In 2024 alone, Russia suffered over 150,000 military personnel killed, significantly exceeding losses from 2022 and 2023. Total Russian losses for 2024 surpassed 434,000, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. This represents a dramatic increase in casualties compared to previous years of the conflict. Syrskyi emphasized that Russian losses vastly outnumber those of Ukraine.
On January 19th, President Zelensky enacted new sanctions against eighteen pro-Russian politicians and propagandists, including Yuriy Boyko, Nestor Shufrych, and Yevhen Muraiev. This action, based on a National Security and Defense Council decision, targets individuals aiding Russia’s war effort through propaganda and subversive activities. The decree also initiates efforts to revoke state awards, such as the Hero of Ukraine title, from these figures. Notable among those sanctioned are individuals previously involved in pro-Russian parties and accused of treason or collaboration with Russian forces.
In December 2024 alone, Russian forces deployed chemical weapons in 434 separate battlefield incidents, according to a January 18th report from Ukraine’s General Staff. This brings the total recorded instances since February 2023 to 5,389, including the use of prohibited munitions like K-51 and RG-VO. These actions constitute a systemic violation of warfare rules, resulting in over 2,000 Ukrainian soldier hospitalizations and three deaths from chemical poisoning. Ukraine responded to these attacks by assassinating the head of Russia’s chemical defense troops, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov.
The Biden administration secretly funneled $1.5 billion to Ukraine’s drone program in September 2024, a previously undisclosed effort to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities against Russia. This support included funding for drone manufacturing and facilitated collaborations between American and Ukrainian tech firms, significantly enhancing Ukrainian drone production and effectiveness. The initiative, accelerated in response to Russia’s extensive drone use and Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive setbacks, yielded over 200,000 domestically produced drones by year’s end. These drones, crucial in reconnaissance, combat, and naval operations, have demonstrably impacted the conflict, contributing to significant losses for the Russian military.
Building on prior £12.8bn in aid and a yearly £3bn military commitment, the UK announced further support for Ukraine amidst a renewed Russian offensive. Russia’s recent advances in eastern Ukraine, particularly around Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Chasiv Yar, mark their fastest territorial gains since the invasion began. This intensified conflict comes as the war enters its third year, with devastating human costs. The UK’s continued support includes supplying Storm Shadow missiles, and a new UK-Ukraine partnership agreement will soon be presented to Parliament.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Vladimir Putin will finalize a comprehensive 20-year partnership agreement during a Moscow meeting on January 17th. The agreement, developed over several years through numerous negotiation rounds, encompasses 47 articles covering diverse sectors. Significantly, the pact emphasizes territorial integrity, a key concern for Iran given its own territorial disputes, but notably omits recognition of Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories. This strategic partnership aims to solidify bilateral relations for the next two decades.
A nationwide air-raid alert was triggered across all Ukrainian regions on January 15th due to an imminent missile threat. The attack involved Kh-101 missiles launched from Tu-95MS bombers, Kalibr missiles fired from the Black Sea via Kherson Oblast, and Kinzhal missiles and ballistic weapons. Russian Tu-95MS bombers originating from the Olenya air base in Murmansk Oblast launched the initial barrage. This multi-pronged missile assault prompted the urgent alert.
Zelensky says he discussed the idea of Western troops in Ukraine with Macron. This suggests a potential shift in the strategic conversation surrounding the ongoing conflict, moving beyond the current provision of aid and weaponry to the direct deployment of combat forces. The specific context of this deployment isn’t explicitly detailed, but it’s likely framed within the broader discussions around a potential ceasefire agreement or peace treaty, possibly acting as a peacekeeping force to maintain stability during a transition.
The conversation surrounding Western troop deployment immediately brings to mind the significant risks involved. The fear of escalating the conflict into a wider, potentially catastrophic war is very real and understandable.… Continue reading
On January 11, 2024, a Russian airstrike on a nursing home in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, resulted in one fatality and significant damage to the facility, leaving approximately 70 elderly and disabled residents displaced. The attack, confirmed by Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi, occurred amidst renewed Ukrainian offensive operations in the region and follows reports of captured North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces. The incident highlights the vulnerability of civilians in the conflict zone and the challenges of relocating vulnerable populations. This attack occurred in an area previously visited by media on Ukrainian military-organized press tours.
A collaborative investigation by the BBC Russian Service, Mediazona, and volunteers estimates that up to 220,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine since 2022, with at least 88,000 names verified. This figure, while lower than Ukrainian estimates of over 800,000 total casualties, still suggests a significant manpower strain on Russia. The analysis, compiled from open-source data, highlights 2024 as the deadliest year and details losses across various elite military units. The discrepancy in casualty figures underscores the difficulty in accurately assessing the war’s impact on Russia’s military capabilities.
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood