The start of the game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Thursday night was delayed by what officials termed “court conditions.”
Day: January 8, 2026
2/ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 8, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar010826
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Jan 9, 2026
NEW: Preliminary unconfirmed reports suggested that Russian forces may have conducted an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) strike against Lviv Oblast on the night of January 8, but Ukrainian officials have not yet confirmed these reports.
Other Key Takeaways:
The Kremlin again explicitly rejected the security guarantees for Ukraine that the United States and Europe are currently finalizing with Ukraine as part of a peace agreement.
The owner of the Russian-flagged Bella-1 oil tanker that the US Coast Guard seized on January 7 is reportedly affiliated with Russian efforts to evade sanctions against the Venezuelan oil sector
Russia appears to be attempting to distance itself from the Bella-1 oil tanker even as it seeks to protect other likely shadow fleet vessels.The Russian military command reportedly continues to create new military units and formations but will likely struggle to staff them to their full doctrinal end strength.
The United Kingdom provided Ukraine with air defense systems amidst Russia’s escalating long-range drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian civilian and critical infrastructure.
Russian forces recently advanced in Sumy Oblast.
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Jan 9, 2026
Trump officials weigh direct payments to Greenlanders in takeover push: Report trib.al/YDegok7
— The Hill (@thehill) Jan 9, 2026