Victorious news of 331st day of war: mobile air defense groups, huge batches of Western weapons for Ukraine and ZNPP personnel do not want to work with Russia

Espreso TV has selected a compilation of positive news of January 20, which allows to remain optimistic in difficult times.

Ramstein - 8

On January 20, the 8th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense began in Germany at the Ramstein Air Base in the United States, bringing together about  50 countries. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said that "this is a crucial moment for Ukraine and the world."

The US Secretary of Defense also said that Russia was "running out of ammunition and suffering significant combat losses."  Moscow is "turning to its few remaining partners to resupply its tragic and unnecessary invasion, but even Iran and North Korea won’t admit that they are supplying Russia," he emphasized.

Ukraine to receive military aid worth a billion

Germany has announced a EUR 1 billion spring aid package for Ukraine. At the Ramstein meeting, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a spring package of support for Ukraine. Germany will send to Ukraine the Patriot system, 7 more Gepard self-propelled artillery systems, Iris-T SLM systems and guided missiles for them. In particular, logistics and training for Ukrainian defenders on IFVs and Patriot will be organized and will begin in late January.

The White House also announced a new USD 2.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine. The aid package includes 8 Avenger air defense systems, 59 additional Bradley and 90 Stryker armored vehicles, 350 Humvee armored vehicles, 53 MRAP mine-resistant vehicles, ammunition for HIMARS, artillery, and more.

Finland also announced a 12th package of military aid. It amounts to more than EUR 400 million. In addition, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have agreed to supply Ukraine with their Leopard 2 tanks. The only thing left to do is to get Germany's consent to supply them.

Another good news from the Netherlands. Its Cabinet of Ministers is considering providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. In Davos, Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren added that the Netherlands is ready to pay for Leopard 2 tanks that other countries may send to Ukraine. And British officials are ready to provide Ukraine with analogs of ATACMS missiles.

Air defense groups are formed in northern Ukraine to protect critical infrastructure

Mobile air defense groups are being set up in northern Ukraine to defend critical infrastructure from attacks by enemy drones and missiles. So far, 19 such groups have been formed on the basis of powerful Ford F250 and Ford F350 off-road vehicles adapted to combat conditions.

"The mobile fire units are already defending the approaches to critical infrastructure facilities in the Volyn region, as well as strategic facilities in the Sumy region," noted Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev.

The mobile groups will also defend Kyiv and settlements in the northern and northwestern Ukraine against Mohajer-6 and Shahed-136 drones.

"These groups will perform tasks in the most dangerous areas from where enemy UAVs, cruise missiles or aircraft approach. A mobile fire unit should move to a designated location, practicing a given azimuth of the air target's approach and returning to the place of deployment as quickly as possible," Nayev emphasized.

According to the General Staff, the Ukrainian Defense Forces aviation launched 14 attacks on Russian manpower concentrations and 3 on the positions of anti-aircraft missile systems over the last day. Ukrainian rocket and artillery soldiers hit a control center, 2 personnel concentrations and an ammunition warehouse.

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant staff refuses to cooperate with Russia

Energoatom, a Ukrainian state energy company, says that Russia cannot launch ZNPP power units because the staff refuses to cooperate. Ukrainian specialists have refused to cooperate, and there is a lack of their own personnel. Therefore, Russians cannot launch Zaporizhzhia NPP.

"Russia has driven itself into a staff shortage by blocking access to the plant for almost 1,500 Ukrainian employees of ZNPP, who refused to receive Russian passports and sign an agreement with the fake operating organization of Zaporizhzhia NPP JSC or another Rosatom enterprise," the institution noted.