POW release, new mechanisms to protect military rights, and U.S. assistance. Serhiy Zgurets' column

POW release

Today is a good day, thanks to some incredible news. First, 189 Ukrainian prisoners of war, who had been held in Russian captivity for a long time, returned to Ukraine on December 30. Among them are military defenders from Azovstal, Mariupol, the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, and Zmiinyi Island. The group includes National Guardsmen, Navy personnel, and members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They endured the horrors of Russian captivity, but they are finally home.

Every time I look at their faces, I can’t help but think about the hardships they endured during months — sometimes years — of captivity and the incredible joy of their return, especially on New Year’s Eve.

Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy

On protecting the rights of servicemen and their families

The second piece of news is about safeguarding the rights of Ukraine's military personnel. Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decision establishing the position of Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemen and Their Families. Olha Reshetylova, a well-known human rights activist and volunteer respected by journalists, volunteers, and those advocating for the rights of Ukrainian servicemen, has been appointed to this role.

I hope Olha Reshetylova will help bring more fairness to the army. Since 2022, appeals to the Commissioner for Human Rights have risen sharply — from about 300 in 2022 to 800 in 2023, and over 1,000 in the first 11 months of 2024.

Most complaints focus on rights violations by military units or their leadership. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensuring justice in the army and maintaining the stability of the Ukrainian society. I trust that Olha Reshetylova will handle this new and highly responsible role with dedication, serving the interests of military personnel and their families.

Military aid from the U.S.

The third piece of good news is about military aid from the U.S. President Joe Biden has announced a new $2.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine. For context, the largest aid package in history was $6 billion.

The $2.5 billion is split into two parts: $1.25 billion comes from the Pentagon's reserves, meaning weapons and equipment that can be quickly transferred to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. This includes missiles and systems for air defense, ammunition, anti-tank weapons, the Hawk medium-range air defense system, and a substantial number of armored vehicles urgently needed on the battlefield.

The second part — $1.22 billion — goes to USAI (Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative). This money is earmarked for producing new weapons. It funds contracts with American weapons manufacturers who will either replace the U.S. arsenals already sent to Ukraine or build weapons specifically for Ukraine’s forces.

The weapons and funding allocated for Ukraine under contracts have already been largely used. From what’s left, about $2.5 billion worth could be sent later. It’s hoped that in January, the Biden administration will push to ensure the maximum amount of aid gets directed to Ukraine’s Armed Forces or to contracts with American companies producing weapons for delivery in 2025-2026.

The situation at the front

Now let’s move to what’s happening at the front. This is where both weapons and critical decisions shape Ukraine's defense. One key area where Ukrainian military is showing resilience and even counterattacking is the Bakhmut direction — specifically, the defense of Chasiv Yar.

Ivan Petrychak, from the press service of Ukraine's 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Chasiv Yar, reported that Russian assaults happen daily. During these assaults, Russian forces don’t just rely on small arms — they actively use artillery.

The situation in Chasiv Yar, in the area held by the 24th Mechanized Brigade, is extremely challenging. The invading Russian troops haven’t abandoned their plans, still attempting to cross the canal and escalate into small-arms battles. Ukrainian defenders continue holding them back, while Russian forces are putting in significant effort. Previously, it was noted that the 98th Russian Division, composed of at least two brigades, was operating here. Now, it’s clear Russian troops are replenishing their losses and reinforcing with new assault detachments and battalions. They’re steadily building up forces to intensify their attacks.

According to Petrychak, the frequency of Russian assaults has risen compared to recent weeks. They often rely on small groups working in coordination — sometimes up to five groups attacking simultaneously. These assaults are constant and on a massive scale.

Petrychak also mentioned that the situation around the refractory plant hasn’t changed significantly. Russia views this plant as a strategic site they could use for fortifications and as a staging area for further attacks on the city. They’re deploying numerous drones, dropping bombs, and using heavy artillery. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian forces continue to hold both the plant and the brigade’s defensive lines.

Petrychak noted that Russian troops lean heavily on infantry for their assaults, but they also bring in armored vehicles. Occasionally, they use large numbers of heavy vehicles. In a recent attack, Ukrainian defenders destroyed seven of these vehicles. The invading forces use both wheeled and tracked vehicles, but each attempt ends in losses for them. Ukrainian forces are employing highly effective methods, though these won’t be discussed further — this is something Russian troops will experience firsthand on the battlefield.

Weapons and technology

There’s good news — a German drone is currently being tested at a Ukrainian test site. This anti-aircraft drone, developed by the German company Tytan, is designed to hunt down Russian Shahed, Orlan, and ZALA drones. Preliminary tests conducted on December 11 in Germany confirmed its ability to intercept high-speed targets. Follow-up tests are now underway to verify whether it can reliably destroy Shaheds.

The drone is compact, weighing just 5 kg, with a warhead weighing 1 kg. It can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h, making it fast enough to intercept Shaheds and other drones. The German drone is launched from a container, creating a flexible deployment system. These containers can be positioned along the routes of Russian drones or even mounted on armored vehicles.

Discussions are ongoing about collaborating with Ukrainian enterprises for joint production of the drone. Another key topic is combining Ukraine’s advancements in artificial intelligence — which enable the drone to automatically target and attack enemies even under electronic warfare — with German expertise. This could result in an effective and versatile system. The focus now is on creating the conditions to expand production as quickly as possible, securing funding, and ensuring these drones are soon part of Ukrainian Defense Forces’ arsenal.