Ukraine/NATO/Russland – der Sammler am 18. Januar 2023

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Zum andauernden russischen Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine der Sammler am 18. Januar 2023:

• Die Debatte über westliche Kampfpanzer-Lieferungen an die Ukraine geht weiter – mit einer nicht ganz unerwarteten Entwicklung: In recht ähnlichen Meldungen berichten die Süddeutsche Zeitung und das Wall Street Journal am (heutigen) Mittwochabend, die Bundesregierung sei zur Genehmigung der Weitergabe von Leopard-Panzern aus deutscher Produktion bereit – wenn die USA auch ihrerseits Abrams-Kampfpanzer an die Ukraine liefern würden. Beide Medien haben in der Darstellung allerdings einen, nun, vermutlich durch die jeweilige nationale Brille bedingten unterschiedlichen Twist.

Aus dem Bericht des Wall Street Journal:

Germany won’t allow allies to ship German-made tanks to Ukraine to help its defense against Russia nor send its own systems unless the U.S. agrees to send American made battle tanks, senior German officials said on Wednesday.  (…)
Several European governments have said they are ready to send German-made tanks to Ukraine, including Poland, Finland and Denmark, if they get approval from Berlin, though none has made a formal request. (…) Berlin has been concerned for some time that such a step could drag the country into a direct confrontation with Russia.

Aus der Süddeutschen Zeitung (Link aus bekannten Gründen nicht):

Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (SPD) ist nach Informationen der Süddeutschen Zeitung offenbar zur Lieferung von Leopard-2-Kampfpanzern an die Ukraine bereit, allerdings unter einer Bedingung. In einem Telefonat mit US-Präsident Joe Biden am Dienstag stellte Scholz demnach klar, dass Deutschland dem Druck zur Lieferung nur nachgeben könne, wenn die USA ihrerseits Kampfpanzer vom Typ Abrams liefern. (…)
Biden legte sich in dem Gespräch offenbar noch nicht fest. Die USA verlangen offenbar, dass das Kanzleramt bei einer Beteiligung an einer solchen Kampfpanzer-Lieferung nicht nur anderen Staaten die Lieferung von Leopard-2-Kampfpanzern erlaubt, sondern auch selbst welche liefert.

Am (morgigen) Donnerstag wird US-Verteidigungsminister Lloyd Austin in Berlin erwartet und mit seinem dann kurz zuvor ins Amt gekommenen neuen deutschen Kollegen Boris Pistorius zusammentreffen. Am Freitag findet auf dem US-Luftwaffenstützpunkt Ramstein in der Pfalz ein Treffen der so genannten Ukraine-Kontaktgruppe statt, bei dem die Frage weiterer Waffenlieferungen im Vordergrund stehen dürfte.

Ergänzung: Austin traf bereits am Mittwochabend in Berlin ein – und kündigte an, er werde nicht nur den deutschen Verteidigungsminister treffen, sondern auch den Chef des Kanzleramts, Wolfgang Schmidt. Im Kanzleramt wird ja letztendlich die Entscheidung über die deutsche Haltung zu Leopard-Lieferungen getroffen:

• Die Internationale Atomenergieagentur IAEA hat, wie angekündigt, in den ukrainischen Atomkraftwerken Monitoring-Teams installiert. Aus der Mitteilung der ukrainischen Regierung:

Today, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is finalizing the stationing of permanent missions at Ukrainian nuclear power plants: Rivne, Chornobyl and Pivdennoukrainska NPPs. In the coming days, the mission at Khmelnytsky NPP is to start working. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal during a joint press briefing with the IAEA Director General following the meeting on January 18.
„For the first time in the history of mankind, nuclear facilities have become an element of an offensive military strategy. Today, I heard from Director General Rafael Grossi assurances of full support from the IAEA for our efforts to ensure nuclear safety, including at the Zaporizhzhia NPP,“ the Prime Minister stressed.
According to Denys Shmyhal, this primarily concerns the complete withdrawal of russian troops and rosatom personnel from the plant and the return of ZNPP under the control of Ukrainian authorities. According to him, Mr. Grossi assured that the IAEA would never recognize russia as the owner of the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia NPP. (…)
For his part, Rafael Grossi noted that the IAEA missions to Ukrainian NPPs would operate at the official request of the Government of Ukraine. They will provide advice and technical assistance. According to him, the missions‘ work should continue during wartime and for some time afterwards to restore everything that was damaged.

• Das britische Intel Update:

By the end of 16 January 2023, Ukrainian forces had highly likely withdrawn from the Donbas town of Soledar, leaving Russian military and Wagner Group proxy forces in control. Ukrainian forces have likely established new defensive lines to the west.
Russia’s advance on Soledar primarily consisted of Wagner forces and was a supporting operation aimed to enable the eventual envelopment of the larger settlement of Bakhmut. One of Ukraine’s two main supply routes into Bakhmut is now under increasing pressure.

• Das Morgenbriefing des ukrainischen Generalstabs:

Situation update of General Staff of UAF regarding russian invasion as of 6 a.m., January 18, 2023
Day 329 of the russian full-scale invasion has begun.
During the day of January 17, the enemy launched 6x missile attacks, 3x of them targeting civilian facilities in Kup’yans’k and Kramatorsk, as well as 14x air strikes. The occupant forces also launched 95x MLRS attacks.
The threat of air and missile strikes by the russian federation on civilian targets across Ukraine remains high.
The enemy focuses its main efforts on offensive operations on Bakhmut axis. Occupant forces’ offensive on Avdiivka axis is unsuccessful.
Thus, units of the Ukrainian Defence Forces repelled the occupant forces’ attacks in the vicinities of settlements of Bilohorivka (Luhansk Oblast), Sil’, Krasna Hora, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Vodyane, Nevel’s’ke, Mar’inka, and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast).
Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the situation remains stable. No offensive groups of the adversary were found in the areas bordering Ukraine. The republic of belarus continues to support the russian armed aggression. Joint exercises of the aircraft component of the regional grouping of the armed forces of russia and belarus continue at the airfields and in the airspace of belarus.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are preventing provocative actions or sabotage by the adversary, air defense is being reinforced.
During the day of January 17, the adversary continued shelling all along the line of contact with artillery and mortars. The following settlements were shelled: Mykolaivka (Chernihiv oblast); Rivne, Atyns’ke, Iskryskivshchyna, and Novodmytrivka (Sumy oblast); Veterynarne, Krasne, Luk’yantsi, Neskuchne, Starytsya, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Vovchans’k, Rybalkyne, Bilyi Kolodyaz’, Nesterne, Zemlyanky, Novomlyns’k, Bolohivka, Kam’yanka, and Dvorichna (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup’yans’k axis: the vicinities of Kyslivka, Berestove, Kotlyarivka, Vyshneve, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), as well as Novoselivs’ke, Stel’makhivka, and Andriivka (Luhansk oblast) were under fire.
Lyman axis: the employed all available ground firepower to shell the vicinities of settlements of Makiivka, Ploshchanka, Nevs’ke, Chervonopopivka, Kreminna, Dibrova (Luhansk oblast), Terny, and Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Verkhn’okam’yans’ke, Spirne, Vyimka, Bilohorivka, Vesele, Soledar, Krasna Hora, Paraskoviivka, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka, Ozaryanivka, Druzhba, Zalizne, and New York (Donetsk oblast) were hit by enemy artillery.
Avdiivka axis: Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomais’ke, Nevel’s’ke, Heorhiivka, Mar’inka, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) came under enemy fire.
Novopavlivka axis: the adversary fired artillery and mortars at Vuhledar, Mykil’s’ki Dachi, and Prechystivka (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: more than 10x settlements were damaged by artillery fire, in particular Vremivka, Novopil’ (Donetsk oblast), Temyrivka, Shcherbaky, Stepove, Kam’yans’ke, and Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: the occupant forces continue terrorizing civilians. In particular, Antonivka and Kherson came under mortar and artillery shelling, civilians suffered.
Due to the small number of collaborators, the invaders are forced to bring clerks from the russian federation to perform the administrative functions of the occupation regime in the temporarily occupied territories. In addition, there is a shortage of workers in various fields, because local residents are unwilling to cooperate with the occupant forces. Therefore, russians attempt to bring workers from russia and the temporarily occupied Crimea.
During the day of January 17, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 12x air strikes on the concentrations of the enemy, as well as 4x air strikes on the positions of its anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, anti-aircraft gunners destroyed 1x Su-25 aircraft of the occupants in the vicinity of Soledar.
Units of the missile troops and artillery of the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit 2x command posts, as well as 5x concentrations of the invaders, 1x ammunition depot, 1x electronic warfare station, and 1x radio-location station.

• Das Briefing des russischen Verteidigungsministeriums:

