There seemed to be a break in the Russian attacks against Ukraine, but it was too soon to speak as on St Basil’s Day, the missile strikes started again. Reports indicate the ‘break’ was due to Russia awaiting new supplies of weapons. Ukraine urges sanctions to be implemented against countries that provide parts and weapons to Russia.
Day 324 (13 January)
Officials in Ukraine (Oleksii Reznikov) have claimed they are de facto members of NATO because they are supplying weapons to Ukraine. This is a rather dangerous assertion to make and would lead to escalation, and Ukraine may not understand that there are factions opposed to the allies supporting Ukraine. They cite concerns such as corruption with Ukraine (that’s who the invasion happened), and also domestic countries need to ensure they have weapons to defend themselves. Some governments are having to look at their plans for Ukraine should the war continue for the next 6 months, and the public also have concerns for their own safety and defences.
The Wagner group/Russia claims that they control Soledar, a salt mine town.
An attack from Belarus is unlikely according to reports due to the dams that haven’t been cleared due to the war. This has led to swamps near the border which allows Ukraine to defend the area more effectively
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France has announced that they will supplyAMX-10 RC tanks to Ukraine in two months time.
Day 325 (14 January)
The UK announces it will send 14 Challenger 2 tanks and 30 AS90s self-propelled guns, ahead of other announcements from other countries who have pledged to send armoured vehicles.
In response, Russia has also declared that weapons in transit to Ukraine would be considered military targets
St Basil’s Day is celebrated in Ukraine as the forefather of the Orthodox Church and the Orthodox New Year, and this is when Russian launched a new wave of missile attacks across Ukraine.
Kyiv was hit early in the morning, and reports claim that ballistic missiles were used, which the Ukrainian air defence systems cannot shoot down.
Putin’s main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny (who is currently imprisoned on bogus charges) has been denied basic medical treatment. Germany joins 500 Russian doctors who have written an open letter to Putin demanding that Navalny receive the medical treatment he is entitled to have, accusing the Russians of medically abusing him.
Scholz has been criticised (again) for delays in supplying tanks to Ukraine. This comes as Poland has requested permission from Germany for tanks to be sent to Ukraine. Scholz has stated that these things cannot be rushed, and has complained about the pressure. How about the people who have died waiting for a response?
More Russian missile debris has been found in Moldova near Largo on the border with Ukraine.
Day 326 (15 January)
Dnipro appears to have been the the city that has suffered the most casualties and deaths in the recent attacks. The missiles targeted a residential building, far from any military targets of energy infrastructure. Other cities that were targeted included Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Kharkiv. To date, 20 died in Dnipro, and 73 have been wounded. Many are still being pulled from the rubble and have been rescued.
Poland awaits German approval (as they are manufacturer) before they can send Leopard tanks to Ukraine. One wonders why Germany is delaying the response and approval. Finland, and three more countries have privately volunteered to transfer Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as long as Germany agrees. All eyes are on Germany again.
Switzerland has blocked Denmark from sending armoured vehicles to Ukraine, and are now blocking Spain. As a neutral country, eventually they must pick a side because bye, blocking the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, they are affectively supporting and enabling Russia.
Ukraine needs the Patriot defence system to take down the Kh – 22 missiles that were used in Dnipro. Russia had used five TU-2 2M3 long range supersonic missile carriers to fire, the Kh-22 missiles