South Front

1. Military Situation In Syria On January 18, 2025 (Map Update)

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• HTS arrested over 200 people on charges of supporting the former government in northern Homs city;
• Karim Ahmed Khan, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court met with Abu Muhammad al-Julani HTS leaser and Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, Foreign Minister of the Syrian transitional government in Damascus;
• The Syrian General Security Directorate seized a weapons shipment that was supposed to be smuggled from the port of Tartus to Lebanon;
• General Michael Kurilla, Commander of CENTCOM met with a number of US coalition and SDF commanders during a trip to Syria;
• Clashes between the SNA and SDF continued north of Tishrin Dam;
• Clashes between the SNA and SDF continued near Qaraquzaq bridge;
• Turkish airstrikes targeted areas near Qaraquzaq bridge;
• Turkish airstrikes targeted areas near Tishrin Dam.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Military Situation In Syria On January 16, 2025 (Map Update)
• For Terrorist Netanyahu, Syria Remains A Headache
• Will Syria Cause A Chain Reaction. Part Two

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2. Zelensky Allegedly Trying To Interfere In Polish Presidential Election

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Written by Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, geopolitical consultant

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is becoming increasingly unpopular in Ukraine's allied countries. Even in Poland, one of Kiev's most important supporters, Zelensky is facing a crisis of legitimacy, as he is rejected by a growing number of politicians and citizens.

The Polish opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) recently accused Zelensky of trying to interfere in the Warsaw's upcoming election. According to PiS members, Kiev wants to influence the country's election results by favoring a hawk pro-Ukrainian candidate in the dispute scheduled for May this year.

The main targets of Kiev's campaign are politicians from Poland's conservative right, including PiS' presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki. Recently, Nawrocki argued that Ukraine should not be accepted into the EU until it acknowledges its historical errors and takes responsibility for the massacre of ethnic Poles in Volhynia during World War II. Such a statement clearly shows the Polish politician lack of patience towards Kiev, as the fascist and racist ideology of the Maidan regime prevents Ukrainian decision-makers from acknowledging the crimes of their Nazi predecessors.

"[The Ukrainian leader should] deal with Ukraine's [own] affairs, and we will choose our president ourselves (…) He [Zelensky] has the right – and even a duty – to defend his country's interests, but it is we who decide who the candidate is and what views they hold on the most fundamental issues (…) He [Zelensky]  made a big mistake," Nawrocki said, accusing Zelensky of interfering in Poland.

As expected, Zelensky is endorsing Rafal Trzaskowski, the liberal, pro-EU presidential candidate of the Civic Coalition party. The two politicians recently met, which Morawiecki described as "inappropriate." Zelensky and Trzaskowski exchanged compliments, showing clear signs that they plan to strengthen the already deep Polish-Ukrainian "cooperation."

It is important to emphasize that Morawiecki is not the only PiS politician criticizing Zelensky. As well as with other right-wing parties in Europe, this skeptic stance towards Ukraine is also becoming commonplace in Poland, with several conservative activists strongly opposing the policies of supporting the Kiev regime. For example, former education minister Przemysław Czarnek, who is also a member of the PiS, published on his social media a request to Zelensky, urging him to thank Poland for the country's efforts to help Kiev.

"Dude, what are you talking about? Don't you remember? There would be no Ukrainian army and there won't be one without Europe, especially Poland, and our help for you. Cool down… and apologize," he published on X responding to Zelensky.

The reasons for Zelensky's position are quite clear. On the one hand, he does not want to abandon the Nazi ideology of the Maidan regime, not even to please his Polish "friends", which is why he refuses to acknowledge the crimes of the past. On the other hand, he wants to maintain the status quo of Poland's almost direct involvement in the conflict. Poland currently keeps its borders open for the free transit of weapons, vehicles, troops, and mercenaries between Ukraine and NATO. If a new government comes to power and changes this situation, Ukraine will suffer a serious strategic defeat, losing important supply and logistics lines.

