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Combat Operations
Ukraine
Russia
United States
NATO
United Nations
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Combat Operations

• Moscow, Kyiv Swap Prisoners As Ukraine Declares Air Raid Alert For Its Whole Territory RFE/RL 31 Jan 2024 -- Russia and Ukraine held another prisoner swap on January 31 that Kyiv said involved 207 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs). Russia said 195 of its troops were taken back in the process in exchanged for the same number of Ukrainian soldiers.
• Ukraine, Russia Swap More Prisoners of War VOA 31 Jan 2024 -- Russia and Ukraine announced Wednesday that they have conducted a prisoner of war exchange, despite tensions arising from a Russian military transport plane crash last week.
• Ukraine Reports Russian Attacks With 20 Drones VOA 31 Jan 2024 -- Ukraine's military said Wednesday that overnight attacks from Russia included 20 drones and three ballistic missiles targeting multiple parts of Ukraine.

Ukraine

• Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine met with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs President of Ukraine 31 Jan 2024
• Ukraine is ready for good neighborly relations with Hungary - Andriy Yermak in an interview with a Hungarian TV channel President of Ukraine 31 Jan 2024
• We secure and constantly enhance the protection of energy facilities, and we are reinforcing our sky shield - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 31 Jan 2024
• Another round of negotiations between Ukraine and Italy on the conclusion of bilateral security commitments took place President of Ukraine 31 Jan 2024
• Today we managed to free another 207 Ukrainians from Russian captivity, returning a total of 3,035 people; we will do everything to bring everyone back - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 31 Jan 2024

Russia

• CIA Director Says Ukraine War 'Corroding' Putin's Grip On Power RFE/RL 31 Jan 2024 -- Russia's war against Ukraine has eroded President Vladimir Putin's grip on power, hollowed out the Russian military, and stoked an "undercurrent of disaffection" within the country, according to the director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
• Press release on the International Court of Justice finding no discrimination against Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians in Russia and completely rejecting Ukraine's reparations claims Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 31 Jan 2024
• Press release on the UN International Court of Justice's refusal to designate Russia as an aggressor state and the DPR and LPR as terrorist organisations in response to Ukraine's allegations Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 31 Jan 2024
• Statement by Russian Defence Ministry Russia MoD 31 Jan 2024 -- On 31 January, as a result of the negotiation process, 195 Russian servicemen, who were in mortal danger in captivity, were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In return, exactly 195 AFU prisoners of war were back.
• Statement by Russian Defence Ministry Russia MoD 31 Jan 2024 -- Over the past night, the Russian Armed Forces have thwarted attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack by a fixed-wing UAV against facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation.
• Russian Air Defense Destroys 20 Ukraine Missiles Over Black Sea, Crimea - Defense Ministry Sputnik 31 Jan 2024 -- The Russian air defense systems on duty destroys 17 Ukrainian missiles over the Black Sea and another three over the Crimean Peninsula, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
• Russia Returns 195 Soldiers From Ukraine-Controlled Territory - MoD Sputnik 31 Jan 2024 -- The freed servicemen will be transported to Moscow by Russian Air Force military transport aircraft for treatment and rehabilitation at Russian Defense Ministry medical facilities.
• Russian Military Gains Better Ground in Krasny Liman Area - MoD Sputnik 31 Jan 2024 -- The Russian Armed Forces have repelled six attacks by Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk area, three near Krasny Liman, and one in the South Donetsk area, the Defense Ministry said.
• Russia's Il-76 Plane Was Downed by Western-Made Missile - Emergency Services Sputnik 31 Jan 2024 -- The examination of the January 24 Il-76 plane crash in Russia confirmed that the aircraft was downed by a Western-made air defense missile, a spokesman of the emergency services told Sputnik on Wednesday.
• Lavrov: Clear to Everyone 'Zelensky's Formula' Nothing But Ultimatum to Russia Sputnik 31 Jan 2024 -- On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov chaired a meeting of BRICS sherpas and sous-sherpas in Moscow.

