As the Russian-Ukrainian war enters its 340th day, we take a look at the main events.
Here is the situation on Sunday, January 29, 2023:
Fight
- Russia has accused Ukraine’s military of deliberately attacking a hospital in a Russian-controlled area of eastern Ukraine, calling it a war crime that killed 14 people and wounded 24 patients and medical staff. There was no immediate response to the accusations from Ukraine.
- Three people were killed in a Russian attack in a residential area of the city of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine, the governor of the region said.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation on the front as “extremely acute”, especially in the eastern region of Donetsk, where Russia is stepping up its offensive.
- Zelenskyy reported significant fighting for Vuhledar, southwest of the capital Donetsk, and Bakhmut, in the northeast.
Weapon
- German arms maker Rheinmetall is poised to significantly increase its production of tank and artillery ammunition to meet strong demand in Ukraine and the West, and may begin manufacturing HIMARS multiple-barrel rocket launchers in Germany, CEO Armin Papperger told Reuters news agency.
- Talks are underway between Ukraine and its allies over Kiev’s demands for long-range missiles it says are needed to prevent Russia from destroying its cities, a top aide to Zelensky said.
- Several countries have promised Ukraine 321 heavy tanks, its ambassador to France said.
- Poland will send an additional 60 tanks to Ukraine on top of the 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks it promised, the Polish prime minister said in an interview with Canadian television.
Diplomacy
- North Korea has again criticized the US decision to send tanks to Ukraine, calling it an “unethical crime” aimed at perpetuating a volatile international situation.
- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov will hold a meeting with Lynne Tracy, the new US ambassador to Moscow, early next week, the RIA news agency reported.
- Zelenskyy condemned the idea of neutrality in sports at a time when his country’s athletes are fighting and dying in war, while their Russian counterparts could be allowed to compete.
Children in war
- Russia is violating “fundamental principles of child protection” in wartime conditions by giving Ukrainian children Russian passports and putting them up for adoption, the head of the UN refugee agency told Reuters.
Sanctions
- Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 182 Russian and Belarusian companies and three individuals, the latest in a series of moves by Zelensky to block their ties to his country.
- A senior U.S. Treasury Department sanctions official on a trip to Turkey and the Middle East next week will warn countries and companies that they could lose access to the U.S. market if they do business with entities subject to U.S. restrictions as Washington cracks down on Russian attempts to evade sanctions.