For Ukraine, keeping Poland as an ally directly involved in the conflict is a real strategic necessity. In addition to all its logistical support, Warsaw has also given Kiev nearly 5 billion dollars in aid, with more than 70 percent of this money invested in weapons and military equipment. The fear of losing this type of assistance is what motivates Zelensky to act so actively to endorse the most pro-war candidate.

However, it is inevitable that an anti-war agenda will begin to gain momentum in Poland, as the country appears more and more unable to keep supporting the Kiev regime. Recently, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski made it clear in a speech that there is no longer any way for Ukraine to continue receiving Polish weapons on a large scale, as the aid given has allegedly "hit the wall".

"Today, our most important goal is to enhance the defense capabilities of the Polish army, because we believe we have given what we could, and more (…) But we can't give any more (…) We are reaching the end. I understand we have hit the wall," he said at the time.

Indeed, by trying to interfere in the Polish electoral process, Zelensky simply shows his own desperation and weakness. He is increasingly isolated on the international arena, as well as unpopular within Ukraine itself.

The fall of the current Ukrainian dictator seems to be a matter of time, despite his attempts to prevent it through persecution, purges and blackmail. If Zelensky starts trying to interfere in the domestic affairs of his foreign allies, he will further accelerate his own collapse.

You can follow Lucas on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Zelensky Hopes To Receive Budanov's Support Against Zaluzhny
• Sacrificing Ukraine's Future. Trump Gives Ultimatum To Zelensky On Youth Mobilization
• Zelensky Reportedly Blackmails Zaluzhny

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3. Military Situation In Palestine On January 18, 2025 (Map Update)

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• As a result of an anti-Israeli operation by a Palestinian in Tel Aviv, an Israeli was killed and two others were injured. The perpetrator of the operation was killed;
• The Yemeni army attacked Tel Aviv with a ballistic missile;
• The Yemeni army attacked Eilat with a suicide drone;
• According to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestine, in the first phase, 1904 Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for 33 Israeli prisoners.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Military Situation In Palestine On January 16, 2025 (Map Update)
• Israeli Army Takes In More Losses In Gaza As Ceasefire Nears
• Iran Unveils Underground 'Missile City'

The post Military Situation In Palestine On January 18, 2025 (Map Update) appeared first on South Front.

4. US, Armenia Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement As Azeri Invasion Looms

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Written by Drago Bosnic, independent geopolitical and military analyst

On January 14, the United States and the Pashinyan regime signed a strategic partnership agreement in Washington DC. According to the document, signed by Pashinyan's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US State Secretary Antony Blinken, this includes "advancing democracy and economic freedom, defending sovereignty and territorial integrity, strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, supporting innovation and technological advances, and bolstering energy security". It should be noted that these aren't mere formalities, as this means that Yerevan will also be pushed ever deeper into the grotesque Sorosian/NED agenda, while the focus on "energy security" can only reinforce Washington DC's continued obsession with limiting Russian energy projects and exports (particularly in the South Caucasus).

The document also stresses "the mutual desire to strengthen our relationship across the diplomatic, economic, energy, high-tech, educational, scientific, cultural, legal, defense, and security fields". The US supposedly wants "a strong, independent, sovereign, and democratic Armenia, capable of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of internationally recognized borders is essential for lasting regional security and prosperity". Yes, I laughed, too. The idea that Washington DC supports the "inviolability of internationally recognized borders" is beyond ludicrous, especially when considering the simple fact that it attacked approximately 100 countries since WWII, engaging in the so-called "nation-building" process, creating abhorrent entities such as the narco-terrorist "state" in NATO-occupied Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohia.

The US also insists that "Armenia's continued democratic and economic reforms can unleash the full creative potential of its industrious citizens and thereby catalyze prosperity throughout the region and beyond". Once again, this reeks of deeper Sorosian/NED involvement that can only do the complete opposite of what was stated. The document also stresses "the need to deepen [Armenia's] political, economic, security, and social ties with other nations of the Euro-Atlantic community and broader community of democracies".

