Exclusive
 |
Ex-Russian GRU officer Salikov exposes Russia’s proxy Ukraine “republics” (full translation). In a bombshell interview, Salikov, who arrived to testify at the ICC, tells how Russia manufactured a “local uprising” in eastern Ukraine, funneled weapons over the border, and shelled its own territory to keep the conflict going |
Military
Russia understands only language of strength, chief of Dutch Army warns. Commander-in-Chief of the Dutch Army, Lieutenant General Martin Wijnen, has stated that the Netherlands must be prepared for a potential war with Russia, PAР has reported.
Frontline report: Coordinated Ukrainian strikes across south undermine Russia’s war effort . A series of Ukrainian attacks on military transports, bases and infrastructure across southern Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine have dealt blows to the Russian war machine
British Intel: Destruction of Novocherkassk increased the number of lost key Russian warships to three. The ships were providing important logistical support, augmenting the key Crimea Bridge connection with Russia
Officials: Russian assaults on Luhansk intensify. Russian forces launch up to 170 attacks per day in Luhansk Oblast, targeting civilians, Luhansk Oblast head said.
ISW: Russian forces regain positions near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. “The recapture of these positions by Russian forces is not particularly significant at this time,” according to the ISW’s report
Intelligence and technology
“People and Know-How, not corruption, now stymie Ukraine’s defense industry,” says Ukrainian Armor director . Ukrainian Armor stands alone as the only private company importing arms for Ukraine’s military, with revenues surging over 100 times since Russia’s full invasion.
The Guardian: Ukraine’s path to victory requires improved weapon supply chain and more support from NATO, expert warns. Ukraine can win the war with Russia if it continues receiving military aid from its allies and learns lessons from the “mistakes that led to its failed counteroffensive in 2023,” says Jack Watling, a senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, in an article for The Guardian.
US announces $ 250 mn military aid package for Ukraine, “the last until Congress authorizes additional funds”. The US announced a $250 million military aid package for Ukraine, but the Pentagon cautions it is likely the last assistance possible until Congress approves more Ukraine defense funding.
Minister: Ukraine has “over five” mass-produced analogs of Russia’s Iranian-made Shahed explosive drones. “We have more than five mass-produced analogs of Shahed-131 [long-range suicide drone]. And there is one type that is analogous to Shahed-136,” the Ukrainian minister says, adding that those are mass-produced.
International
Yermak: Presidents of Ukraine, Hungary to meet soon. After Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Ukraine and Hungary had limited contact, as Hungary’s leader is known for his pro-Russian stance. However, in recent weeks there have been increased interactions between the two countries’ leaders.
FT: G7 working groups explore options to confiscate Russian assets. The US has proposed that G7 working groups study ways to confiscate $300 billion in frozen Russian assets and use them to support Ukraine before the February 24 invasion anniversary.
President of Moldova calls on world to continue helping Kyiv. President of Moldova Maia Sandu has urged the world to help Kyiv in fighting off the Russian aggression because the military plans of its leader Vladimir Putin go beyond Ukraine, as per point.md.
Humanitarian and social impact
AP: Russia covered up true human cost of floodings after dam explosion in Kherson Oblast, investigation finds. Russian occupation authorities have deliberately undercounted the number of people killed in deadly floods in Kherson Oblast which were caused as a result of the Kakhovka Dam destruction by Russian troops, an Associated Press investigation has found.
Panamanian freighter damaged by Russian mine in Black Sea. A ship’s captain and a sailor, who are Egyptian citizens, were injured.
Russian recent attacks killed 2, injured 9 in Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv oblasts. Since the Russian full-scale invasion, Russia launched about 7,400 missiles and 3,700 Shahed attack drones at targets in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Air Forces downed 1,600 missiles and 2,900 drones, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command said.
Political and legal developments
Ukrainian activists to call on EU to impose more sanctions on Russia over blocking POWs exchanges . Ukrainian organizations that defend the rights of prisoners of war are preparing an appeal to the European Union with a call to impose sanctions on Russia which has repeatedly blocked the exchange of prisoners and civilian hostages, according to UkrInform.
Politico: Russia uses Ukrainian prisoners of war to destabilize Kyiv. Ukraine’s officials say that Russia is deliberately delaying the exchange of POWs and manipulating them to sow discord and distrust in Ukrainian society.
New developments
Poll: 88% of Ukrainians believe Ukraine will win the war against Russia. This steadfast conviction remains despite the increased toll and consequences of nearly two years of full-scale war: 35% said life has become “a little worse” over 2022, while 40% reported a significant deterioration in their living conditions.
Ukrainian Air Force denies rumored presence of F-16 in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Air Force spokesperson urges the Ukrainian press and social media accounts to refrain from disseminating “incredible assumptions” made in Newsweek about the alleged F-16 presence in Ukraine.
Read our earlier daily review here.
As of 28 Dec 2023, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:
-
- Personnel: 356670 (+920)
- Tanks: 5940 (+27)
- APV: 11015 (+42)
- Artillery systems: 8391 (+15)
- MLRS: 935 (+1)
- Anti-aircraft systems: 617 (+1)
- Aircraft: 329
- Helicopters: 324
- UAV: 6503 (+32)
- Cruise missiles: 1620
- Warships/boats: 23
- Submarines: 1
- Vehicles and fuel tanks: 11180 (+40)
