Category: War in Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing new sanctions on pro-Russian politicians and propagandists, he introduced on Jan. 19.

"We’re blocking propagandists working for Russia, individuals who have gone over to the enemy's aspect, and those that assist Russia proceed the struggle," Zelensky mentioned in a video handle posted on Fb.

The decree places into impact a choice made earlier by Ukraine's Nationwide Safety and Protection Council.

Eighteen individuals have been listed on the formal decree. Amongst them are outstanding pro-Russian politicians Yuriy Boyko, Nestor Shufrych, and Yevhen Muraiev.

Zelensky additionally famous that the nation is working to deprive pro-Russian figures of state awards, particularly mentioning the Hero of Ukraine title.

Final month, Ukraine's parliament voted to request that Zelensky to strip the Hero of Ukraine award from parliamentary member Yuriy Boyko. Boyko had days earlier repeated Russian propaganda speaking factors on social media about "radicals" controlling the streets in Ukraine.

Boyko beforehand led the previous pro-Russian political occasion Opposition Platform — For Life, which was banned by the Supreme Court docket following Russia's full-scale invasion.

He was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine in 2004 throughout his tenure as head of Ukraine's state-owned oil and fuel firm Naftogaz.

"There are nonetheless many names within the request for the revocation of awards," lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak mentioned after the parliamentary vote.

Shufrych was arrested final 12 months on costs of subversive actions in opposition to Ukraine and financing Russia's Nationwide Guard in occupied Crimea. In accordance with the investigation, Shufrych paid Russia's Nationwide Guard for guarding his elite actual property in Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Muraiev, former chief of the now-banned pro-Russian Nashi occasion, was charged with treason in 2023. The Safety Service famous that Muraiev used his media empire, together with the Nash TV channel, to disseminate pro-Russian narratives.

Shortly earlier than the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the U.Okay. Overseas Workplace warned that the Kremlin intends to put in Muraiev as the pinnacle of the Russian puppet regime in Kyiv. Media studies have acknowledged that Muraiev left Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine hits 2 oil depots in Russia overnightUkrainian forces attacked oil depots in Russia’s Tula and Kaluga oblasts overnight on Jan. 18, according to the General Staff and a Kyiv Independent’s source in Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR).The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

A variety of important shortcomings had been recognized: a complete group of the Basic Employees carried out an inspection of the 156th Brigade

A complete group of the Basic Employees inspected the formation of the 156th Separate Mechanized Brigade. A variety of shortcomings had been recognized, together with the necessity to exchange the management and enhance personnel coaching.

Twenty days into her new publish as Ukraine's new navy rights commissioner, Olha Reshetylova mentioned that she had already acquired 3,876 appeals.

In what she described as a preliminary evaluation in a Fb publish about her first days on the job, Reshetylova mentioned that lack of remedy and referrals to navy medical commissions and issues shifting between navy models are the 2 main causes for the appeals she acquired.

Greater than 3,500 of the appeals have been related to her publish and concern defending the rights of troopers. A portion of those regarding recommendation or clarification, which she referred to legal professionals working "virtually across the clock."

"The remainder of the appeals are substantive. Though every of them has its personal particular person issues, generally, in fact, you possibly can already see tendencies and separate blocks of problematic points," Reshetylova wrote.

Whereas acknowledging that requests for medical remedy may be abused and that commanders face a "catastrophic" personnel scarcity, she famous circumstances the place commanders had denied referrals for remedy of accidents, pressing and deliberate operations, acute PTSD or panic assaults, and signs of extreme concussions.

In a single enchantment that she cited, a serviceman with HIV voluntarily mobilized at the beginning of the struggle, however has since developed bleeding ulcers and faces worsening well being results. The soldier acquired a referral for surgical procedure however was threatened with a desertion criticism if he left.

Whereas Reshetylova mentioned she is personally calling commanders in some circumstances to deal with the problems, "consideration to the well being of a serviceman ought to turn out to be a precedence for each navy docs, unit commanders, and all the system as an entire," she mentioned.

"It’s not obscure that in such a state the effectiveness of performing fight missions is low, and the mortality charge amongst servicemen attributable to ailments will develop. As well as, within the case of untreated psychological dysfunction, a serviceman can pose a hazard both to himself or to his comrades," Reshetylova wrote.

Relating to navy unit transfers, servicemembers had been promised in November a extra environment friendly manner for transfering between models utilizing the Military+ app. Nonetheless, she wrote, "fairly often commanders don’t perform the switch order or particularly switch servicemen towards their will to different positions, which complicates the execution of the order."

"Now we’re additionally fixing these points manually, the place now we have time. However it’s apparent that we have to search for a systemic resolution," Reshetylova wrote.

The third largest class of appeals comprised of questions from family of prisoners of struggle lacking troopers, in line with Reshetylova.

Ukraine's Protection Ministry announced in April that it could create the brand new navy ombudsman place to make sure troopers had a solution to report violations of their rights.

The ombudsman "can be chargeable for contemplating appeals and complaints of service members, offering major authorized help, conducting inspections, and investigating violations of the rights of service members and their households," the Defense Ministry mentioned on the time.

Reshetylova beforehand co-founded and headed the Media Initiative for Human Rights, which has investigated struggle crimes associated to the Russian struggle in Ukraine since 2016 and advocates for modifications in authorities insurance policies and social practices associated to defending human rights.

Ukraine denies transferring Air Force personnel to infantry amid troop shortagesThe Ukrainian Air Force will transfer military personnel “en masse” to reinforce the Ground Forces’ combat brigades in early 2025, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Jan. 14, citing an undisclosed Air Force source.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

The Central Division for the Safety of Servicemen's Rights is making ready a complete inspection: what is thought

The Central Division for the Safety of Servicemen's Rights of the Ministry of Protection will conduct a complete inspection of commanders' failure to adjust to orders from the Armed Forces management. The inspection issues the low stage of government self-discipline with regard to orders on personnel.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service introduced Jan. 18 that it obtained three specialised demining autos from Slovenia.

The autos, Cossack PM-L specialised off-road vans, can be utilized for demining and for transporting gear and explosive objects.

The switch was accomplished with monetary help from the Slovenian authorities and with help from the UNITED24 platform, which connects and coordinates elevating funds for Ukraine.

"This can assist considerably scale back the dangers to the lives of our sappers and make the method of explosives disposal quicker and extra dependable," mentioned the pinnacle of the State Emergency Service Andrii Danyk. "We’re grateful in your help, which permits us to work extra effectively even in warfare circumstances."

Final month, Slovenia pledged to proceed offering important help to Ukraine throughout a two-day ministerial NATO assembly in Brussels.

"Slovenia gives important help to Ukraine within the type of materials, humanitarian, and army support and can proceed to take action so long as it’s obligatory," Slovenia's Overseas Minister Tanja Fajon informed journalists.

Russia condemns 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and UKRussia criticized a newly announced 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and the U.K., rejecting any cooperation between the two nations in the Azov Sea.The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

President indicators decree on new NSDC sanctions

Zelenskyy indicators a decree on sanctions towards propagandists and individuals who assist Russia. Those that didn’t commit their lives to Ukraine are additionally disadvantaged of state awards.

Ukrainian forces shot down 43 Russian assault drones in a single day, the Air Power reported on the morning of Jan. 19.

Russia launched Shahed-type drones and decoy drones from bases in Millerovo, Oryol, and Bryansk, based on the report.

The Air Power stated it additionally misplaced monitor of 15 decoy drones Russia launched alongside the assault drones, saying that this resulted in no adverse results.

The drones have been shot down over Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv oblasts.

Russian drone attacks on Ukraine jumped to report ranges on the finish of 2024, with Moscow planning to ramp up its manufacturing or UAVs in 2025. Drone strikes have focused Ukrainian residential neighborhoods and significant energy infrastructure.

Ukraine has in flip stepped up its personal drone assaults on Russia and has targeted assaults on the nation's oil business.

Ukraine hits 2 oil depots in Russia overnightUkrainian forces attacked oil depots in Russia’s Tula and Kaluga oblasts overnight on Jan. 18, according to the General Staff and a Kyiv Independent’s source in Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR).The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

SBU detains 15 traffickers of trophy weapons in 4 areas of Ukraine

Regulation enforcement officers uncovered the unlawful sale of trophy weapons and ammunition in numerous areas of Ukraine. The seized objects embrace Kalashnikovs, grenade launchers, explosives and different weapons.

Russia has misplaced 818,740 troops in Ukraine because the starting of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the Normal Employees of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Jan. 19.

This quantity consists of 1,580 casualties Russian forces suffered simply over the previous day.

In accordance with the report, Russia has additionally misplaced 9,811 tanks, 20,412 armored combating autos, 34,401 autos and gasoline tanks, 22,055 artillery programs, 1,262 a number of launch rocket programs, 1,046 air protection programs, 369 airplanes, 331 helicopters, 22,615 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

A lawyer who labored for Russian intelligence and defended Russian accomplices in courts is detained in Kyiv

The SBU detained a lawyer who recruited brokers for the Russian GRU and defended uncovered traitors in courts. The offender handed details about SBU officers and procedural paperwork to the enemy.