Ukraine Invasion: Part 53

[MagicFox]

Welcome to 53 and, as always, Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

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A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

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UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

🇳🇴 The Norwegian Foreign Ministry confirmed President Zelenskyy’s statement that Norwegian diplomats came under fire in Odesa on the evening of January 31. They are currently safe.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused the Czech Republic of interfering in Slovakia’s internal affairs, a claim Prague dismissed as “absurd,” TASR reports.

Russian gas exports to Europe via the TurkStream pipeline hit a record high in January, reaching 50 million cubic meters per day, Reuters reports.
Following the expiration of the Russia-Ukraine gas transit agreement on January 1, TurkStream remains the only route for Russian gas exports to Europe.
Data from European gas transport group Entsog shows that Russian gas exports via TurkStream increased by 26.8% year-on-year, rising from 39.9 million cubic meters per day in January 2024 to 50.6 million cubic meters per day this year.
This surge brought the total Russian gas supply to Europe in January to 1.57 billion cubic meters, compared to 1.24 billion cubic meters in January 2024 and 1.54 billion cubic meters in December.
In 2024, total Russian gas exports to Europe reached 32 billion cubic meters, up from 28.3 billion in 2023, but still significantly lower than the 63.8 billion cubic meters exported in 2022.

North Koreans are faking tuberculosis diagnoses to avoid being sent to fight in Russia, Newsweek reports.
Families are paying more than 100 times the average monthly salary for fake medical certificates. The cost of bribing hospital staff has risen from $100 last year to $500 as more parents try to protect their sons. Given that a North Korean civil servant earns just $3 to $6 per month, this is an enormous sum.
North Korea already has one of the highest tuberculosis rates in the world, with 513 cases per 100,000 people, according to WHO estimates for 2023.
A resident of Ryanggang Province told Radio Free Asia that many fear they will never see their sons again if they are sent to Russia.
A captured North Korean soldier told Ukrainian officials that he had no idea he was being deployed to Russia and didn’t even know whom he was fighting. Back home, the regime reportedly issues false death certificates, claiming soldiers died in “sacred combat training in honor of the homeland” rather than revealing the real circumstances of their deaths.
Many North Koreans are now questioning why they are fighting Ukraine instead of the United States, the enemy they have been taught to fear since childhood. “Who is our enemy? Why do we have a new enemy?” one Ryanggang resident asked.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff report that Pyongyang is preparing to send more troops to Russia, with the Institute for the Study of War predicting another deployment as early as mid-March. Current estimates suggest North Korea is losing 45,000 soldiers per month in combat.
North Korea has a standing army of 1.3 million, the fourth largest in the world, with an additional 7.6 million reservists. To maintain its force, men must serve for 10 years, while women serve for five. [There are a couple of questionable statements in this - 45k soldiers per month? ]

