russian invasion of Ukraine. Chronicle for January 1-3

4 January 2024

In the early morning of February 24, 2022, Russia launched missile attacks on Ukrainian territory and launched a direct, full-scale invasion. The Ukrainian Armed Forces repel the enemy

- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered his military to “completely destroy” South Korea and the United States if they start a military confrontation in the next round of belligerent rhetoric aimed at Seoul and Washington.

“If the enemy chooses military confrontation and provocation against the DPRK, our army must strike a fatal blow to completely destroy it, mobilizing all the toughest means and capabilities without the slightest hesitation.”

- On New Year's Eve, Russian troops launched 90 Shahed-136 kamikaze UAVs across Ukraine.

This was the most massive strike with the help of Iranian suicide bombers of all time.

Prior to this, the most massive attack was recorded on November 25, 2023, when 75 kamikaze UAVs were used.

Ukraine claims that 87 such UAVs were intercepted.

- Hypocritical Putin, who deliberately targeted Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, shopping centers, train stations and ordered the killing of thousands of Ukrainian civilians:

Moscow will intensify attacks on military targets in Ukraine. Attacks against civilians will not go unpunished.

- Ukraine seeks to knock out all the missile carriers of the Russian Navy from the Ukrainian waters of the Black Sea, after which it will turn its attention to submarines, says the head of Ukrainian intelligence (SBU) Malyuk.

“The occupiers are already preparing surprises so that the Russian fleet will not be in Crimea at all.”

- The Russians have installed additional barriers along the Crimean Bridge to counter kamikaze UAVs.

- Britain and other European countries are “throwing into gear” to try to ensure they can help Ukraine win a war against Russia without the US if Donald Trump comes to power, The Times reports.

Ministers are desperate to ramp up production capacity across the continent so they can send weapons and ammunition to the front lines and contain Vladimir Putin for at least another year, regardless of US support.

- Zelensky to the West:

By giving us money or giving us weapons, you support yourself. You are saving your children, not ours.

If Russia is allowed to take Ukrainian children, they will take other children too.

If Russia violates the rights of Ukrainians, it will violate the rights of the whole world.

If Ukraine loses, Putin will bring his wars closer to the West.

Putin feels weakness like an animal, because he is an animal. He feels the blood, he feels his strength. And he will eat you for dinner with all your EU, NATO, freedom and democracy.

- Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, which partners transferred to Ukraine, have already shot down 15 Russian Kinzhal missiles in Ukraine, - Ignat

Previously, Moscow claimed that this was impossible.

But these complexes are very few

- Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukrainians have destroyed 1,709 Russian missiles of various types and 3,095 “martyrs”

Commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Nikolai Oleshchuk, said that the percentage of cruise missiles and attack UAVs shot down by the Defense Forces is about 85%.

In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 329 Russian aircraft and 324 helicopters have been destroyed. During this time, Air Force aviation made more than 16 thousand sorties.

- A Russian “military correspondent” died in Donetsk on New Year’s Eve

Immediately after Putin’s address, explosions were heard at the Donbass Palace hotel. It is now known that 3 people were killed and 7 were injured, including “military correspondents” of the Anna News propaganda agency. No names are given.

At night there were six arrivals at the Donetsk Hotel Donbass Palace

The “elite” of the occupiers gathered there for New Year’s dinner along with Moscow guests.

4 dead, 13 wounded

- On Stepan Bandera’s birthday, the Russian Federation was attacked

▪️University in Dublyany, where Stepan Bandera studied 100 years ago

▪️Roman Shukhevych Museum on Belogorsch

In total, the Russian Federation fired 60 suicide bombers across Ukraine at night, of which they shot down 50.

- US President Joe Biden highlighted the provision of assistance to Ukraine as one of the country’s significant achievements in 2023

If senators of both political parties reach an understanding on domestic bills, the United States could allocate over $61 billion in additional aid to Ukraine in January 2024.

- The costs and difficulties associated with Ukrainian defense will change significantly depending on whether occupied Crimea returns to Ukraine or remains under Russian control, ISW analysts .

If Ukraine liberates the peninsula along with the Russian-occupied territories in the south, then the immediate threat to Kherson, Nikolaev and Odessa will disappear, and the threat to Melitopol will sharply decrease

Mariupol in this case will remain the only large city in the south located close to the combat front, which will significantly reduce the zone of limited defense depth, analysts say.

