That’s all our coverage on the war in Ukraine for now – but we’ll be back tomorrow with all the latest. 

Here’s a round-up of today’s headlines before we go: 

Moscow signalling Putin’s intentions for Ukraine when Trump takes over, analysts say

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War thinktank have said there are indications the Kremlin is now attempting to dictate the terms of any potential “peace” negotiations with Ukraine in advance of Donald Trump’s inauguration in the US. 

“The manner in which the Kremlin is trying to set its terms for negotiations strongly signals that Russia’s objectives remain unchanged and still amount to full Ukrainian capitulation,” the group’s analysts say.

“The Kremlin does not appear any more willing to make concessions to the incoming Trump administration than it was to the current administration.”

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claimed yesterday that the start of Trump’s presidency would not fundamentally change the US position on Ukraine. 

Russian forces break through to outskirts of northeastern city, says Ukrainian officials 

Ukrainian officials have said a Russian assault group briefly broke through to the outskirts of Kupiansk for the first time since Moscow’s forces fled the area in 2022. 

“They partially entered the suburbs, the industrial zone, and were destroyed by our troops… There were assault actions using heavy armoured vehicles, there were attempts to bring in infantry,” the city’s military administration chief said.

The city, now just 1.5 miles from the front line, is under constant shelling and the population has dwindled to 3,000 people who are being urged to evacuate, the official, Andriy Besedin, said.

Ukrainian commander nicknamed ‘Genius’ reveals most effective piece of Western equipment

Our chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay has been in eastern Ukraine, where he spoke to Ukrainian troops near the Russian border. 

He spoke to one of the country’s top field commanders, Captain Shyrshyn, who showed him the fighting vehicles used by his unit, and warned that equipment was running low. 

You can read his full report below…