+++ 07:19 Reznikov: No need for massive mobilization in Ukraine +++
The Defense Minister of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, sees no need for a new wave of mobilization in Ukraine. The situation could change depending on the situation at the front, but Ukraine has more needs for equipment, weapons and technology than for additional personnel, Reznikov says on Ukrainian television. “We fill [Personal] unfortunately we also have losses, but I don’t see any need for massive mobilization at the moment,” said the minister.
+++ 06:30 ISW: Putin’s ceasefire is said to damage Ukraine’s reputation +++
According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the ceasefire announced by Russian President Putin to celebrate the Russian Orthodox Christmas is probably aimed at damaging Ukraine’s reputation. Putin called on Ukraine to accept the ceasefire to allow citizens to attend religious services on the day of Russian Orthodox Christmas. A ceasefire would not only offer Russian troops the chance to regroup, it would also deprive Ukraine of the initiative, according to the ISW. “Putin cannot expect Ukraine to honor the terms of this suddenly declared ceasefire, he may have called for the ceasefire to portray Ukraine as unaccommodating and unwilling to negotiate,” the report said.
+++ 05:48 Lindner on tank delivery: It was right not to go it alone +++
FDP leader Christian Lindner defends Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s line on the delivery of tanks to Ukraine. The delivery of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle was “in line with the allies,” the finance minister wrote on Twitter. “It was right not to go it alone, even if decisions can be made more quickly in future. Ukraine’s staying power must remain greater than Putin’s cruelty.”
+++ 04:52 ambassador of Russia accuses USA of prolonging the war +++
Moscow’s ambassador in Washington accuses the US of not wanting to end the war after it announced that it would be supplying armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. All recent US actions directly show that Washington has no desire for a political solution in Ukraine, says Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov, according to the Russian state agency TASS in Washington. “There should be no doubt as to who is responsible for prolonging the recent conflict.”
+++ 03:26 Poll: Three quarters for the dismissal of Lambrecht +++
According to a survey, a large majority of Germans believe that Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht should be fired. In a representative survey by the opinion research institute Civey for the news portal t-online, 77 percent of those questioned are in favor of such a step. 13 percent are of the opinion that the minister should remain in office. 10 percent say they are undecided.
+++ 02:06 USA: Prigozhin seeks control over mines near Bakhmut +++
According to White House estimates, Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, is seeking to take control of the salt and gypsum mines near the Ukrainian-controlled town of Bakhmut. This was announced by a White House official. There are indications that Russia’s “obsession” with capturing Bakhmut is fueled by monetary motives, the official added.
+++ 00:55 Biden: Ukraine war in critical phase +++
US President Joe Biden sees the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine at a critical juncture. Biden says so at a cabinet meeting in the White House. The United States and its allies would “further increase support for Ukraine,” says Biden, referring to the recent pledge by the United States and Germany to also supply infantry fighting vehicles to Kyiv for the first time. The President also stresses: “We will help Ukraine to defend itself against air strikes”. Therefore, Germany will also provide an anti-aircraft system of the “Patriot” type, in addition to the one system that the USA had already promised. The Patriots are “working well, and the Russians are starting to see that they’re working well,” Biden said.
+++ 23:33 Habeck: Putin’s ceasefire is not very credible +++
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck can understand why Ukraine is not going along with the ceasefire announced by Kremlin chief Putin, he explains in an interview with Jan Hofer on RTL Direkt. “If you yourself rain down bombs and rockets on New Year’s Eve or over the Christmas period in Ukraine, then of course – no matter how nice armistices are – it’s not very credible if you then announce or call them out unilaterally,” said Habeck. The Greens politician also emphasizes that Ukraine must set the conditions for talks with Russia itself. “Of course there is a need to start talks at some point. Every day of the war is terrible and bad. However, on conditions that Ukraine has to set.”
+++ 22:00 Expert Thiele: Missing tanks are “not the main problem” in Ukraine +++
Ukraine is now receiving tanks from Germany, USA and France. Military expert Ralph Thiele is skeptical about this, because tanks are only really helpful under very specific circumstances. According to him, the Ukrainian soldiers have a completely different main problem.
+++ 21:42 Selenskyj thanks Scholz for the announced Patriot delivery and Makeiev posts hearts +++
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the announced delivery of a Patriot air defense system. “Together with the previously delivered Iris-T system and the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, Germany is making an important contribution to intercepting all Russian missiles!” Zelenskyj wrote on Twitter. The Ukrainian head of state has not yet commented on the Marder-type armored personnel carriers, which the federal government has also promised. The Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev meanwhile wrote the hashtags “#Patriot” and “#Marder” on Twitter as well as three black, red and gold hearts and the words “#Thank you Germany”.
+++ 21:25 US State Department: pause in fighting could be exploited by Moscow +++
The US State Department has described Putin’s announced ceasefire as “cynical” in the face of Moscow’s recent attacks on Ukraine on New Year’s Day. US State Department spokesman Ned Price added that a temporary lull in fighting could be exploited by Moscow to “rearm, regroup, and eventually attack again.”
+++ 21:08 crew chief: will respond to Ukrainian attacks despite ceasefire +++
Despite a 36-hour ceasefire ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, Russian troops will continue to retaliate against Ukrainian attacks, an occupation chief has said. “The decision concerns the cessation of initiating fire and offensive actions from our side,” wrote Denis Puschilin, who was deployed by Moscow in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, in the Telegram news service. Puschilin added: “That doesn’t mean we won’t respond to enemy provocations! Or even give the enemy any chance to improve their frontline positions during these holiday hours.”
+++ 20:56 Strack-Zimmermann: “After the marten comes the leopard. I’ll stay tuned” +++
Defense Committee Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has welcomed the US-German decision to supply armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. “It is a great relief that the Federal Government and especially the Federal Chancellery are finally paving the way for tank deliveries to Ukraine. This decision comes very late, but not too late,” said the FDP politician. Demands for it would have worked. “But we won’t give up. After the marten comes the leopard. I’ll keep at it.”
Read more about it here.
+++ 20:37 Does Russia make fallen soldiers unrecognizable? +++
According to estimates, the number of Russian casualties in Ukraine is over 100,000. The Kremlin is silent on this. Already at the beginning of the war there were suspicions that Russia was making its dead disappear. A Ukrainian soldier who tends to the bodies of dead Russians shares his impressions.
You can read earlier developments in the Ukraine war here.