The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on January 23 2023

Zelenskyy on deputy minister dismissal, Johnson visit

Tonight a big panic is currently happening in the Ukrainian government, Ministers are being fired  and officials arrested

🇺🇦 There are huge flocks of crows over Kiev. Locals write in social networks that they have never seen such huge flocks – “harbingers of trouble”. pic.twitter.com/mT9BAAFrUW

— AZ 🛰ðŸŒðŸŒðŸŒŽ (@AZgeopolitics) January 23, 2023

Zelenskyy illegally removes politicians he does not like, but he himself can also be removed by blaming him for his former work on Russian TV, former Leonid Kuchma adviser Oleh Soskin said on his YouTube channel.

Soskin suggested looking at the showman’s New Year’s Eve appearances in Russia ten years ago, how he glorified Putin and other Russian officials there. “So for that alone, Zelensky should be turned in immediately, so to speak,” he believes.

The current policy of the Kiev authorities to persecute undesirable politicians is illegal, Soskin believes and cites the unjustified dismissal of the head of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, Tupitskyy, and the dismissal of the mayor of Chernihiv, Atroshenko.

Why not accuse the Ukrainian president using the same analogy, recalling his acting activities? – asked his subscribers an adviser to the Ukrainian president.

Zelensky Promises To Fight Ukrainian Corruption

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has pledged to address his country’s chronic problem of corruption after allegations of suspicious military recruitment practices by senior officials.

“There will be no return to what used to be in the past, to the way various people close to state institutions or those who spent their entire lives chasing a chair used to live,” he said. “It will all be fair.”

His promise came after acting minister of regional development Vasyl Lozinsky was reportedly detained for accepting bribes, and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov allegedly secured food at inflated prices – which he denies.

BREAKING: Deputy Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office resigns. President Zelensky says personnel changes will be made today and tomorrow.

In addition, a decree has been signed by Zelensky barring Ukrainian government officials from leaving the country. In his daily address, he says it will apply to law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and those who have to work for the state and in the state.

Heads of military civil administration in Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson will resign as well, according to Ukrainian media

It’s also been reported that several leaders of the Regional State Administration associated with former Deputy Head Tymoshenko could be fired.

Zelensky Promises To Fight Ukrainian Corruption

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has pledged to address his country’s chronic problem of corruption after allegations of suspicious military recruitment practices by senior officials.

“There will be no return to what used to be in the past, to the way various people close to state institutions or those who spent their entire lives chasing a chair used to live,” he said. “It will all be fair.”

His promise came after acting minister of regional development Vasyl Lozinsky was reportedly detained for accepting bribes, and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov allegedly secured food at inflated prices – which he denies.

The deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kirill Tymoshenko resigned.He repeatedly received accusations from the owners of Ukraine of stealing humanitarian aid

The governors of the Kherson (Ukrainian), Sumy, Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions also resigned

Sudden evening – (almost overnight) – personnel decisions in Ukraine, what do they mean?

A personnel revolution before the imminent storm

First of all, – official information: “Already there are personnel decisions – some of them today, some tomorrow – concerning different level managers in ministries and other central government bodies, in regions, and in the law enforcement system.” -Zelensky

I mean at least (and this is confirmed by the Ukrainian media) the deputy head of the President’s Office (analog of our AP), Kirill Timoshenko, the heads of Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and the Ukrainian-controlled parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhya
As a result, some of those, who were considered to be “British creatures” (and even had a corresponding secret passport), are under criminal investigation; the process is being initiated by the US directly and by their “parallel power structures” like NABU

It is a fact that there are serious contradictions between SBU and SDU, so serious that the heads of these bodies had to deny them publicly (!) the other day. It is related to the fact that the SBU is closely supervised by the US, while the SDU is more independent (despite the fact that the Pentagon shares information with the SDU).

👉 One could argue that the deeper reason is the contradictions between the CIA and the Pentagon, which are also reflected in Ukrainian politics, but that would be a conspiracy theory.

👉 And as for the dismissals, – Tymoshenko is a bargaining chip instead of Ermak, whom the curators have been after for a long time, but the heads of regions are a sure sign that Ukraine is not just expecting but is sure of Russia’s offensive. The replacements are not only for the more trustworthy, but also for the more firm and resolute. In essence, this is the formation of military administrations.

Budanov confirmed that Kireev was killed by the SBU – he said that the murder happened so that he could not drag out the negotiation process

In Ukraine, an all-out war between the GUR and the SBU continues. According to the head of military intelligence, Kirill Budanov, Denis Kireev was indeed killed by members of the Security Service of Ukraine. At the same time, Budanov notes, the negotiator had an important task – to stretch the process in order to buy time for the militants. In his opinion, this was done so that Kireev did not fulfill his main task.

