[Yahoo] Ukraine's SBU security service said on Saturday it had uncovered a corruption scheme in the purchase of arms by the country's military totalling the equivalent of about $40 million.
The announcement of mass procurement fraud, confirmed by Ukraine's Defence Ministry, will have a huge resonance in a country beleaguered by Russia's nearly two-year-old invasion.
The fight to root out endemic corruption remains a major issue as Ukraine presses its bid to secure membership in the European Union.
The SBU said an investigation had "exposed officials of the Ministry of Defence and managers of arms supplier Lviv Arsenal, who stole nearly 1.5 billion hryvnias in the purchase of shells."
"According to the investigation, former and current high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defence and heads of affiliated companies are involved in the embezzlement."
The embezzlement, it said, involved the purchase of 100,000 mortar shells for the military.
The SBU said a contract for the shells was clinched with Lviv Arsenal in August 2022 - six months into the war - and payment was made in advance, with some funds transferred abroad.
But no arms were ever provided, the statement said, with some funds then moved to other foreign accounts.
The statement said five individuals had been served "notices of suspicion" - the first stage in Ukrainian legal proceedings - both in the ministry and the arms supplier. One suspect, it said, was detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border.
Corruption within the military has been a particularly sensitive issue in Ukraine as it tries to maintain wartime public morale and present its case to join the 27-nation EU.
Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov was dismissed last September over various corruption cases despite enjoying a solid reputation in representing Ukraine in its discussions with Western allies.
Although he was not alleged to have engaged personally in corruption, several cases hit the military under his stewardship, one for supplying troops with food, another over procuring suitable clothing for servicemen.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title
[Korrespondent] 21:30 Russian drones attacked Zaporozhye, one of the infrastructure facilities was damaged, said the head of the OVA, Yuriy Malashko.
21:24 The Russians attacked the Poltava region with missiles - a hit was recorded at an industrial facility in the Kremenchug region, and a fire broke out. Information about the victims is being clarified, said the head of the OVA, Philip Pronin.
20:29 Budanov
...every time I see his name I briefly think they misspelled our own badanov...
said that “neither side can fully answer” what happened with the Russian Il-76 plane that crashed in the Belgorod region. According to him, Russia “has taken the position of blaming Ukraine for everything, despite the fact that there are a number of facts that are incomprehensible for such a position. This is, first of all, that they did not show fields strewn with corpses and remains, as they should have shown in order to blame Ukraine as much as possible, but even this is not there. That is, the situation is not completely clear."
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate also assured that the exchange of prisoners will take place in the near future, and the Ukrainian side is “doing everything for this.”
19:56 Ukraine has “come closer to a decision” on the confiscation of Russian assets this month, Zelensky said in an evening video message. He also noted that a new EU sanctions package and new steps are now being prepared to limit the Russian Federation’s ability to circumvent sanctions.
18:42 In New York, Donetsk region, the removal of rubble after the Russian strike on January 15 has been completed - the search operation lasted almost two weeks. The bodies of five people were recovered from the rubble. Three more people were injured that day. The Russians dropped two guided bombs on a three-story building.
18:30 A 13-year-old girl, wounded as a result of Russian shelling, died in the hospital. Maly Burluk on January 17, said the head of the Kharkov OVA Oleg Sinegubov. On that day, one person was killed and two children were injured as a result of an air bomb attack.
17:29 In the morning, the Russians dropped explosives from drones on Berislav, Kherson region - one person was killed, one was wounded, the OVA reported. Another person was injured as a result of the shelling of Tyaginka.
16:02 Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis is visiting Ukraine. During the meeting with him, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov proposed holding a joint forum of the defense industries of Ukraine and the Baltic countries, the Ministry of Defense reports. In turn, Landsbergis said that Lithuania is interested in studying the military experience of Ukraine, as well as in deepening cooperation in the field of advanced military technologies.
Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that during a meeting with his Lithuanian colleague he discussed the joint production of drones: “Lithuania has technologies, we have the ability to scale production. This was a key topic.” The Lithuanian minister noted that production of components for drones will begin first, and this could happen “very quickly.”
12:48 At a meeting in the Ramstein format, the Netherlands announced its joining the IT coalition. The country has already made a contribution of 10 million euros, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported. In addition to the Netherlands, 11 other countries are participants in the initiative: Ukraine, Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Japan. Separately from the Netherlands, Denmark has allocated more than 12 million euros for cyber defense of Ukraine as part of the IT coalition. The funds will go to projects in the field of cybersecurity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
12:17 The Russian Army has significantly increased the number of offensive and assault operations in the Tavria direction - for the second day the enemy has been conducting 50 military clashes daily, said the commander of the Tavria group of troops, Alexander Tarnavsky.
11:31 In the morning, the enemy DRG shot a brother and sister from the Khotyn community of the Sumy region, the OVA reported. Their house is located in the village of Andreevka, located in a five-kilometer border zone. The head of the OVA, Vladimir Artyukh, once again called on residents of the five-kilometer zone to evacuate.
11:16 GUR cyber specialists destroyed the entire IT infrastructure of IPL Consulting, which specializes in the implementation of information systems in Russian industry, intelligence reported. The company presented itself as one of the most modern Russian enterprises, which provided assistance in the implementation of information systems in institutions engaged in the design, production of automotive and aircraft components, heavy engineering, production of equipment and instruments, in particular in the interests of the military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation.
09:10 On January 26, the Russians fired artillery at Kupyansk, Kharkov region, and a police officer was wounded, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA.
09:01 The Washington Post writes that the United States is developing a new strategy to help Kiev, “which will not focus on returning territory, but will focus on helping Ukraine fend off new Russian offensives while moving towards the long-term goal of strengthening the Ukrainian Armed Forces and economy.”
According to one of the publication's sources, the idea is to position Ukraine as holding its own on the battlefield, but "putting them on a different trajectory to be much stronger until the end of 2024... and putting them on a more sustainable path." The US plans are part of a multilateral effort by nearly 30 countries supporting Ukraine, promising it long-term security and economic support.
08:54 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of January 27:
personnel - about 381,370 (+770) people,
tanks - 6271 (+6),
armored combat vehicles - 11,652 (+15),
artillery systems - 9085 (+3),
MLRS - 972 (+0),
air defense systems - 660 (+0),
aircraft - 331 (+0),
helicopters - 324 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 7037 (+4),
cruise missiles - 1845 (+0),
ships/boats - 23 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 12,072 (+8),
special equipment - 1433 (+8).
08:33 In the morning, the Russians fired an Iskander ballistic missile at the civilian infrastructure of Slavyansk, Donetsk region, the General Staff reported. The mayor of the city, Vadim Lyakh, said that the missile hit the ceramic workshop, which was almost completely destroyed. Neighboring high-rise buildings on the street were damaged. Darwin, a kindergarten that houses a social canteen. No people were hurt.
08:02 At night, Russia attacked with four attack UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type from the south-eastern direction (Primorsko-Akhtarsk). All four were destroyed in the Kirovograd region, the Air Force reported. Also, the Russian army fired an Iskander-M missile at the Donetsk region from the Rostov region, initially without casualties.
The head of the Kirovograd Regional Municipal Administration Andrey Raikovich said that in the Kropyvnytskyi district the fence of an abandoned private house was damaged by debris, but no people were injured.
07:26 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 near Novobakhmutovka, Stepnoy, Avdeevka and nine more attacks in the areas of Opytnoye, Vodyanoye, Pervomaisky and Nevelskoye in the Donetsk region. In the Maryinsky direction, 14 attacks were repelled near Georgievka, Pobeda and Novomikhailovka, Donetsk region.
In the Kupyansk direction, 13 enemy attacks were repelled near Tabaevka, Kharkov region and Stelmakhovka, Lugansk region; on Limansky - eight attacks near Ternov and Torsky, Donetsk region; in Bakhmutsky - 11 attacks in the Bogdanovka, Ivanovsky, Kleshcheevka and Andreevka districts of the Donetsk region; on Shakhtarsky - one attack in the Zolotaya Niva area of the Donetsk region; on Zaporozhye - six attacks north of Priyutnoye, south of Chervonoye, west of Verbovoye and Rabotino, Zaporozhye region. The expansion of the bridgehead continues in the Kherson direction; over the past 24 hours, the enemy unsuccessfully tried to storm the positions of Ukrainian troops four times.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] The operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains difficult
The Russian troops also do not abandon their intention to dislodge Ukrainian units from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnieper.
During the day, in the Avdeevsky direction, Ukrainian defenders repulsed 20 enemy attacks, in total 64 clashes took place at the front. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced this in an evening report on Saturday, January 27.
Also, during the day, Russian troops launched a missile strike and carried out 35 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems on positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and populated areas.
In the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repulsed five enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Kharkov region, and Stelmakhovka, Lugansk region, where the invaders tried to break through the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
In the Liman direction, 11 enemy attacks were repelled in the areas of the settlements of Terny, Yampolevka, Torskoye in the Donetsk region and Belogorovka in the Lugansk region, where the enemy tried to break through the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
In the Bakhmut direction, the Defense Forces repelled six enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Ivanovskoye and Klishchievka in the Donetsk region, where the enemy unsuccessfully tried to improve the tactical situation.
In the Avdeevsky direction, Ukrainian defenders repulsed eight enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Stepnoe, Avdeevka and another 12 attacks in the Tonenky and Pervomaisky areas of the Donetsk region, where the invaders unsuccessfully tried to break through the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
In the Maryinsky direction, the Defense Forces continue to hold the enemy in the Georgievka and Novomikhailovka areas of the Donetsk region, where the enemy tried unsuccessfully 10 times to improve the tactical situation.
In the Shakhtarsky direction, the defenders repelled three attacks by the invaders in areas south of Zolotaya Niva and west of Staromayorsky, Donetsk region. In the Zaporozhye direction, an enemy attack was repelled in the area west of Verbovoye, Zaporozhye region.
The enemy does not abandon his intention to dislodge Ukrainian units from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnieper. Thus, within 24 hours, Russian troops made an unsuccessful attempt to storm the positions of Ukrainian troops.
Within 24 hours, Defense Forces aircraft attacked four areas where Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated. Rocket force units attacked an artillery piece and two enemy ammunition depots.
Let us remind you that over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces liquidated 770 invaders. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has lost about 381,370 military personnel.
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[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces repelled five attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 32nd mechanised, 103rd territorial defence brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy lost up to 25 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.
In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Force repelled two attacks launched by assault groups of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade and the 44th Rifle Battalion of the AFU close to Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).
In addition, strikes were delivered at AFU manpower and hardware near Kirovsk (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.
The enemy has lost up to 100 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one 152mm D-20 howitzer.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled two enemy attacks close to Shumy and Bogdanovka, and inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware near Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka, Georgiyevka, and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Up to 250 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces repelled four attacks of assault groups of the AFU 127th Territorial Defence Brigade near Priutnoye (Zaporozhye region), as well as inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware close to Makarovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy has lost up to 115 troops, three motor vehicles, as well as two 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems.
In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade close to Rabotino and Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region).
The enemy has lost up to 20 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya and one 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems were destroyed.
In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian Group of Forces, the enemy has lost up to 15 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.
In addition, four 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems were destroyed during counter-battery warfare.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged one S-300 SAM system close to Cherkassy region, POL bases and air-delivered ordnance depots near Kirovograd and Dnepropetrovsk regions, as well as AFU manpower and hardware in 102 areas during the day.
Air defence systems have intercepted seven HIMARS and Vampire MLRS projectiles during the day.
