Ukraine Invasion: Part 37

[MagicFox]

Welcome all to thread 37. Thanks to everybody contributing to the backbone of these threads (extra hat tip to Ducks and Desdemona for posting daily updates) and to all lurkers too.

Demonstration in front of the Bundestag now demanding Germany free the Leopards
mobile.twitter.com/Seveerity/status/1616497117379366916

mobile.twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1616500279599370260 Lithuanian protesters outside the German embassy in Vilnius

@minsmum thanks for the links.

Gratified to see so many people protesting Scholz. Is he weak, a coward or venal?

Thank you Magic Fox

Yeah, a good qunction that one. I know Merkel made mistakes but I don't think she'd have been a prissy intimidated wishtlywashy straw leader like this escapee from a garden gnome shop.

Germany has given a lot of military aid. It has, and that's helped a lot. But this pathetic showing over the Leopards is just that. Pathetic.

Oops typos, cold fingers

www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-updates
Key Takeaways

Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov continues to frame Chechen fighters’ involvement in the war in Ukraine on distinctly religious grounds, thereby building out his reputation and the reputation of his power base.

The Wagner Group appears to be struggling to present itself as an effective parallel military structure, thus increasingly proving to be a parasitic paramilitary entity.

US intelligence confirmed the rivalry between the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Wagner Group on which ISW has long reported.

Prigozhin’s quest for legal recognition of the Wagner Group may also trigger further factionalization within the Russian government.

The Kremlin continues to engage in demonstrative public actions aimed at setting informational conditions for a protracted war in Ukraine.

Russian Telegram sources claimed that Putin dismissed Russian Commander of the Airborne Forces Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky, but these reports remain unconfirmed.

The Kremlin continues to promote information operations threatening escalation over Western military assistance to Ukraine in order to weaken Western support.

Russian and Ukrainian forces reportedly continued offensive operations near Svatove and Kreminna.

Russian forces continued offensive operations across the Donetsk Oblast front line. Russian sources continued to falsely claim that Russian forces are close to encircling Bakhmut.

Russian forces in Zaporizhia Oblast are still likely preparing for a defensive operation in the long term despite recent claims of territorial gains.

Russian officials and sources continue to indicate that mobilization measures are ongoing despite numerous claims that mobilization has officially concluded.

Russian officials and occupation authorities continue deporting Ukrainian children from occupied Ukraine to Russia.

+++

re: Wagner and parasitism, highlights:
Russian opposition outlet TV Dozdh reported on January 20 that a woman whose husband reportedly died fighting with Wagner in Ukraine received her husband’s sealed coffin, death certificate, and a medal of honor and buried what she thought was her husband before finding out that he was alive and in Ukrainian custody.[this seems to happen a lot] TV ......Moscow Duma deputy Evgeny Stupin relatedly noted appeals he has received from constituents claiming that once their relatives signed contracts with Wagner and deployed to Ukraine, they ceased to hear from their relatives entirely.[10] These reports suggest that Wagner lacks basic administrative organs to maintain records of individual servicemen and communicate properly with authorities. Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin ironically has gone to great lengths to criticize the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) establishment, which he has accused of being inept in precisely these ways.

[Wagner seems to be using a lot of heavy military equipment from the Russian MoD incl an Su-25 but does not maintain it themselves, instead they rely on the Ru forces. ] .... Taken in tandem with reports of pervasive administrative and communication failures within Wagner’s ranks, [this] suggests that Wagner is functioning more as a parasite attached to the Russian armed forces than as the entirely self-contained, parastatal organization that Prigozhin tries to present it as being.

Kyiv Indep Telegram

⚡️Finland to provide Ukraine with 400 million (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/finland-to-deliver-another-defense-assistance-package-to-ukraine) defense aid package.
In the largest aid package up to date, Finland will supply heavy artillery and munition, according to the country’s Defense Minister Mikko Savola.

⚡️Russian-controlled militants say they occupied Klishchiivka
(kyivindependent.com/news-feed/russian-military-says-it-took-over-klishchiivka-near-bakhmut)near Bakhmut, Ukraine doesn't confirm.

⚡️Politico: Wagner Group capable of gaining $1 billion
(kyivindependent.com/news-feed/politico-wagner-group-capable-of-gaining-1-billion-from-mining-projects-in-africa-to-finance-war-in-ukraine)from mining projects in Africa to finance war in Ukraine.

