Ukraine Invasion: Part 46

[MagicFox]

With thanks to all keeping these threads going 🇺🇦

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Trolls are so drearily predictable, I find.

Well this is fucking exhausting.

Well it’s new year holidays in ru. They must be bored.

Oh, is that what it is? Rii-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ight.

I think when you ignore those looking for attention, it gets to them more than arguing

It's quite sad really.

Mumsnet must literally live rent free in some people's heads.

On New Year's Eve in Lviv, a Russian Shahed drone destroyed the museum of Roman Shukhevych, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, and partially damaged the university where the leader of the Union of Ukrainian Nationalists Stepan Bandera studied.

This is significant and definitely deliberate. Today is Bandera’s birthday

The man with the apple. No words.

@Mb76, more pure evil from RU.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-31-2023

Key Takeaways:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual New Year's address on December 31 to concretize Russian ideological priorities for 2024, notably omitting any mentions of the war in Ukraine and instead focusing on setting ideological conditions for the upcoming year.
• Russian forces conducted another series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of December 29 to 30 and on December 31, underscoring a notable recent increase in the percentage of Russian Shahed-136/131 drones penetrating or avoiding Ukrainian air defenses.
• Russian forces, particularly Russian airborne (VDV) Forces, are reportedly suffering heavy losses in simultaneous infantry-heavy Russian offensive operations on multiple fronts.
• A prominent Kremlin-affiliated Russian milblogger argued that ethnic Russians do not have enough domestic power in Russia while reiterating a common Russian information operation aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity.
• Russian and Ukrainian forces conducted positional engagements along the entire line of conduct, but there were no confirmed map changes on December 31.
• Russian Presidential Administration First Deputy Head Sergei Kiriyenko is spearheading efforts to consolidate sociocultural control of occupied areas of Ukraine via the information space.

On another note, @Naem, this looks like some much needed good news for Israeli democracy?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67859177

The awful judicial reforms have been struck down by the Supreme Court.

@DancesWithDucks Yes, it is. Although who knows how the nutters in the government are going to react. They can't even hold a war cabinet for long term planning on Gaza because Netanyahu is too scared his coalition will fall apart if he even discusses it. That means any long term planning is having to be done by the IDF without political imput which is just insane. I mean, on the one hand I trust the IDF far more than I do the government, but it is not its job, nor is it equipped to do so. It is the government's job to make political decisions and an army's job to prosecute a war. And there practically isn't a government - they are passing budgets that pander to the pork barreling of the various nutters that make it up in order to give necessary money to the army, and that is about all they are capable of doing.
But yes, while not unexpected, the Supreme Court's decision is one small bit of good news. But it is hard to latch onto that when everything just feels so grim.

It sounds an utter mess. But thank heavens this at least can provide some safety in the longer term reining the likes of Netenyahu in.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Putin promises https://kyivindependent.com/putin-promises-to-attack-ukraine-for-belgorod-explosions-denies-that-russia-targets-civilians/ to intensify attacks on Ukraine in response to Belgorod strike.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on Jan. 1 vowed to intensify attacks on Ukraine in retaliation for explosions in Belgorod that Moscow claimed was a Ukrainian attack. [And they did]

Russia launched a large-scale missile attack against Ukraine in the early hours of Jan. 2, targeting Kyiv and Kharkiv, local officials reported.

Russia’s morning attack on Jan. 2 has killed at least four people and injured more than 90. Ukrainian forces shot down 59 Kh-101/555/55 cruise missiles, three Kalibr cruise missiles, and all of the 10 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles launched by Russia in the massive strikes on the morning of Jan. 2, the Air Force reported.

⚡️ Energy Ministry: 260,000 Kyiv residents without power following Russian attacks. https://kyivindependent.com/energy-ministry-260-000-kyiv-residents-left-without-power-following-russian-attacks/
In Kyiv Oblast, high-voltage lines have been de-energized due to the attacks, reportedly causing outages in the Bucha and Vyshhorod districts.

⚡️ Zelensky, Trudeau discuss security in first call of 2024. https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-and-trudeau-discuss-security-in-first-call-of-2024/

⚡️ Norway permits weapons, defense equipment sales https://kyivindependent.com/norwegian-companies-now-able-to-sell-weapons-directly-to-ukraine/ to Ukraine.
Norwegian companies will now be able to directly sell weapons and defense equipment to Ukrainian authorities following a decision from Oslo, Norway’s Defense Ministry announced on Jan. 1.
The Norwegian government previously provided fiscal and military support for Ukraine but noted that donations are “no longer sufficient” as Russia's war against Ukraine bleeds into 2024.