In addition, 28 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted near Zolotaryovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Spornoye, Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, Nikolayevka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Kazachyi Lageri, Novaya Myachka, and Peschanovka (Kherson region).
In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,283 unmanned aerial vehicles, 456 air defence missile systems, 14,805 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,210 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,881 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 17,940 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 23:00 Front birdbroadcasts: Poltava region 27.01 22:35
It is reported that a military facility of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was hit.
A powerful explosion and a bright flash were also heard.
The ballistics were previously tested using a missile from the Iskander OTRK.
21:55 Front bird broadcasts: Sumy region 27.01 21:30
There is information that today tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces is identifying enemy positions for launching high-precision air-to-ground missile attacks.
The sound of an explosion was reported.
21:05 Front bird broadcasts: Zaporozhye direction. Verbovoe. 27.01 20:45
This afternoon, aerial reconnaissance identified several enemy armored vehicles.
They combed the forest belt. We attacked them with mortars and AGS.
20:25 Front bird broadcasts: Ugledar area 01/27 19:45
It is reported that our guys, with the help of assault groups, captured the infantry fighting vehicle.
In addition, clashes are taking place again west of the village of Ivanovka.
Our units are covered by attack aircraft and attack helicopters.
19:40 Front bird broadcasts: Donetsk direction (DPR) 27.01 18:50
It is reported that our Su-34 front-line bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit the Ukrainian Armed Forces command post.
Aviation used high-explosive bombs with universal planning modules.
18:40 Against the enemy from a large caliber: fighters of the Vostok group of troops master firing from a Vladimirov machine gun
At one of the training grounds of the Donetsk People's Republic, training continues for military personnel of the assault units of the army corps of the Vostok group of forces.
Experienced instructors train military personnel to fire a 14.5mm Vladimirov heavy machine gun at both ground and low-flying air targets at a distance of more than a thousand meters. The fighters also practice actions to capture enemy strongholds, provide first aid and evacuate the wounded from the battlefield.
16:35 Front bird broadcasts: Kharkov direction (region of Kupyansk settlement) KEEPING YOUR FISTS 01/27 16:15
Three of our units immediately report the capture of several settlements.
We will announce the exact names of settlements and how far the front line has moved back very soon.
15:45 Telegram channel «Colonelcassad": The 47th Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian Armed Forces liberated the village of Tabaevka in the Svatovsky direction, building on the success after the liberation of Krakhmalny.
This is already the territory of the Khar'kov region.
15:10 Front bird broadcasts: Dnepropetrovsk region. The sound of an explosion. 27.01 15:30
The sound of an explosion was reported in the southern part of the area. Local publicists report several loud bangs.
The enemy's air defense was inactive. There was no air raid alert.
14:10 Front bird broadcasts: Sumy region 27.01 14:00
There is information that tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces is identifying enemy positions for high-precision strikes.
The sound of an explosion was reported.
13:15 Russian Ministry of Defense transmits Statement by the head of the press center of the Vostok group
Units of the Vostok group of troops continue to carry out combat missions in the South Donetsk direction.
Motorized rifle units with artillery support repelled one attack in the Novomikhailovka area and two in the Ravnopol area.
Air strikes, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems hit temporary deployment points, strong points and places where manpower accumulated of the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade and the 116th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of Konstantinovka and Novomikhailovka.
Enemy losses amounted to over 120 military personnel, two vehicles and two Akatsiya self-propelled guns.
12:40 Russian Ministry of Defense transmits Statement by the head of the press center of the Center group
Units of the Center group of troops continue to carry out combat missions during a special military operation in the Krasnolimansk direction.
In the areas of the Torsky and Chervonodibrovo sectors, the actions of units of a motorized rifle regiment with the support of artillery and aviation repelled three attacks by assault groups of the 44th Rifle Battalion and the 63rd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In the area of Serebryansky forest, units of the 5th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine were defeated.
