Victorious news of 327th day of war: Britain provides Challenger 2 tanks, US trains Ukrainian military for counteroffensive, Davos forum cleared of Russians

Espreso TV has collected another compilation of news that brings Ukraine closer to victory.

Britain has announced a large package of military assistance to Ukraine

Today, January 16, the United Kingdom officially announced a large package of military assistance to Ukraine. It includes: 14 Challenger 2 tanks; 30 AS-90 self-propelled howitzers; 100 armored vehicles, including Bulldog APCs; dozens of UAVs; 100,000 artillery shells; 100 "advanced missiles"; spare parts to support Ukrainian tanks and armored vehicles.

Ukrainian Armed Forces are advancing towards Kreminna 

According to British intelligence, the Ukrainian Armed Forces most likely held their positions in Soledar, north of Bakhmut, despite the continued assault by Wagner PMC mercenaries. Ukrainian Armed Forces are also gradually advancing towards Kreminna.

"Over the weekend, intense fighting continued in the sectors of Kreminna and Bakhmut on the Donbas front line. As of January 15, 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine almost certainly held their positions in Soledar, north of Bakhmut, in the face of constant attacks by the Wagner group," the statement said.

At the same time, serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Stepan Barna noted that the situation in Donbas remains difficult and trench warfare has begun there. 

"The fact that the Russian side has improved its military position in Soledar does not mean that it will be of strategic importance in terms of the results of potential battles," Barna said.

According to the General Staff, missile troops and artillery units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit a Russian control point, 8 personnel concentrations, fuel and oil warehouse, and ammunition depot.

US trains another 500 Ukrainian servicemen 

The United States has launched an expanded training program for the Ukrainian military in Germany. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley announced the information. This can play an important role in the counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

About 500 servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are exercising at the training ground. The training will continue for the next 5 to 8 weeks.

Milley said that on January 16 he personally plans to visit the German training ground Grafenwoehr to get acquainted with the program. Milley also stressed that Germany has a full set of weapons and equipment for their use.

"Without you": for the first time Russian representatives are not present at the forum in Davos

The World Economic Forum has started in Davos, Switzerland, and this year there is not a single representative of Russia.  

"Not so long ago, Russian billionaires were an integral part of Davos... This year there are zero of them. The war in Ukraine and the ostracism of Russia by the West have effectively driven the oligarchs out of the annual meeting of capitalist elites," Bloomberg said.

In addition to the absence of Russian representatives, this year there are no representatives of China at the forum, as the country is experiencing another wave of coronavirus.

Approximately 116 billionaires are registered to participate in this year's event, which is 40% more than 10 years ago. The forum will last until January 20. The last time the event was held live was in 2020, before the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the forum was held online, and in 2022, the event was moved from winter to summer for the first time in history.

The first tranche of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine will arrive this week

A tranche of macro-financial assistance from the EU in the amount of EUR 3 billion out of the promised EUR 18 billions will be received by Ukraine this week. This information was clarified by Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine and the EU signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the provision of EUR 18 billion of macro-financial assistance and this will help to further maintain macroeconomic stability.

The funds will be provided in the form of concessional loans to be paid in regular monthly installments to support the Ukrainian budget. The initiative of the EU countries was approved unanimously, although Hungary had been vetoing such a decision for a long time.

Russian soldiers involved in shelling of Dnipro identified

Ukraine's Security Service identified Russian servicemen involved in the missile attack on a residential building in Dnipro, which took place on January 14. 

Several dozens of Russian servicemen are involved in committing this crime, including 

• commander of the 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (military unit 33310) Colonel Oleg Timoshin , born in 1971;
• commander of the aviation detachment of the 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, Major Alexey Ivanenko, born in 1987;
• Chief of Staff of the aviation squadron of the aviation group Dmytry Golenkov, born in 1978;
• navigator of the 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment Denis Grigoriev, born in 1982;
• navigator of the 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment Dinar Nazirov, born in 1985;
• aviation weapons engineer of the 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment Yevgeny Potseluev, born in 1980.

As a result of the attack, 40 people were confirmed dead, including 3 children. Seventy-five victims were injured, including 14 children.