“I can express absolutely my subjective opinion. I want to emphasize this again: the one who deliberately did this had the goal of preventing us from interfering in someone else’s game and dragging out this process in order to allow our Armed Forces, let’s say, to take certain actions to repulse the enemy, ” he said.

Budanov also stated that he really believes that the SBU “killed a Ukrainian hero.” According to him, the fact of the crime was recorded in the investigation. However, he did not focus on whether the resignation of the ex-head of the service, Ivan Bakanov, who is a friend of Zelensky, is connected with this murder.

Kiev is preparing for an attack by the Russian army: defense lines are being actively created.

Protective structures and firing points are being installed in possible directions from where the Russian Armed Forces can attack . For this purpose, reinforced concrete structures are used, which are installed below the surface of the ground for maximum protection.

If Russia stops hitting Ukrainian infrastructure, the EU will encourage Kyiv to a peace agreement – Italian Foreign Minister Tajani

“European countries will be able to ask Ukraine to start peace talks only if Russia stops striking infrastructure facilities,” said the head of the diplomatic department, Antonio Tajani, apparently voicing the common desire of the countries of the Old World (Germany, France, Italy), which are tired from spending on Ukraine.

Gradually, EU members are letting go of all the bravado about the 1991 borders, the Ukrainian Crimea, and the counter-offensive in the Donbass.

Wasserman – about how the special operation will end: we will not take Krakow. But everything that is ours must be freed from terrorists. [And what is ours?] Russia is everything that at the time of my birth was called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. At the moment, Ukraine has 19 regions, including Kiev. Strictly speaking, there may be some exceptions. For example, a considerable part of Subcarpathian Russia may consider that Hungary is closer to it than Russia. Well, in any case, for each of the regions, residents will decide with whom they live. There will be referendums for each region separately. [When will it be?] Next year. I can’t guess, it all depends on how soon the United States will do away with the EU industry and will no longer need Ukraine as a formal justification for this chaos

The chairman of the US House Committee on Foreign Relations, Michael McCaul, has said that the US side is obliged to hand over operational and tactical ballistic missiles ATACMS for the needs of the Ukrainian army.

According to the politician, this way, the Ukrainians can “attack Crimea.” McCaul added that “senior advisers” and Ukrainian officials had already spoken about the importance of attacking the Russian peninsula with ATACMS missiles.

McCaul condemned US President Biden’s team for refusing to hand over the missiles to Ukrainian forces. The congressman called it cowardice, saying such actions were based on “false fears of escalation” and only served to prolong the armed conflict.

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US advises Kiev to pause offensive until weapons are delivered

Arestovych calls the Ukrainian anthem a “national disaster.”— We will fight until we all die.
 
“Very curious lines in our anthem. It goes like this: “We will lay down our soul and body for our freedom.” Tell me, is there any constructive, social engineering in our anthem? What will happen to the world after the victory? “There’s only ‘we shall lay down our soul and body’, and then what?” The ex-adviser was indignant.

In Arestovich’s opinion, a depressing anthem and rancor among the leadership – will lead the Ukrainian nation to ruin.

“The combination of ‘let us lay down our soul and body,’ that is, we will fight until we are all dead, and the Black Rada, ‘we will kill each other, only so that someone does not consider himself a new hetman,’ is murderous for us.”

The combination of these two archetypes for us is death! a national catastrophe! A black hole of the Ukrainian collective unconscious,” Arestovich laments.

Zaporozhye direction (22.01.23) – Kamianske

Today our troops attacked and drove the enemy out of the settlement. Kamenskoye.

It has not been cleared yet (I think it will be tomorrow), but according to my information, the enemy has withdrawn to the heights between Kamensky and Stepnogorsk and is already building his defense there.

The Battle for the city of OREKHOV has begun┃NATO is Desperately Trying to Stop the Russian Advance

The attack on Zaporozhye: The Russian army crossed the Yancher River and entered Kamyanske after fighting

▪️”I confirm the information about the successful crossing of the Yancherkak River by Russian soldiers in the Zaporozhye direction and about the battles on the right bank of the river for the settlement of Kamenskoye,” said Vladimir Rogov, head of the “We are with Russia” movement and member of the regional administration.

