Military aid from EU, 155-millimeter howitzers from Estonia, shelling of Sumy Oblast: today's highlights

EU chief diplomat confirms €500 million in military aid to Ukraine

The European Union's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, has confirmed that the EU Foreign Affairs Council has approved a new tranche of military aid to Ukraine in the amount of 500 million euros. This is reported by Suspilne with reference to the broadcast of a press conference following the meeting of the EU Council of Ministers.

“Today we have reached an agreement to provide the seventh tranche of military support with an additional 500 million US dollars and additional assistance measures worth 45 million US dollars for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are trained by our European Training Mission,” Borrell said.

Ukrainian MP becomes Vice President of the PACE

Olena Khomenko, MP from the Servant of the People party and representative of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, was elected Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Two more representatives of Ukraine were elected as committee chairpersons. This was reported by MPs from the Servant of the People party Mariia Mezentseva and Yevhenia Kravchuk.

“Olena [Khomenko] will be a member of the Assembly's bureau, which sets the agenda and influences many important decisions. She will also chair the meetings of the PACE in the near future,” Mezentseva said.

Mezentseva, who is the head of the Verkhovna Rada's permanent delegation to PACE, will head the Committee on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination. Kravchuk became the head of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education, and Media.

Russians shelled a house of a large family in Sumy Oblast

Russian occupation forces shelled the Esman community in Sumy Oblast and hit the house of a large family. The shelling killed a woman and injured two other people. This was reported by the head of the regional military administration Dmytro Zhyvytskyi.

Also, Russians fired at residential buildings and the railroad in Vorozhba, Sumy Oblast. They fired from cannon artillery, and 10 shells exploded in the center of the town, the head of the Regional Military Administration said.

Ukrainian Air Force destroys two Russian Su-25 attack aircraft and a Ka-52 helicopter

On January 23, anti-aircraft missile units of the Ukrainian Air Force destroyed two Russian Su-25 attack aircraft and a Ka-52 attack helicopter known as the Alligator in the eastern direction. This was reported by the Air Force Command.

In addition, Ukrainian defenders also destroyed two Kh-59 guided missiles and an Orlan-10 tactical-level drone. In total, 6 air targets were destroyed between 10:00 and 16:00 on January 23.

Estonia has handed over all its 155-millimeter howitzers to Ukraine

Estonia has handed over 155mm howitzers to Ukraine, as well as other weapons, including artillery shells and anti-tank grenade launchers. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Estonian government has approved the next and currently the largest package of military assistance to Ukraine, totaling 113 million euros. It includes:

• dozens of 155 mm FH-70 and 122 mm D-30 howitzers;
• thousands of 155 mm artillery shells;
• hundreds of M2 Karl-Gustaf anti-tank grenade launchers with ammunition;
• means of supporting artillery units.