The essentials of January 31 at midday
- Several European leaders are calling for “redouble your efforts” to support Ukraine militarily
The European Union asked the Twenty-Seven on Wednesday for an inventory of their military support for Ukraine, to try to strengthen it at a time when kyiv is running out of ammunition against the Russian army. In a daily forum Financial Timesfive leaders call on member states to “redouble your efforts” in their military support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion before a crucial summit of the Twenty-Seven in Brussels on Thursday.
- Sergei Shoigu orders Russian arms manufacturers to increase production
Visiting an arms factory in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals, on Tuesday, the Russian defense minister asked arms manufacturers to further increase production of self-propelled artillery systems and air defense missiles after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks.
- Russia attentive to the fate of Valery Zalouzhny, the head of the Ukrainian army
Russia said on Wednesday it was attentive to the fate of the head of the Ukrainian army, Valery Zaluzhny, following reports from Western and Ukrainian media according to which Volodimir Zelensky would seek to dismiss him.
- Imbroglio in Thailand around a Russian-Belarusian rock group critical of Moscow
Members of Bi-2, a Russian-Belarusian rock group critical of Moscow power, are detained in Thailand where they were giving concerts and risk being deported to Russia.
- Judgment expected from the ICJ in a case between Ukraine and Russia
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court of the UN, which sits in The Hague (Netherlands), will deliver its decision on Wednesday from 3 p.m. in a case between Ukraine and Russia following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
- Boris Nadezhdine, opponent of Vladimir Putin, submits signatures supporting his candidacy
Boris Nadezhdine, the only potential candidate for the Russian presidential election not supporting the war in Ukraine, submitted on Wednesday the signatures of support necessary to register his candidacy for the vote, scheduled for March 15 to 17. Two other candidates withdrew, and one of them called for a vote for Vladimir Putin.
- Russia passes law to seize assets of army critics
Russian MPs on Wednesday adopted a law aimed at confiscating the money and property of anyone found guilty of disseminating ” fake news “ on the army.
- Explosion at an oil refinery in St. Petersburg
A drone fell and damaged several tanks at the Nevsky Mazut oil refinery in St. Petersburg report multiple channels Telegram Russian. The machine was reportedly shot down by a Russian S-400 air defense missile.
- The EU offers a “emergency brake” on Ukrainian agricultural imports
The European Commission proposed several measures on Wednesday to try to appease the anger of the agricultural world in Europe, including the establishment of a “emergency brake” on imports of certain agricultural products from Ukraine.