Newsletter 31/01/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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Ukrainian forces destroy Russian command post in Kursk region
Today, missile troops and artillery units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a command post of the Kursk Group of Forces of the Russian Armed Forces in the city of Rylsk, Kursk region. As a result of a precise and coordinated strike, the enemy's command post was destroyed
Ukraine’s Defense Forces destroy Russian Orlan drone launch site
In the Eastern operational war zone, fighters from the 14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Systems Regiment destroyed a Russian Orlan reconnaissance drone ground control point.
Drones attack oil refinery in Russia’s Volgograd region – media
A group of drones launched an attack on the oil refinery in Russia’s Volgograd region at nighttime on Friday, January 31.
"As a result of the debris from one of the UAVs falling on the territory of the oil refinery, a fire broke out, which was promptly extinguished. One worker of the refinery was hospitalized," local press quoted the governor of the region, Andrey Bocharov.
Ukraine's General Staff confirms strike on oil refinery in Volgograd region
Finland allocates new EUR 200M aid package to Ukraine
"This package of almost 200 million euros has been built in close cooperation with the Ukrainians. We are providing exactly the kind of support that will help Ukraine defend itself in an acute situation on the front," said Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen.
For operational security and to ensure the safe delivery of the aid, no specific details regarding its contents, delivery method, or schedule have been disclosed.
Ukrainian SOF confirm withdrawal of North Korean troops from Kursk region
The Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have confirmed that North Korean troops have been absent from Russia’s Kursk region for around three weeks.
War
Twenty American volunteer fighters gone missing in Ukraine since start of full-scale war - media
More than 20 American volunteer soldiers have gone missing in the war in Ukraine throughout the full-scale invasion, with the number of casualties having increased sharply over the past six months, and it is often difficult to repatriate the bodies.
Former captive Butkevych: Council of Europe and PACE leadership heard us
“We have observed that personal stories from people's own experience regarding the conditions of detainees have a significant impact. They are much more important than just the numbers in reports, which often include numerous zeros when discussing the number of detainees,” stated by the released human rights activist and journalist Maksym Butkevych following the special hearings of four PACE committees on the issue of detention of Ukrainian POWs and civilian hostages in Russia.
Russia using Ukrainian children as tool of war – Head of PACE Network on Situation of Ukrainian Children
Russian forces attacking frontline settlements in Zaporizhzhia region
Russia's war casualties in Ukraine up by 1,670 over past day
CCD refutes Russia's development of Iskander missile capable of flying 1,000 kilometers
Ukrainian defenders shoot down three Russian UAVs in Donetsk region
In the Novopavlivka sector, soldiers from the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after General-Corporal Marko Bezruchko shot down three Russia’s Zala reconnaissance drones.
Enemy drones attempted to conduct aerial reconnaissance of Ukrainian positions at various times. However, due to the skillful actions of the attack UAV pilots, the drones were successfully shot down
Defense
Missiles, drones, weapons production: Umerov details Sweden’s aid package
The funds from the Swedish military aid package will be directed to the production of weapons, missiles, drones, equipment, and ammunition.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov noted that $178 million will be allocated to support arms production in Ukraine under the Danish model, including $90 million for long-range missiles and drones. Additional CB90 combat boats will strengthen Ukraine’s fleet, while anti-tank missiles, trucks, ammunition, and other essential equipment for Ukraine’s defense.
Germany supplies Ukraine's National Guard with ten loader excavators/Video
Germany supplies Ukraine's National Guard with ten loader excavators
AI-powered drone platform to help demine Ukrainian farmlands
Air defense systems, missiles worth £2B: Govt submits bill to VR to ratify agreement with Britain
Czechia ready to pursue ammo purchases for Ukraine - Lipavsky
Politics
Zelensky, Nauseda discuss strengthening Ukraine's defense, security guarantees
Ukraine at OSCE calls for sanctions against defense industry enterprises in Belarus
Ukraine is calling on its partners to impose sanctions against Belarusian defense industry enterprises that help Russia fulfill its state defense order and thus kill Ukrainians.
Corruption scheme for sending Ukrainian soldiers to medical rehabilitation in Europe – Russian propaganda fake
Russian propaganda is spreading a fake video allegedly created by the UNITED24 Media platform, claiming that over 20,000 Ukrainian servicemen have undergone medical rehabilitation in Europe through a corruption scheme.
The video falsely claims that medical boards issued preferential referrals for rehabilitation abroad in exchange for bribes ranging from $1,000 and above.
According to the propagandists' version, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) allegedly has evidence of the involvement of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in this scheme.