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Ukraine Invasion Day 309: Russian troops can get free sperm storage in cryobanks [1]
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Date: 2022-12-28
There are still smaller combat engagements as well as air alerts and counterattacks in Kreminna. There are some collateral benefits for male Russians participating in the war.
The Russian health ministry responded to a request “on the creation of a free cryobank of genetic material and amendments to the mandatory health insurance system to allocate a free fertility treatment quota for RF (Russian Federation) citizens taking part in the Special Military Operation,” according to Trunov.
“The families of those called up for military service as part of the partial mobilization will receive free access to fertility treatment and the storage of biomaterial in a cryobank,” said Igor Trunov, president of the Russian Union of Lawyers, which represents several couples where the husband has been mobilized and the family has asked for assistance, according to Tass.
Russian soldiers taking part in the war on Ukraine will be eligible for free sperm freezing and storage in cryobanks, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported, citing a lawyers union.
ISW forecasts with high confidence that Putin will not seek to engage NATO militarily at this time in response to the provision of any of the Western military systems currently under discussion. Russia is barely holding off the Ukrainian military at a fearful cost to itself and Russian forces in Ukraine could not survive a serious conflict with NATO at this time. The risks of deliberate Russian escalation to a major conflict with NATO in the foreseeable future are thus extremely low.
Key Takeaways
www.understandingwar.org/...
Details: According to Putin's spokesman, no plan that ignores these "realities" constructed by Russia can be adopted.
Again, there cannot be any peace plan for Ukraine that does not take into account today's realities on Russian territory, that now includes four new regions [Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Oblasts, in addition to Crimea annexed in 2014 – ed.]."
Quote from Peskov: "Let us start with the fact that currently there is no ‘peace plan’ for Ukraine.
The Kremlin has made it clear that any "peace" with Ukraine must proceed from the fact that the Russian army will not leave the captured territories and return control over them to Kyiv.
x ⚡️ WAR IN #UKRAINE - DEC 28
7-day average of Troops & APVs rises
TODAY'S REPORTED LOSSES:
2x daily changes over 7-day average
2x 7-day average increases
📈
https://t.co/RplL8o23hu pic.twitter.com/sL2JEjRdZE — Ragnar Gudmundsson 🇮🇸🇺🇦
[email protected] (@ragnarbjartur) December 28, 2022
x "All Kalibr missile-carrying ships have been withdrawn from the Black Sea," - Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) December 28, 2022
x Losses to the Russian fascist invaders in the successful attack on Engels airbase:
5 Tu-95MS strategic bombers damaged
17 service members killed
26 wounded (3 in serious condition)
control tower destroyed
from journalist Volodymyr Zolkin
https://t.co/QG9LmGjIjf — Michael MacKay (@mhmck) December 27, 2022
x "A massive attack on the territory of Ukraine was planned [for December 26] but it did not take place after the destruction of the flight control centre along with the entire duty shift in Engels."
–Oleksiy Arestovych, National Security and Defence Advisor
https://t.co/yfcBPcMe8m — Michael MacKay (@mhmck) December 27, 2022
x US 🇺🇸 has transferred 2 additional NASAMS batteries to Ukraine 🇺🇦 each including 9 to 12 launchers
These 2 NASAMS systems arrived faster than expected and will help Ukraine protect more cities from Russian missiles and drones pic.twitter.com/3Zo68moOMb — Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) December 28, 2022
x Another indication that Wagner is operating T-90M tanks. 3/
https://t.co/btYwItxhkV pic.twitter.com/9ByekQNlwL — Rob Lee (@RALee85) December 28, 2022
x Some group is backing him now and allowing the attacks against oligarchs, military, etc but once he is no longer useful I foresee Prigozhin finding a cup of tea and a balcony. Meanwhile, the instability and infighting continues to grow over the past several months — Olga Lautman 🇺🇦 (@OlgaNYC1211) December 29, 2022
x And here they are - the ex-Danish Leopard 1A5DK (at the German company FGG) which I referred to below in my suggestion to be donated to Ukraine. We had 230. (Photo: Martin Lind).
