1/6/24-1/6/24 Ukrainian General Update LanguageLearner

1/6/24-1/8/24 Update, day 681-684 of Russian invasion.


Belarus/Western Border:

Poland's minister of Agriculture announced that the farmers protest at the Medyka border crossing had concluded, following reaching protestors demands of additional agricultural subsidies and loans.

The Polish representative to the EU expressed concern at not limiting UA agricultural imports to the EU, stating it could have a significant negative effect on EU member states production.

A 12 year old UA refugee from Kherson sung carols in Lviv to raise $20k USD in funds for drones.


Kyiv/ West Ukraine:

RU launched a sizable missile attack across Ukraine on January 8th, comprised of
8x Shahded drones.
24x Kh-101 air launched cruise missiles
8x Kh-22 cruise missiles
4x Khinzal air launched ballistic missiles
13x ground launched ballistic missiles
2x Kh-31 Anti-radar missiles.

At least 4 people were killed, and 45 injured. 18 cruise missiles and the 8 drones were successfully intercepted. UA notes that RU volume of fire has decreased from 158 on December 29th to 59 today.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa visited Kyiv, for the first time since her appointment in September. She reaffirmed Japanese support for Ukraine and reconstruction. Japan has recently contributed several Billion USD in financial and reconstruction aid, and further contributed $37 million USD in UAV detection systems. Additionally, Japanese gas turbines will add another 200 MW to the UA power grid.

The former deputy minister of defense and two senior procurement officers were accused of purchasing cheap plate carriers for the ZSU, to embezzle funds. Additionally, a Kyiv based medical goods supplier was accused of selling medical kits to RU via a european third party.

Per UA energy supplier Ukrenegro, the level of electricity consumption has decreased considerably due to the cold. Currently there are no plans for blackouts or load shedding.

As UA society continues to discuss the proposed new mobilization law, the national bank of Ukraine stated they are ready to discuss financial penalties for evaders. The Rada also stated there are potentials for abuse in the law as currently written, and that refinements need to be made prior to enforcement.

The UA Intelligence service GUR received 100 Gb of classified data from a russian company which produces RU drone technology.

The UA defense minister has stated that an internal audit is proceeding well, with some $380 million USD in previous fraud, violations, and mismanagement having been determined over the last several months of investigations.

The Kyiv city government recommended that citizens resume wearing facemasks in public due to an increase in Covid-19 infections.


Sumy/Chernihiv/Kharkiv city region:

An RU Pontoon bridge apparently broke free from inside russian territory and floated downstream into Chernihiv.

RU claimed to have intercepted an S-200 missile over the belgorod region on Monday morning. Additionally RU claimed to have intercepted an additional 10 rockets en route to Belgorod, with 3 wounded.


Kupyansk/East Kharkiv/Kreminna:

Despite renewed RU attempts to push towards Kupyansk from the north, gaining some limited ground under heavy TOS thermobaric strikes. UA drone activity continues to target RU groupings in this area.

RU has made additional gains from Yahidne towards Ivanivka. Towards Kreminna, RU has increased its TOS thermobaric strikes into the forests SW of the city.

Ru heavily shelled the village of Veliky Burluk near Kupyansk, damaging a medical facility and warehouse, along with MLRS strikes into Kupyansk proper.

RU additionally targeted the Kharkiv suburb of Chuhuiv, midway to Kupyansk.

RU apparently accidently dropped a 250kg bomb in occupied Rubizhne, hitting a residential section of the city.


Kramatorsk/Bakhmut:

UA forces have recently increased their FPV drone strikes into Bakhmut city, targeting a number of RU vehicles. There has been increased activity NW of the city, as RU leverage MLRS shelling and UA is apparently increasing the use of helicopter airstrikes.

UA searchers managed to retrieve a number of bodies from areas around Bakhmut that had been laying for over a year. Work is undergoing to identify which are RU or UA soldiers, so their remains can be returned to the appropriate authorities.


Avdiivka:

RU forces have gained territory to the N of avdiivka as they make attempts to push down from the industrial lakes, aided by an apparent heavy use of infantry with RPG's targeting UA armor. RU airstrikes on the city continue, as well as infantry assaults from the SE.

RU forces launched 21 assaults in the avdiivka area over the past 24 hours, with 15 from the Pervomaiske direction.

A notable UA Poet, Maksym Kryvtsov, was killed at the front on Sunday. He had served with the Rapid Response Brigade since 2016.


Donetsk/Luhansk occupied regions:

RU fired S-300's into downtown Pokrovsk on Saturday, damaging a hospital and killing 6 adults along with 5 children in a neighboring apartment building. Search operations ended today in the rubble of the apartment, with an additional 8 people likely buried.

RU continues efforts to push NW from the ruins of Marinka towards Heroiivka, aided by airstrikes and drones.

UA troops may have contested new territory near Novomykhailivka, as RU forces continue to pound the donetsk suburb with artillery and airstrikes. Heavy UA mining of the region is inhibiting RU operations.


Zaporizhia/Southern Axis:

RU drone strikes damaged a college in Dnipro, thankfully causing no casualties. Out of 28 drones launched on Sunday January 7th, 21 were intercepted. The majority were targeted between Mykolaiv and Zaporizhia.

Over the last day, RU attacked 22 villages in Zaporizhia a total of 96 times.

Apparent long range UA FPV drones have targeted RU vehicles some 10km behind the lines in E Zaporizhia.

UA long range strikes destroyed a railway bridge under construction by RU forces to the NE of Mariupol, near Hranitne.

Reportedly the trash collection situation in occupied Berdyansk is becoming dire, due to a lack of manpower and leadership by the occupation government. The locals discuss that this is merely the most visible symptom of poor infrastructure maintenance, as spontaneous garbage piles have been left in the streets for months. Additionally, failure to maintain water infrastructure has led to water pumps degrading and runs the risk of additional humanitarian crises.

RU forces continue to shell Nikopol with drones and artillery, destroying a family house.


Kherson:

RU shelled Kherson over 131 times in the last day, primarily targeting the Krynky area where UA defenders keep up a bridgehead. 3 Attacks were repelled here over the last 24 hours, as RU drones continue to aggressively target boats on the river.

UA FPV drones continue to destroy APCs and MLRS systems across the river, as the situation in Krynky remains unchanged.


Odessa/Black Sea/Crimea:

Overnight 8 drones were launched towards Odesa from Crimea, with no damage or injuries following interception.

Due to a recent blizzard in Odesa, there are a number of power outages across the region. A wind turbine additionally collapsed due to gusty winds.

Per the ISW, UA has been systematically targeting RU air defenses in Crimea, so as to later exploit them with further strikes. Another UA USV suicide drone washed up on the shore near Saki in Crimea.

Per UA resistance group Atesh, RU is working to create a number of repair facilities in Crimea due to heavy vehicle losses.


Russia:

Moscow has been experiencing exceptionally cold weather over the weekend, compounded by apparent heating system failure, causing a number of frosted apartment buildings.

RU has been working to integrate various elements of the former DPR/LPR/Wagner groups into the Rosgvardia.

Reportedly an oil tanker train was targeted with remote explosives in central Russia, in Russia's Sverdlovsk oblast.

RU arrested a 16 year old for allegedly setting an SU-34 on fire last week.

Per financial Times, RU currently is leveraging its EW capabilities to disrupt NATO-provided long range munitions.


General:

Over the last day UA forces conducted 11 airstrikes and RU forces 16 air strikes (including drones) and 16 missile strikes.

Yesterday Ukrainian forces eliminated:
440x troops (365,170 in total)
14x APC
9x Tank
1x Air defense
15x Artillery (2xMLRS)
0x Aircraft
19x vehicles
11x UAV


Overseas:

The EU is reportedly working on solutions in case the proposed $55 billion USD aid package is not approved, given previous opposition by Hungarian PM Viktor Orban.

The EU is also examining contingency plans for Viktor Orban assuming the EU Council presidency in July, as the current president is expected to move into the EU Parliament at that time and leave a void which would need to be filled.

Per Germany, unknown drone reconnaissance has been noted observing UA troop training sites in Germany, but none of the drones have been intercepted successfully yet.

The Swedish minister of Foreign affairs stated that Russia will pose a threat to Sweden and EU security in the future, if UA is not supported.

US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson stated that America's strategy and goals in Ukraine need to be clarified, in addition to domestic issues surrounding immigration, before he would consider approving funding allocation.