▪️This is a strategically important village on the banks of the river at its confluence with the Kakhovka reservoir of the Dnieper, 1.5 km west of the previously liberated village of Lobkove. The Moscow-Simferopol highway (E105) passes through Kamenskoye. There is a railway nearby, Plavni station is 1 km away.

▪️Kamenskoye (Kamyanske) is an important point, control over which allowed the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to prevent our troops from advancing towards Stepnogorsk and then Zaporozhye.
It was from this village that the Armed Forces of Ukraine often attacked civilians living in the liberated part of the Zaporozhye region.

Why is Kamenskoye so important?

I confirm the information about the successful crossing of the Yancherkak River (https://t.me/vrogov/7275) by Russian soldiers in the Zaporozhye direction and about the battles on the right bank of the river outside the settlement. Kamenskoe.

This village is located on the banks of the Yanchekrak River at its confluence with the Kakhovka Reservoir of the Dnieper, 1.5 km west of the village of Lobkovoe, which was liberated yesterday. The village of Plavni borders on Kamensky. The Moscow-Simferopol highway (E 105) passes through Kamenskoye. There is a railway nearby, Plavni station is 1km away.

It was from this village that AFU often attacked civilians living in the liberated part of the Zaporozhye region P.S. there is no still visual photo or video confirmation of capturing of Kamenskoye so we wait for additional evidence not even Rogov provided such evidences so we wait…

Situation in the #Donetsk – #Zaporozhye Direction until 18:00 on 23 Jan 2023

♦️#Zaporozhye Sector:

▪️ Russian units have pushed the 3rd Battalion forces of the AFU’s 65th Mechanized Brigade out of #Kamenskoye village. However, the RF Armed Forces fighters have not yet entered the settlement, as Ukrainian artillery is shelling the place intensively. At the moment, the settlement is in the “grey zone”.

♦️#Orekhov Section:

▪️ The AFU regrouped and managed to hold the Malye Shcherbaki – #Shcherbaki – #Novoandreyevka – #Novodanilovka line. Active counterbattery fighting continues along the frontline.

▪️ The offensive on a broad front is hampered by the AFU’s remote mining with M73 cluster munitions. The RF Armed Forces are conducting local operations into the Ukrainian lines and directing their artillery at the fire positions of the AFU.

▪️ At the same time, the Ukrainian command expects a renewed assault in the #Orekhov and #Pologi sectors. 18 men were moved to reinforce the 103rd Battalion of the 108th Territorial Defence Brigade in the forward positions on the #Belogorje – #Charivnoje line.

▪️ In the vicinity of #Tavriyskoye the 44th Brigade artillery crews have been deployed, a BM-21 Grad MLRS launcher was transferred to #Orekhov, and additional crews of the 155 mm M777 howitzers have arrived in the forward positions of the 65th Mechanized Brigade.

♦️#Pologi Sector:

▪️ Units of the AFU’s 102nd Territorial Defence Brigade are setting up fire positions and strongholds in #Chervonoye and #Malinovka.

♦️#Vremyevka Sector:

▪️ RF Armed Forces conducted a reconnaissance attack on the position of the 231st Battalion of the AFU’s 128th Territorial Defence Brigade in #Vremyevka.

▪️ To reinforce the defence, the 43rd Artillery Brigade of the AFU has been moved to Bolshaya (Velikaya) Novosyolka, and observation posts have been set up at the Bolshaya Novosyolka – #Novosyolka line.

​ The main statements of the DPR Acting Head Denis Pushilin on the TV channel “Russia-24″:

 ðŸ”¹ Russian units are advancing on almost all sections of the contact line in the DPR;

 ðŸ”¹ Important heights around Kleshcheevka south of Artemovsk are almost completely liberated by Russian forces;

 ðŸ”¹ Ukrainian security forces destroyed Soledar, there were practically no unharmed buildings and structures left in the city;

 ðŸ”¹ The “Artemsol” enterprise in Soledar will be restored.

Video shows Ukrainian flag in embattled Bakhmut

Units of PMC “Wagner” are moving in the southern and eastern parts of Bakhmut (Artemovsk)

According to Russian channels the fighters of PMC “Wagner” continue their successful advance in Bakhmut. The fighting is going on in the eastern and southern parts of the city. Russian forces are advancing from the side of Opytne.

Also, Wagner fighters are actively storming Krasnaya Gora north of Bakhmut. The AFU suffers high losses. After the village is completely captured, Russian forces will be able to enter directly into the northern part of Bakhmut.

At present, the main task in the Bakhmut direction of the Wagner PMC remains to take the city at least into an operational encirclement. and Russian fighters are approaching its implementation.

