Victory Chronicles-DAY 1055

The European Union (EU) has announced an additional 140 million euros ($143 million) in humanitarian aid for Ukraine. This funding aims to provide emergency assistance, including food, shelter, potable water, healthcare, and winter protection, to the regions of eastern and southern Ukraine that have been severely affected by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. 

Brussels will also allocate 8 million euros ($8.16 million) to Moldova to support Ukrainian refugees and the communities hosting them. This brings the total humanitarian aid provided by the EU to Ukraine and Moldova since 2022 to more than 1.1 billion euros ($1.12 billion). The timing of this announcement coincides with the visit of European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib.

The EU’s increased support for Ukraine is in response to the country’s aspirations for EU membership, with Ukraine becoming a candidate for membership in June 2022 and starting accession talks in June 2024. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova has suggested that Ukraine’s accession to the EU by 2030 is a realistic possibility.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius delivers first RCH 155 wheeled howitzer to Ukrainian defenders. Germany has pledged to provide 54 units of the remote control howitzer, according to German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung. Initially, the first six systems will be used for training Ukrainian soldiers in Germany. Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksiy Makeyev expressed his gratitude for Germany’s support and stressed the need for allies rather than mediators in the ongoing war. The RCH 155 is considered the world’s most advanced wheeled howitzer, allowing firing while driving. Its turret can be remotely controlled, and it is operated by a crew of two soldiers.

Russia launches an attack on the Sumy community Jan. 12, causing a fire at a children’s health center due to falling debris. The attack involved Shahed drones and caused fires in a residential area as well. The State Emergency Service (SES) of Sumy region reported that the fires had been extinguished and rescue efforts were carried out at multiple locations simultaneously. The acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, said that no casualties were reported and everyone was safe. The SES subsequently conducted inspections of the affected areas.

First person view (FPV) drone crews of the Achilles Battalion in the 92nd Separate Mechanized Air Assault Brigade achieve success in targeting and destroying enemy vehicles. The operation included hitting a T-72 tank, a cannon, an advanced tethered vehicle, and two Ural trucks, as well as injuring a Russian occupier. The head of the battalion, Yurii Fedorenko, published a video of the operation.

The Ukrainian General Staff reports that Ukrainian forces conduct a high-precision airstrike on the command and control post of Russia’s 2nd Combined Arms Army [CAA] (Central Military District) in Novohrodivka, Donetsk Oblast.

The Ukrainian General Staff noted that the operation is part of a broader series of Ukrainian strikes targeting command posts of Russian forces operating along the Donetsk axis. Ukraine’s military reported on Jan. 8-10 that Ukrainian forces struck the command posts of the Russian 8th CAA (Southern Military District) in occupied Khartsyzk, Donetsk Oblast, and the 3rd Army Corps [AC] (Central Military District) in occupied Svitlodarsk, Donetsk Oblast, respectively.

Ukrainian strikes on tactical command posts and positions located near the frontline, such as the strike against Novohrodivka, are likely intended to disrupt Russian tactical activity and directly complicate Russian command and control (C2) on the battlefield. Ukrainian strikes against main command posts further in the Russian rear, such as the Jan. 8 strike on the Russian 8th CAA post, are likely aimed at degrading broader Russian logistics and operational planning efforts, which could further impact Russia’s ability to conduct its military operations in western Donetsk Oblast. ISW has observed that the 2nd CAA is currently leading Russian operations south of Pokrovsk, that the 3rd AC is operating near Chasiv Yar, and that the 8th CAA is leading Russian efforts near Kurakhove.

Twenty-seven year old Petro Kyshenko, call sign Fox, was killed on April 28, 2024 near the village of Serhiivka in the Luhansk region. He was helping a severely wounded comrade-in-arms when the enemy launched an artillery attack.

Kyshenko was born in the village of Dobro Oleksandrivka, Odesa region. He graduated from the Odesa Regional Basic Medical School as a paramedic. He then studied to become a doctor at Odesa National Medical University. Along with his studies, he worked as a hookah maker, social media manager for a car delivery company from the United States, ran his own small service station, and repaired cars himself. Before the all-out invasion, he worked as a radiologist intern.

On Feb. 25 2022, on the second day of the full-scale war, Kyshenko was assigned to the 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade. He served as a machine gunner of a reconnaissance company, a combat medic, and a medical assistant. In February 2024, he was transferred to the 3rd Assault Brigade. There he took up the position of a health instructor. He was a recipient of the Badge of Honor award.

“Petro volunteered on Feb. 25 2022. He did not want to live under the flag of the occupier. He lived and acted the way he wanted his country and people to live. At every opportunity, he hurried home to me. He wanted to see the people he loved. He tried to see as many friends as possible in the short time he was home. In my heart, he will forever remain a beloved husband, a loyal friend, an interesting person, a worthy husband and protector, a whole universe, my pride. We were together for 7 years, 7 months and 12 days. It was a great, sincere love. His death is my pain that will never go away, a wound that will never heal…” – shared her memories Olha, the widow of the fallen defender.

The Hero was buried in his native village. He is survived by his parents Volodymyr Vitaliyovych and Larysa Petrivna, and his wife Olha.

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

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