Day 320 (9 January)
Reports claim that Russia has employed a division of the National Guard (Rosgvardiia) to shoot six units who had intended to surrender to Ukraine. This occurred near Zaporizhzhia in Chrystopillia on 5 January 2023. It’s a case of the Russians killing their own.
The US has announced they will train 500 Ukrainian soldiers a month on M2A2 Bradley’s which suggests that the US will be sending more Bradley’s to Ukraine, and that this is an ongoing program. Training will begin next week in Oklahoma.
Russians have set booby traps on their dead by placing mines underneath their bodies, so that if aid workers remove their bodies they are killed.
As France increases support for Ukraine, Russian critics have threatened France, in particular Vladimir Solovyov who is an outspoken critic.
Intercepted phone calls from Russian soldiers back home indicate that they are aware they have committed crimes by killing civilians .
Day 321 (10 January)
Ukraine continues to target Russian bases and destroyed an ammunition warehouse in Melitopol.
Poland is to transfer 10 Leopard tanks to Ukraine to lead the way, and to encourage other countries to do the same.
Soledar is almost destroyed and is on the outskirts of Bakhmut. The Wagner group has been determined to control the area for the salt mines, and reports claim that the area is covered with Russian bodies caught up in the bloody battle which is to gain control of the natural resources for money.
The Wagner group has taken control of the entrances of the 200km disused tunnels, which could be used for military purpose of hiding troops, equipment (including tanks), and possibly to infiltrate other resources.
The Russians have hit Soledar 86 times in one day, as they are determined to occupy the area.
The price cap on Russian crude oil appears to have had some effect as the price of a barrel stood at $37.80 at the Baltic Sea port of Primrose, versus $78.57 from Brent Crude oil.
More than 600 Russian spies so far have been uncovered in Ukraine, with 1,500 investigations according to the Secret Service, with 340 cases in court to date.