Ukraine Invasion: Part 46

[MagicFox]

With thanks to all keeping these threads going 🇺🇦

**
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@DancesWithDucks

🇦🇺Australian Minister of Defense Industry Pat Conroy explained https://breakingdefense.com/2024/01/australia-reveals-why-it-isnt-sending-its-grounded-taipan-helicopters-to-ukraine/that Ukraine requested the Taipan helicopters too late, after the decision to dispose of them had been made in September 2023.
According to him, other countries were not interested in buying the helicopters at the time, so Australia decided to dispose of them. When Kyiv sent a request in December 2023, the disposal process lasted three months, and the helicopters had not been maintained for the same amount of time.

Aus and the Taipan has not been a happy story (there have been grumbles about it's robustness and maintainability for quite some time), it's all been very controversial and there's probably still more to come out about this decision and domestic politics.

If they'd been mothballed properly they could have been resurrected easily enough for UKR use but it looks like some Aussie politicians just wanted them gone, TBH from the UKR POV there might be better options out there.

huh, thanks.

Reports today are that they have sent another A50 to the Ukraine area but it is hanging well back :D

Noises from the EU about progress towards removing Hungarys vote are hopeful.

Biden seemed upbeat about talks with congressional leaders re funding as well.

I don't understand why Germany are STILL sat on Taurus. Ukraine have proved their word is good on the use of long range weapons and aside from Taurus Germany have become one of the top providers of kit.

C4 news leading with Ukraine, and showing an exclusive interview with Zelensky in a few minutes.

Thanks, watching now.

So, we have learned that Zelensky is a dog person.

Yes but I thought he was about to say something else made him laugh but Matt spoke over him about the dogs and it got lost, I was a bit annoyed!
He's so well- rounded. Diplomatic about Trump's ravings, takes it in his stride. We need more world figures of his stature.

Here's some informed speculation on how Ukraine lured the Russian A-50 and Il-22 into the range of their anti-air assets.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/01/16/ukrainian-crews-set-a-complex-missile-trap-for-russias-best-radar-plane/?sh=12baa8f33566

Oh, I would rather not have that known; if it is out there, it won't work again.

It worth bearing in mind that's article is speculation by one individual, not the official account.

I'd be highly highly impressed if the Ukrainians laid a trap exactly in the full manner speculated in the piece but if a hole in the Russian radar cover did suddenly appear it would be pretty obvious that they'd probably try and plug it with A-50, so it might be worth having suitable assets in place.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-19-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Russia is conducting an information operation to misrepresent NATO’s defensive Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises – a response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and Russian threats directed towards NATO members - as provocative.
• Russian forces will be able to determine the location, tempo, and operational requirements of fighting in Ukraine if Ukraine commits itself to defensive operations throughout 2024 as some US officials are reportedly pressing Kyiv to do.
• US officials reportedly assess that Ukraine will have to fight a long war and continue efforts to secure as much security assistance as possible for Ukraine before 2025 while expecting that positional fighting may continue in Ukraine until 2026.
• Russia is trying to mend its relationship with South Korea to mitigate the impacts of its growing reliance on North Korea.
• Protests in support of an imprisoned prominent Bashkort activist continued in the Republic of Bashkortostan, but Kremlin mouthpieces denied reports that the protests are significant in scale.
• The Russian government continues efforts to codify legal oversight of the activities of migrants living in Russia.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allocating funds for the search, registration, and legal protection of Russian property abroad, which includes property in former territories of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union.
• Russian forces recently made confirmed advances southeast of Kupyansk, and Ukrainian forces recently regained positions southeast of Kupyansk amid continued positional engagements along the entire line of contact.
• The Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) “Vostok” Battalion stated on January 19 that it will resume fighting on the frontlines in Ukraine when the period of positional fighting ends and will “continue to serve” after the war, presumably subordinated to Rosgvardia.
• Russian occupation authorities continue to leverage the provision of social benefits and healthcare to augment passportization efforts in occupied Ukraine.

