Daily Archives: January 2, 2023

Ukraine, country located in eastern Europe, the second largest on the continent after Russia. The capital is Kyiv, located on the Dnieper River in north-central Ukraine.

A fully independent Ukraine emerged only late in the 20th century, after long periods of successive domination by Poland-Lithuania, Russia, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). Ukraine had experienced a brief period of independence in 191820, but portions of western Ukraine were ruled by Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia in the period between the two World Wars, and Ukraine thereafter became part of the Soviet Union as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (S.S.R.). When the Soviet Union began to unravel in 199091, the legislature of the Ukrainian S.S.R. declared sovereignty (July 16, 1990) and then outright independence (August 24, 1991), a move that was confirmed by popular approval in a plebiscite (December 1, 1991). With the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. in December 1991, Ukraine gained full independence. The country changed its official name to Ukraine, and it helped to found the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), an association of countries that were formerly republics of the Soviet Union.

Ukraine is bordered by Belarus to the north, Russia to the east, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea to the south, Moldova and Romania to the southwest, and Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland to the west. In the far southeast, Ukraine is separated from Russia by the Kerch Strait, which connects the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.

Ukraine occupies the southwestern portion of the Russian Plain (East European Plain). The country consists almost entirely of level plains at an average elevation of 574 feet (175 metres) above sea level. Mountainous areas such as the Ukrainian Carpathians and Crimean Mountains occur only on the countrys borders and account for barely 5 percent of its area. The Ukrainian landscape nevertheless has some diversity: its plains are broken by highlandsrunning in a continuous belt from northwest to southeastas well as by lowlands.

The rolling plain of the Dnieper Upland, which lies between the middle reaches of the Dnieper (Dnipro) and Southern Buh (Pivdennyy Buh, or the Boh) rivers in west-central Ukraine, is the largest highland area; it is dissected by many river valleys, ravines, and gorges, some more than 1,000 feet (300 metres) deep. On the west the Dnieper Upland is abutted by the rugged Volyn-Podilsk Upland, which rises to 1,545 feet (471 metres) at its highest point, Mount Kamula. West of the Volyn-Podilsk Upland, in extreme western Ukraine, the parallel ranges of the Carpathian Mountainsone of the most picturesque areas in the countryextend for more than 150 miles (240 km). The mountains range in height from about 2,000 feet (600 metres) to about 6,500 feet (2,000 metres), rising to 6,762 feet (2,061 metres) at Mount Hoverla, the highest point in the country. The northeastern and southeastern portions of Ukraine are occupied by low uplands rarely reaching an elevation of 1,000 feet (300 metres).

Among the countrys lowlands are the Pripet Marshes (Polissya), which lie in the northern part of Ukraine and are crossed by numerous river valleys. In east-central Ukraine is the Dnieper Lowland, which is flat in the west and gently rolling in the east. To the south, another lowland extends along the shores of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov; its level surface, broken only by low rises and shallow depressions, slopes gradually toward the Black Sea. The shores of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are characterized by narrow, sandy spits of land that jut out into the water; one of these, the Arabat Spit, is about 70 miles (113 km) long but averages less than 5 miles (8 km) in width.

The southern lowland continues in the Crimean Peninsula as the North Crimean Lowland. The peninsulaa large protrusion into the Black Seais connected to the mainland by the Perekop Isthmus. The Crimean Mountains form the southern coast of the peninsula. Mount Roman-Kosh, at 5,069 feet (1,545 metres), is the mountains highest point.

Almost all the major rivers in Ukraine flow northwest to southeast through the plains to empty into the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The Dnieper River, with its hydroelectric dams, huge reservoirs, and many tributaries, dominates the entire central part of Ukraine. Of the total course of the Dnieper, 609 miles (980 km) are in Ukraine, making it by far the longest river in the country, of which it drains more than half. Like the Dnieper, the Southern Buh, with its major tributary, the Inhul, flows into the Black Sea. To the west and southwest, partly draining Ukrainian territory, the Dniester (Dnistro) also flows into the Black Sea; among its numerous tributaries, the largest in Ukraine are the Stryy and the Zbruch. The middle course of the Donets River, a tributary of the Don, flows through southeastern Ukraine and is an important source of water for the Donets Basin (Donbas). The Danube River flows along the southwestern frontier of Ukraine. Marshland, covering almost 3 percent of Ukraine, is found primarily in the northern river valleys and in the lower reaches of the Dnieper, Danube, and other rivers.

