January 17, 2025

Russian Ministry of Defense: up to 12,945 Ukrainian casualties from Jan 11-17

Russian Defense Ministry

From 11 to 17 January 2025, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out eight group strikes by high-precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, which hit Ukraine’s crucial gas and energy infrastructure facilities that support the work of the Ukrainian defence industry. The strikes also engaged armament depots, a fuel base, and infrastructure of military airfields.

Moreover, the group strikes hit assembly facilities and storage areas for strike UAVs and uncrewed surface vehicles, as well as temporary deployment areas for Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.

▫️ The Sever Group of Forces continued fighting against the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the territory of Kursk region.

As a result of the active offensive operations, the settlements of Aleksandriya, Leonidovo, Russkoye Porechnoye, and Kruglenkoye have been liberated.

In addition, aviation and drone strikes and artillery fire hit manpower and hardware of one tank brigade, four mechanised brigades, three air assault brigades, one marine brigade, and two territorial defence brigades.

In Kharkov direction, Russian troops inflicted losses on units of one mechanised brigade, one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades over the past week.

In the area of responsibility of the Sever Group of Forces, the AFU losses amounted to over 2,225 troops, 10 tanks, and 71 armoured fighting vehicles. Seventy motor vehicles, 34 field artillery guns, including two manufactured by Western countries, were eliminated.

▫️ The Zapad Group of Forces has liberated Kalinovo (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The Group inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one tank brigade, three mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, one air mobile brigade, and one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine along with three territorial defence brigades and one National Guard brigade.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 3,300 troops, four tanks, 27 armoured fighting vehicles, including six U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, and one Turkish-made Kirpi armoured vehicle. Moreover, the enemy sustained losses of 72 motor vehicles, 44 field artillery guns, with eight of them manufactured by NATO countries, nine electronic warfare stations, and 15 ammunition depots.

▫️As a result of decisive actions, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Yantarnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).

They also hit six mechanised brigades, two motorised brigades, two assault brigades, one infantry brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades.

The AFU losses in this direction during the week amounted to up to 1,655 troops, two tanks, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers and one French-made VAB APC31 motor vehicles, 20 field artillery guns, including two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers. Seven ammunition depots were destroyed.

▫️The Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing into the depths of enemy defences and liberated Shevchenko, Peschanoye, Ukrainka, and Slavyanka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The Group inflicted losses on eight mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, two territorial defence brigades, two National Guard brigades, and the Lyut Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian armed formations sustained losses of more than 3,770 troops, six tanks, including three German-made Leopard tanks, 29 armoured fighting vehicles, including five M113 APCs, one Bradley IFV, and two U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured vehicles, one French-made VAB APC, and one Turkish-made Cobra II armoured vehicle. Twenty-seven motor vehicles and 45 field artillery guns, including three manufactured by Western countries, were eliminated.

▫️ The Vostok Group of Forces liberated Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic) as a result of intensive operations.

The Group inflicted losses on formations of four mechanised brigades, one tank brigade, one air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, three territorial defence brigades, and one National Guard brigade.

The enemy’s losses amounted to more than 1,445 troops, four tanks, seven armoured fighting vehicles, including one HMMWV and one Stryker48 motor vehicles, and 18 field artillery guns, with five of them manufactured by NATO countries. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.

▫️ The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigadesone infantry brigadetwo coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one National Guard brigade, and two territorial defence brigades.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 550 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, 49 motor vehicles, 20 field artillery guns, four electronic warfare stations, and five ammunition depots.

▫️ On 16 January 2025, Ukraine once again attempted to launch a missile strike against facilities in Belgorod region by six U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles.

All the missiles were shot down by air defence systems. There were no casualties or destruction.

The Russian Defence Ministry will take measures to provide a retaliatory strike.

▫️ Over the past week, Russia’s air defence system have shot down 12 U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, eight UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, seven French-made Hammer aerial guided bombs, 48 U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles, and 747 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

▫️ Over the past week, 49 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered on the line of contact.

▫️ In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 652 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 40,643 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,650 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,510 MLRS combat vehicles, 20,742 field artillery guns and mortars, and 30,433 units of support military vehicles of the enemy have been neutralised.

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Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.

The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.

Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.