⚡️Death toll from Dec. 29 strikes https://kyivindependent.com/death-toll-from-dec-29-strikes-on-kyiv-rises-to-29-as-more-bodies-pulled-from-rubble/ on Kyiv rises to 29 as more bodies pulled from rubble.

⚡️Mediazona confirms identities of over 40,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine. https://kyivindependent.com/mediazona-confirms-identities-of-over-40-000-russian-soldiers-killed-in-ukraine/

Day after day the hardware losses mount up.

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Britain and its allies have begun to develop a strategy that will help Ukraine win the war with Russia without US help if Donald Trump becomes the new US president, — The Times
The publication also writes that the leadership of British intelligence believes that Ukraine will not be able to win in 2024, since we have neither manpower nor weapons for a breakthrough.

🇫🇮 President of Finland Sauli Niinistö in his New Year's address called for investment in the production of weapons to prove that Europe is strong.
He is convinced that "more European NATO in Europe" is expected in the near future.

More than 500 thousand anti-tank mines were installed on the northern border of Ukraine, — Commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Naiev

🇮🇹 The Embassy of Italy has started chairing the Ukraine Support Group of G7 Ambassadors for 2024. Last year, the group was led by Japan.

The Security Service of Ukraine showed a video of the use of a flamethrower rocket system on Sea Baby drones, which were able to launch rockets from the water and thus conduct naval combat
Despite all the beauty and know-how, questions remain regarding accuracy in traffic and rough sea conditions.
At the moment, as far as we know, the Security Service of Ukraine is armed with two types of Ukrainian-made naval drones.
The first is Sea Baby, which carries 850 kg of charge and an installed flamethrower rocket system. The second is “Mamai”. This is a kamikaze drone capable of carrying 450 kg of explosives.

Massive morning attack on Kyiv: what is known.
The enemy initiated the attack on the capital by deploying approximately fifteen Shahed UAVs. Subsequently, over fifteen Tu-95MS strategic bombers launched X-101/X555X-55 cruise missiles in multiple groups and waves.
Concurrently, more than ten MiG-31K aircraft fired X-47M2 "Kinzhal" aeroballistic missiles toward the capital.
Despite the onslaught, the air defense forces managed to intercept all "Shahed" UAVs and over sixty Kh-101/Kh555Kh-55 missiles, as well as approximately a dozen Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" missiles. The Air Forces will provide the final type and number of interceptions later.

Photo from the destroyed Shukhevych museum in Lviv.
The museum burned down, the trident survived.

Darnytskyi district, Kyiv.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇷🇺 The conscription age has been raised in Russia. From now on, men aged 18 to 30 will be called up for military service (previously it was up to 27).

The West has lost its sense of urgency about the war in Ukraine, and many Ukrainians have lost their sense of existential threat, Zelenskyy said in an interview https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/01/01/a-new-years-interview-with-volodymr-zelensky?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-theeconomist&utm_content=later-40154523&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio with The Economist.
"Putin feels weakness like an animal, because he is an animal. He feels blood, he feels his power. And he will eat you for dinner with all your EU, NATO, freedom and democracy," he said.

⚡️⚡️Previously, one of the Russian missiles destroyed a village in the Voronezh region, Russia
Information is still being verified.
UPD: The information has been confirmed. The village of Petropavlivka in Voronezh region of Russia was hit by a Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missile launched from the Caspian Sea region.

🇰🇵 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said that North Korea no longer seeks reconciliation and reunification with South Korea. At the same time, he threatened to "completely destroy" the United States and South Korea if they resort to "provocations."

Consequences of a missile strike on Ukraine:
📍Kyiv. Emergency services are working in six districts where seven fires have broken out: Obolonskyi, Pecherskyi, Podilskyi, Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Desnianskyi districts. In total, there are 27 injured and two dead in the capital.
📍Kyiv region. Boryspil, Bucha, and Fastiv districts were affected.
A fire in a residential building has already been extinguished in Fastiv district. Two people were killed.
Five apartment buildings and more than 40 cars were damaged in Vyshneve. Seven people were injured.
📍Kharkiv. One person was killed and 41 injured. There is a lot of damage to civilian infrastructure. [Numbers of dead have increased]

A child hides in a bathtub from Russian missiles while his mother waits for doctors after her face and legs were cut by shattered glass.

