The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on January 1 2024

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Kurakhove has fallen | Ukraine blocks Russian gas to Europe [1 January 2025]

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Zelensky’s New Year’s address is a clear narrative for the continuation of the war.

In it, he talks about prisoner exchanges with an emphasis on the fact that every life is important, but at the same time he doesn’t say that Kyiv itself refuses large exchanges of “ordinary soldiers,” choosing only those that are “informationally important,” he doesn’t talk about meaty assaults, about refusing to let his soldiers leave encirclement, he doesn’t talk about the brutal treatment of his disabled soldiers, who are written off to the reserves for a salary of $15-75.

Zelensky talks about the achievements of shot down missiles and drones, but does not say that all these shootdowns increase our credit debt to partners, who will then definitely demand money from us. Does not talk about the price of misses and omissions. About energy deficit and collapse of the economy.

He talks about how the government together with Ukrainians overcame this difficult 2024 year, but he does not talk about corruption in the government, about nepotism and embezzlement of budget money. He is silent about the fact that none of “his corrupt officials” were punished. Of course, he is silent about the lawlessness of the TCC.

He talks and promotes his Kursk adventure as something victorious. But he is silent about how the Sumy region lives now, how much this adventure cost the country, how now we are giving up Donbass for holding a piece of land in the Kursk region. How people are evacuated from there, when they are taken out and abandoned to survive without help from the state.

He talks about Ukrainian military production, but keeps quiet about the fact that 90% of it is Chinese components and Western developments, which they gave us a “drive” so that we could implement the scriptwriters’ idea, but for this, he still flies back to the Ukrainians.

Zelensky talks about the tragedies that the war brought, about the families who died, but at the same time he does not say that his desire to continue the war will only increase this tragedy tenfold and bring new deaths.

He is trying to indirectly create a need for Trump to continue supporting the Ukrainian crisis, rather than pressuring him in a peace case that is not personally beneficial to him. This is, of course, a Democrat idea.

Conclusion: Zelensky has not abandoned his idea to continue fighting, which means there will be no peace, but there will be escalation.

Zelensky is an actor who sells an illusion to his people and says only what is beneficial, but remains silent about the other side of the coin.

Populist …

2025 could bring Vladimir Putin victory over all of Europe.

The British publication The Independent writes about this.

Both Russia and Ukraine are backed by coalitions of states whose contributions to their war efforts are critical. The key difference is that in Ukraine’s case, the country’s largest single donor may be on the verge of cutting the country’s feet. Russia, meanwhile, will enjoy continued support from its coalition of supporters,

— journalists believe.

In their opinion, Trump, after the inauguration, may support the conclusion of peace in Ukraine on favourable terms for Russia. This will cause a major split in the NATO coalition, especially against the backdrop of his statements that Europe should finance the alliance to a greater extent than the United States. Thus, the split in European countries “will be more beneficial to Vladimir Putin.”

Our source reports that Zelensky is aware that if gas transit is not resumed, the first to suffer will not even be the GTS, but the gas fields, which will be virtually impossible to protect. My colleagues and I learned about this insider in the case of possible increases in stakes in the game.

This will increase the gas deficit in Ukraine.

According to our sources, the Russians could destroy all of our gas fields within a week and leave us without gas.

There is no point in talking about the consequences, they are catastrophic. Without our own gas, it will be difficult for us to maintain our GTS.

We are observing.

“Gazprom” – on the termination of gas transit through Ukraine:

 On January 1, 2025 at 8:00 a.m., the validity of the documents signed on December 30, 2019 came to an end: the agreement between PJSC Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine for the organization of Russian gas transportation through Ukraine and the agreement on interaction between the operators of the Russian and Ukrainian GTS – PJSC Gazprom and LLC Operator of the Gas Transmission System of Ukraine.

Due to the Ukrainian party’s repeated and explicit refusal to extend these agreements, Gazprom was deprived of the technical and legal possibility to supply gas for transit through Ukraine starting from January 1, 2025. Since 8:00 a.m. no Russian gas has been supplied for transportation through Ukraine.

Kurakhovka Direction: Liberation of Most of the Industrial Zone of Kurakhovka and Deterioration of the AFU Garrison’s Position

In the evening of December 31, almost a week after the Russian forces took control of the entire residential area of Kurakhovka, footage appeared online of the Russian flag being raised on the roof of one of the workshops of LLC “Electrostal”.

