January 17, 2025

Russia has begun using North Korean artillery systems on the front, indicating Russia’s increasingly critical situation with artillery systems and its dependence on imported weapons, said Colonel Ants Kiviselg, head of the Estonian Defense Forces’ intelligence center.

Kiviselg said at a press conference of the Ministry of Defense that in the 151st week of the war, the previously established trends are continuing, with Russian troops continuing to maintain the tactical initiative.

Although Russia has been able to tactically strengthen its military potential, it has not managed to achieve complete superiority, which would give it the opportunity for diplomatic pressure. “Therefore, at present, the Russian Federation is not interested in ending military actions and continues offensive operations,” Kiviselg said.

The main military actions are taking place in the Donetsk region in the Pokrovsk direction, where Russian troops are trying to advance in the western and eastern directions from the city.

Although the pace of advance has slowed, offensive pressure remains high, with an average of 164 attacks per day occurring across the entire front.

“Apparently, Russia is trying to take advantage of the last weeks of freezing winter weather, which allows the use of armored vehicles on frozen terrain. However, this winter has turned out to be milder than expected, so Russian troops are forced to use roads to move their equipment. This simplifies the work of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in repelling attacks,” Kiviselg noted.

Over the course of a week, Russian troops were able to make minor advances in the directions of Velikaya Novosyolka, Toretsk, Chasov Yar and Kupyansk.

In the Kursk region, Ukrainian units have retreated to the positions they held before the new offensive on January 5. “During the week, Ukrainian forces have carried out several attacks in the Kursk region. Some settlements or districts are changing hands,” Kiviselg said.

The reorganization of North Korean units operating in the Kursk region has not produced significant results, the head of the intelligence center added.

Kiviselg noted that the most notable tactical observation was the appearance of North Korean artillery systems on the front line as part of Russian units. “This points to Russia’s increasingly critical situation with artillery systems and its dependence on imported weapons,” he emphasized.

Kiviselg added that Ukraine’s rapidly adapting and technically more effective defense is withstanding massive enemy pressure and gradually undermining its offensive capabilities.

At the same time, Ukraine continues to strike key Russian infrastructure facilities. “Over the past week, Ukraine has increased the number of strikes on Russian fuel and chemical industry enterprises,” Kiviselg said.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the morning of January 14, Ukraine launched one of the most massive airstrikes on targets in Russia, hitting targets 200–1,100 km deep in the country – in the Bryansk, Saratov, Tula regions and in the Republic of Tatarstan.

The attack hit the Aleksinsky Chemical Plant in the Tula Region, which produces ammunition, gunpowder and materials for the Russian military-industrial complex. Also hit was an ammunition depot at the airfield in Engels, Saratov Region, where high-explosive aerial bombs, guided aerial bombs and cruise missiles were mainly stored. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also struck the Saratov Oil Refinery. After the strike, a large fire was recorded at the plant.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out a repeat attack on the oil storage facility in Engels. The previous attack took place on January 8. The oil depot burned for five days and was extinguished only a day before the new attack.

On the night of January 15, Russian troops, in turn, attacked Ukraine, using six Tu-95MS bombers and eight Tu-22M3 bombers that took off from the Olenegorsk airfield in the Murmansk region.

The main targets of the Russian military were Ukrainian energy infrastructure and military facilities. Cruise missiles, attack drones and ballistic missiles were used in the attack. A total of 43 missiles and 74 drones were launched. Ukraine shot down 30 missiles and 47 drones, and 27 drones deviated from their course.

Both sides in the conflict seek, first and foremost, to undermine the economic potential of the enemy, and thereby influence the course of the war, Kiviselg noted.

Editor: Irina Dogatko

https://rus.err.ee/1609579333/kiviselg-na-fronte-pojavilis-severokorejskie-artillerijskie-sistemy