Newsletter 07/01/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
5 months of Kursk operation: General Staff releases data on Russian losses in manpower, equipment
In the five months since the start of the Kursk operation, Russia has lost more than 38,000 military personnel, including about 15,000 killed.
Ukrainian soldiers also destroyed 104 tanks, 575 armored combat vehicles, 1,104 vehicles, 330 artillery systems, 12 MLRS, 12 air defense systems, one airplane, three helicopters, 859 drones and 32 pieces of special equipment.
During the operation, Ukrainian forces captured 860 Russian soldiers, significantly replenishing the exchange fund. This allowed hundreds of Ukrainian defenders who had been held in Russian prisons to return home.
More than 2,000 Ukrainian servicemen were awarded state decorations for their heroism and successful actions during the Kursk operation.
Russia’s total combat casualties from February 24, 2022, to January 7, 2024, stand at about 800,010, of which 1,970 were killed or wounded over the past 24 hours.
Kupiansk sector: Ukrainian military denies capture of Lozova by enemy
The Ukrainian Khortytsia Group of Forces has not received any reports regarding the capture of Lozova in the Izium district of the Kharkiv region by the Russian troops.
Russia is forced to redeploy units from other areas to Kursk region - NG spokesman
“What we are seeing now has an effect not only in the north of Kharkiv region, on the enemy's activity along the border with Sumy region, but also in other areas of the front. Because the enemy is forced to pull its units from the southern directions and from other directions to strengthen the group in the Kursk region,” said National Guard spokesman Ruslan Muzychuk..
According to Muzychuk, the Kursk operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other units is aimed at creating unfavorable conditions for the enemy forces deployed in this area and disrupting its logistics.
AFU strike at command post of Russian 810th Marine Brigade in Kursk region
The Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted a precision strike on the command post of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces near the village of Bila, Kursk region.
War
Expert: Enemy outnumbered at least five to one in Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors
“There are 150,000 Russian troops in the Pokrovsk direction, 50,000 in the Kursk direction. The enemy outnumbers us at least five to one on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions. And it's not about combat capability. They have an a priori advantage in forces and means,” said military expert, reserve colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy Grabsky.
Even if the military command moved units from Kursk region to Pokrovsk, it would not change the situation on this section of the front much, the military expert believes.
“It's one thing to conduct an operation in Kursk region according to our rules - maneuver defense, when we are not concerned about the territory, but only about what percentage of the enemy's combat potential we can destroy. And it is quite another to fight on our land, in areas that can quickly or even strategically change the rules of the game, and against numerous enemy forces,” said the retired colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
For his part, Pavlo Lakiychuk, Head of Security Programs at the Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI”, emphasizes that the lack of people at the front leads to tactical breakthroughs in defense.
According to him, the shortage of personnel leads to conditions when there are not enough people on the front line to hold positions, and the enemy does not even need to “punch holes” in the defense, as there are already weak links. “Through these gaps, Russian units infiltrate, cut through our defense and act effectively. Unfortunately, this is a sign of a lack of reserves,” Lakiychuk said.
According to the expert, the example of the 155th Brigade demonstrates that the principle of creating brigades from scratch does not work effectively enough (the 155th Brigade is part of a large-scale project to create 14 brigades from scratch, trained and armed in France, and has recently become notorious for desertions and massive SABs).
Border "aerial snipers" tamed enemy drones and their operators
Russian attacks leave two dead, 17 injured in Kherson region over past day
Russia is spreading fakes about AFU in Pokrovsk to use civilians as human shields - CCD
War update: 218 clashes in past 24 hours, most Russian attacks recorded in Kursk region
Russian army loses record number of troops in Ukraine in December – UK intel
On January 5, Russians shelled cemetery in Kherson region with drone, killing woman
Combat work of border guards of the "Revenge" brigade in the area of Kreminna and Serebryanskyi forestry
SBU exposes Russian agents spying on volunteers and officials of international organizations
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has uncovered Russia’s FSB agent network, which was gathering information about officials of international organizations and volunteers in Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa.
To establish the addresses, license plates, and routes of officials and volunteers, the Russian special service remotely recruited a lawyer from Kyiv.
He involved several accomplices from three regions of Ukraine in criminal activities.
Following instructions from Russian authorities, the detainees covertly monitored various locations, including the use of optical devices… Read more
Politics
Zelensky announces “good diplomatic news” for Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine held a meeting on planning international meetings and negotiations for January, announcing acceleration of arms supplies and “good” diplomatic news for the country.
Russia pulls last submarine from Syria - media
Russia withdrew the Kilo-class Novorossiysk (B-61) submarine through the Strait of Gibraltar in the night hours of January 2. This was confirmed by the Portuguese Navy on January 4.
Russia has kept submarines in the Mediterranean Sea since 2013, and their Mediterranean Sea Task Force has always included one or more Kilo class submarines. They were based in Tartus, Syria, but no submarine has called there since approximately December 3, 2024.
