Victory Chronicles-DAY 680

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported that on January 4, 2024, a Su-34 fighter bomber caught fire at the Russian Shagol airfield in Cheliabinsk. Reportedly, the aircraft was part of the aviation regiment of the 21st Mixed Aviation Division of the VKS of the Russian Armed Forces. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Main Intelligence Directorate has released a video showing the fire, likely to be the plane engulfed in flames.

A source from the Ukrainska Pravda media outlet claims that the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was involved in the incident. 

Russia continues to suffer losses in its war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukrainian defense forces have destroyed 6,000 Russian tanks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In addition, over the past day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated 780 Russian service members and destroyed 21 armored combat vehicles and 28 artillery systems.x

The Land Forces published Roman Chop’s photo report about the Armed Forces of Ukraine artillery destroying Russian troops in Donetsk Oblast using the self-propelled artillery “Archer” system. These systems are capable of rapid and accurate target practice,” the report says.  

Since the morning attack on Kyiv on January 2, 54 people have been injured and 2 killed. Most of the victims have mine blast injuries. Now Kyiv residents are helping to eliminate the consequences of the shelling.

NATO member states continue initiatives to support Ukrainian operations in the air domain. Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced on January 3 that Norway is providing two F-16 fighter jets and 10 instructors to train Ukrainian military personnel in Denmark.

Gram stated that Ukraine’s partners will work “day and night” to establish a lasting and modern Ukrainian air force. NATO also announced in a statement on January 3 that NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency will support a coalition of member states, including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain to purchase up to 1,000 Patriot missiles to strengthen the member states’ air defenses, additionally noting that NATO partners have previously supplied Ukraine with Patriot systems. 

It is unclear if Ukraine will receive any of the 1,000 Patriot missiles, or on what timeline. The $5.5 billion contract will support the establishment of a Patriot missile production facility in Germany, increasing the available supply of Patriot missiles and replenishing member states’ stockpiles.

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated on January 2 that Western-provided Patriot systems enabled Ukrainian forces to down a record number of 10 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles during Russian strikes overnight on January 1-2 and during the day on January 2.

Defender Bohdan Pidhainyi, with the call sign Hais, died on August 18, 2023, near the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast. While performing a combat mission, he was mortally wounded by enemy mortar fire. The fighter turned 20 years old two months earlier.

Bohdan was born and lived in the village of Rudantsi, Lviv Oblast. He finished school there and then studied at the Lviv Vocational School. He has always wanted to have his own income, so since he was a teenager, he has taken on any job. He spent his free time with friends, and in the summer, he went with his family to his grandmother’s house in the Carpathians. He always helped his parents with everything. When he turned 18, he went to work in Poland. 

On February 24, 2022, Bohdan was working abroad but decided to return to Ukraine to defend it. Without telling anyone about his intentions, he immediately went to the military enlistment office, enlisted as a volunteer, and then went home. Later, he was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine – to the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. He spent the first months in the infantry, was assigned to aerial reconnaissance and became a UAV operator.

“Bodia will forever remain my best, only brother, whom I will always love and will talk about him until the end of my days. He was and will be the brightest person in this world, I will never forget his snow-white smile and bright eyes. We love you. Me, mom and dad,” wrote the deceased’s sister.

The young defender was buried in his native village. Bohdan is survived by his mother Nataliia, father Volodymyr, and sister Solomia.

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

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