Victory Chronicles-DAY 1436

Ukrainian forces struck a high-value Russian radar system and several drone command posts in occupied eastern and southern Ukraine on Jan. 29, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The attacks were described as part of efforts to weaken Russia’s air defense and offensive capabilities.

The General Staff said a 1L119 Nebo-SVU radar station was hit near the occupied village of Lymarivka in the Luhansk region. Ukrainian officials estimated the cost of the system at about $100 million, calling it a significant loss for Russia’s battlefield surveillance and air defense network.

Additional strikes targeted Russian unmanned aerial vehicle command posts near occupied settlements in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as well as an ammunition depot near Vasylivka in Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian officials said the hits were confirmed, while the full scale of Russian losses was still being assessed.

Russia hands over 1,000 bodies, says they are Ukrainian soldiers. Russia transferred the bodies of 1,000 people to Ukraine on Jan. 29, claiming they were Ukrainian service members that had been killed during the war, Ukrainian authorities said. The handover was described as part of ongoing repatriation efforts amid fighting that has entered its fourth year.

Ukrainian officials said the remains would undergo forensic examination and identification, a process that can take weeks or months as experts work to confirm names and causes of death. The effort involves DNA analysis and coordination with families who have been searching for missing relatives.

Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of withholding or mislabeling the bodies of fallen Ukrainian troops.

Russian drones strike industrial site in Odesa overnight. Russian forces launched another overnight drone attack on Odesa, triggering a fire at an industrial facility, Ukraine’s emergency services said. The strike set warehouse and production buildings ablaze and damaged several cargo trucks, adding to the strain on the port city’s civilian infrastructure.

Firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby facilities. Ukrainian emergency officials said all fires were fully extinguished by morning.

No injuries were reported, a rare outcome in a city that has faced repeated drone and missile attacks targeting ports, industry and energy facilities since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Odesa, a key hub for maritime trade and grain exports, has remained a frequent target.

Ukrainian forces strike vehicle carrying Russian troops in Mirnohrad. Ukrainian forces destroyed a vehicle carrying Russian troops in the center of partially occupied Mirnohrad on Jan. 29, eliminating one Russian soldier and wounding four others, Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces said.

According to the military, a group of five Russian troops attempted to drive into the city center under cover of poor weather, using a civilian-style vehicle to move quickly through urban streets. Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance detected the movement and relayed coordinates to operators of first-person-view strike drones.

The vehicle was hit and destroyed, Ukrainian officials said. The strike came as fighting in Mirnohrad remained intense, with Russian forces trying to secure positions in central neighborhoods amid ongoing small-arms combat.

Ukrainian commanders said Russian units have increasingly relied on small infantry groups and light vehicles to push deeper into the city. 

Key Takeaways

1. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to provide critical support to Russia’s weapons production, including Oreshnik missiles and Shahed long-range drones.
2. Ukrainian forces continued their strike campaign against Russian military assets near the front line and in the Russian near rear on the night of January 27 to 28.
3. Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk.

• Germany plans satellite missile detection system to cut reliance on US
• Financial Times: European allies prepare to replace United States intelligence for Ukraine
• European Commissioner for Enlargement: Many member states share Zelenskyy’s desire for Ukraine to join EU by 2027
• Friedrich Merz says Europe must speak language of power politics
• Poland reports airspace violation by objects from Belarus
• Germany plans to deliver new IRIS-T air defence systems to Ukraine