04.01.2023, Moscow.
We publish a summary of events concerning the situation around Ukraine as of 7 p.m., January 4.
Political situation
“I know that the Americans are developing a plan for a demonstrative strike on Moscow City,” said Russian Duma deputy Fyodorov.
Putin gave the order to send the frigate Admiral Gorshkov with the Zirkons to combat service. He also thanked specialists of the military-industrial complex for creating the missile system.
Andrei Gurulyov, deputy of the Defense Committee of the State Duma, said that there are no prerequisites for the second mobilization wave right now. According to him, there is no need for this in the next six months, “Those who were mobilized earlier have not been put into battle yet. And our industry has to reach the point when it is able to provide for the next wave of mobilization,” said the deputy.
A substance of unknown origin may have been found in the building of the Russian Embassy in Riga, reports Delfi, citing the Latvian State Fire and Rescue Service. A call to emergency services was received from the embassy in the afternoon. The national police said that before that, they had received information from the diplomatic mission that a suspicious package had arrived at their address.
The head of the military department of Turkey Hulusi Akar admits the possibility of expanding the format of joint Russian-Turkish patrols between in Syria, the TRT TV channel reported on January 4.
Ukraine
The Ukrainian army reportedly received Swedish Bv 202 articulated twin-track transporters, including at least one for medical purposes. The Bv 202 transporters were produced for the Swedish army in the 1960s and 1970s by Bolinder-Munktell, a company owned by the Volvo group, and have now been decommissioned in Sweden. It is reported that Ukraine is now supplied with decommissioned vehicles bought back by a private individual.
A monument to Soviet soldier Aleksandr Matrosov was demolished in Dnepropetrovsk. Earlier the city dismantled a monument to the Soviet pilot Valery Chkalov.
The Chief of the Main Directorate of Military Intelligence of Ukraine Kirill Budanov said that the Kiev regime’s troops intend to go on the offensive in spring. According to him, the first six months of 2023 will be “the hottest” during the Ukrainian conflict. Budanov believes that March will see the fiercest fighting. A large-scale offensive by the Ukrainian armed units is planned for spring, the head of the State Security Service of Ukraine said in a conversation with the ABC television channel.
Zelensky said that Russia is preparing “mobilization processes”. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said in his evening address that Russia is preparing “new mobilization processes” and, in connection with this, called on Western countries to strengthen the Ukrainian defense. “We are talking primarily about deliveries of Western-manufactured tanks and other armored vehicles. I have no doubt that soon the Ukrainian army will have additional armor and firepower.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba, “Preparations for the transfer of Patriot SAMs to Ukraine have begun. We expect Patriot to be deployed as soon as possible.”
Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel Korniychuk criticized the country’s position on Russia’s war against Ukraine and talks with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov – The Times of Israel.
According to him, the conversation between the new Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Lavrov indicates a change in the country’s policy, as Jerusalem’s diplomats have not spoken to Russia’s chief diplomat since the start of the big war. He noted that Israel’s position on the war is unclear, as the country does not condemn massive strikes on critical infrastructure in any way. “Israel is unique in terms of our partners. It is silent,” the diplomat said.
Russia is allegedly planning a massive missile strike against Ukraine on January 6 and 7, Orthodox Christmas Day. This was stated by the speaker of the Operational Command South Natalia Gumenyuk. “We expect the next missile attack around Orthodox Christmas,” she said.
European changes of rules for Ukrainian refugees in 2023:
Starting January 1, free public fare in Bratislava, Slovakia, will be cancelled.
On January 1, Germany increased payments for Ukrainians by 40-50 euros. However, the admission of new refugees has almost stopped. Only 6 out of 16 federal states of Germany accept them.
As of January 1, the Czech Republic is changing the rules for the payment of benefits to Ukrainian refugees. Benefits for Ukrainians of working-age are being reduced in the country.
As of February 1, Poland has canceled free accommodation for Ukrainian refugees staying in the country for more than 120 days.
On July 1, the program of providing housing to Ukrainians in need will end in Latvia. Also, as of July 1, free public transport fare is canceled.
In Belarus, not only benefits were preserved, but also full rights of citizens of the Republic of Belarus with the possibility of obtaining citizenship in the shortest possible time.
Western countries and their supporters
Erdogan intends to hold telephone talks with Putin and Zelensky on Wednesday – a representative of the Turkish leader.
Germany refused to negotiate with Poland about reparations “for compensation of losses from German aggression and occupation in 1939-1945” (the amount of damage is estimated at about $ 1.3 trillion). This reply note was sent to Warsaw by the German Foreign Ministry.
Berlin stressed that the question of reparations for the damages during World War II was closed. But this response does not suit the Polish side, Warsaw is still trying to solve this problem, including through the UN, noted the Polish Foreign Ministry.
Germany decided to supply Ukraine with 18 RCH 155 self-propelled artillery vehicles manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). The decision was made on December 31, 2022. (RCH 155 is mounted on the chassis of the Boxer wheeled armored personnel carrier and can be driven on roads at speeds of up to 100 km/h, covering 700 km on a single tank load.)
The gun is similar to the one installed on PzH 2000 already used by the Ukrainian armed units. The RCH 155 fires conventional ammunition at a range of up to 40 km, and active rocket launchers at up to 54 km. It can also use Vulcano (made in Italy) or Excalibur (made in the USA) guided ammunition.
Chair of Poland’s Committee for EU Affairs Płażyński, “Bandera was a murderer responsible for genocide of Poles in 1943-1944 when the Ukrainian Insurgent Army troops (organization banned in Russia) brutally murdered about 100 000 Polish civilians. It is extremely surprising that at a time when Ukrainian friends themselves are at war with such beasts, they continue to glorify Bandera.”
The coming months will be decisive in the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the Netherlands will do everything to help Ukraine win. This was stated by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte after a phone conversation with Zelensky.
French President Macron said that Ukraine needs the support of allies more than ever. He was supported by Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson. The politicians said this during talks in Paris, CNN quoted them as saying.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his country would deliver military aid to Ukraine in the coming weeks and months. He said this in a phone conversation with Zelensky.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen gave Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a message from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. This was reported by The Times of Israel, citing a senior Israeli diplomat. The official said he could not disclose the content of the US message because Jerusalem has been criticized for agreeing to hold talks with Lavrov.
He noted that Blinken knew of the planned conversation between Cohen and Lavrov, and the call was requested by Moscow. The diplomat rejected the notion that Israel was changing its policy on Russia’s war against Ukraine, calling it confusion. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said Cohen wanted to make it clear that Israel could mediate. Journalists’ sources also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to mediate if one of the parties asks him to do so.
Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Taiwan to show strong support for the island. Rasmussen said he was “in Taiwan to show my strong support for your rights to decide the future of Taiwan yourselves. I am here to show my strong support for your rights to exist in freedom and peace.” – Taipei Times.
The Russian Armed Forces have gained a significant advantage over the Ukrainian military as a result of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – The New York.
