A building burns after Russian strikes on Kharkiv city in northeast Ukraine, January 15, 2026

Thursday’s Coverage: Zelensky Declares Energy Emergency

UPDATE 1403 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has hosted Czech counterpart Petr Pavel in Kyiv.

Zelensky posted:

Pavel said Ukraine must make “painful concessions” but is “ready to do so, provided it leads to peace”. He warned that cancelling Czech ammunition supplies, a prospect with new Prime Minister Andrej Babiš taking office in December, would leave Ukrainian troops with “no replacement”.

At their joint press conference, Zelensky sent a message to Donald Trump:

The United States wants to end the war tomorrow, and we’d like to do it even today….

Who’s postponing? Who doesn’t want to end the war? It’s not a question of wanting, it’s the question of pressure. Enough pressure for Russia is what’s needed for everything to be over.

UPDATE 1350 GMT:

Lithuania has blamed Russia’s militiary intelligence service GRU for an attempted arson attack in 2024 on a plant that supplies radio wave scanners to Ukraine’s army.

Six nationals of Spain, Colombia, Cuba, Russia, and Belarus have been charged. Investigators are looking for three more suspects, believed to be in Russia.

Prosecutors believe that the group also attempted arson attacks in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania.

“The crimes were coordinated, and orders were issued to the executors by a group of people living in Russia, who are connected with Russia’s GRU,” said Saulius Briginas, deputy chief of Lithuania’s criminal police.

UPDATE 0959 GMT:

French President Emmanuel Macron says his officials are now providing the large majority of the intelligence supplied to Ukraine by partners.

“Where Ukraine used to be extremely dependent on American intelligence capacity with a huge majority a year ago, 2/3rds is today provided by France,” Macron told forces at the Istres air force base.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has told the nation that “Russia must be put under pressure”, as the country resists Moscow’s missile and drone strikes seeking to break energy infrastructure.

Zelensky said in his nightly address:

Russia has escalated its nightly assaults on energy facilities and other civilian sites, hoping to break Ukraine before its 47 1/2-month full-scale invasion is halted.

Ukraine and Europe have obtained US involvement in security guarantees for Kyiv, as part of a 20-point plan for a ceasefire and Ukrainian recovery. Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — less than three months after working with the Kremlin on a 28-point ultimatum to Ukraine to surrender more territory and keep the rest of the country permanently weak — are expected to visit Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin soon for discussions about the Ukraine-Europe documents.

On Thursday, the Russians destroyed a large energy facility in Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said emergency crews are working around the clock, while Governor Oleh Syniehubov said officials are assessing the extent of damage.

Crews are still trying to restore power in Kyiv after last Friday’s massive missile and drone strikes knocked out supply to around half of the capital’s 6,000 apartment blocks. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 300 apartment buildings remain without heat.

On Wednesday, Zelensky declared an energy emergency amid night-time temperatures as low as -20C (-4F). Imports of energy will increase, and there will be more centers where residents can stay warm and charge electronic devices.

A permanent coordination headquarters will be set up in Kyiv. It will be overseen by Denys Shmyhal, the newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister.

Ukraine Prime Yulia Svyrydenko announced measures reducing overnight curfews and allowing businesses and government institutions to import more power. School holidays in Kyiv have been extended until February 1.

The UK was among countries announcing emergency energy support, allocating £20 million ($27 million). Norway made an initial grant of $200 million.

Zelensky Meets Former Military Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny

Zelensky hosted Ukraine’s former military Commander-in-Chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, on Thursday.

The President said of the discussion with Zaluzhnyi, who is currently Kyiv’s Ambassador to the UK, “I thanked him for his work as part of Ukraine’s team. We discussed the diplomatic tasks that are relevant now and could strengthen all of us — Ukraine, our resilience.”

Zalushnyi is expected to be Zelensky’s strongest challenger if both stand in the next Presidential election. In a survey in December, the President had 22% support in a first-round vote, and Zaluzhnyi 21%.

In a hypothetical runoff, Zaluzhnyi secured 64% of the vote and Zelensky 36%.

Zelensky also met the head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, to discuss Ukraine’s financial needs amid the ongoing Russian assault.