Danish Defence Chief Calls for Female Military Conscription, Citing Russian Threat

"Women should be open to being conscripted into the military in light of the threat posed by
Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Denmark’s defence minister suggested this week. Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, the deputy prime minister and minister of defence of Denmark said that at present, the NATO country is unable to defend itself and therefore should seek to expand the ranks of it’s armed forces." Breitbart

Ukrainian forces repel 13 enemy attacks in past day

"Ukraine's defense forces have repelled attacks by Russian invaders outside 13 settlements in
the Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the past 24 hours. They hit three enemy command posts, eight Russian positions and two ammunition depots." Ukrin

Ukraine defenders destroy five light boats carrying enemy recon groups

"Armed Forces of Ukraine over the past day destroyed five light motor boats carrying enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups." Ukrin

Hundreds protest against Germany’s policies on Ukraine

"Several hundred people marched through the Bavarian city of Nuremberg on Monday,
protesting against Berlin’s move to provide Ukraine with heavy arms, including Leopard 2 tanks. Participants voiced concerns that Germany could end up being dragged into a massive war with Russia as a result." RT

Boris Johnson Claims Vladimir Putin Threatened to Eliminate Him in a Missile Attack

"Russia President Vladimir Putin threatened to personally target Boris Johnson with a
missile attack in the lead up to Russian forces marching into Ukraine, the former UK prime minister has claimed.

Johnson said the comment was made after he warned the war would be an “utter catastrophe” during a “very long” call with Putin in February 2022, according to a new BBC documentary." Breitbart

White House Refuses To Say If Ukraine Will Get Toxic Depleted Uranium Ammo

"The White House refused to say if it will provide Ukraine with Bradley Fighting Vehicles equipped with radioactive depleted uranium rounds, ammunition that is linked to cancer and birth defects. Depleted uranium is typically created as a byproduct of producing enriched uranium and is extremely dense, making it an effective material to pierce the armor of tanks. Bradleys can be equipped with depleted uranium ammunition, which is why they are known as "tank killers." ZH

North Korea Blasts US Tanks For Ukraine, Vows To "Stand In Same Trench" With Russia

"Kim Yo Jong's statement came on the heels this week of the US confirming it will send 31
M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, and they were her first public remarks in months. She charged that Washington is crossing a "red line" in its drive to escalate a "proxy war" aimed at regime change in Russia. "I express serious concern over the US escalating the war situation by providing Ukraine with military hardware for ground offensive," said Kim.

Importantly, at a moment the US is accusing Pyongyang of supplying Russia's military with artillery shells and other lethal equipment, particularly the Wagner Group, Kim stressed that North Korea will always "stand in the same trench" with Russia." ZH

US provided ‘cover’ for Scholz on tanks – WaPo

 "The US devised a plan to commit M1 Abrams tanks to

Ukraine in order to provide “cover”
for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was reluctant to send the country’s own tanks to help Kiev, the Washington Post reported...... the report details how the White House struggled to win over Scholz who initially resisted delivering the Leopard 2 tanks to fight Russian forces in Ukraine unless the US agreed to commit the Abrams. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Pentagon reportedly were against sending American main battle tanks that they believed would be too difficult for Ukrainians to operate and maintain.Germany said it would provide 14 tanks directly from its army stocks. Scholz announced later that Berlin and other European countries would together send 112 Leopards to fight in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the 31 US Abrams tanks slated for Kiev need to be assembled first. According to Politico, since Washington is procuring the tanks from the manufacturer, it could take “many months, or potentially years” for them to roll onto the battlefield." RT

Ukrainian defence forces strike 13 Russian concentrations and 2 air defence systems

"Over the course of the past 24 hours, Russian occupation forces carried out 10 missile strikes,
including one on civilian infrastructure facilities in Zaporizhzhia, 26 airstrikes and 81 attacks using multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), including several on civilian facilities in Ochakiv. There are civilian casualties and fatalities." Pravada

The West promises Ukraine 321 heavy tanks – Ambassador of Ukraine to France

"Ambassador of Ukraine to France Vadym Omelchenko claims that Western countries have generally promised to provide Kyiv with 321 heavy tanks." Pravada

Russia Scoffs at Biden’s Ukraine Tank Giveaway: They ‘Burn Just Like All the Others’

"Russia dismissed the potential on Tuesday of a shipment of dozens of American tanks,
promised by left-wing President Joe Biden, to change the momentum of its invasion of Ukraine, suggesting they would “burn just like all the others.” Breitbart

