Russia is not interested in peace talks, Putin proved it again

Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to show little interest in pursuing meaningful peace negotiations with Ukraine, according to a report by analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

On January 24, in an interview with Kremlin propagandist Pavel Zarubin, Putin focused on conveying to the Russian public that the war in Ukraine will persist. He emphasized that Russia is unlikely to engage in peace talks in the near future, framing the conflict as part of a larger geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West.

The ISW analysts noted that Putin’s remarks served as a signal to Russian society, reinforcing the idea that the war is far from over. "This once again demonstrates Putin’s persistent stance that Ukraine is merely a puppet of the West and that the conflict is part of a broader confrontation between global powers," the report stated.

Putin reportedly reiterated his belief that negotiations to end the war in Ukraine should occur exclusively between Russia and the United States, sidelining Ukraine from direct participation. This aligns with Moscow’s narrative that the conflict is a proxy war waged by Western powers against Russia.

The ISW analysts concluded that Putin’s comments underscore his intention to sustain the war effort while deflecting blame onto the West, further diminishing the prospects for a peaceful resolution in the near term.

Russia struck Kharkiv with drones 4 times during the day

Three civilians were injured in Russian FPV drone attacks on two vehicles in the Myropillia hromada of Sumy Oblast on January 24, as reported by the Sumy Oblast Prosecutor's Office.

The first attack occurred around 10:45 a.m., targeting a car and injuring its driver. Several hours later, at approximately 1:45 p.m., a second vehicle was struck by a drone, resulting in injuries to two male passengers.

Both vehicles sustained damage during the attacks.

Law enforcement agencies are currently documenting the aftermath of the strikes. A pre-trial investigation has been initiated to determine further details and pursue accountability for these violations.

The attacks underscore the ongoing targeting of civilian infrastructure and non-combatants by Russian forces in the conflict.

Victims in Mariupol are impossible to estimate, but we have reports of 20,000 dead - Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that determining the actual number of victims of Russian aggression in occupied Mariupol is impossible without on-site investigations. However, Ukraine estimates that over 20,000 people were killed in the besieged city.

In an interview with Italian journalist Cecilia Sali for Il Foglio, Zelenskyy expressed that the lack of clarity regarding the full scale of the tragedy stems from the inability to conduct proper investigations on the ground. He shared information indicating that the Russians had likely killed about 20,000 people in Mariupol, although he stressed that exact figures could not be confirmed.

Zelenskyy explained that thousands of people were either killed, taken captive, or subjected to torture. He revealed that Ukraine has managed to bring back 4,000 prisoners of war, but many thousands remain in captivity. He also referred to the large-scale abduction of approximately 19,500 children, primarily from Mariupol and Kherson, whose whereabouts are still unknown.

Zelenskyy also pointed out that many civilians and military personnel who resisted were either executed, imprisoned, or tortured, adding that the number of victims could reach into the tens of thousands. Additionally, he mentioned the large number of people who likely died beneath the rubble during the siege of the city.

Zelenskyy highlighted Russia's swift reconstruction efforts in Mariupol, suggesting that these efforts were aimed at concealing the true scale of the atrocities. He compared this to the situation in Grozny, Chechnya, where similar tactics were reportedly used to obscure the number of victims.

The president emphasized that the swift rebuilding of Mariupol was likely intended to cover up the number of civilian casualties caused by Russian forces. The situation in the city remains a grim reminder of the ongoing humanitarian and war crimes concerns associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.