It has been the 697th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression.
What happened in Ukraine today:
Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 6 pm:
The enemy continues to violate the laws and customs of warfare, using the terror tactics, launching missile and air strikes, and firing multiple launch rocket systems not only at the military, but also at numerous civilian targets across Ukraine.
There were 80 combat engagements. The enemy launched a total of 3 missiles with S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles targeting the infrastructure of Novohradivka, Donetsk oblast, and 4 air strikes, 58 MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. The russian terrorist attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Over 40 private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.
The russian occupiers launched another airstrike using 2 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. The Ukrainian Air Defense forces shot down 1 enemy UAV.
Air strikes hit Chernatske and Seredyna-Buda, Sumy oblast.
Over 140 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts came under the artillery fire.
Towards Volyn and Polissia, there were no significant changes.
Towards Siversk and Sloboda, they maintain military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. The enemy troops conduct active sabotage activities to prevent the deployment of Ukrainian troops to threatened axes. They increase the density of minefields along the state border in Belgorod oblast (russia).
Towards Kupiansk, Ukrainian defenders repelled 21 enemy attacks near Synkivka, Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Stelmakhivka (Luhansk oblast).
Towards Lyman, the Ukrainian defenders repelled 6 attacks of the occupiers near Terny and Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast), and 7 more attacks in the vicinities of Serebrianske forestry, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast).
Towards Bakhmut, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 8 attacks near Bohdanivka, Klischiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Towards Avdiivka, the Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back the enemy who keeps trying to encircle Avdiivka. The Ukrainian soldiers are standing their ground and inflicting major losses on the invaders. For instance, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11 enemy attacks in the vicinity of Avdiivka, and 12 more attacks south of Sjeverne, Vodiane, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske (Donetsk oblast).
Towards Mariinka, the Ukrainian troops continue to hold back the enemy near Heorhiivka, Mariinka, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian troops repelled 6 attacks in that area.
Towards Shakhtarsk, the enemy did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations.
Towards Zaporizhzhia, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 1 attack west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Towards Kherson, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to expand the bridgehead. Despite significant losses, the enemy does not leave its attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. The enemy attempted 6 unsuccessful assaults at the positions of the Ukrainian troops.
The Ukrainian soldiers conduct active operations to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation troops, and exhaust the enemy all along the front line.
The Ukrainian Air Forces launched air strikes on 6 buildups of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1 anti-aircraft missile system, 1 ammunition depot, and 1 communication center.
The Ukrainian rocket troops and artillery hit 3 buildups of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 1 command post, and 1 electronic warfare station of the russian invaders.
The National Bank reduced the net currency sales on the interbank market to 531 million dollars. Purchases also decreased.
Ukraine plans to start construction of large units for nuclear power plants in 2024. Among other 2024 priorities are de-centralization and increase of the capacity of distributed electricity generation, thanks to installation of gas turbines, as well as continuation of the repair campaign and replacement of high-voltage transformers at substations, protection systems.
Recent war events in the east of Ukraine
Kharkiv oblast
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defence Forces repelled 7 russian attacks near Synkivka. Seven settlements were hit by russian airstrikes and more than 21 settlements were shelled with artillery and mortars.
The withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Krokhmalne towards Kupiansk is temporary as the military moved to other lines to save lives. This is how Volodymyr Fito, Spokesman of the Ground Forces Command, commented on the information about russian capture of the village.
About 15 settlements in the region suffered artillery and mortar attacks, including: Udy of Bohodukhiv region, Okhrymivka, Zemlianky of Chuhuiv region, Khatnie, Dvorichna, Masiutivka, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Berestove of Kupiansk region.
A 73-year-old resident of Pishchane, Kupiansk region, was killed as a result of russian shelling on the evening of 20 January. According to the RMA, the village was hit by artillery.
Today, around 2 am, the enemy shelled Tyschenivka village, Kupiansk region. A gas pipeline and a private house were damaged. There were no casualties.
At about 3:30 am, the invaders shelled Vovchansk, Chuhuiv region, with mortars. At 4:15 am, the enemy hit the town with aerial bombs. The shelling damaged private houses. There was no information on casualties.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled 21 enemy attacks near Synkivka and Petropavlivka of Kupiansk region.
Combined groups of bomb experts cleared 3.9 hectares of territory and destroyed 191 explosive ordnance. Mine clearance is ongoing.
Donetsk oblast
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, informed that yesterday russian troops in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts attacked the Armed Forces of Ukraine more than 60 times. Avdiivka remains the hottest spot on the frontline. There were 23 combat engagements there.
This afternoon, russians shelled with Grad multiple rocket launchers, hitting residential areas. A 31-year-old man was killed on the spot. The attack damaged a kindergarten and several private houses, and a fire broke out, which rescuers have already extinguished. The exact aftermath of the attack is being established.
The invaders also shelled Krasnohorivka with Grad MRLs and 152-calibre cannons. A 62-year-old man was killed and a 70-year-old man injured. The injured man was taken to hospital and is receiving the necessary medical assistance.
According to Donetsk Regional Military Administration, volunteers delivered the 24th aid package to the military in Donetsk oblast. It included 10 drones, medicines for the hospital, camouflage nets and food packages.
Olena Rusina, Founder of Pehas shelter, reported that injured, exhausted and hungry horses are being evacuated from the war zones to an animal shelter in Dnipropetrovsk oblast, where they are being fed and treated. Currently, the shelter is home to about thirty horses. Olena says they are all looking for a new home.
Towards Pokrovsk, before, russians launched 3 missiles at Novohrodivka, damaging 55 private houses, an apartment building, a kindergarten, a school and an administrative building. Selydove was hit twice, damaging 2 five-storey buildings, 8 private houses, a business, 7 garages, 2 outbuildings, 2 non-residential buildings and a hangar. In Myrnohrad, russians hit a cultural institution.
Towards Kramatorsk, 6 private houses, a school, a kindergarten and a shop were damaged in Kostiantynivka. Lyman community was shelled 10 times.
Towards Bakhmut, 5 houses were damaged in Toretsk community: 3 in Scherbynivka and 2 in Toretsk. An apartment building, 3 private houses and an industrial building were damaged in Chasiv Yar community. A house was destroyed in Siversk and 2 more damaged.
In total, russians shelled settlements in Donetsk oblast 11 times, injuring 2 people. 106 people, including 19 children, were evacuated from the frontline.
Luhansk oblast
In our area of responsibility, russians attacked two areas at once yesterday. They tried to capture Ukrainian military positions near Stelmakhivka towards Kupiansk. They also continued to try to break through our defences in Bilohorivka and Serebrianka forestry, where the enemy was stopped seven times. The invaders attacked Karmazynivka, Nevske and Dibrova with mortars and artillery. They launched almost 550 shells from various types of weapons in a day.
According to Luhansk Regional Military Administration, having lists of empty apartments and private houses in Novodruzhesk, russian military is taking away everything left by the evacuated residents.
Artem Lysohor, Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration, reported that the invaders are loading everything more or less valuable into trucks in front of our neighbours. If it is necessary to obtain a russian passport in the so-called ‘lpr’, military registration is mandatory for men. In Lysychansk, the occupation authorities are racing ahead by issuing a summons along with the renewal of registration when a person receives russian-type documents.
What is happening now in the north of Ukraine
Kyiv oblast
Ruslan Kravchenko, the Head of Kyiv RMA, announced that as a result of the full-scale invasion of russia, 135 health care facilities were destroyed in Kyiv oblast, 109 of them have already resumed their activities.
Recently, a new point of medical services was opened in Moschun. The previous institution was destroyed by the russian occupiers. International partners helped to set up the health center. Instead of the old one, a new building was completely built, a mobile solar station was installed, a boiler house was built, and the territory was improved.
Kyiv continues to implement energy-efficient projects ad part of the “70/30%” program. The houses pay 20-30% less for heat on average. In total, during 2023, 135 energy-efficient projects that help save on utility bills have already been implemented in residential buildings.
In the capital, participants in hostilities, forced migrants and the unemployed will be taught labor professions free of charge on the basis of vocational education institutions. According to the KCSA, under the state program of educational vouchers, you can study in 15 institutions with more than 40 specialties. In addition, for the second year in a row, the implementation of an educational project in cooperation with the German charitable organization “Sequa” continues, in order to train qualified personnel for the restoration and maintenance of infrastructure facilities.
The Center Air Command reported that Ogaryova Street in Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv was renamed in honor of Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko. He is a pilot of the 831st tactical aviation brigade, a Hero of Ukraine, a defender of the capital and one of the “Ghosts of Kyiv”.
