RUSSIAN dictator Vladimir Putin is facing defeat in Ukraine as his forces are hit with massive losses to both personnel and equipment.
A top US official revealed today that Russia is facing ammunition losses as the Kremlin allegedly turns to Iran and North Korea for support.
The US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base on Friday: “Russia is running out of ammunition and is suffering significant battle losses," reports CNN.
This comes as Germany continues to delay a decision on whether to supply Ukraine with tanks.
“Today, we still cannot say when a decision will be taken, and what the decision will be, when it comes to the Leopard tank,” German defence minister Boris Pistorius said.
Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news…
A senior Biden administration official, who was kept anonymous while speaking with journalists, said that the US thinks that the best option for Ukraine is "to wait on offensive."
The US suggests that Ukraine waits until the American weaponry is in place and soldiers have been provided with the necessary training.
The US believes that this way Ukraine can have the full advantages of the new forces while fighting Russia.
Andriy Melnyk, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister, is frustrated over Germany for taking its time to decide whether tanks will be sent over or not.
He told CNN: "The government in Germany has not taken this important decision, not just to first allow other nations like Poland, Finland or Spain or Greece, which do have German battle tanks, to do the same, but also strengthen and create this, as we call it 'Global Tanks Coalition' to help Ukrainian forces to push out the Russians and to start the counteroffensive which will allow us to liberate the occupied territories.
"We are disappointed, but still the decision has not been taken yet so we hope that the government in Berlin it will take seriously all of the concerns they heard ( on Friday) in Ramstein.
"After 331 days of brutal war which Russia has been waging against Ukraine, they are still making an inventory of stocks, of (the) Bundeswehr (the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany) and in the industry, to check whether they have something to send to Ukraine! It is ridiculous."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses his country every night with updates on the war.
He admitted that they need more tanks to strengthen their forces and this needs to be done in a short amount of time.
Zelensky said: "Yes, we will still have to fight for the supply of modern tanks, but every day we make it more obvious there is no alternative to making the decision on tanks.
"The only thing worth emphasizing is the time, the delivery time. Each agreement must be implemented as quickly as possible – for our defense.
He also thankes allies such as the UK for supporting and defending Ukraine.
"The main topic is, of course, defense. Protection of our sky, tanks for Ukraine, we need long-range missiles to liberate our territory. I heard understanding of our needs."
A Russian industrial zone in Angarsk has been hit with multiple explosions.
The fire hit a fuel storage depot which saw tanker train carriages filled with oil ignite.
Thick black smoke could be seen from Irkutsk as 35 firefighters were needed to put out the fire covering 4,300 square feet.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway in Angarsk and no casualties have been reported yet.
The Sun reveals that according to US intelligence, Russia suffered 188,000 casualties in Ukraine.
The reports also estimate that 2,000 of Vladimir Putin's tanks were destroyed or captured by Ukrainians in 331 days of the war.
This is a significant rise since the last number of 100,000 casualties estimated at the end of last year.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany became one of the top-lead aiders to Ukraine with military arms.
However, now it is raising eyebrows by fellow allies for taking more time to decide whether to send Leopard tanks or not.
Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz insisted that Germany will not be making weapon decisions alone and reminded Nato to avoid becoming a direct party in the conflict.
A spokesperson for Scholz, Steffen Hebestreit, added: "These are not easy decisions, and they need to be well-weighed.
"And this is about them being sustainable, that all can go along with them and stand behind them and part of a leadership performance is keeping an alliance together."
While many Ukrainians are running away from the horrific war that hit their homes, some have to figure out how to battle with HIV illness and make sure to find supplies of medication.
The Estonian Network of People Living with HIV (EHPV) has been around for two decades to aid people and fight the transmission rate – the highest within the European Union.
Now, it's also opening its doors to those Ukrainians fighting the illness by providing medication, which is essential once one is tested positive.
The organisation also raises awareness of the illness and tries to lessen the stigma surrounding HIV-positive persons.
Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov said supplying tanks to Kyiv would not “change anything”.
When asked if the war was escalating, Peskov replied saying: "You are absolutely right."
He added: "It really is developing in an upward spiral. We see a growing indirect and sometimes direct involvement of Nato countries in this conflict …
"We see a devotion to the dramatic delusion that Ukraine can succeed on the battlefield. This is a dramatic delusion of the western community that will more than once be cause for regret, we are sure of that."
According to reports a German government spokesperson has said Poland could send Leopard tanks without authorisation.
They added that they had no information on an official request.
Jewish groups across the globe have slammed Russia today after a top Kremlin official compared the deaths of Russian soldiers to the Holocaust.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign secretary, said: “they [the west] are waging war against our country with the same task: the ‘final solution’ of the Russian question.
Just as Hitler wanted a ‘final solution’ to the Jewish question, now, if you read Western politicians … they clearly say Russia must suffer a strategic defeat.”
Officials have condemned these comments.
Dame Melinda Simmons, Britain’s ambassador to Ukraine, said: “I don’t think it’s just Jewish organisations that should be calling out this insufferable Russian state-sponsored antisemitism.
“It’s been going on for ages, repeatedly articulated, and it has repercussions for everyone when states reduce Holocaust history in this cynical way.”
Ukraine has claimed to have arrested seven Russian agents in Dnipro, who were "correcting missile attacks on the city".
