Victory Chronicles-DAY 705

Ukrainian Navy commander Oleksiy Neizhpapa stated in an interview with Sky News that the outcome of the war could have been different if allies had not imposed restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons. Neizhpapa emphasized that if Kyiv had been allowed to use Western weapons against Russian targets, the war could have been won more quickly. He stressed the need for capabilities that would deter Russia from considering any aggressive actions towards Ukraine, including at sea. 

Throughout the war, Ukraine frequently targeted Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, with one notable incident being the sinking of the Russian Navy’s missile cruiser Moskva in April 2022. These attacks have reportedly cost the Russian fleet significant losses. In October 2023, British Secretary of State for the Armed Forces James Hippe acknowledged that Ukraine’s attacks on the Russian Black Sea Fleet had led to a “functional defeat” of the fleet in the Black Sea.

On the night of January 28-29, Russian troops launched eight Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones to attack Ukraine. However, Ukrainian air defense systems successfully shot down all the drones. The air attack took place in several Oblasts, including Mykolaiv, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, and Rivne. 

The Public Relations Service of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi published a photo report of the combat work of the Mykolaiv rocket artillery.

The Ukrainian border guard brigade, known as the Steel Border Brigade, has released a video showcasing their drones destroying Russian equipment. According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, two Russian off-road vehicles were destroyed using kamikaze drones belonging to the Steel Frontier Offensive Guard Brigade.

Ukrainian Navy Commander Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s ability to technologically adapt and develop as Russian forces continue to adapt to Ukrainian operations in a January 27 Sky News interview.

Neizhpapa’s statement is consistent with ISW’s assessment that Russian forces are adapting and learning on certain sectors of the front. Neizhpapa also reiterated the Ukrainian assertion that Ukrainian forces should be able to use Western-provided systems to strike legitimate military targets in Russia. Neizhpapa stated that the Ukrainian Navy would be “very happy” to accept two UK Type 23 frigates that the UK is considering decommissioning due to a shortage of sailors.

The Turkish government announced on January 2 that it would not allow the UK to transport two mine hunting ships to Ukraine via the Turkish Straits citing Article 19 of the Montreux Convention Regulating the Regime of the Turkish Straits, which stipulates that “vessels of war belonging to belligerent Powers shall not…pass through the Straits.” Turkey would likely continue to use the Montreux Convention to prevent the UK from potentially transferring these two frigates through the Turkish Straits to Ukraine.

Turkey has used the Montreux Convention to deny access to Russian warships wishing to pass through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits since February 28, 2022, to Ukraine’s benefit.

The defender Maksym Tulaidan died on January 30, 2023, while performing a combat mission near the city of Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast. The defender was 33 years old.

Maksym was born in the city of Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad Oblast. Since childhood, he lived in the village of Oleksandrivka, where he received his secondary education at a local school. He worked at a construction site. He was fond of computers and technology. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the man joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 95th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade. He was a rigger in a technical support platoon.

“Thank you very much for my son. Maksym was the best father, brother, fighter-in-arms and loyal citizen of Ukraine,” wrote Alina, the ex-wife of the deceased. The paratrooper was buried in the village of Oleksandrivka, Kirovohrad Oblast. Maksym is survived by his son, family, friends and fighters-in-arms.

*Maksym’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

• NATO Secretary General wants to invite Ukraine to be member of NATO “at certain stage”
• Greece prepares military aid package for Ukraine following US request
• Brussels threatens to hit Hungary’s economy if Orban vetoes Ukraine aid
• UK intelligence: Russia lost 2,600 tanks, 4,900 other armored vehicles since war began
• Ukraine refutes Russia captured Tabaivka village near Kupiansk