Victory Chronicles-DAY 1079

Ukraine on Feb. 2 used precision-guided projectiles to strike a “significant” subterranean Russian command-and-control post in the invaded Russian region of Kursk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that mostly Russian and North Korean officers suffered losses at the site. Visual evidence of the incident surfaced this week, showing footage of massive damage at the site. 

Ukraine invaded the neighboring region in August 2024 and has established administrative control over the territory it controls. Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin has pledged to reconquer that area, but so far failed to fulfill his pledge.

In the Donetsk regional town of Pokrovsk sector, Russia’s army the Russian army has suffered significant losses, with 7,000 personnel irretrievably killed and a total of 15,000 including the wounded and missing. 

This information was revealed by Viktor Tregubov, spokesman for the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops. He Tregubov compared these losses to the second Chechen war, stating that the Russians had more deaths in January in Pokrovsk alone than in the entire period of the second Chechen wa of August 1999-May 2000r. The Russian army is making a strong push to capture the city, but despite their efforts, they have not been able to block the routes leading to the city. As a result, they continue to face substantial casualties and equipment losses, and are now trying to hold on to small villages southwest of Pokrovsk.

Ukraine announces 150 POW parity swap with Russia the return of 150 prisoners from Russian captivity, consisting of soldiers, sergeants, officers, and various other personnel who fight for Ukraine. 

The repatriated Ukrainian captives prisoners included members of the Navy, Air Force, Air Assault and Land Forces, National Guard, border guards and a police officer. Some of these individuals had been held captive for more than then two years. 

The 44th Separate Artillery Brigade successfully destroysed two 2A65 howitzers and a mortar in the Zaporizhzhia sector. 

The brigade posted a video of the destruction on its social media pages.

Key Takeaways:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to demonstrate his willingness to negotiate with Russia from a principled position that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the long run.
• Zelensky reiterated that the Ukrainian Constitution bans Ukraine from holding elections during wartime, but that Ukraine remains committed to holding elections in accordance with Ukraine’s constitution and laws after the war ends.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on February 4 that Russian forces have suffered roughly 300,000 to 350,000 killed in action (KIA) and roughly 600,000 to 700,000 wounded in action (WIA) since the February 2022 start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
• Ukrainian forces conducted a strike against an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai on the night of February 4 to 5 as a part of an ongoing strike campaign against Russian defense industrial enterprises and oil refineries.
• The Russian military continues efforts to restructure Russia’s peacetime military administrative control over military services and is apparently disaggregating administrative control for Russia’s Air Force and Navy from Russia’s military districts.
• The Kremlin continues to prioritize domestic political stability over efforts to mitigate economic pressure and labor shortages.

Military pilot Dmytro Kokorin was killed on May 11, 2024, while performing a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia sector. The defender was 22. Kokorin was born in the city of Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region. He lived in Kharkiv. He dreamed of flying. He consciously chose a military career. In 2019-2023, he studied at the Kharkiv National University of the Air Force of Ukraine named after Ivan Kozhedub.

From Aug. 2023, he served in the 11th separate brigade of the Kherson Army Aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Kokorin held the position of helicopter navigator of the helicopter link of the helicopter squadron. During the full-scale invasion, the young officer bravely and courageously performed combat missions and believed in the victory over the invaders.

Posthumously, he was promoted to the rank of “senior lieutenant” and awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, III degree.

“He promised me to return home in a week, but I never imagined that he would return in a different way than I would have liked… He was the kindest person in this world. He always performed his combat missions with honor. On May 11, I was left alone without the most precious person in my life…” said Daria, the officer’s wife.

Kokorin was buried at cemetery in Kharkiv. His parents and wife were waiting for him at home.

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

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• Zelenskyy wants nukes or NATO. Trump special envoy Kellogg says ‘slim and none’ chance
• Russia is losing 40,000 troops over 6 months of Ukraine’s Kursk operation
• Ukrainian forces strike Russian airfield in Krasnodar region used for launching Shahed drones
• Reuters: Ukraine sees marked improvement in accuracy of Russia’s North Korean missiles
• Azerbaijan delivers $1 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine