Vladimir Putin stages the launch of the modern warship as a demonstration of power. Image: Pool Sputnik Kremlin / Mikhail Klimentyev
International
Over ten months after the start of the Ukraine war Russia intensified his attacks again. At the turn of the year, the capital Kyiv came under heavy fire. In the east of the country, the clashes at the front further. According to their own account, the Ukrainian armed forces have disabled several hundred Russian soldiers in the Donetsk region.
January 4th
12:51 p.m .: Putin sends the warship Zirkon with hypersonic missiles on a training mission
Russian head of state Vladimir Putin on Wednesday sent a warship armed with hypersonic missiles on a training mission in the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean. “I am sure that such powerful weapons make it possible to reliably protect Russia from external threats,” the Kremlin chief said, according to Russian news agencies. The warship’s mission will help “secure the national interests of our country.”
The warship, which entered service in 2018, is the first frigate to be equipped with the new missiles. The Zirkon has a range of more than 500 kilometers and is primarily used for anti-ship combat. Because of its extremely high speed – according to Russian information, it can accelerate to up to 8,000 to 9,000 kilometers per hour – it is practically unstoppable by the air defense.
In October 2021, Russia tested the use of the Zirkon hypersonic missile on a nuclear submarine. Image: Russian Defense Ministry Press S / Uncredited
9.12 a.m .: German arms exports worth 8.36 billion euros approved
Last year, the federal government issued licenses for German arms exports with a total value of 8.36 billion euros. This was announced by the Federal Ministry of Economics on Wednesday Berlin with. In 2021, the total volume was therefore 9.35 billion euros.
Deliveries to Ukraine to support the country against the Russian war of aggression alone accounted for 2.24 billion euros in permits. In addition, there were approvals totaling 5.1 billion euros to EU, NATO and equivalent states. Exports to so-called third countries apart from the Ukraine were given as around one billion euros.
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht also grants access to Bundeswehr stocks for deliveries to Ukraine. Image: dpa / Kay Nietfeld
The total export volume of armaments is – behind the peak of 2021 – the second largest since the founding of the Federal Republic. The numbers are largely consistent with preliminary information that the Ministry of Economic Affairs had made two weeks ago in response to a request from the Left Group.
0.45 a.m .: Moscow admits deaths and mistakes in the war
After the Ukrainian attacks on a Russian military base in Makiivka in the Donetsk region, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow corrected the number of its own soldiers killed by more than 20 to 89. the men and also the deputy commander were found after the rocket attack on New Year’s Eve in the rubble of the collapsed reinforced concrete building, said Lieutenant General Sergey Sevryukov in Moscow on Wednesday night. Previously there had been talk of 63 deaths. Ukraine had fired at the shelter with the US Himar multiple rocket launcher.
Sevryukov also acknowledged mistakes for the first time, thereby confirming media reports. According to them, the main reason for the “tragedy” was that the soldiers used their mobile phones en masse on New Year’s Eve despite a ban, thereby alerting the Ukrainian side to their location. Accordingly, the Ukrainian armed forces shot down six rockets, four of which hit and two were intercepted, it said. Ukraine had spoken of 400 dead and 300 injured in Makiivka (Russian: Makejewka).
The investigations are still ongoing, but so much about the background is already clear, said Sevryukov. “This factor allowed the enemy to determine the direction and locate the coordinates of the position of the soldiers in order to carry out the missile strike.” Care is currently being taken to ensure that this does not happen again. In addition, the guilty officials would be held accountable.
January 3rd
2.15 p.m .: EU-Ukraine meeting on February 3 expected in Kyiv
The next summit meeting between the EU and Ukraine is expected to take place on February 3 in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. As the Ukrainian Presidential Office announced on Monday, EU and Ukrainian leaders will meet in the country, which has been devastated by the Russian war of aggression for more than ten months. The EU confirmed the date but not the location on Tuesday.
“I can’t confirm the location yet,” said spokesman for EU Council President Charles Michel, who attended the meeting. In addition to Michel, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also be attending the meeting on behalf of the EU, the spokesman added. This summit meeting between the EU and Ukraine took place annually before the start of the Ukraine war.
EU Council President Charles Michel will also take part in the EU-Ukraine meeting.Image: AP / Virginia Mayo
9.14 a.m .: Kyiv reports another artillery strike against Russian troops
In the Cherson region in southern Ukraine, the Ukrainian military claims it has inflicted heavy losses on the Russian armed forces with an artillery attack. The Ukrainians scored a hit against enemy troops and military technology near the village of Chulakivka, the Ukrainian General Staff said in its situation report on Tuesday. “The enemy’s losses amount to 500 dead and injured,” it said. The attack had already taken place on New Year’s Eve. The information provided by the military could not be independently verified. Both warring parties often speak of high losses on the opposing side.
8.45 a.m .: Criticism in Russia after the death of dozens of Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine
The death of dozens of Russian soldiers in a Ukrainian attack in eastern Ukraine has sparked criticism of the military leadership in Russia. “Ten months into the war it is dangerous and criminal to regard the enemy as a fool who sees nothing”said Andrei Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Parliament. Moscow on Monday acknowledged the deaths of 63 soldiers in the Russian-controlled town of Makiivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region after a Ukrainian attack.
January 2nd
9:36 p.m .: Selenskyj sees Russian attrition tactics in drone attacks
In view of the repeated Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent days, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns of a possible war of attrition. “We have information that Russia is planning a long-term attack by Shahed drones,” said Zelenskyy in his daily video address on Monday evening. Russia wants to achieve wear and tear with it. “The exhaustion of our people, our air defenses, our energy,” he said. “But we must and will do everything we can to ensure that this goal of the terrorists fails like all the others.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyj warns of a possible war of attrition.Image: Zuma Press / Ukrainian Presidential Press Off
The Russian military uses so-called kamikaze drones which, at the end of their flight, descend vertically on their target. The relatively slow Iranian-made drones are an easy target for anti-aircraft defenses, but the large numbers of deployed unmanned aerial vehicles and constant air surveillance pose a major challenge for Ukrainian air defenses.
“Only two days have passed since the beginning of the year,” said Zelenskyj. “And already the number of drones shot down over Ukraine is over 80.” The Russian military mainly use the drones against Ukrainian cities in order to cause as much damage as possible to the energy network there.
Older news from the war in Ukraine can be found here.
(nik/ast/with material from dpa/afp)
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