Victory Chronicles-DAY 1412

A Russian overnight drone attack on Jan. 5 struck a four-story privately-owned medical clinic in Kyiv, killing one patient and injuring at least four other civilians, Ukrainian officials said, as another wave of aerial attacks hit civilian infrastructure in the capital.

Located in Kyiv’s northern Obolon district, the clinic caught on fire on the second floor while patients were inside. Emergency crews evacuated 25 people as smoke spread through the building. Firefighters later contained the blaze.

Authorities said a 29-year-old man who was receiving inpatient treatment died at the scene. Four women were injured. Two patients, ages 77 and 97, were hospitalized in serious condition, while others received medical assistance on site. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 16 of the hospital’s 26 patients were transferred to municipal hospitals across the city to continue treatment.

Only 10 percent of Ukrainians support holding elections before ceasefire, survey finds. Only about 10 percent of Ukrainians believe national elections should be held before a ceasefire with Russia, according to a new public opinion poll, highlighting broad public support for delaying a vote until fighting stops or security conditions improve.

The survey, conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology from Nov. 26 to Dec. 29, shows strong caution as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion, now entering its fourth year. A clear majority of respondents said holding elections amid ongoing attacks would be risky and destabilizing.

Another 23 percent said elections could take place after a ceasefire if Ukraine receives firm security guarantees, such as increased Western military support or the deployment of foreign peacekeepers. That share has risen steadily over the past year, up from just 9 percent in March, suggesting a gradual shift toward conditional acceptance.

Still, 59 percent said elections should be held only after a final peace agreement is reached and the complete end of hostilities. That view is especially dominant among those who trust President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with only a small portion of his supporters backing an earlier vote. Even among critics, most favor waiting, reflecting deep concern over legitimacy and safety during wartime.

Russian Shahed drone spotted carrying shoulder-fired air defense missile. Russian forces have for the first time equipped a Shahed attack drone with a shoulder-fired air defense missile, a modification that could pose new risks to Ukrainian aircraft, a Ukrainian military technology analyst said.

Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov said the altered drone was identified on Jan. 4 and was fitted with a camera, a radio modem and a man-portable air defense system, known as a MANPADS. The configuration allows a remote drone operator inside to launch the missile from the drone, potentially targeting low altitude flying helicopters or aircraft tasked with intercepting unmanned systems.

Beskrestnov warned Ukrainian army aviation crews to avoid head-on approaches and to use extra caution when tracking Shahed drones flying in circular patterns, a tactic often used to loiter over an area before striking.

MANPADS are designed to hit targets at low altitude using heat-seeking guidance. Mounting one on a one-way attack drone represents a notable escalation, effectively turning the Shahed into both a strike weapon and a trap for air defenses.

Ukrainian air assault troops thwart Russian assault through pipeline in Kharkiv region. Ukrainian air assault troops stopped a Russian attempt to break through front-line defenses by moving soldiers through a gas pipeline in eastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, military officials said.

The operation unfolded on Jan. 5 on the Kupiansk front, north of the village of Novoplatonivka, where Russian forces tried to push toward the nearby settlements of Nova Kruhliakivka and Zahryzove. 

According to Ukraine’s 77th Airmobile Dnipro Brigade, about 50 Russian troops used the Soyuz gas pipeline as cover as they attempted to approach Ukrainian positions undetected.

Ukrainian forces identified the plan in advance and coordinated with neighboring units to block the assault. The brigade said at least 40 Russian soldiers were eliminated, and the attempted breakthrough collapsed before Russian units could gain ground.

Military officials said the situation in the area has since stabilized, though Russian forces continue to probe Ukrainian lines in small groups, looking for gaps between positions. Ukrainian commanders said defenders remain in control of the area, as fighting along the Kupiansk axis continues with frequent infiltration attempts rather than large-scale assaults.

Key Takeaways

1. Russian officials continue to respond to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, but the response from senior Kremlin decision makers remains relatively muted.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Ukrainian State Border Guard Service First Deputy Head Major General Valeriy Vavrynyuk as acting head of the State Border Guard Service on Jan. 4.
3. Ukrainian forces advanced near Pokrovsk. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.

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