Victorious news of 344th day of war: AFU start training on Patriot in Germany, 15,000 more Ukrainian soldiers to be trained in EU, explosions in Mariupol

70 Ukrainian soldiers arrive in Germany to master the Patriot missile system

On February 2, Ukrainian military personnel arrived in Germany to receive training on Patriot systems. According to German journalists, a group of about 70 Ukrainians landed on Tuesday and is scheduled to begin training today. Earlier, the German government, after consultations with the US, decided to provide Ukraine with a complete Patriot system to repel attacks by drones, missiles, or aircraft.

EU expands training mission for the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Another 15,000 Ukrainian military personnel will be trained as part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission. This will bring the total number of trained EU MAM personnel to 30,000.

Top EU officials in Kyiv

On February 2, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, arrived in Kyiv. Ursula von der Leyen said that due to EU sanctions against Russia's energy sector, Russia loses EUR 160 million a day.

At a meeting with Borrell, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal urged the EU to impose sanctions on Rosatom, Russian biggest energy company, as soon as possible.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ursula von der Leyen provided a report on the results of the second part of the questionnaire previously submitted by Ukraine, Now, the country will begin the process of bringing its legislation in line with EU standards, based on the report.

On February 3, the EU-Ukraine summit will take place in Kyiv.

EU allocates another EUR 545 million in aid to Ukraine 

On Thursday, February 2, the EU Council allocated the 7th EUR 500 million aid package and an additional EUR 45 million for a military assistance mission. The 7th aid package brings the total EU contribution under the EPF to EUR 3.6 billion. In turn, an additional EUR 45 million was provided for the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The main purpose of the assistance is to provide the necessary non-lethal equipment and materials, as well as services to support the training activities of the Ukrainian military.

SOBR unit arrives in the Donetsk region to suppress riots in the Russian army

The Russian military leadership has deployed a special rapid response unit (SOBR) to the Donetsk region to suppress riots among its military. The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the mental and psychological state of the Russian troops in that area is "somewhat depressed."

10 Russian soldiers who were looting in Bucha and Irpin surrender to the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, 10 Russian soldiers from the 155th Marine Brigade of the Russian Federation surrendered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces: this is the brigade that entered Irpin and Bucha.

Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminate 610 Russian servicemen in 24 hours

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has suffered losses in the war against Ukraine, including more than 129,000 troops, 3,211 tanks, 2,212 artillery systems and 222 air defense systems. Over the past day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated 610 Russian servicemen, 2 tanks and an air defense system. More details are available here.

Several explosions occur in Mariupol at Russian troops' bases

Today in the temporarily occupied Mariupol, explosions were heard near a Russian base and the locations of their air defense systems. Explosions were recorded near the former Port City shopping center, where Russian troops and representatives of United Russia political party have set up a base, and in the fields near the 23rd microdistrict, where they located air defense systems.

Russian drone shot down over the Black Sea

On February 2, Ukrainian air defense shot down a Russian Orlan-10 drone over the Black Sea.

The US will not object if allies provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets 

According to American journalists, the US has not informed its allies that it will block the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine. At the same time, US officials tend not to transfer fighter jets from their arsenal. Senior officials believe that for the US to send its fighter aircraft would be an expensive and complicated measure that "is not worth it in the short term compared to Ukraine's more urgent needs for artillery, missiles, and air defense systems."