https://t.co/Xh1eiU4M2d pic.twitter.com/boFTWrzWFK — Hans Tino Hansen (@HthHans) October 6, 2022
Eastern Ukraine: (Eastern Kharkiv Oblast-Western Luhansk Oblast)
Ukrainian forces reportedly continued counteroffensive operations in the direction of Kreminna on December 28. A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted an assault near Chervonopopivka (6km north of Kreminna) where there is reportedly fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces for a section of the R-66 highway that leads into Kreminna.[30] Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces Spokesperson Serhiy Cherevaty stated that Ukrainian forces are continuing to conduct operations to liberate Kreminna, although he emphasized that it is too early to discuss the settlement’s capture.[31] Ukrainian officials reported that Russian civilian workers and Russian military command have evacuated from Kreminna, possibly indicating that Russian forces are preparing for an intensified Ukrainian effort to seize the settlement.[32] Former Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) Ambassador to Russia Rodion Miroshnik claimed that Ukrainian forces are continuing to conduct long-term methodical probing of Russian positions in the vicinity of Kreminna and are suffering heavy losses in these operations.[33] A BARS-13 (Russian Combat Reserve) affiliated source claimed that Ukrainian forces are preparing an offensive on Kreminna simultaneously from three directions.[34] ISW does not make assessments about specific future Ukrainian operations. A social media source posted footage on December 27 claiming that Ukrainian forces captured Dibrova (5km southwest of Kreminna), although ISW cannot independently verify this claim.[35]
www.understandingwar.org/...
Russian Subordinate Main Effort—Donetsk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas)
Russian forces continued offensive operations around Bakhmut on December 28. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian assaults near Bakhmut; within 30km northeast of Bakhmut near Spirne, Yakovlivka, Soledar, Bakhmtuske, and Pidhorodne; and within 11km southwest of Bakhmut near Andriivka and Klishchiivka.[40] A Russian milblogger claimed that elements of the Wagner Group pushed through Ukrainian fortified positions in Soledar and established control over two strongholds near Pidhorodne.[41] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces are advancing from positions near Bakhmut toward Soledar and tried to advance towards Bakhmut from positions southeast of Soledar.[42] A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces are fighting Ukrainian forces in urban areas in the southern and eastern outskirts of Bakhmut.[43] Russian milbloggers continued to claim that Ukrainian forces are suffering heavy losses in the Bakhmut area.[44] Russian milbloggers also claimed that Russian forces conducted assaults south of Bakhmut near Dyliivka and Opytne and captured strongholds on the eastern outskirts of Klishchiivka.[45]
Several indicators support the assessment that Russian forces around Bakhmut have culminated.
Senior Ukrainian officials are visiting frontline positions in Bakhmut unimpeded. Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) chief, Kyrylo Budanov, visited Bakhmut on December 27-28 and was geolocated to within at least 600 meters of the previously recorded Russian forward line of troops.[3] Budanov’s visit supports previous Ukrainian social media reports that Ukrainian forces conducted a tactical counterattack that repelled Russian forces from the outskirts of Bakhmut on December 21.[4] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Bakhmut on December 20.[5]
Recent combat footage supports ISW’s previous assessment that Russian forces are operating in squad-sized assault groups due to combat losses.[6] Combat footage posted on December 26 shows Ukrainian fire defeating squad-sized groups of 5-10 unsupported Russian infantry attempting a disorderedly assault on Novoselivske in Luhansk Oblast.[7] This footage, while not from Bakhmut, is consistent with a senior Ukrainian official’s report that Russian forces in the Bakhmut area are no longer operating as company and battalion tactical groups but are instead operating in smaller groups of 10 to 15 servicemembers (squad-size organizations) as of December 27.[8]
Russian airborne forces (VDV) are reportedly augmenting Wagner Group operations around Bakhmut. A Russian source reported that Wagner and VDV elements conducted joint operations in Bakhmut on December 27.[9] The report, if true, marks an inflection given that the Wagner Group has been conducting information operations to assert that the Wagner Group forces exclusively are operating in Bakhmut.[10] The conventional Russian military supporting Wagner Group elements in Bakhmut—after Wagner took efforts to emphasize it exclusively is responsible for the Bakhmut sector—would be consistent with indicators for the Wagner Group forces’ culmination. ISW has previously assessed that Wagner Group forces are serving a chiefly attritional role around Bakhmut and have therefore likely become degraded to a near-debilitating extent and need reinforcement from more conventional Russian elements.[11] High rates of attrition amongst the forces responsible for the offensive on Bakhmut may expedite the culmination unless notable numbers of regular Russian military units are sent to sustain the offensive and delay or avert its culmination.
www.understandingwar.org/...
