**Ukraine Strikes Russian Command Post in Donetsk Oblast**
On January 8, Ukrainian forces carried out a precision strike against a command post of Russia’s 8th Combined Arms Army in the Russian-occupied town of Khartsyzk, Donetsk Oblast. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that the facility was being used by Russia to coordinate attacks on Ukrainian forces and civilians.
The military said that they took “all necessary measures” to limit the risk to civilians during the strike. The location of the command post is around 25 kilometers east of the Russian-held city of Donetsk, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.
**Previous Strikes**
This attack follows recent strikes on Russian targets in Ukraine. On January 7, a precision strike was carried out against a Russian command post in Kursk Oblast. Another strike was reported on January 2 in the same region.
The Ukrainian military also announced a successful long-range attack against a Russian oil depot in Saratov Oblast that provided fuel to the nearby Engels-2 airbase.
**Global Developments**
Poland closed its consulate building in St. Petersburg after 53 years, following Warsaw’s order to close a Russian consulate in the Polish city of Poznan last year.
A fleet of up to 10 NATO vessels will guard infrastructure under the Baltic Sea until April, the Finnish broadcaster YLE reported on January 7.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called for NATO to raise its defense spending benchmark from 2% of GDP to 5%.
**Belarus and Azerbaijan**
Photos and a video of Belarusian opposition leader Viktar Babaryka were published by blogger Raman Pratasevich after he was held incommunicado since February 2023.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called Armenia effectively a “fascist state” on January 7, adding that Baku might have no other choice but to “destroy” its neighbor’s so-called “fascist ideology.”
**Russia Launches Drones**
Russia launched 64 Shahed-type attack drones and various dummy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Air defenses shot down 41 drones over nine different oblasts.
**Casualties and Aid Package**
The Ukrainian military reported that Russia suffered 1,660 casualties just over the past day.
A large fire engulfed an oil depot overnight on January 8 in the city of Engels in Saratov Oblast.
The upcoming aid package scheduled to be announced on January 9 will draw from existing stockpiles with the intent of delivering most of the pledged weapons to Ukraine before Trump takes office.