⚡️US Defense Secretary: Russia suffers significant battle losses (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/us-defense-secretary-russia-suffers-significant-battle-losses-almost-out-of-ammunition), almost out of ammunition.

⚡️UK Foreign Secretary: London will join core group seeking prosecution
(kyivindependent.com/news-feed/uk-foreign-secretary-london-will-join-core-group-seeking-prosecution-for-russias-war)for Russia’s war.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced that the U.K. would join a group of countries that seeks to pursue criminal liability for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

⚡️Swiss Foreign Minister: Switzerland not against giving Russian assets (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/us-defense-secretary-russia-suffers-significant-battle-losses-almost-out-of-ammunition) to Ukraine but referendum may be needed.
Switzerland's Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper that his country supports the idea of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's reconstruction, but it would require "major legal adjustments."

⚡️German Defense Minister: No decision yet
(kyivindependent.com/news-feed/german-defense-minister-no-decision-yet-on-leopard-tanks-for-ukraine)on Leopard tanks for Ukraine.
"I'm very sure there will be a decision in the short term, but I don't know how the decision will look," Pistorius told reporters.

⚡️Spiegel: German intelligence alarmed by high losses (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/spiegel-german-intelligence-alarmed-by-high-losses-of-ukrainian-army-in-bakhmut) of Ukrainian army in Bakhmut.
According to Der Spiegel, during a secret meeting held this week in the Bundestag, the foreign intelligence service informed security politicians that Ukraine is losing a "three-digit number of soldiers" daily.
The report doesn't specify how the losses are counted and do they include wounded and captured. [this is one of the few hints as to Ukrainian losses]

Belarus Weekly: Direct Belarusian involvement in Russia’s war would spark ‘massive disobedience,’ Tsikhanouskaya says (kyivindependent.com/regional/belarus-weekly-direct-belarusian-involvement-in-russias-war-would-spark-massive-disobedience-tsikhanouskaya-says) [she is the exiled opposition leader]

⚡️Reuters: US officials advise Ukraine to hold back (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/reuters-us-officials-advise-ukraine-to-hold-back-on-offensive-until-latest-weapon-delivery) on offensive until training for new weapons is complete.

⚡️US to designate Wagner Group (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/us-designates-wagner-group-international-criminal-organization) international ‘criminal organization.’
The U.S. is due to impose sanctions next week against the infamous Kremlin-backed Wagner Group mercenaries and its support network across the world, the White House said on Jan. 20.

⚡️ Media: Netherlands to supply (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/nos-netherlands-to-supply-2-patriot-systems-missiles-to-ukraine) 2 Patriot systems, missiles to Ukraine.

⚡️ Reznikov says Ramstein-8 summit led (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/reznikov-says-ramstein-8-summit-led-to-optimistic-breakthrough) to ‘optimistic breakthrough.'
Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told Ukrainian media Liga on Jan. 20 that the Ramstein-8 summit led to an ” optimistic breakthrough” over Leopard tanks delivery.

Ukraine war latest: Ramstein ends disappointingly for Kyiv as Ukrainian troops hold out Russia’s assault near Bakhmut (kyivindependent.com/national/ukraine-war-latest-ramstein-ends-disappointingly-for-kyiv-as-ukrainian-troops-hold-out-russias-assault-near-bakhmut)

⚡️Ukraine's ambassador to the UK: Ukraine to start training (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ukraines-ambassador-to-the-uk-ukraine-to-start-training-on-challenger-tanks-soon) on Challenger tanks soon.

⚡️Reuters: EU preparing (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/reuters-eu-preparing-10th-round-of-russia-sanctions) 10th round of Russia sanctions.

⚡️US-led price cap coalition agrees (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/us-allies-agree-to-review-level-of-russian-crude-price-cap-next-month) to review level of Russian crude price cap in March.

⚡️New York Met Opera concert to mark one year (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/new-york-met-opera-concert-to-mark-one-year-of-russias-full-scale-invasion) of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Huge personnel losses for the Russians.

❗️The Pentagon announced a new large-scale package of military aid to Ukraine in the amount of 2.5 billion dollars.