Note: Ukraine would risk consuming resources it hoped to conserve for its own counteroffensive operations in efforts to stop continuing Russian attacks, likely while losing ground, if it went over to the strategic defensive as some US officials are apparently recommending. The side in war that holds the initiative generally has the advantage, and it is unwise to suggest that Ukraine should cede that advantage to Russia for longer than is absolutely necessary.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ US warns https://kyivindependent.com/us-warns-of-russian-effort-to-turn-public-opinion-against-ukraine-in-upcoming-european-elections/ of Russian efforts to turn public opinion against Ukraine in upcoming European elections.

Civilians in NATO countries should be prepared for the prospect of an all-out war with Russia in the next 20 years, said Lieutenant Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, in comments to reporters on Jan. 18. https://kyivindependent.com/nato-official-warns-of-all-out-war-with-russia-within-next-20-years/ [this does NOT mean it's inevitable. The more prepared we are, the less it's likely to happen I should think]

⚡️Bloomberg: EU discussing reforming its $5 billion Ukraine military aid fund as the EU transitions from sending arms from existing stockpiles to purchasing new ones, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 19.
A document by the European External Action Service, seen by Bloomberg, outlines the terms to create a previously proposed Ukraine Assistance Fund with an annual budget of about five billion euros ($5.4 billion) that EU governments have so far failed to agree on. https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-eu-discusses-reforming-its-5-billion-ukraine-military-aid-fund/

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania agreed to build a Baltic defense line in the coming years to strengthen the eastern border with Belarus and Russia, the Estonian Defense Ministry said on Jan. 19. https://kyivindependent.com/baltic-countries-to-build-defenses-on-russia-belarus-border/

⚡️IAEA chief: Previously removed mines at Zaporizhzhia power plant 'back in place" https://kyivindependent.com/iaea-chief-previously-removed-mines-at-zaporizhzhia-power-plant-back-in-place/

⚡️ Italy sentences ex-navy officer, Frigate captain Walter Biot, to 20 years https://kyivindependent.com/italy-sentences-ex-navy-officer-to-20-years-over-spying-for-russia/ over spying for Russia.

U.S. intelligence does not believe that a decrease in U.S. aid for Ukraine will have a major impact on the battlefield in the short term but will become a problem later once Russia regroups, CNN reported on Jan. 19, citing anonymous sources https://kyivindependent.com/cnn-us-aid-decrease-unlikely-to-have-short-term-battlefield-impact/

⚡️EU Commissioner: Europe to produce https://kyivindependent.com/eu-commissioner-europe-to-produce-around-1-3-to-1-4-million-shells-by-the-end-of-2024/ around 1.3 to 1.4 million shells by the end of 2024.

⚡️Reuters: Russia has become China’s largest https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-russia-has-become-chinas-largest-oil-supplier/ oil supplier. According to the report, Russia shipped 107.02 million metric tons of crude oil to China last year, which is the equivalent of 2.14 million barrels per day.

Investigation: Apparent Russian disinformation group posing as ex-president Poroshenko https://kyivindependent.com/investigation-apparent-russian-disinformation-group-posing-as-ex-president-poroshenko-targets-foreign-fighters-in-ukraine/ targets foreign fighters in Ukraine

⚡️ Ukraine to prioritize https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-to-prioritize-restoring-air-travel/ restoring air travel.

⚡️ Estonia allocates https://kyivindependent.com/estonia-allocates-additional-14-million-euros-annually-in-development-aid-for-ukraine/ additional $15.2 million annually in development aid for Ukraine.

⚡️ Bloomberg: EU aims for 13th Russia sanctions https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-eu-aims-to-present-13th-sanctions-package-in-february/ package in February.
The discussed 13th package could encompass further individual listings, stricter trade restrictions, and more measures against dodging sanctions via third-party countries and European companies, Bloomberg wrote.

⚡️ Ukraine is third largest https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-is-third-largest-agricultural-supplier-to-eu/ agricultural supplier to EU.

⚡️ Polish farmers to hold large protest https://kyivindependent.com/polish-farmers-to-hold-large-protest-against-imports-from-ukraine/ against imports from Ukraine.

⚡️Government allocates https://kyivindependent.com/government-allocates-record-466-million-to-fortifications/ record $466 million to fortifications.

⚡️ Authorities launch criminal https://kyivindependent.com/authorities-launch-criminal-investigation-of-threatening-visit-to-journalist-nikolov/ investigation of threatening visit to journalist Nikolov.

⚡️ PM Shmyhal: Ukraine fulfills https://kyivindependent.com/pm-shmyhal-ukraine-fulfills-3-of-4-additional-eu-recommendations/ 3 of 4 EU's additional recommendations.

⚡️ Politico: Democrats mull 'protecting https://kyivindependent.com/politico-democrats-suggest-protecting-republican-house-speaker-in-exchange-for-ukraine-aid/ Republican House Speaker to secure Ukraine aid.
Some Democrats consider protecting Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson's gavel to win his support for the bipartisan deal on border security and Ukraine aid, drafted in the U.S. Senate, Politico reported on Jan. 19.

⚡️Romanian protesters end blockade https://kyivindependent.com/romanian-protesters-end-blockade-ukraines-border-guard-service-says/ Ukraine’s border guard service says.

⚡️ Detentions made after fresh protests (https://kyivindependent.com/arrests-made-after-fresh-protests-in-russias-bashkortostan-republic/ in Russia's Bashkortostan republic.

⚡️ Estonia expels https://kyivindependent.com/estonia-expels-russian-head-of-church/ Russian head of church.

⚡️ Court arrests https://kyivindependent.com/court-arrests-investment-banker-mazepa-in-connection-to-illegal-land-acquisition/ investment banker Mazepa in connection to illegal land acquisition.

Case against investment banker points to increasing pressure https://kyivindependent.com/image-draft-case-against-investment-banker-points-to-increasing-pressure-on-business-in-ukraine/ by state on business in Ukraine
The incident is just the latest in a string of what the business community in Ukraine says is systemic pressure from the state, including unannounced searches, asset seizure, and detentions. They say it has only increased since the start of the full-scale invasion and warn that the harassment of businesses drives potential investment away.
⚡️Zelensky invites Trump (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-invites-trump-to-ukraine/) to Ukraine with a specific condition attached: the former U.S. president must demonstrate his ability to bring an end to the war with Russia within 24 hours, as he once promised.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦

⚡️ WAR IN #UKRAINE - JAN 20, 2024
■ Engagements stay above 7-day average, fewer strikes however, unchanged number of settlements under artillery fire
■ Casualties below average; 25k+ in the last 30 days
■ Modest equipment losses; 7-day average stays above 100

oops

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Russia should be deprived of nuclear weapons after the war, — Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Ivan Havryliuk in an interview with Tagesspiegel.

Today, it was revealed that the Russian Federation utilized a rare 4-ton P-35 anti-ship missile from the 1960s in an attack on Ukraine.

It's high time to reassess the situation regarding weapons production in Europe: The Spectator examines whether Europe can match Russia's pace in creating weapons.
Following the unsuccessful "Kyiv in three days" scenario, the Russian Federation swiftly initiated weapons production. By the end of 2022, some defense plants had transitioned to 24-hour operations. As per Rostec's head, Chemezov, tank production had surged sevenfold, artillery more than doubled, and certain types of ammunition increased sixtyfold by 2023.
Europe, unprepared for such developments, faces challenges, the publication observes. Despite EU countries pledging over 230 billion euros for arsenal modernization since the war's onset, old Europe grapples with two formidable tasks—updating its defense systems and providing assistance to Ukraine......
....The text argues for Europe to abandon its market-oriented approach to weapons and bring the majority of its industry under state control. A more flexible approach is necessary to minimize costs and maximize productivity.

Japan landed the Slim spacecraft on the moon, becoming the fifth country to achieve this feat through the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
During the landing, the module tested new precision navigation technologies, achieving an unprecedented accuracy of landing within a radius of 100 meters from the designated location in the area of the Shiori Crater. Former NASA employee and editor-in-chief of SpaceWatch Global, Emma Gatti, praised this precision.

Serbian actor and Moscow’s close ally Miloš Biković to star in The White Lotus Season 3. Biković is banned to get into Ukraine due to national threat he poses.

[I found this surprisingly moving https://t.me/United24media/17680 ]

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇺🇸 US President Joe Biden has signed a bill to temporarily fund the government, avoiding a shutdown and giving lawmakers time to agree on aid for Ukraine.
Government spending will continue at current levels for some federal agencies until March 1, and for others until March 8.

