Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title
[Korrespondent] 22:45 Ukraine, in the absence of assistance from the United States, is already approaching the depletion of some types of weapons; other types will last for 2-3 months, said John Kirby, coordinator of the White House National Security Council. In addition, according to him, Washington's cessation of arms supplies to Ukraine influences the decisions of other Western countries - they are beginning to act in the same way.
22:29 On Wednesday, January 17, the first meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council at the level of heads of defense departments took place. According to the Ukrainian Mission to NATO, our country was represented at this meeting by Major General Sergei Salkutsan, although it was previously planned that Zaluzhny would join foreign colleagues in a video conference format.
22:26 Zelensky said that he held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters: “Operational level: the situation at the front now. Commanders reported. Different directions: east, south. Also north - countering sabotage groups, strengthening the border. There was a strategic level of discussion: our actions in this year. Not only defense ones. Ukraine needs an ambitious, active perspective, so that it is our state that has the initiative, and not the enemy, so that the end of the war depends on Ukrainian actions. The world supports those who have a perspective. And this is a fundamental task - keep the initiative so that you have the opportunity to become stronger."
22:00 Bulgaria has still not sent Ukraine the previously promised 100 armored personnel carriers. As Defense Minister Todor Tagarev said, Bulgaria wants the transportation of the vehicles to be financed by one of the countries participating in the Ramstein format: “This is a very serious logistics operation. We also know the amount that is needed for transportation. It would be feasible for our budget, but first we Let's try the Rammstein version."
If the allies do not agree to pay for the shipment of the armored personnel carrier, the Bulgarian government will look for other options for financing. The logistics process from the moment financing is secured will take two months, Tagarev added.
21:39 On the night of January 17, the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the first time used a hybrid air defense system under the general name FrankenSAM (a combination of the English words Frankenstein and air defense system). The complex successfully worked against the Iranian Shahed-136 - the target was eliminated at a distance of 9 km. What is known about him is in the material Ukrainian Air Defense System.
20:58 Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas called on the member countries of the Ramstein group to annually allocate 0.25% of their GDP to Ukraine. According to her, this will allow raising at least $131 billion and turning the situation in favor of Ukraine. Estonia itself has already decided to give 0.25% of its GDP to Ukraine in the next four years - this is about 95 million euros per year.
20:02 Zelensky said that he did not plan to meet with the Chinese prime minister in Davos: “There is a prime minister of China - then our prime minister will meet with him. I would gladly meet with the leader of China. As far as I know, Xi Jinping makes decisions, and in Ukraine I I make decisions... I don’t need any dialogues, I need important decisions from the leaders who make these decisions.”
19:44 The Bundestag did not support the draft resolution on the supply of Taurus to Ukraine. According to Deutsche Welle, out of 666 deputies, 178 voted in favor, 485 voted against, and three abstained. The project was introduced by opposition members from the CDU/CSU faction.
19:12 Sweden does not rule out providing Ukraine with Gripen aircraft, but this decision is related to the country’s accession to NATO, Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said in Davos.
18:51 Since the de-occupation, National Police investigators have found 28 torture chambers in the Kharkov region, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. This is the largest number of torture facilities in Ukraine. Three of them remain undocumented due to the fact that they are located in heavily shelled settlements on the border with the Russian Federation.
In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 88 places have been discovered in the de-occupied territories where Russians illegally detained and tortured people. Among the largest is the torture chamber in Kupyansk. Officially, 67 people were recognized as victims at the hands of the invaders in this torture facility, but the police are aware of the torture of more than 150 victims. Some were held for more than 100 days. Among the victims are schoolchildren, pensioners, teachers, directors of local enterprises and farmers.
18:19 Ukraine cannot afford to go on a “sheer defense” and will continue counter-offensive measures so as not to lose its territories, Vadim Skibitsky, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, said in Davos. He explained that Russia will use any ceasefire to improve the situation and will try to open new directions.
“If we go on the defensive, as many say, and begin to develop our defense industry, then the enemy will not stop. We must develop everything - air defense, and make sure that our defense industry is protected, and we must carry out counter-offensive measures so as not to allow the loss of territory... The experience of 2023 showed us this,” Skibitsky added.
17:42 In the Dniprovsky district of the Dnipropetrovsk region, an X-59 guided aircraft missile was destroyed, the Air Command of Skhid reported.
17:26 China rejected Ukraine’s request for a meeting in Davos between Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and President Zelensky, Politico writes, citing a senior American official. At the same time, the representative of Ukraine in a comment to the publication denies that Kyiv asked for a meeting with the PRC. Another senior US official said China allegedly refused any meetings after Russia called on it to end diplomatic contacts with Ukraine. The EU said it called on Beijing to resume direct contacts with Zelensky.
