1/3/23 Ukrainian General Update LanguageLearner

1/2/24-1/3/24 Update, day 678-679 of Russian invasion.


Belarus/Western Border:

The Ukrainian border crossing into poland was busy over the holiday season, with approximately 100-200 waiting in queue.

Polish farmers association stated they would resume their protests at the border, demanding subsidies for farm loans. The Polish Agricultural minister yesterday assured the protestors their demands would be met, but the association leader stated he had not received such promises in writing yet.


Kyiv/ West Ukraine:

On Jan 2, RU launched an attack towards Kyiv and Kharkiv. It comprised of 35 Shaheds, and 99 missiles of various type. This included 10 Khinzal aeroballistic missiles which apparently were successfully intercepted. 72 of 99 missiles and all 35 drones were intercepted. Its estimated that RU spent $620 million USD on this attack.

The SBU dismantled additional webcams that were used by RU agents to surveil UA air defense during the strikes, after local webcams were hacked and livestreamed to youtube.

At least 4 people were killed and 92 injured. Over 500 missiles and drones have been launched at Ukraine over the last 5 days.

On January 3rd, through the mediation of the UAE, UA returned 230 soldiers from RU captivity. This is the largest POW exchange, following several months of no exchanges. Over 49 POW exchanges, 2828 defenders have been returned home. Previously, there were assessed to be 3574 military and 763 prisoners in RU captivity.

UA Energy supplier Ukrenegro stated that there would be no collapse in the UA power grid this winter, so long as all power plants undergoing repairs complete them, and the 1700 MW import capability remains active from european partners. While 250,000 kyiv residents were briefly without power, the energy grid was restored later the same day.

The RU missile attack on Kyiv severely damaged the M-Tac fabrication and warehouses. MTAC is a UA manufacturer of tactical clothing and equipment, which has become something of a cultural icon due to being used by soldiers, as well as government officials.

A rehabilitation medical center was hit by a missile in Kyiv, but the rocket thankfully didn't explode. A missile also landed by the Kyiv Zoo, where a Lioness was concussed.

The UA PM Denis Shymhal stated that UA increased its defense production capacity 3x in 2024, and the goal for 2024 is to increase it 6x. Currently, they project spending some $19.7 Billion USD on military salaries, and $6.9 Billion USD on weaponry.


Northeast Ukraine/Kharkiv city:

UA reinforced its border defenses in Chernihiv oblast, stating there were 11 attempts made by RU Recon forces in 2023.

Over the last 5 days, RU damaged more then 130 buildings in Kharkiv. Shahed strikes wounded several people in the city overnight, and S-300 strikes towards Chuhuiv to the SE hit a number of warehouses.

UA launched another apparent UAV attack towards Belgorod, with some RU air defense missile boosters landing in citizens houses.


Kupyansk/East Kharkiv/Kreminna:

The frontlines remained broadly stationary over the last 48 hours in E Kharkiv, as RU assaults and airstrikes reduced in volume. RU forces complain about UA drone strikes impeding operations near Synkivka along with artillery.

RU advanced in SE Kharkiv oblast, near the village of Ploschanka.


Kramatorsk/Bakhmut:

RU and UA continue to skirmish NW of Bakhmut, as UA leverages artillery and cluster munitions again

UA is considering mandatory evacuation of children from Novoselivka Pershe, due to increased RU shelling of the frontline village. Approximately 300 people remain in the village, of which 13 are minors.


Avdiivka:

RU heavily shelled southern Avdiivka with artillery, but otherwise made no confirmed progress around the city. RU is appearing to lengthen the frontlines NW of Avdiivka as they've been unsuccessful in breaking through directly on their first or second lines of assault.


Donetsk/Luhansk occupied regions:

UA forces destroyed a BUK air defense system and damaged a modern RU Tornado MLRS near Donetsk city.

RU forces launched an assault towards Novomykhailvka, including with apparently remote-controlled Vehicles packed with large quantities of explosives.

RU forces targeted a hospital in Khurakove with missiles.


Zaporizhia/Southern Axis:

RU launched 134 strikes over the past 24 hours, on 23 different villages. 2 people were killed.

RU additionally launched some 20 drones towards UA troops near Robotynes.

IAEA observers were denied access to 3 reactor halls of the ZNPP, for the first time. While these reactors are in a state of cold shutdown, there remains spent nuclear fuel. Previously, RU had made threats to prohibit UA engineers access to the powerplant unless they accepted RU passports.

Mariupol schools have turned to showing putin's speeches as part of their curriculum.


Kherson:

Over the past 24 hours, RU launched 19 assaults towards Krynky. UA forces retain control of the bridgehead under withering artillery fire. RU continues to target any boats crossing the river with artillery.

One of the most modern RU artillery radar platforms, the $250 million USD Yastreb-AV, was observed and destroyed E of the Oleshky Sands national park via a HIMARS launch.


Odessa/Black Sea/Crimea:

Reportedly RU did not utilize extensive sea-launched cruise missiles in the latest barrages due to logistical hurdles, as most missiles are stored in Sevastapol yet a number of ships have relocated to Novorossiysk. Its believed at least 1 RU submarine participated in firing 3 Kalibr missiles, as the other missile carrying ships were not out of harbor.

UA is planning a large scale demining operation in the black sea, which is expected to take 3-5 months to clear the most common sea passage routes. UA also stated that the overall operation to clear the black sea could last several years, as there's been some evidence of UXO from the 2nd world war still present.


Russia:

Per the ISW, RU is experimenting to find additional ways to penetrate the UA air defenses, by way of drones and various missiles + Electronic warfare. ISW agreed with the Telegraph, in that UA may have to reduce air defense coverage if western aid is scaled back to conserve missiles.

RU reduced its gas exports to Europe via Gazprom, by 55.6% over 2023. Currently, RU annual exports stand at 28.3 billion cubic meters, in contrast to 2018-2019 when flow was 180 billion cubic meters. This is a reduction of 85% in RU's largest export market.

RU FPV drones were seized during an assault. Inspection indicates that the FPV drones are being massed produced with cheap chinese components and aluminum, apparently done so on assembly lines in factories.

Putin made a speech in whoch he agressively labeled NATO and "The West" as the true enemies in the war, claiming this was in defense of Russian statehood.


General:

Over the last day UA forces conduced 13 airstrikes and RU forces conducted 67 air strikes and 12 missile strikes.

Yesterday Ukrainian forces eliminated:

680x soldiers (Total 361,500)
7x APC
0x Tank
3x Air defense
15x Artillery (0xMLRS)
26x vehicles
38x UAV


Overseas:

Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain will purchase approximately 1000 GEM-T missiles for the Patriot air defense systems.

France stated that it will committ to producing more weaponry in Ukraine, not just donating or purchasing them.

UK and other EU countries are preparing to increase production capacity in the event that the USA withdraws support completely, following the 2024 elections. Its anticipated that both UA and RU will be unable to secure a major breakthrough on the battlefield this year.

Norway is providing additional trainers and jets to train UA pilots in Denmark.

Turkey stated it would not allow 2 UK produced minesweepers to transit into the black sea, citing the Montreaux convention.