Mazepa's release from custody, a massive Russian attack on Ukraine and Ramstein-18: highlights of January 23
Russian occupiers launched a massive attack on Ukraine and shelled the regions throughout the day, with reports of dead and wounded. Businessman Ihor Mazepa was released on bail, the amount of which had been reduced by the Court of Appeal. The 18th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense (Ramstein) has taken place. We have collected the main news for January 23.
Massive Russian attack
On the night of January 23, Russian occupation forces launched a combined missile attack on Ukraine. The occupiers used cruise, ballistic, aircraft, and anti-aircraft guided missiles. In total, the Ukrainian military shot down 21 (out of 41) Russian air attack weapons.
As of evening, 12 people were killed, and more than 100 were wounded in Russian strikes on Ukraine over the day.
Most of the victims were in the Kharkiv region. 8 people were killed there, among them an 8-year-old girl and her mother, who were trapped under the rubble as a result of the attack on Kharkiv. Rescue work in the city is still ongoing. More than 60 more residents of the region were injured.
About 22 people are known to be injured in Kyiv; residents of the Kyiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson regions were also injured. In the last two regions, deaths are also known.
Mazepa was released from the pre-trial detention center
Businessman Ihor Mazepa, a suspect in the case of appropriation of land near the Kyiv hydroelectric power station, was released from custody on bail.
Today, January 23, the Kyiv Court of Appeal decided to keep Mazepa in custody but reduced the bail from UAH 350 million to UAH 21 million.
Orders for deceased artists
On the occasion of the Day of Unity of Ukraine, which is celebrated on January 22, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy posthumously awarded the Order of Merit, III degree, to four artists killed by Russian occupiers:
- writer Victoria Amelina, who died from an attack by the occupiers on Kramatorsk in June 2023;
- poet and serviceman Maksym Kryvtsov, who died at the front in January 2024;
- writer Volodymyr Vakulenko, who was captured by the Russians in the Kharkiv region. He was deceased at No. 319 at Izyum Cemetery;
- actor Vasyl Kukharskyi, who died from a serious wound received at the front.
Ramstein-18
On January 23, the 18th meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine (Ramstein) took place. As usual, it was led by the United States, although this time the Pentagon does not have any funds approved by Congress to assist Ukraine.
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine stated that “there is no such option on the agenda that the United States will somehow stop supporting Ukraine”. The ministry emphasized that the partners have assured: “strong support for Ukraine will continue”. This includes the partners' commitment to provide Ukraine with more long-range weapons.
For its part, Ukraine explained how it would “repel attacks and win”.
At Ramstein, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umierov emphasized that Ukraine is ready to co-invest in technology and joint production, share combat experience, and facilitate long-term contracts with interested companies.
Following the meeting, Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that Ukraine's partners should continue to focus on both the immediate needs of the Ukrainian army on the battlefield and on helping the state to strengthen, modernize, and maintain its defense forces for the long term.
In total, more than 50 countries participated in the 18 Ramstein meetings.
“20 Days in Mariupol” was nominated for an Oscar
The Ukrainian film “20 Days in Mariupol” was nominated for an Oscar at the American Film Academy.
The film was nominated in the Documentary feature film category — “Best Documentary Feature Film”. The 96th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 11 at 1 am, Kyiv time, at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
Personnel changes in the Zaporizhzhia region
The government approved Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol, to the post of head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration. At the same time, Yurii Malashko was dismissed from his post as head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration.
Other important news
- The Turkish Parliament approved Sweden's entry into NATO.
- A new subvariant of the “Jenny” coronavirus strain was recorded in five regions of Ukraine.
- Metropolitan Pavlo of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has had his term of preventive detention extended.
- Cybervolunteers hacked the provider that provided the Internet to Putin’s administration and the FSB, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported.