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months on the battlefield.
Russian sabotage of Kakhovka Reservoir may leave 1 million Ukrainians
without drinking water. Russia's ongoing attempt to drain the Kakhovka Reservoir may leave over a million people in Ukraine without drinking water, the Minister of Environmental Protection Ruslan Strilets said. "Lowering the level below 12 metres will lead to an ecological disaster since we can lose a lot of biodiversity," he said, adding that also puts the functioning of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant's safety systems at risk.
Approximately 326,000 Russian soldiers currently fight in Ukraine. Chief of Defense Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with the Washington Post that approximately 326,000 Russian soldiers are currently fighting in Ukraine. According to Budanov, only 9% of Russia's long-range Kalibr missiles remain. Those numbers can't be independently verified.
On January 25, Germany announced its decision to ship 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and gave permission for other countries to re-export German-made tanks to Ukraine as well. Germany produces the majority of modern heavy tanks in Europe, so this decision will allow other NATO countries to send tanks as military aid. According to Politico, taking into account prior commitments indicated by Poland, Spain, Norway, and Finland, about 80 Leopard 2s will be “quickly” sent to Ukraine. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the Leopards will be arriving in about two months. In addition to the tanks themselves, Germany will also provide training for Ukrainian crews, logistics, ammunition, and two tank recovery vehicles.
The decision was long-awaited; Ukraine has been asking for tanks from NATO countries for some time. Ukrainian President Zelensky called the delivery “critical;” “Leopards are very much needed,” he posted on Telegram. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted strong support for Germany’s decision, saying, “At a critical moment in Russia’s war, these can help Ukraine to defend itself, win & prevail as an independent nation.”
2.11 Polls & Sociology
According to a new survey by the independent institute Levada Center,
75% of Russian said in January that they supported the actions of
Russian military forces in Ukraine, as the survey is putting it, Statista reports. (chart)This support dipped to 72% in September around the announcement of partial mobilization and again to 71% in December. When the war had just started in March, support had been at 80%.
61 RUSSIA Country Report March 2023 www.intellinews.com