Explosions in the occupied Crimea
On January 4, powerful explosions occurred in Yevpatoriya and Sevastopol during an air alarm. At that time, the Crimean Bridge was also closed. One of the Ukrainian missiles reportedly hit the command post in Yuharyna Balka in Sevastopol. Mikhail Razvozhaev, the head of Sevastopol’s occupation administration, reported that one person was injured due to falling debris. Additionally, fragments from several missiles reportedly fell on different streets.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed the strike on the command post in Sevastopol. Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of Ukraine’s Air Forces, thanked Ukrainian pilots and everyone involved in planning the operation in the occupied Crimea on January 4 for their “flawless work”.
At the same time, the military partisan movement, Atesh, operating in Crimea, reported that Ukraine’s Armed Forces also struck a Russian military unit in Yevpatoria, where Russian radar systems had been relocated and detected by the partisans.
Also, late in the evening on January 4, explosions were reported in the area of the Kerch Strait, repelling attacks near Sevastopol and the evacuation of a hundred people, as well as strikes in Saky. This was announced by the head of the illegal Russian occupation administration, Aleksandr Ovdiyenko. There were also reports of explosions in the areas of Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. Russian Ministry of Defence announced that ten missiles had been shot down in Crimea and one drone over the Black Sea. Additionally, on the night of January 5th, the Russians reported that 36 more UAVs were downed over the peninsula.
Pentagon: Ukrainian F-16 pilots will be ready this year
During a recent briefing, Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder announced that Ukrainian pilots who are currently undergoing F-16 fighter training in the United States are scheduled to complete their training by the end of this year. According to Ryder, the training period for an F-16 pilot can last up to eight months, and Ukrainian aviators are expected to finish their preparation “sometime later this year.”
Initially, a small group of Ukrainian pilots underwent language courses in September. After that, they moved on to Arizona, where they are currently studying the basics of operating the F-16 in classrooms and on simulators. Once they complete this part of the training, they will move on to actual flights in the aircraft. However, the course may be expedited due to the necessity for Ukrainians to return for participation in combat operations in their homeland.
It’s worth noting that in addition to the United States, Ukrainian pilots are also undergoing or will undergo training in Romania, Denmark, France, and the United Kingdom.
NATO countries to purchase missiles for Patriots
Several NATO countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain, have announced plans to purchase up to a thousand missiles for their Patriot air defence systems. This initiative is aimed at strengthening their air defence capabilities following Russia’s mass missile attacks against Ukraine. The NATO Support and Procurement Agency will support the member countries by allocating funds for a contract worth approximately $5,5 billion.
According to The Associated Press, this contract will enable Ukraine’s allies to supply the country with additional defence systems. The Support and Procurement Agency also mentioned to the AP that “other nations will profit from the contract’s terms,” but they didn’t give any further information. It’s worth noting that following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO deployed Patriot missile batteries to defend its allies on its eastern border.
Russians switch to long-range attacks on Ukraine
According to the British Ministry of Defence, Russia has altered its strategy for conducting long-range strikes against Ukraine. It has now shifted its focus to defensive capabilities instead. The British intelligence reveals that since December 29, 2023, Russia has intensified its long-range strikes against Ukraine. Russian forces have utilised a significant portion of the stockpiles of air-launched cruise and ballistic missiles that they had accumulated in recent months.
The intelligence report further highlights that the recent strikes were likely aimed at Ukraine’s defensive industry, indicating a change in approach from last winter’s major attacks that prioritised Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. While it was initially believed that Russia was planning to resume the campaign by targeting energy facilities in early December 2023, the new Russian operations suggest at least a temporary change in its use of long-range strikes.
The U.S. calls for a security meeting regarding North Korean missiles
The White House representative, John Kirby, has announced that the United States has called for a meeting of the UN Security Council. The meeting is scheduled for January 10 and has been called in connection with information that North Korea is supplying ballistic missiles to Russia. Kirby expressed concern about Russia’s purchase of ballistic missiles from North Korea, which violates several resolutions of the UN Security Council.
The United States plans to address this issue with its allies and partners and demand that Russia be held accountable for this violation. Additionally, they have promised to impose additional sanctions against those who facilitate the transfer of weapons between Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
North Korea provides ballistic missiles to Russia
According to White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby, North Korea has reportedly provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and dozens of ballistic missiles. It is believed that these weapons have already been used by Russia to carry out attacks on Ukraine.
“Our information indicates that on December 30, 2023, Russian forces launched at least one North Korean ballistic missile against Ukraine. It appears that the missile landed in an open field in the Zaporizhzhia region. On January 2, Russia launched several North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine as part of their nighttime air attack. We are still assessing the impact of these additional missiles,” said the official, Kirby. He went on to say that the North Korean ballistic missiles received by Moscow can cover a distance of approximately 900 km, and he referred to their transfer to Russia as a “significant and alarming escalation of support from North Korea.”
According to reports, Pyongyang seeks military assistance from Moscow in exchange for its support. This assistance includes fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, armoured vehicles, equipment, materials for producing ballistic missiles, and other advanced technologies. The National Security Council Coordinator warns that this could have serious consequences for the security of the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.
At the same time, Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force, has stated that he cannot confirm whether Russia is currently using ballistic missiles acquired from North Korea against Ukraine. He added that experts “would need to study debris from the missiles before making a definitive assessment”.
The Wall Street Journal: Russia plans to purchase ballistic missiles from Iran
Russia plans to buy short-range ballistic missiles from Iran this spring, according to The Wall Street Journal. Journalists have cited sources among U.S. officials indicating that the United States is concerned about the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Iran regarding the purchase of short-range ballistic missiles. These negotiations are said to be “actively progressing,” and the missiles could be delivered as early as the coming spring. However, U.S. officials have stated that the deal is not yet finalised.
U.S. officials have revealed that in mid-December 2023, a Russian delegation visited an Iranian test range to acquaint themselves with ballistic missiles and related equipment. During the visit, it became evident that Russia was interested in purchasing Iranian missiles. The missiles presented to the Russian delegation included short-range Ababil missiles from the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC), among others.
It was recently revealed that the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, visited the headquarters of the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran in September. During this visit, Shoigu reportedly inspected an exhibition of Ababil missiles and other missile systems. He also met with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and expressed his belief that Russian-Iranian relations were reaching a new level.
