Britain's tank pledge and a citizenship stripping: Ukraine in mid-January 2023
A look back at the political developments reported in the days before 15 January 2023, from London's armour commitment to Kyiv's treason-related decision on Viktor Medvedchuk.
What had changed in Ukraine's political and military landscape by 15 January 2023? Reports from the preceding days pointed to decisions in London, Kyiv and Yerevan.
Britain commits tanks
On 14 January 2023, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that the United Kingdom would send 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks. London would also supply 30 self-propelled AS-90 howitzers. The British Armed Forces would train Ukrainian troops to operate the tanks.
Medvedchuk loses citizenship
Four days earlier, on 10 January 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky removed the Ukrainian citizenship of the pro-Kremlin politician Viktor Medvedchuk. Three other people were also stripped of citizenship. The charge was high treason.
A postponement in Armenia
The same day, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that joint military exercises with the Russian Armed Forces under the Collective Security Treaty Organization would be postponed this year. He cited the organization's refusal to condemn Azerbaijan over the disputes.
Taken together, these reports from 10 to 14 January 2023 show a mix of Western military support for Ukraine, a domestic legal move against a prominent pro-Kremlin figure, and a postponement of drills between Armenia and Russia within the regional security bloc.
