This Week in the Russia-Ukraine War (January 17)

A snapshot of recent news from sources around the world on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Political Developments

The US and UK have ramped up sanctions on Russia, aiming to cripple Moscow’s energy revenue and hinder its war effort in Ukraine. These sanctions target over 200 entities and individuals, including energy companies, traders, officials, and insurance companies, along with hundreds of oil tankers. The UK will also directly sanction Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, marking a significant escalation in their response to the invasion.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a 100-year security partnership agreement with Ukraine. “We are with you not just today or tomorrow, for this year or the next, but for 100 years – long after this terrible war is over and Ukraine is free and thriving once again,” Starmer said.

Serbia has cancelled several weapons contracts with Moscow due to pressure from international sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Military Assistance to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Kyiv’s foreign partners to honor commitments for military aid, pointing to Ukraine’s need for help with air-defense, in particular. During a meeting with Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Zelensky noted that about one third of Ukraine’s defense needs are currently being met by its own industry.

Ukraine is to receive additional military aid from Germany.  The German government said it will provide Ukraine with three additional IRIS-T SLM and SLS air defence systems, along with 13 more Gepard mobile air defense systems.

Norway, meanwhile, has pledged EUR2 billion in military aid for Ukraine for 2025. The funding will target improving Ukraine’s air-defense capabilities while supporting the Ukrainian defense industry.

In a statement published on Thursday, the British government noted that it will deliver GBP3 billion in military aid in 2025, adding that another GBP1.5 billion in loan financing — backed by frozen Russian assets — is being made available to support procurement projects. The statement noted that London has placed a GBP61 million order with BAE Systems to produce barrel forgings with Sheffield Forgemasters that will be delivered to Ukraine for further integration.

Frozen Russian assets may also be utilized for the procurement of equipment from the Italian defense industry, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense, Anatolii Klochko, said this week.

Thirty thousand drones will be sent to Ukraine after the international Drone Capability Coalition placed GBP45 million worth of contracts. The Drone Capability Coalition supports Ukraine with uncrewed surveillance and attack capabilities. Funding for the new 30,000 drones comes from the U.K., Denmark, the Netherlands, Latvia, and Sweden.

Ukraine has officially taken delivery its first RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled howitzer from Germany, but the system is physically in Germany where Ukrainian troops are being trained. Ukraine will eventually receive 54 RCH 155s, starting with six this year. Ukraine is also expected to receive Boxer infantry fighting vehicles.

Battlefield Updates

Ukraine has launched a large missile attack on Russia.  This operation involved six U.S.-made ATACMS and six British-built Storm Shadows, as well as at least 146 drones.  Moscow claims its air defense forces shot down all of these missiles and drones.

The Ukrainian military hit a Russian military arms depot in the Rostov region, Russia.  The attack involved the use of the Neptune missile.  The operation took place on the night of January 10.

Ukraine has conducted an attack on a Russian plant that produces chemicals for rocket propellant and explosives.  The Russian chemical factory is near the town of Seltso, in the Bryansk border region.  The attack took place on January 14. Two days later, Ukraine carried out an attack on Russian gunpowder factory in Tambov.

Russia fired 43 cruise and ballistic missiles and 74 drones on January 15, 2024.  Ukraine’s air defense forces intercepted 30 missiles and 47 drones.  Moscow has attempted to cripple Ukraine’s power grid.  By some estimates, Ukraine has lost upwards of 60 percent of its energy generation capacity.

Russia has conducted another drone attack on Ukraine.  Moscow used 55 Shahed drones and other unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) during an operation on January 16.  Ukrainian air defenders claimed to have intercepted 34 of these drones.

South Korea estimates that around 300 North Korean troops have been killed in combat, and another 2,700 injured. South Korea’s spy agency said two soldiers recently captured did not want to defect. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is willing to release North Korean soldiers captured near Kursk in exchange for Ukrainian soldiers currently held in Russia.

Russian forces have been unable to take the Ukrainian logistics stronghold of Pokrovsk, but they are now bypassing the city itself to focus on cutting off its supply lines. Russian troops took the village Shevchenko on Saturday. The following day, Russia said its troops had captured two more settlements, Yantarne in Donetsk and Kalynove in Kharkiv.

Ukraine is investigation claims that Air Force personnel, including MiG-29 Fulcrum maintenance personnel, were transferred to eastern Ukraine to offset personnel shortfalls on the front lines. Ukraine has denied the allegations.