Result 18.01: Strike against St. Petersburg and coalition with France

Ukrainian troops are facing a shortage of ammunition and ammunition. This statement was made by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the opening of the Coalition’s artillery in Paris. Umerov said that Russia is significantly superior to Ukraine in daily artillery attacks, and in different sectors of the front and in the stages of combat operations, the Russians fired 5-10 times more artillery than the Ukrainian forces. He called for increased production of ammunition and improved artillery capabilities.

The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine organized a drone attack on an oil depot in the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation. Ukrainskaya Pravda reported this on Thursday, January 18, citing an interlocutor in the special services. “This is a power steering operation using modern Ukrainian methods. Data collection continues, there are confirmed hits on targets. Now the military facilities of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region are within reach of Ukrainian forces ,” said the interlocutor.

Congressmen are close to agreement on a major new financial aid package for Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported this with reference to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “We’re closer than we’ve ever been. For the first time, I’m optimistic. For the first time, I think the odds of getting this done in the Senate is better than the odds of not doing it done,” Schumer said. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, said that the issue of providing additional financial aid to Ukraine can only be resolved after the Mexican border crisis is resolved. Later, The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Joe Biden made concessions for the sake of Ukraine and agreed to strengthen immigration policy to avoid further criticism and provide aid to Ukraine. The publication writes that the Senate is developing an immigration deal that would limit the ability of migrants to seek asylum. The document must be accepted in exchange for new military aid for Ukraine and Israel. He is said to have a good chance, although Republicans are putting more difficult conditions.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the European Council and EU member states to examine Hungary’s possible violation of the bloc’s values. The corresponding document was supported by 345 representatives, 104 voted against and another 29 abstained. MEPs also condemned the actions of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who last December blocked an important decision to review the EU’s long-term budget, including the aid package for Ukraine, “with disrespect and violation of strategic interests of the EU and the principle of sincere cooperation. .” The EU should not be subjected to this blackmail, they emphasize. The European Parliament called on the European Council to determine whether Hungary has committed “serious and persistent violations of EU values” under the more direct procedure set out for Article 7(2) of the EU Treaty. As is known, the resolutions of the European Parliament are not binding.

The aggravation of the situation in the Red Sea region due to the actions of the Yemeni Houthis led to a slowdown in Ukrainian agricultural exports in January by 20%. The Minister of Agrarian Policy Nikolai Solsky said this. He named the New Year holidays as another reason for the slowdown in exports. At the same time, exports have started growing in recent days, the minister added.

Greenland’s ice sheet is melting 20% ​​faster than previously thought. It is losing 30 million tons of ice every hour due to the climate crisis, according to new data. Some scientists worry that this additional source of fresh water entering the North Atlantic could mean that the collapse of a current called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is nearing its end, with dire consequences. for mankind.