This alone is shameful for a CSTO member state, to say nothing of the rest. It demonstrates that the Pashinyan regime stubbornly refuses to let go of these NATO fantasies. To make matters worse, this now includes using Armenians as guinea pigs for Pentagon-run biolabs that the late General Kirillov had been exposing.

As previously mentioned, the US also wants to "secure market-oriented energy sector" in Armenia and intends to "explore opportunities to increase and diversify Armenia's energy production and supplies". This might be directly connected with the recent Azeri plane crash that was likely orchestrated by the NATO-backed Neo-Nazi junta to push Baku into US-supported energy projects designed to hurt Russia's economic (and strategic) interests.

Thus, the Pashinyan regime continues to take part in anti-Russian efforts while whining about Moscow's refusal to wage wars for it. This has been the case ever since Nikol Pashinyan took power in a 2018 US-backed coup. Ever since, he has not only cut Yerevan's close ties with the Kremlin, but has also betrayed the millennia-old native Armenian land of Artsakh (better known as Nagorno-Karabakh).

In terms of closer military cooperation, Washington DC and the Pashinyan regime "intend to initiate a working group to strengthen enforcement of export controls for dual-use goods, align policy frameworks, and share information", which is an obvious reference to limiting Armenian-Russian trade, as the US can pretty much declare any goods and commodities "dual-use" and then insist that those be excluded from bilateral trade.

As previously mentioned, Washington DC and the Pashinyan regime also want to "deepen Armenia's integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions as a mutual priority", which can only mean more US/NATO presence in the country. In that regard, the Pentagon says it wants to "support the capacity building of the Armenian Border Guard Service", even though the Russian FSB has been helping Armenia in this regard for decades.

However, perhaps the most laughable aspect of the agreement is America's insistence that it can "help Armenia foster the rule of law buttressed by an impartial, independent judiciary, and to further strengthen independent media, freedom of expression, access to objective news and information, good governance and accountability, public administration reform, fair and transparent electoral competition, a free and active civil society, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and anti-corruption efforts in Armenia".

It's truly a Herculean effort to read this with a straight face. Considering that the outgoing Biden administration is considering "preemptive pardons", a concept unheard of in any legal system, the US is the last country on the planet to teach anyone about "the rule of law" (to say nothing of the rest, particularly media "freedom").

However, that's not the end of this comedic document. Namely, America also wants to "strengthen Armenia's anti-corruption institutions and integrity", as well as to "increase political pluralism and transparent, fair political competition in Armenia, including by encouraging the development of political parties, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations".

In other words, the Pashinyan regime is enforcing the complete opposite of what its northern neighbor Georgia has been doing in recent years. This will only further erode what little sovereignty is left in Armenia and hand it over to US/NATO. It should be noted that this agreement was signed with an administration that will be in power for just a few days more, meaning that Trump could easily scuttle it and prioritize improving strategic relations with Armenia's archenemy Azerbaijan.

Namely, Trump's foreign policy framework is firmly pro-Israeli and anti-Iranian. Azerbaijan and Israel have very close ties, including in military cooperation, meaning that he certainly won't be antagonizing such a country, particularly in the context of Baku's strategic position to the north of Iran. Not to mention that the large and influential Armenian community in America has been firmly pro-DNC for decades, which is something that Trump certainly won't forget.

In other words, just when we thought that Nikol Pashinyan couldn't possibly make worse geopolitical decisions, he did exactly that. As a result, he's not only further antagonizing Russia, but is doing so at a time when Azerbaijan is contemplating an invasion of Armenia. The Pashinyan regime's understanding of geopolitics is so horrible that it not only lost Artsakh, but is actually putting Armenia's very existence at risk.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• The War Of All Against All: Era Of Special Military Operations
• Locations Of US Carrier Strike Groups – January 14, 2025
• For Whom The Bell Tolls: The World In The Run-up To Trump's Inauguration

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5. Russians Begin Assault On Last Large Ukrainian Stronghold In Southern Donbass

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The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue developing their offensive in different directions in the Donbass. The southern front is not an exclusion.

