Necessary groundwork must be done to ensure that all complications between government officials, business, and law enforcers are resolved – address by the President of Ukraine

22 January 2024 – 21:05

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

The Day of Unity of Ukraine. Once again, I congratulate everyone on this holiday, on the fact that our people and our state have truly felt the potential of unity and the strength that unity gives to the whole nation. It is thanks to unity that Ukraine has endured this war and is defending itself against the Russian onslaught. And it is thanks to the unity not only of ours, but also of everyone in the world who has realized what Russia’s aggression brings. Today, on the Day of Unity, Polish Prime Minister Tusk visited Ukraine. And this is his first visit to a country outside the EU – outside for now – to Ukraine after taking office. The first visit. A very productive one. Today, Mr. Prime Minister Tusk and I had a very meaningful conversation about all the issues between our countries – between Ukraine and Poland – and at the level of European institutions. Defense – there will be a defense package from Poland. And to strengthen our positions, we talked about joint production of weapons, about increasing our capabilities in using Polish equipment and weapons systems. Of course, we talked in detail about political cooperation. About the fact that all the problems between Ukraine and Poland can be overcome mutually – at the level of our states. I am confident that we can overcome the critical situations on the border – the blockade – which significantly undermine solidarity now, and can find pragmatic solutions to any critical situations. I am grateful to Poland for joining the G7 declaration on security commitments for Ukraine. We are starting to work on a bilateral security agreement. We discussed in detail our course towards the European Union and our expectations from this year’s NATO Summit. Poland can help. And, by the way, it is very important that the experience of Poland and Prime Minister Tusk personally – experience in relations with European institutions – can significantly strengthen our actions and decisions. We will use it. We have agreed on the format. Today we had a good meeting and conversation at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy with students of our universities. We were there together with Mr. Prime Minister of Poland, and I am grateful to all the students for their attention to this meeting and for their insightful questions.

I would also like to mention several meetings today.

First, we are specifying our further work with partners for this month and the following month, until the end of February. Ukraine should and will be on the world’s agenda. We are preparing the necessary negotiations and documents. The second meeting concerned Russian assets frozen in various jurisdictions that should be used for protection against Russian aggression. We are shoring up our position – the position of justice. And third. Today, government officials met with representatives of Ukrainian business. The discussion was not an easy one. There are some serious issues. There are real difficulties. I have familiarized myself with the details and asked to do the necessary groundwork to ensure that all complications between government officials, business, and law enforcers are resolved. Everyone can have their own opinion, yes, but in times of war we all have to be united by one task – the strength of Ukraine, the strength of our society and our economy. All the developments will be presented at the National Security and Defense Council.

I thank everyone who is with Ukraine and in Ukraine! I am grateful to everyone who strengthens Ukraine, who fights and works for our country, our society, our people – all Ukrainians.

Glory to Ukraine!

And here is President Zelenskyy’s address specifically focusing on Unity Day:

And here is the English transcript:

Address by the President of Ukraine on the Day of Unity

22 January 2024 – 09:01

Fellow citizens!

Exactly 105 years ago, right here on Sophia Square in Kyiv, the following lines were proclaimed: “The age-old dreams have come true, dreams that the best sons of Ukraine lived for and died for. From now on, the parts of a single Ukraine, separated for centuries, are united into one.”

These are the words of the Unification Act, which brought together the Ukrainian lands on both banks of the Dnipro River into a single state. And on this occasion, today we celebrate the Day of Unity of Ukraine.

Every year on January 22, we have always recalled two key lessons of those times, two guiding principles for all generations of the Ukrainian nation: to gain your own statehood, you have to fight. To preserve it, you have to unite.

And the day has come when it fell to all of us to prove: both these lessons have been learned. Every Ukrainian knows this day. When recalling it, there’s no need to mention the year, just the date and month will suffice. It’s the 24th of February.

When we showed that the unity and independence of Ukraine are real, not declarative values for us. And we did not give up our state, but proved from the first day of the war that people’s full-scale unity repels full-scale enemy aggression. Not symbolically, not sporadically, not in words, but on the frontlines – on all fronts of the war against unfreedom. In all forms of the battle for the preservation of Ukraine. United, independent, strong.

