Victory Chronicles-DAY 1051

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a $500 million military aid package for Ukraine during a meeting at a U.S. air base in Germany. Known as the Ramstein contact group that has been providing assistance for Ukraine’s defense efforts, Austin highlighted the ongoing offensive by Russian occupation forces in eastern Ukraine, which has resulted in massive missile attacks on energy infrastructure, making life difficult for civilians during the winter. 

He also stressed the significance of preventing Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin from absorbing Ukraine, as it would only increase his appetite for further aggression. 

He noted that Ukraine has already received more than $122 billion in aid and announced the additional $500 million package, which includes missiles, artillery shells, air-to-ground missiles, and equipment to support Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets.

Some $3.8 billion in approved funds remain unused and will be at the disposal of the incoming U.S. presidential administration after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

Ukraine reports nearly 4,315 cyberattacks in 2024, marking 70 percent rise. Cyberattacks last year targeted critical infrastructure the most. They include the energy sector, government agencies, security, and telecommunications. Hackers primarily aim to steal sensitive information and erase data. Common techniques used include mass malware and phishing emails. Attacks on critical infrastructure, particularly the energy sector, have shown a consistent upward trend in 2024. 

Russian Army launches two aerial strikes on Zaporizhzhia using FAB-500 guided bombs. The attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 13 civilians and left 113 injured. First responders were able to rescue five individuals. Search and rescue operations in Zaporizhzhia have been completed.

Ukraine’s 47th Magura Brigade and other military units repel large-scale Russian attack in Kursk Region. The enemy deployed a significant amount of equipment and personnel, including tanks with mine-trawling capabilities. The attacks were conducted in six waves, with the enemy using tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and even buggies. In response, the Magura Brigade soldiers and augmentary units destroyed a substantial amount of enemy equipment worth tens of millions of dollars. The enemy also suffered casualties, with 45 Russians killed and 53 wounded. 

Ukrainian forces struck Russia’s state-owned Kombinat Kristal oil storage facility near Engels, Saratov Oblast on the night of Jan. 7 to 8. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) and the Unmanned Systems Forces struck the oil storage facility and caused a large fire.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the facility provides fuel for the Russian military’s Engels-2 Air Base and noted that the drone strike will create logistical issues for Russia’s strategic aircraft based at the airfield. Geolocated footage published on Jan. 8 shows a large fire at the storage facility, and Russian sources noted that the fire continued to burn into the morning of Jan. 8. Saratov Oblast Governor Roman Busargin claimed that debris from a falling drone struck an unspecified industrial facility near Engels but later acknowledged that the strike caused a fire in the area.

Thirty-two-year-old Jr. Sgt. Ihor Vlasov, call sign Oslo, was killed on Feb. 12, 2024 near the village of Ivanivske near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. During heavy fighting, he and his group were on a combat mission. The soldiers bravely held the defense, but the enemy broke their positions, constantly using artillery and first-person view drones. Vlasov sustained a concussion. He was trying to evacuate the body of his fallen comrade, but at that moment he was caught by an enemy drone.

Vlasov was from the town of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region. He studied at the Konstantynivka College. Later, he received his higher education at the Bakhmut Educational and Research Vocational and Pedagogical Institute of the Ukrainian Engineering and Pedagogical Academy, specialising in Vocational Education and Labor Protection. He was fond of computer games and was interested in information technology.

In 2018, he worked at the State Archives of Donetsk Oblast. He digitized and published documents from the archival collections, thereby creating an opportunity for all interested people to freely use the documents on the Internet. He had been collecting information about the Russian-Ukrainian war since 2014.

In March 2023, Vlasov was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.  After completing training, he served as an instructor of the training repair platoon of the training company for technical support specialists of the 138th Training Battalion of Material Support (A2600). He learned and mastered new skills quickly, and was respected among his comrades.

“Ihor was a wonderful person: cheerful, kind, sincere, and responsive. He had many friends and acquaintances, and was always at the center of attention. He loved his family and especially his little nephew Artem, to whom he later became a godfather. Ihor always enjoyed the attention of girls, but his heart always belonged to only one — his beloved wife Yana. It is impossible to heal the pain and bitterness of losing a loved one, but may the good, bright memories become stronger than death and remain forever in the memory of his family, colleagues, friends, comrades-in-arms, and everyone who knew, loved and respected Ihor,” his sister Marharyta said in memory.

The warrior was buried in the Alley of Heroes at the Krasnopilsk Military Cemetery in Dnipro. Vlasov is survived by his mother, wife, sister and nephew.

*Ihor’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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