Russia launches over 30 missiles on Ukraine, explosions ring out in Kyiv city and Vinnytsia Oblast

"Air Defence Forces are operating in Ukraine because of a Russian missile attack throughout
the morning of 26 January. According to the Air Force of Ukraine, the occupiers have launched more than 30 missiles on Ukraine. Explosions rang out in the city of Kyiv and in Vinnytsia Oblast." Pravada

US will send Ukraine more advanced Abrams tanks, but without "secret armour"

"The Abrams tanks that the United States intends to transfer to Ukraine are the modern M1A2, not the A1, which the US military has in stock, but they will also be stripped of their so-called secret armor, which includes depleted uranium." Pravada

Ukraine's Security Service exposes another traitor: Lieutenant Colonel leaked data to Russians

"The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), together with the State Bureau of Investigation, has exposed an employee of one of the service's divisions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast who had been conducting intelligence and subversive activities for the Russian special services. the SSU Lieutenant Colonel secretly collected official information based on the results of operational search activities and information that constitutes a state secret. He was particularly interested in the layout of roadblocks in the oblast. He photographed documents using his personal mobile phone. After that, using the Telegram messenger app and an email address registered to a Russian domain, he transmitted the information to representatives of the aggressor country. Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation said a notice of suspicion of high treason is currently being drawn up for the detained SSU Lieutenant Colonel, as well as a petition to the court to select a preventive measure in the form of detention without the option of bail." Pravada

US To Increase Artillery Ammunition Production By 500% For Ukraine

 "The Pentagon is planning to boost its production of artillery ammunition by 500% over the next two years as the US is depleting its military stockpiles by sending millions of shells to Ukraine, The New York Times reported Tuesday. 

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the US has pledged to send Ukraine over one million 155mm artillery shells. Before the US Army began efforts to increase production, it produced 14,400 155mm shells a month, but under the new plans, the number could reach over 90,000 each month." ZH

Zelensky Purges Nine Top Officials as Ukraine Corruption Allegations Linger

"Nine senior government officials have now been purged in Ukraine as part of
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s response to widespread allegations of corruption across his administration....Ukraine’s deputy prosecutor general, Oleksiy Symonenko, also announced his resignation on the same day....The clearout follows months of allegations that some of Ukraine’s top leaders were profiting from the bloody conflict with Russia, buying military food at inflated prices and taking luxury holidays as their countrymen fight Russia’s invasion..... deputy infrastructure minister, Vasyl Lozynsky, was fired for alleged participation in a network embezzling budget funds....." Breitbart

 

Ukraine Army aircraft launch 16 strikes on enemy positions

"The aircraft of the Ukrainian Defense Forces launched 14 strikes on Russian military

personnel concentration areas and two strikes on the positions of the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems.

Suffering numerous losses, the enemy continues offensive operations in the Bakhmut and Novopavlivka areas. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the Lyman and Avdiivka sectors. In the Kupiansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas, they are defending.

The Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled enemy attacks outside the settlements of Chervopopivka in the Luhansk region and Verkhniokamianske, Spirne, Rozdolivka, Blahodatne, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Marinka, Vuhledar and Pavlivka in the Donetsk region." Ukrin

German Foreign Minister Just Said The Quiet Part Out Loud On Ukraine

"German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock bluntly stated in fresh remarks that Western
allies are fighting a war against Russia. The remarks came during a debate at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Tuesday amid discussions over sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Contradicting this official stance, Baerbock said the quiet part out loud, and introduced the comments with: "And therefore I’ve said already in the last days – yes, we have to do more to defend Ukraine. Yes, we have to do more also on tanks."

And that's when she asserted: "But the most important and the crucial part is that we do it together and that we do not do the blame game in Europe, because we are fighting a war against Russia and not against each other.” ZH

 

Biden Downplays US Tanks In Ukraine As Russia Warns Decision Is "Extremely Dangerous"

"Biden in the remarks while flanked by his top defense officials unveiled an international tank
coalition of nations in support of Ukraine, including that the US will send 31 Abrams tanks.....Russia is furious over the decision of the United States and Germany to authorize Western-manufactured advanced tanks for Ukrainian forces, calling it "extremely dangerous" and pointing out the unprecedented decision blows past Kremlin "red lines"." ZH

 

German Intelligence "Alarmed" Ukraine Losing Hundreds Of Soldiers Every Day

"The German foreign intelligence service assesses that Kiev is losing a "three-digit number" of soldiers daily, according to a report in Der Spiegel. Berlin informed politicians of the assessment during a secret meeting this week.

Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is "alarmed" by the high number of losses Ukraine is suffering. The report says Berlin believes Ukraine was losing a three-digit number of soldiers every day during the battle of Bakhmut with Russian forces. The BND informed German politicians of the high number of injured and killed Ukrainian forces during a covert Bundestag meeting last week." ZeroHedge

Metropolitan Epiphanius visits Vatican to testify about Russian aggression

"Epiphanius, the primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and Metropolitan of Kyivand All Ukraine, has announced that he will be staying in the Vatican this week with a delegation to testify about Russian aggression against Ukraine." Pravada

Poland considered partitioning Ukraine

"Former Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has suggested that the government in
Warsaw considered partitioning Ukraine in the first weeks of the military conflict between Kiev and Moscow. 

Sikorski was asked if the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) government had ever entertained the idea of dividing up Ukraine. He replied by stating that there was “a moment of hesitation in the first 10 days of the war, when we all didn’t know how it would go, that maybe Ukraine would fall....Had it not been for the heroism of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and the help of the West, things could have been different,” Sikorski said." RT

US Bristles As South African Ally To Host Joint Naval Drills With Russia, China

"The Russian navy is set to participate alongside the Chinese and South African navies in exercises set for February off South Africa, Russia's state TASS has announced. 

Importantly, the Russian frigate named 'Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov' is armed with hypersonic cruise missiles, after it entered deployment in the Atlantic Ocean three weeks ago." ZH

Russia Holds Drills Focused On "Repelling Air Attacks" On Moscow

"Days after widespread reports that Russia had erected Pantsir-S1 anti-air defense systems on
top of some key buildings in Moscow, which triggered speculation that Russia is expecting more attacks from Ukraine on its soil, the Kremlin ramped up anti-air exercises outside Moscow." ZH

Russian forces hit Antonivka village in Kherson Oblast

"Yaroslav Yanushevych, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, has reported
that the Russian invaders attacked the village of Antonivka. Russian shells hit a building in the village of Antonivka. Shell fragments not only broke windows and damaged walls, but also killed a man in the backyard." Pravada

Macron comments on heavy tanks for Ukraine

 "French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed their continued “unwavering support” for Ukraine for “as long as it takes” in a joint press conference, but both said that any decision on supplying heavier arms must be reached jointly by all “friends” of Kiev." RT

US lawmaker proposes ‘just one’ Abrams tank for Ukraine

“If we announced we were going to give Abrams tanks, just one... what I hear is that Germany is waiting for us to take the lead,” McCaul said on an ABC News interview, pointing to Berlin's reluctance to send its tanks unless the US made a similar commitment first. “Then they would put Leopard tanks in,” he added." RT

Gen. Mark Milley: ‘Very, Very Difficult’ to Eject Russian Forces from Ukraine This Year

"Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley acknowledged that it would be
difficult for Ukrainian forces to “eject” Russian forces from all of Ukraine this year.

“From a military standpoint, I still maintain that for this year it would be very, very difficult to militarily eject the Russian forces from all — every inch of Ukraine and occupied — or Russian-occupied Ukraine. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen, doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but it’d be very, very difficult,” Milley said in Germany." Breitbart

Ukraine’s defence forces repel Russian attacks near 12 settlements

"Ukraine’s defence forces repelled Russian attacks near 12 settlements in Luhansk and
Donetsk oblasts.

 Over the course of the past 24 hours, [Ukraine’s] defence forces repelled the occupiers’ attacks in the vicinity of Novoselivske, Ploshchanka and Chervonopopivka in Luhansk Oblast; and Bilohorivka, Rozdolivka, Vasiukivka, Krasna Hora, Yahidne, Bakhmut, Predtechyne, Vodiane and Marinka in Donetsk Oblast." Pravada

Russian military confirms capture of key Donbass settlement

"The strategic village of Klescheevka in Russia’s Donetsk Region has been freed from
Ukrainian forces." RT

 

Germany Says 'Nein' On Tanks At Allies' Big Ramstein Meeting

"Is that a definitive nein on tanks? New German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in fresh statements has confirmed that defense leaders gathered for a much anticipated meeting in Ramstein failed to achieve consensus on tanks for Ukraine." ZH

Russia Remains Top Seaborne Oil Supplier To Europe Despite Sanctions

"While the European Union’s seaborne imports of Russian crude oil declined by just over 12%
last year, Russia still enjoyed status as the top seaborne oil supplier to the bloc, despite sanctions..." ZH

Air-raid siren sounds all over Ukraine: fighters took off in Belarus

"At 10:12, sirens began to sound in the country's southeast, then in the capital, and eventually spread over the entire territory of the country within a few minutes.