As a tribute to it, since 1990, Ukrainians have been coming together in human chains of unity. Ukrainian unity stretching from west to east. On February 24, Ukrainians joined hands again. Having chosen again not the chains of slavery, but the chain of unity. The only difference is that it has taken on a new form. When every Ukrainian no longer had the concept of “my” or “not my” region, as every corner of Ukraine, every city and village became native. When we became dear to each other. When Ukrainians from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro fight for Ukrainians in Donbas and Crimea, in the south and north. When Ukrainians from Zakarpattia, Bukovyna, and Halychyna open the doors of their homes and provide shelter to Ukrainians from Mariupol, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainians who fight. Ukrainians who work. Ukrainians who help. Ukrainian mothers and Ukrainian children who have lost their homes and are now abroad, contributing to the common resistance, collecting and delivering what is needed here. When Ukrainians from every region work to protect every region.

And to liberate every corner that is temporarily occupied. When the Ukrainians who are now there are waiting for us and hearing us. Continuing to be Ukrainians, continuing to resist. And together we will definitely force Russia to leave. And the words of the Unification Act about the unification of the parts of Ukraine that were separated from each other will be heard again. They will become a reality. Because today every Ukrainian is fighting for every Ukrainian. Proving that when all Ukrainians join hands, they won’t raise them to surrender.

We all fight. And today, this is true not only for the Dnipro’s two banks. Today, the unity of Ukrainians spans both hemispheres of the Earth. In every corner of which, on February 24, there were people declaring, “I am Ukrainian.” Declaring it on all continents where our people live. Those who, with the outbreak of a full-scale war, regardless of their place of residence, birth, or passport, said in the affirmative, “I am Ukrainian.” Those who proved it with their deeds. Our millions-strong diaspora, our lobbyists for Ukraine’s interests around the world. Those who collect, find, pack and deliver everything needed for the victory. All those who have not forgotten their roots and do not let the world forget about Ukraine. Everyone who has Ukrainian blood in their veins and a free heart beating in their chest. Ukrainians by origin, who have long proven that they are Ukrainians in spirit. And after many years of waiting, they should finally become Ukrainians by passport. At the legislative level. Today I am submitting to the Verkhovna Rada a key draft law that will allow the adoption of comprehensive legislative amendments and the introduction of multiple citizenship.

And it will allow all ethnic Ukrainians and their descendants from around the world to have our citizenship. Of course, except for citizens of the aggressor country.

All those who, during various emigration waves, were forced to leave their homeland and ended up in Europe, the United States, Canada, countries of Asia and Latin America. All those who help us despite being hundreds and thousands of kilometers away from their homeland.

Foreign volunteers who took up arms to defend Ukraine, all those who fight for Ukraine’s freedom as if it were their homeland. And Ukraine will become such for them.

For everyone who can feel that “being in Ukraine” means “being at home.” Not as tourists, but as citizens. Citizens of a great, united, single Ukraine.

For the freedom of which we are fighting. Fighting for the right to be Ukrainians. And the corresponding decision is one of the elements of this freedom, one of the possibilities to realize this right. The right to be Ukrainian.

Furthermore, today we must take steps not only to strengthen the unity of Ukraine and our people, but also to act for the unity of rights and freedoms, the truth about Ukrainians, the truth about us, and the truth about our history.

To this end, today I have signed a Decree “On the Territories of the Russian Federation Historically Inhabited by Ukrainians.” This is the restoration of truth about the historical past for the sake of Ukraine’s future.

Fellow Ukrainians!

In the spring of 2022, I saw Bucha for the first time after the occupation. And for the first time I wore a T-shirt with the words “I am Ukrainian.” Always, and especially now, the words “I am Ukrainian” carry a special meaning. Today, they are filled with courage, pride, and indomitability of our people. The pain that every Ukrainian feels and at the same time the strength that helps us endure everything. Overcome everything. Survive everything. Knowing and remembering that only strong Ukrainians can be united. And only united Ukrainians can be strong.

