the US considers its safety ensures for Ukraine extra useful than European ones, regardless of Washington's refusal to ship troops.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged that the US should even be ready to compromise throughout negotiations to finish the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
Supply: Zelenskyy at a joint press convention with the leaders of Lithuania and Poland in Vilnius on Sunday 25 January
Particulars: Zelenskyy famous that throughout the trilateral talks within the UAE, a "20-point plan and problematic points had been mentioned, there have been many problematic points, now there are fewer".
He stated Russia has lengthy aimed to erase Ukraine's presence within the east of its territory.
"They [the Russians – ed.] set this as a aim and it’s completely clear that they need to obtain this aim," Zelenskyy stated. "They’re nonetheless unable to do that on the battlefield. Our place on our territory, the territorial integrity of Ukraine, which have to be revered – everybody is aware of our place: we combat for our state, for our personal, we don’t combat on the territory of one other nation, so what questions can there be to us."
Quote: "Sure, these are two completely different principled positions: Russian and Ukrainian. The People are looking for a compromise. We agree to speak in a trilateral format. These are maybe the primary steps in the direction of that very compromise. However for a compromise, all sides have to be prepared for compromise. By the best way, the American aspect have to be prepared as nicely."
Background:
Zelenskyy described the 23-24 January talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia in Abu Dhabi as constructive and talked about the potential for continuation subsequent week.
US digital information outlet Axios reported that the continuation of the trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia within the United Arab Emirates is scheduled for Sunday 1 February.
Axios additionally stated the Abu Dhabi talks had taken place not solely in a trilateral format involving Ukraine, the US and Russia, but additionally in a bilateral Ukraine-Russia format with out US participation.
The state-run rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) has opened "invincibility carriages" for the primary time within the Polish metropolis of Chełm, the place passengers have been compelled to attend outside for trains to Ukraine as a consequence of ongoing station renovations. [An invincibility carriage is a heated stationary train carriage to help those affected by power cuts – ed.]
Supply: Ukrzaliznytsia
An invincibility carriage in Chełm. Photograph: Ukrzaliznytsia
Particulars: Over 100 passengers visited the invincibility carriages in Chełm on the primary day.
Heated carriages have been put in for passengers at Chełm station, which handles 5 pairs of passenger trains from Ukraine. One carriage contains a play space for kids, separate areas for feeding and altering infants, in addition to colouring books and drawing kits. The invincibility carriages additionally present charging factors for gadgets, and guests are supplied sizzling tea.
In a second carriage, passengers can view a part of the photograph assortment by Howard Buffett, beforehand a part of the Artwork Practice, a one-of-a-kind practice with gallery areas, created to deliver artwork to all corners of Ukraine. The carriages are situated on platform three.
An invincibility carriage in Chełm. Photograph: Ukrzaliznytsia
Because of ongoing station renovations in Chełm since 2024, passengers have needed to look forward to trains to Ukraine outside, together with in the course of the winter months. Trains to Chełm arrive from Kharkiv, Dnipro and Kyiv. The station additionally serves as a switch hub for connections to Berlin, Warsaw, Łódź, Poznań and different locations. Roughly 3,000 passengers go by the station day by day.
Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian navy radio know-how skilled, who has been appointed as an adviser to Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on technology-related issues, has reported that Russian forces have seemingly used a Shahed loitering munition operated through Starlink satellite tv for pc web close to Kropyvnytskyi.
Supply: Beskrestnov on Telegram
Quote: "Yesterday morning, the enemy used Shaheds to strike helicopters close to town of Kropyvnytskyi.
Within the picture, we will see automated goal acquisition and guide steerage utilizing the video feed. However there have been no UAVs close by to create a Mesh radio community. I conclude that we’re seeing the primary use of Shaheds working through Starlink."
Particulars: Beskrestnov famous that these manually managed Shaheds have been flying virtually at floor degree to be able to keep away from detection by radar.
"Did I anticipate this? Sure. Did I warn about it? Sure. Did anybody hearken to me? No. These are all of the challenges our crew should work with. And we’ll work proactively," the adviser stated.
Background:
On 15 January, Beskrestnov reported {that a} Russian BM-35 drone being managed through Starlink satellite tv for pc web had been found for the primary time. He stated that using Starlink had beforehand been noticed solely on Russian-made Molniya-type UAVs.
"It is just a matter of time earlier than Shaheds geared up with Starlink begin flying. Probably even days, not months," Beskrestnov famous on the time.
