Ukraine Daily

Saturday, January 7

Russia’s war against Ukraine

People walk through the town of Kupiansk which has experienced regular shelling from the Russians on Jan. 06, 2023 in Kupiansk, Ukraine. Despite a unilateral Russian ceasefire ordered by President Vladimir Putin, shelling could be heard throughout the day. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Zelensky meets US senators in Kyiv, calls Russian ‘truce’ a manipulation. President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with U.S. senators Jack Reed and Angus King in Kyiv on Jan. 6, with whom he “discussed the current situation on the front line and the risks of a possible escalation.”

Ukraine’s deputy PM warns of Russians preparing to attack churches during Christmas service. A Ukrainian OSINT group also reported getting tip-offs about the planned attacks in churches in the occupied areas. The attacks are supposedly meant to frame Ukraine as an aggressor.

Ukrainian intelligence: Russia planning to mobilize half a million conscripts in January. Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine’s deputy military intelligence chief, said the Ukrainian military believes the conscripts will be sent to the front lines in the east and south of the country and would be part of renewed Russian offensives in the spring and summer, the Guardian reported.

Russia reportedly hiring mercenaries in the Balkans. The Balkans are the main source of mercenary fighters for Russia, according to the National Resistance Center, an organization operated by Ukraine’s Special Forces.

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Estonian intelligence: Russia never stopped mobilization drive. Estonia’s Intelligence Chief Margo Grosberg believes that Russia is about to announce a new mobilization drive after the Jan. 7 Orthodox Christmas holiday. However, Grosberg said that since the first wave in the fall, mobilization in Russia has never actually stopped.

Kuleba: ’The time of weapons taboo has ended. We are entering a decisive phase.’ Kuleba said that the “cascade of good news” about new weapons pledges is the result of the “diplomatic marathon” conducted by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Media locate Russian polygon allegedly training operators for drones that attack Ukraine. The journalists identified the polygon using old pictures from the military competition for drone operators held there.

Ukraine ranks 15th among world’s strongest armies in Global Firepower index. In the last year index, Ukraine’s army was ranked 22nd.

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Zelensky congratulates Ukrainians with Orthodox Christmas, says Ukraine ‘is united in its belief in united victory.’ President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Ukrainians on the upcoming holiday, saying that all Ukrainian holidays are now “special,” and Ukrainians are “forced to break some of our traditions in order to protect them.”

PM: Ukrainians should be prepared for more emergency power shutoffs. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 6 that Russia is preparing new missile attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, and losses of power are expected.

Russian marching orders found in belongings of top Kherson collaborator Saldo. The State Investigations Bureau said on Jan. 6 that it had found Russian orders to commit crimes against Ukraine in the home and belongings of Volodymyr Saldo, a Ukrainian politician who defected to Russia and was placed in charge of the occupied part of southern Kherson Oblast.

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Ukraine war latest: Attacks on Ukraine kill civilians in first hours of Putin’s ’Christmas truce.’

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unilateral ceasefire along the front line in Ukraine from midday on Jan. 6 to midnight on Jan. 7 didn’t last even an hour, according to Ukrainian officials.

Photo: Getty Images

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The human cost of Russia’s war

Death toll rises in Russia’s recent missile attack on Ukraine. The third victim, a 40-year-old woman, died in hospital in Kyiv.

Russia’s shelling of Kherson Oblast kills 6, including 12-year-old. In the city of Kherson, the Russian army hit a firefighters unit on Jan. 6, killing one firefighter and injuring four firefighters, according to Governor Yaroslav Yanushevysh.

General Staff: Ukraine hits temporary Russian base in Kherson Oblast, up to 100 soldiers injured. “Currently, it is known that up to 100 wounded (Russian) soldiers were brought to local hospitals,” the General Staff said, adding that the number of killed Russian troops is being clarified.

General Staff: Russia has lost 110,250 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. In the past day, Ukraine’s General Staff added 530 troops to its estimation of Russia’s losses.

International response

Bradley infantry fighting vehicles confirmed in “largest yet” US military aid package for Ukraine. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced “the largest yet” new military assistance package for Ukraine, worth over $3 billion and including long-awaited Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, on Jan. 6.

Politico: US to give Ukraine first Sea Sparrow anti-air missiles. Sea Sparrows can be launched from the sea or ground to intercept aircraft or cruise missiles. The U.S. and most allies use the ship-mounted version. However, Ukraine is expected to use the ground-launched version, currently only operated this way by Taiwan, according to Politico.

Germany to give 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. According to Nils Schmid, a foreign policy spokesman for the Social Democratic Party, the vehicles could be delivered in the first quarter of 2023.

Ukraine to receive Patriot battery from Germany in first quarter of 2023. The American-made air defense battery Patriot will be delivered to Ukraine from Germany’s supplies in the first quarter of 2023, according to German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

CNN: US to start Ukrainian training on Patriots later this month. According to Laura Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, the training will take “several months,“ CNN reported.

Prime Minister reveals top financial aid amounts in 2022. Ukraine received Hr 1.1 trillion ($31 billion) in non-military financial aid from international partners in 2022, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 6, citing the National Bank of Ukraine.

UK sends 280 power generators to Mykolaiv. “Under the constant shelling of the energy system, the generators guarantee the reliable work of medical institutions, critical infrastructure facilities and the Points of Invincibility,” the Ukrainian embassy to the U.K. wrote on Twitter.

US imposes more sanctions on Iran over drones for Russia. “Iran is fueling Russia’s war in Ukraine with its provision of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology. Today, the United States sanctioned seven people involved in Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile programs – programs Moscow is using to target Ukraine’s critical infrastructure,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote on Twitter.

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