Russia is likely planning https://www.ft.com/content/d2f3b209-22a1-4fb1-bdfe-0ccf7fb0e5fa** a new large-scale offensive for the summer along the entire front line and possibly near Kyiv - FT.
The goal would be to completely capture Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
In this regard, Ukraine is switching to an "active defense" strategy - holding positions while searching for weaknesses and long-range air strikes. This should allow Ukraine to "build up its forces" this year and prepare for 2025, "when a counteroffensive would have more chances."

🇩🇪 German Defense Minister Pistorius has warned https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/boris-pistorius-uber-die-kriegsgefahr-ich-will-unsere-gesellschaft-wachrutteln-11070250.html** of a possible Russian aggression against a NATO member state in a few years.
"Our experts expect this to be possible in five to eight years," he said in an interview with Tagesspiegel.

"We will mobilizing Ukrainians for the future war against NATO!"
Russian propagandists promise to use Ukrainians in a war against NATO countries in the event of victory

Siberian villagers devastated by China's influence in Russia https://t.me/liveukraine_media/17370 [Contracts to fell the forests have been awarded to Chinese companies and they are doing exacty that]

Pass me some wine to numb my depression having read this depressing summary based on John Gray's book: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/20/fascism-is-everywhere-on-the-march-and-its-trump-who-sets-the-pace

This sentence really does sum up how things feel:
"The liberal moment, it appears, is passing; the fascist nightmare looms anew. Under darkly lowering skies, the post-democratic age dawns."

Posting as I rate Velina Tchakarova's analysis. This is her pinned tweet re 2024 thoughts:

‼️Long post on macro geopolitical trends & risks in 2024‼️
Some argue the world is currently at the stage of military conflict where we were in 1914, being on the precipice of WW3.
Others argue the world is at the stage of where we were in 1945, facing a new Cold War between the US and China.
And I argue that Russia‘s war against Ukraine was the manifestation of Cold War 2.0 between the US and the #DragonBear (China & Russia) amid the Bifurcation of the #GlobalSystem.
The world is currently being split in two and 2024 will see a third front of this Cold War in the #IndoPacific with North Korea and a military escalation in South China Sea and the Strait of Taiwan (not a military attack) triggered by China and Russia next to the ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
➡️ The risk of a direct military clash between the US, China and Russia remains minimal.
➡️ The risk of the use of nuclear weapons remains possible but not probable. However, we will witness further nuclearisation of states and a new arms race.
➡️ The risk of a military attack by China on Taiwan remains possible but not probable. China will continue to apply „death by 1000 cuts“ approach to Taiwan, including military tensions coupled with political penetration & socioeconomic coercion.
➡️ The bifurcation of the global economy, trade and tech domains will reach to the global financial system. Big moves by G20 & BRICS countries towards finding alternatives to the mighty Dollar.
➡️ The process of disruption of global supply chains becomes irreversible with further competition over control of global choke points (like Black Sea, Bab-al-Mandeb etc). The crisis of Red Sea will continue. More choke points will be put to test. North Sea Route (Russia-China) will be further facilitated. Terrestrial corridors will be in competition (BRI, INSTC, IMEC).
➡️ Israel-Hamas conflict will continue in 2024, but the risk of regional war will remain low as none of the key regional actors wanted a war (except for Hamas). Possible deescalation may happen in the spring/summer of 2024. Palestine may finally see a two-state solution but with the highest humanitarian cost.
➡️ Russia‘s war against Ukraine will continue in 2024 with a possible time frame for first diplomatic talks around October. Russia will have very tough period around February/March and we may see the first serious reshuffle of political power in the Kremlin despite the reelection of Putin. The risk of Ukraine‘s partition remains high due to the lack of strategic consensus by the West on Ukraine‘s victory (restoration of the internationally recognized borders per 1991).
➡️ The new Iron Curtain will emerge along the Eastern Flank of NATO (Arctic, Baltic, Black Sea, East Med, Scandinavia/Baltics/CEE/Turkey) as NATO will celebrate 75th jubilee in Washington
➡️ The geopolitical and geoeconomic rise of India is imminent; the geopolitical importance of the Global South will increase (G20 in Brazil; BRICS summit in Russia)
➡️ The election supercycle in 2024 with the rise of left- and right-wing populism around the globe.