The Russian military command is preparing for long-term operations lasting six to nine months, as Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin appears unwilling to end the war against Ukraine and is relying on a “creeping offensive,” according to a report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts note that since the winter of 2023-2024, Russian forces have been gradually pushing Ukrainian troops from the eastern bank of the Oskil River. However, the offensive on the Kupiansk-Borova-Lyman line was previously deprioritized in favor of other operations in Ukraine.
The report states that the encirclement of Kupyansk is likely to take several months and will require Russian troops to cover 25-30 kilometers, cross the Oskil River, seize multiple settlements, and repel Ukrainian counterattacks.
ISW suggests that Russian military leadership is not focused on speed but rather on sustaining the war until Ukraine suffers a military defeat. Russian forces have spent four months capturing Avdiivka, most of 2024 leveling the front in western Donetsk region, and three years advancing in Donetsk and Luhansk. This slow pace suggests that the Kremlin has no intention of stopping hostilities.
Putin has previously promoted a theory of gradual victory, claiming that Russian troops can continue advancing without a fixed timeline. He has repeatedly dismissed negotiations unless they meet his conditions.
The report explains that slow advance tactics require significant planning, resources, and manpower. They rely on encirclement and the gradual displacement of Ukrainian forces rather than rapid mechanized breakthroughs. However, these operations demand a large number of armored vehicles, artillery, and troops.
Despite this approach, Russian losses in 2024 have been substantial, particularly in tanks and armored vehicles, raising doubts about whether Moscow can sustain its offensive over time. The depletion of Soviet-era equipment reserves is also making it harder to supply the army.
Additionally, Russia’s monthly mobilization rate appears to be equal to or lower than its losses, with some regions failing to meet quotas as more citizens resist conscription.
The ISW concludes that Russia’s ability to maintain a slow offensive without major strategic breakthroughs depends on whether it can replenish manpower and equipment. Otherwise, it will face depletion of its own resources in the medium and long term.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Overnight, Putin’s forces attacked Ukraine with 55 UAVs of various types. Air defenses managed to shoot down 40 targets, while another 13 decoy drones disappeared from radar.
Kharkiv and Sumy regions were hit in the attack. There is destruction.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Trump’s special envoy Kellogg stated that the U.S. has a “good, reliable plan” to end the war in Ukraine
He emphasized that resolving Russia’s war against Ukraine aligns with U.S. national security interests, highlighting Moscow’s alliances with Iran, North Korea, and China.
However, Kellogg clarified that his team will seek to ensure that the U.S. maintains “leverage” over both Russia and Ukraine

The U.S. wants Ukraine to hold elections by the end of the year, Reuters reports.
According to the media outlet, the winner of the election would be responsible for negotiating a long-term peace agreement with Moscow. The report also states that Ukrainian officials have dismissed discussions about elections in their talks with Washington in recent months.

Trump-Putin talks about the war without Ukraine are very dangerous, says President Zelensky in an interview with Associated Press. Key points:
🔵On January 31, Trump stated that he is engaged in “very serious discussions” with Russia about ending the war but did not explain what he meant. Zelensky said that while Russia and the U.S. can have their own relations, talking about Ukraine without Ukraine is “dangerous for everyone.”
🔵The Ukrainian side has already made contact with Trump’s administration, but the discussions were at a general level. Personal meetings are expected soon.
🔵Zelensky wants both the U.S. and the European Union to be involved in peace negotiations.
🔵The visit of Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, to Kyiv, which was supposed to take place in early January, was postponed “for legal reasons.”
🔵Ukraine supports the idea of European peacekeepers, but only as one of many security options, not the only one. The best solution remains NATO membership.

The video shows the Bristol Hotel building, which suffered significant destruction due to a missile strike on Odesa’s historic center on January 31
In total, around 15 cultural heritage sites were damaged. t.me/liveukraine_media/28565

❗️As a result of Russia’s strike on a boarding facility in the city of Sudzha, Kursk oblast, four people have been killed, and four others are in critical condition.
According to the General Staff, as of 10:00 PM, rescue operations are still underway to clear the debris and provide assistance to the affected civilians.

What are the foreseeable effects of these high trade tariffs imposed? Will the other countries retaliate? and why Canada? Are more coming?

Isn't this going to isolate the US and make it actually poorer? What's Trump's game here, to make less educated US citizens resent the rest of the world and turn inwards to themselves?

This is worth a read but not sure if it answers your question because my head is spinning at the moment with all that's happening. I honestly think his primary motivation is revenge, toddler rage at having been reprimanded and shamed by the system which he now intends to destroy. So he's not even particularly concerned with the effects, he's just in destruct mode for his own satisfaction. And that ego of his is being used by Musk and co who are similarly bent on disruption for its own sake.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-1-2025?sfnsn=scwspwa

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-1-2025

Key Takeaways:

• Russian forces conducted a large-scale series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of January 31 to February 1.
• A recent Russian drone strike on a Ukrainian naval drone suggests that Russian forces have developed a new method to offset Ukrainian capabilities in the Black Sea.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk, and Kurakhove.

The trouble is we need to pray for Trump's survival, because if he dies we get Vance, and he is worse than Trump because he's less infantile. Though he may be pro-Ukraine if it fits with the rest of his plans.

