BRITAIN has confirmed its plans to send a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine today.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced the plans that see Britain become the first major western power to supply Ukraine with tanks.
Mr Wallace told MPs: “Today, I can announce the most significant package of combat power to date to accelerate Ukrainian success. This includes a squadron of Challenge 2 tanks with armoured recovery and repair vehicles.
“President Putin cannot win, but he’s equally certain he can continue inflicting this wanton violence and human suffering until his forces are ejected from their defensive positions and expelled from the country.”
This comes as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights announced civilian casualties as a result of Putin's bloodthirsty war have surpassed 7,000.
Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news…
The European Union has agreed to a new wave of funding worth 18 billion Euros for Ukraine.
Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's prime minister, shared the news on Twitter today.
He wrote: "Ukraine and the EU have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide €18bn in macro-financial assistance.
"We expect to receive a tranche of €3bn this week. Many thanks to vonderleyen & VDombrovskis.
"This will help maintain macroeconomic stability going forward."
Ukraine and the EU have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide €18bn in macro-financial assistance. We expect to receive a tranche of €3bn this week. Many thanks to @vonderleyen & @VDombrovskis. This will help maintain macroeconomic stability going forward.
Following the confirmation that Britain would be providing tanks to Ukraine, officials have called on Germany to do the same.
Ben Wallace told the Commons: "It has been reported that obviously, Poland is very keen to donate some Leopards, as is Finland.
"All of this currently relies on the German government’s decisions – not only whether the Germans will supply their own Leopards, but whether or not they’ll give permissions to others. I would urge my German colleagues to do that."
President Zelensky took to Twitter today to hail the UK following its decision to send a squadron of tanks to Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky wrote: "Tanks, APCs and artillery are exactly what Ukraine needs to restore its territorial integrity.
"Thank you @RishiSunak, thank you @BWallaceMP, thank you British people for this powerful contribution to our common victory over tyranny."
Tanks, APCs and artillery are exactly what Ukraine needs to restore its territorial integrity. Thank you @RishiSunak, thank you @BWallaceMP, thank you British people for this powerful contribution to our common victory over tyranny.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday condemned the Russian people’s “cowardly silence” over the attack.
The hero leader also added Ukraine had received messages of sympathy from around the world over “this terror.”
“The rescue operation will last as long as there is even the slightest chance to save lies,” he continued.
Speaking in the Commons today, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed Britain would send 12 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.
He said: "In December, I told the House that I was developing options to respond to Russia’s continued aggression in a calibrated and determined manner.
"Today, I can announce the most significant package of combat power to date to accelerate Ukrainian success. This includes a squadron of Challenge 2 tanks with armoured recovery and repair vehicles.
"We will donate AS-90 guns to Ukraine. This comprises a battery of eight guns of high readiness and two further batteries at varying stages of readiness."
Mr Wallace added: "It means they can go from existing to expelling Russian forces from Ukrainian soil.
"President Putin cannot win, but he’s equally certain he can continue inflicting this wanton violence and human suffering until his forces are ejected from their defensive positions and expelled from the country."
As part of a package of significant combat power to accelerate Ukrainian success, the UK will send a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Here’s a minute of the Challenger 2 doing what it does best.
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/LOGHZpeDRf
Volodymyr Zelensky has said it is “very important that normal people unite in response to terror” following the missile strikes on Dnipro in his nightly address.
He said: “Since the attack, Ukraine has heard words of condolences and support from many leaders, public figures, journalists and ordinary people from around the world. I thank everyone who did not remain indifferent! It is very important that normal people unite in response to terror.
“But…I want to say to all those in Russia – and from Russia – who even now could not utter even a few words of condemnation of this terror… Even though they see and know everything perfectly well…
“Your cowardly silence, your attempt to “wait out” what is happening will only end with those same terrorists coming after you one day.”
Around 100 Ukrainian soldiers have arrived in the US to receive military training.
The soldiers travelled to Oklahoma to begin the programme, reports Fox News.
This comes after Britain launched a scheme to train Ukrainian soldiers last year.
The UK's defence secretary announced in the House of Commons today that he would be sending a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine in a bid to halt Putin's brutal invasion.
He told MPs the UK must “accelerate our collective efforts to dramatically, economically and militarily to keep the pressure” on President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Wallace described this package as “the most significant package of combat to date to accelerate Ukrainian success.”
This makes Britain the first major western power to send tanks to Ukraine, as the country continues to fight against Putin's bloodthirsty war.
