Ukraine

Border guards in Zakarpattia region detected a group of men who were trying to illegally cross the border with Hungary. The men were were hiding in the woods near the border with bags of essentials, having paid smugglers from 500 to 4000 USD to help them cross the border illegally. After the detention, the group was taken to draw up administrative reports.

The Netherlands proposes to return some Ukrainian refugees to the relatively safe western regions of Ukraine. The proposal was made by members of the Farmer-Citizen Movement party during the debate on the government's refugee budget. Other parties criticized the proposal, noting that rocket attacks are also taking place in western Ukraine.

At a summit on February 1, EU leaders will reaffirm their commitment to continue providing military support to Ukraine and emphasize the urgent need to speed up the supply of ammunition and missiles, according to a draft document obtained by Reuters.

Dutch authorities have arrested three people as part of an investigation into a smuggling network that circumvented sanctions against Russia. This was the result of cooperation between Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise of Ukraine and international journalists.

The Dutch government has announced €122 million in new military aid to Ukraine, including €87 million for artillery shells, €25 million for weapons, and €10 million to strengthen Ukraine's cyber defense.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Washington to prepare for the July NATO summit, where important decisions will be made to continue supporting Ukraine, strengthening NATO's defense and deterrence.

In 2023, Ukraine was ranked 104th out of 180 countries in the Global Corruption Perceptions Index, improving its position by 3 points and receiving 36 points out of 100. Over the past 10 years since the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine has added 11 points, the largest increase among the current EU candidate countries.

russian occupation forces attacked the Kharkiv region with drones on January 29, injuring one employee and damaging civilian buildings and residential homes. The Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into the violation of the laws and customs of war.

Russia's war against Ukraine continues and, so to speak, the intensity of hostilities is increasing, and "we see no light at the end of the tunnel," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. He emphasized the importance of protecting the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity and avoiding a world where "might makes right"

The total value of U. S. arms exports in 2023 reached a record $238 billion, up 16% from 2022. Of this amount, $80.9 billion was foreign military sales, up 55.9%, and $157.5 billion was direct commercial sales, up 2.5%. The growth is explained by the fact that countries are replenishing stocks sent to Ukraine and preparing for large-scale conflicts.

Ukraine and Germany held the second round of negotiations on a bilateral agreement on security commitments. The parties discussed terminology and legal formalities, and agreed to continue communication to finalize the agreement.

Russia is stepping up attacks on civilians in southern Ukraine, using drones and artillery. The situation remains tense.

According to Blinken, congressional approval of additional funding for Ukraine is vital to ensuring Ukraine's success and Russia's failure. Without it, Ukraine's achievements and what the U.S. has helped it achieve will be jeopardized.

Russia launched 35 Shaheed drones against Ukraine overnight, targeting frontline areas near the border and occupied territories. Ukrainian troops shot down 15 drones, most of which were aimed at frontline areas that are difficult to defend, rather than at Ukraine's interior.

Hostile shelling damaged equipment at a power substation in Dnipropetrovs'k region, causing localized power outages, but Ukraine has enough electricity, both generated and imported, to meet demand and no blackouts are currently planned. Shelling also caused lesser disruptions in Chernihiv and Donetsk regions.

Overnight, Russian troops attacked the town of Zmiiv in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, using six Shahed drones, damaging civilian buildings and wounding two people. More than 15 settlements in the region came under artillery and mortar fire from Russian troops over the past day.

Air defense forces practiced destroying drones on the night of January 30 in Kirovohrad region. There were no casualties.

The MHP-Hromada Charitable Foundation shares its plans for 2024, including continuing to support the military and veterans, investing in Ukrainian culture and cinema, and updating its flagship community development projects.

A Shahed drone launched by Russian troops hit an abandoned building in the Cherkasy region of Ukraine at night. Another Shahed drone was destroyed by Ukrainian defenders in the same region. No casualties were reported.

Russian troops attacked an enterprise in Kherson district using drones. Over the past day, Kherson region was shelled 67 times, killing 1 person and wounding 1

On January 30, the Defense Forces destroyed a Shahed-136 drone over Mykolaiv region. As the wreckage fell, a truck carrying sunflower seeds caught fire. The driver suffered a head injury.

Ukrainian Defense Forces shoot down 15 of the 35 Shahed drones that Russia launched overnight across Ukraine.

According to the General Staff of Ukraine, Russia's total losses as a result of the invasion since February 2022 amount to about 384,140 personnel, more than 6,300 tanks, 11,725 armored vehicles, 9,144 artillery systems, and hundreds of pieces of other military equipment. The report details the losses of Russian equipment in all categories.

According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, in February, the average monthly temperature throughout Ukraine is expected to range from 4° Celsius to 2° Celsius, which is 1-1. 5°C above normal in the southern/eastern regions and Crimea and close to normal in the rest of the country.

Italy has unveiled a €5. 5 billion investment plan to strengthen relations with Africa, seeking to boost energy ties and address migration flows.

The Estonian Center for International Development (ESTDEV) and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) have signed a partnership agreement to enhance the management capacity of the Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine and regional patrol police units.

EU ambassadors have agreed to use the proceeds of frozen Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine. This was reported by Belgium, which holds the presidency of the EU Council.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will visit Moldova and Poland from January 29 to February 1 to discuss further support for Ukraine. She plans to meet with high-ranking officials from both countries to discuss regional security issues and opportunities for further cooperation against threats from Russia and Belarus.

On the northern border with Russia, border guards record attempts by enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups to enter the territory of Ukraine. The most active area for the enemy subversive reconnaissance group is currently Sumy region. But there is also activity of hostile subversive reconnaissance groups in Kharkiv region. Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service, told this on the Frontline program

Zelenskyy said that the key task for 2023 for Ukraine is to maintain an advantage over Russia in drone operations. According to him, Ukraine must develop better drones to save soldiers' lives and stay ahead of Russian troops.