Gradual pressure – heavy fighting near Artemovsk continues

No radical changes have taken place here today. The Vagner PMCs gradually increase their pressure and continue moving deep into Artemovsk and around it in an arc from south to west.

Today, fighting was reported on the north-eastern and south-eastern outskirts in the Meat Factory and Zabakhmutka districts. In the south, where advances are also underway, reports from the ground indicate that a residential area on the Opytnoye side has been occupied.

Around the city in the north heavy fighting continues near Paraskoviyivka and Krasnaya Hora, where the AFU continue to resist stubbornly. To the southwest, there was an advance from Kleshcheyevka towards Krasnye (Ivanivske), located on the Artemovsk-Kostyantynivka highway.

Despite heavy losses, the enemy holds the town, and there is no reason to speak of any encirclement. Operational encirclement can be discussed when Paraskoviyivka is taken (i.e., the Artemovsk-Slaviansk highway is closed) and when at least fire control of the Artemovsk-Konstantinovka and Artemovsk-Chasov Yar routes is ensured.

Russian invasion of Ukraine [23 Jan 2023] ‘Today’

Russian Defence Ministry Report on the Progress of the Special Military Operation in Ukraine (23 January 2023)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

💥 In Kupyansk direction, the artillery of the Western Military District has launched strikes at the concentrations of manpower from 14th and 92nd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) near Dvurechnaya, Berestovoye (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic).

◽️ Over 40 Ukrainian personnel, and 1 motor vehicle have been eliminated.

💥 In Krasny Liman direction, the artillery of the Central Military District and Airborne Troops have neutralised the units from 80th and 95th airborne assault brigades of the AFU near Serebryanskoye forestry.

◽️ The enemy has lost up to 70 personnel, 4 armoured fighting vehicles, and 2 U.S.-manufactured counterbattery warfare radars (AN/TPQ-37 and AN/TPQ-50).

💥 In Donetsk direction, volunteers of assault detachments, supported by Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Southern Military District, have liberated Krasnopolye (Donetsk People’s Republic).

◽️ Over 60 personnel, 2 armoured fighting vehicles, 3 motor vehicles, 2 howitzers (Msta-B and D-30), as well as 1 U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar have been eliminated.

💥 In Zaporozhye direction, complex fire strikes, launched by the forces of the Eastern Military District at AFU units, have resulted in the elimination of up to 30 Ukrainian personnel, 3 motor vehicles, and 1 fighting vehicle equipped with Grad multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS).

💥 In Dnepr direction, the provisional base of a unit from 107th Rocket Artillery Brigade has been neutralised by high-precision ground-based armament near Marganets (Dnepropetrovsk region).

◽️ The strike has resulted in the elimination of one launching ramp of U.S.-manufactured HIMARS MLRS, its crew, and two motor vehicles.

💥 Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 63 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 97 areas.

💥 Air defence facilities have shot down 3 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Kremennaya (Lugansk People’s Republic), and Zhovtnevoye (Kharkov region).

◽️ Moreover, 14 rocket-propelled projectiles, launched by HIMARS MLRS, have been intercepted near Donesk, Avdeyevka, Pilipchatino (Donetsk People’s Republic), and Chervonopopovka (Lugansk People’s Republic).

Special Operation, 23 Jan 2023, Main; pub. 22:44

▪️ The village of #Krasnopolye has been liberated in the DPR, the Russian Ministry of Defence said;

▪️ Ukrainian troops knocked out from the village of #Kamenskoye in #Zaporozhye region, local authorities said;

▪️ Fighting is going on in the eastern and southern parts of #Artyomovsk, soon it will be possible to talk about operational encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the city, Akhmat commander Alaudinov said;

▪️ Russian units practically control important heights in the vicinity of the liberated village of #Kleshchiyevka, this gives additional opportunities for an offensive on #Artyomovsk, Pushilin said;

▪️ Head of Foreign Intelligence Service, Naryshkin, said that the Ukrainian army is stockpiling Western weapons and ammunition on the territories of nuclear power plants;
 
▪️ #Russia is not abandoning negotiations on #Ukraine, but the longer the West avoids them, the more difficult the situation will become, Lavrov said;
 
▪️ No conditions for negotiations between #Russia and #Ukraine now exist either de facto or de jure, Peskov said;

▪️ The next 2-3 weeks will be decisive for the situation in #Ukraine, European Council head Michel said;
 
▪️ #Poland’s former foreign minister Sikorski has said that in the initial stage of the Russian special operation, #Warsaw considered the option of dividing #Ukraine;

▪️ #Germany will find itself in international isolation if it does not agree to supply #Ukraine with Leopard tanks, Polish deputy foreign minister said;
 
▪️ #Estonia to give Ukraine all its 155-mm howitzers, Estonian ambassador in #Kiev said;
 
▪️ Pentagon said it expects to deliver Bradley BMPs to #Ukraine in the coming weeks.