Turkey's President Erdogan has once again offered to facilitate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
The Turkish leader had a phone call with Putin in which the Russian dictator reportedly “drew attention to the destructive line of the Kyiv regime, which relies on the intensification of hostilities with the support of western sponsors, increasing the volume of transferred weapons and military equipment."
President Erdogan's office released this statement: "During the call, President Erdogan reiterated that Turkey is ready to undertake the task of facilitating and mediating for the establishment of a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine."
Russian forces have faced heavy losses within the past 24 hours as a further 790 troops were eliminated.
The total number of Putin’s losses now exceeds 116,000.
Russia has also lost another 12 tanks and 24 vehicles in what appears to be a humiliating day.
"We shall not fail or falter. We shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools and we will finish the job."
Churchill
Total combat losses of the enemy from Feb 24 to Jan 16: pic.twitter.com/DbbwsCfGIC
The Ukrainian defence ministry took to Twitter today to honour the 40 victims of Russia's attack on a Dnipro residential block.
The tweet read: "The bodies of 40 dead, including 3 children, were found at the house in Dnipro destroyed by a russian missile.
"How many Ukrainians must be killed by the terrorist state before the world finally understands that inaction and hesitancy is equivalent to siding with the killer?"
The bodies of 40 dead, including 3 children, were found at the house in Dnipro destroyed by a russian missile.
How many Ukrainians must be killed by the terrorist state before the world finally understands that that inaction and hesitancy is equivalent to siding with the killer? pic.twitter.com/HY3b0JRNvF
The Kremlin has sanctioned James Cleverly, Britain's foreign secretary.
Taking to Twitter, Mr Cleverly wrote: "I've been sanctioned by the Russian government.
"Good. If this is the price for supporting Ukrainian freedom, then I’m happy to be sanctioned #SlavaUkraini."
I've been sanctioned by the
Russian government.
Good.
If this is the price for supporting Ukrainian freedom, then I’m happy to be sanctioned #SlavaUkraini
The UN's nuclear watchdog is set to expand its presence in Ukraine, as the west attempts to avoid a "nuclear accident."
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the chief of the Internation Atomic Energy Agency, took to Twitter to confirm the plans.
He wrote: "IAEAorg is expanding its presence in #Ukraine to help prevent a nuclear accident during the ongoing conflict.
"I’m proud to lead this mission to Ukraine, where we’re deploying in all of the country’s NPPs to provide assistance in nuclear safety & security."
.@IAEAorg is expanding its presence in #Ukraine to help prevent a nuclear accident during the ongoing conflict. I’m proud to lead this mission to 🇺🇦, where we’re deploying in all of the country’s NPPs to provide assistance in nuclear safety & security. pic.twitter.com/hks7jMpLBj
The death toll from Russia's brutal attack on civilians in Dnipro has continued to rise today, report local officials.
A further five fatalities have been confirmed, bringing the total deaths up to 40.
Among the dead is a 15-year-old girl.
At least 75 people remain injured, while thousands require shelter.
The president of Shakhtar Donetsk football club has pledged more than £20m to help Ukraine's soldiers.
The huge donation comes after the sale of Mykhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea.
In a statement Mr Akhmetov said: "I have mixed feelings today. On the one hand, I am happy for Mykhaylo and proud of him. This guy is leading by example, showing that talent and hard work can make the impossible possible. I am absolutely confident that the entire Europe will acclaim Mykhaylo's brilliant and fine play.
"On the other hand, I have never made it a secret that my dream is to win European trophies. This means that players like Mudryk should be invited to our club, to our Ukrainian championship, and we should win European trophies with such players, rather than root for them, even when they play in the world's top clubs.
"Unfortunately, it is impossible now, as Ukraine is fighting the horrendous and unjust war waged against us by the Russian Federation. But I am confident that we will win. And we will play a friendly against Chelsea at Donbas Arena in a Ukrainian Donetsk."
This striking image shows a woman ladling out soup outside an apartment block hit by a rocket launched by Russian occupiers during a massive missile attack on Ukraine Saturday.
Search and rescue operations and dismantling of dangerous structural elements continuer after the devastating missile attack which levelled an apartment block in the city of Dnipro, Ukraine.
The second picture shows the aftermath of the evil rocket attack on the building.
Rescuers remove the rubble and search for people – at the time the photo was taken, 39 people were rescued including six children.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday praised his forces after their claimed capture of a Ukraine town and in the wake of a missile strike that killed 35 people in a tower block.
The taking of Soledar in eastern Ukraine, a salt-mining outpost home to 10,000 before the conflict, was hailed as a major success by Moscow after months of humiliating setbacks on the battlefield.
"There is a positive dynamic, everything is developing according to plans," Putin said, in an interview broadcasted Sunday.
"I hope that our fighters will please us more than once again."
A bungling Russian soldier accidentally set off a grenade at an ammo dump leading to the deaths of three fighters and injuring 16 others.
The blast at the makeshift bomb storage facility in Belgorod, Russia, was blamed on "careless handling" of the device. The dead and injured, along with eight fighters who are missing, are believed to be conscripted troops, who were bound for Putin's war in Ukraine.
Authorities told news agencies: "As a result of the unintentional detonation of a grenade by a sergeant, 16 servicemen, including the culprit, have been taken to hospital. Three more died."
Russia has produced the first nuclear warheads for the Poseidon super torpedoes to be deployed on the Belgorod nuclear submarine, TASS reported on Monday, citing an unidentified defence source.
"The first Poseidon ammunition loads have been manufactured, and the Belgorod submarine will receive them in the near future," TASS quoted the source as saying.
President Vladimir Putin first announced what would become known as Poseidon in 2018, saying it was a fundamentally new type of strategic nuclear weapon with its own nuclear power source.
Russian forces have faced heavy losses within the past 24 hours as a further 790 troops were eliminated.
The total number of Putin's losses now exceeds 116,000.
Russia have also lost another 12 tanks and 24 vehicles in what appears to be a humiliating day.
These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Jan. 16, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/Lq2r9hFHCU
The British Ministry of Defence has claimed Ukraine is making advancements on the edge of Kremina town – despite a series of devastating attacks this weekend.
A statement from the Government ministry said: "Over the weekend, intense fighting continued in both the Kremina and Bakhmut sectors of the Donbas front. As of 15 January 2023, Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) almost certainly maintained positions in Soledar, north of Bakhmut, in the face of continued Wagner Group assaults.
"Around Kremina, fighting has been characterised by a complex series of local attacks and counter-attacks in wooded country. However, overall, the UAF continue to gradually advance their front line east on the edge of Kremina town.
"Over the last six weeks, both Russia and Ukraine have achieved hard-fought but limited gains in different sectors.
"In these circumstances, a key operational challenge for both sides is to generate formations of uncommitted, capable troops which can exploit the tactical successes to create operational breakthroughs."
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 16 January 2023
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/W1uSYAIeGE
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/LO82vM2DDX
Kyiv can expect more deliveries of heavy weapons from Western countries soon, NATO said Sunday, as President Vladimir Putin praised his forces after their claimed capture of a Ukraine town.
Washington meanwhile condemned the missile on a tower block in the eastern city of Dnipro, as the death toll rose to 30 as rescue teams kept up the search for survivors.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine could expect more heavy weapons following Kyiv's requests to its allies for the vehicles, artillery and missiles it says are key to defending itself.
"The recent pledges for heavy warfare equipment are important — and I expect more in the near future," Stoltenberg told Germany's Handelsblatt daily, ahead of a meeting this week of a group that coordinates arms supplies to Kyiv.
Days after Russia claimed to have taken Soledar in eastern Ukraine, a salt-mining outpost home to 10,000 before the conflict, Putin hailed it as a major success.
"There is a positive dynamic, everything is developing according to plans," Putin said, in an interview broadcast Sunday. "I hope that our fighters will please us more than once again."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday condemned the Russian people's "cowardly silence" over the attack.
The hero leader also added Ukraine had received messages of sympathy from around the world over "this terror."
"The rescue operation will last as long as there is even the slightest chance to save lies," he continued.
A deadly strike on a residential building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro as killed at least 35 people, including two children.
The regional governor broke the grim news this morning as rescue operations continued.
Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko said on social media: "As of now, the enemy attack took the lives of 35 residents of the building, including two children. Thirty nine people were saved, 75 were injured."
He added that the "fate of another 35 residents of the building is unknown" as the search for survivors was continuing nearly 40 hours after the strike.
An earlier toll from rescuers had stood at 30.
The Kremlin said on Monday that the tanks Britain plans to send to Ukraine "will burn".
The UK said on Saturday that they would send 14 Challenger 2 tanks as well as other advanced artillery support in the coming weeks.
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