No updates from ISW or UK Min of Defence.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-2-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin identified the West as Russia’s “enemy” and implied that Russia is fighting in Ukraine in order to defeat the West. [yawn]
• Putin’s framing of his war in Ukraine as a Russian struggle against the West – and not Ukraine – indicates that he does not intend to negotiate in good faith with Ukraine and is setting information conditions aimed at convincing the West to betray Ukraine through negotiations.
• Putin may be expanding his war aims in Ukraine to include confrontation with the West in an effort to set conditions for permanent Russian military buildup and to justify high battlefield sacrifices.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed Ukraine’s need for urgent Western support to protect both Ukraine and the rest of Europe in an interview with the Economist published on January 1.
• Russian forces conducted another massive series of drone and missile strikes against deep rear areas in Ukraine between December 31 and January 2, one of which used a strike package similar to that used on December 29, and to which Ukrainian forces appear to be adapting.
• Western provision of air defense systems and missiles to Ukraine remains crucial for Ukraine as Russian forces will likely attempt to adapt to Ukrainian air defense capabilities.
• Russian officials publicly defined the goals for Russia’s 2024 chairmanship of both BRICS and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), articulating how the Kremlin may intend to use these organizations to fulfill its foreign policy objectives this year.
• The Norwegian government announced on January 1 that it is permitting Norwegian defense companies to sell weapons and defense-related products directly to the Ukrainian government.
• The Turkish government announced on January 2 that it will not allow the United Kingdom (UK) to transport two mine hunting ships to Ukraine via the Turkish Straits “as long as the war continues.”
• Russian society continues to reckon with the impacts of increasing anti-migrant sentiment amid Russian authorities’ ongoing efforts to systematically disenfranchise migrant communities within Russia.
• Russian forces made marginal confirmed advances along the Svatove-Kreminna line, northwest and southwest of Bakhmut, northwest of Avdiivka, and southwest of Donetsk City.
• The Russian military command may be seeking avenues to re-pardon recidivists who previously fought in the war in Ukraine in an apparent effort to maintain Russia's ability to leverage convict recruits as a manpower resource.
• Russian occupation authorities are restricting and likely monitoring internet communications ahead of the March 2024 presidential elections.

Western provision of air defense systems and missiles to Ukraine remains crucial for Ukraine as Russian forces will likely attempt to adapt to Ukrainian air defense capabilities.

Given the number of engagements that must have taken place in recent days and given that (traditionally at least) you usually end up firing more than one missile to achieve one kill I'd say the Ukrainians will have fired a heck of a lot of surface to air ordnance in the last week or so.

Yikes.

UK is right to call for more air defence aid.

Quite so. They'll be lucky if the ratio is just two rounds per target.

In an example of good, timely reporting, the WSJ has an article today about the current defense production and logistics situation and what's being done to improve it. I was surprised and pleased to learn that Taiwan and South Korea are both producing their own missile systems, knowing how backlogged the main Western manufacturers are. They certainly have the technical and manufacturing expertise to produce world-class weapons.

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/missiles-demand-threats-wait-to-buy-them-is-years-long-3332c151?st=j6rx67w8ted5w4d&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Kyiv Independent Telegram highlights

Another mass missile attack by Russia in Ukraine on the morning of 2 Jan, particularly in Kyiv and Kharkiv, 2, causing widespread damage to residential buildings, warehouses, and infrastructure. Many civilian deaths and more injured.

⚡️ Energy Ministry: 260,000 Kyiv residents without power following Russian attacks. (https://kyivindependent.com/energy-ministry-260-000-kyiv-residents-left-without-power-following-russian-attacks/) Later fully restored, per DTEK

⚡️ Air Force: Ukraine downs 72 missiles (https://kyivindependent.com/air-force-ukraine-downs-72-russian-missiles/) in Russian morning attack - 59 Kh-101/555/55 cruise missiles, three Kalibr cruise missiles, and all of the 10 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles. Russian forces launched at least 99 missiles of various types, preceded by a wave of Shahed "kamikaze" drones. Moscow used a similar strategy during a mass attack on Dec. 29, the Air Force noted.

⚡️Zaluzhnyi says Ukraine downed (https://kyivindependent.com/zaluzhnyi-says-downing-all-incoming-russian-kinzhal-missiles-with-patriot-air-defense-system-is-a-record/) record number of Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles that Russia launched against the country on Jan. 2, Ukraine's Commander in Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi reported. The Air Force intercepted all 10 Kinzhals Russia launched on Jan. 2, using the U.S.-designed Patriot air defense systems.