▫️Bradley fighting vehicles – 59 units with 590 TOW anti-tank missiles and 295,000 25-mm cartridges;
▫️Stryker armored fighting vehicles – 90 units with 20 mine installations;
▫️MRAP armored personnel carriers – 53 units against mines and ambushes;
▫️Avenger air defense system – 8 units;
▫️American army cargo van HMMWV – 350 units;
▫️HARM missiles;
▫️155 mm caliber artillery shells;
▫️High-precision 155-mm
artillery shells – 600 units;
▫️Artillery shells of 105 mm caliber – 95 thousand pieces;
▫️Projectiles for 120-mm mortars – approximately 11,800 units;
▫️Command and staff cars – 6 units;
▫️Vehicles for transporting ammunition – 12 units;
▫️Tactical vehicles for towing weapons – 22 units;
▫️Anti-tank missiles – 2 thousand units;
▫️Ammunition for small arms;
▫️Additional ammunition for missile and artillery systems (HIMARS);
▫️Additional ammunition for
surface-to-air missile systems (NASAMS).

The results of the meeting in Ramstein and the main statements of the Pentagon leadership:

▫️USA and Germany will not give tanks yet. One reason: Abrams takes a long time to learn;

▫️The allies are focused on helping Ukraine succeed on the battlefield right now;

▫️The Pentagon expects a solution to the issue of tanks closer to spring, when the Armed Forces will go on the counteroffensive, the States will try to use the "window of opportunity from today to spring" to prepare the Armed Forces as much as possible;

▫️Ukraine will receive tanks from Great Britain and several EU countries. These will be, in particular, Challenger 2;

▫️Canada bought NASAMS air defense systems for Ukraine, Ukraine will also receive Patriot air defense systems from the USA, Germany, and the Netherlands, helicopters, 8 Avenger air defense systems, missiles for NASAMS, 58 Bradley armored personnel carriers, 90 Stryker units, 350 all-terrain vehicles, 19 howitzers, thousands of artillery shells;

▫️According to US estimates, Russia mobilized up to 250,000 soldiers from a population of 300,000 for the war in Ukraine. Russian losses "significantly" exceed 100,000;

▫️The war will eventually end with negotiations.

UNITED24 Media Telegram

The SAP company will provide about a thousand software licenses to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense free of charge, — the Ministry of Digital Affairs [German software developer]

❗️Scholz did not demand from the USA to hand over Abrams tanks to Kyiv as a prerequisite for providing Ukraine with German Leopard, – Cabinet of the Federal Republic of Germany

The head of the IAEA, Raphael Grossi, said that there are no signs that Russia is trying to connect the ZNPP to its own grid

Rosatom helps the Russian missile industry
This is reported by journalists of The Washington Post. Important components and raw materials for the production of missile weapons were imported through the Russian energy company

There were visual confirmations that the Russian Armed Forces for the first time since the beginning of a full-scale invasion lost the launcher of the S-400 air defense system on the territory of Ukraine.

On January 24, representatives of the Russian Football Union (RFU) will discuss with UEFA the issue of the possible return of Russian clubs and national teams to international matches. [Ugh!]

The Kremlin instructed Moscow to prepare for an attack by Ukrainian drones, – Bloomberg.

Portugal will send to Ukraine a second set of 14 M113 armored personnel carriers, eight powerful generators for the production of electricity, additional 120-mm ammunition, and two tons of medical and sanitary equipment, – the statement of the Ministry of Defense based on the results of the meeting of the contact group in Ramstein, reports Publico.

In the coming months, the Polish military will train soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the number of brigades and will fully equip such a formation with infantry fighting vehicles and T-72 tanks, — Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak

The US and its allies agreed on the need for two separate cap prices for oil products from the Russian Federation of different categories, — The US Treasury

Appeasing Russia is negotiating with a crocodile, — Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu

⚡️The USA will support the transfer of F-16 fighter jets by allies to Ukraine, — the American ambassador to the OSCE

Czech Republic will not transfer Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, which it will receive from Germany in exchange for old Soviet T-72s, — Czech Defense Ministry

Live: Ukraine Telegram

Ukrainian sappers have completed their training in Cambodia, one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. In April, a group of 3-5 Cambodian experts will travel to Poland to train even more Ukrainians.
In Ukraine, 64 sappers have already been injured and 13 killed in the line of duty

Russia planned to carry out a coup in Bulgaria - Bellingcat
Russia's military intelligence developed a plan to carry out a coup d'état in Bulgaria in 2016, which was thwarted after the preventive arrest of its participants, said Christo Grozev, executive director of the Bellingcat investigative group.
According to him, more than seven hundred militants were supposed to cause riots in the parliament, start shooting and try to seize power. The operation was supported by the Russian Orthodox Church. The coup attempt failed due to the preventive arrest of hundreds of paramilitary members, of whom only three dozen managed to get to Sofia.