Ukrainians all over the world.

I am Ukrainian.

Happy Unity Day, fellow Ukrainians! 

Glory to Ukrainians! 

Glory to Ukraine!

The cost!

On Ukraine’s Day of Unity, two names are on my mind. Serhiy Nihoyan, the first killed participant of the Revolution of Dignity. It’s his death day. Maksym Kryvtsov, a Ukrainian poet and defender killed 2 weeks ago. It’s his birthday. The price Ukraine pays for the right to exist. pic.twitter.com/QYV7Y7dNpf

— Dr Sasha Dovzhyk (@sasha_weirdsley) January 22, 2024

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was also in Kyiv today.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has arrived in Kyiv. He’ll meet President Zelensky, PM Shmyhal and other officials in the Ukrainian capital. https://t.co/Vr6gIuKsci

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) January 22, 2024

Today, we had very productive talks in Kyiv with @DonaldTusk about all aspects of Ukrainian-Polish bilateral relations.

We appreciate Poland's unwavering support and the new military aid package for Ukraine, as well as a new form of cooperation aimed at larger-scale arms… pic.twitter.com/m5QCm67acD

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 22, 2024

The Financial Times has the details.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has pledged to make his country the “most reliable” backer of Ukraine, as western allies struggle to approve further financial and military assistance nearly two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“It is very important to build the feeling that Poland is the most reliable, most stable ally of Ukraine in this deadly clash with evil,” Tusk said during a visit to Kyiv on Monday. “There is nothing more important than supporting Ukraine in its war effort against the Russian attack. This is absolutely number one.”

The Polish premier’s highly anticipated trip comes after relations with Kyiv deteriorated during the last year in office of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which engaged in trade disputes and mutual recriminations with Ukraine’s government. Tusk took office last month pledging to repair the relationship and place Poland at the heart of EU policymaking.

Poland and Ukraine are ready to finalise talks on investments to jointly produce ammunition and weapons, Tusk said on Monday after talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“The whole free world should help Ukraine in every aspect because it’s our common interest,” he said in a video released by Zelenskyy’s office of the two leaders meeting. “There is no space for symmetry, for neutrality.”

Tusk’s show of support was welcomed by Ukrainian officials, who have been calling on EU and US allies to set aside their domestic political differences and agree on new financial and military aid together worth about $110bn, as Russia has intensified its aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Zelenskyy welcomed Tusk as a “good friend”. “We are thankful that Poland, your society, has always been with Ukrainians from the first days of the full-scale war,” he said.

Tusk vowed to resolve all remaining disputes “in the spirit of friendship” and “not to maintain or multiply them”, according to a statement published on the social media platform X.

Much more at the link!

While Tusk’s visit and statements are important, the reality is still currently grim.

And the reason there can be no large deliverable is because several far-right Republicans in the U.S. Congress continue holding up legislation for critical new funding for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are rationing arms and munitions, many of its best people are being killed. https://t.co/Q4m6NhzCfP

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) January 22, 2024

This of course is due to the fact that Congress has yet to pass @POTUS's supplemental request for additional $$$ for the war.

— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) January 22, 2024

Here’s more on the strike in Donetsk from the Thread Reader App:

Crater evidence indicates weapon used was a mortar. If it had been fired by UA forces, the mortar team would have had to have snuck 10 km into Russian-held territory, during daylight, fired, and then escaped back through the front line, without being captured.

This is unlikely. 

Big problem with this occurred to me: Given that artillery or mortar shells travel at multiple times the speed of sound, if a shell lands nearby you’re going to hear the impact explosion BEFORE, you hear the sound of the round being fired, if it’s kms away. Not what video shows. 

Crater from incoming shell that hit near the market – it looks very much like a mortar round crater. A 155mm shell would have dug a much bigger hole.

This looks more like a mortar attack than an artillery attack to me, going by the images of craters. Given their range, the weapons would still have had to have been fired inside Russian-held territory – the front line is too far away for them to have been fired from UA positions 

Correction: Mortar shells don’t travel at supersonic speeds. 