If the missiles hit their targets, the consequences would have been catastrophic, Zaluzhnyi wrote on X.

⚡️Russian missile reportedly hits (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-missile-reportedly-hits-voronezh-oblast-village-amid-latest-mass-attack-on-ukraine/) Russian village amid latest mass attack on Ukraine.

⚡️Russian authorities: 4 injured (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-official-4-injured-in-russian-town-after-munitions-accidentally-dropped-from-plane/) after Russian plane 'accidentally drops munitions' on Russian town.

⚡️Baltic leaders call for more air defense systems (https://kyivindependent.com/lithuanian-and-latvian-leaders-call-for-more-air-defense-systems-for-ukraine-after-russias-latest-attack/) for Ukraine after Russia's latest attack.

⚡️Forbes estimates (https://kyivindependent.com/forbes-estimates-russias-jan-2-mass-attack-costs-nearly-620-million/) Jan. 2 mass attack cost Russia nearly $620 million.

⚡️Update: 5 killed, 129 injured (https://kyivindependent.com/update-5-killed-119-injured-in-russian-jan-2-large-scale-attack-against-ukraine/) in Russia's large-scale attack against Ukraine.

⚡️SBU blocks surveillance cameras (https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-blocks-surveillance-cameras-hacked-by-russians-to-spy-on-targets-in-kyiv/) hacked by Russia to record the city's air defenses at work as well as the locations of critical infrastructure during a mass attack on Jan. 2.

⚡️Zelensky: Russia has launched (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-russia-has-launched-at-least-500-missiles-drones-at-ukraine-over-past-5-days/) at least 500 missiles, drones at Ukraine over past 5 days. Zelensky and Sunak discussed how to bolster Ukraine's air defense hours after Russia launched another mass air attack against the country, killing five people and injuring 130, including children.

⚡️Medical Forces: Russian missile damages (https://kyivindependent.com/medical-forces-russian-missile-damages-rehabilitation-center-for-wounded-soldiers-in-kyiv/) rehabilitation center for wounded soldiers in Kyiv. The missile got lodged in the first floor of the building with the warhead still inside, prompting the evacuation of patients.

⚡️Turkey blocks (https://kyivindependent.com/turkey-blocks-passage-of-british-minehunter-ships-intended-for-ukraine/) passage of British minehunter ships destined for Ukraine, citing an international pact.

⚡️Guardian: UK oil refinery extends (https://kyivindependent.com/guardian-uk-oil-company-extends-credit-to-refinery-linked-to-sanctioned-russian-oligarch/) credit with oil company linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch.

One of the United Kingdom's largest oil refineries has extended a loan facility with the arm of an oil company founded and part-owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch, the Guardian reported on Jan. 2.

⚡️Poland, a NATO member, scrambles (https://kyivindependent.com/poland-scrambles-f-16s-to-defend-airspace-during-russian-attacks-on-ukraine/) F-16s to defend airspace during Russian attacks on Ukraine.

⚡️ Latvian court orders asylum (https://kyivindependent.com/latvian-court-orders-asylum-for-russian-who-fought-for-ukraine/) for Russian who fought for Ukraine.

⚡️ Death toll of Dec. 29 strikes against Kyiv rises to 30. (https://kyivindependent.com/death-toll-of-dec-29-strikes-on-kyiv-rises-to-30/)

The death toll of a Russian strike against Kyiv on Dec. 29 has risen to 30 as another person died in the hospital, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported on Jan. 3.

⚡️ Norway to send (https://kyivindependent.com/norway-to-send-2-f-16s-to-denmark-for-ukrainian-pilots-to-train-on/) F-16s to Denmark for Ukrainian pilots to train on.

⚡️ PM Shmyhal: Ukraine plans sixfold increase (https://kyivindependent.com/pm-shmyhal-ukraine-plans-sixfold-increase-in-military-production-this-year/) in military production this year. "This means more drones, more shells, more ammunition, and armored vehicles for our military,"

⚡️Polish farmers to resume (https://kyivindependent.com/polish-farmers-to-resume-blockade-of-ukrainian-border-after-temporary-reprieve/) blockade of Ukrainian border after temporary reprieve in protest of the EU's liberalization of transit rules for Ukrainian truckers.