Belarusian opposition chief Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has mentioned after a gathering with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Lithuania that he embodies the braveness of a nation that refuses to surrender its freedom.
Supply: Tsikhanouskaya on X (Twitter)
Particulars: Tsikhanouskaya mentioned that she met with Zelenskyy in Vilnius on Sunday 25 January.
Quote: "He embodies the braveness of a nation that refuses to give up its freedom.
His management reminds the world that dignity, sovereignty and democracy are value defending.
In January, in an interview with Ukrainian media outlet LB, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief, stated Russia and Ukraine use roughly the identical variety of drones on the entrance line, however that Ukraine is simply "catching up" by way of fibre-optic FPV methods, that are largely resistant to digital warfare.
Russia's large-scale adoption of the expertise in 2024 took Ukraine abruptly. To slim the hole, the state has begun backing home builders.
Output has risen sharply over the previous yr. New fashions have entered service and working ranges have elevated. Regardless of this, troops proceed to report shortages and high quality issues.
"Our automobile made three or 4 runs underneath fireplace to ship drones and so they turned out to be faulty", the commander of the Panama Squad crew from the first Separate Territorial Defence Brigade, whose name signal is Mukha (Fly), instructed Ukrainska Pravda. "We hauled them out, swearing, taking dangers, to return again with working ones and it's good it ended with out losses. However it might be unbelievably silly to lose a automobile and, God forbid, folks as a result of somebody completely f***ed up their accountability." The battlefield worth of such drones is simply rising. In a struggle saturated with digital warfare, the flexibility to succeed in a goal with close to certainty with out dropping connection is value its weight in gold.
So why does Ukraine nonetheless battle to supply fibre-optic FPV drones at scale and to a constant normal? To search out out, Ukrainska Pravda spoke to service personnel and producers.
A fibre-optic drone. Photograph: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
Shortages and high quality points
Serhii Melnyk, head of the data and analytical assist part on the 69th centre, stated fibre-optic drones make up not more than 15% of all drones alongside all the line of contact.
That proportion is way from uniform throughout the entrance line. The proportion of fibre-optic FPV methods varies sharply relying on the depth and character of combating and on how effectively particular person models are equipped.
Russian forces have made explicit positive factors on this area of interest. "It feels as if the Russians have already diminished analogue communications by about 60% and have virtually utterly switched to fibre optics", stated a fibre-optic FPV crew pilot, Maloi (Kiddo).
A often cited instance is the Russian fibre-optic drone Knyaz Vandal. Fitted with day and evening cameras, it could function at ranges of as much as 40 km and is commonly used as a "sitter" for ambushes. Its producer claims Russia produces as many as 50,000 models a month.
Russian fibre-optic drone Knyaz Vandal
And the place does Ukraine stand? Summing up his tenure, Ukraine's former defence minister Denys Shmyhal stated 352,000 fibre-optic FPV drones had been delivered to the armed forces since July 2025. The determine excludes drones equipped by volunteers or obtained by means of the E-baly (E-points) scheme, a digital incentive system that awards models factors for verified destruction of Russian targets, which may then be exchanged for tools akin to drones, digital warfare methods and floor robots.
Ihor "Enei" (Aeneas) Raikov, head of the unmanned methods service of the thirteenth brigade of the Khartiia Nationwide Guard unit stated that the state at present meets as much as a few third of unit demand for fibre-optic drones by means of direct provide. The rest, he stated, comes DOT-Chain and Brave1 Market (a government-subsidised digital market for models to buy the tools they want instantly from producers), the unit's funds or troopers' personal cash.
In most models, the standard working vary for fibre-optic FPV drones is 15 to 25km, although some groups work at considerably longer distances. "We have now gone from 10 to 25km and we at the moment are mastering distances of 400-50 kilometres", stated Enei.
Making ready a fibre-optic drone for flight. Photograph: Ptashka Drones
Regardless of greater provides and longer working ranges than firstly of a troublesome 2025, drone availability alongside the entrance stays patchy.
Some servicemen interviewed by Ukrainska Pravda say there may be nonetheless a scarcity of fibre-optic drones that may work reliably on the now normal distances of 15-20 km.
"Fibre optics are critically essential proper now and there are usually not almost sufficient of them. In distinction, Russian provide appears a lot better", says Maksym Buhel, commander of the Boryviter unmanned methods battalion of the ninety fifth Separate Air Assault Brigade.