The rivers are most important as a water supply, and for this purpose a series of canals has been built, such as the DonetsDonets Basin, the DnieperKryvyy Rih, and the North Crimea. Several of the larger rivers are navigable, including the Dnieper, Danube, Dniester, Pripet (Prypyat), Donets, and Southern Buh (in its lower course). Dams and hydroelectric plants are situated on all the larger rivers.

Ukraine has a few natural lakes, all of them small and most of them scattered over the river floodplains. One of the largest is Lake Svityaz, 11 square miles (28 square km) in area, in the northwest. Small saltwater lakes occur in the Black Sea Lowland and in Crimea. Larger saline lakes occur along the coast. Known as limans, these bodies of water form at the mouths of rivers or ephemeral streams and are blocked off by sandbars from the sea. Some artificial lakes have been formed, the largest of which are reservoirs at hydroelectric damse.g., the reservoir on the Dnieper upstream from Kremenchuk. The Kakhovka, Dnieper, Dniprodzerzhynsk, Kaniv, and Kyiv reservoirs make up the rest of the Dnieper cascade. Smaller reservoirs are located on the Dniester and Southern Buh rivers and on tributaries of the Donets River. Small reservoirs for water supply also are found near Kryvyy Rih, Kharkiv, and other industrial cities. Three large artesian basinsthe Volyn-Podilsk, the Dnieper, and the Black Seaare exceptionally important for municipal needs and agriculture as well.

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Ukraine - United States Department of State Skip to contentCurrent Travel Advisories

Level 4: Do Not Travel

Since July, 2021 the United States has shared 6,486,990safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Ukraine free of cost. This includes 4,486,950 Pfizer and 2,000,040 Moderna doses. Of the 6,486,990 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX.

President Biden committed the United States to be the worlds arsenal for vaccines, leading an international and coordinated vaccination effort, and announced that the United States will provide 1.2 billion doses of safe, effective vaccines free of cost to meet global needs and save lives now. The United States is working with other governments, global initiatives including COVAX and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), and other partners to get COVID-19 vaccines to where they are needed most.

Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery.

The United States established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1991, following its independence from the Soviet Union. The United States attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine as a free and democratic state with a flourishing market economy. U.S. policy is centered on supporting Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression as it advances reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, fight corruption, and promote conditions for economic growth and competition. The United States does not recognize Russias attempted annexation of Crimea, and continues seek a diplomatic solution to the Russia-instigated conflict in eastern Ukraine. The U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership highlights the importance of the bilateral relationship and the continued commitment of the United States to support enhanced engagement between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Ukraine.

U.S. Government assistance to Ukraine aims to support the development of a secure, democratic, prosperous, and free Ukraine, fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community.

The United States has granted Ukraine market economy status and terminated the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Ukraine, giving Ukraine permanent normal trade relations status. The United States and Ukraine have a bilateral investment treaty. U.S. exports to Ukraine include coal, machinery, vehicles, agricultural products, fish and seafood, and aircraft. U.S. imports from Ukraine include iron and steel, inorganic chemicals, oil, iron and steel products, aircraft, and agricultural products. The U.S.-Ukraine Council on Trade and Investment was established under the countries agreement on trade and investment cooperation and works to increase commercial and investment opportunities by identifying and removing impediments to bilateral trade and investment flows.

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Ukraine - United States Department of State

Moscow on Thursday claimed the town that houses its Engels Air Base, located deep inside Russia some 300 miles from the Ukrainian border. was attacked by a drone for the third time this month and the second time this week.

However, satellite images obtained by The War Zone on Thursday show no clear damage to the base that's home to the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, which operates one squadron of Bear-Hs and another squadron of supersonic Tu-160 Blackjack bombers. While both types have been employed in the conflict in Ukraine and especially in recent months as Russia stepped up its standoff strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, the satellite images show a significant reduction in Russian ling-range aviation activity at Engels.

You can see our complete analysis of the satellite image from our Downlink team below.