17:03 Near Rabotino, Zaporozhye region, civilian journalist Krym.Realii Dmitry Evchin was wounded as a result of artillery shelling by Russian troops, Radio Liberty reported.
17:01 Zelensky in Davos called on Western countries “not to experiment” with help to Ukraine: “Now there is a war, but there will be a big crisis for the whole of Europe. Because without the help of the US and the EU, Ukraine will fight, but will become weaker, and this will be an opportunity for Russia "capture us. And once they capture us, believe me, it will be a war between NATO and the Russian Federation. I believe, frankly, that Putin really wants this."
16:55 According to updated data, as a result of enemy shelling in Maly Burluk, Kupyansky district, Kharkov region, one person was killed and two children - ten and 14 years old - were wounded, said the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov. The House of Culture and residential buildings were damaged.
16:29 Russia is forming detachments of military instructors to send to African countries, reports the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense. People are also recruited from the occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular in Crimea. The contracts are proposed to be signed by reserve military personnel of the Russian Army - specialists in servicing Russian-made air defense systems, military sailors and some other specialists in the military-technical sphere. Thus, Moscow wants to expand its influence in Africa.
15:51 The Russians struck the village of Maly Burluk with a KAB in the Kupyansky district of the Kharkov region - a ten-year-old boy lost his leg, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OBA.
15:48 Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that Tehran has never supplied Russia with drones and missiles for use in Ukraine. He added that Kyiv allegedly did not provide Iran with any evidence that the Russian Federation is using Iranian weapons during military operations in Ukraine.
15:26 In the morning, the Russians launched a missile attack on the territory of an agricultural enterprise in the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky district of the Odessa region, destroying a hangar for storing hay, the prosecutor's office reported. The southern defense forces clarified that the Russian army hit the Odessa and Belgorod-Dnestrovsky regions with Onyxes, hitting agricultural areas and agricultural enterprises. There were no casualties.
15:07 The Russian army struck Berislav, Kherson region, three people were injured, the OVA reported. Another person was injured as a result of enemy shelling of the village of Romashkovo, Belozersky community.
14:20 Germany announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine, which included, in particular, eight FFG armored personnel carriers, 25 RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones, 16 Zetros trucks, ammunition for Leopard 1 tanks, 50 Sat communication terminals, etc.
14:16 On the night of January 17, the military used the FrankenSAM project air defense system for the first time in combat conditions - it shot down Shahed from a distance of 9 km, said the head of the Ministry of Strategic Industry Alexander Kamyshin during a visit to Davos. We are talking about hybrid air defense systems, which are being developed jointly by the Pentagon, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Strategic Industry. In fact, these are three anti-aircraft missile systems: the Soviet Buk air defense system with American RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles, AIM-9M air-to-air missiles in combination with Soviet radars and air defense systems based on Ukrainian old systems with elements and missiles from Patriot.
13:58 The European Commission has begun work on a draft negotiating framework for Ukraine - a document defining the principles and procedures for negotiating accession to the EU, said EC Speaker Ana Pisonero.
13:21 The Russians hit the Marganets community of the Nikopol district of the Dnepropetrovsk region with a kamikaze drone. A car was hit and two teenagers, 13 and 19 years old, were injured, said the head of the OVA, Sergei Lysak.
12:49 The Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday, January 16, adopted bill No. 10062 on the creation of a unified electronic register of those liable for military service and the automatic receipt of a combat participant’s certificate. The document, which contains contradictory clauses with the Constitution of Ukraine, was supported by 249 deputies. What is known about the law is in the material Obereg System for TCC: details.
12:27 The Russian army shelled the Dnieper district of Kherson. One of the strikes hit a garage - according to preliminary information, one person was killed and one was injured, the OVA reported. Over the previous 24 hours, three people were injured as a result of Russian shelling in the region.
12:13 Blinken said that he does not see any prospects for peace negotiations on Ukraine. “Right now, I don’t see that,” the US Secretary of State said in Davos when asked whether there was any prospect of negotiations in the foreseeable future.
11:44 In Odessa, as a result of the fall of debris from a Russian kamikaze drone on main pipelines, about 60 houses were left without heat supply, KP Heating reported. Repairs will take about a day.
10:52 The commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Sergei Naev, called on residents of the border regions in northern Ukraine to evacuate. He explained this by constant attacks from the Russian Federation. According to Naev, evacuating, among other things, is necessary so that “the Ukrainian military can conduct a full exchange of fire and destroy the enemy, without thinking that they can harm our citizens.”
