**Russian Storm Ossetia Battalion Chief of Staff Killed in Ukrainian Drone Attack**
Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported on January 5 that the Ukrainian Kraken unit killed Sergei Melnikov, the chief of staff of Russia’s Storm Ossetia battalion. The attack occurred in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast in late December.
According to HUR, the Ukrainian military had planned the ambush using FPV drones in advance. They obtained details of Melnikov’s route and schedule, allowing them to carry out a successful drone attack. Melnikov and his driver were traveling along the Vasylivka-Tokmak highway on December 29 when they were hit.
The attack involved a kamikaze drone that struck the windshield of the vehicle. HUR released footage showing the attack, but The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
**Ukrainian Forces Down Drones and Kill Russian Soldiers**
In other news, Ukrainian forces downed 61 out of 103 drones launched by Russia overnight. This included Shahed-type drones. Another 42 drones were lost in the attack. Russian forces also suffered 1,730 casualties over the past day.
A Russian missile struck a home in Chernihiv on January 3, killing Oleksii Halionka, a 72-year-old Ukrainian educator and philologist.
**Georgian Citizens Urge Nationwide Strike**
Georgian citizens are being urged to participate in a nationwide strike on January 15. The protest is calling for the release of detained protestors and new elections.
**Russian Commander in Critical Condition**
Russian commander Konstantin Nagayko, who was involved in the 2023 missile strike on Hroza, is in critical condition after an explosion.
**Chancellor Scholz to Visit Moscow?**
Germany‘s defense spokesperson Roderich Kiesewetter said that Chancellor Scholz may travel to Moscow and meet Putin before February 23.
**Russian Forces Suffer Heavy Losses**
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russian forces lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian paratroops in battles near the village of Makhnovka in Kursk region.
Russian forces also carried out strikes using glide bombs on high-rise buildings in Transnistria, leaving 1,500 buildings without heating or hot water.
**Slovakia Continues to Supply Electricity**
Slovakia’s transmission system operator SEPS said it will continue supplying electricity to Ukraine as part of an emergency assistance contract.
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