Russia won 2 eastern villages
On January 20, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Moscow forces had taken control of two villages in eastern Ukraine, Shevchenko in Donetsk province and Novoyegorivka in Luhansk province, according to TASS. In particular, Shevchenko is a village only 3 km from Ukraine’s important logistics center Pokrovsk.
Russia has accelerated in Ukraine since last year, gaining an area seven times larger than in 2023, according to AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (USA). Currently, Russia is also focusing its efforts on the city of Chasiv Yar, which if controlled will help the country penetrate deep into Donetsk province.
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During the day, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian military airports and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage and assembly facilities, gathering points for human resources and equipment at 152 locations.
The Ukrainian Air Force said its air defense forces shot down 93/141 UAVs launched by Russia at night to attack. 47 UAVs were lost, believed to be due to the influence of Ukrainian electronic warfare. Two of them flew back to Russia, according to Reuters.
Ukrainian forces fire artillery toward Russian forces near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk on January 16
Meanwhile, Russian air defense forces shot down 86 UAVs and 8 HIMARS rockets and a Ukrainian Hammer guided bomb during the day.
Ukraine attacked Kherson
Russian media reported that Ukraine attacked the Russian-controlled town of Bekhtery in Kherson province in southern Ukraine on January 20, killing two people and injuring at least 19 people. Russian-appointed provincial governor Vladimir Saldo said Ukraine launched cluster munitions near the school in Bekhtery where students were studying. Two children were among the injured and were in serious condition.
Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of attacking civilian areas far from the front line, but both sides have denied the other side’s claims.
The Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine ordered a mass transfer of air force soldiers to infantry units
Ukraine arrested two generals for neglecting defense
Ukraine’s State Investigation Department (DBR) announced on January 20 that it had arrested two generals and a colonel on suspicion of dereliction of duty and failure to protect Kharkiv province against Russia’s attack last year.
According to Reuters, the arrested officials are a former front-line commander in Kharkiv, a former commander of a brigade and a former commander of an infantry battalion. The identities of these people have not been announced.
Russia launched a cross-border attack in Kharkiv in May 2024, penetrating many kilometers in the first few days. The attack surprised Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky had to cancel trips and dismiss many military commanders.
In the end, the Ukrainian army stopped the Russian advance about 25 km from the city of Kharkiv. The DBR said it was cooperating with the domestic intelligence agency in the case and was supported by the military in the investigation.
Mr. Putin is ready to talk with the US about Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Security Council meeting on January 20
Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 20 congratulated Donald Trump on his inauguration as US president. Mr. Putin said he is ready to contact the new administration in the US about the Ukraine conflict and considers eliminating the root cause of the crisis a priority, according to TASS.
“We are ready to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukraine conflict. The most important thing is to eliminate the root cause of the crisis, which we have said many times. This is the most important thing” , Mr. Putin said at the Security Council meeting.
According to Mr. Putin, Russia has taken note of the statements of Mr. Trump and his advisers about the desire to restore dialogue and the need to make every effort to avoid World War 3.
