Death of Gonzalo Lira, Crumbling Ukrainian Air Defenses, Growing Russian Military Capabilities

Update on the conflict in Ukraine for January 15, 2024… - US-Chilean citizen Gonzalo Lira is confirmed dead by the US State Department, having died in a Ukrainian prison with serious health issues neglected by his jailers. He was imprisoned for criticizing Kiev; - Russia continues using a strategy of attrition across the line of contact, particularly in places like Avdeevka where Ukrainian positions are steadily degraded; - Russian forces continue carrying out large-scale drone and missile strikes on targets across Ukraine; - Ukraine admits a growing crisis in terms of air defense capabilities with its Western sponsors unable to supply an adequate number of interceptors for launchers transferred to Ukraine; - Russia is continuing to expand production of existing drones and missiles while also developing new drones and missiles with greater capabilities, further stressing Ukraine’s already stretched combat capabilities; - Previous dismissal of Russian-Iranian defense cooperation has now led to a demonstrable strategic crisis for Ukraine and the collective West; - Ukrainian commanders are requesting what amounts to an entire army’s worth of equipment including an entire air force worth of replacement aircraft; References: Newsweek - Who Is Gonzalo Lira? Pro-Putin American Expat Dies in Ukrainian Jail (January 13, 2024): TASS - Russia to focus on provisioning of troops (January 9, 2024): Alexander Mercouris - Rus Air Offensive, Heavy Drones; Attacks All Front Lines; Zelensky Curse; Protests France, Germany (January 10, 2024): Mediazona - Russian casualties in Ukraine. Mediazona count, updated (December 2023 - January 2024): NY Times - Ukraine’s Patriot Defenses at Work: Shuddering Booms and Bursts of Light (January 6, 2024): Al Jazeera - Saudi Arabia may run out of interceptor missiles in ‘months’ (January 2022): BBC - Japan to send Patriot missiles to US which may aid Ukraine (December 22, 2023): Australian Defense Magazine - Lockheed Martin says Patriot missile could ‘replace anything and everything’ (November 2023): Reuters - Ukraine has deficit of anti-aircraft guided missiles - air force (January 9, 2024): CNN - Missile blitz, jet drones, night camouflage: Kyiv warns how Russia could overwhelm air defenses (January 11, 2024): The Drive - Russia May Have Started Using Jet-Powered Shahed Drones In Ukraine (January 7, 2024): CNN - Russia appears poised to purchase ballistic missiles from Iran, official says (January 4, 2024): IISS - Ansarullah’s missile and munitions launches flex Saudi responses (March 2021): Reuters - Ukraine needs more attack aircraft for war effort - ground forces commander (January 12, 2024): Where to Find My Work: Website: Telegram: Twitter: Odysee (YouTube alternative): @LandDestroyer:8 Rumble (YouTube alternative): Weibo: ไบรอัน แฟนคลับ (Facebook): Line Group: Gab: VK (Facebook alternative): How to Support my Work (and thank you!): Buy Me A Coffee: Patreon: PromptPay: 0851547235 Cryptocurrency Donations: Ethereum (ETH): 0xee6ed93c3adc474450011e9af22939a0b9b312c7 BitCoin (BTC): 1AfGnbmHxA6cy9YKUSxysXvpJPyecpBKrr Monero (XMR): 845TCXx3pchSBXuDL7FHG679gbWD2wkHS6MJxuq7jFVsVFj7T6xsry747uhhGZUdkaRXbbrMfo5c8RnGfzGZ13KxQUdHVLR