(Image by NEIVANMADE)

A quick housekeeping note: I had some dental work done to bring some very old repairs up to 2024 standards this afternoon. I’m very tired and expect discomfort as the anesthesia wears off. I’m just going to hit the highlights, have something to eat, and rack out. No real analysis tonight.

About 2/3rds of Ukraine is under air raid alert as of 6:30 PM EDT/1:30 AM local time in Ukraine. The alert maps don’t have any Russian fixed wing craft up as part of the alert, just drones. At least for now, this appears to be another drone swarm attack.

⚡️Explosions heard in Kyiv.

Several loud explosions were heard in central Kyiv late at night on Jan. 13, Kyiv Independent correspondents reported.

According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, air defense units are repelling a drone attack against the city.

— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 13, 2025 at 4:51 PM

Kharkiv region is under the russian drone attack right now‼️

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 1:41 PM

“Target down.” A video of the downing of one of the “Shaheds” on January 13 has surfaced online.

The Air Force Command released footage of combat action against a Shahed-type attack drone on the eastern front.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

A Survey Has Been Launched in the Army Plus App – It Includes Five Candidates for the Position of Hetman Sahaidachnyi National Land Forces Academy Head – Address by the President

13 January 2025 – 21:32

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today, I held a meeting of the Staff.

The key issue is the development of our drones and all forms of their usage. There were reports on production and contracts, from FPV drones to long-range models, as well as on solutions that will allow us to more effectively destroy the invader and protect the lives of our warriors. There are technological proposals we must implement, and I am grateful to all our military personnel, every company, every official, and every volunteer involved in this effort to continuously modernize the Ukrainian army in terms of technologies.

There was also a report on robotic systems, as well as on artillery – both our domestic artillery production and our global procurement, especially of ammunition.

It is important that Ukraine has good dynamics in the production of artillery, and our own capabilities to supply the army will only increase.

Today, we also discussed personnel matters with Oleksandr Syrskyi, Anatoliy Barhylevych, Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Pavlo Palisa, specifically the appointment of a new head of the Hetman Sahaidachnyi National Land Forces Academy.

It is one of the key military education institutions in Ukraine, and the Academy definitely deserves changes. What exactly those changes will be and who will implement them will be decided together with our Ukrainian military, with all our warriors who want changes.

To that end, a corresponding survey has been launched in the Army Plus app. It includes five candidates for the position of Academy head and an opportunity to suggest changes to the education process and relations within the Academy.

It is especially important for cadets and Academy graduates to share their experiences and ideas.

As of now, two thousand votes have already been cast – just a few hours since the survey was launched. Thank you to everyone participating. The Army Plus app is available to all our warriors.

I thank the team at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for developing such functionality.

I also had a conversation today with the President of France. It was a pretty long and detailed discussion. We discussed defense support – various forms, arms packages for Ukraine. We talked about investments in the procurement of shells for Ukraine. We also discussed the deployment of partner contingents and the training of our troops. And of course, the global situation. We are coordinating our positions. Thank you, France! Thank you, Emmanuel.

And one more thing.

Today, I signed documents concerning sanctions. One is a decree imposing sanctions on Russia’s financial sector, targeting 140 different entities. We will continue working with our partners to align our pressure. The second document is a draft law introducing criminal liability for attempts to circumvent sanctions. This is, in many ways, a continuation of international practices regarding sanctions enforcement. We all understand that the more pressure we exert on the aggressor, the closer we bring peace. Sanctions are one of the most effective tools for justly pressuring Russia and everyone associated with it or working for the war. This draft law will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

Slovakia:

🤣 Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to an invitation from Slovak Prime Minister Fico.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 12:34 PM

Germany:

Ukraine has received its first advanced wheeled howitzer, the RCH 155.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius handed over the first of 54 RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 7:52 AM

The US:

Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine/Russia on timetable for ending war: Let’s set it at 100 days and move all the way back and figure a way we can do this in the near term to make sure that the solution is solid, it’s sustainable, and that this war ends

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— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) January 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM

I have been the Senior Civilian Advisor to seven general officers/flag officers (GO/FO). The above is what happens when a GO/FO has no idea what they’re talking about, do not understand the actual strategic issues, and no one staffed (read prepped) them for their engagement.

Georgia:

Day 47 of large-scale nationwide protests; day 77 of protests overall. We have two demands:
1. New, free and fair elections;
2. The release of the unlawfully detained.
#GeorgiaProtests #terrorinGeorgia #NewElectionsforGeorgia

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 12:41 PM

@netgazeti.org has released a video and stated that their director, Mzia Amaglobeli, was insulted during her detention by the head of Batumi police, Irakli Dgebuadze. In the video, his words can be heard: “With criminal code… I’ll arrest her with criminal code and I’ll f***”

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 8:10 AM

🟥 The video shows #Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze cursing & threatening Mzia Amaghlobeli, the founder and CEO of Netgazeti & Batumelebi, after her arrest.

⭕️ Dgebuadze personally participated in the arrest.
⭕️ Amaglobeli is accused of attacking Dgebuadze – a Police Officer.
#TerrorInGeorgia

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 13, 2025 at 9:04 AM

Amaglobeli has been detained since the night of Jan 11-12. Initially arrested for putting up a poster, she was briefly released before being rearrested. This video followed her second arrest. She is now accused of “attacking a police officer,” punishable by 4 to 7 years in prison

— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 13, 2025 at 11:15 AM

🟥 January 13 – A protest rally is taking place near the Batumi City Court, where cases of participants detained during the January 11 #GeorgiaProtests are being heard.

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 13, 2025 at 12:10 PM

“Freedom for Mzia Amaghlobeli!” – Representatives of the media and civil society are holding a protest rally in the Batumi, demanding the release of the head of independent media outlet @netgazeti.org. Amaghlobeli is facing imprisonment for 4 to 7 years.