During the counterbattery fight, more than 70 nationalist field artillery crews were exposed and suppressed.
Enemy losses amounted to over 280 military personnel, three armored combat vehicles, three automobiles and a 122mm D-30 gun.
11:40 Army aviation crews on Ka-52M helicopters completed strike with unguided aircraft missiles on enemy strongholds and manpower in the Lugansk direction.
10:45 Front bird broadcasts: Yuzhnodonetsk direction 27.01 09:50
The assault units of the Russian Armed Forces worked against enemy shelters using mortars, RPGs and AGS.
The enemy snaps back, but suffers losses.
Now the area is being processed by our armored vehicles using large-caliber guns.
10:00 Telegram channel «WarGonzo":
Frontline report for the morning of 01/27/2024
– In the Kherson-Crimean direction, the Russian Armed Forces, with the support of long-range weapons, storm the Ukrainian Armed Forces line on the left bank of the Dnieper in Krynki. Ukrainian positions in the regional center, Novotyaginka, Tyaginka and Lvov are under attack. artillery attack of units of the Russian Armed Forces in Alyoshki and Cossack Camps.
– In the Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Armed Forces, with artillery support, are attacking from the direction of Novoprokopovka. The Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to regain positions in the Novofedorovka area. Defense of the RF Armed Forces along a narrow forest belt. artillery attack of Ukrainian units in Pyatikhatki, Malaya Tokmachka, Belogorye, Krasnoye and Malinovka. Russian ones - in Zherebyanki, Novoprokopovka, Verbovoy and Lugovsky.
– In the Ugledarsky sector, the Russian Armed Forces, with artillery support, attacked Staromayorskoye. They also tried to advance to the Golden Niva. No success. Ukrainian positions in Urozhainy and Ugledar are under attack. Russians are in the Heart's Desire.
– On the Donetsk Front, the Russian Armed Forces, with the support of long-range weapons, attacked Novomikhailovka, and resumed similar actions at Pobeda. The same at Georgievka. There is progress here. Nevelskoye and Pervomaisky do not. Artillery and aviation are working closely in Avdeevka. The infantry mainly attacks on the south-eastern outskirts of the city, where a gap has formed in the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Also, Russian troops are advancing on Novobakhmutovka, controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (the settlement of the same name to the east behind the Russian Armed Forces).
09:35 Criminal Kyiv regimecontinuesto fire at the civilian infrastructure of settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired from cannon artillery:
-- n.p. Dnepryan five rounds;
-- n.p. Sagi six rounds;
-- n.p. Staraya Zburevka five rounds;
-- n.p. Alyosha seven rounds;
-- n.p. Korsunka four rounds;
-- n.p. Kazachi Lagery six rounds.
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the village. Peschanivka, n.p. Golaya Pristan, n.p. Kardashinka, Maslovka village, firing a total of 16 rounds from cannon artillery.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being determined.
08:55 Telegram channel «Fisherman":
Chronicle of a special military operation: events of January 23 – 24, 2024
Russian troops again attacked several industrial enterprises in various parts of the so-called. Ukraine. In Khar'kov, kamikaze drones "Geran" hit buildings on the territory of the tank plant named after. Malysheva.
Another target of the attack was the ship repair facilities in Odessa, where several drones also flew in. The city itself is one of the major hubs for the production of unmanned boats.
Russian forces continue to try to push through enemy defenses in the Liman direction. To the east of Yampolovka and Zarechny there are oncoming battles, Ukrainian formations are counterattacking.
Near Bogdanovka there are heavy battles for the nearby heights, and artillery is actively working. Russian troops are trying to advance in a wide range along the heights to the north and south of the settlement.
To the south, the Russian Armed Forces are attacking in the direction of Krasnoye and were even able to catch hold of the eastern outskirts. Russian units advanced along the plantings from the side of Kleshcheevka, bypassing the field to the east of the village.
In the Donetsk direction, fierce fighting continues in almost all areas. In the area of ??the Northern clash they are in landings - neither side can achieve progress.
At the same time, Ukrainian formations still retain the ability to shell the western regions of Donetsk. As a result of another raid, at least three civilians were injured.
08:10 Official summary of DPR in JCCC from 00:00 01/26/2024 to 00:00 01/27/2024:
A total of 15 facts of armed attacks by the UFU were recorded by the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC over the past 24 hours
Damaged:
One residential building.
DPR in the JCCC recorded:
Eight artillery attacks in the Donetsk direction,
Seven artillery attacks in the Gorlovka direction.
A total of 42 units of various ammunition were fired.
[Regnum] The crimes of the Nazis and their accomplices have no statute of limitations. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced this on January 17during the opening ceremony of a memorial in memory of civilians of the USSR - victims of Nazi genocide during the Great Patriotic War in St. Petersburg.
“Our compassion is passed down from generation to generation and has no statute of limitations. Just as the crimes of Hitler’s fanatics and their accomplices - those who cold-bloodedly planned and cruelly committed the genocide of the Soviet people - do not have any significance,” he said.
As Regnum reported, earlier on January 27, the president laid flowers at the “Boundary Stone” monument on the Nevsky Patch on the anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad. Putin knelt and laid a bouquet of red roses tied with a black ribbon at the monument.
On January 26, the head of state called the generation that defeated Nazism and survived the siege of Leningrad a great moral example for all residents of Russia. He clarified that the nuclear icebreaker "Leningrad" will be another tribute to the memory of the immortal feat of the Leningraders.
Earlier in the day, Putin said that Russia will always remember the cost of victory over Nazism during World War II. The President emphasized that this memory is sacred for the country.
The tragedies of Leningraders who were besieged during the Great Patriotic War and concentration camp prisoners will always testify to the monstrous essence of Nazism, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on January 27 at the opening ceremony of the Gatchina Memorial to the Victims of the Nazi Genocide.
The opening of the memorial was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the complete lifting of the siege of Leningrad in 1944, as well as the liberation of prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945 a year later.
“The tragedies and martyrdom of Leningraders, as well as prisoners of death camps, will forever remain evidence of the monstrous essence of Nazism, the unimaginable suffering of millions of innocent civilians,” Putin said.
The opening ceremony was also attended by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, who arrived in Russia on a working visit.
As IA Regnum reported, in St. Petersburg on January 27, on the occasion of the anniversary of the liberation of Leningrad, lights were lit on the Rostral columns. At the Piskarevskoye cemetery, where 420 thousand dead siege survivors and Red Army soldiers were buried, wreaths were laid at the Motherland monument. Putin laid flowers at the “Boundary Stone” monument on Nevsky Patch.
On the day of the anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev called for remembering the feat and courage of the Soviet people who defeated fascism. He called the siege of the city one of the worst tragedies of World War II, noting that its residents accomplished a great feat by surviving those years.
The aggression that Russia faces today suggests that Nazism was defeated in 1945, but not eliminated. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced this on January 27at a concert dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the fascist blockade.
“Then, in 1945, Nazism was defeated, but not eliminated. Russophobia, xenophobia, and nationalism have become a weapon of revanchists in many European countries, in the Baltic states, and, unfortunately, in Ukraine,” the Russian leader said.
The President also emphasized that Russia will never betray the memory and feat of our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, and will never forget their sacrificial path to the Great Victory.
Earlier, on January 27, Putin, at the opening ceremony of the Gatchina Memorial to the Victims of the Nazi Genocide, said that the tragedies of Leningraders who were besieged during the Great Patriotic War and concentration camp prisoners will always testify to the monstrous essence of Nazism. The opening of the memorial was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the complete lifting of the siege of Leningrad in 1944, as well as the liberation of prisoners of the Auschwitz (Auschwitz) concentration camp in 1945 a year later.
On the anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad, January 27, Putin laid flowers at the “Boundary Stone” monument on the Nevsky Patch, and also laid a wreath at the “Mother Motherland” monument at the Piskarevsky cemetery.