On January 18, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially confirmed the full control of the village of Vremevka located on the southwestern outskirts of the town of Velyka Novoselka. The settlement was liberated by forces of the Russian Eastern (Vostok) group of forces. Fighters from the Far East completed the mop up operation. In three days of fighting, Russian forces moped up about 600 buildings, more than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated, and up to a platoon of Ukrainian military personnel surrendered in the village. The reinforced stronghold of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed.

Russian flag is waving in the center of the village.

 

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Russian assault on Vremevka began a few days ago. Russian assault groups broke through Ukrainian defense and advanced along the local Partizanskaya street. The Ukrainian garrison was divided. After Russian forces took control of the bridge between Vremevka and Velyka Novoselka, Ukrainian soldiers were surrounded and there was no way away from the village left.

According to preliminary reports, immediately after their victory in Vremevka, Russian forces launched assault on Velyka Novoselka. They reportedly entered the village from the southern direction, while battles are still ongoing on its eastern outskirts.

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Over the past months, the units of the Russian Vostok Group of Forces took control of all the areas lost in this Vremevka direction during the so-called offensive of the Ukrainian army in the summer of 2023. On June 10, 2024, Russian forces took control of Staromayorskoye. Urozhaynoye was liberated on July 13, Blagodatnoye on December 5, Storozhevoe on December 22. In the last three days, Russian fighters took back control of Neskuchnoe and Vremevka.

The Russian army does not stop offensive operations and is set to develop its further advance. The main Ukrainian stronghold of Velyka Novoselka is already in tactical encirclement. Russian control of Vremevka secured Russian control of the large road west of the town. The Ukrainian garrison has only flooded fields across the river left to escape from the cauldron under Russian fire. Any supplies to the town are almost impossible.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Russian Defence Ministry Reports On The Progress Of The Special Military Operation, January 18, 2025
• Kyiv On Fire: Russia Launched Devastating Retaliation Strikes

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6. Military Situation On Ukrainian Frontlines On January 18, 2025 (Maps Update)

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• Russian strikes were reported in Kyiv region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Cherkassy region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Poltava region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Chernihiv region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Zhitomir region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Sumy region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Kharkiv region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Khmelnitsk region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Kirovograd region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Dnepropetrovsk region;
• Russian strikes were reported in Odessa region;
• Russian forces advanced in the Kurakhovo direction;
• Russian forces advanced in the Pokrovsk direction;
• Russian forces advanced in the Velyka Novosilka direction;
• Russian forces advanced in Chasov Yar;
• Russian forces advanced in the Kupyansk direction;
• Russian forces advanced in the Svatove direction;
• Russian forces advanced in the Kursk direction;
• Russian forces eliminated 30 servicemen, two motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns in the Kharkiv area;
• Russian forces eliminated 470 servicemen, a tank, two armoured vehicles, a M113, five motor vehicles, eight artillery gun in the Svatove area;
• Russian forces eliminated 245 servicemen and four motor vehicles, an ammunition depot in the Chasov Yar area;
• Russian forces eliminated 585 servicemen, three armoured vehicles, four motor vehicles, and four artillery guns in Donetsk region;
• Russian forces eliminated up to 135 servicemen, two armoured vehicles, three motor vehicles, five artillery guns in the Southern Donetsk area;
• Russian forces eliminated up to 65 servicemen, eight motor vehicles, a artillery gun, a Bukovel-AD EW station in Kherson region;
• Russian air defense forces intercepted 83 Ukrainian drones over the past day;
• Russian air defense forces shot down shot down three Hammer bombs, 12 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles over the past day.