In addition, it is noted that the liberation of Crimea will greatly reduce the threat of Russian amphibious operations against the southwestern Ukrainian coast, as well as eliminate the Russian missile threat to ships attempting to pass through the Black Sea.

- Ukrainian air defense will not be able to cope with Russian winter attacks

The Ukrainian Armed Forces will have to decide what needs to be protected, since the supply of Western air defense systems and missiles for them will not be enough. In particular, supplies of Patriot missiles are running out due to delays in American military assistance.

- Zelensky received a warning from his partners after the attack on Novorossiysk

The attack on the port of Novorossiysk in August 2023 was important for the restoration of the grain corridor. However, international partners after it expressed their dissatisfaction with Ukraine.

- Zelensky announced additional NASAMS systems and missiles for them from Canada

I am grateful to Justin Trudeau for his willingness to help strengthen the protection of the Ukrainian sky, in particular, for the supply of additional Nasams systems and missiles for them

- Norway opens up the opportunity for direct sales of weapons and military products from local companies to Ukraine

This is an exception to the country's usual policy of prohibiting arms sales in conflict zones. This decision will take effect on January 1, 2024.

- Missile attack on January 2

Fire in a house in Kyiv after being hit.

City authorities already report 10 casualties.

Wreckage of Russian Kh-101 cruise missiles shot down during today's attack on Ukraine, production dating back to October-December 2023.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny:

Today, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with the help of the Patriot air defense system, shot down 10 out of 10 Russian Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. This is a record.

If the missiles hit the target, the consequences will be catastrophic.

The number of deaths due to the attack on Kyiv has increased to 29, - KMVA

Rescuers found the bodies of two more people killed as a result of a missile strike by Russian troops on Kyiv on December 29, thus the number of victims increased to 29.

January 1 in Kyiv declared a Day of Mourning for those killed due to the Russian missile attack on December 29.

More than 250 thousand consumers are without power, - Ukrenergo

Yesdamage in the networks of Ukrenergo and oblenergo in Kyiv and the region.

The number of victims in Kharkov has increased to 45 people, - OVA

On the night of January 2, 2024, the enemy repeated a massive attack using various types of air attack means, - Zaluzhny

According to preliminary results, the enemy used 99 air attack weapons - missiles of various types.

With the forces and means of the Air Force, in cooperation with units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, 72 air targets were destroyed:

- 10 out of 10 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles;

- 59 out of 70 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles;

- 3 of 3 Caliber cruise missiles.

The Russian Ministry of Defense says that the target of the missile attack was Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises that carried out orders for the production of missiles, UAVs and weapons repair in Kyiv and its suburbs.

Strikes were also carried out on storage sites for missiles, ammunition and aircraft weapons supplied to Kyiv by the West.

According to the State Emergency Service at 17:00, as a result of a massive Russian attack in Ukraine, five people were killed and 127 were injured

In total, Russia used more than 130 weapons: 35 suicide bombers at night, and 99 missiles in the morning, including Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 from Tu-95 bombers, Daggers from MiG-31K aircraft , Calibers from the sea and Iskander-M/S-300/S-400 missiles from the north.

Russia may need four more days to prepare a new missile strike on Ukraine after today's attack, - Ignat

For preparation, I think those few days are enough. Plan if they have certain patterns

This is how the Russians justify their “high-precision” strikes on the civilian population

The concentration of nonsense is simply maximum (command centers, mercenaries, weapons depots... 🤦‍♂️)

- The Ukrainian Armed Forces hit crowds of Russians on January 1

On January 1, aviation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out strikes on 13 areas where Russian troops were concentrated.

Also, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, units of the missile forces hit an area where personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated, six artillery systems, three air defense systems and a Russian command post.

- Today Saudi Arabia officially joined BRICS.

- Container with propellant charges for 155-mm artillery shells produced by the Indian government artillery plant Nalanda.

Ukraine is currently using them.

- Olaf Scholz may leave the post of German Chancellor at the beginning of 2024, Bild claims.

Scholz could step down at the beginning of 2024 and could be replaced by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who recently topped the ranking of the most popular German politicians.

- More than 8,600 effective strikes were carried out by the Defense Forces against Russian occupiers in 2023.

Effective strikes are those effective strikes delivered by the Ukrainian Defense Forces against enemy concentration areas, ammunition depots, command posts, air defense and electronic warfare systems, and the like.