An alarm indicates the threat of missile strikes and air strikes. It is highly recommended that civilians proceed to a shelter.

Belaruski Hajun [an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet] reports that fighters and an AWACS aircraft have taken off in Belarus..... the A-50 AWACS jet of the Russian Aerospace Forces with the registration number RF-50608 took off from Machulishchy airfield" Pravada

Zelenskyy: I'm not entirely sure Putin is still alive

"Zelensky during a speech at the Ukrainian breakfast in Davos 

Quote: "I don't quite understand who to talk to and about what. I'm not sure that the Russian president who sometimes appears against a green-screen chromakey is actually the [right] one. I don't quite understand if he is alive or whether he makes decisions, or whoever else makes decisions there. What group of people [could be making any decisions in Russia]? I don’t have that kind of information." Pravada

Defense Contractors Rake in Millions as U.S. Seeks to Supply More Weapons to Ukraine

"Defense contractors are raking in millions of dollars as the Biden administration pledges to continue supporting Ukraine for “as long as it takes.”

The U.S. Army announced in December it awarded an $84 million contract to Raytheon Missiles and Defense for more than 1,000 Excalibur 1B precision munitions to replenish those sent to Ukraine.

Just weeks before, the Army awarded a $432 million contract to Lockheed Martin to replenish High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers that the U.S. and allies sent to Ukraine, according to Defense News. The Army also awarded a $1.2 billion contract to Raytheon for six National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) batteries for Ukraine.

This week, the Biden administration is expected to announce more military assistance to Ukraine when U.S. defense leaders meet with their counterparts in Germany for the eighth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The U.S. pledged $400 million in military equipment at the group’s last meeting on November 23." Breitbart

Saudis Confirm Non-Dollar Oil Trade Plans In Davos

"Earlier this month, former NY Fed repo guru Zoltan Pozsar wrote one of his most

important reports of 2022, in which he described how Putin could unleash hell on the Western financial system by demanding that instead of dollars, Russian oil exporters are paid in gold, effectively pegging oil to gold and launching Petrogold.

Then, China's President Xi visit with Saudi and GCC leaders marked the birth of the petroyuan and a leap in China’s growing encumbrance of OPEC+’s oil and gas reserves: that's because with the China-GCC Summit, "China can now claim to have built a 'special relationship' not only with the '+' sign in OPEC+ (Russia), but with Iran and all of OPEC+."

And now, according to Bloomberg, Saudi Arabia is open to discussions about trade in currencies other than the US dollar, according to the kingdom’s finance minister.

“There are no issues with discussing how we settle our trade arrangements, whether it is in the US dollar, whether it is the euro, whether it is the Saudi riyal,” Mohammed Al-Jadaan told Bloomberg TV on Tuesday in an interview in Davos.

“I don’t think we are waving away or ruling out any discussion that will help improve the trade around the world,” Al-Jadaan said.

And echoing Poszar's comments above, Al-Jadaan appeared to confirm The Kingdom's goal seeking to strengthen its relationship with crucial trade partners, most notably China." ZeroHedge

Kissinger Flips, Says Ukraine Should Join NATO In Davos Speech

"Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in a video address to the World Economic Forum (WEF) that Ukraine joining NATO would be an "appropriate outcome" of the war, reversing his previous position that Kyiv shouldn’t join the Western military alliance.......Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in a video address to the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Tuesday that Ukraine joining NATO would be an "appropriate outcome" of the war, reversing his previous position that Kyiv shouldn’t join the Western military alliance." ZH

Military deserter ‘liquidated’ in central Russia

"Russian law enforcers have neutralized a military deserter in Lipetsk Region in the central
part of the country....Telegram channel Mash claimed that Perov was shot down by Russia’s special forces when he attempted to resist arrest." RT

Pentagon Forced To Tap Unreported Ammo Stockpile In Israel To Support Ukraine

"The Pentagon is tapping into a vast but little-known stockpile of American ammunition
in Israel to help meet Ukraine’s dire need for artillery shells in the war with Russia..... The stockpile provides arms and ammunition for the Pentagon to use in Middle East conflicts. The United States has also allowed Israel to access the supplies in emergencies." ZeroHedge

Ukraine's Interior Minister Among 16 Killed In Worst Helicopter Disaster Since War's Start

"Ukraine's Interior Minister is among three top government officials killed in what marks the country's worst ariel disaster since the war's start. In total 16 people died, including three children and four other bystanders on the ground, given it crashed near a kindergarten in the Kyiv region. 

