On the 1422nd day of war, we record new aerial attacks on Ukraine.
Russian drones have targeted not only critical infrastructure in the Zhytomyr region and homes in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, but also a playground in the center of the city of Lviv.
On the front line, Ukrainian forces are trying to hold the Russians in place, although it is estimated that around 200,000 soldiers are absent without official leave.
Moscow claims that Russian forces have captured over 300 square kilometers in the first half of January.
Meanwhile, in Russia, another suspicious high-level death has occurred. The body of the former Deputy Minister of Labor was found in his residence, and the Russian press claims he committed suicide.
The Russian government expelled a British diplomat on Thursday, accusing him of being an undeclared officer of London's intelligence services and engaging in espionage activities.
And Moscow supports the statements made by Donald Trump that Zelensky is the one blocking a potential peace deal, not Russia.
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Russia's Attacks
- Russians attacked a playground - Russia has drone-attacked a playground in the center of Lviv city, in western Ukraine, reports Kiev Independent. Preliminary information indicates no casualties from the attack. "The shockwave shattered windows of nearby buildings - including the Polytechnic Institute and residential buildings," Mayor Andrii Sadovyi announced. Specialists intervened on-site to detect explosive objects and hazardous substance concentrations in the air, as announced by Ukraine's Emergency Service.
- Drone debris in Kyiv - A 15-story building in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district was damaged by drone debris overnight. The collision occurred at the technical level of the building, causing no casualties.
- Strikes in Zhytomyr - A Russian attack targeted the Zhytomyr region last night, causing a fire at a critical infrastructure facility, reports Ukrainska Pravda. There are no casualties reported, and firefighters managed to extinguish the fire. Meanwhile, emergency power outages have been implemented in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as per Ukrenergo, Ukraine's national energy distributor.
- Houses destroyed in Kupiansk and Sumy - A Russian attack drone struck a house in Velikiy Burluk, a village in the Kupiansk district (Kharkiv region) at midnight. The explosion destroyed the residence. Additionally, multiple Russian drones hit the town of Putivl in the Sumy region overnight. A house where a family with four children lived was destroyed, and a car caught fire. The four children experienced acute stress reactions and minor physical injuries.
- Drone crashes, but snow must be cleared - Ukrainians have become accustomed to drone attacks. During an aerial attack, a street worker continued to clear snow from the sidewalk even after a drone fell near him. He became a hero on social media.
Frontline Situation
- 200,000 Ukrainians have left the front lines - Ukraine estimates that around 200,000 military personnel are absent without official leave (AWOL), meaning they have left their positions without permission, stated the new Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, in Parliament on Wednesday. He claimed that around two million Ukrainians are wanted for evading military service at a time when the army faces immense pressure on the front lines.
- What the Russians claim to have advanced - Russian forces have allegedly captured over 300 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in the first half of January, announced Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov on Thursday, as reported by Reuters. Overall, Russia claims to have seized 6,640 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory last year.
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Other Developments in Russia
- More mysterious high-level deaths - The body of former Deputy Minister of Labor Alexei Skliar was found in his residence, with the Russian press claiming he committed suicide. Before his death, he allegedly sent messages to friends blaming his wife for his demise, reports Nexta. Skliar served as Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection from 2018 until 2022. In 2022, he was dismissed by Mikhail Mishustin. After his dismissal, he largely disappeared from public attention. Additionally, a Russian oligarch was found dead in Cyprus. The body of Vladislav Baumgertner (56 years old) was discovered on the island's coast, according to several local media outlets. The businessman went missing on January 7, a day before the death of a Russian diplomat at the embassy in Cyprus. Baumgertner's death sparked numerous reactions on social media, with many convinced that the oligarch's demise was not accidental.
- British diplomat expelled from Russia - The Russian government expelled a British diplomat on accusations of being an undeclared officer of intelligence services. According to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the diplomat, who held the position of deputy secretary at the Moscow embassy, engaged in undercover activities. Russian authorities gave him two weeks to leave the country. Danae Dholakia, the UK's charge d'affaires in Russia, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive an official protest note. "It was emphasized once again that Moscow will not tolerate undeclared British intelligence activities in Russia. Additionally, a warning was issued that if London escalates the situation, Russia will provide a decisive 'mirror' response," as conveyed by the ministry, cited by Reuters.
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Other Relevant Information
- Trump: Zelensky, not Putin, obstructs peace - Donald Trump stated in an interview with Reuters that Putin is ready to end the war while Zelensky is more hesitant. Details HERE.
- The Kremlin echoes Trump - Moscow supports Donald Trump's statements that Zelensky is the one obstructing a potential peace agreement, not Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, when asked on Thursday, agreed with Trump: "I agree, that's right. President Putin and the Russian side remain open (to negotiations). Russia's position is well known. It is known to American negotiators, President Trump, and the leadership of the regime in Kiev," Peskov stated. He also mentioned that Moscow would gladly welcome Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner to the Kremlin for further discussions on Ukraine once the visit date is set. Bloomberg reported on sources Wednesday that they might visit Moscow soon, possibly by the end of this month.
- Poland gives Ukraine 9 MiG aircraft - Poland will deliver up to nine of its outdated MiG fighter jets to Ukraine to help Kiev defend against Russia, announced Paweł Zalewski, Deputy Minister of Defense, to TVP World. "The decision [by the government] has been made," he said. Polish military commanders stated in December that discussions were ongoing for a potential agreement where Warsaw would receive drone technologies developed in Ukraine in exchange for the Soviet-era MiGs, as reported by Kiev Post.