Ukraine Live Briefing: Zelenskiy Proposes Prisoner Swap

RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Latest Developments At A Glance

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he is prepared to hand over captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang if reclusive leader Kim Jong Un can arrange a prisoner swap for Ukrainians held in Russia.
• South Korea confirmed that Ukraine had captured two North Korean soldiers a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his security agency was questioning two fighters taken in Russia’s Kursk region.
• Drones crashed into two apartment buildings in the town of Kotovsk in the Tambov region of western Russia, injuring several people, the region’s governor said on January 11. The Russian state news agency TASS said they were launched by Ukraine, but the General Staff of the Ukrainian military has not reported any drone attacks in Russia.
• Russia accused Ukraine on January 10 of conducting a deadly missile strike on a supermarket in the Moscow-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine after a wave of Russian drones attacked several Ukrainian regions, including the capital, Kyiv.
• German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said a heavily loaded oil tanker that Germany's maritime emergencies agency had to secure on January 10 in the Baltic Sea is part of the "shadow fleet" that Moscow uses to avoid sanctions on its oil exports.
• The Biden administration has slapped sanctions on two of Russia’s largest oil producers, a major liquefied natural gas project, and more than 100 tankers in its “shadow fleet” in what U.S. officials say are the most significant economic measures yet against the country.

Ukraine Has Launched A New Offensive Into Russia. Why And Why Now?

Ukraine has launched a new offensive in Russia’s region of Kursk. But it’s not clear why exactly Ukraine is waging a new assault in Kursk, and why now. Read the report by Todd Prince here.

What Awaits Ukraine War In 2025 Amid Shifting Political Climate?

The outgunned Ukrainian military has relied on Western support to buoy its defensive efforts as Russian forces look to seize more Ukrainian territory. Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden is rushing to deliver more aid to the country before he leaves office in January. But it's unclear how the incoming Trump administration will support Ukraine in 2025. By Donbas.Realities, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Austin Malloy

Will The Ukraine War End In 2025?

A durable peace deal seems very distant. But a push for a cease-fire is almost a given in light of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to end the war quickly. What are the chances the guns could go silent in 2025 -- and what would it mean for Ukraine? Read the report by Steve Gutterman here.

Hundreds Of Ukrainian Marines Missing After 'Hell On Earth' Battle For Krynky

Families of missing Ukrainian marines are desperate to learn whether the servicemen were killed or captured following a risky mission to liberate the village of Krynky. After crossing the Dnieper River in late 2023, the marines failed to hold a bridgehead on the Russian-occupied eastern bank. Months of fighting that lasted until this summer reportedly left more than 250 Ukrainian troops dead and nearly 800 unaccounted for. The families of the missing marines say they have been stonewalled by representatives of the military units in which their relatives served. By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Margot Buff

North Korean Troops Take Pounding As Kim Reportedly Doubles Down

North Korea’s elite troops have faced severe losses Russia's war with Ukraine, with over 1,100 killed or injured in recent weeks, according to South Korean intelligence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy estimates the toll at more than 3,000. Despite his forces’ lack of preparation for modern trench warfare, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears undeterred, doubling down on his alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin in exchange for oil, cash, and military technology. Read the report by Todd Prince here.

What Would The Russian Capture Of Pokrovsk Mean For The Ukraine War?

Russia could soon capture the key southern Donetsk logistics hub of Pokrovsk, which would cap a year of material territorial gains in Ukraine. However, Russia's year-long offensive has come at such significant human and equipment losses that its forces may not be able to use Pokrovsk as a springboard for big gains in the short-term. Read the report by Todd Prince and Oleksiy Prodayvoda here.

What A Ukraine Peace Plan Could Look Like

In European capitals, behind closed doors, diplomats and leaders are spit-balling what a Ukrainian peace plan might actually look like. European peacekeeping troops are one option (don’t expect much enthusiasm from Moscow). Read the article by Mike Eckel here.

Assad's Fall Is A Blow To Russia. What Does It Mean For The War In Ukraine?

Russia's focus on subjugating Ukraine was one of the factors that led to the abrupt demise of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Moscow’s main client in the region. Here's how Moscow’s big Middle East setback could affect Russia's war against Ukraine. Read the article by Roksolana Bychai and Steve Gutterman here.

Could A Demilitarized Zone End The Ukraine War?

U.S. Naval War College Professor Lieutenant Colonel Jahara "Franky" Matisek talks about the state of the Russian invasion at the 1,000-day mark. Read the interview by Vazha Tavberidze here.

Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea

As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom here.