⚡️PM Shmyhal: Ukraine to reduce need (https://kyivindependent.com/pm-shmyhal-ukraine-to-reduce-need-for-external-financing-in-2024/) for external financing in 2024. Ukraine will need over $37 billion in external financing in 2024, which is around $5 billion less than the country received from foreign partners last year. Ukraine's own budget revenues in 2023 amounted to more than Hr 1.1 trillion ($28 billion) in taxes, fees, and other payments, and Kyiv is steadily increasing this number.

⚡️NATO agrees on an estimated $5.5 billion deal (https://kyivindependent.com/nato-agrees-on-deal-to-buy-1-000-patriot-missiles-for-coalition-members/) to buy 1,000 Patriot missiles for coalition members, including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain.

⚡️230 Ukrainian POWs return home (https://kyivindependent.com/230-ukrainian-pows-return-home-from-russian-captivity-in-largest-prisoner-exchange-in-full-scale-war/) from Russian captivity in largest prisoner exchange in full-scale war. The previous prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia took place in August last year, after which, according to Ukrainian officials, Moscow had refused to continue the practices in an alleged effort to turn Ukrainian families of POWs against their own authorities.

No tanks today.

That's likely just a reporting issue. There's a rather bureaucratic process for counting and reporting combat kills.

Or possible the Russians have simply run out of functioning tanks. 😁

My first thought was have the Russians run out of tanks. They've lost so many recently it must be starting to become an issue.

Thanks again @blueshoes I wish this ongoing fever bug would sod off once and for all.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ White House: No money left https://kyivindependent.com/white-house-no-money-left-for-ukraine-aid-without-bill-from-congress/ for Ukraine aid without bill from Congress.
The U.S. has run out of existing money for aid for Ukraine, and "there's no other magical pot to dip into" unless Congress passes a new funding package, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Jan. 3.

⚡️ Military intelligence: Putin's party recruits people for its own mercenary company. https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-putins-party-recruits-people-for-its-own-mercenary-company/
The Russian ruling party, United Russia, is recruiting members for its own "private army," the mercenary company Hispaniola, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said on Jan. 3.
Hispaniola was previously part of the Russian militant group Vostok Battalion as a volunteer unit of Russian football hooligans. [A considerable number of implications of this. But can you imagine Labour having its own army?]

⚡️IAEA experts can't access https://kyivindependent.com/iaea-experts-cant-access-3-reactor-halls-at-russian-occupied-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant/ 3 reactor halls at Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
For the past two weeks, the experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been denied access to the reactor halls of units 1, 2, and 6 of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the IAEA said on Jan. 3.

Deliveries of China-manufactured advanced machinery such as microchips are up tenfold since the beginning of 2022, showcasing a booming bilateral trade relationship that has largely circumvented Western sanctions, the FT reported on Jan. 3. https://kyivindependent.com/russias-imports-of-advanced-tech-from-china-up-10x/

One of Ukraine's key goals for 2024 is to increase the defense industry capacity six times, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 3 as the country braces for another year of war. https://kyivindependent.com/pm-shmyhal-ukraine-plans-sixfold-increase-in-military-production-this-year/

⚡️PM Shmyhal: Ukraine to reduce need https://kyivindependent.com/pm-shmyhal-ukraine-to-reduce-need-for-external-financing-in-2024/ for external financing in 2024.
Ukraine will need over $37 billion in external financing in 2024, which is around $5 billion less than the country received from foreign partners last year, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 3.
Ukraine's own budget revenues in 2023 amounted to more than Hr 1.1 trillion ($28 billion) in taxes, fees, and other payments, and Kyiv is steadily increasing this number, Shmyhal said at a government meeting.

⚡️NATO agrees on deal to buy 1,000 Patriot missiles for coalition members https://kyivindependent.com/nato-agrees-on-deal-to-buy-1-000-patriot-missiles-for-coalition-members/ including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain.

⚡️Kuleba: NATO-Ukraine Council to hold emergency meeting https://kyivindependent.com/kuleba-nato-ukraine-council-to-hold-emergency-meeting-in-response-to-russias-mass-strikes-on-ukraine/ in response to Russia's mass strikes on Ukraine.

