Ukraine

The majority of Ukrainians prefer meeting friends, watching TV and social media in their free time. Young people are more likely to communicate and use social media, while older people watch TV and read more.

The European Council has extended economic sanctions against Russia for another 6 months until July 31, 2024 in response to Russia's actions to destabilize the situation in Ukraine. The sanctions, first introduced in 2014, have been significantly expanded since February 2022 and include restrictions on trade, finance, technology, industry, transportation and luxury goods.

The EU denies reports that it plans to impose financial sanctions on Hungary to force it to agree to fund aid to Ukraine.

Rheinmetall is building a new ammunition plant in Germany to ensure stable supplies to Ukraine. The plant will be built in record time over the next few months.

The Polish minister answered the question whether the government is considering imposing unilateral restrictions on imports from Ukraine if the decision of the European Commission, which may decide to extend the rules of trade liberalization with Ukraine this week, is not enough.

The Cabinet of Ministers has proposed changes to improve the Bureau of Economic Security, including clarifying the grounds for dismissal of the BES director, requiring polygraphs for appointments, and mandatory certification of deputies one year after the end of martial law. The draft law also aims to expand the BES's investigative powers in relation to certain financial crimes and limit inspections of private enterprises.

The Hungarian and Romanian politicians who have made statements about the annexation of parts of Ukraine are not representatives of the official authorities of their countries. Both governments support the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis preparations for the second Ukraine-Balkans summit, invited Greece to organize the Global Peace Summit, and informed him of Ukraine's defense needs, particularly in air defense and artillery. They also discussed unblocking €50 billion in EU aid to Ukraine.

South Korea will help Ukraine rebuild the Kozarovitsky Dam, which was damaged during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The $14 million project is part of South Korea's Peace and Solidarity Initiative for Ukraine.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto paid tribute to the fallen soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

A platoon commander in Odesa region demanded 4,000 hryvnias from soldiers for a day off. If they refused, he threatened them with problems with their service and physical violence.

Three men from Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhya and Sumy regions were detained by border guards in Chernivtsi region while trying to illegally cross the border with Romania on foot, hundreds of metres from the border. The men paid €6,000 each to a guide who remotely accompanied them.

On February 2, Ukrposhta will celebrate its 30th birthday. In honor of this event, the company will issue a new stamp dedicated to the exploits of postal workers during the war.

The russian federation is turning the occupied territories into ghettos where it is dangerous for Ukrainians to return home. Ivan Fedorov noted that russia allows only 10% of Ukrainians who are trying to visit relatives to pass through, while the property of the remaining 90% is promptly confiscated.

On Kruty Heroes Remembrance Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored the memory of those who died in the struggle for Ukraine's independence. He laid flowers at the memorial signs, emphasizing that all the heroes who sacrificed themselves for the sake of Ukraine's freedom have forever gone down in the nation's history.

The SBI has completed a pre-trial investigation against three Kyiv law enforcement officers who illegally detained a Swiss citizen and a Ukrainian for 6 days in March 2022.

US inspectors arrived in Kyiv to oversee and ensure accountability of US military assistance to Ukraine.

Over the past 5 years, more than 600 cases of bullying have been recorded in Ukrainian schools, and by 2022, more than 140 cases per year. After the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the number of cases almost halved.

An expert on possible abuses at the National Bank: how can we overcome Russia if we have not overcome ourselves.

According to British intelligence, from February 2022 to January 2023, Russia probably lost about 2,600 main battle tanks and 4,900 other armored vehicles in Ukraine. In 2023, Russia lost about 40% fewer armored vehicles than in 2022, likely due to more defensive positioning and the increasingly positional nature of the war.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto began talks in Uzhhorod aimed at normalizing Ukrainian-Hungarian relations.

In preparation for a possible russian attack on NATO countries, European militaries are calling for simplified bureaucratic procedures to allow for the rapid movement of troops and equipment between allies.

On the 106th anniversary of the battle near Kruti, Valeriy Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, honoured the memory of those who died in the fighting the Russian invaders in 1918. He drew parallels with the Ukrainian soldiers who today are again fighting the Russian invaders and defending the Russian occupiers. Russian invaders and defending Ukraine's freedom and independence.

Two former law enforcement officers were served suspicion notices for organizing the export and destruction of Berkut's "black company" weapons.

On the night of Monday, 29 January, Russian drones flew towards Ukraine's western border. The Ukrainian armed forces shot down all eight drones over the Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó will visit Ukraine's Zakarpattia region, where he is expected to meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and the head of the Presidential Administration Andriy Yermak. The purpose of the visit is to improve cooperation between Hungary and Ukraine.

Russia's Central Election Commission has registered Putin as a presidential candidate.

Ukraine and Germany have made progress in discussions on a security guarantee agreement. President Zelenskyy believes that a "powerful agreement" will be signed soon.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have stated that infantrymen are currently the most sought-after military specialists.

One person killed and three injured in a car collision in Chervonohrad.