The crash happened in the city of Brovery on Wednesday. In addition to the fatalities at least 30 were wounded and hospitalized, among them 12 children. The government officials killed were Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky, First Deputy Minister Yevheniy Yenin and State Secretary Yuriy Lubkovychis, according to confirmation by government statements. Monastyrsky's death marks the highest profile Ukrainian casualty since the Russian invasion began. 

International correspondents on the ground said there was very low visibility and gray skies, which could help explain Eurocopter EC225 "Super Puma" went down."At the time of the tragedy, there were children and the staff in the kindergarten. At the moment, everyone was evacuated,"." ZH

Belarus, Russia Launch 2-Weeks Of Joint Aerial Drills, Making Western Allies Nervous

"Russia and Belarus have kicked off joint aerial drills over Belarusian skies in a worrying
prospect for neighboring Ukraine given the exercises will last for a full two weeks, until Feb.1. 

Minsk, however, has called the drills "defensive in nature" amid accusations from Kiev that Belarusian armed forces are about to join the Russian invasion." ZH

Top US general inspects Ukrainian troops

"US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, the highest-ranking officer in the
American armed forces, met with Ukrainian soldiers undergoing Pentagon training at a base in Germany, where Washington recently stepped up efforts to prepare foreign troops for combat.: RT

Battles near Soledar: Ukraine’s Armed Forces kill 25 Wagner fighters in one trench

"Soledar front, 25 Wagner militants killed in one trench! An enemy attack on the positions of
our soldiers was thwarted by artillery aimed fire. We thank Edelweiss [10th Mountain Assault Brigade – ed.] for the Eyes." Pravada

Ukrainian marines kill group of Russian invaders in Donetsk Oblast

"A unit of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade of Ukraine's Armed Forces has helped a group of
Russian invaders to "carry out goodwill gesture" [Russian propaganda uses this as an euphemism for ‘retreated’ or ‘was destroyed/killed’ – ed.]." Pravada

Number of Drones Shot Down in Russia's Sevastopol Increased

"The number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) taken down off the coast of the Russian city
of Sevastopol in Crimea in the past 24 hours has risen to 10, Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said on Monday.

"The result of today's enemy attack on Sevastopol: the air defense and the Black Sea Fleet shot down 10 out of 10 Ukrainian drones at sea. No facilities in the city were damaged. Everything is calm in the city," Razvozhayev said." Sputnik

German Defense Minister Resigns As Criticism Over Ukraine Mounts

"Germany's Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has stepped down on Monday after what's widely reported as a series of blunders and PR disasters, and amid accusations she's been too slow and inept in providing Ukraine defense aid." ZH

Norway Replaces Russia As Germany's Top Gas Supplier

"Norway became Germany’s single-largest natural gas supplier in 2022, overtaking Russia, as total German gas imports dropped by 12.3% compared to 2021." ZeroHedge

Kentucky Dem Suggests Biden Be Impeached for War Crimes in Ukraine

 "Kentucky progressive Democrat and gubernatorial candidate Geoffrey Young has proposed that President Joe Biden be “immediately” thrown out of office for a series of war crimes committed by his administration. “I think Joe Biden (D-War Criminal) should be impeached immediately for war crimes in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Iraq etc,” Young tweeted, specifying that reasons for impeachment include “the illegal proxy war against Russia in Ukraine.” ZH

UK PM confirms tank shipment to Ukraine

 "Britain will supply Kiev with Challenger 2 tanks, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed during a phone call with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. The move will make the UK the first country to ship Western-made tanks to Ukraine." RT

Zelensky aide explains how missile fell on apartment block in Dnepr

"A Russian missile that fell on an apartment block in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnepr had been shot down by Kiev’s forces, Aleksey Arestovich, a senior adviser to President Vladimir Zelensky, has said.

Zelensky and Ukrainian officials initially reported that the nine-story building was hit by a Russian missile. According to senior regional official Nikolay Lukashchuk, the number of victims rose to 21 dead and 73 wounded on Sunday.

Arestovich, however, said in a YouTube interview with Russian activist Mark Feygin that the missile was brought down by Ukrainian troops." RT