Deadly strike on Kramatorsk, expansion of Ukrainian Armed Forces training: last night's highlights
Russian troops shelled a residential high—rise building in Kramatorsk, the EU wants to significantly expand its training mission for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the occupiers intensified their offensive in Donbas. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.
Deadly strike on Kramatorsk
On the evening of February 1, a Russian missile hit a residential apartment building located in the center of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast. As of the morning, two people were reported dead, and 21 others sought medical assistance, including eight who had to be hospitalized.
The regional authorities reported that at least two people are still trapped under the rubble. The search and rescue operation continues. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would find and punish all those responsible: "They deserve no mercy."
Situation in Donbas
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian occupation forces have further intensified their offensive in the east, and the situation is "getting even tougher."
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar stated that the enemy is trying to expand the geography of the offensive on the Lyman axis and is making powerful attempts to break through the Ukrainian defense. She said that despite heavy losses, the Russians continue their offensive on the Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Novopavlivka axes.
Malyar emphasized that the Ukrainian military are trying to hold the line and "defend every inch of Ukrainian land in the face of the enemy's superiority in the number of soldiers and weapons."
Expansion of EU training mission
The European Union plans to double the size of its training mission for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to train 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers instead of 15,000, German media report. The training is to take place in Germany, Poland and other EU countries.
New arms package from US
The Wall Street Journal writes that the United States may announce the next package of military aid to Ukraine as early as February 3. It is expected to include GLSDB precision long-range rockets with a range of 150 kilometers.
The package is also expected to include support equipment for Patriot air defense systems, as well as precision munitions and Javelin anti-tank weapons.
Armored personnel carriers from Spain
Spain will send 20 M113 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine on February 6, as part of its military assistance. This tracked armored personnel carrier is in service with the mechanized forces of the US Army and many other armies.
Other news:
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he is considering providing military assistance to Kyiv, including the Iron Dome air defense system. After these words, Russia threatened Tel Aviv.
- Law enforcers sent to court the case of the former head of the Kharkiv regional council Artur Tovmasyan, his deputy and lawyer, who are accused of taking a million-dollar bribe.
- Russian troops shelled four communities in Sumy Oblast over the past day, resulting in 129 hits in the region.
- Turkish President Recep Erdogan reacted skeptically to the decision of Western countries to provide Ukraine with modern tanks: "Only arms barons will benefit."
- The SBU detains an employee of one of the leading Ukroboronprom enterprises who was working for Russia. The special service claims that it prevented him from passing classified information to the occupiers.
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