Victory Chronicles-DAY 1419

Ukrainian forces are holding back renewed Russian attempts to infiltrate the northern part of the city of Pokrovsk, even as freezing temperatures complicate fighting and logistics, the 7th Rapid Response Corps of Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces says. The unit reports that small Russian assault groups are trying to slip into neighborhoods north of the railway line, but are being stopped by Ukrainian defenses.

The military says Russian forces are also probing the city’s northwestern industrial zone, seeking to build up troops for a possible advance toward the nearby village of Hryshyne. Ukrainian units are responding with strike drones and artillery, preventing Russian troops from concentrating or launching a larger assault.

Severe cold is affecting both sides. Ukrainian commanders say units are being supplied with warm clothing and personal heating gear to maintain combat readiness. Logistics remain difficult, with heavy drones and ground robotic systems used to deliver supplies under fire.

Hundreds of Kyiv buildings still without heat after Russian attack. Nearly 800 apartment buildings in Kyiv remain without heating as crews continue repairs after a recent Russian strike damages the city’s critical infrastructure, Mayor Vitali Klitschko says. The outages persist in the Pechersk district and parts of the Holosiivskyi and Solomianskyi districts, while heat supply has been restored elsewhere in the capital.

Klitschko says the city is gradually recovering from the large-scale attack that leaves about 6,000 apartment buildings without heat earlier this month, at a time when winter temperatures increase risks for residents. Repair and restoration work is underway around the clock, with utility crews and energy specialists working day and night.

The mayor warns that the situation remains difficult, noting that Kyiv’s heating system depends heavily on a strained power grid. He says energy supply challenges continue to complicate efforts to fully restore essential services across the city as repairs move forward.

Russian drone hits ambulance crew returning from call in northern Ukraine. A Russian drone strikes an ambulance carrying medics returning from an emergency call in northern Ukraine, injuring two health workers and damaging the vehicle, regional officials say. The attack occurs on Jan. 11 near the town of Semenivka in the Chernihiv region, according to regional administration head Viacheslav Chaus.

The two medics, ages 47 and 54, suffer injuries and are hospitalized. The ambulance is damaged in what Chaus describes as a deliberate strike on people saving lives. 

Ukrainian special forces carry out rapid raid in eastern Donetsk region. Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces release footage showing a swift raid by operators from the 8th Special Operations Regiment in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The military says the operation targets a Russian position during winter conditions, with the assault unfolding quickly and at close range.

According to the Special Operations Forces press service, two Russian troops are eliminated at an observation post during the initial strike. Three others take cover in a dugout and later surrender after sustained pressure from the Ukrainian team. No Ukrainian casualties are reported.

The unit says operating behind enemy lines in winter requires more than firepower. Fighters must adjust clothing, camouflage and equipment for extreme cold while maintaining physical endurance and mental focus. Temperatures during the operation drop to about minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit), the military says.

Key Takeaways

1. Russian forces are reportedly fielding a new Geran long-range strike drone variant, the Geran-5, a drone derived from an Iranian interceptor drone design.
2. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure overnight on January 10 to 11.
3. Russian forces recently advanced in the Borova, Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka, and Hulyaipole directions and in western Zaporizhia Oblast.

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• Reuters: UK seeks to develop ballistic missiles for Ukraine capable of reaching Moscow
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• Zelenskyy: Air defence missiles in partners’ stockpiles should be in Ukraine
• CNN: Ukrainian experts say Russian Oreshnik ballistic missile is based on outdated technology
• Ukraine’s special forces release footage of strike on Lukoil drilling rigs
• UK defence secretary says he would like to kidnap Putin