Photo : Three Russian missiles hit a residential area in Chernihiv city Source: X/IULIIAMENDEL
Photo : Three Russian missiles hit a residential area in Chernihiv city Source: X/IULIIAMENDEL
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 03 January, The Straits Times reported on the death of three people due to the attacks on both sides of the Ukraine-Russia border. A residential area near the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv saw an attack from three missiles. It led to the death of one person and damaged two houses. Five people were also injured. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had launched over 300 drones and 20 missiles in the first three days of 2025. He also said that most of them were intercepted. Another person died in the Kursk region, hit by a drone. Ukraine’s military said that they launched a high-precision strike on a Russian command post in the Kursk region. According to the governor of Russia’s Bryansk region, a village near the border was subjected to mortar fire, leading to the death of one person. Russia’s military also said that it intercepted four Ukrainian missiles and 10 drones. Russia also claims to have captured most of the territory in the Kursk region from Ukraine.
On 04 January, RFERL reported on the statements of Zelenskyy, hoping that the upcoming US President Donald Trump’s “unpredictability” would help in ending the war with Russia. He said that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was afraid of Trump, who could be a “decisive” factor in the war. He added: “He's very strong and unpredictable, and I would really like to see President Trump's unpredictability apply to Russia.” He also informed about a meeting set to be held with Trump, immediately after he assumes office. He was trying to reduce the gap with Trump through meetings and talks. He further encouraged the idea of deploying western troops in Ukraine, in case of a ceasefire. In addition, he also informed about the important achievements of Ukraine in the war. About the elections, Zelenskyy was unsure whether he would run for a second term. However, he confirmed that elections would only be possible after the martial law is lifted.
On 03 January, Kyiv Post reported on the criminal investigation launched into the 155th Mechanized Brigade, partly trained by France. The unit is also known as the “Anne of Kyiv.” There were allegations of “desertion and abuse of power” as around 1700 soldiers were leaving the unit. There were concerns over the unit’s poor management and training effectiveness. After the unit returned to Ukraine, its commander Col. Dmytro Ryumshin left command and promised that the unit would be fighting in the frontline. Ukraine even obtained official videos from the Foreign Ministry of France, which showed Ukrainian soldiers training under French command. Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation said that preliminary probes were ongoing and it was too early to make any conclusions. According to the editor-in-chief of Censor.NET Yuriy Butusov: “1,700 soldiers had fled the brigade without going into combat, and 50 had escaped while training in France.” Another lawmaker Mariana Bezuhla cited lack of coordination of command structures as the reason for the “dismantled unit.”
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 03 January, France24 reported that remains of Russia’s tankers which were hit by a storm in the Kerch Strait in December 2024, had washed ashore in Sevastopol. According to Russia’s transport ministry, one of the tankers sunk and the other ran aground spilling around 2400 tonnes of heavy fuel called mazut into the surrounding waters. According to the Moscow-installed head of Sevostopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, the small oil slick washed ashore was about 1.5 metres in width and length. Putin had termed this tanker spill as an “ecological disaster.” The transport ministry further informed about the difficulties faced in cleaning the fuel from water and sand. It said: “There is no proven technology anywhere in the world to remove it from the water column. Therefore, the main method is collection from the shoreline.” According to Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry, about 78000 tonnes of contaminated soil were removed from the shores. They further said that the ongoing war with Ukraine was making it difficult as information exchange and deployment of vessels and equipment were getting difficult.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 03 January, the US National Security Advisor John Kirby informed that there would be announcements about security assistance to Ukraine in the upcoming days. However, he did not give further details. He further mentioned that Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin would visit Ramstein, Germany for a meeting with the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. Later, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that the 25th meeting of the group would be held to strengthen their commitments to Ukraine. She said: “Together with defence ministers and military leaders from around the globe, Secretary Austin will focus on delivering practical and coordinated support that reinforces Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.” This came amidst the incumbent US President Joe Biden’s last month in office. This aid would follow the USD six billion military assistance, which was granted in December 2024.
On 03 January, The Kyiv Independent reported on the blackouts in Moldova, following the halt in gas deliveries from Russian energy company Gazprom. While Gazprom linked the halt to Moldova’s failure to pay debts and transit issues, the latter accused an international audit which failed to check the debts. The blackouts had a duration of one hour. It aimed to minimise energy usage and spread across cities like Tiraspol, Rybnitsa, and Bender and several villages. Transnistria, a breakaway region from Moldova had been heavily affected. The city also saw a cutdown on heaters with the authorities requesting people to use electric heaters. The first deputy chairman of the Transnistrian administration Sergey Obolonik referred to the situation as “grave,” because 75,000 households were left without gas and another 116,000 with reduced supply. He further warned against “irreversible changes” if the situation prolonged. The region was also forced to close down almost all the industrial companies except food producers.
References
“Oil from Russian tanker spill reaches Sevastopol,” France24, 03 January 2025
“Rolling blackouts begin in Russian-occupied Transnistria amid gas shortages, local authorities say,” The Kyiv Independent, 04 January 2025
“The US will soon make an announcement on security assistance to Ukraine,” UNN, 03 January 2025
“Two dead in attacks on either side of Ukraine-Russia border,” The Straits Times, 04 January 2025
“Three dead in attacks on both sides of Ukraine-Russia border,” Reuters, 04 January 2025
“Ukraine Investigates Alleged Mass Desertion of French-Trained 155th ‘Anne of Kyiv’ Brigade,” Kyiv Post, 03 January 2025
“Zelenskiy Says Trump Could Be 'Decisive' In Ending War,” RFERL, 02 January 2025
“Russian gas shutdown forces closure of almost all industry in Transnistria,” The Guardian, 02 January 2025