x In the Battle of Bakhmut, the Russian fascist invaders attempted assaults in the areas of Bilohorivka, Soledar, Bakhmuts'ke, Pidhorodne, Bakhmut, Klishchiyivka and Kurdyumivka. They were stopped by Ukrainian defenders and suffered losses.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/3Y0k9tDboK — Michael MacKay (@mhmck) December 29, 2022
Russian forces appear less likely to conduct a new offensive in the Zaporizhia Oblast over the winter. Russian forces are likely establishing defenses against possible Ukrainian offensive operations in Zaporizhia Oblast.[19] Russian forces likely destroyed a bridge over a river in Polohy on December 28.[20] A senior Ukrainian military official stated on December 28 that there are no signs of Russian forces in Zaporizhia Oblast forming strike groups despite some rotations and deployments there.[21] Zaporizhia Oblast Occupation Deputy Vladimir Rogov claimed on December 27 that Ukrainian forces will conduct an offensive in Zaporizhia Oblast but that the offensive is not imminent because of muddy conditions.[22] Recent Russian mining and fortification efforts in Zaporizhia Oblast and the Dnipro River coastline indicate that Russian forces do not seek to conduct an offensive there.[23]
www.understandingwar.org/...
Supporting Effort—Southern Axis (Russian objective: Maintain frontline positions and secure rear areas against Ukrainian strikes)
Russian forces continued defensive and rotational operations in Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts on December 28. The Head of the Ukrainian Joint Press Center of the Tavrisk Direction Defense Forces, Yevhen Yerin, stated that Russian troops in the Kherson and Zaporizhia directions are undertaking rotational measures and changing their positions to compensate for constant degradation due to Ukrainian strikes.[53] Yerin also noted that Russian troops in Zaporizhia Oblast may be creating new, more powerful units but that such units remain unlikely to form a strike group capable of offensive actions, thereby suggesting that these newly forming units are defensive in nature.[54] Yerin’s observations most likely mean that these reported units are comprised of infantry elements without sufficient armored vehicles or artillery assets for large-scale offensive operations. Satellite imagery taken on December 22 and posted on December 28 additionally shows the construction of Russian defensive field fortifications along the T0401 Tokmak-Polohy highway.[55]
www.understandingwar.org/...
x Kherson was liberated because Ukraine forced Russians to accept they could not hold the city with their dwindling supplies and growing body count.
But an important role was also played by people who were inside Kherson during the occupation.
https://t.co/hVrTVffLNS — The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) December 28, 2022
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has bought some 1,400 drones, mostly for reconnaissance, and plans to develop combat models that can attack the exploding drones Russia has used during its invasion of the country, according to the Ukrainian government minister in charge of technology.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov described Russia’s war in Ukraine as the first major war of the internet age. He credited drones and satellite internet systems like Elon Musk’s Starlink with having transformed the conflict.
Ukraine has purchased drones like the Fly Eye, a small unmanned aerial vehicle used for intelligence, battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance.
“And the next stage, now that we are more or less equipped with reconnaissance drones, is strike drones,” Fedorov said. “These are both exploding drones and drones that fly up to three to 10 kilometers and hit targets.”
He predicted “more missions with strike drones” in the future, but would not elaborate. “We are talking there about drones, UAVs, UAVs that we are developing in Ukraine. Well, anyway, it will be the next step in the development of technologies,” he said.
apnews.com/...
x The materials released online contained, among other things, justifications for Russia's occupation of Ukraine. more than 100,000 SIM cards were used to register the said accounts. They were seized by police officers. — Intermarium 24 (@intermarium24) December 28, 2022
x Reports of widespread emptying of cash at Russian bank ATMs. Apparently, the reason is this instruction by CBR governor Nabiullina to transform private individuals' bank deposits to war bonds by force, effectively confiscating bank savings. Comments? @sguriev @v_milov pic.twitter.com/NbiWiwfzjt — Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) December 28, 2022
BlackRock Financial Markets Advisory and the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy signed a memorandum of understanding in November.
Zelenskyy and Fink agreed Wednesday to “focus in the near term on coordinating the efforts of all potential investors and participants in the reconstruction of our country, channelling investment into the most relevant and impactful sectors of the Ukrainian economy.”
www.cnbc.com/...
x Russian pundits discussed the meaning behind Dmitry Medvedev's "predictions," describing them as an info-diversion targeting the West. More in my latest article (linked below) ⤵️
https://t.co/fPLV9Hn01Y — Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) December 28, 2022
x Hard-Line Position…by Ukraine? Asking a genocidal power to leave your territory is not hardline.
https://t.co/GqCCjYY52i — Gary Shteyngart (@Shteyngart) December 28, 2022
x The leader of PMC Wagner Prigozhin put Medvedev in his place, calling his "forecast" for 2023 "erotic fantasies"😂 pic.twitter.com/KcI5A4kC22 — NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) December 28, 2022
x A host of shipping insurers alter policies for 2023 to exclude claims linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, a further sign of the industry’s growing concerns about losses stemming from the conflict
https://t.co/NqRaFRcW17 — Bloomberg (@business) December 28, 2022
[END]
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