10:28 President of Poland Duda considers it impossible for Ukraine to join NATO until the end of the war with Russia, but believes that the procedure could be started even at this stage: “Ukraine should receive an invitation to NATO, which will launch the process of discussing this issue in the parliaments of the countries- members of the Alliance. This is very important for the morale of the defenders of Ukraine."
09:59 The European Union is confident that it will agree on the allocation of aid to Ukraine in the next “couple of weeks,” Politico writes, citing sources. According to them, Hungary “gave the EU a signal” that it is ready for a compromise. At the same time, most European countries rejected Budapest’s desire to divide Ukraine’s funding into tranches that require annual approval.
The second idea involves revising funding in 2025, but is also considered unacceptable among some supporters of Ukraine. An EU official said a potential compromise could include Hungary being reimbursed for post-pandemic interest payments. The European Commission is also considering introducing an "emergency brake" that would allow any country objecting to Ukraine's funding to delay payments, but not block them.
09:23 Germany will provide military assistance worth 7 billion euros to Ukraine this year, Scholz said following a telephone conversation with Biden. “President Biden and I agree: we want to continue to provide financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine. Today I spoke with the US President by phone. Germany will provide more than 7 billion euros for military goods in 2024,” the chancellor said.
09:14 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of January 17:
- personnel - about 372,820 (+730) people,
- tanks - 6126 (+13),
- armored combat vehicles - 11,372 (+14),
- artillery systems - 8811 (+10),
- MLRS - 964 (+3),
- air defense systems - 653 (+0),
- aircraft - 331 (+0),
- helicopters - 324 (+0),
- UAV of operational-tactical level - 6884 (+7),
- cruise missiles - 1817 (+1),
- ships/boats - 23 (+0),
- submarines - 1 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tank trucks - 11,755 (+24),
- special equipment - 1367 (+2).
08:36 Over the past 24 hours, 98 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report. In the Avdeevsky direction, the Defense Forces repelled 20 enemy attacks in the areas of Novobakhmutovka, Stepnoy, Avdeevka and another 15 attacks near Pervomaisky and Nevelsky, Donetsk region. In the Maryinsky direction, 17 attacks were repelled near Krasnohorivka, Georgievka, Maryinka and Novomikhailovka, Donetsk region.
In the Liman direction, Ukrainian forces repelled 11 enemy attacks in the areas of Ternov, Yampolevka, Torskoye, Donetsk region, and another 17 attacks near Makeevka, Belogorovka, Serebryansky forestry, Luhansk region and north of Grigorievka, Vesele, Donetsk region. In the Bakhmut direction, nine enemy attacks were repelled near Ivanovsky, Kleshcheevka and Andreevka, Donetsk region; on Zaporozhye - one attack west of Verbovoy, Zaporozhye region. The expansion of the bridgehead continues in the Kherson direction; over the past 24 hours, the enemy has unsuccessfully attempted to storm the positions of the Defense Forces six times.
08:17 In Russia, “unknown opponents of the Putin regime” burned several relay cabinets on the railway and other facilities used for logistics of the occupying forces, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported. This happened in the areas of the cities of Saratov, Yaroslavl and Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region. As a result, traffic on these railway sections in the central part of the Russian Federation was paralyzed.
08:10 On the evening of January 16, the Russians launched two strikes on Kharkov with S-300 missiles from Belgorod, said the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov and showed the consequences. In the Kholodnogorsk district, the facades of about 20 apartment buildings, the premises of a private medical institution were damaged, and 14 cars were destroyed. As a result of the shelling, 17 people were injured. In addition, rescuers evacuated 30 people.
07:14 Air defense at night destroyed 19 out of 20 attack UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type, which Russia attacked from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk area, the Air Force command reported. Air defense operated within the Zaporozhye, Nikolaev, Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk, Kirovograd regions.
06:21 The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that during the night air defense systems allegedly destroyed seven Vilkha MLRS missiles and four drones over the Belgorod region. Later, four more RM-70 Vampire MLRS shells were allegedly destroyed and two UAVs were intercepted.
03:28 The Russians attacked Odessa with strike drones, there was damage to civilian housing infrastructure, said Oleg Kiper, head of the OVA. Three people were injured, and 130 residents were evacuated from the damaged house.
01:40 Macron said he plans to visit Ukraine in February to sign a bilateral agreement on security guarantees. The French President also promised that in the coming weeks Ukraine will receive about 40 Scalp long-range missiles and several hundred bombs. In addition, according to Macron, France is developing military production to increase arms supplies to Kyiv, including Caesar self-propelled guns.