New military aid, extension of sanctions against Russia: highlights of the day

New military aid

The German government has announced new supplies for military support of Ukraine, including missiles for the IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system, trucks, tractors and other vehicles.

The Belgian government has decided to provide its largest military aid package to Ukraine, worth €92 million.

According to Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder, Ukraine will receive AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles, anti-tank weapons, Minimi machine guns, and SCAR automatic rifles.

Grenades, ammunition, and vehicles, including light armored vehicles will also be sent. The exact number of weapons provided is not disclosed for security reasons.

The Polish authorities decided to send 60 more tanks to Ukraine, in addition to the previously announced 14 Leopard 2 tanks.

Extension of sanctions against Russia

On January 27, the EU Council extended the sanctions imposed on Russia for six months — until July 31, 2023. The Council notes that sanctions were first imposed in 2014 in response to Russia's actions, and since February 2022 they have been significantly expanded due to Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine.

Missiles used by Russia

During the mass attack on January 26, Russia fired hypersonic X-47 Kinzhal missiles at targets in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhya, according to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat.

"They have few of these missiles, they are saving them to hit strategic targets. This time, the strategic target is one of the facilities in Zaporizhzhya and one of the energy infrastructure facilities in Kyiv," Ihnat said.

He noted that the Kinzhal flies on a ballistic trajectory, while the MiG-31K fighter jet delivers the missile to the upper atmosphere, launches it, and it flies at high speed when it hits the target.

Probable attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing a new offensive in Ukraine, which could begin as early as February or March. Thus, he wants to demonstrate that Russia can regain the initiative even though it has been losing it for several months, Bloomberg writes.

The publication notes that the Russian president is also preparing the country for a long-term war. In particular, Russia may hold a new wave of mobilization in the spring.

Other news:

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, to Bakhmut. This was his reaction to the fact that the committee recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be allowed to participate in the competition under a neutral flag;
• The "Shahed Hunter" anti-drone systems are already in Ukraine. They are currently protecting energy facilities from Russian drones, according to Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov;
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that his country would veto any European Union sanctions against Russia related to nuclear energy;
• the Cabinet at its meeting on January 27 approved the procedure for reserving persons liable for military service on the list of persons liable for military service during martial law;
• MP Mykola Tyshchenko was expelled from the Servant of the People parliamentary faction. The day before, he was also expelled from the eponymous political party.