Unblocking the work of High Council of Justice, Germany's position on tanks: highlights of the day

Work of High Council of Justice

The Congress of Judges announced the election of eight new members of the High Council of Justice: On January 11, five elected judges were announced, and on January 12, the remaining three. Now the body can resume its work. The HCJ will appoint members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges, and the latter will select new and recertify existing judges.

However, NGOs criticized the candidacies of new HCJ members, saying that most of them raise "many serious questions".

Germany's position on tanks for Ukraine

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht did not deny the possibility of transferring German-made Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, but stressed that this issue is "not on the agenda".

Lambrecht added that Germany will not make such decisions alone. Earlier media reported that Berlin's position on supplying tanks to Ukraine strongly depends on the position of the US President.

Situation at the front

Russian troops focused their main efforts on attempts to capture Donetsk Oblast within the administrative border, continuing to advance on the Bakhmut axis. The most fierce battles are in the areas of Soledar, Paraskoviyivka, Bakhmut and Klishchiyivka.

Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar, referring to the data of Ukraine's military intelligence, said that Russia is strengthening its troops on the territory of Ukraine.

New shelling

On January 11, Kherson Oblast was shelled 90 times by Russian occupation troops, killing one person and wounding five others. Russians shelled Kherson 27 times, with residential areas of the city being hit. Russian shells struck a maternity hospital, private and apartment buildings.

On January 12, Russian occupation troops opened fire on Yantarnoye village near Kherson. An enemy shell hit a residential building: a 27-year-old man died on the spot, and a 47-year-old woman was taken to hospital with shrapnel wounds.

As a result of Russian shelling in Donetsk Oblast on January 11 and 12, one person died and civilian infrastructure was destroyed.

In Zaporizhzhya Oblast occupiers shelled Huliaypole: a 74-year-old woman died as a result of shelling. Rescuers also pulled a man out from under the rubble.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian troops shelled the town of Kupyansk and the village of Dvorichna: two men aged 68 and 76 were wounded.

Other news

• Radio Liberty journalist Rikard Jozwiak said that Belarus was not in the latest package of EU sanctions, in particular because of Ukraine's request. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denies that Kyiv asked not to include Belarus in the latest sanctions packages.
• Volunteer fighters who have not signed a contract will be recognized as combatants. The Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill that allows to recognize as combatants civilians who did not join the Armed Forces, the Interior Ministry, the National Police, the National Guard, the Security Service of Ukraine or other military formations or law enforcement agencies, but took direct part in hostilities.
• The "peace summit" at the United Nations is scheduled for February 24, 2023 at the UN headquarters in New York, said Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar.