January 16, 2023 Russia-Ukraine news

By Tara Subramaniam, Leinz Vales, Aditi Sangal, Mike Hayes, Elise Hammond and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

Updated 3:01 a.m. ET, January 17, 2023
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9:54 a.m. ET, January 16, 2023

Germany's economy minister says Putin has failed to destroy German industry with his war in Ukraine

From CNN’s Inke Kappeler in Berlin and Allegra Goodwin in London 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to destroy German industry amid his war in Ukraine, Germany’s economy minister Robert Habeck told a Monday conference.  

“It was Putin's plan to cause a meltdown of German industry, but his plan has failed,” Habeck told the energy conference in Berlin, hosted by the business newspaper Handelsblatt. 

Habeck added he hoped Germany’s energy crisis would be overcome by 2024, adding that thanks to the fast construction of gas import infrastructure, gas storage facilities were expected to be full for 2023 and into the winter of 2024. This would lead to “safe and stable” gas deliveries at “moderate prices,” Habeck added. 

After a short period of freezing temperatures in December, a warm January so far has helped to keep Germany’s gas storage facilities around 90% full, according to the country’s gas network regulator. 

While a shortage of gas this winter seems unlikely, the situation could still deteriorate, according to the network regulator’s website. 

If temperatures drop below zero degrees Celsius, Germany consumes around one percent of its gas storage per day,” Habeck warned. 

“If we succeed in coming out of the winter months with adequate gas storage levels, we won't experience last year's madness again,” he continued. 
8:51 a.m. ET, January 16, 2023

Russia sanctions UK foreign minister

From CNN’s Eve Brennan in London 

Russia has sanctioned the UK foreign Minister James Cleverly, according to a tweet from Cleverly Monday. 

“I've been sanctioned by the Russian government. Good,” he said. “If this is the price for supporting Ukrainian freedom, then I’m happy to be sanctioned.”

8:29 a.m. ET, January 16, 2023

Ukraine soccer club launches $25 million aid project for Mariupol soldiers and their families 

From CNN's Sammy Mngqosini

Ukraine soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk has launched a $25 million project for Mariupol soldiers and their families, the club announced Monday. 

“I am allocating the $25 million (UAH 1 billion) today to help our soldiers, defenders and their families. The money will be used to cover different needs – from providing medical and prosthetic treatment and psychological support to meeting specific requests,” Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov said in a statement.

“Their acts of bravery are unparalleled in modern history. It is them, their sacrifice and courage that helped contain the enemy in the first months of the war and let all of us feel the inevitability of the Victory of Ukraine now,” Akhmetov added. 

The launch of the project, called the Heart of Azovstal project, comes after Shakhtar finalized a deal for Mykhailo Mudryk to join English Premiership side Chelsea FC. 

Shakhtar said they will receive a Ukrainian record-breaking transfer fee of $75 million (or about 70 million euros) for 22-year-old Mudryk with an additional $35 million (30 million euros) expected as a bonus payment, the club confirmed in a statement Sunday. 

Mudryk scored three goals for Shakhtar in the Champions League group stages despite their elimination.

Akhmetov added that he is confident that Ukraine will win the war against Russia, and one day “we will play a friendly against Chelsea at Donbass Arena in a Ukrainian Donetsk.” 

2:33 p.m. ET, January 16, 2023

Polish prime minister calls on Germany to supply "all sorts" of weapons to Ukraine

From CNN's Stephanie Halasz

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks during a festive event on the occasion of Wolfgang Schäuble's 50th anniversary in parliament on January 16, in Berlin, Germany.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks during a festive event on the occasion of Wolfgang Schäuble's 50th anniversary in parliament on January 16, in Berlin, Germany. (Clemens Bilan/Getty Images)

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called on the German government to supply “all sorts of weapons” to Ukraine. 

Morawiecki, during a visit to Berlin Monday, tweeted “The defeat of #Ukraine may become a prelude to World War III, so today there is no reason to block support for Kyiv and postpone matters indefinitely. I call on the German government to act decisively by supplying all sorts of weapons to Ukraine.”

This comes after Polish President Andrzej Duda promised “a company of Leopard-tanks" to Ukraine during his visit to the city of Lviv last week.

However, Poland needs permission from Berlin to these German-produced Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. If granted, Germany must also deal with the sensitive idea of German battle tanks in eastern Europe.

Some background: Thirteen European countries, including Poland and Finland, are in possession of modern German Leopard 2 tanks, which were introduced in 1979 and have been upgraded several times since, according to the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank.

8:41 a.m. ET, January 16, 2023

It's mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

The death toll from a Russian strike on a residential building in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Saturday has risen to 40, and Moscow's forces also struck the cities of Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia overnight into Monday.

Elsewhere, Germany's defense minister Christine Lambrecht has resigned amid increasing pressure on Berlin to step up military aid to Ukraine, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that Western arms shipments will only "drag out" the war.

Here are the latest headlines:

  • Dnipro death toll rises: The Russian strike on a residential building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro has killed 40 people, including three children, emergency services said Monday. In addition, 39 people have been rescued, 75 were injured and 46 are still reported missing. The Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed forces says that a Russian Kh-22 missile, an older and less accurate weapon than most modern missiles, was used in the strike. 
  • Kremlin denies targeting apartments: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that the Dnipro strike was the result of counter-missiles and air defense, contradicting Ukraine's claims that a Russian Kh-22 missile was used. In response to a question about the attack, Peskov said the Russian Armed Forces only strike "against military targets, whether they are obvious or disguised," and not at residential buildings. 
  • Ukraine says forces are still fighting in Soledar: Ukrainian units are "conducting hostilities in Soledar," according to an update from the Ukrainian Armed Forces Eastern Group. Ukrainian troops "inflict constant fire on the enemy," said group spokesman Serhii Cherevatyi. "Ukraine maintains its positions in the town," he added. Last week, Moscow said its forces had taken the small town in eastern Ukraine following weeks of fierce fighting, although Ukraine denied the claim.
  • Russian strikes in Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia: Nikopol was struck by shells in the early hours of Monday and at least 15 shells struck two settlements on the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city, a military official said. No casualties were reported. Russian shelling in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia injured several people overnight, according to a Ukrainian official.
  • Ukraine strikes Donetsk: Three rockets hit Donetsk in eastern Ukraine early Monday, the head of the city's Russia-backed administration said. Search and rescue operations are underway and there are no reported casualties so far.
  • Drones shot down near Crimea: Seven Ukrainian drones have been "shot down over the sea" near Sevastopol in the illegally annexed region of Crimea, according to governor Mikhail Razvozhaev. Razvozhaev said the attack was a "psyop" (psychological operation) by Ukrainian forces, but there have been no explosions in the city.
  • Military aid will "drag out" war: Deliveries of more advanced military equipment from the UK and other European countries "will not be able to change the situation on the ground" in Ukraine and will only "drag out" hostilities, said Kremlin spokesperson Peskov Monday. The Challenger 2 tanks the UK is planning to send to Ukraine "will burn like the rest," he added.
  • German defense minister resigns: German Minister of Defense Christine Lambrecht has resigned following growing skepticism about her suitability for the role against the backdrop of the Ukraine war. Lambrecht has faced criticism as Germany is under increasing pressure to ramp up military support for Kyiv, which has been insignificant compared to support from other Western allies during her time as minister. At the outbreak of the war, Lambrecht pledged to deliver 5,000 helmets as military assistance to Ukraine.
  • Belarus-Russia aviation drills begin: Joint military aviation drills involving Belarusian and Russian forces are underway, the Belarusian defense ministry said. The exercises are taking place on Belarusian territory and the main goal is to "increase operational compatibility in the joint performance of combat training missions," said the ministry. Residents of the Ukrainian region of Chernihiv, which borders both Russia and Belarus, have been told to expect air raid sirens to "increase significantly" over the next two weeks due to the drills.
  • Ukraine's first lady at Davos: Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, will be joining this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said Monday. She is expected to deliver a special message from Davos tomorrow morning, WEF told CNN.
7:46 a.m. ET, January 16, 2023

Kremlin denies rumors of conflict between Wagner mercenary group and Russian defense ministry

From CNN's Anna Chernova

A poster displaying a Russian soldier with a slogan reading 'Glory to the Heroes of Russia' on the street next to the PMC Wagner Centre, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on November 4.
A poster displaying a Russian soldier with a slogan reading 'Glory to the Heroes of Russia' on the street next to the PMC Wagner Centre, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on November 4. (Olga Maltseva/AFP/Getty Images)

The Kremlin has denied rumors of a conflict between the Wagner mercenary group fighting in Ukraine and the Russian defense ministry.

“This conflict mainly exists in the information space,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a regular press briefing Monday, adding that it is “mainly the product of information manipulations.”

“It [the country] knows both the heroes who serve in the Armed Forces and show miracles of heroism, and the heroes with the PMC Wagner,” Peskov said.

Everyone is working for the main cause. All are fighting for their homeland,” he added.

Some context: While Kyiv argues the fight for the embattled eastern town of Soledar is ongoing, the head of private military group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed its exclusive role in capturing the town. The Russian defense ministry acknowledged its role in a public statement Saturday.

“As for the direct assault on the city blocks of Soledar occupied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, this combat mission was successfully solved by the courageous and selfless actions of the volunteers of the Wagner PMC assault squads,” the statement read.

6:56 a.m. ET, January 16, 2023

Ukrainian official warns air raid sirens may "increase significantly" due to Belarus and Russia military drills

From CNN's Olga Voitovych in Kyiv

Residents of the Ukrainian region of Chernihiv, which borders both Russia and Belarus, have been told to expect air raid sirens to “increase significantly” over the next two weeks due to the joint Belarus-Russia military drills. 

Viacheslav Chaus, head of the Chernihiv regional military administration, said on Monday: “The number of air raid alarms in the territory of Chernihiv region and the country as a whole may increase significantly.”

On Monday, aviation drills between Russia and Belarus began. The Belarusian defense ministry said the drills would “increase operational compatibility in the joint performance of combat training missions.”

The drills are due to run from January 16 to February 1.

6:52 a.m. ET, January 16, 2023

Death toll from Dnipro strike now stands at 40

From CNN's Olga Voitovych in Kyiv

Rescue workers remove the body of a victim from the debris of a damaged residential building in Dnipro, southeastern Ukraine, on January 15.
Rescue workers remove the body of a victim from the debris of a damaged residential building in Dnipro, southeastern Ukraine, on January 15. (Oleg Pertasyuk/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

The Russian strike on a residential building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro has killed 40 people, according to an updated death toll from the Ukrainian emergency services.

In a Telegram update on Monday the emergency services agency said that 40 people, including three children, had died.

In addition, 39 people have been rescued, 75 were injured and 46 are still reported missing.

The building was hit on Saturday, and a Russian Kh-22 missile was used in the attack, the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed forces said Sunday.

Originally designed as an anti-ship missile, the Kh-22 is an older and less accurate weapon than most modern missiles.

6:27 a.m. ET, January 16, 2023

Kremlin says Western military equipment will only "drag out" the Ukraine war

From CNN's Anna Chernova and Radina Gigova

Challenger 2 main battle tanks are displayed for the families watching The Royal Tank Regiment Regimental Parade, on September 24, 2022 in Bulford, England.
Challenger 2 main battle tanks are displayed for the families watching The Royal Tank Regiment Regimental Parade, on September 24, 2022 in Bulford, England. (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

Deliveries of more advanced military equipment from the UK and other European countries "will not be able to change the situation on the ground" in Ukraine and will only "drag out" hostilities, the Kremlin said Monday.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added that the Challenger 2 tanks the UK is planning to send to Ukraine "will burn like the rest."

Downing Street announced on Saturday plans to send 12 Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems as part of efforts to "intensify" support for Ukraine.

Asked about the UK's decision, Peskov told journalists deliveries from Western nations will only "bring about more trouble to the state of Ukraine."

According to Peskov, these countries are using Ukraine as a "tool to achieve their anti-Russian goals."

Other allies: France and Poland have pledged to soon send tanks for the Ukrainian military to use in its efforts to protect itself from Russia. Finland is also considering following suit.