At the end of January, “officers of the educational security service” will start working in the schools of the Kyiv oblast. In the nine schools, which work in full-time and mixed mode, active police officers will patrol, but soon they plan to recruit those who will undergo the appropriate training. In particular, they will be taught the basics of first aid and explosives.
Zhytomyr oblast
Inclusive housing for displaced people will be built in Zhytomyr under the EU program and funding. They are planning to build four high-rise buildings with 116 one-room and two-room apartments in the Chervonyi Lane of the city. The premises of the first floors will be inclusive, they will be equipped with showers with folding seats, as well as the necessary handrails near all plumbing fixtures.
As part of the All-Ukrainian program “How are you?” the Center for Psychological Health operates at Ivan Franko Zhytomyr State University. According to the Ministry of Health, no less than 15 million citizens of Ukraine experience deterioration of their psycho-emotional state of varying degrees of severity. The center provides a variety of psychological services that provide psycho-emotional support and are aimed at meeting the needs of the population and strengthening the capacity of specialists.
In Korosten, volunteers of the “Fortuna Volunteers” public organization handed over 5,000 tactical first-aid kits to the front with the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Tactical first-aid kits have become the main request from the military at the front, they are manufactured according to the Israeli model. In addition, volunteers make kikimora suits, balaclavas, warm clothes and weave camouflage nets by order of the military.
Sumy oblast
The russians carried out 37 shellings of the border regions of Sumy oblast, 173 explosions were recorded – shelling from mortars, barrel artillery, airstrikes, attaking by FPV kamikaze drones, dropping explosive devices from UAVs. The Bilopillia, Myropillia, Krasnopillia, Khotyn, Yunakivka, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman and Seredina-Buda communities were under enemy shelling.
Sumy Regional Military Administration reported that at night, the russians carried out two attacks of the Bilopillia community, 11 explosions from mortars were recorded.
On July 17, the Bilopillia volunteer center suffered losses. Tetyana Lebedeva, a volunteer who constantly worked at the center, died during the shelling of Bilopillia by the russian army. According to the volunteers, the center is mainly staffed by pensioners – up to 40 square meters of camouflage nets appear from the hands of craftsmen per day. They also collect money for cars, drones and thermal imagers for the front.
Recruitment for the second wave of the UPSHIFT program, which is aimed at creating innovative projects by teenagers and young people, is ongoing in Sumy oblast. To participate in the program, it is necessary to assemble a team of three to five participants aged 14 to 24. Together, the team defines a socially important problem that it wants to solve. Those interested can submit their applications until January 28.
Chernihiv oblast
SBGS reported that russian troops have carried out eight attacks of three border communities of Chernihiv oblast. Novhorod-Siverskyi community: 2 mortar hits on Hremyach, Semenivka hromada: 22 hits from mortars and IFV in the direction of Karpovychi and Arkhypivka, Snovsk hromada: 2 shots from self-propelled guns in the direction of Hirsk.
Chernihiv city education department reported that as part of the project “School public budget for children’s dreams”, a school cafe was set up in school #35 in the city. It will be recalled that in the Swiss-Ukrainian project “Decentralization for the Development of Democratic Education” (Decide), in addition to Chernihiv, students from three other communities of the oblast – Mena, Koropy, and Berezna – took part. The winning teams received certificates worth half a million hryvnias for the implementation of their initiatives.
Valentina Martyshevska, the Head of the education department of Bobrovytsia City Council, announced that 211,000 hryvnias were collected at school fairs and collections in Bobrovytsia general secondary education institution No. 1 in Chernihiv oblast to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. With this money, they bought a DJI Mavic 3 Thermal quadcopter and medicine for the military on the front lines.
Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine
Dnipropetrovsk oblast
Mykola Lukashuk, Head of the RMA said that during the night the enemy attacked Marhanets community of Nikopol region 3 times. They launched 2 kamikaze drones and shelled artillery. 5 residential buildings, a private enterprise, 2 outbuildings, a garage, fences and a power line were damaged.
The attack left more than 11,000 homes without electricity, but most of them have been reconnected. During the day the occupiers attacked Nikopol region a dozen times. They launched 7 kamikaze drones and fired from artillery. Nikopol and the settlements of Myrove community were under attack. A fire broke out in the district center damaging a private enterprise, 2 high-rise buildings, 6 residential buildings, outbuildings, a gas pipeline and a power line.
