The Defense Procurement Agency will have a new leader, while General Galushkin expresses a desire to join the front lines as a soldier: key highlights from January 24.
Changes in the Defense Procurement Agency
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, despite the recommendations of the Supervisory Board of the Defense Procurement Agency, decided not to extend the contract with the current head of the agency, Marina Bezrukova, as well as to dismiss his deputy Dmitry Klimenkov. He referred to them as having failed in their duties regarding arms procurement for the military.
Instead of Bezrukova, the head of the State Rear Operations, Arsen Jumadilov, will be appointed as the director of the Defense Procurement Agency. He has already agreed to take the position.
General Galushkin Wants to Go to the Front as a Soldier
The former commander of the operational-tactical group "Kharkiv," Brigadier General Yuri Galushkin, who is suspected of negligence that led to the capture of part of the Kharkiv region, stated that he is ready to go to fight as an ordinary soldier.
According to him, "this will bring more benefit to the state" than a court trial and his arrest and will allow him to "maintain his honor."
Bezugla Supported Arestovych
Member of Parliament Marianna Bezugla expressed her support for former presidential office advisor Alexei Arestovych, who commented on a video of Ukrainian soldiers being shot, stating that "healthy men crawl on their knees before death."
In Bezugla's opinion, "crawling on one's knees, begging the enemy, was considered a disgrace, just like fleeing the battlefield." She emphasized the need for the army to be prepared for "all typical situations."
Meanwhile, the movement "Honesty" included Arestovych in the register of traitors for the systematic dissemination of Russian narratives.
The Downed Il-76 Plane in Russia Last Year Was Not Alone — MIPCH
Journalists and experts from the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIPCH) discovered that along with the downed Il-76 plane in the Belgorod region, there was at least one other plane in the sky.
This plane was transporting prisoners from several detention locations in Russia. However, upon learning of the crash of the first aircraft, it was turned around.
Ukraine Repatriated Fallen Soldiers
As a result of repatriation efforts, Ukraine managed to bring back the bodies of 757 fallen soldiers.
Among the returned defenders: 451 from the Donetsk direction, 71 from the Bakhmut direction, 51 from the Ugledar direction, 13 from the Luhansk direction, and 137 from the Zaporizhzhia direction. Additionally, 34 deceased were returned from morgues on the territory of Russia.
Putin Claimed He Is Ready for Negotiations with Ukraine
Russian leader Vladimir Putin asserts that he is ready to hold negotiations with Ukraine regarding the war. However, for this to happen, the Ukrainian president must lift the ban on negotiations with the current head of the Kremlin.
The head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, commented on Putin's statement. According to him, Putin is trying to "promote the idea of negotiations with the US," but "wants to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine."
Other News of the Day
- "Complete nonsense": The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded to Russia's demands to abandon NATO membership.
- Accusation against director Andriy Bilous of harassment: the author of the anonymous video gave an open interview.
- The defense forces struck one of the largest oil refineries in Russia.
- Trump stated that Zelensky is "not an angel."
- The head of Irpin, Markushin, was taken into custody over a case regarding leaving the country. He speaks of a "contract from opponents."
- Ukraine lost more soldiers than the US in Vietnam and Korea combined — special envoy of Trump.