The state broadcaster Suspilne said on Telegram: "Seven Russian agents of the main directorate of the general staff of the armed forces of the Russian Federation were detained in Dnipro, who were correcting missile attacks on the city.
"Information about their possible involvement in the rocket attack on a high-rise building on 14 January 2023 is being verified."
According to Ukraine's Armed Forces, a further 770 troops were killed within the past 24 hours.
This has taken the total number of losses to 119,300.
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin responded to the video link address by Volodymyr Zelensky by reiterating his support for a "free world".
Lloyd Austin said: "Thank you, Mr President. I hope you know that we will continue to stand up for the principle that borders may not be redrawn by force.
"And we will continue to stand up for an open world of rules, rights and responsibilities. Again, thank you for being here today."
Zelensky has made clear that he wants tanks sent to Ukraine to help bolster its defences.
Zelensky said: "You are strong people of powerful countries.
"I encourage you to make such decisions that can deprive Russian evil of any power.
"It is in your power to guarantee artillery and aircraft that will crush terror. It is in your power to make victory."
Speaking at Ramstein air base President Zelensky has said he is truly grateful for all of the weapons and support that has been provided so far.
However, Zelensky reiterates the need for more tanks.
Zelensky has said: "I can thank you hundreds of times (for your help so far) and it will be absolutely just and fair given all that we have already done.
"But hundreds of thank you are not hundreds of tanks. All of us can use thousands of words discussions but I cannot put words instead of guns that are needed against Russian artillery."
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has told delegates at Ramstein air base to "dig deeper" in support of Ukraine.
"It's a time to dig deeper. The Ukrainian people are watching us. The Kremlin is watching us and history is watching us.
"So we won't let up and we won't waver in our determination to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia's imperial aggression."
Volodymyr Zelensky has reached an agreement with the IAEA to "increase the safety of our nuclear generation".
In his nightly address, Zelensky said: "I met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. We have an important agreement, and it is already being implemented: IAEA missions will be sent to our nuclear power plants. To all of them.
"This will significantly increase the safety of our nuclear generation.
"We also discussed the situation around Zaporizhzhia NPP and steps that can restore radiation safety to all humanity, which was violated by Russia."
The Ministry have claimed that the Wagner group “almost certainly now commands up to 50,000 fighters in Ukraine and has become a key component of the Ukraine campaign.”
The group have now "formally registered as a legal entity" however it is now known why.
The Ministry said: "It is not yet clear to what extent the ‘PMC Wagner Centre’ entity will be used to administer Wagner’s paramilitary activity. Private Military Companies (PMCs) remain illegal in Russia, despite protracted discussion about reforming the law.
"Wagner’s owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has likely partially funded the organisation via inflated government contracts awarded to his other companies.
"The registration continues the remarkably rapid development of the traditionally opaque group’s public profile. Prigozhin only admitted to founding Wagner in September 2022; in October 2022, it opened a glossy HQ in St Petersburg."
The Kremlin is facing defeat as it is hit with massive personnel and equipment losses, claims one US official.
The US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: “Russia is running out of ammunition and is suffering significant battle losses,” reports CNN.
This comes as Russian casualties approach 120,000, less than a year into its brutal invasion of Ukraine.
Amid the meeting of military leaders at the Ramstein Air Base, Russia has continued its brutal attacks on Ukraine.
According to reports from the Kyiv Independent, two have been injured in a strike in the Kherson region today.
One of the victims was a 15-year-old boy.
The head of NATO’s Military Committee, Adm. Rob Bauer, has called on Germany to make a final decision as to whether it will supply Ukraine with tanks.
“It is a sovereign decision by a sovereign state, which Germany is,” he told a news conference in Lisbon on Friday.
“It is important that Ukraine wins this war…we need to seriously look at what Ukraine requires and if possible give them what they ask for."
Speaking at Ramstein air base President Zelensky has said he is truly grateful for all of the weapons and support that has been provided so far.
However, Zelensky reiterates the need for more tanks.
Zelensky has said: “I can thank you hundreds of times (for your help so far) and it will be absolutely just and fair given all that we have already done.
“But hundreds of thank you are not hundreds of tanks. All of us can use thousands of words discussions but I cannot put words instead of guns that are needed against Russian artillery.”
Ukrainian victory will be "very difficult" to achieve in 2023, US general Mark Milley has said.
He said: “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… Russian-occupied Ukraine.”
This comes as western military leaders met today to discuss providing tank support for Ukraine.
Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine's defence minister, took to Twitter today to outline a new wave of support the US is set to provide to his country.
The $2.5billion package will include eight Avenger air defence systems, 59 Bradley Infantry fighting vehicles and 95,000 artillery rounds among other things.
Mr Reznikov wrote: "Another package of security assistance to Ukraine from the US is a strong support to #UAarmy, an example to follow for other partner states; and a reminder to the terrorist state that its defeat inevitable.
"Thank you to @POTUS @SecDef and the American people."
Another package of security assistance to Ukraine from the US is
a strong support to #UAarmy,
an example to follow for other partner states; and a reminder to the terrorist state that its defeat inevitable.
Thank you to @POTUS @SecDef and the American people. pic.twitter.com/TmBrmk8eqY
A Ukrainian official has said his country will receive all the military support it needs, even if it takes some time to arrive.
“We are getting stronger,” Andriy Yermak, who heads President Zelensky’s office, wrote on Telegram.
“And everything that we haven’t received yet, we will receive.”
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