The war in Ukraine continues for the 327th day. Here is an update on the latest developments:
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The casualty toll from the latest Russian missile attack on Ukraine continues to rise, with at least 35 civilians killed, including two children.
Despite claims by the Russian Ministry of Defense, fighting in the small salt mining town of Soledar in the Donbas continues.
Russian assaults spearheaded by Wagner Group mercenaries have entered the town and captured large chunks of it. But the Ukrainians are putting up fierce resistance.
The Russian Casualties in Ukraine
The extremely heavy casualty rate that the Russian forces suffer in Ukraine continues. On average, the Russian forces lose approximately 500 soldiers and Wagner Group mercenaries every day.
Although Moscow has created a reserve of approximately 150,000 troops for later offensive operations once the weather permits it, the high rate of casualties on the frontlines might force the Russian Ministry of Defense to deploy some of its reserves to stabilize the front.
It also remains to be seen whether the Ukrainian military will wait to absorb the Russian blow before it launches its own planned counteroffensives.
Overall, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claimed that as of Monday, Ukrainian forces have killed approximately 116,080 Russian troops (and wounded approximately twice to thrice that number), destroyed 286 fighter, attack, bomber, and transport jets, 276 attack and transport helicopters, 3,118 tanks, 2,099 artillery pieces, 6,204 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, 438 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), 16 boats and cutters, 4,870 vehicles and fuel tanks, 220 anti-aircraft batteries, 1,872 tactical unmanned aerial systems, 190 special equipment platforms, such as bridging vehicles, and four mobile Iskander ballistic missile systems, and 749 cruise missiles shot down by the Ukrainian air defenses.
Sweden, Finland, Turkey, and NATO
Meanwhile, the back-and-forth between Sweden, Finland, and Turkey over the admission of the former two to NATO continues.
Turkey is the only NATO member that hasn’t ratified the decision to admit the two Scandinavian countries to the transatlantic alliance.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan demands the extradition of around 130 people—mainly Kurds—to Turkey in order for Ankara to acquiesce and allow Sweden and Finland to join NATO. However, the two Scandinavian countries have been reluctant to bend their own laws to appease Turkey, which has a very poor human rights record.
After witnessing the brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Stockholm and Helsinki, both of which border Russia (Finland by land, Sweden by sea), abandoned decades of neutrality and applied to join NATO.
In both countries, an overwhelming majority of the citizenry wants to join the transatlantic alliance.
Despite being a NATO member, Turkey continues to pursue a very ambiguous strategy that often helps American and Western adversaries, including Russia and Iran.
Meanwhile, the White House is pushing forward an agreement to sell Turkey F-16V Fighting Falcon fighter jets and also upgrade its current fleet.
However, the sale is very unlikely to pass through a Congress that is becoming increasingly more aware of Turkey’s hostility and anti-U.S. and anti-Western sentiments and policies.
Expert Biography: A 19FortyFive Defense and National Security Columnist, Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate.
dave
January 16, 2023 at 8:21 pm
Ukraine`s claims are lies. Scott Ritter max dead Russians 20,000. Colonel MacGregor 35,000. Still haven`t seen a dead Russian soldier other than the POW`s. Ukrainian friends realized that when I told them.Russian dead are low.Ukrainian draft #8 taking place now.
Joe Blow
January 16, 2023 at 8:38 pm
19fortyfive’s analysts are TERRIBLE at their jobs.
The Institute for the Study of War has admitted that Soledar is in Russian hands–and there is no fighting going on in the city.
The lines have moved west, towards Sil, Blahodatne and Paraskoviivka.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is on record of exagerrating Russian losses. I believe the US or UK defense departments gave an estimate a week or so ago that the casualty rate for both sides was about 1:1; with around 100k for each.
Turkey’s delaying on admitting in Sweden & Finland is contingent on them handing over people the Turkish government claims were part of an attempted coup. It’s unlikely Turkey will agree to their admission without significantly sweetening the deal. Or being give over about 1/3 of the political asylum people; including the general who instigated the supposed coup.
Donald
January 17, 2023 at 8:26 am
russian not able to lost soo many ppl , the only one reason – starting a war 24 feb – total is ~200,000 russian troops in ukraine, ~50,000 is fighters, 150,000 is logistics supply chain etc. so according to Ukraine – they destroyed russian army twice 🙂
Serhio
January 17, 2023 at 10:06 pm
There is nothing surprising in Erdogan’s behavior. This is a person of a completely different culture and he is not obliged to behave in a way that is pleasant to the USA. He defends the interests of his country. And he will make the most of the situation. For his consent to the admission of Sweden and Finland to NATO, he will receive the maximum. The US has spat in his face too much for him to forget about it. In the East, they know how to wait and remember grievances.
The better things are for the Russian army at the front, the more Russian soldiers die on the pages of Western media. Author, write more, why feel sorry for them!! 116,000 corpses are not enough, let it be 250,000. No, 300,000 is better. And a million wounded. That’s it, the Russians are finished, you can go drink coffee 🙂
bobby
January 19, 2023 at 3:28 pm
i don’t know what to believe anymore
tony carr
January 20, 2023 at 7:14 pm
I know that I don’t believe much of what I read in the comments of this article
2 of the 5 comments are “complete” nonsense
Rich Latimer
January 23, 2023 at 12:15 pm
Putin’s getting whupped because he doesn’t have his stooge in the White House anymore. Trump was supposed to win in 2020, and the plan was he would keep the U.S. neutral, no aid to Ukraine. We saw the beginning of that in May 2019 when Trump illegally withheld the military aid Congress voted, and then solicited a bribe from Zelenskiy.
Of course he wouldn’t have released it even if Zelenskiy had agreed to phony up some dirt on Biden. Yah, he did release it, sure, but only after Vindman outed his call with Zelenskiy. That’s like the shoplifter who takes the Rolex from his pocket and puts it back in the case when he sees the store detective coming.
This is why Trump is so desperate with his “stolen election” baloney. He can’t help Putin now, so he’s frantic that the Agalarovs are going to call in the money he borrowed from their Crocus Bank in 2013 for the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, at their Crocus City Hall. No legitimate western bank would go anywhere near his businesses. That’s why the Agalarovs, Emin and Aras, set up the June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower with the e-mail from their agent Rob Goldstone to Trump,Jr., promising to provide “highly sensitive” information to use against Clinton. It’s why the Agalarovs’ money launderer Ikrale Kavaladze met with Trump’s money launderer Paul Manafort at the meeting to talk about “adopting Russian orphans.”
ONTIME
January 23, 2023 at 3:34 pm
There is much the msm will not tell you, they are not trustworthy are America’s worst watchdog and are abusive as they deride the public for being sheep….RazzPutin, is a wounded animal, egotistical and arrogant, sick and looking over his shoulder…this makes him dangerous as hell, do not believe the msm…When I see Putin bankrupted, succumb to political pressure, no popular support, rebellion by both the Generals and the oligarchs and an army that will no longer fight…Then I will worry about the new enemy we do not know and only then….
Quartermaster
January 23, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Dave, Ritter is a known liar and was caught out in Iraq. He’s also a convicted sexual offender, and is simply not trustworthy as a source. MacGregor is just as unreliable and has been uniformly wrong about the war.
Rich, Trump told Putin that if he started a fight in Ukraine, the Kremlin would be bombed. Putin started nothing, and Trump sent lethal aid as well.
Joe, so far the taking of Soledar has not been confirmed. ISW is usually reliable, but they don’t get things right all time either.
Chris
January 23, 2023 at 8:40 pm
Russia, Put in is right the way they talk what is happening !
They has learn from their own way in acting this war !
Get rid of everything in Ukraine, not interested what ! Russias way of thinking, like following Lucifer, also called Satan, but be brainwashed telling others are started , not telling they are started by killing human beings! Pleas, open your way of thinking, act in reality and see the truth!
Beginning what is coming soon, it is written !
okupick1vang
January 23, 2023 at 11:28 pm
The split between Moscow & Ukraine was inevitable. For once Ukraine was happy, she worked hard & slowly her confidence came back. Her economy was rising & her popularity was unmatch. The ex controlling boyfriend was jealous and demanded her comeback. When she refused he attack & threaatens his nukes on any of her friends who tried to get in the way. Now it’s been nearly a year & the attack is still going. He has brutally assulted her over & over again. She is beaten but not down & vows to never give in. She’s fighting for her life as we speak. Please her her as she not only fights for her life, but for the sake of humanity. We know the ex bully boyfriend had numerous affairs throughout stay incl. Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan just to name a few. One can assumed they will be his next victim no one knows but this madman isn’t afraid to used nukes on any party who dares to stand in his way. Help bring this ex convict to his knees by supporting Ukrainel. She needs heavy tanks, air missiles, ammunitions & artillaries. Allies like Turkey & Germany should be consel to help, esp. Germany because Russsia is using her & cuts off her gas supplies when she needs it the most. Thi is based on a true story, but the evidense are unverifiable at the moment because of the ongoing conflict!.. P.S. NATO should vote to drop Turkey & Germany and take in Finland & Sweden!
Michael Warhurst
January 26, 2023 at 6:39 pm
The “problem” with Russia started back around 1900 when the Russian Czar refused to let wealthy Wall Street wealthy banksters own the central bank of Russia.
The communists at this time were handing out single sheet communist promo material in Red Square, and had zero money to buy weapons; until Wall Street banksters,on a promise by the communists to give the New York banksters ownership control of the Russian central bank. The Wall Street banksters gave the communists (who at this time were the darlings of Wall Street banksters and media) enough weapons and money to defeat the Czar’s army and demanded that the communists murder the Czar and his whole family., which they consequently did.
However when the communists murdered the Czar and his whole family they also refused to hand over the central.
Suddenly, like the Czar the communists also were BAD really really BAD.
So a second kind of revolution and a kind of permanent state of warfare by other means (economic and political) has ensued against Russia to the present day. Like the communists, Putin, who followed them in power, has also refused to hand over the Russian central bank to Wall Street banksters, and so the bankster war against Putin/Russia is once again in full force and will continue and escalate until Putin, Russia, succumbs to the dictates of Wall Street banksters and hands over control/ownership of the Russian Central bank or is replaced by a more compliant leader of their liking.