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• Fighting is ongoing in the area of Novy Komar;
• Russian forces took control of Vremivka;
• Russian forces advanced on the northern outskirts of Velyka Novosilka;
• Up to 135 servicemen, two armoured vehicles, three motor vehicles, five artillery guns were destroyed in the area.

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• Russian MoD confirmed control of Petropavlivka village;
• Russian forces advanced on the outskirts of Dachne;
• Russian forces advanced near Yantarne;
• Clashes continued near Andriivka village;
• Russian forces eliminated up to 585 servicemen, three armoured vehicles, four motor vehicles, and four artillery guns in the area.

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• Russian forces are completing the mop up operations in the north of Toretsk;
• Clashes continued in Druzhba;
• Russian forces advanced in the northern part of Toretsk;
• Clashes continued in Scherbynivka. Russian forces are storming Novospaske settlement;
• Russian forces eliminated up to 585 servicemen, three armoured vehicles, four motor vehicles, and four artillery guns in the area.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Military Situation On Ukrainian Frontlines On January 16, 2025 (Maps Update)
• Russians Begin Assault On Last Large Ukrainian Stronghold In Southern Donbass
• Kyiv On Fire: Russia Launched Devastating Retaliation Strikes

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7. Kyiv On Fire: Russia Launched Devastating Retaliation Strikes

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On the night of January 18th, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched massive retaliation strikes on the territory of Ukraine. In their turn, Ukrainian forces attacked Russian rear infrastructure with drones. The both warring sides suffered damage.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that 46 Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed by Russian air defense forces last night. In particular:

• 18 Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed in the Bryansk region;
• 11 in the border Kursk region;
• 7 in the Kaluga region;
• 5 in the Tula region;
• 3 in the border Belgorod region;
• 2 in the Voronezh region.

Most of Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed but some of them reached their targets. Ukrainian attack again targeted Russian rear fuel depots. As a result of the strikes, a fire broke out at an oil depot in Uzlovskoy district in the Tula region.

According to local reports, at least one Ukrainian drone struck an industrial facility in the town of Lyudinovo in the Kaluga region. A local oil depot reportedly caught fire. No victims were reported as a result of the attack.

 

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Russian oil depots, gas storage facilities and energy infrastructure facilities became the priority targets of Ukrainian attacks in recent months. Their strikes and wreckage of intercepted UAVs, as well as NATO missiles, have damaged a significant number of depots in the Russian rear regions. After recent Russian retaliation strikes on Ukrainian thermal power plants, energy substations, airfields, military facilities, and the largest gas storage facility in Europe in the Lviv region, Ukrainian strikes intensified. However, their results are yet to bring any critical damage to the Russian energy system or economy. Price on the Russian domestic market and price of fuels and lubricants, as well as their export supplies are not affected. The highest price for Kyiv's strikes with NATO missiles is payed by Ukrainians.

On the night of January 18th, Ukraine came under another Russian retaliation attack. The Russian military confirmed another wave of combined strikes on facilities of the military and industrial complex of Ukraine that was launched in response to Kyiv's attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Belgorod region with the US-made ATACMS missiles on January 16th.

The Russian military officially confirmed that one of the targets was Ukrainian Luch Design Bureau in Kyiv. This entreprise designed and manufactured long-range guided Neptune missiles and ammunition for Olkha multiple rocket launchers.

'The goal of the strike has been achieved, all targets have been hit,' the Defense Ministry summed up.

 

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The Ukrainian media confirmed Russian strikes in the area of the targeted design bureau. The streets were flooded with sewage water. The local mayor confirmed damage and victims.

According to local reports, there were more Russian strikes in the capital and on its outskirts. Fires broke out at different sites in Desnyansky and Shevchenko districts. Explosions also thundered in Brovary.

The Ukrainian military claimed that in total, Russian forces launched four Iskander missiles, two of which were allegedly shot down by Ukrainian air defense. 24 Russian drones out of about 40 UAVs launched during the attack were allegedly destroyed. Moreover, 14 Russian drones were "locally lost", according to the Ukrainian Air Force. No efforts of Ukrainian air defense allowed to avoid heavy damage across the country.

Russian drones and missiles were spotted in the Kyiv, Cherkassy, Poltava, Chernihiv, Zhitomir, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnitsk, Kirovograd, Dnepropetrovsk and other regions.

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Another industrial facility came under Russian attack in the city of Zaporozhie. According to local reports, at least two Iskander missiles targeted the local Iskra plant, where the Ukrainian military repairs HIMARS MLRS from the US. A large fire heavily damaged workshops of the plant and the administrative building was almost destroyed.

The local authorities also confirmed damage to an industrial facility in Pavlograd.

 

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While Russian missiles and kamikaze UAVs are destroying Ukrainian military infrastructure in the strategic rear, Russian heavy bombs continue pounding the Ukrainian military in the war-torn regions, including in the Kharkiv, Zaporozhie and Dnepropetrovsk regions.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Russian Defence Ministry Reports On The Progress Of The Special Military Operation, January 18, 2025
• 'Black Tuesday' – How The AFU Strewn The Town With Corpses

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8. Russian Defence Ministry Reports On The Progress Of The Special Military Operation, January 18, 2025

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Russian Defence Ministry Reports On The Progress Of The Special Military Operation, January 18, 2025

• This morning, in response to the fire of U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles on civilian infrastructure in Belgorod region, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a group high-precision strike against the Ukrainian defence industry facilities, including the Luch design bureau, which is designing and manufacturing Neptune long-range guided missiles and Olkha MLRS rockets. All objectives achieved, targets engaged.
• In Kharkov direction, the Sever Group of Forces hit formations of a motorised infantry brigade and a national guard brigades close to Volchansk and Glubokoye (Kharkov region).
• The AFU lost up to 30 men, two motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns.
• Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian units hit manpower and hardware of two airmobile brigades and an air assault regiment of the AFU close to Lozovaya and Zagryzovo (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 470 troops, a tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, including a U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, five motor vehicles, and eight field artillery guns, including two manufactured by NATO states. One ammunition depot was wiped out.

• The Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical position. Russian troops hit formations of three mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, and an assault brigade of the AFU near Seversk, Novodmitrovka, Chasov Yar, Dachnoye, and Konstantinovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.

The AFU losses amounted to more then 245 troops and four motor vehicles. One ammunition depot was wiped out.

• As a result of the successful offensive, the Tsentr Group of Forces units liberated Petropavlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian forces engaged manpower and materiel of seven mechanised brigades of the AFU near Petrovka, Dzerzhinsk, Solenoye, Petropavlovka, Peschanoye, Novovasilyevka, and Slavyanka of the Donetsk People's Republic.

The enemy lost up up to 585 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and four artillery guns.

• The Vostok Group of Forces' units continued advancing to the depths of the enemy's defence and liberated Vremevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian units hit a mechanised brigade and an air assault brigade near Konstantinopol and Velikaya Novoselka of the Donetsk People's Republic.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 135 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and five foreign-made field artillery guns. One ammunition depot was wiped out.

• The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged the manpower and hardware of the two marine brigades close to Antonovka and Kazatskoye (Kherson region).

The enemy lost up to 65 troops, eight motor vehicles, a field artillery gun, and a Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.

• Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the infrastructure of military airfields, the production and assembly plant of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 156 areas.
• Air defence units shot down 83 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
• In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 652 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 40,726 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,658 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,510 MLRS combat vehicles, 20,764 field artillery guns and mortars, and 30,459 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Russian Defence Ministry Reports On The Progress Of The Special Military Operation, January 16, 2025
• Russian Defence Ministry Reports On The Progress Of The Special Military Operation, January 15, 2025
• Russian Defence Ministry Reports On The Progress Of The Special Military Operation, January 11, 2025

The post Russian Defence Ministry Reports On The Progress Of The Special Military Operation, January 18, 2025 appeared first on South Front.