Germany on January 27 acknowledged historical responsibility for the crimes of German troops committed during the siege of Leningrad. In a statement, the German Foreign Ministry said that on the 80th anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad, Berlin remembers the horrors and suffering that the Wehrmacht brought to Leningrad and its inhabitants.
Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov, at an event at the Russian diplomatic mission dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad, said that some political parties in Europe are turning Nazism almost into pride. In this regard, he recalled that the Nuremberg trials, which took place in Germany in 1945–1946, condemned and prohibited Nazism.
Maybe this time Ukrainian AA can hold their fire?
[Regnum] A new exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine may take place in the near future, said on Saturday, January 27, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Kirill Budanov.
“I am sure that the exchange will take place in the near future,” the head of the Ukrainian department said on the “We are Ukraine” TV channel, a segment of which was published by the publication “Strana. ua" in its Telegram channel.
Let us recall that the last exchange, scheduled for January 24, was disrupted due to a strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on an Il-76 military transport aircraft of the Russian Ministry of Defense, on board which were 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Nine more people were also killed in that incident, including six crew members.
According to the Russian defense department, the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down an Il-76 from an anti-aircraft missile system from the territory of the Kharkov region. The launch of two Ukrainian missiles was observed by radar equipment of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
As Regnum reported, on January 24, Ukrainian intelligence representative Andrei Yusov confirmed that an exchange of prisoners of war was planned for that day. At the same time, the representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate avoided a direct answer to the question that there were Ukrainian prisoners of war in the downed Il-76 Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Commentary by Russian military blogger Andrey Chervonets
[Chernovec] Denmark allocates $8.75 million, third package of funds to fight corruption in Ukraine
Corruption has never received so much money to fight itself, but it has already stated that this is very little!
Does Denmark think that if it gives a lot of money, the corrupt officials will choke on it and die?
And the anti-corruption fighters in Ukraine at this time are only thinking about how quickly they, the anti-corruption fighters, will steal this money.
Allocating money to Ukraine to fight corruption is the same as giving an alcoholic vodka to fight drunkenness.
The European Union refuses to acknowledge the existence of endemic corruption in Ukraine, said Irish Member of the European Parliament Mick Wallace.
“The EU turns condemnation of Hungary into a sport, but ignores similar problems elsewhere. The European Court of Auditors recognized Ukraine as extremely corrupt, but the EU turned a blind eye to this,” the deputy wrote on his page on the social network X.
In December, US Congressman Scott Perry suggested that American politicians were refusing to write checks to one of the most corrupt countries in the world "to make Democrats and Republicans feel good." He emphasized that the United States helps the Kyiv authorities pay pensions and benefits to Ukrainians, while Washington cannot afford to provide for its own citizens.
As Regnum reported, on January 9, the head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, said that large-scale thefts in the Armed Forces of Ukraine totaling more than 10 billion hryvnia have been revealed in the country over the past four months. Thus, in December 2023, the head of one of the department’s main departments was detained for attempting to steal more than $40 million during the purchase of artillery shells. The unnamed official was suspended from official duties.
Text taken from the Telegram account of belarusian_silovik. Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin is in italics:
[ColonelCassad] There are a lot of questions regarding Wagner.
Let's put it this way: officially, the Wagner PMC does not take part in the database.
Now some of the “musicians” have scattered to all possible units. The “heirs” in the Northern Military District will be the 15th, 16th and 17th assault detachments. This has already been discussed before, but the bureaucrats put a lot of obstacles in the wheels.
While they were stalling, fighters 15, 16 and 17 built a camp, and later went to train the National Guard at the training grounds. Everything took too long and some of those who responded scattered to other volunteer units.
After the adoption of the law on volunteer formations, the above SHO was given permission by the leadership of the Russian Guard to recruit fighters into its ranks. The completion period is up to a month, but in reality everything will be sooner.