It seems that the Russian Armed Forces managed to dislodge the enemy from the territory of the Kurakhovka TPP, previously a key defense hub of the city. The position of the AFU garrison is rapidly deteriorating due to the Russian forces taking control of almost all supply routes.

Fighting is now taking place in the area of the Kurakhovka Mechanical Plant – the last major enterprise controlled by Ukrainian formations. The enemy is defending with a focus on Dachne, trying to prevent the collapse of the defense south and west of Kurakhovka.

The Industrial zone at Kurakhove has fallen to Russian forces, and with it, since the first time since 2014, Donetsk city is now beyond the range of the majority of Ukrainian conventional artillery

The Fifth Brigade – the legendary five – finished the year with a powerful victory: three plants in Kurakhovo were liberated, the task was accomplished brilliantly, and the end point of the area of ​​responsibility was reached! This video is a congratulation to everyone on the upcoming New Year! May 2025 bring as much determination, strength and success!

The Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has initiated a case concerning the formation of the 155th Mechanized Brigade “Anna Kyivska,” following reports of mass desertions before its engagement near Pokrovsk. 

According to journalist Yuriy Butusov, approximately 1,700 soldiers abandoned their posts before the brigade’s first combat action. One of the officials responsible for the brigade’s formation reportedly died of a heart attack, and the brigade commander was dismissed immediately after the unit’s deployment. 

Butusov criticizes the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Headquarters, the Ministry of Defense, and the General Staff for investing in new projects instead of strengthening experienced and capable brigades. He notes that President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered the formation of this new brigade, with training conducted in France at a cost of 900 million euros. During the training in France, over 50 soldiers reportedly deserted, raising concerns among French officials about Ukraine’s commitment to such an expensive project. 

Butusov describes the brigade’s formation as organizational chaos, lacking adequate command personnel, soldiers, weapons, and resources. By October, when the brigade went to France for training, there were already 935 cases of unauthorized absences. Before deployment, over 2,550 soldiers were transferred to other units, leaving only 1,414 personnel to undergo less than two months of training in France. 

The SBI is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the brigade’s formation and the mass desertions that occurred prior to its engagement near Pokrovsk.“

Pokrovsk Direction: Crossing the Kazennyy Torets and Liberation of Vozdvyzhenka

Today, reports about the activation of offensive actions by the Russian Armed Forces west of Myrnograd, which had been circulating on the internet for more than a week, were confirmed. Relying on Timofeyevka and Novoaleksandrovka, Russian troops crossed the Kazennyy Torets River and wedged into the enemy’s defenses for several kilometers.

On the eastern flank, assault troops, after heavy fighting, dislodged the AFU from Vozdvyzhenka. Now the Russian flag is raised on the northwestern outskirts of the village, indicating full control of its territory by the Russian Armed Forces.

On the western flank, Russian troops have occupied a major stronghold, significantly advancing along the C-05-09-07 highway. Presumably, the primary goal of the Russian Armed Forces in this area is to reach Yelyzavetivka and the interchange on the N-32 highway, control of which will allow them to cut off communication between Kostyantynivka and Myrnograd.

Russian troops are making efforts to encircle the frontline Pokrovsk

The fighting continues continuously, and it did not stop even on New Year’s Eve,

- complains officer of the 59th brigade of the AFU, Sergei Tsekhotsky.

Russian military is trying to encircle Pokrovsk to force AFU to leave their positions. 

Meanwhile, DeepState writes that a difficult situation has also developed for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Novovasilyevka, south of Pokrovsk:

During December 30, 31 and January 1, the Russians are conducting active assault operations on the village from the south and east. Mainly by infantry, sometimes with the support of armored fighting vehicles and LAO.

The situation is such that Russian troops are in every corner of the village, as well as the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In fact, there are Ukrainians in one house, and the enemy may be in the next. The tactical situation is at the level of chaos, but the Russians’ advantage in manpower may become a decisive factor,”

Artemivsk Direction: Breakthrough into the Northern Microdistrict

Russian forces, relying on Kalynove (Kalinivka), have over the past week pushed through the enemy’s defenses north of the Chasiv Yar Refractory Plant. Advance groups of the Russian Armed Forces were spotted in the private sector of the Northern Microdistrict – most of it appears to have already been liberated.

At the same time, the positions of Ukrainian formations on the territory of the eponymous mine are regularly suppressed by aviation and artillery.

