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Donald Trump has said that Vladimir Putin “fears the US” but not Europe in his latest attack on Washington’s closest allies.
In comments likely to cause concern in Europe, Trump said that a mission to capture the Russian President mirroring the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro would “not be necessary”.
Trump told reporters: “Putin is not afraid of Europe. He's afraid of the United States of America as led by me. There's no fear of Europe.”
He also repeated claims that Europe had “fallen behind” with areas that were “not recognisable” due to immigration. Trump and his MAGA allies have frequently backed far-right parties in Europe.
Elsewhere, at least four people were killed in Kyiv as Russia fired total of 278 missiles and drones overnight, according to Ukraine's military, which said it downed 244 of them in flight.
Just hours earlier, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky alerted the nation about Russia's intention to launch a large-scale offensive and urged people to take shelter when asked.
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Key Points
- Russia says it attacked Ukraine with Oreshnik hypersonic missile
- What is the Oreshnik missile?
- Death toll rises to four in Ukraine as Russia pounds Kyiv with drones and missiles
- Russia hits Ukraine with 278 missiles and drones in overnight attack
- Zelensky warns Russia is 'betting on winter warfare' as new attack looms - watch
Kyiv mayor calls on residents to leave as homes left without power
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko has advised residents to “temporarily leave” the city while they do not have heating and electricity, with temperatures set to drop well below zero.
Half of Kyiv’s apartment buildings, around 6,000, do not have heating following a large-scale Russian attack on energy infrastructure. There are also disruptions to the water supply.
"City services are operating under emergency conditions. And unfortunately weather conditions are forecast to be difficult in the coming days,” Mr Klitschko said.
“I also appeal to residents of the capital who have the opportunity to temporarily leave the city and go where there are alternative sources of power and heat, to do so.”
He said last nights attack was the most painful one Kyiv has see on its critical infrastructure facilities.
A woman walks inside a damaged residential complex following a Russian attack in Kyiv (AFP/Getty)Alex Croft10 January 2026 00:00Germany condemns Russian use of Oreshnik
Germany has condemned Russia's firing of a powerful hypersonic missile at Ukraine and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kyiv, a government spokesperson said.
"Russia is continuing to escalate the situation without provocation," said the spokesperson, adding that Russia's justification for using the missile has already been refuted.
Moscow said it had fired the Oreshnik missile in response to what it has described as an attempted drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin's residences last month, which Ukraine has denied and the United States has said did not happen.
Meanwhile, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul will travel to the United States next week for talks with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
Alex Croft9 January 2026 23:03Russia claims control over village in Zaporizhzhia region
Russian troops have taken control of the village of Zelenyi in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Moscow’s Defence Ministry said on Friday.
The ministry also said that between January 3 and 9, it had carried out four massive group strikes on Ukraine's military and energy facilities, drone launch sites and ammunition depots.
The Independent could not independently verify the battlefield reports.
Alex Croft9 January 2026 22:01Trump says Putin 'fears the US but not Europe'
Donald Trump has said that Vladimir Putin “fears the US” but not Europe in his latest attack on Washington’s closest allies.
In comments likely to cause concern in Europe, Trump said that a mission to capture the Russian President mirroring the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro would “not be necessary”.
Trump told reporters: “Putin is not afraid of Europe. He's afraid of the United States of America as led by me. There's no fear of Europe.”
Daniel Keane9 January 2026 21:32Europe must take immediate action, says Ukrainian foreign minister
We can bring you more from Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, who earlier warned Russia’s use of an Oreshnik missile marked a “grave threat” to Europeean security.
He has also called on international partners to take immediate action increasing pressure on Moscow following the latest attack.
"New rounds of tough sanctions to deprive Russia of resources for terror and war,” Mr Sybiha wrote in a post on X. “New packages of defence assistance for Ukraine to better protect our people and push back the invaders. New steps to ensure accountability for Russian crimes."
He also called for “strong” public condemndation of the attack, “especially from those who recently responded with concerns to the fake 'Putin residence attack'."
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Petr Macinka visit the site of a Russian drone strike (Reuters)Alex Croft9 January 2026 21:02What is the Oreshnik missile?
The Oreshnik, whose name means Hazel Tree, is an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile that Russia has fired only once before against Ukraine, in November 2024.
On that occasion it was equipped only with dummy warheads and therefore caused limited damage, Ukrainian sources said, in what was effectively a test.
If the overnight attack carried explosive warheads, it would mark the first time that Russia has used the Oreshnik with full destructive intent. The strike targeted what Russia called critical infrastructure in Ukraine, though the extent of the damage was not immediately clear.
Experts say the novel feature of the Oreshnik is that it can carry multiple warheads capable of simultaneously striking different targets - usually associated with longer-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
The missile is based on the RS-26 Rubezh, which Russia had originally developed as an intercontinental missile.
Like many Russian weapons systems, it is capable of carrying nuclear as well as conventional warheads, but there was no suggestion of any nuclear component to the overnight attack.
Alex Croft9 January 2026 20:00Watch: Kyiv and Lviv struck by drones and missiles after Zelensky warns of ‘massive’ attack
Kyiv and Lviv struck by drones and missiles after Zelensky warns of ‘massive’ attackAlex Croft9 January 2026 19:01Russian drone strikes hit foreign-flagged vessels in Odesa, says Kyiv
Russia attacked two foreign-flagged civilian vessels with drones in the southern Odesa region, killing a Syrian national and injuring others, Ukrainian deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on Friday.
He added in a statement that one ship heading to the port of Chornomorsk was under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the other, near the Odesa port, was under the flag of the Comoros Islands.
Alex Croft9 January 2026 18:29Spanish foreign minister discusses Ukraine and Venezuela with Rubio
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday to discuss Venezuela, including the situation of Spanish companies including Repsol REP.MC.
The half-hour conversation also covered Ukraine, the foreign ministry said, adding the conversation was pleasant.
"I have held a conversation with Secretary Rubio on the situation in Venezuela. Spain is committed to the Venezuelan people at this new stage," Albares wrote in a tweet.
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