What has happened in the last few hours
On the 344th day of the war against Ukraine that Russia started, these are the key data at 12:00 this Thursday, February 2nd:
Von der Leyen is coming to Kyiv to demonstrate the EU’s “determined support for Ukraine”. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv this Thursday, accompanied by a large group of commissioners, to hold talks with members of the Ukrainian government on the country’s EU accession. The appointment comes on the eve of the big Ukraine-EU summit, which will be held in Kyiv on Friday, when about a year has passed since the start of the Russian invasion. “This is my fourth visit to Kyiv,” commented von der Leyen. “It was important to emphasize now that we support Ukraine for as long as necessary, as firmly as ever. We have a lot of work ahead of us together. For example in emergency aid, in reconstruction, in the accession process,” he added.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine on the country’s EU accession: “I am convinced that we will achieve this in two years.” Ukraine believes it is feasible to be able to join the European Union in two years, as its Prime Minister Denis Shmihal told Der Spiegel weekly, where he has confirmed his commitment to “zero tolerance” towards corruption and has recalled the in these given direction. “I am convinced that we will achieve this in two years. Our goal is to be officially ready to become members by the end of 2024 [de la UE]. The decision is not up to us. But we are ready to do whatever we can,” he told the publication.
Putin visits Stalingrad on the 80th anniversary of his liberation. Russia this Thursday marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory at Stalingrad, the battle in which the USSR ended Nazi Germany’s advance in World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin will direct events in the famous city of Volgograd, where the authorities have renamed the city to the Soviet name for 24 hours, despite opposition from its own citizens.
The Ukrainian army notes that Russia is preparing offensives in various places. Ukrainian military admits that Russian troops fighting in the east of the country are stepping up activities in Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts, which make up the Donbas mining region, and preparing an offensive just as the first anniversary of the invasion approaches, which began on February 24 2022. According to the daily report of the Ukrainian General Staff, the Russians are trying to advance towards the cities of Liman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Novopavlivka in Donetsk province, and the Ukrainians have repelled attacks in several cities in Lugansk and Kharkiv oblasts, as well as in Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Zelenski dismisses customs chiefs for alleged abuse of power. In his traditional late-night speech, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the dismissal of the heads of the customs service for alleged abuse of power. “Unfortunately, in some areas, the only way to guarantee legitimacy is to change heads along with the implementation of institutional changes,” Zelensky said, adding that the change “is necessary to ensure people don’t abuse power.” “.
A Russian attack on Kramatorsk claims three dead and 20 wounded. The death toll in the Russian rocket attack which hit a residential building in the town of Kramatorsk (Donetsk) has risen to three, local authorities reported late Wednesday. Another 22 people were injured.
In the photo that is Vyacheslav Madevsky for Portal two people next to the Kramatorsk apartment building destroyed by Russia on Wednesday.