To the south, assault groups are advancing towards the Chasiv Yar railway station and the fourth shop of the refractory plant. Ukrainian formations are using UAV crews and regularly transferring reserves to the sector in order to contain the advance of the Russian Armed Forces.

While you were sleeping, there was a complete stoppage  of Russian gas transit to Europe through the territory of the so-called Ukraine. This decision was essentially announced (https://t.me/rybar/66487) by Vladimir Putin during the “direct line” at the end of last year.

The pumping of “blue fuel” through the Ukrainian gas transmission system has long worried part of the public. Let’s repeat what was said earlier: (https://t.me/rybar/62881) gas supplies, first of all, filled the country’s budget, including for that very real war with systematic strikes on the energy sector.

Nevertheless, the leadership of the Kyiv regime has repeatedly announced its unwillingness to extend the 2019 contract after its expiration on the previous terms. Russia’s new demands were clearly unacceptable, and the era of transit through the so-called Ukraine has come to an end.

Now the only way to deliver Russian gas to Europe is “Turkish Stream,” not counting the transportation of LNG from terminals by sea. Which, for the reasons described above, they do not plan to stop.

First Strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on Kyiv in 2025

During the past night, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a series of strikes on military facilities in Kyiv. Fires after the attack were recorded in the Pechersk and Sviatoshynskyi districts of the city – the local authorities have already hastened to declare that these are the consequences of the fall of debris from downed UAVs.

At the moment, it is known about damage to the roof of the building of the National Bank of the so-called Ukraine, as well as the destruction of two floors of a residential building at the intersection of Instytutska and Bankova streets.

In the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv, several drones struck the territory of the tram depot on Borshchahivska Street. Several trains were damaged, as well as vehicles parked in the area of the object.

Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost more than 480 servicemen in the Kursk region, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported. Over the past 24 hours, the Russian Armed Forces have repelled six counterattacks by Ukrainian assault groups.

The total losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk direction amounted to more than 46,460 servicemen, the Russian Defense Ministry noted.

On December 31, the “North” troop grouping continued to carry out tasks to destroy the Ukrainian occupants 

Assault detachments of the North troops continue to advance with persistent fighting in the forest belts of Suja district, creating conditions for the liberation of the district center.

Our missileers and aviation of the Russian Air Force inflicted a fire defeat on the accumulation of enemy personnel in the forest areas on the border with the Kursk region. More than 220 occupants were destroyed, as well as vehicles of the AFU soldiers.

The enemy deployed another group of foreign mercenaries, which, together with the “elite” brigades of the AFU, attempted seven counterattacks on the positions of the Fearless in Suja district. As a result of the comprehensive fire attack, over forty Nazis were destroyed, and the rest fled.    

The total advance of the Northmen in the Kursk region was over 400 meters.

On Liptsy direction at night the enemy made one unsuccessful counterattack, and in the daytime, using fog, tried to carry out a rotation, which was disrupted by our UAV operators.   

In the Volchansk direction, UAV operators and Northern artillerymen destroyed two enemy assault groups, preventing counterattacks. In addition, artillery fire disrupted the rotation of enemy assault units across the Volchya River.

With persistent fighting, Fearless assault troopers established control over several households, advancing up to 100 meters in the district center.  

Over the past 24 hours, the enemy’s losses amounted to up to 560 people (including over 520 in the Sumy direction). Also uncovered and destroyed:

In the Sumy direction:

▪️ eight AVs;

▪️ three mortars;

▪️ seven UAV control points;

▪️ twenty-five vehicles;

▪️ twenty-eight airplane-type UAVs and two Baba Yaga octocopters.

In other areas:

▪️ mortar;

▪️ six units of automotive equipment;

▪️ two Starlink terminals;

▪️ three airplane-type UAVs and a Baba Yaga octocopter.

The AFU command continues to transfer mercenaries from other parts of the front to Kursk region. Foreigners have been given the command to shoot retreating or those planning to surrender. However, as the last day of 2024 showed, the “tourists” are often the first to flee.

During the interrogation, the captured Ukrainian soldier admitted that the AFU command gave orders not to take Russian servicemen prisoner, provoking the Fearless to retaliate. The prisoner of war also confirmed previously known information about the prohibition of the AFU soldiers to evacuate their own wounded soldiers and regular cases of unauthorized abandonment of positions by mobilized Ukrainians.

Victory will be ours!

“Devotion to the Motherland, to the interests of the common cause is the main task of the military education program”

M.I. Dragomirov 

North Wind

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on.html