United States

NATO

United Nations

• Top UN Court Gives Mixed Ruling On Kyiv's Terrorism-Financing Case Against Russia RFE/RL 31 Jan 2024 -- The International Court of Justice issued a mixed ruling on Kyiv's terrorism-financing complaint against Russia over Moscow's activities in eastern Ukraine and on "racial discrimination" by Russia after it illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
• World court rejects bulk of Ukraine's terrorism charges against Russia UN News 31 Jan 2024 -- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Wednesday that Russia had violated global anti-terrorism and anti-racial discrimination treaties, but dismissed most of the charges Kyiv brought against Moscow stemming from its 2014 invasion of Ukraine.

Foreign Reactions

• EU Ministers Meet, Urging More Ammo For Ukraine RFE/RL 31 Jan 2024 -- Defense ministers from the European Union's 27 member states have opened an informal meeting in Brussels to discuss the need to beef up the bloc's defense industry and its military support to Ukraine, which has pleaded for months for military supplies in its war to repel invading Russian forces.
• EU Set for Crucial Summit on Ukraine Aid as Hungary Accuses Bloc of 'Blackmail' VOA 31 Jan 2024 -- European Union heads of state will try to persuade Hungary to unblock billions of dollars of EU aid for Ukraine at a crucial EU Council summit in Brussels on Thursday, as Kyiv warns it is running low on ammunition to fight Russia's invasion.
• Europe must step-up efforts on arms and ammunition to Ukraine Germany - Federal Government 31 Jan 2024 -- In their joint guest article, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prime Ministers Mette Frederiksen, Petr Fiala, Kaja Kallas and Mark Rutte call on the EU to provide Ukraine with sustainable, long-term military support. The article appeared in the Financial Times.
• Putin's War of Aggression has come at a significant cost to Russia and galvanised democratic nations: UK statement to the OSCE UK FCDO 31 Jan 2024 -- UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Putin's invasion of Ukraine, has succeeded in uniting democratic nations in defence of the principles of the United Nations Charter.
• Pevkur in Brussels: we will keep our promise to send Ukraine 1 million rounds of ammunition Estonia MoD 31 Jan 2024 -- Yesterday and today in Brussels at the informal meeting of European Union defence ministers, the discussion focused on the 1 million rounds of ammunition for Ukraine initiative.
• The Foreign Minister reaffirms Latvia's unwavering support to Ukraine and its Euro-Atlantic integration Latvia MFA 31 Jan 2024 -- On 31 January 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņš, had meetings with the spouse of the President of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, and the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Olha Stefanishyna.
• Minister A. Anušauskas called on the EU to speed up the establishment of the Ukraine Assistance Fund Lithuania MND 31 Jan 2024 -- On January 30-31 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas attended the informal EU Defence Ministers' meeting in Brussels.
• Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak - Kamysz: We should not become accustomed to the war in Ukraine Poland - Ministry of National Defence 31 Jan 2024 -- On January 30-31, in Brussels, the head of the Ministry of Defense participated in an informal meeting of EU defense ministers organized by the Belgian Presidency.
• Ukraine: Switzerland implements the EU's 12th package of sanctions Federal Council - Swiss Government 31 Jan 2024 -- The Federal Council adopted further sanctions against Russia at its meeting on 31 January. This is in response to Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine. In doing so, the Federal Council joins the European Union (EU), which adopted its 12th package of sanctions in December 2023. The new measures will enter into force on 1 February. Switzerland previously added 147 individuals and entities to its sanctions listings on 21 December.
• China Will Continue to Support Russia on Ukraine Issue - Chinese Defense Minister Sputnik 31 Jan 2024 -- On January 31, the Russian and Chinese defense ministers held talks via videoconference.

News Reports

• A Ukrainian Banker's Arrest On Decade-Old Deal Strikes A Nerve In Kyiv's Business Community RFE/RL 31 Jan 2024 -- As Ihor Mazepa, owner of a leading Ukrainian brokerage, tried to drive across the border into Poland on January 18, he was detained and later charged with running an illegal scheme to privatize land on the outskirts of Kyiv more than a decade ago.