The Drive has a good after action report on that Bradley T90 engagement.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/armor-experts-breakdown-video-of-ukrainian-m2-bradley-mauling-russian-t-90m-tank

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-20-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin falsely claimed that Russia supports the “unconditional equality” and “sovereignty” of all states in a January 20 letter to the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, contradicting Russia’s official position on its war in Ukraine and its wider imperial ambitions.
• Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin threatened Denmark, a founding member of NATO, on January 20 in response to a recent US-Danish agreement allowing US forces access to military bases in Denmark.
• Russian energy exports to China significantly increased in 2023 amid increasing Russian reliance on oil revenues to manage the fiscal burdens of the war in Ukraine.
• European Union (EU) Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton stated on January 20 that the EU will have the capacity to produce 1.3 to 1.4 million artillery shells by the end of 2024 and will ensure that it delivers the “majority” of the shells to Ukraine.
• Russian forces made confirmed advances along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area amid continued positional engagements along the front.
• A Russian Storm-Z instructor claimed on January 16 that Rosgvardia personnel operating in occupied Ukraine have systematic issues with equipment and weapons storage.
• Occupation authorities continue preparations for the March 2024 Russian presidential election.

Int update from yesterday

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Slovak PM promises https://kyivindependent.com/slovak-pm-promised-to-block-nato-entry-for-ukraine-said-it-must-cede-territory/ to block Ukraine's NATO entry, says it must cede territory.

⚡️Slovak culture minister reverses https://kyivindependent.com/slovakia-culture-minister-reverses-ban-on-working-with-russia-belarus/ ban on working with Russia, Belarus.

⚡️Media: Putin preparing https://kyivindependent.com/media-putin-preparing-to-visit-north-korea/ to visit North Korea.

⚡️Russia claims multiple drones shot down over Tula and Smolensk regions.

⚡️Russian seaport https://kyivindependent.com/media-russian-seaport-terminal-on-fire/ terminal on fire.
The terminal of the Russian Novatek natural gas company caught on fire in the port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region, regional governor Alexander Drozdenko announced on Telegram. Novatek is the largest independent natural gas producer in Russia.

⚡️Air Force: Russian air defense sufficient on front lines, in Crimea but not on Russian soil https://kyivindependent.com/air-force-russian-air-defense-sufficient-on-front-lines-in-crimea-but-not-on-russian-soil/
Ihnat's statement follows reports that Ukrainian drones attacked oil depots in Klintsy in Russia's Bryansk region and the Russian city of Saint Petersburg on Jan. 18-19. Klintsy lies around 80 kilometers from the border with Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast, while Saint Petersburg is over 1,000 kilometers away.

⚡️Defense Ministry: Ukraine, US hold first joint inspection https://kyivindependent.com/defense-ministry-ukraine-us-hold-first-joint-inspection-of-supplied-weaponry/ of US-supplied weaponry.

Why ideology still matters for an expanding BRICS https://kyivindependent.com/why-ideology-still-matters-for-an-expanding-brics/
BRICS, a loose coalition of nations initially forged by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, was created to act as a forum for rising economies.

⚡️Defense firm denies https://kyivindependent.com/taurus-systems-germany-can-quickly-replenish-any-cruise-missiles-if-gifted-to-ukraine/ German politician's claim on missile supplies to Ukraine.
German defense contractor Taurus Systems said on Jan. 20 that it could build up its Taurus cruise missile production very quickly, even if Germany sent some to Ukraine.

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-law-enforcement-seeking-to-arrest-leader-of-countrys-banned-communist-party/
Ukraine's Interior Ministry has put the former head of the banned Ukrainian Communist Party, Petro Symonenko, on a wanted list, according to the ministry's site.

⚡️ Prosecutors: Men who threatened https://kyivindependent.com/authorities-identified-the-men-that-threatened-ukrainian-journalist-yurii-nikolov/ Ukrainian journalist Yurii Nikolov identified.