Thank you @heldinadream

The U.S. wants Ukraine to hold elections by the end of the year, Reuters reports. According to the media outlet, the winner of the election would be responsible for negotiating a long-term peace agreement with Moscow.

Why should Ukraine hold elections if they’re not due to hold elections. This seems extraordinarily intrusive of Trump’s administration. Almost as if they want to get rid of Zelenskyy. I wonder if this suggestion has come from the Kremlin.

Vance worries me much more than Trump. Smarter but we don’t know his agenda. We only know that he’s backed by a shadowy South African born ultra libertarian billionaire. None of that is reassuring.

Vance's wife seems intelligent? <clutching at straws>

Why should Ukraine hold elections if they’re not due to hold elections
Technically elections would have been due in 2023 if it were not for the declaration of martial law following the invasion. Nothing wrong with that, by the way, it's not unusual to suspend elections while a country faces an existential threat. The UK did not hold general elections during the two world wars - in the case of the latter there were no elections for 10 years.

Ultimately only Ukrainians have the right to demand elections, and there appears to be no appetite for regime change.

https://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democracy-and-society/elections-in-times-of-war-6980/

I know. As does Vance. Intelligence is not the issue in that family. Wives have been misled about their husband’s morality before.

Live:Ukraine

🔹 NATO Secretary General: Ukraine will not lose the war, we must help it become stronger.

He also emphasized that the West must not show weakness, stating:

“Otherwise, Russia might attempt something—as it already did in Ukraine.”

Rutte urged leaders not to be naive when it comes to long-term peace with Russia.

“Let’s not be naive about Putin. Just look at what happened in Bucha. If a peace agreement is reached, it must be lasting. We must ensure that he never, ever again conquers even a single square kilometer of Ukraine,” the NATO Secretary General declared.

🇪🇸 Spanish Foreign Minister: Only Zelensky talks about peace, while Putin talks about war.

When asked about the possibility of a U.S.-led peace settlement excluding Europe, José Manuel Albares responded that he does not want to engage in political fiction.

He added that since the issue concerns European security, Europe’s voice must also be represented in potential peace negotiations.

🔸 The Berlin-based agency LURE has apologized for the advertising campaign created for “Meduza”, which used photos of Ukrainians.

Additionally, “Meduza” has announced that it is terminating the campaign.

🔹 In 2022, Zaluzhny proposed an offensive on Belgorod to protect Kharkiv – Major General Viktor Nazarov, advisor and consultant to former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhny

According to Nazarov, the plan involved encircling or blocking Belgorod to deny the enemy the ability to strike Kharkiv and to threaten the northeastern supply flank of Russian forces operating in Donbas.

He added that the plan was never implemented, and Zaluzhny was later removed from his position:

“I got the impression that no one was interested. Then things unfolded as they did, and we saw what happened throughout 2024.”

🔸 In the Kursk oblast, the vice governor of the Primorsky Krai of the Russian Federation, Sergey Efremov, was blown up by a mine

Another officer died with him. Efremov was the commander of the volunteer detachment "Tiger", which was formed in the summer of 2022 on the basis of the 155th brigade.

🔹 "There is only a 30%-40% chance of a ceasefire. The situation on the front is not in such a way that we can see that there will be a truce," according to Ukrainian soldiers, - CNN

Another problem is that Russian troops will not adhere to the terms of the ceasefire, even if it is achieved.

🔸 Drones launched a massive attack on Russia last night

▪️In Astrakhan, fuel and energy infrastructure was targeted. Locals report strikes on the Astrakhan gas processing plant and a gas pipeline.

▪️Several explosions were heard in Volgograd. Russian media suggest the target was a local oil refinery owned by Lukoil. Power outages were reported in some areas of the city.

Additionally, drones were shot down in the Rostov, Voronezh, Belgorod, and Kursk oblasts.

🇺🇸 Trump administration preparing “meetings and negotiations” with Ukraine and Russia

Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, stated that “both sides” must make concessions if they hope to reach a settlement. According to him, President Zelensky has allegedly agreed to this, and Putin will have to do the same.