#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM

Friends, it is important to support @netgazeti.org agency and battle the regime narrative that the director, Mzia Amaghlobeli, is to blame for slapping a policeman. International outlook on Batumelebi must be that of unconditional support as a regime-oppressed media & director.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 4:33 PM

2/5
After Mzia left the police administrative building, where she had been arrested on an administrative charge for putting up a poster, she stopped some distance from the gate of the building with her relatives.

— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM

3/5
We were there with our family members, who were even cheerful due to her release. The situation was entirely calm, and the demonstration was naturally coming to an end. Suddenly, the gate opened, and Dgebuadze rushed out with several police officers.

— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM

4/5
They began detaining our relatives without any justification, triggering chaos and confusion. The officers were cursing and threatening us during the incident. Mzia was dragged away, even losing a shoe in the process.

— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM

5/5
In panic caused by the police, people could not understand why they were being beaten or detained. Mzia’s reaction was not an attack on a police officer surrounded by about 20 other officers; it was a response to the violence, humiliation, & threats perpetrated by the police”.

— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM

The regime detains people for longer periods now. The standard would be 2 days pre-trial. The recent Batumi detainees are sentenced to 5 days. The standard administrative offense article 173, “disobedience,” implies up to 15 days detention. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM

Back to Ukraine.

The Kursk cross border offensive:

“The agency assessed that the North Koreans are struggling to adapt to drones and other elements of modern warfare. They are further disadvantaged by the crude tactics of their Russian commanders” apnews.com/article/nort…

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— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 5:42 AM

From the AP:

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Monday that two North Korean soldiers who were captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting alongside Russian forces in Russia’s Kursk border region haven’t expressed a desire to seek asylum in South Korea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he’s willing to hand over the soldiers to North Korea if the country’s authoritarian leader, Kim Jong Un, arranges for an exchange with Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia. Zelenskyy said one of the North Korean soldiers wishes to stay in Ukraine while the other wants to return to his country, which was consistent with interview videos released by his government. “If Kim Jong Un even remembers these citizens of his and is capable of organizing an exchange for our warriors being held in Russia, we are ready to transfer such soldiers. Undoubtedly there will be more POWs from North Korea,” Zelenskyy said in an address late Sunday. He said in a separate posting on the social media platform X that “there may be other options” for North Korean prisoners who don’t wish to go back.

In a closed-door briefing at South Korea’s National Assembly, the National Intelligence Service confirmed its participation in the questioning of the North Korean soldiers by Ukrainian authorities. The agency said the soldiers haven’t expressed a request to resettle in South Korea, according to two lawmakers who attended the meeting.

The agency said it was willing to discuss the matter with Ukrainian authorities if the soldiers eventually do ask to go to South Korea. About 34,000 North Koreans have defected to capitalist rival South Korea to avoid economic hardship and political suppression at home, mostly since the late 1990s.

Koo Byoungsam, spokesperson of South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said facilitating the asylum of the North Korean soldiers would require “legal reviews, including on international law, and consultations with related nations.”

“There’s nothing we can say at the current stage,” Koo said.

Seoul’s spy agency believes that about 300 North Korean soldiers have died and another 2,700 have been injured while fighting against Ukrainian forces, in what represents North Korea’s first involvement in large-scale conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The agency assessed that the North Koreans are struggling to adapt to drones and other elements of modern warfare. They are further disadvantaged by the crude tactics of their Russian commanders, who have thrown them in assault campaigns without providing rear-fire support, according to Lee Seong Kweun, a lawmaker who attended the agency’s briefing.

The agency said memos found on dead North Korean soldiers indicated that they had been ordered to commit suicide before being captured, according to Lee. The agency said one North Korean soldier, facing the threat of being captured by Ukrainian forces, shouted “General Kim Jong Un” and tried to detonate a hand grenade before he was shot and killed.

Moon Seong Mook, a retired South Korean brigadier general, said the high death toll for North Korean soldiers was predictable, as they would not have been sufficiently prepared for an unfamiliar mission in the terrain of the Kursk region, which is vastly different from North Korea’s mountainous landscape.

Another disadvantage for the North Koreans is that they are not conducting independent operations but are being thrust into combat under Russian commanders, possibly struggling with unfamiliar tactics and communication issues due to language barriers, said Moon, who has taken part in numerous military talks with North Korea. The North Korean forces could be operating special surveillance teams to arrest or execute attempted deserters, he said.

“The current battlefield environment, combined with drones and other technologies, have created situations North Korean soldiers have never encountered before,” Moon said. “They are also being deployed in large numbers in wide-open fields, where there is no place to hide, in continuous battles to retake the area, and that seems to be where the casualties are coming from.”

Much more at the link!

Lyptsy, Kharkiv Oblast:

Lyptsy, Kharkiv region. Another town dying under russian bombs.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM

Bryansk, Russia:

/1.Ballistic missiles strike is reported in Bryansk, Russia. Presumably ATACMS were used.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM

/2. Preliminary, the Bryansk Chemical Plant named after the 50th Anniversary of the USSR was attacked.

This is a military plant which among other things is a known location for manufacture of ammunition and overhaul of Russian MLRS systems, such as: Uragan, Grad, Tornado-G.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM

/3. Bryansk Chemical Plant burning after missile strikes.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 2:33 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent materials.

🦁🇺🇦 Odesa Zoo showed a day in the life of its pets – white lions.
These are extremely rare animals listed in the Red Book. There are only about 300 of these predators in the world, and several of them are “Odessans” 🥰

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) January 12, 2025 at 9:36 AM

Open thread!