Update on the conflict in Ukraine for January 15, 2024…

- US-Chilean citizen Gonzalo Lira is confirmed dead by the US State Department, having died in a Ukrainian prison with serious health issues neglected by his jailers. He was imprisoned for criticizing Kiev;

- Russia continues using a strategy of attrition across the line of contact, particularly in places like Avdeevka where Ukrainian positions are steadily degraded;

- Russian forces continue carrying out large-scale drone and missile strikes on targets across Ukraine;

- Ukraine admits a growing crisis in terms of air defense capabilities with its Western sponsors unable to supply an adequate number of interceptors for launchers transferred to Ukraine;

- Russia is continuing to expand production of existing drones and missiles while also developing new drones and missiles with greater capabilities, further stressing Ukraine’s already stretched combat capabilities;

- Previous dismissal of Russian-Iranian defense cooperation has now led to a demonstrable strategic crisis for Ukraine and the collective West;

- Ukrainian commanders are requesting what amounts to an entire army’s worth of equipment including an entire air force worth of replacement aircraft;

References:

Newsweek - Who Is Gonzalo Lira? Pro-Putin American Expat Dies in Ukrainian Jail (January 13, 2024):

https://www.newsweek.com/who-gonzalo-lira-pro-putin-american-expat-dies-ukrainian-jail-1860496

TASS - Russia to focus on provisioning of troops (January 9, 2024):

https://tass.com/defense/1730017

Alexander Mercouris - Rus Air Offensive, Heavy Drones; Attacks All Front Lines; Zelensky Curse; Protests France, Germany (January 10, 2024):

https://youtu.be/pDTBAiuxGcM?si=oA90Mtbk5-R7KUDX

Mediazona - Russian casualties in Ukraine. Mediazona count, updated (December 2023 - January 2024):

https://en.zona.media/article/2022/05/20/casualties_eng

NY Times - Ukraine’s Patriot Defenses at Work: Shuddering Booms and Bursts of Light (January 6, 2024):

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/06/world/europe/ukraine-patriots-us.html

Al Jazeera - Saudi Arabia may run out of interceptor missiles in ‘months’ (January 2022):

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/9/saudi-arabia-may-run-out-of-interceptor-missiles-in-months-ft

BBC - Japan to send Patriot missiles to US which may aid Ukraine (December 22, 2023):

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67798740

Australian Defense Magazine - Lockheed Martin says Patriot missile could ‘replace anything and everything’ (November 2023):

https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/sea/lockheed-martin-says-patriot-missile-could-replace-anything-and-everything

Reuters - Ukraine has deficit of anti-aircraft guided missiles - air force (January 9, 2024):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-deficit-anti-aircraft-guided-missiles-air-force-2024-01-09/

CNN - Missile blitz, jet drones, night camouflage: Kyiv warns how Russia could overwhelm air defenses (January 11, 2024):

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/11/world/ukraine-air-defenses-russia-drones-tactics-intl-cmd/index.html

The Drive - Russia May Have Started Using Jet-Powered Shahed Drones In Ukraine (January 7, 2024):

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/evidence-russia-is-now-using-jet-shahed-kamikaze-drones-emerges

CNN - Russia appears poised to purchase ballistic missiles from Iran, official says (January 4, 2024):

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/04/politics/russia-iran-missiles-ukraine/index.html

IISS - Ansarullah’s missile and munitions launches flex Saudi responses (March 2021):

https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis//military-balance/2021/03/ansarullah-missile-and-munitions-saudi-arabia

Reuters - Ukraine needs more attack aircraft for war effort - ground forces commander (January 12, 2024):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-needs-more-attack-aircraft-war-effort-ground-forces-commander-2024-01-12/