The Ukrainian military reportedly shot down a rare Russian A-50 reconnaissance and warning aircraft and an Il-22 bomber over the Sea of Azov on Sunday evening, Ukrainian sources said.
Important on January 15th at 10.25pm:
– Sources: Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down an A-50 over the Sea of Azov;
– Russian authorities plan new restrictions to cover losses in Ukraine;
– ISW: Russia is preparing for a new offensive;
– According to Zelensky, the beginning of the year added strength and opportunities to Ukraine.
Sources: Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down an A-50 over the Sea of Azov
The Ukrainian military reportedly shot down a rare Russian A-50 reconnaissance and warning aircraft and an Il-22 bomber over the Sea of Azov on Sunday evening, Ukrainian sources said.
People’s deputy Yuri Mysjagin wrote this on his Telegram channel.
“Ukrainian units shot down two A-50 AWACS and Il-22 aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces over the Sea of Azov around nine in the evening,” the people’s representative wrote.
According to Mysjagin, the Il-22 tried to reach the nearest airport, but disappeared from radar in the Kerch region.
Then Serhi Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Southern Ukrainian Volunteer Army, announced that his sources had recorded the disappearance of the A-50 from radar screens in the Sea of Azov region and the shooting down of the Il-22.
“According to preliminary data, the information has been confirmed, so we are waiting for comments from the Air Force. As for the A-50 aircraft, only about 30 units have been produced,” Bratchuk added on Telegram.
Airborne radar aircraft such as the Russian A-50 are necessary for airspace control, which involves identifying aerial targets and coordinating and controlling fighter aircraft. In addition to air targets, such an aircraft can also track ground targets such as radars. This aircraft also plays an important role in coordinating Russian missile attacks.
Russian authorities plan new restrictions to cover losses in Ukraine
Russian authorities intend to impose new restrictions, including access to public information, in order to hide the real losses of their army in Ukraine, the UNIAN news agency reported on Monday, citing information from the National Resistance Center.
According to Center sources, the pension fund was urgently ordered to declassify data on cash payments made to Ukrainian war veterans and their families.
Regional branches of the Pension Fund in the Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod regions have already received letters with orders to stop uploading information on the allocation of financial support to participants in the war of conquest and their families into the unified network of the information system of social security.
The center noted that Russian authorities are taking measures ahead of the presidential election and there are fears that the actual numbers will lead to a rise in anti-Vladimir Putin sentiment.
ISW: Russia prepares for another offensive
Russia is preparing for a new offensive, but a large-scale breakthrough on the front is not very likely, the Institute of Military Studies (ISW) reported.
The Russians will begin their offensive in the next few weeks when the ground is frozen and passable for military equipment.
A Russian blogger said that the Russians could conduct local tactical maneuvers, but that a significant breakthrough would be unlikely. The ISW also assessed that Russian forces would not achieve a significant breakthrough.
According to Zelensky, the beginning of the year added strength and opportunities to Ukraine
Ukraine will receive more drones, missiles and electronic military equipment, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his Sunday evening address to the nation.
“The first two weeks of this year have already added strength and opportunities to Ukraine. There are new support packages for our soldiers. Much needed agreements on joint production of weapons and projectiles, and a particularly sensitive topic is drones. More drones. We are preparing the next good news in terms of air defense. As for missiles and electronic warfare, we will discuss it separately,” the head of state said.
Zelensky added that Ukraine is also actively increasing artillery production.
“Ukraine has enough potential to go through this difficult war path. We have the potential to unite the world. We have the potential to win. The main thing is to believe in ourselves. And believe in Ukraine,” the president said.
Zelensky will visit Switzerland on Monday, his office announced. The announcement came just hours after France and Germany confirmed their continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
“We fully agree that we must support the Ukrainians for as long as necessary,” French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné told reporters in Berlin alongside German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
“We will remain on Ukraine’s side until Russia withdraws from Ukrainian territory,” Baerbock stressed.
Séjourné’s visit to Germany came a day after the foreign minister traveled to Kiev to meet Zelensky, his first official trip in his new role and sending another clear signal to the international community.
2024-01-15 03:46:00
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