Tim White (AT Tim White on Xitter) commented
"#Russia's losses in the last 24 hours a little lower than the average for the last 2-3 months. However confirmed reports from the frontline in #Ukraine show the invaders using little equipment, but more mini-drones and missiles backed up with infantry on foot."

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
⚡️ WAR IN #UKRAINE - JAN 21, 2024
■ Strikes & engagements below 7-day average but more settlements under artillery fire
■ 2 days in a row of relatively low casualties & equipment losses
■ Oryx: 86 🇷🇺 35 🇺🇦 added to records (69:32 w/corr.), 30-day ratio at 2.4x

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Russian President Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ibrahim Raisi will visit Türkiye to meet with Recep Erdogan, — Türkiye newspaper.

Swiss President Viola Amherd wants to invite Russia to the global peace summit — Swissinfo.
Amherd said that without the participation of Russia, the summit would allegedly be incomplete.
It is currently unknown whether the summit will take place at the level of ministers or heads of state, however, the Swiss president added that it can be considered successful if a wide range of countries participate, including representatives of the Global South, such as South Africa, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia — and, if possible, China.

[truncated summary of long post]
The EU must find ways to prevent its most sensitive technologies, companies, and assets from falling into "the wrong hands," European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said in a Financial Times comment. The official noted that Brussels is preparing to present measures to strengthen its economic security. The proposals are designed to help the bloc remain competitive in key industries such as software, chips, and aircraft. It is also about reducing the capacity of rival states, including China, to control vital infrastructure in times of global instability.
The document will include legislative improvements to the EU regime for vetting investments from outside the bloc.
his week, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of mandatory inspections of Chinese investments in European critical assets such as ports and transport networks. The resolution has no legal force but increases the pressure on the European Commission, forcing it to act.
The economic security package will also update 2020 rules requiring governments to notify the Commission of foreign direct investment that could threaten security or public order. The commission is likely to propose a similar system for outbound investment to prevent companies evading export controls by setting up factories abroad.
"After the shock of giving up Russian oil and gas, EU countries also want to reduce the risks associated with China, which dominates the production of green technologies such as solar cells and raw materials," the FT concludes.

🇧🇾 The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Lukashenko, said that Minsk received Iskander anti-aircraft missile systems from the Russian Federation.

Defense industry enterprises that produce ammunition for Ukraine may stop for two days due to strikes in Finland, — Yle.
Yle writes that the industrial union of Finland has announced large-scale strikes that will affect several industries. About 60,000 people are expected to participate in the actions across the country. The reason for the strike was dissatisfaction with the government's labor market reform program.

On the evening of January 20, a private plane with Russians on board crashed in Afghanistan on its way to Moscow
According to preliminary data, the cause of the accident of the private plane could be a technical malfunction — the failure of two engines

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

According to Russian media, not all drones were shot down in Tula
There was a massive explosion and fires in the Proletarsky district of the city, where the Shcheglovsky Val military plant, a manufacturer of Pantsyr-S1 systems, is located. https://t.me/liveukraine_media/17385

Ukrainian troops withdraw from the village of Krokhmalne in the Kupyansk sector, Kharkiv region
Volodymyr Fitio, a spokesman for the Ground Forces Command, said that the troops had moved to more defensible positions several hundred meters away. He explained that since the front line is constantly changing, the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not report capturing or retaking 100 meters, but such "successes" are a newsworthy occasion for Russian propaganda.
Fitio added that Krokhmalne consists of 5-6 houses. About 45 people lived there before the full-scale invasion.

Obviously I might be wrong but there seem to be a string of suspicious responses on various threads at the moment. So prepare for some potential incoming bots

I've noticed some oddities, too...

They'll be getting in place for the US election already. (Obviously some of these will be American + other; it's not just the Russians who want Trump in.)

Plus at least one poster whom I've long thought wasn't entirely in good faith has now blown their cover by coming out with some direct pro-Trump messaging which is both (a) very obviously false and (b) succinctly packaged. So it looks like a C&P from the well-spring, rather than an innocent amplifier who has digested something they've been fed and expressed their own take on it.

BTW, while I'm sure the Former Guy would love to be US president again, a large part of his campaign's strategy is that, win or lose, he'll claim to have won.

Then his pals will capitalise on the opportunity for disruption this creates. See 6 Jan 2021.