9. For Whom The Bell Tolls: The World In The Run-up To Trump’s Inauguration

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Donald Trump will officially take office as President of the US on January 20. Ahead of this date, events are unfolding in the world that are worthy of long reflection by historians and the attention of currently unemployed Hollywood scenarists. The greatest criminals fearlessly declare their deeds, the favorites of Western democracy become textbook traitors, Perfidious Albion and world Jewry have once again fooled everyone, and Russia with Iran are pursuing their own "Aryan project". 

USA and Israel

In the birthplace of democracy, the United States, outgoing Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke to the press for the last time. His final press conference ended in scandal. Journalist Sam Husseini was forcibly removed from the briefing room after calling Blinken by his real name – "Criminal". The police acted harshly – they literally pulled the elderly reporter from the table and then dragged him out in their arms. The reason was simple: the old man wanted an answer to the question why the White House's ally Israel refused to accept the agreement with Hamas and continues to make the lives of Palestinians and Lebanese a quiet horror.

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Such stories might seem wild in "totalitarian autocracies" like Russia, Belarus, Iran, China or North Korea, but Anthony Blinken is used to his press conferences ending in scandal. Throughout his tenure, the diplomat was regularly booed during his speeches.

Eager to divert attention from events in the Middle East, the Biden administration rushed to reveal a previously classified drone program in Ukraine. A published closed report on support for the UAV industry in Ukraine revealed $1.5 billion in funding for Kiev through September 2024. Jake Sullivan, U.S. national security adviser, said the support had a "real strategic impact" on the course of hostilities. In addition to secretly allocating funds to support drone manufacturers, the CIA has also sent personnel to Ukraine.

William J. Burns, director of the CIA, confirmed his agency's support for the UAV manufacturing program. Forcing the allocation of funds for drones began after the first Ukrainian counteroffensive in the fall of 2022, when the limits of Ukraine's "conventional capabilities" became apparent. And the failed counteroffensive in 2023 was a hard lesson learned, U.S. officials said. After that, investments in the covert program multiplied. American government also stated that it was their investments that made Ukrainian drones more effective and lethal, including the maritime ones used against the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

No one has ever had any illusions about the involvement of U.S. intelligence agencies in the Ukrainian conflict. The only question is how many more such "secret" programs are active right now.

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Ukraine

In Kiev, Volodymyr Zelensky once again showed his true colors. This time he harshly criticized US leader Joe Biden in the last days of his rule. "Faithful servant" betrayed his master. Instead of "thanks" for the US investment in Ukraine and giving it more weapons than any other country, he said that Washington helped "not enough". Zelensky has instantly forgotten that he got everything he asked for at the snap of his fingers.

Without long thinking, Kiev found itself a new supreme patron. Expectedly, it turned out to be Great Britain. Zelensky and the kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a 100-year strategic partnership agreement.

As part of it, London will allocate 3 billion dollars from frozen Russian assets to Kiev, transfer 150 barrels of artillery, expand the training of the Ukrainian military and help in the creation of long-range weapons.

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Britain will also become a key partner for the Ukrainian energy sector, meaning it will participate in the extraction of critical minerals and the production of "green steel." Military cooperation between the two countries will be strengthened in the field of maritime security through a new structure to enhance the security in the Azov, Baltic and Black Seas.

Russia

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian signed a historic comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. Below are the main statements of the Russian leader:

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– The new agreement between Russia and Iran sets ambitious tasks, it is a breakthrough document.

– Russia-Iran relations are based on the principles of equality, respect and mutual assistance. The positions of Russia and Iran on most foreign policy issues coincide.

– The most important area of Russian-Iranian cooperation is energy. At the moment, the flagship joint project to build two new units of the Bushehr NPP in Iran by Rosatom is progressing.