Moldova is also thinking about NATO membership

The United States has submitted evidence to the United Nations that North Korea is supplying weapons and ammunition to the Wagner Private Military Company, said John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council.
At the briefing, he also presented satellite images showing the transportation of weapons from the DPRK to Russia.

⚡️Ukrainians will start training on Leopard 2 despite no agreement on their supply, - Ukrainian Defense Minister.

@ReleaseTheDucksOfWar

The Kremlin instructed Moscow to prepare for an attack by Ukrainian drones, – Bloomberg.

There's already footage doing the rounds of components of Pantsir-2 (SA-22) systems being lifted by crane on to the top of some buildings in Moscow......

Given the weight involved and Russian building standards........

www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/echr-calls-on-uk-govt-to-respond-to-credible-allegations-of-interference-in-brexit-referendum-342167/?fbclid=IwAR3V1PAYR-MvRK1X9wY2Fy3tJGsRZqDtBh_1jJYacYugGQKvkKTslWFDOqE

The UK government has been asked by the European Court of Human Rights to respond to a number of ‘credible allegations’ brought by a group of cross-party MPs over alleged Russian interference in the Brexit referendum.

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and Alyn Smith of the Scottish National Party (SNP) have lodged a claim with the Strasbourg court after the High Court in London rejected the case in 2021.

They say the failure of the Government to investigate “credible allegations” of interference in the UK electoral system, or to have in place a “legislative and policy framework that will identify and protect against interference in the UK electoral system”, breaches its obligations under Article 3 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights – which protects the right to free and fair elections.

Latest Lawrence Freedman piece:

My latest post for Comment is Freed, asks whether this is a proxy war. The claim that Ukraine is acting to serve American interests does not withstand scrutiny. The aims are set by Kyiv, which means there could be issues with future Western support.

https://open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/proxies-and-puppets?utmsource=direct&utmmcampaign=post&utmmedium=web

The US has reportedly said that it will approve the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine by the countries holding them.

twitter.com/clashreport/status/1616720049540136960

This comes on top of the announcement by the Netherlands that they wish to do so. Many countries are transitioning to the F-35, so there are potentially many out there to transfer. This also seems to be another nudge for Germany on the tank transfers.

We touched a little bit on this yesterday.

With regard specifically to the Netherlands offer.....I'm knocking on a quite a bit but even so I've actually "worked" with and against some of those airframes on exercises back in my mil days. The stories about recent levels of serviceability have been eye watering in a bad way but not surprising...

More generally I'm sure the F-16 (newish ones) would be welcomed with open arms but they'd arrive with "issues", it requires a big log chain, and it's not the best when it comes operating from semi-prepared runways/highway strips...something it's reported the Ukrainians had to do early on in the conflict.

If the Ukes go on the offensive and if they can prevent strikes on their main bases then modern F-16s would be good to have....

Generally something like Grippen is generally regarded as a much better "fit" but probably not available...

There can be more than one major offensive.

Key Takeaways
www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-updates

The Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut is likely a strategically sound effort despite its costs for Ukraine.

Milblogger discourse surrounding the reported replacement of Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky with Lieutenant General Oleg Makarevich as commander of the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) has further emphasized the fracture between two main groups within the Russian MoD—the pro-Gerasimov camp, comprised of those who represent the conventional MoD establishment, and milblogger favorites who are less aligned with the MoD institution. The milblogger discourse on this issue additionally offers insight into internal Russian MoD dynamics that may have led to Teplinsky’s removal.

Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin has launched a series of information operations aimed at portraying himself as a sacrificial hero of Russia in a crusade against petty and corrupt Russian authorities.

The Sun reported that US intelligence estimates total Russian military casualties in Ukraine as 188,000 as of January 20, suggesting a possible 47,000 Russians killed in action in less than a year of fighting.

Russian forces conducted a small ground reconnaissance into northeastern Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces continued limited ground attacks to regain lost positions along the Svatove-Kreminna line.

Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks around Bakhmut and west of Donetsk City. Russian forces are likely making incremental gains around Bakhmut.