- The permanent members of the UN Security Council are not ready not only for practical steps to deprive the Russian Federation of all powers, but also for the start of a political discussion on this topic, - Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergei Kislitsa.

The main reason is that the member countries of the Security Council, and above all the permanent members of the Council, continue to take the position that the Russian Federation is a full-fledged member of the Security Council. They allow her to use the veto. They are not only not ready to take practical steps to deprive Russia of all powers, but they are not even ready to start a political discussion about this

- Kuleba named 5 steps that Ukraine expects from its allies.

▪️Speed up predosprovision of additional air defense systems and ammunition to Ukraine;

▪️Provide Ukraine with combat drones of all types;

▪️Provide Ukraine with long-range missiles 300 km+;

▪️Approve the use of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine;

▪️Isolate Russian diplomats in relevant capitals and international organizations.

- 🤡 There is no father, here’s a cat to replace you

Already progress, not just a brick

- Turkey said on Tuesday it would not allow two British minesweepers to transit through its waters en route to the Black Sea for use by Ukraine

Turkey said this would violate the international pact on passage through the straits in wartime.

Last month, Britain said it would transfer two mine-laying Royal Navy ships to the Ukrainian Navy to help bolster Ukraine's maritime operations in its war with Russia. They were now heading to their new home base.

- Over the past 5 days, Russia has used at least 500 missiles and drones against Ukraine, - Zelensky

- The situation on the Ukrainian-Polish border “has actually remained unchanged for a long time,” - the head of the State Border Service.

The three directions where the blocking is taking place are the checkpoints Yagodin - Dorogusk, Rava-Russkaya - Grebennoye, Krakovets - Korcheva

As of the morning of January 2, there were about 1,700 freight vehicles in all these directions towards Ukraine on Polish territory.

- The stage of nominating candidates for the post of President of the Russian Federation for the elections in 2024 has ended

- Half of the decrees signed by Putin in 2023 are classified

According to calculations by the Mediazona publication, in 2023, President Putin set an unusual record: 49.5% of the decrees he signed were marked “secret”. The total number of decrees signed by the president during the year was almost a thousand. This figure is comparable to the first year of hostilities in Ukraine, but in 2022 the share of secret decrees was at 45%.

- The Ukrainian Armed Forces have moved forward in the Verbovoye area of the Zaporozhye region, reports the General Staff.

The enemy was forced to abandon their positions.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces also repelled an enemy attack in the Rabotino area.

- Kazakhstan stops broadcasting of Russian state TV channels

- In the Kursk region, due to an attack by an unknown drone, several settlements are without power; due to a power surge, a heating main has also broken and there is no heating either

- The occupiers intend to adapt to the existing capabilities of the Ukrainian air defense system in order to learn how to bypass it and cause maximum losses and destruction, - ISW.

According to experts, the Ukrainian air defense forces have successfully adapted to the strike complex used by the Russian armed forces on December 29. With limited support from the West, Ukraine will need to adjust its air defense missile systems, as well as strengthen the protection of strategic facilities by redeploying air defense systems.

- The UN called on Kyiv and Moscow to take immediate measures to de-escalate

An alarming escalation of hostilities, dozens of civilians killed in Ukraine and the Russian Federation. International humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate attacks and attacks on civilian objects, said High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

- The occupiers are trying to advance on Chasov Yar

The fighting in the Bogdanovka area remains intense, and in the Kupyansky direction the occupiers are carrying out assaults near Sinkovka in order to create a base for the upcoming attack on Kupyansk.

- A few squeals from the Russians

They are still haunted by the fact that the French Foreign Ministry refused to condemn the strikes on Belgorod, calling them a legitimate defense target.

- Really, what difference does it make where the husband is? The main thing is that they give money!

- The Polish chess player did not shake hands with Putin’s supporter; the game itself ended in a draw

- Somewhere in Belgorod

- The carrier of missiles in Russia is the people

- As a result of a terrorist attack by the Russian Federation on a village in the Voronezh region, 11 people died.

One of the Russian Telegram channels reported that, according to preliminary data, an X-101 rocket of an improved modification fell in the village of Petropavlovka, Voronezh region, but did not reach Ukraine.

It is reported that 11 people, including three children, died as a result of the incident. Also 21 people were injured.