Victorious news of 693rd day of war: drone attack on Belgorod, SCALP missiles for Ukraine, tribunal for Russian

Macron announces delivery of 40 SCALP missiles to Ukraine

On January 16, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would visit Ukraine in February and announced the donation of 40 SCALP missiles, and the signing of a security guarantee agreement.

This was reported by Le Monde.

At a press conference at the Elysee Palace, Macron said he was working with Kyiv on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees. He also noted that the agreement should be signed in a few weeks.

The French president announced the supply of about 40 SCALP missiles, several hundred bombs, and CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine.

"I will go to Ukraine in February. I will announce the finalization of these texts. The supply of the ammunition I mentioned will begin," Macron said.

First 2 of 14 Leopard 2 tanks from Netherlands, Denmark ready for delivery to Ukraine

The German manufacturer Rheinmetall has completed the overhaul of the first 2 of 14 Leopard 2 A4 tanks for Ukraine ordered by the Netherlands and Denmark, so the equipment is ready for delivery.

This was reported by the Dutch Defense Ministry.

The press service added that the repaired 2 out of 14 Leopard 2 A4 tanks for Ukraine from the Netherlands and Denmark will first go to Poland for training of the Ukrainian military.

It is noted that in the coming months, Rheinmetall will also prepare the remaining 12 tanks for training and operation.

In 2024, Germany will help Ukraine with military goods worth over EUR 7 billion

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that in 2024 Germany will provide Ukraine with military goods worth more than EUR 7 billion.

He wrote about this in X.

"President Biden and I agree that we want to continue to provide financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine. I spoke with the US President on the phone today. Germany will provide more than seven billion euros in military goods in 2024," the German Chancellor said.

Russia reports attack on Belgorod region

On the night of January 17, the governor of the Belgorod region in the Russian Federation, Vyacheslav Gladkov, announced an alleged attack on the Belgorod region. As a result, there was damage in the residential sector, a fire and a power outage.

This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry.

"This morning, another attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack on targets in the Russian Federation using the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system and aircraft-type UAVs was prevented," the statement says.

It is noted that Russian air defense allegedly destroyed 4 rockets and 2 UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod region.

Gladkov first reported the attack on Telegram.

"Our air defense system worked over Belgorod and Belgorod district. Two UAVs were shot down. According to preliminary data, there are no casualties," he wrote.

According to him, in the Belgorod district, there are allegedly damages in the residential sector, including damaged roofs, and an outbuilding allegedly caught fire. He added that a power outage allegedly occurred in one of the villages.

More than 40 countries support tribunal for Russia

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that more than 40 countries have already joined the group working on the creation of a tribunal for Russia.

He said this in a telethon, the Prosecutor General’s Office writes.

Kostin spoke about a comprehensive approach to restoring justice, according to which Ukraine is working together with international partners: "We call it the Comprehensive Accountability Network. Comprehensive, because it is responsibility for all crimes: war crimes, crimes against humanity, aggression and genocide, as well as compensation for damage to our state and all victims.”

According to him, in order to complete the formation of this network, a special tribunal on the crime of aggression needs to be established. So far, more than 40 countries have joined the group to create the tribunal. Over the past year, this number has doubled.

Three Ukrainian films included in Berlin Film Festival program

This is stated on the website of the Berlin International Film Festival.

One of the most prestigious international film festivals will take place in Berlin from February 15 to 25. This year's program includes 3 Ukrainian films.

For example, the world premiere of the Ukrainian film Redaktsiya (The Editorial Office), directed by Roman Bondarchuk and shot in the Kherson region, is scheduled for Berlinale. This is the director's second feature film, shot in 2021.

The Forum program also includes Intercepted by Oksana Karpovych, a film created in co-production with Canada and France.

The third film at the Berlin Film Festival 2024 will be A Bit of Stranger by Svitlana Lishchynska in the Panorama Dokumente program.

Ukraine deploys hybrid air defense system for the first time

On the night of January 17, the Ukrainian Defense Forces used the FrankenSAM hybrid air defense system in combat for the first time. It shot down a Shahed drone from a distance of 9 kilometers.

This was announced at a briefing in Davos by Oleksandr Kamyshin, head of the Ministry of Strategic Industries.

He noted that the development of our own air defense system takes a long time, and to save time, it was decided to create hybrid projects by combining off-the-shelf components: "We took Soviet components and used Western missiles. Or we took Western launchers and used Soviet missiles."

There are several such projects in Ukraine, and one of them has already been used.

"This is the first use of such a system. We have about 5 projects in this portfolio, and I am very pleased that we have already deployed all these systems on the battlefield, protecting our skies and our people. I am grateful to our American partners for helping us do this," Kamyshin added.