– The project of a gas pipeline from Russia to Iran is underway: so far the Russian side is considering a small volume of supplies – up to 2 billion cubic meters per year, but in the long term the supplies may increase up to 55 billion cubic meters.

– Russia remains committed to a comprehensive settlement in Syria and is ready to continue supporting the Syrian people.

– Moscow urges not to weaken efforts for a full settlement in Palestine, which envisages the creation of an independent state.

– In 2024, the share of transactions in Russian rubles and Iranian reals exceeded 95% of all bilateral trade transactions.

Masoud Pezeshkian's main statements:

– The treaty signed with Russia will open a major new chapter in the bilateral relations. And its implementation will make a significant contribution to Iran's energy security.

– Iran is in favor of resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

– Russia and Iran have agreed to refrain from actions like the Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and Syria.

In the end, the newly elected US President Donald Trump was given a "great inheritance" from Joe Biden – a strategic alliance between Russia, China, North Korea and Iran that promises the imminent collapse of the entire Western "rules-based order". Now we wonder how the new master of the White House will handle it…

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Trump Unable To End Ukrainian Conflict – Media
• Trump, Putin Expected To Speak "In The Coming Days And Weeks"
• Sacrificing Ukraine's Future. Trump Gives Ultimatum To Zelensky On Youth Mobilization

The post For Whom The Bell Tolls: The World In The Run-up To Trump's Inauguration appeared first on South Front.

10. The Mourning March For The Ukrainian Army Is Now Playing In Pokrovsk

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Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic 18 times, firing 50 rounds. In the Belgorod Region, Russian air defenses shot down five American-made ATACMS missiles.

In response, Russia launched strikes on Ukraine's Danube ports, as well as on the facilities in the Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, Kiev and other regions. A series of strikes were also launched against Ukrainian facilities in the Odessa Region to impede the transportation of military supplies.

In the Kursk direction, there is currently heavy fighting near Makhnovka, Pogrebki, Cherkasskaya Porechnaya and in the forest belts of the Sudzha district.

In the Volchansk direction, the Ukrainian side is persistently redeploying assault groups to the northern bank of the Volchya River. Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces launched three counterattacks which were thwarted by Russian UAV operators. To sum up, the realization of the plan to create a "buffer zone" near the Belgorod region failed.

In the Pokrovsk direction, the Russian Armed Forces continue their actions to envelop the city from the south-west. They have already managed to gain a foothold near Udachnoye and Kotlino. There is heavy fighting near Zverevo with the aim of advancing towards Pokrovsk which is now definitely turning into one of the last bastions of the Ukrainian military in Donbass.

Ukrainian military intelligence' resources reported a fatal defeat of the Ukrainian army near Pokrovsk. We are talking about a widespread failure of the defense. In particular, Deep State writes that the Russian Armed Forces have had success in the last few days in the area of the village of Kotlino west of the city. Russian fighters have reached the highway and railroad southwest of the village, and are also trying to make their way into the village itself.

In the Kurakhovo direction, Russian troops are advancing westward in a "pocket" along the Sukhie Yaly River. Northeast of Konstantinopolskoye there is also an advance of Russian units from the Shevchenko settlement.

At Velikaya Novoselka, Russian assault units entered the southern outskirts of Vremievka. These two settlements remain the last ones the Ukrainians hold in this direction.

In the Orekhov direction the Russians are intensifying their strikes in the area of Malaya Tokmachka and Novodanilivka, where Ukrainian troops had previously pulled up their reserves.

While the Ukrainian army is suffering defeats on the frontlines, Ukrainian military intelligence has intensified the recruitment of Belarusian citizens through the Internet to collect information and commit sabotage. So far, Kiev's attempts to organize guerrilla movements on Russian territory have been unsuccessful and often turned into punitive operations.

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The post The Mourning March For The Ukrainian Army Is Now Playing In Pokrovsk appeared first on South Front.