- Ukrainian flags were observed in occupied Crimea and Makiivka to mark Ukraine’s Unity Day. Activists affiliated with the “Yellow Ribbon” movement raised the Ukrainian flag atop Mount Pahkal-Kaya in Crimea, sharing the news on their Telegram channel: “We unfurled the flag on one of the peaks of the Crimean mountains, Pahkal-Kaya, to showcase the unity of the Ukrainian people because Crimea is Ukraine! Today, the symbol of Ukraine proudly waves over the summit of Crimea, and very soon, together, we will adorn the entire peninsula with blue and yellow flags”. Additionally, Yellow Ribbon activists placed a blue and yellow flag near the residential area of Soniachny in Makiivka, in the Donetsk region, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. “Now our flag proudly waves on the terikon, from which the road from Donetsk to the Russian border is visible. Thousands of occupiers passing this route daily will see that even in the 10-year shadow of occupation, we continue to fight the enemy because Donbas is Ukraine!”. Yellow Ribbon is a resistance movement. In spring 2022, as the Russian military occupied Kherson, the city’s residents resisted, using the yellow ribbon to symbolise their opposition, displayed in various parts of the city. On November 11, 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully liberated Kherson. Nonetheless, pro-Ukrainian activists continue their underground protests in the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as in the occupied areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson regions.
- Ukraine’s export initiative highly praised. Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar, said during the briefing that after the previous collapse of the grain deal, Ukraine successfully established an independent export corridor. By the end of January, more than 500 vessels, carrying a total of 15 million tons of goods, have departed from the ports of Odesa. The ambassador also asserted that Ukraine’s international partners have repeatedly expressed interest in the continued operation of such a corridor. Bodnar pointed out the role of Turkish businesses in this process, as they buy specific products and raw materials from Ukraine while supplying necessary goods to the country. Additionally, Bodnar mentioned that last week, Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria signed a joint initiative to demine the western part of the Black Sea, emphasising that this initiative would contribute to the operation of the maritime transport corridor crucial for exporting Ukrainian products. On Monday, British Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris also highlighted Ukraine’s achievements in the Black Sea, calling it a “victory” in an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda. The British ambassador noted that “last year, the Armed Forces of Ukraine achieved significant success in the Black Sea, marking a true victory for Ukraine with geostrategic and economic effects. British Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris made this statement. This is a tremendous achievement. We believe that the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed almost 20% of the Russian fleet while also punishing the Russian fleet 300 kilometres from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk,” said the diplomat.
- Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, calls for increased military support. The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, has urged his EU counterparts to accelerate the delivery of ammunition, drones, and long-range missiles to Ukraine. During his address at the first EU Foreign Affairs Council of the year, Kuleba appealed to EU ministers, urging them to enhance and expedite military support for Ukraine in response to ongoing Russian shelling. He emphasised the continued importance of strengthening air defence, highlighting key systems such as ‘Patriots,’ ‘NASAMS,’ IRIS-T, and SAMP-T, which play a critical role in safeguarding entire cities and saving thousands of lives. Kuleba specifically called for swift deliveries of artillery shells, various types of drones, and long-range missiles with a radius exceeding 300 kilometres. He underlined that a higher quantity of shells leads to fewer losses and a greater missile range results in a shorter war. Furthermore, the Minister stressed the necessity of establishing a collaborative space for European defence industries and creating a European Defense Hub in Ukraine. Kuleba also underscored the significance of the European Council’s approval of a long-term financing program for Ukraine, totalling 50 billion euros, on February 1. He explained that this funding is pivotal for ensuring financial stability, the functioning of state institutions, and the Ukrainian economy amid Russian aggression. The Minister concluded that the approval of this program would represent the best investment in Europe’s security.
- Head of Ukrainian intelligence: North Korea is a top weapons supplier for Russia. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence in Ukraine, exposed North Korea’s pivotal role as the primary weapons supplier for Russia. In an exclusive interview with the Financial Times, Budanov shed light on Russia’s historical aversion to seeking military assistance from nations like North Korea, viewing it as a perpetual “humiliation.” Budanov disclosed that North Korea has become a significant contributor to Russia’s arsenal, supplying a substantial quantity of artillery ammunition. This unexpected collaboration, according to Budanov, has provided a breath of relief to the Russian Federation, averting what could have been a catastrophic scenario. The head of Ukrainian Intelligence underscored the gravity of the situation, emphasising that “without the assistance of [North Korea], the situation would have been catastrophic” and pointed out Russia’s reluctance to seek military aid from countries like North Korea as an enduring perception of it being “beneath their dignity, a humiliation.”
- Ukraine allocates over 60% of the state budget to its security and defence. In a recent announcement, the Ministry of Finance disclosed that Ukraine, in a resolute commitment to bolster its security, directed more than 60% of its state budget towards defence initiatives. The detailed breakdown of expenditures from the general fund of the state budget for the security and defence sector revealed an allocation of UAH 1,843.8 billion, constituting 60,8% of the total expenditure, as per the results of the fiscal year 2023. Notably, December witnessed a notable surge in budgetary outlays for security and defence, with expenditures reaching UAH 284,3 billion, underscoring the nation’s unwavering dedication to fortifying its defence capabilities. The Ministry of Finance underscored that the government relies exclusively on its tax revenues and military bonds to finance vital expenditures in the security and defence sector. In the fiscal year 2023, a substantial sum of UAH 943,8 billion was earmarked for the financial support of servicemen. The December allocation increased to UAH 107,8 billion, signalling a proactive response to emerging security challenges compared to the preceding month’s UAH 74,7 billion. This financial commitment reflects Ukraine’s proactive stance in securing its borders and maintaining a robust defence infrastructure amid geopolitical uncertainties.
- NATO’s biggest drill in over a decade. On Monday, January 22, The North Atlantic Alliance is set to launch the largest military exercise of the past decade, Steadfast Defender 2024. All NATO member countries and the candidate country, Sweden, will participate in the exercises, scheduled to run until the end of May 2024. The manoeuvres will cover the territory of Europe from Norway to Romania. The scenario for Steadfast Defender involves a Russian attack on the territory of allies, triggering Article 5 of the NATO Collective Defense Treaty. Approximately 90,000 personnel will be involved in the exercises, featuring over 50 ships, ranging from aircraft carriers to destroyers, more than 80 fighter jets, helicopters, and drones, and at least 1,100 combat vehicles, including 133 tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles. Christopher Cavoli, the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO’s Joint Forces in Europe, stated that the exercises would demonstrate that “NATO can conduct and sustain complex operations on land, at sea, in the air, cyberspace, and space for several months, across thousands of kilometres, from the Far North to Central and Eastern Europe, and under any conditions. According to NATO Military Committee Chairman Rob Bauer, the scale of the exercises is a demonstration of the “Alliance’s new readiness.” In the last similar NATO exercises in 1988, more than 125,000 soldiers were involved. The most significant manoeuvre in recent decades was the Trident Juncture; over 50,000 servicemen participated in these exercises in 2018.