Consequences of the russian shelling. Photo: Mykola Lukashuk, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council
Kirovohrad oblast
Andrii Raikovych, Head of the RMA reported that during the day Kirovohrad region was under russian fire.
Andrii Raikovych, Head of the RMA reported that volunteers from Nove village brought the flag of Kirovohrad region to the defenders. It is known that they are fighting against the enemy on the eastern, hot borders of our country.
Flag of Kirovohrad oblast. Photo: Andrii Raikovych, Head of Kirovohrad RMA
Poltava oblast
A free training course in cutting and sewing was organized in Poltava as part of the Reintegration of War Veterans Through The Creation of Educational Opportunities project.
In Poltava region, more than 650 entrepreneurs have received grants through the eRobota program to start or develop their own businesses, 60 of whom are IDPs.
Cherkasy oblast
According to the City Council the mother of a fallen soldier from Uman’ purchased three quadcopters for her son’s comrades-in-arms.
Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine
Zaporizhzhia oblast
According to Zaporizhia RMA, the russian army conducted 95 attacks on the towns and villages of Zaporizhzhia oblast on January 20. In particular, it used MLRS, attacked with 26 drones and fired 62 times from artillery at Novodarivka, Novoandriivka, Mala Tokmachka, Charivne, Shcherbaki, Gulyaypole, Lobkove, Kamianske, Pyatikhatky and other frontline settlements.
Mykolaiv oblast
According to Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, on January 20 in Mykolaiv oblast the russian military attacked the water area and the village of Kutsurub community. On the night of January 21, the russian military launched drone strikes on the Snihuriv community. There were no casualties.
Press service of the Southern Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the week (from 15 to 21 January 2024), demining units of the State Special Transport Service found, seized and defused 235 explosive devices: 143 in Kherson oblast and 92 in Mykolaiv oblast.
Odesa oblast
The Southern Armed Forces said that the russian army has increased the presence of missile carriers in the Black Sea: a small missile ship has been added to the Admiral Makarov frigate. The total equipment of the vessels is 16 Kalibr.
According to MarineTraffic portal, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visited Odesa oblast as part of his visit to Ukraine. Together with the leadership of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, in particular Oleksandr Kharlov,
the acting Head of Odesa Regional Military Administration, they discussed strengthening assistance to residents of Odesa oblast and IDPs affected by russian aggression.
As of today, January 21, 32 ships are being loaded in the ports of Greater Odesa. All of them will later go to different countries of the world with Ukrainian, mainly agricultural products.
Kherson oblast
Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, reported that on January 20, the russian military fired 76 times at the territory of Kherson oblast. They fired 365 shells from mortars, artillery, MLRS, tanks and UAVs. Residential areas of the region’s settlements were attacked. There were no casualties.
On January 20, on the left bank of the Kherson region, the Defence Forces destroyed two cannons, five FPV drones, nine armoured vehicles, four boats, destroyed a field supply point, a fuel and lubricant refuelling point and an observation post of the russian army. Fourteen russian servicemen were killed.
Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine
Volyn oblast
Representatives of the Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Volyn visited the demarcation line and brought aid to the Ukrainian defenders. In addition, parcels addressed to compatriots from their relatives were taken away.
Zakarpattia oblast
An Ukrainian Mystics exhibition by digital artist Tetiana Kornienko opened in Uzhhorod. The project is dedicated to Ukrainian artists, sculptors, photographers, and illustrators. The exhibition focuses on the loss of cultural heritage as a result of the war. For this exhibition, organizers printed a limited number of calendars for 2024 and stickers with portraits of female artists. 10% of the profits from the sale of stickers and calendars will be donated to the needs of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Ivano-Frankivsk oblast
Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, over 90K people in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast have received support from the state budget in the amount of UAH 3 mln 652.9K, in December 2023, assistance was paid to about 42K IDPs in the amount of UAH 129.9 mln.
Ivano-Frankivsk City Council reported that the 109th separate mountain assault battalion of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade Edelveis received 50 FPV drones.
Lviv oblast
The Senate of the State of California supported the establishment of twinning relations with Lviv oblast. The resolution will promote mutually beneficial educational, economic and cultural exchanges between the oblast and California.
