Institute for the Study of War

NEW: Kremlin officials continue to reiterate Russia's commitment to its original war aims and reject Western security guarantees for Ukraine.

Read the full Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 25, 2026: isw.pub/UkrWar012526

More Key Takeaways ⬇️ (1/4)

NEW: Some Iranian officials have continued to leak damning information about the regime’s brutal crackdown to Western media, which indicates that some regime personnel may oppose the regime’s crackdown. (1/3)

Read the Iran Update, January 25, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

3/ The extension of the Syrian government-Syrian Democratic Forces ceasefire is enabling the government to deliver humanitarian aid to SDF-controlled areas in northern Syria. The Syrian army established two humanitarian corridors in Kobani and Hasakah City.

2/ The Iranian regime hasn't restored international internet access, & there continues to be a debate w/in the regime about it, primarily btwn factions that think restoring internet could cause protest resumption versus those that think the economic toll of the shutdown could cause internal unrest.

NEW: Some Iranian officials have continued to leak damning information about the regime’s brutal crackdown to Western media, which indicates that some regime personnel may oppose the regime’s crackdown. (1/3)

Read the Iran Update, January 25, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

4/ Ukrainian forces recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian forces recently advanced near Borova, in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, and near Novopavlivka.

Read the full update here: isw.pub/UkrWar012526

3/ RU continues to intensify recruitment efforts for the RU Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) that may also staff the conventional RU ground forces.

UA Defense Minister Dmitry Mykhailo Fedorov appointed Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov as a Ministry of Defense (MoD) advisor on defense technology on Jan. 25.

2/ Kremlin Spokesman Peskov made a statement suggesting that the Kremlin is using its participation in ongoing negotiations with the United States to stave off a significant increase in US pressure against Russia that could impede its war effort.

NEW: Kremlin officials continue to reiterate Russia's commitment to its original war aims and reject Western security guarantees for Ukraine.

Read the full Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 25, 2026: isw.pub/UkrWar012526

More Key Takeaways ⬇️ (1/4)

Read CTP-ISW's latest update about developments in Syria and Iran here: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

7/ Syrian government forces have surrounded SDF fighters in Kobani since January 19, likely as the first part of a multi-stage operation to reduce SDF forces there.

6/ The Syrian army announced on January 24 that it will open humanitarian corridors in “the coming hours,” but did not specify if this includes a corridor in Kobani.

5/ Kurdish and international organizations are pushing the Syrian government to establish a humanitarian corridor in Kobani, Aleppo Province, as Syrian forces surround the city.

4/ Both the SDF and Syrian government forces continued to prepare for a possible lapse in the ceasefire on January 24 before the parties announced the extension.

3/ The ceasefire will also enable US forces to continue to transfer ISIS detainees from Syria.

2/ The continued ceasefire will help ensure that the government offensive does not inflict lasting harm on US counter-ISIS objectives in northeastern Syria because it will create stable conditions for Syrian government forces to deploy to and secure ISIS detention facilities.

NEW: The Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to extend their ceasefire in northeastern Syria for 15 days on January 24. (1/7)

Iran Update, January 24, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

Read CTP-ISW's latest update about developments in Syria and Iran here: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

7/ Syrian government forces have surrounded SDF fighters in Kobani since January 19, likely as the first part of a multi-stage operation to reduce SDF forces there.

6/ The Syrian army announced on January 24 that it will open humanitarian corridors in “the coming hours,” but did not specify if this includes a corridor in Kobani.

5/ Kurdish and international organizations are pushing the Syrian government to establish a humanitarian corridor in Kobani, Aleppo Province, as Syrian forces surround the city.

4/ Both the SDF and Syrian government forces continued to prepare for a possible lapse in the ceasefire on January 24 before the parties announced the extension.

3/ The ceasefire will also enable US forces to continue to transfer ISIS detainees from Syria.

2/ The continued ceasefire will help ensure that the government offensive does not inflict lasting harm on US counter-ISIS objectives in northeastern Syria because it will create stable conditions for Syrian government forces to deploy to and secure ISIS detention facilities.

NEW: The Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to extend their ceasefire in northeastern Syria for 15 days on January 24.(1/7)

Iran Update, January 24, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar012426

9/ Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area and near Slovyansk.

8/ Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov appointed former Deputy Digital Transformation Minister Valeria Ionan as a Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (MoD) advisor on international projects.

7/ Russian milbloggers continue to highlight the inconsistency between the Russian military command’s claims of advances and the reality on the battlefield particularly in the Kupyansk direction.

6/ Independent reporting continues to indicate that Russian forces and authorities continue systematically abusing Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in Russian detention in violation of international law.

Thousands of Ukrainians remain in Russian detention and are subject to this abuse.