War Map and the Situation on the Fronts in the Evening of 23 Jan 2023; pub. 00:05⚡️

📜 Finally the very report (https://t.me/readovkanews/51197) from #Soledar by our war correspondent Anastasia Yelsukova on the #Sol station came out. #Sol is a strategically important point for further advancement of Russian forces and exsanguination of the AFU grouping in #Artyomovsk and #Seversk. Nastya was seriously wounded during filming (https://t.me/readovkanews/51091), but managed to hand over the footage before being taken to the operating theatre. (See on the map under number 1)

⚔️ Situation on the Fronts for the past Day

♦️#Svatovo – #Kremennaya Direction:

In the #Kupyansk area the positional struggle continues, but ours lose no time and burn (https://t.me/razved_dozor/3434) the positions of the AFU with the help of Grad MLRS and TOS Solntsepek. In the vicinity of #Dvurechnaya, #Berestovoye in #Kharkov Region and #Novoselovskoye in the LPR, artillery of the Western Military District (ZVO) fired on the positions of two AFU brigades. Russian artillery also hit two brigades of militants near #Serebryanskoye forestry. Two American AN/TPQ-50 radars were destroyed during the strike. (See on the map under number 3)

♦️#Artyomovsk (#Bakhmut) Direction:

“Orchestrants” continue their offensive (https://t.me/readovkanews/51247) in the direction of #Razdolovka and #Blagodatnoye. There is also fighting at Krasnaya Gora. In the vicinity of #Kleshchiyevka, Wagner PMC fighters are advancing towards #Krasnoye, located on the #Artyomovsk – #Konstantinovka highway, the capture of which will adversely affect the AFU’s ability to defend #Artyomovsk. In the city itself, the attackers have occupied a residential area on the south side of the city and also advanced in the areas of Meat Processing Plant and Zabakhmutka.

♦️#Zaporozhye Direction:

The Russian army is crushing the enemy near #Kamenskoye, having previously knocked out the AFU, but ours have not yet entered the village, which is now in the “grey zone”. At the same time in the #Orekhov section the AFU have held the line Malye Shcherbaki – #Novodanilovka. The RF Armed Forces have now completed the clearing of the village of #Lobkovoye. (See on the map under number 2)

Special operation, January 23. The main thing from RIA Novosti:

▪️ The settlement of Krasnopolye was liberated in the DPR, the RF Ministry of Defense reported;

▪️ Ukrainian troops were driven out of the village of Kamenskoye in the Zaporozhye region, local authorities said;

▪️ Fights are going on in the eastern and southern parts of Artemovsk, soon it will be possible to talk about the operational encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the city, said Akhmat commander Alaudinov;

▪️ Russian units practically control important heights in the vicinity of the liberated village of Kleshcheevka, this gives additional opportunities to attack Artemovsk, Pushilin said;

▪️ The head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Naryshkin, said that the Ukrainian army is stockpiling Western weapons and ammunition on the territories of nuclear power plants;
 
▪️ Russia does not refuse negotiations on Ukraine, but the longer the West avoids them, the more difficult the situation, Lavrov said;
 
▪️ There are no conditions for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine now, either de facto or de jure, Peskov said;

▪️ The next 2-3 weeks will be decisive in the situation in Ukraine, says the head of the European Council Michel;
 
▪️ Ex-Foreign Minister of Poland Sikorsky said that at the initial stage of the Russian special operation, Warsaw considered the option of dividing Ukraine;

▪️ Germany will be in international isolation if it does not agree to the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, said the deputy head of the Polish Foreign Ministry;
 
▪️ Estonia will give Ukraine all its 155-mm howitzers, said the Estonian ambassador in Kyiv;
 
▪️ The Pentagon said it expects to deliver the Bradley BMP to Ukraine in the coming weeks.

A Russian Invasion of Estonia

Significant escalation: Estonia’s foreign minister has announced that he will work with Finland to close the Gulf of Finland to the Russians.  According to all the doctrines of the war, this is a “casus belli” – justified reason for a war.

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Every second was scary and hard until Mariupol was liberated from Ukrainian fascists.

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