⚡️Kirby: US sees no misuse https://kyivindependent.com/kirby-us-sees-no-misuse-of-arms-by-ukrainian-military/ of arms by Ukrainian military. The Biden administration says that the U.S. weaponry provided to Ukraine "is being used appropriately on the field of battle," John Kirby, a White House spokesperson for national security, told reporters on Jan. 3.
The U.S. has provided approximately $44.2 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion against Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

⚡️ Polish official on reported Russian missile in Poland's airspace: We cannot rule out https://kyivindependent.com/polish-official-on-russian-missile-in-polands-airspace-we-cannot-rule-out-provocation/ provocation.
Warsaw and its partners cannot rule out intentional provocation when it comes to a Russian missile reportedly temporarily flying through Polish airspace during a mass attack against Ukraine on Dec. 29, said Polish security official Jacek Siewiera in an interview with TVN24 published on Jan. 3.
Siewiera, the head of Poland's National Security Bureau, said that Polish authorities "have enough information to confirm that this missile was launched from Russian systems."

⚡️Polish farmers to resume blockade of Ukrainian border after temporary reprieve. Polish farmers will resume their blockade on Jan. 4 of the Shehyni-Medyka crossing at the Polish-Ukrainian border, the Polish Press Agency reported on Jan. 3, citing Roman Kondrow, the leader of a Polish farmers organization involved in the protest. https://kyivindependent.com/polish-farmers-to-resume-blockade-of-ukrainian-border-after-temporary-reprieve/

⚡️ EU sanctions https://kyivindependent.com/eu-sanctions-alrosa-russias-largest-diamond-producer/ Russia's largest diamond producer. An investigation by the Kyiv Independent in October found that Alrosa continued to sell diamonds to the West after the beginning of Russia's war in Ukraine, and even was able to increase its profits

⚡️Ombudsman says Ukraine may hold another prisoner swap https://kyivindependent.com/ombudsman-says-ukraine-may-hold-another-prisoner-swap-in-coming-weeks/ in coming weeks.

⚡️Former Interior Ministry chief (https://kyivindependent.com/former-police-chief-of-russias-3rd-largest-city-yekaterinburg-killed-in-ukraine/) of Yekaterinburg killed in Ukraine. Igor Trifonov, who served as the head of the Yekaterinburg branch of Russia's Interior Ministry from 2011-2017, was convicted on bribery and weapons charges in 2022. He was then sentenced to nine years and four months in prison.

⚡️ Update: Death toll in Dec. 29 Russian attack on Kyiv rises to 32, 30 injured. https://kyivindependent.com/update-death-toll-in-dec-29-russian-attack-on-kyiv-rises-to-32-30-injured/

Four people were reported injured in the Russian town of Petropavlovka, Voronezh Oblast, after explosions caused by the "emergency release of munitions" from a Russian plane, the regional governor Alexander Gusev said on Jan. 3, as reported by Russian media. https://kyivindependent.com/russian-official-4-injured-in-russian-town-after-munitions-accidentally-dropped-from-plane/

⚡️ SBU cybersecurity chief: Hackers had access to Kyivstar months before December attack. https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-sbu-cybersecurity-chief-says-russian-hackers-had-access-to-kyivstar-for-months-before-december-attack/
Russian hackers who shut down Kyivstar had penetrated the company's internal system months before the attack and likely had access to a variety of users' personal data, said Illia Vitiuk, the cybersecurity chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in an interview with Reuters published on Jan. 4.
Vitiuk said that he was "pretty sure" the attack was carried out by Sandworm, a unit of Russia's military intelligence (GRU), which the SBU has linked to Solntsepek.

⚡️NYT: Ukrainians tired https://kyivindependent.com/nyt-ukrainians-tired-of-state-propaganda/ of 'state propaganda.'
Once described as a "weapon" by President Volodymyr Zelensky, many Ukrainians after nearly two years of war say they are getting tired of the government-backed Telemarathon broadcasted 24/7, the New York Times reported on Jan. 3. [It seems some people have started calling the NYT the New Orc Times. Their record has been highly patchy with some outright deceptive statements at times].

⚡️ Media: Ukraine's military intelligence torched Russian Su-34 jet https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainska-pravda-hur-says-it-torched-russian-su-34-jet-at-russian-airbase/ at airbase. [Unconfirmed]

⚡️ Over 220 Russian soldiers surrender https://kyivindependent.com/more-than-220-russian-soldiers-surrendered-through-i-want-to-live-hotline/ through 'I want to live' hotline.

⚡️ Head of notorious Russian torture prison in occupied Donetsk sentenced to 15 years. https://kyivindependent.com/head-of-notorious-russian-pris/

⚡️230 Ukrainian POWs return home https://kyivindependent.com/230-ukrainian-pows-return-home-from-russian-captivity-in-largest-prisoner-exchange-in-full-scale-war/ from Russian captivity in largest prisoner exchange in full-scale war.

There we go, a few small tank losses. plenty of artillery though.