Updated on 01/01/2023 at 2:36 pm
- 2:36 pm: ➤ Putin’s decree on 137,000 additional troops goes into effect
- 1:25 pm: No word on the war: Russian star Netrebko celebrates a “very good” year
- 11:52 am: Russia fires “nearly three dozen drones” in Kyiv on New Year’s Eve
- 10:11 am: Conscripted prisoners escape from the center of the Wagner group
- 9:01 am: Klitschko asks Germany to supply Leopard 2 tanks
➤ Putin’s decree on 137,000 additional troops came into effect
More than ten months after the start of Moscow’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the start of the new year in Russia will see the number of military personnel increase by 137,000. A corresponding decree on increasing to about 1.15 million contract soldiers and conscripts ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in August officially took effect on Sunday. According to this, the strength of the army must total more than two million people. The rest of the military personnel are civilian personnel, including some administrative staff.
In September, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said new units were being created. The minister accused Western states, led by the United States, of taking action against Russia and its allies; justified the increase in the number of soldiers. “The NATO bloc is approaching Russian borders,” Shoigu said.
Since the start of the war against Ukraine ordered by Putin on February 24, the Russian army has repeatedly had to deal with major personnel problems. The increase in the number of military personnel is now aimed at remedying the situation. In addition, Putin called up around 300,000 reservists for a partial mobilization – accompanied by protests from the population and mass flight of men abroad. People in Russia fear that Putin might decide on further mobilizations to still win his war in Ukraine, which has been overshadowed by many defeats. (dpa)
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Summary of the situation:
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine from the air and from the ground. Shortly before, President Vladimir Putin questioned Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent state and recognized the so-called People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.
Since then, the Ukrainian army has been fighting the invaders as best it could. Thousands of dead are reported on both sides, but the exact number of soldiers and civilians has not been independently verified. The fact is: the humanitarian situation in Ukraine is getting worse by the day.
Russia’s Attack on Ukraine: Frontline Story Through the Year”
© dpa infographic GmbH
The UNHCR refugee agency has registered more than 16.5 million border crossings from Ukraine (as of December 20). Refugees are mostly women and children, as men aged between 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country. According to UNHCR, more than 8.7 million border crossings back to Ukraine were registered during this period (up to 20 December).
The EU and US reacted with sanctions. They are also supplying arms to Ukraine, and Germany is also supporting Ukraine with arms deliveries. Ukraine also received Gepard-class tanks from Germany. (dpa)
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The other reports on the war in Ukraine from January 1st
No word on the war: Russian superstar Netrebko is celebrating a ‘very good’ year
Opera singer Anna Netrebko, who was criticized for being close to the Kremlin during Russia’s war against Ukraine, posted photos of her New Year’s party on Instagram and took stock of a “very good” year 2022. Russian homeland continued to bomb Ukraine in the dark and cold with combat drones and rockets over the weekend, the 51-year-old woman, who lives in Vienna, appeared at the festive New Year’s table in an evening dress with her family. You can also see her bringing out the food.
A few days before, she had written in a post that the end of the year was a reason for reflection. “And I must say, despite all the storms that have hit me, this year has been pretty good!” she wrote. “It was better than in the past.” While many Russians are affected by Western sanctions over Moscow’s war on Ukraine, Vienna-based Netrebko has appeared at the richly laid table. (dpa)
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Ukraine: Russia fires “nearly three dozen drones” in Kyiv on New Year’s Eve
According to Ukrainian sources, Russia attacked Kyiv on New Year’s Eve. According to the Kyiv Independent, “nearly three dozen drones” were fired into Kyiv Oblast overnight, according to Kyiv Oblast Governor Oleksiy Kuleba. An infrastructure facility was damaged. (ari)
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Conscripted prisoners break out of the Wagner group center
Six armed mercenaries from the Wagner group recruited from Russian prisons escaped from a Wagner training center in the Sorokyne district of the Luhansk region on December 30. This is reported by the “Institute for the Study of War” (ISW). A Russian source warned residents of the Rostov region to be vigilant and “pay special attention to people in military camouflage uniforms”.
Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin tried to downplay the story, claiming he had the situation under control as of Dec. 31, according to ISW.
The Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia), the police and the Wagner Security Service have extensive experience in apprehending various types of armed persons, Prigozhin said. They were working to “arrest many scoundrels, of which [russische Bürger] you don’t even need to know anything”, starting with the front lines of the Luhansk region, Donetsk region and Russian borders. (ari)
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Klitschko asks Germany to supply Leopard 2 tanks
The mayor of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, demanded that Germany deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. “It will depend decisively on Germany whether the Leopard 2 tanks are finally delivered. Without this type of tank it will be difficult to regain more areas in Ukraine”, writes Klitschko in an article in “Bild am Sonntag”.
The politician also expects a new attack on Kyiv. Russia is mobilizing more forces, up to 300,000 troops could face another attack on Ukraine. “Kyiv was a target and Kyiv remains a target,” writes Klitschko.
The Russian army’s aim was to bring Ukraine “a gloomy Christmas, a gloomy New Year, a gloomy future”, continues Klitschko. “But, as usual, they miscalculated in this war! We are stronger, also thanks to Germany: the German Iris-T missile defense system helps like nothing else to ensure that our civilian infrastructure is not completely destroyed, but that we manage to renew it.” it again and again.” (dpa)
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With material from dpa, Portal and AFP
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