Destruction of Russian planes and Swiss aid to Ukraine - Monday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine

• Ukrainian Intelligence reveals current state of Russia's A-50 aircraft fleet;

• Russian troops attacked power plant in Donetsk region and gas pipeline in Nikopol;

• Ukrainian special forces showcase destroying group of Russians near Avdiivka;

• Number of missiles Russia produces per month: New Defense Intelligence data.

Ukrainian Armed Forces confirm downing of Russian aircraft A-50 and Il-22

Ukraine has officially confirmed the downing of Russian A-50 and Il-22 aircraft in the Sea of Azov on January 14, according to Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi and the Ukrainian Air Force.

"The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed an enemy A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and an enemy IL-22 air control center," Zaluzhnyi writes.

He also thanks the Air Force for the well-planned and executed operation in the Azov Sea region.

Later, Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said that the Russian IL-22 aircraft shot down by the Ukrainian military on January 14 over the Sea of Azov could have reached the airfield. However, it is not recoverable.

Switzerland commits €1.6 billion in aid to Ukraine

Switzerland will provide Ukraine with 1.5 billion francs (approximately 1.6 billion euros) in assistance from 2025 to 2028, according to a statement by the President of Switzerland, Viola Amherd.

"Switzerland sees a particular focus on the reconstruction of Ukraine. From the perspective of the Federal Council, the reconstruction holds strategic importance for the stability of the continent," she declared at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to Amherd, the political compass for reconstruction is guided by the principles established in Lugano at the conference on the restoration of Ukraine in July 2022.

"To support Ukraine, Switzerland has planned to allocate 1.5 billion francs during the next international cooperation strategy from 2025 to 2028," stated the President of Switzerland.

UK Defense Chief warns of global conflict escalation, war in Ukraine among major concerns

The world is becoming more dangerous, demanding Britain and its allies confront "irrational" states. London will increase defense spending, states UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps.

Delivering a speech outlining his perspective that the world will become more dangerous in 2024, and will require the UK and its allies to confront "irrational" states, Shapps has stated that the government aims to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP and urged other democratic countries to follow suit.

He warns that in five years, Britain might find itself involved in multiple theaters of military action, including with Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

"Ask yourselves...is it more likely that that number grows or reduces? I suspect we all know the answer. It's likely to grow. So, 2024 must mark an inflection point," the minister says.

Ukrainian guerrillas blow up Russian troops with equipment in Melitopol

In the temporarily occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, guerrillas blew up Russian troops along with their equipment. The enemy vehicle and four invaders were destroyed, according to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.

"On January 14, 2024, a powerful explosion occurred on Hohol Street in the temporarily occupied Melitopol. As a result of a special event carried out by the Ukrainian resistance, a vehicle of the Russian invaders was blown up," the statement says.

In addition, four occupiers were injured along with the enemy SUV.

The streets adjacent to the scene were blocked, and several vehicles with medics arrived.

"However, according to preliminary information, not everyone needed doctors. The exact number of irreversible and sanitary losses of the enemy is being clarified," the DIU adds.

NATO reacts to Germany's preparation for potential war with Russia

The widespread information about Germany preparing for a possible military conflict with the Russian Federation is not classified intelligence analysis, according to Jānis Sārts, Director at the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence and a representative of the German Ministry of Defense.

A NATO official commented on the Bild's material, stating that the media received a training scenario, which always represents a hypothetical situation to assess military capabilities in a particular region.

"Once the scenarios were completely fictitious with non-existent countries and geographies," he stated.

However, NATO now uses existing countries and geographical regions to develop training scenarios. Sārts emphasized that the previously disclosed information is not classified intelligence analysis predicting the further development of the situation.