The conditions are the same: contract for NWO - 6 months, Africa - 9 months.
Each SHO will include up to 2,200 fighters and will form the 1st Volunteer Corps of the Russian Guard.
According to preliminary forecasts, 17 SHOs are planned to be used as strike weapons. 16 SHO will take part in the database together with other units of the Russian Guard, and 15 will become a reserve.
The symbols and attributes of the 1st Volunteer Corps of the Russian Guard will be changed and will be slightly different from the symbols of the Wagner PMC.
Also, some of Wagner’s employees continue to operate in Africa, including as part of the Afrika Korps.
[Yahoo] Finland elects a new president on Sunday to lead the country in its new role within NATO after it broke with decades of non-alignment to join the Western defence alliance in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Nordic country's admission to NATO last year drew threats of "counter measures" from its vast Russian neighbour. In December, Finland closed its entire border with Russia to passenger traffic in response to a surge in migrants trying to cross. Moscow denied Finnish charges it was sending them there.
All nine candidates are promising a tough stance towards Russia if elected president, a role that leads on foreign and security policy in close cooperation with the government and represents the country at NATO meetings, while also acting as a Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces.
The centre-right National Coalition's Alexander Stubb has emerged as the frontrunner, with recent polls giving him 22-27% support in a first round, just ahead of liberal Green Party member Pekka Haavisto, who polled at 20-23%.
The nationalist Finns Party's Jussi Halla-aho is not far behind Haavisto, at 15-18%.
Bank of Finland Governor Olli Rehn and Social Democrat European Union Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen are among the other six candidates from across the political spectrum.
If no one gets more than 50% of the votes cast on Sunday, a runoff will be held between the first and second candidates.
Partial results are expected shortly after polls close at 1800 GMT and the competitors for the probable second round should be clear by 2030 GMT unless the results are very close.
The new president will replace 75-year-old incumbent Sauli Niinisto who is required to step down after two six-year terms in office.
He earned the nickname "the Putin Whisperer" during his tenure for his role in maintaining close ties with Russia, which had long been a key role for Finnish presidents.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The United States will transfer obsolete infantry fighting vehicles and frigates to Greece in exchange for Russian weapons that Washington asked Athens to transfer to Kyiv. The Greek information portal pronews wrote about this on January 27
The author of the article wondered whether the previously announced participation by the Greek authorities in the program for the purchase of 40 American fifth-generation F-35 fighters and a large package of American assistance are a significant strengthening of the republic’s defense capability.
According to him, from a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, it follows that in fact the “large military free aid” to Greece from the US is pressure to supply Kiev with the Russian weapons that Athens has.
“The pressure to force Athens to transfer Russian air defense systems Tor, Osa, and S-300 to Kiev is known, and now the United States promises to give $200 million, which is not enough to purchase even one Western air defense battery with the appropriate characteristics,” it says publications.
It is noted that against this background, the Turkish Air Force will receive new aircraft from the United States and they will have hundreds of units of high-precision strike ammunition, the supply of which was previously announced by Washington in the form of a military assistance package.
In addition to the F-35, Blinken also announced the transfer to Greece of a critical package of free US military equipment, including four LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) frigates, two C-130 transport aircraft, 60 armored combat vehicles and patrol ships. However, as the author of the material noted, their modernization, especially LCS frigates, requires a lot of money.
It is clarified that the “armored combat vehicles” from the United States are most likely Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, which, after the German Marders in the Greek arsenal, will also have to be updated to the latest version.
As Regnum reported, earlier on January 27, Blinken suggested that the Greek authorities transfer or sell weapons to Ukraine. In exchange, Washington offered to explore the possibility of considering sending Athens $200 million in additional aid.
On January 10, the US Secretary of State, during a visit to Athens, demanded from the Prime Minister of Greece new supplies of weapons to Ukraine. As Newsbreak noted, Blinken gave Mitsotakis an ultimatum and gave him several days to make a final response.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