Available open-source evidence as of January 21 indicates that Zaporizhia Oblast Russian occupation official Vladimir Rogov’s January 20 claims of a major territorial capture are likely part of a Russian information operation.

Complaints from Russian milbloggers indicate that Russian forces continue to rely on cell phones and non-secure civilian technologies for core military functions – serious breaches of operational security (OPSEC).

The West has contributed to Ukraine’s inability to take advantage of having pinned Russian forces in Bakhmut by slow-rolling or withholding weapons systems and supplies essential for large-scale counteroffensive operations.

Kyiv Indep Telegram

The funeral ceremony (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/funeral-for-late-interior-minister-other-victims-of-jan-18-helicopter-crash-takes-place-in-kyiv) for late Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky and other ministry employees who were killed in the Jan. 18 helicopter crash near Kyiv took place in the Ukrainian House on Jan. 21.

⚡️Media: Defense Ministry buys (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/media-defense-ministry-purchases-food-for-soldiers-at-inflated-prices) food for soldiers at inflated prices.
Ukrainian newspaper Zn.Ua reported on Jan. 21 that Ukraine's Defense Ministry purchases food for the military at prices that are between two and three times higher than those at Kyiv grocery stores.
This indicates a possible corruption scheme, according to Zn.Ua. The Defense Ministry has not commented on the issue yet. [The Kyiv Indep has highlighted corruption/bullying issues a few times. Credit to them, and to Ukraine, for acknowledging it and doing something about it. Shit happens, it's how you deal with it matters!]

⚡️Parliament summons Defense Ministry leadership following corruption allegations (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/parliament-summons-defence-ministry-leadership-following-corruption-alligations).
Ukraine’s parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence summons top Defense Ministry officials to address journalists’ allegations that the ministry is buying food for the army at inflated prices.

⚡️NABU detains (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/nabu-detains-deputy-minister-of-infrastructure-on-bribery-allegations) deputy minister of infrastructure on bribery allegations.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine detained Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Vasyl Lozynskiy on Jan 21. The deputy minister allegedly accepted $400,000 in bribes for the procurement of electricity generators.
The Ministry of Infrastructure issued a statement saying they “provide full assistance to the investigation” and that Lozynskiy was fired.

⚡️Moldovan foreign minister: Ukraine’s victory could lead to Russia’s exit (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/moldovan-foreign-minister-ukraines-victory-could-lead-to-russias-exit-from-transnistria) from Transnistria.

⚡️Ukraine confirms (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ukraine-confirm-russian-offensive-attempts-near-zaporizhzhia) Russian offensive attempts in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia continues an offensive effort near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, and Zaporizhzhia Oblast, engaging additional aviation.

⚡️Ukraine receives (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/ukraine-receives-first-sea-king-helicopter-from-uk) first Sea King helicopter from UK.

⚡️ Media: German Defense Minister to visit Ukraine (kyivindependent.com/news-feed/bild-german-defense-minister-to-visit-ukraine-soon) soon.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag that he plans to visit Ukraine shortly, “probably within the next four weeks.”

With the loss of Soledar, Ukrainian positions in Bakhmut jeopardized
(kyivindependent.com/draft/with-the-loss-of-soledar-ukrainian-positions-in-bakhmut-jeopardized?draft=1674378658)
The dramatic fight for Soledar, part of the Battle of Bakhmut, is over — although Ukraine's leadership is still reluctant to acknowledge the loss. [release the fucking Leopards, and the ATACMs, now!]

UNITED24Media Telegram

US intelligence believes that Russia's losses in Ukraine reached 188,000, – The Sun
The publication reports that during yesterday's Ramstein meeting, the allies announced exactly this number of dead and wounded, and defense sources confirmed this figure.
In addition, high-ranking US General Mark Milley, as reported by The Sun, said that Russian losses were huge and "significantly in excess of 100,000", including both the armed forces and mercenaries from Wagner's PMC.

Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated that some military aid packages were announced behind closed doors
According to the head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the topic of strengthening the air defense of Ukraine was thoroughly discussed. In particular, in addition to the transfer of Patriot, other systems with different ranges were also considered.

A Russian sabotage group tried to break into the Sumy region, but the Ukrainian military stood in its way, – the head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration

The situation on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border is tense, but under control, said the official representative of the State Border Guard Service Andriy Demchenko.

