Victory Chronicles-DAY 646

In an interview with AP, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that despite the lack of expected breakthroughs in the long-awaited counteroffensive, Ukraine is not retreating and needs assistance in increasing domestic arms production. Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine did not receive all the necessary weapons from its allies and the limited size of their armed forces hindered their progress. 

However, Ukraine has made gradual territorial gains against a better-armed enemy and reduced the power of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Zelenskyy is now focusing on the next phase, increasing domestic arms production. He hopes Western allies, including the United States, will provide substantial loans and contracts. Zelenskyy believes that a militarily independent Ukraine is what scares Russia the most. The ongoing counteroffensive has been supported by heavy weapons and tens of billions of dollars in military aid from the West.

According to Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, over 2,000 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 11,000 injured due to Russian shelling in 2023. Russian troops reportedly fired 59,000 times at settlements in 24 regions of Ukraine. Klymenko also stated that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies had registered approximately 101,000 cases of Russian war crimes, including shelling, mistreatment of civilians, deportations, and illegal detentions. The majority of the shelling occurred in Oblasts such as Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv. 

“Thank you for risking your lives every day so that we can live in peace and safety,” reads one of the cards to the defenders of the 44th separate mechanized brigade prepared by students of the Zhytomyr vocational lyceum. In addition to words of gratitude, the students also prepared amulets.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has released a pre-Christmas video showing Ukrainian border guards “congratulating” the Russian occupiers on the upcoming holidays to the tune of “Jingle Bells.

A recent Russian opinion poll indicates that the number of Russians who fully support the war in Ukraine has almost halved since February 2023 and that more Russians support a withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine than do not. 

Independent Russian opposition polling organization Chronicles stated that data from its October 17-22, 2023, telephone survey indicates that respondents who are “consistent” supporters of the war – those who expressed support for the war, do not support a withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine without Russia having achieved its war aims, and think that Russia should prioritize military spending – decreased from 22 percent to 12 percent between February 2023 and October 2023.

Chronicles stated that 40 percent of respondents supported a withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine without Russia having achieved its war aims, and that this number has remained consistent at about 39 to 40 percent throughout 2023. Chronicles stated that 33 percent of respondents did not support a Russian withdrawal and favored a continuation of the war and noted that this number has been consistently decreasing from 47 percent in February 2023 and 39 percent in July 2023. 

Recent polling by the independent Russian polling organization Levada Center published on October 31 indicated that 55 percent of respondents believed that Russia should begin peace negotiations whereas 38 percent favored continuing the war.

Military intelligence officer Yaroslav Boshtan, with the call sign Bul, died on August 12, 2023, while performing a combat mission near the village of Robotyno, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In November, the defender would have turned 36 years old.

“Yaroslav was born in the city of Chernivtsi. He graduated from Lviv Polytechnic National University with a degree in Transport Technology. He worked at a private enterprise. In his free time, he loved to fish. He loved nature, mountains and outdoor activities.”  The platform of stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine – the Heroes Memorial – tells Yaroslav’s story.

During the full-scale invasion, the man joined the ranks of the Air Assault Forces. He served in the 132nd separate reconnaissance battalion. Together with his fighters-in-arms, he fought in the hottest spots of the frontline. “Yaroslav was the soul of the company, kind, courageous, brave, and never complained about anything. He always helped everyone who needed it. He was a loving husband and father, a true friend and comrade-in-arms. Yaroslav gave his life so that we could live in a free and independent Ukraine,” said Anastasia, the victim’s wife.

“My dear Bul, you were one of those who could be confidently relied upon to set a task and know that you would do everything to accomplish it. We knew that you sailed the seas, but in the training center you are still remembered as a climber, which shows how different our Yaroslav Boshtan was. I still don’t understand how I will be able to communicate with your Nastia, not because there is nothing to talk about, but because I am choking on my sobs. Looking at the photos of your beautiful family is like tearing my heart to pieces. I hug you, my friend. May you rest in peace. Forever in the ranks,” wrote comrade Max Sergeev.

Boshtan was posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage” of the III degree. The defender was buried at the Sadhirske cemetery in Chernivtsi. Yaroslav is survived by his wife and two daughters. 

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