"New satellite imagery of Engels Air Base, located deep within Russia, from December 29 shows that repeated Ukrainian attempts to strike the air base, as well as the arrival of cold weather conditions, appears to have led to a significant reduction in activity. Only 11 bombers are present, down from 26 on Nov. 29. Recent snowfall at Engels also betrays the inactivity of some aircraft. While five Tu-95 Bears are visibly de-iced and parked on cleared aprons and taxiways, four others remain covered in snow. The two remaining Tu-160 Blackjack bombers appear covered in snow as well, though at least one of them shows signs of having its apron cleared of snow possibly to provide safe access to the taxiways. No clear damage is observed following alleged Ukrainian attacks against the facility on Dec. 26 and 29, but between reducing aircraft presence and installing new protective barriers, it appears Russia is trying to mitigate the persistent threat against its bombers deployed to the base."

In the latest incident, air defense systems in the Engels region shot down a drone, Saratov Oblast Gov. Roman Busargin reported Thursday on his Telegram channel. Streaks from surface-to-air missiles were seen reaching into the sky near the base on social media.

As a result of falling fragments, the fence of a private house, a car and a garage were damaged, and a window on the balcony was knocked out in one of the houses," Busargin said. "There are no other damages. People were not hurt. Emergency services are on site.

Busargin did not say where the drone came from, but Russians have attributed two prior attacks this month to Ukrainian drones.

On Dec. 26, a Ukrainian drone attack on the base resulted in three people killed and four injured, according to Russian media.

Several weeks earlier, on Dec. 5, Engels and Dyagilevo Air Base were struck by what the Russian MoD said were Soviet-made jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles modified by Ukraine to carry explosives. The Russian MoD was referring to the jet-powered Tu-141 Strizh, originally built as a reconnaissance UAV. Smaller Tu-143s have also likely been used. You can read about that here.

Russian bombers have been widely used to launch cruise missiles against targets in Ukraine since the start of the war.Just today, Ukraine was hit by just such a barrage, which we will get to in a moment.

The British Defense Ministry on Thursday suggested that one reason Ukrainian drones have been able to fly so deep into Russian airspace is that Moscow has moved a lot of its air defenses into Ukraine, leaving the Motherland itself vulnerable.

Before we go into the latest news from Ukraine,The War Zonereaders can get caught up on our previous rolling coverage here.

Ukrainian cities again lost power, buildings were damaged and civilians were injured as Russia launched another massive wave of missile and drone attacks Thursday.

At least three people were injured, and more than a dozen residential buildings and nearly a dozen power infrastructure sites were destroyed, officials said.

Ukrainian officials claimed that its air defenses shot down 54 of 69 missiles and all 11 drones launched on Thursday in an attack that Ukraines Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said had been planned for two weeks.

Video emerged on social media claiming to show one of those missiles being down by an Igla man portable air defense system (MANPADS). The War Zone could not verify that claim but the video is compelling. While cruise missiles are hard to hit using MANPADS, there have been multiple kills like this during the conflict.

Russia attacked with Kh-101/Kh-555, Kalibr, Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missiles, Kh-31P anti-radar missiles, and Shahed-131/136 drones, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (MoD). The missiles were launched from Tu-95MS Bear-H bombers, Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bombers and ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. In addition, S-300 anti-aircraft missiles were in a crude land-attack role against Ukrainian cities in the front-line zone.

Russia also launched missile strikes from S-400 air defense systems, Brig. Gen. Alexei Gromov, Deputy Chief of the Chief Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said Thursday during a media briefing, according to the Ukrainian Media Center Telegram channel. It's worth noting that the S-400 system can fire some of the same missiles that the S-300 can.

While Ukraine once again claimed a high degree of success shooting down incoming missiles and drones, officials said the damage was widespread nonetheless.

More than 18 residential buildings and 10 objects of critical infrastructure in 10 regions were destroyed as a result of barbaric rocket attacks, Ukraines Defense Ministry said. The worst thing is that peaceful people have suffered again.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv criticized the Kremlin for "cruelly wielding cold & dark against" Ukraine as families "are again hunkering down as critical infrastructure & other targets across the country are attacked."

In the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, a two-story residential building with an area of 100 square meters caught fire as a result of a falling fragment of a downed enemy missile, a spokesman for Ukraines State Emergency Services said at a press briefing. In the Pecherskyi district, fragments of the rocket fell on a playground, in the Holosiivskyi district, the fragments fell next to a car. In the Solomyansk district, the fragments of the rocket fell on the roof of a 5-story residential building.

At least three people in Kyiv were injured as a result of the attack, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the office of the president.

Images also emerged on social media of a spent missile fragment that landed in a house in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Critical infrastructure in the Kharkiv region came under attack from at least four Russian missiles, most likely from S-300 air defense systems, Oleg Syniegubov, Head of Regional State Administration said, according to the United24 Telegram channel. Images also emerged of the remnants of Iranian drones that were shot down.

Power outages were reported there and the Kharkiv Metro stopped running.

There was also damage reported in Odesa.

The damage was nationwide.

"Unfortunately, there is some damage to generation facilities and power grids, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko said, according to the Telegram channel of Energoatom, Ukraines National Nuclear Energy Generating Company. As of 11 a.m., the situation is difficult in the west of the country, in the Odesa and Kyiv regions. Therefore, there will be emergency power outages."

As Ukraine was digging out from those attacks, the Belarusian Defense Ministry (MoD) claimed a Ukrainian S-300 air defense missile landed on Belarusian territory. No one was hurt in this situation. Similar incidents occurred in Poland - where two people were killed - and in Moldova. In response, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said it has the right to defend itself from ongoing Russian attacks.

Belarus claimed it detected a Ukrainian S-300 air defense missile that entered its airspace and shot it down near the agricultural community of Gorbakha, according to the Belarusian Defense Ministry (MoD) Telegram channel.

In a protest of that incident, the Ukrainian ambassador was summed by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, according to the Telegram channel of the RIA Novosti official Russian state news agency.

However, the military commissar of the Brest region seemed to downplay the incident, according to RIA Novosti.

"There is absolutely no reason for residents to worry, that official said, likening Thursdays incident to the Nov. 15 event in Poland. Such cases, unfortunately, happen."

Responding to complaints from Belarus, the Ukrainian MoD said it was not ruling out the possibility of a so-called false flag attack from Russia.

The Ukrainian side is aware of the Kremlin's desperate and persistent efforts to involve Belarus in its aggressive war against Ukraine, Ukraines MoD said in a statement. In this regard, the Ukrainian side does not rule out a deliberate provocation by the terrorist state of Russia, which laid such a route for its cruise missiles in order to provoke their interception in the airspace over the territory of Belarus.

Regardless, Ukraines MoD said while it has the unconditional right to defense and protection of its own sky, it is ready to conduct an objective investigation in Ukraine of the incident that occurred on December 29 in the sky over the territory of Belarus as a result of repelling a massive Russian missile attack. Ukraine is ready to invite authoritative experts from among the states that are not associated with supporting the terrorist state of Russia in any form to participate in such an investigation.

No matter how the investigations into this latest incident pan out, one thing is virtually certain. With Russia launching massive missile and drone attacks, this wont be the last time a neighboring country is directly affected.

Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR), told the BBC there is a deadlock in fighting.

"The situation is just stuck," Budanov told the BBC. "It doesn't move."

"We can't defeat them in all directions comprehensively. Neither can they," he said. "We're very much looking forward to new weapons supplies, and to the arrival of more advanced weapons."

Ukrainian mobile fire teams continue to play whack-a-mole with Iranian drones. These videos reportedly show them engaging the targets with machine guns.

But still some drones apparently manage to get through Ukrainian defense.

More than 1,100 bodies of civilians killed by Russian invaders were found in areas liberated by Ukraine in all four regions: Donetsk, Mykolayiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv Oblasts, the head of the Department of Organizational Analytical Support and Operational Response of the National Police, Police General Oleksiy Sergeev duringa press brief Thursday. Of those victims, 31 were children, he said.

"This reconstruction of the Kharkiv and Kherson counteroffensives is based on interviews with more than 35 people, including Ukrainian commanders, officials in Kyiv and combat troops, as well as senior U.S. and European military and political officials," the Post reported.

"What emerges is a story of how deepening cooperation with NATO powers, especially the United States, enabled Ukrainian forces backed with weapons, intelligence and advice to seize the initiative on the battlefield, expose Putins annexation claims as a fantasy, and build faith at home and abroad that Russia could be defeated."

Ukraine World, an English-language multimedia project about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine, recently spoke with Nataliya Sad, spokeswoman for Ukroboronprom, the Ukrainian defense industry, about the state of weapons production in Ukraine.

"Western weapons received by Ukraine after the full-scale invasion is less than 50% of the country's arsenal," Ukraine World reported. "This indicates that Ukraine's defenders are still fighting mostly with Soviet weapons which were inherited from the time of Ukrainian independence. It is a matter of keeping this entire arsenal in combat-ready condition. Many have the impression that creating a new combat unit is more difficult than repairing a damaged one. In fact, everything is the other way around."

Production "had to be moved due to the high probability of missile strikes and had to be carried out of the country. All this slows down the production process. Despite this, over 9 months this year, we have produced seven times more than we did in all of last year, and for some types of military equipment 10-12 times more. We are keeping up the pace because it is clear that enough equipment can turn the tide of the war."

Speaking of weapons provided to Ukraine, the first images of at least 12 Panthera T6 armored vehicles have emerged being delivered to Ukraine, according to the Ukraine Weapons Tracker OSINT group.

"The US government is considering sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine as part of a further package of military support, according to people familiar with the matter," Bloomberg reported. "A final decision hasnt yet been made, one of the people said. When the vehicles would be operational is also unclear, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue."

"Alexander Kovalenko, a military-political observer for the Information Resistance group, believes that the Russian occupiers have a suicidal stalemate on the Kinburn Spit. Soon there may be another 'gesture of goodwill' from the Russian invaders," the newspaper reported. "A gesture of goodwill" is a reference to previous Russian retreats.

With millions of Ukrainians living without power in frigid weather thanks to continuing Russian attacks on its power infrastructure, donations have poured in to help, like these nearly three dozen generators provided by a Portuguese soccer team.

Throughout this conflict, iconography has been factor for Ukraine, which is removing vestiges of Russian rule from its territory. The latest example is the removal of a statue of Catherine the Great from Odesa.

And finally, Ukrainians continue to show a sense of humor, in this case comparing Vincent van Gogh's 1889 painting "Irises" with the 2022 arrival of German-provided IRIS-T SLM air defense systems that have helped protect the skies over Ukraine.

That's it for now. We will update this story when there is anything major to add.

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Ukraine Situation Report: No Damage Seen At Russian Bomber Base After ...

President JoeBidens reactionary "just enough" strategy is inadequatefor Ukraine's defense. Hundreds of Iraniandrones and Russian missiles descended upon civilian targets in Ukraine this week. The single Patriot battery allocated to Ukraine in the last trancheof U.S. aid, which could be operational in six months with a fully trained crew,will havea minimal impact against this Russian onslaught. Patriots area superb weapon system to counter Russian cruise missiles and aircraft but will be ineffective against droneslaunched en masse.

The United States and NATOmustdevelop strategiesto go after Iranian-made Shahed-136drones before they take flight. They must also assistKyivin building an integrated air defense system, one that enables Ukraine to destroy a greater percentage of inbound missiles and drones. And Ukraine must be empowered to strike launch points, storage facilities, and command and control headquarters beyond its borders. Equally critical, the U.S. and NATO must interdict the delivery of drones before they can be put intooperationalservice.

To emphasize:OnePatriot battery will not be nearly enough here, nor is it cost-effective.Oneline batteryin a Patriot battalion consists of six launchers, and each launcher hasfour missiles, or24 total.At a cost of$3 million per missile,thats $72 million dollars, which will only defend a small sector of a battlefield or critical civilian or military infrastructure.

EachShahed-136drone, by comparison, costs between $20,000and$60,000 dollars. Ukraine cannot afford to wait for them to be airborne to destroy them. Nonkinetic approaches capable of jammingnavigational systems used to guide drones and missiles to targetsare a viable option as well. Ukraine also needs alternativeair defense capabilities against cruise missiles, including additionalshoulder-fired man-portable air defense systems,theNorwegianNational Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, and the Israeli Iron Dome.

Attacking drone and missilesitelaunch pointswould be the best solution. However, the Russians have adapted to theHigh Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS,risk and moved their vital military assets beyond the U.S.-imposed munitions'50-milerange limit. This defensive countermeasure is similar to when the U.S. permitted the North Vietnamese to transverse Laos and Cambodia unopposed to position forces to fight in South Vietnam. Equipping Ukraine with advanced fighter bombers would also help eliminate this void.

Put simply, Russian forces must be made vulnerable everywhere they threaten Ukraine. Mr. President, take the gloves off. Neither Ukraine norRussia is invested in atie. It is time to follow your own mantra and "get on the right side of history."

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Jonathan Sweet, a retired Army colonel, served 30 years as a military intelligence officer. Follow him on Twitter@JESweet2022.

Mark Toth is a retired economist, historian, and entrepreneur who has worked in banking, insurance, publishing, and global commerce. Follow him on Twitter@MCTothSTL.

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On Ukraine, Biden should take off the gloves