Against the background of the Russian-Ukrainian war, France plans to increase defense spending until the end of 2030, said President Emmanuel Macron
If approved by parliament, the country's military budget for 2024-2030 will be 400 billion euros, with an additional 13 billion euros coming from the sale of assets.

There is no consensus among German citizens whether it is worth providing Leopard-2 tanks to Ukraine, – DW
According to a survey commissioned by the ARD TV channel, 46% of respondents were in favor of the supply, 43% were against it, and another 11% did not have a clear position on this issue.

Lithuania is sending an autotransformer to Ukraine, which will help ensure electricity supply
Its value is about 2 million euros. Last year, Lithuania already provided EUR 2.4 million in aid.

In Germany, they do not know how many Leopard tanks they have – ex-defense minister Christine Lambrecht banned the inventoryб – Business Insider [wtf? seriously, what sort of 5 year old behaviour is this?]
The publication refers to the response of the German Ministry of Defense, which states that the accounting of tanks was not carried out on Lambrecht's order.
In this way, Lambrecht probably tried to protect Chancellor Olaf Stolz from pressure to transfer the Leopards to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A new meeting in the "Ramstein format" will take place in mid-February, – Minister of Defense of Ukraine Reznikov
The Office of the President expects that it will be about the supply of aircraft to Ukraine. The deputy chairman of the President's Office Andriy Sybiga called the upcoming meeting "aviation Ramstein."

👥 G7 at the level of foreign ministers will meet in February in Germany
This year's meeting will be chaired by Japan.

Latvia will not let Russians fleeing the mobilization into the country, Interior Minister Māris Kučinskis said in an interview with Delfi

🇫🇮 Finland freezes €187 million of Russian assets

Live: Ukraine Telegram

Prigozhin wrote a letter to the United States to find out about the crimes of the Wagnerites
*
Translation: Dear Mr. Kirby!
I have a question for you: "Can you name the crime committed by the Wagner PMC?
I thank you in advance,
Е. V. Prigozhin

Next week Italy will accept the sixth package of military aid to Ukraine - La Repubblica.
It will include Aspide air defense systems. The supply of SAMP/T air defense systems is still being discussed - some components need to be received from France in order to transfer the weapons to Ukraine.

🌡️Friday, January 20, was the warmest day in Kyiv in 143 years. The temperature rose to +10.2 °C, according to the Borys Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory.

Washington Post Telegram

Analysis | ‘Give them the tanks!’: Davos elites rally behind Ukraine
(www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/20/davos-ukraine-wef-war-russia-support/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram)DAVOS, Switzerland — At this annual meeting where global elites are urged to collaborate, cooperate and get along, one message rang loudest: Send the weapons. As in the previous World Economic Forum session in May, the war in Ukraine loomed large in discussions. And while political leaders voiced their steadfast support for Kyiv, so too did a host of major corporate bigwigs.

• CIA Director William J. Burns secretly traveled to Kyiv at the end of last week, The Post reported (www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/19/cia-william-burns-zelensky-ukraine-russia/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram).

What to know about the suspected Russian spy ship seen near Hawaii
(www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/20/russian-spy-ship-hawaii-coast-ukraine-war/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram)
A Russian vessel, suspected to be a spy ship, has been operating near Hawaii in recent weeks, the Coast Guard said this week. The agency is monitoring the ship using “surface and air assets,” it added.

• Satellite images shared by the White House appear to show Russian rail cars entering North Korea to collect weapons to supply to the Wagner Group.

• Zelensky joined mourners in Kyiv at a memorial for Ukraine’s Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky and other top ministry officials who were killed in a helicopter crash just outside Kyiv this week.

Late check in. Thanks for the new thread.

Swedish news reporting that the military are increasing their readiness to deal with a nuclear attack. e military stress that they don't believe it will happen but intelligence from Denmark is that Putin will increase the threat to increase people's fear and they have to respond to that.

tmarcusoscarsson.se/sverige-forsvarsmakten-forbereder-sig-pa-rysk-karnvapenattack/?fbclid=IwAR0lZI7VaWXmSdM4b-z7ych4sTMR9zZRcypE8XDajCGs-gqPRcT2gkSFMiA

(I've linked to a political commentators account of the statement as the actual article is behind a paywall.)

www.dn.se/sverige/forsvaret-forbereder-sig-pa-rysk-karnvapenattack/