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine (18 January 2023)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kupyansk direction, artillery of the Western Military District has launched strikes at the units from 14th, 92nd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), and 93rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Dvurechnoye, Krakhmalnoye (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic). Over 60 Ukrainian personnel, one armoured personnel carrier, two pickups, two motor vehicles, and one U.S.-manufactured M-777 artillery system have been eliminated.
In Krasny Liman direction, artillery of the Central Military District and Airborne Troops, Army and Ground-Attack Aviation have launched strikes at the concentrations of manpower of the units from 92nd Mechanised, 80th and 95th airborne assault brigades of the AFU near Stelmakhovka, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic), as well as Serebryanskoye forestry.
The AFU have lost a total of over 90 personnel, one infantry fighting vehicle, and three armoured fighting vehicles.
Two U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 and AN/TPQ-48 counterbattery warfare radars, as well as one ST-68 target detection and tracking radar have been destroyed.
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 Sol (Donetsk People’s Republic). Up to 90 Ukrainian personnel, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one Grad multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) have been eliminated.
One AFU depot of ordnance for HIMARS and Grad MLRS has been destroyed near Kramatorsk.
In South Donetsk direction, artillery units of the Eastern and Southern military districts, as well as the Pacific Fleet’s Marines, have foiled the attempts made by up to three AFU assault groups to launch an attack towards Stepnoye, Sladkoye, and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People’s Republic). The enemy has lost up to 90 Ukrainian personnel, four armoured fighting vehicles, one pickup, and seven motor vehicles.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 76 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 103 areas.
Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down one Su-25 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Yablonovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Air defence facilities have shot down seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Krivosheyevka, Kremennaya, Chervonopopovka, and Krasnorechenskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic), and intercepted one rocket launched by Olkha MLRS near Vladimirovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
In total, 373 airplanes and 200 helicopters, 2,898 unmanned aerial vehicles, 401 air defence missile systems, 7,563 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 985 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 3,855 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 8,101 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.

• Das Abendbriefing des ukrainischen Generalstabs:

Situation update of General Staff of UAF regarding russian invasion as of 18.00, 18th January, 2023
The three hundred and twenty-ninth day of the heroic stand-off of the Ukrainian people against the russian military invasion began.
During the day, the enemy carried out 22 airstrikes and carried out more than 50 attacks from MLRS.
The threat of russian air and missile strikes remains high throughout Ukraine.
The enemy does not give up its intentions to capture the Donetsk Oblast within the administrative borders. The main efforts are concentrated on conducting an offensive along the Bakhmut axis. Conducts unsuccessful offensive actions on the Avdiiv axis. In addition, they are trying to improve the tactical position on the Lyman axis.
Zaporizhzhia axis: russians carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the areas of the settlements of Orihiv and Gulyaipole. The enemy is defending on the Kupyansk, Novopavlivsk and Kherson axes.
Volyn, Polissya, Siversk and Slobozhansk axes: the situation has not changed significantly, and no offensive groups of the enemy have been detected. Joint exercises of the Air and Space Forces of the russian federation and the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the republic of belarus are ongoing on the territory of the republic of belarus. Practical tasks on the interaction of air and ground components in offensive operations are being worked out.
The areas of the settlements of Rivne and Novodmytrivka in the Sumy Oblast and Budarka, Zemlianka, Gatyshche, Vovchansk, Ternova, Chugunivka, Novomlynsk and Dvorichna in the Kharkiv Oblast were hit by mortar and artillery fire.
Kupyansk axis: the enemy shelled the districts of Petropavlivka, Kyslivka, Ivanivka, Krokhmalne, Synkivka, Berestove, and Tabaivka in the Kharkiv Oblast and Stelmakhivka in the Luhansk Oblast.
Lyman axis: Druzhelyubivka in the Kharkiv Oblast and Novoyehorivka, Nevske, Chervonpopivka and Dibrova in the Luhansk Oblast were under enemy fire.
Bakhmut axis: areas of 13 settlements were affected by fire. Among them are Verkhnokamianske, Bilogorivka, Vesele, Soledar, Krasna Gora, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka and Druzhba of the Donetsk Oblast.
Avdiivka axis: Avdiivka, Vodyane, Nevelske, Georgiivka, Maryinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast were shelled.
Novopavlivsk axis: Velyka Novosilka, Zolota Nyva and Ugledar of the Donetsk Oblast were hit by the enemy fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: more than 15 settlements were affected by artillery fire, in particular, Vremivka and Novopil in Donnechyna and Orihiv, Poltavka, Malynivka, Gulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Stepove, Kamianske and Plavni in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Kherson axis: the areas of Antonivka, Berehove, Vesele, Fedorivka, L`vove, and Kherson were hit by MLRS and barrel artillery. Civilians suffered again.
Russian occupying forces do not stop looting the temporarily occupied territories. Thus, in the settlements of Gornostaivka, Kairy, Bratolyubivka, and Nyzhni Sirogozy of the Kherson Oblast, the occupiers, moving in groups of 10-15 people, search the empty houses of local residents and take away all household appliances and furniture.
During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces made 13 strikes on enemy concentration areas and 3 strikes on the positions of its anti-aircraft missile systems.
In addition, our defenders shot down an enemy Ka-52 helicopter and an experimental russian reconnaissance UAV „Merlin-VR“.
At the same time, units of missile and artillery troops of the Defense Forces of Ukraine hit 1 control point, 2 areas of concentration of the occupiers‘ manpower, and 1 radio-electronic warfare station.