Drone operator of the Boryviter UAV battalion. Photograph: ninety fifth Separate Air Assault Brigade
Amount is simply a part of the issue. High quality additionally stays a serious sticking level. Troops report points with spools, their awkward kind and parts that aren’t match for fight. In apply, the usual of drones obtained typically will depend on how a lot cash a unit can elevate or allocate.
"Regardless of the massive variety of producers and presents, there are few really dependable fibre-optic drones in the marketplace and there may be all the time a queue for them", says Mukha, commander of the Panama Squad crew.
He stated that quick-to-buy choices typically carry out erratically. In consequence, high quality varies sharply from one batch to the following.
Fibre-optic drone. Photograph: Heneral Chereshnia
Why do high quality issues happen?
From an engineering standpoint, a fibre-optic FPV drone differs little from a radio-controlled one.
"Producing fibre-optic drones is, in a way, easier than radio equivalents. They don’t have radio communication modules, antennas and VTX," says Volodymyr Zinovskyi, CEO of drone producer TAF Industries.
As an alternative of radio communication modules, the drone is fitted with a fibre-optic spool and a media converter, that are instantly linked to the operator's management unit.
Nonetheless, the satan is within the particulars. As one producer of fibre-optic spools, who requested to stay nameless, explains, the principle problem lies within the fibre itself. Not like industrial fibre in a silicone sheath (the sort we see in web cables), drones use "naked fibre". In consequence, essentially the most troublesome stage of manufacturing is winding the spool.
"For those who kink it, wind it erratically or overtighten the fibre on the reel – that's it, you're accomplished", the producer instructed Oboronka.
Fibre optics for drone management. Photograph: Ministry of Defence
Not like Russia, which orders pre-wound spools from China and adapts its personal platforms to them, Ukraine has been pressured to grasp the winding expertise just about from scratch.
In response to the supply, most winding machines in Ukraine are home made. Every producer successfully creates its personal normal, which consistently modifications as new drone fashions seem, requiring the frequent recalibration of kit.
One other issue affecting manufacturing velocity and high quality, highlighted by two producers interviewed, is energy and heating outages. The tools and a few supplies are delicate to those disruptions. Even a momentary energy minimize – if an organization has not correctly applied autonomous backup methods – can lead to a complete batch being rejected.
Fibre-optic winding machine. Photograph: open sources
"It's simpler for the Chinese language. They’ve many machines, every tailor-made to a particular mannequin. That's the place their steady mass manufacturing and high quality come from", one other spool producer instructed Oboronka on situation of anonymity.
Along with mastering spool manufacturing, Ukrainian corporations additionally needed to adapt the drones themselves to modifications in weight and centre of gravity brought on by putting in a spool weighing greater than a kilogram. As drone producer Heneral Chereshnia ("Normal Cherry") defined to Oboronka, fibre-optic drones are considerably extra complicated than normal FPV drones. The mixing of the spool requires exact balancing of weight, thrust, energy consumption and the drone's behaviour throughout an assault.
These options required monetary and technological sources that not all producers may afford. In consequence, the market initially cut up into corporations producing drones and spools individually and people producing each. This division led to chaos in provide chains.
"Spools, drones and floor stations had been equipped individually, so every part needed to be assembled by hand", stated Aeneas. "We glued, soldered and improvised, however numerous them crashed for no apparent cause."
Area drone laboratory. Photograph: ninety fifth Air Assault Brigade
Producers managed to streamline manufacturing processes and logistics over time, making it attainable to ship totally built-in drone methods to the troops. Stabilised manufacturing allowed additional improvement of fibre-optic drones, regularly increasing the operational capabilities of Ukraine's defence forces.
In the meantime, in response to troopers interviewed by Oboronka, issues with fibre deployment throughout flight are nonetheless a difficulty. One producer says the one resolution is strict high quality management, each throughout manufacturing and instantly earlier than use.
Can Ukraine meet up with Russia in fibre-optic drones?
Along with fibre deployment points, troopers interviewed by Oboronka more and more level to the shortage of standardisation in floor management stations. Producers design their very own floor stations for particular drones, which are sometimes incompatible with each other. In consequence, models are pressured to function a number of management methods for various drones, complicating logistics and operation.
Fibre-optic drone. Photograph: TAF
Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that greater than 30 corporations in Ukraine had been producing fibre-optic drones as of July 2025, though the actual quantity could also be greater. Standardising drones and floor stations would cut back the logistical burden and decrease procurement prices when sourcing methods from completely different producers.
