"Tough" situation in Donbas, mandate revocation, and reaction to explosions in Iran: today's highlights

Resignation of mandates

According to media reports, MPs Nataliia Korolevska and her husband Yurii Solod, who were members of the banned “Opposition Platform – For Life”, have written letters of resignation of mandates. According to the NAPC, Korolevska illegally enriched herself by almost UAH 50 million, failed to indicate in her declaration that she had a land plot in the Moscow region, and may have evaded taxes.

Moreover, MP Oleh Voloshyn, who was also a member of the OPFL faction, resigned from his seat. Since February 24, he has missed all parliamentary meetings for which there is data. In 2022, the United States imposed sanctions against the MP “for assisting Russia in destabilizing Ukraine”.

Dmytro Pavlychko died

Ukrainian poet, translator, literary critic, and Sixtier Dmytro Pavlychko died at the age of 94. He was the author of the lyrics to the song “Two Colors”. He died this evening, January 29.

“Tough” situation at the front

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened a regular meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff, during which they “considered important intelligence information on the enemy's likely actions in the near future” and heard reports on the operational situation at the front.

Zelenskyy said that despite the losses, Russian occupation forces maintain a high intensity of attacks in Donetsk Oblast. The situation is “very tough”, and Russian assaults do not stop. However, Ukraine is doing everything “to ensure that our pressure still outweighs the occupiers' assault capabilities”.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the occupiers continue to conduct offensive actions on the Liman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Novopavlivka directions. In other areas, the Russians are defending their previously occupied positions.

What's going on in Iran?

According to The Wall Street Journal, Israel launched a drone strike on a defense complex in Iran on January 28. The newspaper points out that Tel Aviv, together with the United States, is looking for ways to curb Tehran's nuclear and military ambitions.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry called the explosion a “cowardly attack” and said that “such actions cannot affect the determination and intention of our experts for peaceful nuclear progress”.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, reacted to the explosions in Iran, saying that the war “bills on the authors and accomplices strictly”. The spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, Yurii Ihnat, said: “What is happening in Iran can only be called the consequences of their policy”.

Zelenskyy invites new Czech president to visit Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with newly elected Czech President Petr Pavel and invited him to visit Ukraine. Pavel assured Zelenskyy that Ukraine could continue to rely on the Czech Republic's support and thanked him for the invitation.

Other important news:

• Schoolchildren who are registered and reside in the temporarily occupied territory will be able to enter universities remotely without taking the National Multisubject Test.
• Three people died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Kniazhychi, Kyiv Oblast. According to preliminary data, the cause of death was the operation of a generator.
• German concern Rheinmetall says it can significantly increase the production of tank and artillery ammunition to meet the demands of Ukraine and the West. The company may also start producing HIMARS systems.
• Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has proposed that Germany donate submarines and an old frigate to the Ukrainian Defense Forces to help drive Russians out of the Black Sea.
• Tank crews from Ukraine arrived in the UK to begin training.