More from the Thread Reader App from the account that MacDonald was quote tweeting:

There is one small problem with “Ukraine attacked a Donetsk market in the Kirovskyi District with mortars.”

It’s impossible.

The LOC is 15.2 km away.

No 120 mm mortar system in NATO inventory can reach 15,700 meters.

Splash patterns don’t match any barrel artillery rounds. 

Russian state media and propagandists were very careful not to photograph craters – makes analysis harder – but there is this one.

That’s not from an S-300 missile, Grad, or Smerch rocket. It was a unitary HE warhead and not fragmentation.

According to Russian sources, this is the crater caused by a 155 mm artillery round. 

https://twitter.com/A__Alimov/status/1531187814167105538

And more from Sergej Sumlenny, also from the Thread Reader App:

A market in Russia-occupied Ukrainian Donetsk being hit today looks like a 💯Russia-staged provocation:
1) There is no history of UA hitting civilian targets;
2) RU FM Lavrov arrives to the UN this week, RU needs arguments against ams deliveries to UA;
3) Compare Bilhorod case ⬇️ 

3.1) In Dec 2023, Russia shelled its city of Bilhorod with artillery shells, a Christmas market was hit, multiple civilians killed, incl kids. Russia blamed Ukraine for using attack drones to hit the city. But the photos clearly showed traces of artillery shelling ⬇️

3.2) So as the next step, the Russians said, the Ukrainians hit Bilhorod with Western(Czechia)-supplied “Vampire” MLRS rockets. The problem: Vampire have double as short range, can not reach Bilhorod. Maria Zakharova from Russian FM still requested a UN SC meeting. ⬇️ 

4) Russia has a long history of shelling cities in Donbas which are under RU occupation to blame Ukraine for that. Already in 2014, RU has even acknowledged it officially – one of RU commanders who was purged after a conflict, was trialed for this. .

https://fakty.com.ua/ru/ukraine/20180724-kozaky-proty-zaharchenka-bojovyky-ziznalysya-v-obstrili-avtobusa-v-donetsku/

5) Summary: ignore what Russia says, it is guaranteed a lie. Russia has a decades-long history of killing own people to blame others. And people from Donetsk are not even being seen as their “own”, they are nothing but slaves for the Russians. 

Avdiivka:

Report from Avdiivka concerning an FPV-drone unit belonging to the "Bozha Sprava" unit of the 47th Mechanised Brigade, mentioning Russian "digging tactics" and their widespread use of infantry after significant vehicle losses. pic.twitter.com/nMzUUyAa9y

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) January 22, 2024

Bakhmut:

Ukraine’s ammo shortage becoming more difficult by the day. Around Bakhmut an M109 position we visited only got smoke rounds. The division commander says the current ratio is 10:1 in favor of the Russians. Still Ukrainian troops are holding on. @CNN @cnni @IsaCNN #Ukraine #Russia… pic.twitter.com/9tLBNcbAhA

— Frederik Pleitgen (@fpleitgenCNN) January 22, 2024

1,001 civilians remain in Avdiivka, the ravaged frontline town Russian troops have been trying to capture for four months now. Evacuations are still going on, according to the city head Vitaly Barash—a handful of people at a time https://t.co/aFKAuJFFua

— Fabrice Deprez (@fabrice_deprez) January 22, 2024

From Suspilne: (machine translation):

Residents Avdiks became more active in recording for evacuation from the city, on the morning of January 22, 1,001 people remained in the city.

About it on the air “Public. The resistance was reported by the head of the Avdiyev City Military Administration Vitaly Barabash.

“We feel that people are recording more actively. Yesterday (January 20 — ed.) She was gone. And before that, two days in a row, 9 people left. There has been no such evacuation for a long time. People feel that the tension is great around the city. They see that it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to import humanitarian aid, because it is true that we are constantly being beaten on the road, — said Barabash.

According to him, the evacuation is scheduled for January 22 and 23.

“And we even have those who want to on January 24,” — added a head of administration.

He noted that last night was “more or less calm”: there were isolated chaotic shelling in the old and central parts of the city, there was no mass shelling at night.

“We understand that it’s only for the most part at night. On a world day, of course, very hotly shook around the city. In total, there were 37 mass shootings in the community over the past day, with — many times more. And 12 air bombings. Most of these air bombings in the central part of the city, — said Barabash.

Russian occupied Makiivka and Donetsk:

According to the occupational forces, electric substations in occupied
Makiivka and Donetsk came under attack last night. Several districts have no power.

See, unlike Bakhmut, Soledar and Popasna, these occupied territories still exist. pic.twitter.com/jc6X5K6gbj

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) January 22, 2024

Russian occupied Melitopol:

Curious situation happened in occupied Melitopol, where commander of Akhmat-Vostok Battalion was apparently stopped at a checkpoint, his paperwork was not up to date, but instead of sorting this out, they nearly shot the serviceman who stopped them. pic.twitter.com/h2GZ6MVwBI

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) January 22, 2024

An update on the petroleum facility in Ust-Luga, Russia:

The damage of the oil and gas terminal in Ust-Luga, Russia, is apparently worse than initially expected. According to analysts at the Moscow-based BCS brokerage it might take weeks, maybe even months, until the facility will return to significant capacity.

Two Ukrainian-made… pic.twitter.com/5XFht8cTRJ

— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) January 22, 2024

The damage of the oil and gas terminal in Ust-Luga, Russia, is apparently worse than initially expected. According to analysts at the Moscow-based BCS brokerage it might take weeks, maybe even months, until the facility will return to significant capacity.

Two Ukrainian-made drones have successfully enforced “sanctions” on Russia’s hydrocarbon trades. You can be sure that we are talking not only of millions but billions of USD which will not come or the very least severely delayed. Penalties for not fulfilling contractual duties are not even included.

Source: https://reuters.com/world/europe/analysts-see-russian-fuel-complex-resuming-operations-within-weeks-after-2024-01-22/

#Russia #Leningrad #Ukraine

Moscow:

Apple pays $12mn antitrust fine into Russia’s state budget https://t.co/211FthZP60

‘The payment will go directly to the Russian budget, boosting the Kremlin’s coffers at a time when Putin is raising funds to support record defence spending on prosecuting the war in Ukraine.’ @FT

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) January 22, 2024

Details from The Financial Times:

Apple has paid a Rbs1.18bn ($12.3mn) fine into Russia’s state budget, after a court in Moscow found the US tech giant guilty of abusing its dominant market position through the App Store.

FAS, Russia’s anti-monopoly watchdog, announced on Monday it had received the payment following a November ruling that found Apple had prohibited app developers from informing customers that they can pay for their purchases outside the App Store.

The payment will go directly to the Russian budget, boosting the Kremlin’s coffers at a time when President Vladimir Putin’s government is raising funds to support record defence spending on prosecuting the war in Ukraine.

The dispute between Apple and Russia’s competition regulator began before the invasion in February 2022, and is not the first time it has paid fines since then.

The iPhone-maker also paid a Rbs906mn ($10.1mn) fine a year later for a different violation of antimonopoly law, according to the FAS. Other western tech groups, including Google, have paid fines following action by FAS in recent years.

In order to pay fines imposed by the Russian government, US companies must seek permission from the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the body that enforces trade controls.

Apple and the US Treasury did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

More at the link!

For those of you DIY/kitbashing enthusiasts:

Russian experiments, RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers installed on the chassis of T-80. Previously some of these were seen on MT-LBs. https://t.co/ybxdml2NVx https://t.co/gahq9zSIWb pic.twitter.com/aDoDP48Udd

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) January 22, 2024

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron tweets or videos tonight, so here’s some adjacent material.

Avdiivka trench cat with the Ukrainian Khorne group. pic.twitter.com/7dn5E4vAeg

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 22, 2024

https://twitter.com/ukraine_ua/status/1749134562821656955

https://twitter.com/SusanneM0905/status/1749484926334832953

https://twitter.com/Eva_CZ1/status/1749172465513709739

Open thread!