Ukraine War Update NEWS: Pt 1 - Overnight & Other News
Table of Contents 📖
"It was not Ukrainian air defence that shot down the Russian Su-25. It was clear and well-coordinated actions of Russian air defence. And for that, we thank them very much."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:47⏩
Jonathan wishes everyone a festive Super Saturnalia/Merry Christmas, reflecting on his neighbours singing carols. He then dives straight into the Ukrainian General Staff figures for the day.
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🪦 DISCLAIMER FOR GENERAL STAFF LOSSES DATA
- These are real people with real lives and real families who love them. Don’t let the numbers sap your humanity.
- These numbers probably aren’t accurate but they’re the best we have and we don’t need them to be accurate to be indicative of patterns of activity.
- All losses are estimates. Losses cannot be counted with accuracy because of the conditions on the ground.
- Both sides would see it to be of their advantage to minimize their own losses maximize the other side’s losses.
- Neither side releases their losses but we have enough transparency from the Ukrainian side to have confidence in they are indicative.
- Personnel losses are hard to count. If a soldier gets injured, heals up, and returns to the front line only to get injured again, is that one loss or two? Also, how to deal with losses from PMC’s or soldiers fighting with RF from occupied territories?
- Equipment losses are hard to count. If an AA complex involves several parts and one part gets disabled, is that a loss, or a fraction of a loss? If a tank gets disabled, repaired, back into the fight, then disabled again, is that one lost tank or two?
- All recorded losses are vulnerable to multiple reporting. We have already seen numerous cases of multiple drones in the air reporting the same loss from different angles as multiple engagements.
- Losses are not always reported on the same day they occurred. It is frequent that drone losses are reported at least 24 hours after other terrestrial equipment losses. Certain losses may not be reported for days or weeks for military intelligence reasons.
Russian Losses
🎦 00:47-03:31⏩
Jonathan highlights the staggering number of Russian losses reported by the Ukrainian General Staff, including 1,090 personnel, 44 tanks, 60 APVs, and 38 artillery systems. He acknowledges the figures might be slightly inflated but emphasises that even with a 30% reduction, the losses remain significant.
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Andrew Perpetua’s List & Downed Russian Aircraft
🎦 03:31-05:45⏩
Jonathan reviews the incomplete list of losses from Andrew Perpetua, noting the destruction of a Polish AHS Krab self-propelled howitzer and Russian BM-21 Grad MLRS. He highlights a downed Russian Su-24, likely due to friendly fire, and a damaged Su-34 at the Morozovsk airbase in Russia.
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Russian Friendly Fire & Ukrainian Trolling
🎦 05:45-06:20⏩
Jonathan elaborates on the accidental downing of the Russian Su-25 by Russian anti-aircraft fire. He humorously points out the Ukrainian Air Force Commander, Oleschuk's, tongue-in-cheek gratitude towards the Russians for their "well-coordinated actions".
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Destruction of Russian Thermobaric Vehicles & Targeting of Drone Operators
🎦 06:20-08:45⏩
Footage shows the destruction of two Russian TOS-1A thermobaric vehicles by Ukrainian forces, highlighting their vulnerability due to their short range. Jonathan discusses a Russian report claiming Ukrainian forces are effectively targeting Russian drone operators, leading to demoralisation and refusals to operate on the front lines. He links this to the recent HIMARS strike on a Russian SuperCam drone unit, emphasizing the loss of expertise and equipment.
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Quiet Night of Drone Attacks & Russian Stockpiling
🎦 08:45-10:13⏩
Jonathan reports a quiet night with all five Russian drones launched being intercepted, with no reported damage. He questions why Russia only deployed a small number, particularly given reports of stockpiling missiles and drones for future attacks, speculating on their strategic reasoning.
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Stara Kostantyniv Airbase
🎦 10:13-10:45⏩
Jonathan mentions a potential (unconfirmed) drone attack on the Stara Kostantyniv airbase in Ukraine, previously hit by Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, suggesting the drones were either targeting the base or probing Ukrainian air defenses.
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Challenging Winter Conditions & Ukrainian Fortifications
🎦 10:45-12:52⏩
Jonathan discusses the challenging winter conditions for both sides, highlighting the heavy mud and infestations of mice impacting trenches, dugouts, and even military vehicles. He cites Ukrainian sources suggesting they are preparing three lines of defensive fortifications in anticipation of a potential slowdown in Western weapons and financial aid.
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Growing Discontent Among Russian Wives & Girlfriends
🎦 12:52-14:18⏩
Jonathan points to a rise in complaints from wives and girlfriends of Russian soldiers about the war's impact, seeing it as a positive sign of growing internal pressure on the Russian government. He believes Ukrainian intelligence will likely try to amplify these voices. Jonathan suggests that if public discontent in Russia grows, similar to what happened during the Soviet-Afghan War, Putin might be forced to address it.
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Alexei Navalny Goes Missing
🎦 14:18-15:02⏩
Jonathan expresses concern over the disappearance of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been missing from prison for 13 days. Scheduled court appearances for Navalny have been suspended due to his unknown whereabouts.
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Addressing Pro-Kremlin Trolls & Morality
🎦 15:02-17:04⏩
Jonathan addresses the increase in pro-Kremlin trolls on his channel, challenging their motives and morality. He argues that those defending Russia's actions are either paid propagandists or morally bankrupt individuals attempting to justify a dictatorship that silences, imprisons, and eliminates dissenting voices like Navalny. He urges his viewers to challenge these voices by highlighting the lack of liberty and democratic values within Russia.
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Wiretap Found in Zaluzhny's Office
🎦 17:04-18:00⏩
Jonathan reports the discovery of a wiretap in the office of Valery Zaluzhny, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. While the investigation is ongoing, he speculates that the Russians, Ukrainian intelligence, or even foreign agencies could be responsible.
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Elon Musk, Twitter & Pro-Kremlin Narratives
🎦 18:00-22:27⏩
Jonathan discusses the news of a federal judge ordering Elon Musk to testify in an SEC investigation regarding his purchase of Twitter. He links this to concerns about the platform's role in promoting pro-Kremlin narratives. Jonathan defends his criticisms of Musk, emphasizing his influence and the platform's potential as a propaganda tool. He differentiates Twitter from TikTok, stating that while the latter is inherently pro-China, Twitter, being American-owned, should be held to a higher standard. Jonathan acknowledges previous suspensions from YouTube due to alleged misinformation, emphasizing his understanding of platform manipulation. He reiterates his concerns about Twitter being a deliberate tool for pro-Kremlin narratives rather than just a platform gamed by trolls.
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Russian MP's Disturbing Rhetoric & Deep State UK Analytical Note
🎦 22:27-24:48⏩
Jonathan highlights a Russian MP's disturbing comments urging Russians to have more babies and advocating for the elimination of Putin's critics. He connects these comments back to Navalny's disappearance and the repressive nature of the Russian regime. He then discusses an analytical note from Deep State UK emphasizing Russia's manpower advantage in the conflict, highlighting reports of Russian forces outnumbering Ukrainian troops by as much as 8 to 1 in certain areas.
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Wrap Up
🎦 24:48-25:58⏩
Jonathan concludes by urging viewers to support the channel through likes, subscriptions, and shares. He promotes his books, including the "Survival of the Fittest" series, "Metamorphosis," "Adaptation," and "A Word of the Day," differentiating between his fiction pen name, Johnny Pierce, and his non-fiction work published under his real name.
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