The parish community of the Church of the Holy Supreme Apostles Peter and Paul in Busk together with Busk City Council purchased a DJI Mavic 3 Fly More Combo quadcopter worth almost UAH 103K for the 14th separate mechanized brigade named after Prince Roman the Great, which performs a combat mission in Kupiansk region.
The parish community of the same church purchased three FPV kamikaze Avenger 7 drones worth UAH 54K for the 420th separate rifle battalions, the 68th separate hunting brigade named after Oleksii Dovbusha. Another drone for the same battalions was bought by the educators of Buska community.
Rivne oblast
In Rivne Regional Hospital for War Veterans, the hall of assistive technologies has become operational. This will contribute to the effective rehabilitation of military personnel with complex craniocerebral and spinal injuries. The hall consists of a cabinet of assistive technologies, an area for training, as well as a warehouse and the first wheelchair workshop in Ukraine.
Ternopil oblast
Students and teachers of Ternopil School #28 within the All-Ukrainian project Wings collected plastic caps to help the defenders. They plan to use the funds from plastic recycling to purchase drones for the front line.
Khmelnytskyi oblast
In the village of Maliivtsi, in Novodunayevets community in Kamianech region, the tradition of volunteer groups was revived. On January 20, during the first clean-up of the year, residents who care about the preservation of historical heritage cleaned a house that is more than a hundred years old. The rally was dedicated to defender Roman Budzinsky from Khmelnytskyi. Roma lived and worked as a history teacher in the village of Strihivtsi. On February 24, he went to the front as a volunteer. Roman Budzinsky was killed in April 2022.
Chernivtsi oblast
Last year, financial support in the form of subventions was provided to 17 military units and Chernivtsi Regional Territorial Center of Equipment and Social Support in the total amount of UAH 314 mln, of which UAH 54.9 mln came from the regional budget.
Dmytro Krush, resident of the village of Rukshin, was awarded with the Golden Cross badge by Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, for his courage and successful performance of combat missions. The soldier joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine voluntarily when he was only 19 years old. Now he is the youngest fighter in his brigade to be awarded such a high military award.
International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that for the first time, Ukraine and the USA carried out a joint inspection of the weapons provided by the United States. The inspection was carried out by the Internal Audit Service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and representatives of the Department of Defense Cooperation of the US Embassy. The inspection took place in one of the military units.
Joachim Knopf, Head of the Taurus Systems GmbH German company, reported that the company is ready to quickly replenish stocks of long-range missiles in Germany in case of supplying them to Ukraine.
The British Ministry of Defense announced that the country will spend $514 mln to upgrade the missile system currently used by the Royal Navy to shoot down enemy drones in the Red Sea.
Herman Halushchenko, Energy Minister, reported that Rafael Grossi, IAEA General Director, is going to come to Ukraine. According to him, Grossi’s visit is related to the deterioration of the situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
For the second year in a row, USAID, as part of the AGRI-Ukraine initiative to support community food security, will provide households with vegetable seeds ahead of the 2024 spring planting season. Households of certain categories of citizens, where it is possible to cultivate land plots, will be able to receive seeds, namely: IDPs; representatives of socially vulnerable population groups (families with many children, low-income families, combatants and their family members, persons with disabilities as a result of the war, family members of killed war veterans and family members of killed Defenders of Ukraine).
The Ukrainian pavilion at the World Economic Forum was recognized as the best. On January 15-18, the Ukrainian House was operating on the sidelines of the forum in Davos, Switzerland – a communication, discussion and exhibition space, the purpose of which is to draw attention to the needs of the country, which in the 21st century is confronting a powerful aggressor. The pavilion displayed a map of russian war crimes. Three giant screens were also installed in the Ukrainian House, on which videos from Ukrainian Tik-Tok were broadcast.
Materials compiled by Tetiana Kliuchnyk-Horobets, Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Аnna Efremova, Albahachiieva Helena
Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Viktoriia Yurchenko, Zhanna Anshukova, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova, Olga Shalya
Ukrainian Women’s Guard
Donate to Ukrainian Women’s Guard PayPal mail: [email protected]
DONATE ⇒https://www.uavarta.org/zrobiti-vnesok/
Subscribe to our channels and pages:
https://www.facebook.com/UkrZhinochaVarta
https://instagram.com/ukrainianwomens_guard
UWG NEWS – Olena Biletska, Yuliya Nakorchevska
Telegram channels:
