Victorious news of 708th day of war: Ukraine destroys Russia's missile corvette, EU agrees €50bn aid for Ukraine

Russian missile corvette destroyed in Crimea

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine destroyed the Ivanovets missile corvette of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

The Russian missile boat was on a raid on Lake Donuzlav in the temporarily occupied Crimea. As a result of direct hits to the hull, the ship was damaged and sank.

"The cost of the ship lost by the aggressor state is approximately USS 60-70 million," Ukrainian intelligence wrote.

Defense Express expert Valerii Riabykh says that Russia has up to a dozen missile boats, several of which are part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

"Today, February 1, we have a holiday organized by Ukrainian forces. The operation carried out by the Defense Intelligence was very revealing and led to the destruction of the Ivanovets missile boat," the military expert said.

According to him, the sinking of this boat is another nail in the coffin of the Russian Black Sea Fleet's ability to operate illegally in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian waters.

Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, said during the telethon that Russia had three such missile boats. "Now there is minus one. To some extent, it was the pride of the occupiers," Yusov added.

All 27 EU countries have agreed to provide EUR 50 billion to Ukraine

President of the European Council Charles Michel states that all 27 EU member states have agreed to provide 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine.

"We have a deal. All 27 leaders agreed on an additional €50 billion support package for Ukraine within the EU budget. This locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for Ukraine. The EU is taking leadership and responsibility in support for Ukraine, we know what is at stake," the President of the European Council wrote.

The European Union has said that Ukraine will be able to receive funds if it meets a number of prerequisites, European Pravda reports.

"It is a precondition for support to Ukraine under the program that Ukraine continues to maintain and respect effective democratic mechanisms, including a multiparty parliamentary system and the rule of law, and to guarantee respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities," the document says.

US guided bombs head to the front line

GLSDB guided bombs are already on their way to the front. This was stated by US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland at a briefing in Kyiv, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia reports. Earlier, the Pentagon refused to disclose the terms of delivery of these weapons. According to Nuland, the United States will continue to provide security assistance to Ukraine.

"This includes new investments and new weapons systems... as well as support for rebuilding Ukraine's defense industrial base and our own to ensure that we can continue to fight those who would steal freedom," Nuland said.

The US has agreed to provide Ukraine with new GLSDB long-range precision-guided bombs. The guided bombs are invisible to Russian electronic warfare equipment.

Russia has no resources to protect St. Petersburg from drones

Russia's Defense Ministry does not have sufficient air defense resources to fully protect St. Petersburg from drone attacks, according to the head of the State Duma Defense Committee, Andrei Kartapolov.

The second largest city in Russia by population, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region have been targeted twice since the beginning of January by Ukrainian drones, which hit the Novatek terminal on the Baltic Sea and the Nevsky Mazut oil refinery in the city.