Total, additional improvement of fibre-optic drones will instantly depend upon actual battlefield circumstances. As each troopers and producers word, not each resolution that appears spectacular at exhibitions or shows proves efficient in fight.
"I'd divide the market proper now by two standards: the way it appears and the way it works", stated one producer. "Generally a drone appears like a doll however can't fly for shit. Different instances it appears like a scarecrow however works brilliantly. And there aren't a lot of those that handle each."
FPV drone pilots. Photograph: Ptashka Drones
Regardless of this, all producers interviewed anticipate additional development in fibre-optic drone procurement. Round 70% of state drone purchases are deliberate to undergo the DOT-Chain Defence system in 2026. This technique won’t solely permit the army to order drones instantly from producers, however may even create circumstances wherein competitors highlights the simplest options.
Producers are already searching for methods to adapt to the brand new market guidelines, searching for to mix elevated manufacturing capability with improved stability and reliability.
Heneral Chereshnia representatives say the army's key calls for are predictable high quality, steady provide and systematic drone integration. Zinovskyi from TAF predicts a rise in flight vary and procurement volumes. The corporate is getting ready to fulfil orders for tens of hundreds of drones monthly, with the potential to scale as much as 100,000 models.
At Ptashka Drones, in the meantime, launching pilot coaching programmes is being thought of as one strategy to cut back the variety of drone losses throughout fight operations.
Fifty-km fibre-optic drone by Ptashka Drones. Photograph: Ptashka Drones
One other pattern anticipated by the troopers interviewed is elevated flight vary with out including weight. Some Ukrainian producers are already engaged on lowering the burden of fibre-optic spools, permitting drones to hold bigger warheads or extra highly effective batteries. Comparable frameless spools have been noticed in China.
Frameless fibre-optic spool. Photograph: open sources
"We're basically going by means of the identical path the Chinese language have already taken", one producer concludes. "The potential is there and what we’d like now’s time and expertise."
An influence engineer was injured in a Russian assault on the town of Mykolaiv on Sunday 25 January. He has been taken to hospital.
Supply: Mykolaivoblenergo, an influence distribution firm in Mykolaiv Oblast
Quote: "As we speak one in every of our colleagues, a linesman from Mykolaivoblenergo, has been injured in an enemy assault.
Volodymyr sustained shrapnel accidents to his limbs. He has been promptly taken to a medical facility, the place he’s receiving all mandatory care. The corporate will monitor the course of his rehabilitation."
Particulars: The explosions additionally prompted vital injury to power tools belonging to the facility firm.
Background: On 25 January, Oleksandr Pytaichuk, a 31-year-old climber from Ukraine's State Emergency Service, died whereas finishing up repairs at an power facility in Kyiv.
A 78-year-old lady has been killed after Russian forces attacked the city of Druzhkivka in Donetsk Oblast with a Smerch multiple-launch rocket system on 25 January.
Supply: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Workplace
Particulars: Three different native residents aged 47, 60 and 66 sustained shrapnel wounds, blast accidents and a traumatic foot amputation.
They have been outdoors on the time of the assault.
The aftermath of the Russian assault. Picture: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Workplace
Condominium buildings have been additionally broken.
The decisive day of the Hatsu Basho event has taken place in Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Area on 25 January.
Supply: Champion, a sports activities information platform inside Ukrainska Pravda's holding firm.
Particulars: Ukrainian sumo wrestler Arata Aonishiki, born Danylo Yavhushyshyn, got here into the ultimate day with a rating of 11-3. The identical rating was held by Atamifuji.
The 195-kilogram Japanese wrestler defeated Oshoumi (10-5) to safe a minimum of a play-off spot.
Aonishiki confronted Kotozakura (8-7). If Danylo had misplaced, Atamifuji would have received the event. Nonetheless, Yavhushyshyn handled the opposite rikishi pretty comfortably.
The championship was determined in an extra match between the 2 sumo wrestlers. The Ukrainian was thought-about the favorite, as he had received all three of their earlier conferences.
Atamifuji appeared very near success this time, however Aonishiki held on after which executed a profitable throw in opposition to his exhausted opponent.
For reference: Danylo, 21, is a Vinnytsia native. He moved to Japan fleeing the warfare in Ukraine and inside just a few years was recognised as a top-level sumo wrestler. Forward of this event he was awarded the rank of ōzeki, the second-highest rank in sumo. The following step is incomes the highest rank of yokozuna. If that occurs, he’ll grow to be the primary European to attain it.
Background: Final yr, Danylo received the Kyushu Basho. He has now received the highest event twice in a row.
