Armed Forces of Russia
Russia needs soldiers. The Global South has desperate people. The rest is exploitation.
After mobilization in September 2022 sent over 261,000 Russians fleeing the country, Putin found a third option: build a global trafficking infrastructure that spans from North Korea to Cuba, Nepal to Kenya, exploiting economic desperation to fuel a war that distant populations have no stake in, explained Munira Mustaffa, Senior Fellow at Verve Research
From Nairobi to the Donbas: Nearly 300 deceived Kenyans trapped on Russian front lines
Wellington Nyongesa, intake editor at Standard Group PLC, stated at the Third International Conference Crimea Global that nearly 300 young Kenyan men are trapped on the Russian front lines in Ukraine, lured by false promises of jobs in supermarkets, logistics, and construction
Russian forces attack Kyiv and Kharkiv overnight: there are casualties and destruction
On the night of January 24, 2026, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine using missiles and drones. Kyiv and Kharkiv were among the targets. Additionally, the Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Chernihiv regions were affected. A woman was killed in Ukraine's capital
Russian drones kill 4, wound 5 including three minors in Donetsk Oblast
As a result of the hits on residential buildings, a 32-year-old man and his 5-year-old son, as well as two of their neighbors, were killed. Additionally, the mother of the deceased boy and three girls aged 12, 14, and 16 sustained physical injuries. A 34-year-old local resident was also wounded
Russia strikes Kyiv and a number of regions: there are fatalities and injuries among civilians, along with widespread destruction
As a result of Russian military shelling on the night of January 20, 2026, in Kyiv and the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Vinnytsia regions, destruction of infrastructure and, in some places, fatalities and injuries among civilians have been reported
Russians killed a woman and injured seven civilians in attacks on Kharkiv region on January 17
In Kharkiv, the shelling continued between 14:10 and 14:30. According to preliminary data, the city was attacked by "Tornado-S" multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS). As a result of the strikes, a critical infrastructure facility was damaged. Two men and a woman were injured
Ukraine urges IAEA and countries to stop Russia’s planned strikes on nuclear plant substations
Ukraine is sharing relevant intelligence with its partners and warning of potentially catastrophic repercussions, Sybiha reported
Most Ukrainians see Russia’s war as an attempt at genocide and the destruction of the Ukrainian nation
Almost a year ago, in February 2025, 66% of respondents agreed that Russia’s goal in Ukraine is genocide or the destruction of Ukrainian statehood and Ukrainians as a nation. Since then, the share of those holding this view has increased slightly to 69%
Two people were killed in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region in Russian artillery shelling
Russians killed two women in Nikopol. Additionally, seven people were injured across the region due to Russian attacks, with one person in critical condition on January 16, 2026
Russian bomb strike on Bilopillia kills 1, injures 4 in Sumy Oblast
The attack killed a 35-year-old local resident, while four other people sustained injuries
The ICRC “expressed concern” over strikes on Ukrainian and Russian cities: Sybiha called this statement “shameful”
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs, the ICRC's statement was perceived in Ukraine as a false moral equivalence between the aggressor and the defending country, which undermines trust in the organization
Russia strikes civilian ship at Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk, wounds crew member
Kuleba emphasized that this is yet another act of Russian terror against civilian port infrastructure, international trade, and maritime security
Video showing Russian mistreatment of African mercenary spreads among Kenyan social media users
In the video, a Russian serviceman humiliates an African fighter by strapping an anti-tank mine to him in what the narration frames as a cruel prank or punishment, labeling him with a racist expression as "coal"
Russia attacked 15 critical infrastructure facilities on January 13
The Kyiv mayor stated that as of 10:15 p.m., the city's electricity situation remains extremely challenging, noting that energy workers are struggling to restore power
Two medics injured in Chernihiv Oblast after Russian strike hits ambulance
In Semenivka, the Russian military has repeatedly shelled those who help border residents survive; for instance, they have struck bread delivery trucks several times
Since the start of the full-scale war, 142 media workers were killed in Ukraine — NUJU
Tomilenko also drew attention to the change in approaches to journalist safety while working near the front. Specifically, media workers are advised to refrain from using "Press" markings on clothing, body armor, helmets, and vehicles
Four civilians killed, 14 wounded as Russia shells eastern Ukraine
On January 10, 2026, the Russian Federation continued to shell residential areas in Ukraine. One person was killed, and three were injured in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as a result of Russian attacks. In Donetsk Oblast, three civilians were killed, and nine were injured. One person was also injured in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and one in Kharkiv Oblast
Russian commander Denis Kuznetsov has been notified of suspicion in absentia for the shooting of a civilian car in Bucha
The suspect's name was not explicitly stated in the police report; however, the Office of the Prosecutor General recently published a document regarding a Russian citizen, Denis Kuznetsov, whose details match those in the police report
Columns
Reconciliation never ends: on the challenges of decolonization in South Africa
Russia needs soldiers. The Global South has desperate people. The rest is exploitation.
From Nairobi to the Donbas: Nearly 300 deceived Kenyans trapped on Russian front lines
From Venezuela to Ukraine, behind every repressed person stands a woman who becomes their voice
