Germany is to deliver Leopard 2 tanks in March, Ukrainian military destroyed Russian Su-25 aircraft: today's highlights
Germany has promised that the first Leopard 2 A6s will arrive in Ukraine at the end of March. The Ukrainian military also destroyed a Russian Su—25 attack aircraft and an Orlan drone on February 7. Four Ukrainians were injured in an earthquake in Turkey. We have collected the key news for today.
First Leopard 2s from Germany to arrive in Ukraine at the end of March
Germany has promised that the first Leopard 2 A6s will arrive in Ukraine at the end of March. This was reported on Twitter by the German Federal Ministry of Defense.
In total, Germany has announced the transfer of 14 Leopard 2 tanks. In addition, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed that Ukraine will receive approximately 80 Leopard A1 tanks by the end of 2023. In total, it is planned to supply more than 100 units.
Also, according to the website of the German Ministry of Defense, German companies may transfer up to 178 more Leopard 1 A5 tanks to Ukraine.
Success of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
On February 7, the aviation of the Defense Forces struck seven times at the areas where the occupiers and their hardware were concentrated, as well as twice at the positions of anti-aircraft missile systems. The Ukrainian military also destroyed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft and an Orlan drone. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a summary as of 18:00 on February 7.
Four Ukrainians were injured in an earthquake in Turkey
Four Ukrainians were injured in an earthquake in Turkey. The Turkish side also reported two allegedly dead Ukrainian citizens – the Ukrainian embassy is currently verifying this information. This was announced by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleh Nikolenko.
The four victims suffered minor injuries. There are no threats to their lives and they do not need hospitalization. The victims were provided with temporary housing and food.
In total, Ukrainian diplomats have already found 38 Ukrainian citizens. Ukrainian representatives are also working with Turkish rescue services to find the other 19 Ukrainians who have not been in touch.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is also preparing to send Ukrainian consuls to the city of Gaziantep, located near the epicenter of the earthquake. According to Nikolenko, the embassy's diplomats will be able to arrive in the disaster zone when the situation allows amid the declared state of emergency in Turkey.
Verkhovna Rada supports draft law on transparency in defense procurement
The Verkhovna Rada has passed in the first reading a draft law that proposes to make defense procurement more open and transparent. This was reported by MPs Yaroslav Zhelezniak and Oleksii Honcharenko.
The corresponding draft law No. 8381 was supported by 290 MPs. The MPs propose to make public in the Prozorro system the prices at which defense customers purchase goods for the military, and other goods and services to support the army.
Government supports appointment of new heads of three regional administrations
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has supported the draft presidential decrees on the appointment of new heads of regional state administrations. This was reported by the government's Telegram channel and the Cabinet's permanent representative in the Verkhovna Rada, Taras Melnychuk.
The following appointments were approved:
- Serhii Petrovych Lysak as the Head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration;
- Yurii Anatoliiovych Malashko as the Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration;
- Oleksandr Serhiiovych Prokudin as the Head of Kherson Regional State Administration.