Key Concepts
- Massive Russian Strikes on Ukraine: A large-scale attack targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, causing widespread outages and impacting nuclear power plant safety.
- Russian Cyber Warfare Escalation: A significant increase in Russian cyberattacks against the UK and NATO, employing increasingly sophisticated tactics including AI.
- Trump’s Disruptive Foreign Policy: President Trump’s actions, particularly regarding Greenland and NATO allies, are diverting attention from Ukraine and raising concerns about US reliability.
- Ukraine’s Resilience & Cyber Defense: Ukraine is demonstrating strong resilience in both conventional and cyber warfare, effectively defending against Russian attacks.
- Information Warfare & Deepfakes: Russia is actively utilizing disinformation and increasingly realistic deepfakes to destabilize and erode trust.
- The Telegraph’s Multi-Platform Coverage: The Telegraph is providing comprehensive coverage of the conflict through a daily podcast, newsletters, live blogs, and social media engagement.
Military Updates & Energy Crisis (January 20th)
On Tuesday, January 20th – three years and 332 days since the full-scale invasion began – Russia reportedly tested thermobaric munitions on ground-based drones. A “massive attack” across Ukraine overnight targeted electricity substations feeding Ukrainian nuclear power stations, causing widespread death, injury, and outages of electricity, water, and heating in “pretty much all regions.” The Chernobyl nuclear power plant lost all offsite power, and power lines to other plants were impacted, prompting concern from the IAEA and its Director General Rafael Grossi. In Kyiv, 60% of the city was initially without power, affecting over 335,000 people, though power was restored to 162,000 homes by the time of the broadcast.
The attack involved over 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles, and 15 cruise missiles targeting Kyiv, the Kyiv Oblast, and several other regions including Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, and Sumy. Ukrainian authorities mobilized repair crews and emergency services, claiming to have shot down all but six missiles and 315 drones. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Putin’s strike “barbaric” and a “wake-up call” for world leaders meeting in Davos, urging for urgent energy assistance, air defense, interceptors, and sanctions. Vitaliy Zachchenko, CEO of Ukrenergo, confirmed that nuclear plants were not entirely disconnected due to “good” protection around substations. The Ukrainian MOD stated that recently received missiles “helped significantly” in defense. Russian forces also struck civilian infrastructure in Odesa Oblast, Rivne Oblast, Vinnytsia Oblast, and Kharkiv. President Zelenskyy canceled his trip to the WEF in Davos to address the energy crisis, stating the most difficult situation remained in Kyiv, parts of Kyiv Oblast, and Kharkiv.
Ukrainian forces reported hitting a Russian drone warehouse in occupied Luhansk Oblast (Novo Krasnyanka) on Sunday night, belonging to Russia's 144th Motorized Rifle Division. The SBU announced the capture of a Russian soldier accused of killing nine Ukrainian prisoners of war in Kurhany Oblast, with President Zelenskyy vowing accountability.
Russian Thermobaric Weapons & Czech Support
Ukrainian media reported that Russian engineers have integrated 220mm guide rails from the TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower into a ground drone, named "Malvina-M." The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) explained that thermobaric weapons generate significant overpressure and extreme heat by dispersing and igniting an aerosol cloud, traditionally used against fortified structures. Integrating these weapons onto drones could mitigate the TOS-1A’s vulnerabilities.
Regarding Czech support, President Petr Pavel proposed selling four L-159 light combat aircraft to Ukraine, but Prime Minister Andrej Babiš intervened, citing the aircraft’s limited service life. President Pavel expressed concern, stating this decision moved Czechia towards “selfishness rather than solidarity.”
Davos Disrupted & Trump’s Actions
The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, intended for diplomatic breakthroughs for Kyiv, was “hijacked” by President Trump’s threats over Greenland, making Ukraine’s fate a “sideshow.” President Zelenskyy canceled his trip to Davos, prioritizing the energy crisis. He indicated he would attend if energy aid packages and additional air defense were secured.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned against Trump’s threats, affirming Greenland’s sovereignty. Trump escalated his rhetoric, posting doctored images and screenshots of private messages from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and French President Emmanuel Macron. He also attacked the UK’s position on the Chagos Islands, raising concerns about the reliability of future agreements. Francis Fukuyama advised European leaders “not to back down” in this confrontation, citing Trump as a “bully” and referencing successful resistance from China, India, and Brazil in 2025. Trump is aiming to rebuild a “new rules-based order” outside the UN, inviting both Putin and Zelenskyy to join a “bigger board of peace,” which Zelenskyy rejected, stating, “Russia is our enemy.” Hungary’s Viktor Orbán has agreed to join.
Greenland Update & Russian Cyber Warfare
Reporting from Nuuk, James Rothwell noted logistical challenges due to media influx. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen acknowledged the possibility of US military force, though deemed a “military coup” unlikely. Experts speculated on quick US military action, potentially involving a mission from the Department of Defense.
Michael McManis (Henry Jackson Society) presented a new report on Russian cyber warfare, revealing a “staggering” 1,586% increase in attacks against the UK after the full-scale invasion, making it the sixth most targeted NATO country. This expertise stems from Soviet-era programs in mathematics and science. Initially, Russia anticipated a quick victory and employed destructive “wipers” in Ukraine. Against the UK/NATO, attacks are “more devious” to avoid escalation, targeting public administration and transport, including the NHS. Russia prioritizes media sectors in Ukraine and transportation/public administration in the UK.
Russia is pioneering the use of AI in cyber warfare, automating attacks and enabling real-time adaptation. AI is currently used for disinformation and deepfakes, but will geometrically expand its applications. Russia views warfare as a “continuous” spectrum, unlike the Western “binary” view. NATO targeting is unequal, with Poland and the Baltic countries receiving more attention due to strategic importance. Russia’s communications infrastructure is “less advanced” than Western counterparts. Deepfakes are becoming increasingly realistic, threatening societal trust, and McManis advocates for “verify and then trust.” UK security forces are effective, but the “attack surface” remains a challenge.
Podcast Dissemination & Conclusion
The Telegraph’s “Ukraine the Latest” podcast is distributed in Ukrainian and Russian versions, alongside a weekly newsletter, live blog, social media engagement (Xspaces live broadcast), and a dedicated email address ([email protected]). The production team is led by Francis Durnley, Louisa Wells, and David Nolles.
McManis concluded by drawing a parallel to Bruce Lee’s philosophy of “the art of fighting without fighting,” highlighting Ukraine’s “magnificent” cyber defense and predicting Ukraine “will” win the war with continued allied support. The podcast’s comprehensive coverage aims to provide audiences with a nuanced understanding of the conflict and its multifaceted dimensions.
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