January 24, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Tara Subramaniam, Jack Guy, Adrienne Vogt, Leinz Vales and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 11:20 a.m. ET, March 6, 2023
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5:29 a.m. ET, January 24, 2023

Ukrainian government shakeup shows President Zelensky "sees and hears" society, adviser says

From CNN’s Kostan Nechyporenko

Recent changes to “personnel” within Ukraine's government prove that President Volodymyr Zelensky “sees and hears society," according to a presidential adviser.

“Zelensky��s personnel decisions testify to the key priorities of the state... No ‘blind eyes’,” tweeted Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Head of the Office of President of Ukraine.

“During the war, everyone should understand their responsibility. The President sees and hears society. And he directly responds to a key public demand – justice for all…” 

Earlier Tuesday, it was announced that Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, a deputy prosecutor general, and Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff had tendered their resignations and been dismissed. 

Deputy defense minister Viacheslav Shapovalov resigned after allegations of corruption surfaced in the media.

5:14 a.m. ET, January 24, 2023

Berlin to decide on Leopard tank delivery to Ukraine "very soon," defense ministry says

From CNN's Inke Kappeler and Claudia Otto

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a joint news conference at the Defence Ministry in Berlin, Germany, on January 24.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a joint news conference at the Defence Ministry in Berlin, Germany, on January 24. (Annegret Hilse/Reuters)

Germany will "very soon" decide whether to allow delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Tuesday.

“We are preparing our decision and it will come very soon,“ Pistorius said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday.

If the decision is taken to send the tanks, Germany will be able to “act very soon,” added Pistorius.

He defended Germany from criticism for holding off on sending the tanks, saying they are not the only ones weighing up the decision. 

There are some partners who are still evaluating, this is a process,” he explained.

Germany would not stand in the way if other nations started training Ukrainian soldiers on Leopard tanks, he added.

“We don't stand in the way of starting the training right away, but we can't do that until we've made a decision about how to handle the Leopard delivery,” Pistorius said.

5:10 a.m. ET, January 24, 2023

Russia proposes electronic registration for border crossing slots, state media reports

From CNN’s Anna Chernova

Russian lawmakers have drafted a bill requiring citizens to register online to book a specific date and time for crossing the country's borders, state news agency TASS reported Tuesday, citing an official document at their disposal.

The amendments to the transport law were prepared by Yevgeny Moskvichev, head of the State Duma Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development, according to TASS. 

“The passage of vehicles belonging to Russian carriers, foreign carriers, citizens of Russia, foreign citizens, stateless persons, and others on sections of highways in order to cross the state border of the Russian Federation is carried out on a reserved date and time in accordance with the procedure established by the government of the Russian Federation," reads the draft of the bill, reports TASS.

The amendments also introduce new measures of controlling the arrival of vehicles on the reserved date and time, and equipping checkpoints with means that would allow the forced stopping of vehicles, according to state news agency RIA Novosti. 

In September, the announcement of a "partial mobilization" sparked an exodus from Russia as military-age men fled the country rather than risk being conscripted, with video footage showing long lines of traffic at land border crossings into several neighboring countries, as well as surging airfares and sold-out flights.

5:03 a.m. ET, January 24, 2023

Poland says it has formally requested the transfer of German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine

From CNN’s Antonia Mortensen

Members of the Bundeswehr's Panzerbataillon 393 stand next to two Leopard 2 A7V battle tanks on September 15, 2021 in Bad Frankenhausen, Germany.
Members of the Bundeswehr's Panzerbataillon 393 stand next to two Leopard 2 A7V battle tanks on September 15, 2021 in Bad Frankenhausen, Germany. (Jens Schlueter/Getty Images)

Poland has officially requested the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Polish defense minister Mariusz Blaszczak said Tuesday.

The Germans have already received our request for consent to the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine,” he said on Twitter. 

“I also appeal to the German side to join the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks. This is our common cause, because it is about the security of the whole of Europe!” he urged.

CNN has asked Germany for confirmation.

5:00 a.m. ET, January 24, 2023

NATO chief confident’ decision on Leopard tanks for Ukraine will be reached "soon"

From CNN’s Allegra Goodwin in London

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attends a joint press conference at the Defense Ministry in Berlin, Germany, on January 24.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attends a joint press conference at the Defense Ministry in Berlin, Germany, on January 24. (Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that he is “confident” a decision on sending German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine will be made soon. 

Speaking to reporters at a news conference alongside new German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin Monday, Stoltenberg said the much debated issue was discussed during a meeting between the two earlier. 

Consultations among allies will continue and I’m confident that we will have a solution soon,” he added.

At a meeting at the US' Ramstein air base in Germany on Friday, Berlin failed to reach an agreement with key Western partners on providing the tanks to Ukraine ahead of a potential Russian spring offensive in the war.

According to German law, weapons intended for warfare that are manufactured in the country cannot be re-exported without the federal government’s approval. 

4:40 a.m. ET, January 24, 2023

Ukraine's deputy defense minister resigns amid corruption allegations

From CNN’s Kostan Nechyporenko 

Ukraine’s deputy defense minister Viacheslav Shapovalov has resigned after allegations of corruption surfaced in the media.

Shapovalov submitted his resignation after a “campaign of accusations related to the procurement of food supply (to the Armed Forces of Ukraine),” according to a statement from the ministry, which described the allegations as “unfounded and baseless.” 

The minister was responsible for the logistics of the Armed Forces, the statement said. 

On Monday, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine said that it was investigating “high-profile media reports about possible abuses by the Ministry of Defense in the procurement of food for the military.” 

In his resignation letter, Shapovalov said he was leaving so as not to distract from the war effort.

“Due to the large public outcry, which was largely provoked by unsubstantiated manipulations around the issue of supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there are risks of destabilizing the army supply processes. This is unacceptable during the war with Russia," reads the letter.

"In this situation, the priority is to ensure the stable work of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and to create conditions for transparent, unbiased inspections by law enforcement and other authorized bodies.” 

4:03 a.m. ET, January 24, 2023

UK Defense Ministry says Russian general "likely" dismissed from key role in Ukraine

From CNN's Radina Gigova

A top Russian general who oversaw a withdrawal of Moscow's forces from Ukraine's southern Kherson region two months ago has "likely" been dismissed as a key operational commander in the war, according to Britain's Ministry of Defence.

In an intelligence update on Twitter, the UK ministry said Gen. Col. Mikhail Teplinsky "was the officer on the ground in charge of Russia's relatively successful withdrawal from the west of the Dnipro [River] in November 2022, and he has received praise in Russia as a capable and pragmatic commander."

It remains unclear whether Teplinsky will retain his additional remit as head of Russia's Airborne Forces (VDV), the UK ministry added. 

"There is a realistic possibility that debate over the tasks VDV has been given has contributed to his dismissal: VDV has often been employed in ground holding roles traditionally given to the mechanized infantry," the UK ministry said.

The UK ministry said Teplinsky's removal could be a sign of discord within the Russian military hierarchy amid Moscow's faltering campaign following the appointment of Gen. Valery Gerasimov as overall commander earlier in January. 

"Teplinsky's dismissal is likely another symptom of continued divisions within the senior hierarchy of Russia's operation as General Valery Gerasimov attempts to impose his personal authority on the campaign," the ministry said.

CNN hasn't been able to independently verify the UK ministry's claims. 

1:58 a.m. ET, January 24, 2023

Here's Tymoshenko's resignation notice in full

In a post on Telegram announcing his resignation, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said he was "grateful to all Ukrainians for their trust in our work."

Here's a translation of his statement:

"I am grateful to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, for his trust and the opportunity to do good deeds every day and every minute.
"I am grateful to every head of the regional military administrations. Together we have managed to build the most powerful team in the country. You are really cool. You are real warriors of light!
"I thank the mayors of the cities. For being constructive in disputes.
"Thanks to the cool team of the Directorate for Regional Policy of the Presidential Office. Without you, nothing would have happened.
"I am grateful to all Ukrainians for their trust in our work.
"Thank you to the Armed Forces for protecting and defending our country.
"I thank my wife and son. For understanding and support.
"Honored!
"See you soon."

Tymoshenko did not specify a reason for his resignation in his Telegram post.

The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Tymoshenko's resignation on Tuesday, a day after the president had signaled there would be changes to “personnel” within the Ukrainian government, without naming specifically affected people.

3:17 a.m. ET, January 24, 2023

Top Ukrainian official Kyrylo Tymoshenko steps down

From CNN's Kostan Nechyporenko and Irene Nasser

Deputy head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko speaks to the press at the scene of the fatal helicopter crash in Brovary, Ukraine, on January 18.
Deputy head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko speaks to the press at the scene of the fatal helicopter crash in Brovary, Ukraine, on January 18. (Ukrinform/Shutterstock)

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, has resigned from his post, according to a statement posted on his official Telegram account Tuesday. 

Tymoshenko shared a photo of his resignation notice and said: "I would like to ask you to dismiss me from the post of Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine at my own request."  

In his statement, Tymoshenko thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, heads of regional military administrations and mayors, and his wife and son. 

“I am grateful to all Ukrainians for their trust in our work,” he added.

Tymoshenko did not specify a reason for his resignation in his Telegram post.

Zelensky's office confirmed Tymoshenko's resignation on Tuesday, a day after the president had signaled there would be changes to “personnel” within the Ukrainian government, without naming specifically affected people.

“There are also personnel decisions —  some today, some will be made tomorrow —  regarding managers of various levels in government ministries and other central government agencies, in the regions, and in the law enforcement system,” Zelensky said during his nightly address.