In response, Zelensky’s communications advisor, Dmytro Lytvyn, said that if Kellogg’s peace plan is merely about a ceasefire and elections, then it is a “failed plan.”*
*
🔹 Explosion in an elite residential complex in Moscow

Preliminary reports suggest that a grenade or an improvised explosive device detonated. The identity of the victim has not yet been confirmed, but the concierge claimed to have seen the deceased “on TV.”

Russian media report that the injured person is Armen Sarkisyan—a crime boss from Horlivka (occupied city in Donetsk oblast) and the founder of the Armenian volunteer battalion “Arbat,” which fights as part of the Russian army in Ukraine.

According to Russian Telegram channels, Sarkisyan survived but is in a coma, and his leg has been amputated.

🔸 This is Vovchansk, Kharkiv oblast

Its population before the war was 17,459.

United 24 Media:

🔹 Zelenskyy warned that excluding Kyiv from talks between the United States and Russia on the war in Ukraine would be “very dangerous.” He stressed that negotiations should involve the United States, Ukraine, Russia, and representatives of the EU.

The president suggested that Donald Trump could pressure Putin into negotiations by threatening sanctions on Russia’s energy and banking sectors while maintaining military support for Ukraine.

🔸 Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nearly 95,000 Russians have emigrated to Israel under the Jewish repatriation program, marking the highest number since the final years of the Soviet Union, according to Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

Gendelman stated that Russian immigrants accounted for two-thirds of the total migration flow to Israel, which has reached 145,000 people over the past three years.

On average, 2,700 Russians have received Israeli passports each month, matching the annual emigration rate from Russia to Israel in the 2010s.

This surge represents the highest emigration rate since the Soviet Politburo eased exit restrictions. Between 1989 and 1991, around 120,000 Jews left the USSR under the repatriation program. The next peak occurred following Russia’s 1998 financial crisis, though it was smaller, with about 70,000 people emigrating between 1998 and 2000.

🔹 Prague’s international initiative to procure ammunition for Ukraine is at risk as former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš prepares for a political comeback, Financial Times reports.

The populist ANO party, which leads in opinion polls ahead of the October elections, has vowed to halt the Czech-led ammunition procurement program if it returns to power.

“We must stop the current practice,” said ANO’s deputy leader Karel Havlíček, criticizing the initiative for being led by the Czech government rather than NATO. He also questioned the quality and cost of the shells purchased under the program.

Last year, Czech President Petr Pavel, a former NATO commander, announced Prague would coordinate international purchases of artillery shells to replenish Ukraine’s dwindling stockpiles. Ukrainian officials have praised the initiative, despite reports that a small number of shells were of poor quality.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha thanked Prague last month for delivering up to 80% of the promised ammunition in 2024.

Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Eduard Hulicius confirmed that in 2023, 520,000 155mm shells were delivered to Ukraine, with 300,000 more planned for next year. However, Prague has struggled to secure funding and compete with Russia in the global arms market.

Czechoslovak Group, Central Europe’s largest munitions supplier, said it had fulfilled nearly all its commitments, citing logistical challenges as the main cause of delivery delays. Meanwhile, other defense industry leaders warned that Europe remains too dependent on third countries for large-caliber munitions.

Babiš, who served as Czech Prime Minister until 2021, has been criticized for his pro-Kremlin leanings. The current government fears his return could strengthen ties with leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, Slovakia’s Robert Fico, and Austria’s likely next chancellor Herbert Kickl.

Havlíček suggested that the entire debate on ammunition could become irrelevant if Donald Trump secures a ceasefire with Russia.

“They should start peace talks. The more we drag out the conflict, the worse it will be for Ukraine,” he said.

🔸 Zelenskyy stated that Putin fears negotiations with Ukraine because he cannot admit defeat.

He believes that in Putin’s mind, Russia is at war with America and believes it is winning.

The president emphasized that talks between the United States and Russia about Ukraine without Ukraine’s participation are wrong.

“If Trump and I discuss our plan of action, we will understand how this war can end. After that, he can probably talk with the Russians if he wants, and that’s normal,” Zelenskyy added.

🔹 Ukraine will not lose the war, and NATO must help it become stronger, said Secretary General Mark Rutte in an interview with Bild.

“The front is moving in the wrong direction. But at what price? The Russians are losing 1,000 to 1,500 soldiers daily, either killed or seriously injured. And yet, they are not achieving their goals.

Our task is to ensure that they never do. So no, Ukraine will not lose. And we must support it in becoming stronger,” Rutte stated.

He warned that the West must not show weakness, as Russia could exploit it, just as it did in Ukraine.

Rutte also cautioned against hoping for long-term peace with Russia, calling for a sustainable agreement if negotiations take place.

🔸 Zelenskyy expects a visit from Trump’s special envoy in the near future.

He mentioned receiving signals that a US delegation would soon arrive in Ukraine. The visit was previously postponed due to legal issues in the United States. However, the president said he does not yet know the exact date of Kellogg’s visit.

Zelenskyy emphasized that it is crucial for Ukraine to understand what security guarantees it will have after the hot phase of the war ends.

🔹 North Korean soldiers have suddenly disappeared from the front lines in Russia’s Kursk region, raising questions about whether Kim Jong-un is pulling back his forces to avoid further losses, Bild reports.

Ukraine believes that North Korean troops stationed in the region have been ordered to withdraw. Colonel Oleksandr Kondratenko of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces confirmed that no actions or clashes involving North Korean soldiers have been observed for the past three weeks.

Previously, The New York Times also reported on their withdrawal. Kondratenko stated that Ukraine believes the North Koreans pulled back due to heavy losses.

Frederick Spohr, director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in South Korea, explained that Kim cannot afford to lose too many soldiers without risking domestic instability.

“Whether the North Koreans will actually leave remains to be seen. But Kim cannot sacrifice too many soldiers without facing internal pressure. If the losses are too high, he may switch to only supplying weapons to Russia,” Spohr told Bild.

According to South Korea, Ukraine, and the United States, North Korea has sent about 11,000 mercenaries to fight for Russia since October 2024. They were supposed to help retake Ukrainian-controlled territory, but thousands have already been killed or wounded.

The North Korean regime has remained silent about its military involvement. State media has consistently praised Russian-North Korean ties but has not acknowledged the deployment of troops.

“So how to deal with potentially very high losses and how to explain them to the public and loved ones could create problems for the regime,” Spohr noted. “Kim wants to avoid unrest and instability at all costs.”

🔸 The Pokrovsk direction remains one of the most intense battle zones, according to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi.

In January alone, Ukrainian forces neutralized over 15,000 Russian troops in this area, with around 7,000 killed.

🔹 Excluding Ukraine from US-Russia war talks is very dangerous, Zelenskyy told Associated Press, stressing that discussing Ukraine without its participation poses risks for everyone.

Russia refuses to engage in ceasefire talks or discuss concessions, as the Kremlin views any compromise as a loss while its troops hold an advantage on the battlefield.

Zelenskyy believes Trump could pressure Putin into negotiations by threatening sanctions on Russia’s energy and banking sectors while maintaining support for the Ukrainian army.

The president’s team has been in contact with Trump’s administration, but discussions remain at a general level. Zelenskyy expects further personal meetings to work out more detailed agreements.

After speaking with Trump, the next step would be to establish a format for talks with Russia. Zelenskyy insists that the United States, Ukraine, Russia, and the European Union must all be at the negotiating table.

He reiterated that Ukraine’s NATO membership is the most cost-effective security guarantee.

Other security proposals, he added, must be backed by sufficient weapon supplies from the US and Europe, along with support for Ukraine’s defense industry.

🔸 The Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant has been attacked. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that this facility is one of Russia’s key energy sites, processing gas condensate and producing gasoline, diesel fuel, and other products.

🇷🇴 Far-right Romanian politician Călin Georgescu clarified that his remarks about the possible annexation of “Romanian lands” from Ukraine were made “purely theoretically” and that Romanian politicians have the right to discuss such topics.

“We must learn from our historical experience. The world is changing… During World War II, we made many mistakes and did not fully understand how to position ourselves. Greater Romania became Lesser Romania. This is reality,” he said, adding that “it is good to be ready for anything.”

Losses

The North Koreans are bribing hospital staff to fake documentation that will exempt them from military service, or at least deployment to Russia.

https://www.newsweek.com/north-korea-conscripts-fake-tuberculosis-military-russia-ukraine-war-2023982

I'm sure the numbers are small, but word of the horrific casualties they've suffered must have made it home.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-2-2025

Key Takeaways:

• Russian forces reportedly struck a dormitory holding Russian civilians in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast on February 1 as Russian authorities widely attempted to deny Russian responsibility for the strike and blame Ukraine.
• Russia continues efforts to illegally deport Ukrainian children to occupied Crimea and Russia under the guise of evacuation and rehabilitation programs.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Lyman, Siversk, Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk, and Velyka Novosilka.
• Russian forces continue to forcibly mobilize civilians in occupied Ukraine into the Russian military in violation of the Geneva Convention.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-3-2025

Key Takeaways:

• Russian forces continued to suffer high losses in January 2025 despite a slower rate of advance as compared with previous months in late 2024.
• Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted drone strikes against Russian oil and gas infrastructure in Volgograd and Astrakhan oblasts on the night of February 2 to 3.
• Ukrainian forces continue to innovate with drone operations to maintain their technological advantage over Russia and bring about battlefield effects.
• The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) expressed concern about the "sharp rise" in reports of Russian forces executing Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).
• Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on February 3 that Ukraine has started implementing organizational reforms to transition the Ukrainian Armed Forces into a "corps structure."
• Unspecified actors assassinated Armen Sargsyan, the founder of the "Arbat" Special Purpose Battalion, who has been involved in Russia's hybrid activities and invasions of Ukraine since 2014.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Borova, and Russian forces recently advanced near Kupyansk, Borova, Lyman, Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and in the Dnipro direction.
• The Russian government is expanding the federal "Time of Heroes" program, which aims to install Kremlin-selected veterans into government positions, to occupied Ukraine as part of long-term efforts to integrate occupied Ukraine into Russia.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️'We need the corps system' — Zelensky approves plan to restructure army. (kyivindependent.com/we-need-the-corps-system-zelensky-approves-plan-to-restructure-army/)
Ukraine's Armed Forces are transitioning to a new organizational structure intended to modernize the army, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 3.

⚡️Trump seeks (kyivindependent.com/trump-seeking-ukrainian-rare-earths-in-exchange-for-aid/) Ukrainian rare earths in exchange for aid.
"We're looking to do a deal with Ukraine, where they're going to secure what we're giving them with their rare earths and other things," Donald Trump told reporters.

⚡️ 'Selfish' — Scholz blasts (kyivindependent.com/selfish-scholz-slams-trumps-proposal-to-tie-ukraine-aid-to-rare-earth-access-spiegel-reports/) Trump's aid-for-rare earths Ukraine plan.

⚡️US briefly paused weapons (kyivindependent.com/us-briefly-paused-weapons-to-kyiv-in-first-days-of-trump-term-sources-tell-reuters/) to Kyiv in first days of Trump term, sources tell Reuters.
The Trump administration was initially inclined to stop all aid to Ukraine, but arms deliveries resumed over the weekend following internal debate, sources claimed.

⚡️UK to provide more military aid (kyivindependent.com/uk-to-provide-more-military-aid-to-ukraine-this-year-than-ever-before-starmer-says/) to Ukraine this year than ever before, Starmer says.

⚡️Rubio takes control of USAID (kyivindependent.com/rubio-takes-control-of-usaid-amid-musks-threats-to-shut-down-agency/) amid Musk's threats to shut down agency.

⚡️Ukraine's laser technologies (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-using-laser-weapons/) 'already hit certain objects,' commander says.

⚡️ Ukraine's Southern Operational Command chief steps down (kyivindependent.com/shapovalov-steps-down/) after being appointed NATO liaison.
Brigadier General Hennadii Shapovalov, Ukraine's Southern Operational Command chief, announced his resignation on Feb. 4 after he was appointed to the NATO military aid coordination center in German

⚡️ Russian soldiers face execution threats (kyivindependent.com/russian-commanders-execution-threats/) to retake lost ground near Kupiansk, Ukraine claims.
Russian commanders in the Kupiansk sector are ordering their soldiers to retake positions from which they retreated under Ukrainian fire, threatening them with execution if they refuse, Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces claimed on Feb. 4, citing intelligence reports.

⚡️Ukraine announces (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-wants-to-privatize-countrys-largest-electromagnetic-switch-manufacturer/) privatization auction of country’s largest electromagnetic switch manufacturer.
The auction, which is for a 100% stake in the plant, will be held on Feb. 4. Its starting price is Hr 234.4 million ($5.6 million), which includes debts for the last six months.

⚡️Unmanned Systems Forces have carried out over 220 operations deep (kyivindependent.com/unmanned-systems-forces-have-carried-out-over-220-operations-deep-into-russia-since-its-establishment-commander-says/) inside Russian terriotry since its establishment, commander says.

⚡️ Greenpeace urges (kyivindependent.com/greenpeace-urges-iaea-to-block-russias-zaporizhzhia-reactor-restart-amid-grossis-kyiv-visit/) IAEA to block Russia's Zaporizhzhia reactor restart as Grossi visits Kyiv.
Greenpeace Ukraine warned IAEA chief Rafael Grossi that Russian officials have recently expressed intentions to restart the reactors to generate electricity for Russia and solidify their control over the plant.

⚡️Russia proposes easing conscription rules (kyivindependent.com/russia-proposes-easing-conscription-rules-for-people-with-certain-mental-disorders-syphilis-ngo-reports/) for people with certain mental disorders, syphilis, NGO reports.
Russia's Ministry of Defense has proposed changes to military medical examination rules that would simplify the conscription of individuals with psychosis, hypertension, and syphilis. [because psychosis is just what you want on the front line]

⚡️Ukrainian commander involved in liberation of Kharkiv Oblast killed (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-commander-involved-in-liberation-of-kharkiv-oblast-dies-on-combat-mission/) in combat.
Anton Spitsyn was one of the co-founders of the unit, called the Peaky Blinders after the British crime drama series of the same name.

From drone simulators to civics: Ukraine reforms school curriculum (kyivindependent.com/from-drone-simulators-to-civics-ukrainian-reforms-school-curriculum-to-protect-next-generation-from-russian-threat/) to protect next generation from Russian threat
With a new set of school reforms, Ukraine is looking to further distance itself from its Soviet educational heritage, while preparing its younger generations for the threat of continued war from an aggressive neighbor.

⚡️Trump expected to withdraw US from UN Human Rights Council (kyivindependent.com/trump-expected-to-withdraw-us-from-un-human-rights-council/), Reuters reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce on Feb. 4 that the United States will withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council and extend a freeze on funding for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, a White House official told Reuters.

⚡️Romanian presidential candidate says (https://kyivindependent.com/romanian-presidential-candidate-says-his/) his claims on Ukraine's partition are 'theoretical.'

⚡️Ukrainian citizen beaten to death (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-citizen-beaten-to-death-in-bratislava-media-reports/) in Bratislava, media reports.

⚡️Ukraine secures return of 12 children (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-secures-return-of-12-children-from-russian-occupied-territories/) from Russian-occupied territories.

⚡️ 2 killed, 13 injured in Russian attacks (kyivindependent.com/attacks-124/) across Ukraine over past day.

Due to the individual who recently attacked Mumsnet, I can't post the daily losses, but:
troops: 1270
vehicles: 123
artillery: 66
UAV: 92

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Iran is developing nuclear missiles with a range of 3,000 km using designs provided by North Korea, The Telegraph reports, citing British intelligence.
[can't link the photo]

Trump has signed an official order appointing retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as special representative for Ukraine and Russia.

❗️Russia struck Izium with ballistic missiles, causing multiple casualties.
According to Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, four people were killed. Another 17 were injured, with five hospitalized. Emergency services are working at the scene.

Polish President Andrzej Duda emphasized that Ukraine will require significant support from its allies to restore its economy and maintain security in the event of a peace agreement with Russia. In an interview with the Financial Times, he highlighted Poland’s continued role in assisting Ukraine, both through military aid and as a key logistics hub for humanitarian and defense support.
Duda also aligned with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s position, expressing skepticism about deploying Western troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force. While acknowledging Poland's vulnerability to potential Russian aggression, he reiterated that support for Ukraine remains essential, even if Polish forces do not need to be stationed there.

The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a dedicated guide page on its website for Finnish citizens who choose to volunteer in the Ukrainian Defense Forces and for their families. The page provides answers to frequently asked questions, covering legal considerations, potential liability in Finland, and procedures for various situations such as injury, captivity, or disappearance. It also explains processes related to the return of belongings of deceased volunteers, posthumous payments, and necessary documentary procedures in Finland in the event of a fighter’s death.

The European Commission will allocate €3 million to support Russian and Belarusian journalists in exile.
This funding is intended to help independent media outlets and journalists from Belarus and Russia working in EU countries continue producing and distributing content free from government interference. The funds will also be used to establish a pan-European platform or network of media hubs to promote independent journalism.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Piers Morgan has announced a 90-minute interview with Zelensky, set to air today.
“The conversation was remarkably candid, substantive, and packed with information,”
the British journalist said.
Earlier, Morgan released an interview with Tucker Carlson, who voiced a series of pro-Russian statements.

Russia’s missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure triggered emergency blackouts in EIGHT regions.
Lights out in Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, and parts of Dnipropetrovsk and Cherkasy.

Putin should be very afraid—his economy is collapsing, his military is failing, and his allies are fleeing. Jake Broe breaks it down:
www.kyivpost.com/videos/46506

Putin’s forces have committed yet another war crime, beheading a defenseless prisoner, — a Ukrainian official handling missing persons
Russia isn’t fighting an army — it’s exterminating people. So what now? Another UN report? Another expression of “concern”?

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

⚡️Trump’s special envoy Kellogg is set to visit Ukraine in mid-February – sources at Radio NV.

Around 50,000 military personnel from various branches are being transferred to the Ground Forces – UP source.
According to a Ukrainska Pravda source, the purpose of this large-scale transfer is to initiate the first rotation in three years of full-scale war.
When asked whether this decision is related to potential negotiations or freezing the front line, the source replied it is not. He assured that the Ukrainian army is capable of conducting rotations even under conditions of large-scale war.

In Ukraine, 62,948 people are officially considered missing under special circumstances, and efforts to locate them are ongoing. (https://www.facebook.com/UA.National.Police/posts/pfbid0CiuH9j1xFShZQbAkpJKmJ81B2xheckMwz4fDqP9SYXHnUeRgcnLJU6MeNhL6erG5l?rdid=RJ43Ka7tPwEDFzF9#)
This includes both military personnel and civilians whose cases are registered in the Missing Persons Registry under Special Circumstances.
At the same time, the whereabouts and identities of 10,291 deceased individuals have already been established.

⚡️ On the night of February 4, air defense forces shot down 37 Russian drones, while 28 UAVs were locationally lost.
In total, Russia launched 65 Shahed-type drones and decoy UAVs. Air defense was active in the Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Cherkasy Oblasts.

Due to the individual who recently attacked Mumsnet, I can't post the daily losses

What's this about @DucklingSwimmingInstructress. Was it an objection to you showing the daily table?

There was an attack on Mumsnet which manifested as child sexual abuse images being uploaded on Sunday night to several threads apparently at random. As a result, images can no longer be uploaded; I think this is a temporary fix for the larger problem that the site is monitored overnight by volunteers who cannot close it, block things easily, nor contact anyone who can do these things. There's a bit of a brouhaha going on at Site Stuff about this.
The thread I have been looking at is https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/5266690-its-time-to-rethink-the-night-watch-volunteer-system?

I was glad to have avoided the images themselves but yes seems to have been fairly widespread.