Raiffeisen Bank International, the largest Western bank still operating in Russia, reported its first quarterly loss in nine years, with a net loss of 926 million euros in Q4 2024 after having to set aside $867 million for Russian court rulings. The bank announced its departure from Russia in June, but the Russian government and court systems have slowed down this exit. The bank has 4.4 billion euros trapped in the country due to government restrictions. The bank's Russian division earned over $1 billion in the first 3 quarters of 2023 and paid 277 million Euros to Russia in taxes. The bank has also worked with companies and organizations involved in providing the Russian military with arms and supplies.  


Ukrainian law enforcement has identified a Russian serviceman responsible for attempting to kill a civilian during the Russian occupation of Bucha in March 2022. The man is a platoon commander from the Russian 76th Airborne Division. He shot a local resident, who managed to survive after being left for dead. This is the second time the serviceman has been shown to have been involved in the murder of civilians.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, stated that approximately 8,000 North Korean troops remain in combat in the Kursk region, refuting reports from The New York Times suggesting they had been withdrawn due to losses. Budanov said their combat activity had decreased but they were still fighting.

Reuters reported that an Azerbaijani government source revealed that a passenger plane that was downed Aktau, Kazakhstan in December 2024, was shot down by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system. The source said that they recovered Pantsir missile fragments. The crash killed 38 people.

A Russian ballistic missile strike on Izyum killed five civilians and injured 55 others, including a 15-year-old girl. The missile hit an administrative building housing tax and social services offices, and caused damage to 170 apartments. Among the dead were two sisters, ages 18 and 19, with the older sister being pregnant. Debris recovered from the scene reveals that a 9M723 Iskander missile equipped with Kometa-4 antennas was used in this strike.

Gazprom's Astrakhan gas processing plant has suspended operations for at least three months following an attack by Ukrainian drone. The condensate processing unit was reportedly damaged. The facility processed 10 billion cubic meters of gas in 2022 and employs 5,600 people.

Ukraine and Poland signed a memorandum to cooperate on ammunition production, vehicle maintenance, and air defense strengthening. The agreement involves Poland's PGZ Polish Armaments Group and Ukroboronprom.

Ukrainian company Frontline has launched mass production of the Burya robotic turret for Mk 19 40mm fully automatic grenade launchers. The system weighs 47 kg, can be remotely controlled up to 100 meters aways and includes a ballistic calculator. Multiple units, including the Da Vinci Wolves battalion will receive the turrets.  

Latvia has begun producing Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers for Ukraine. The Patria can transport 10  soldiers and reach speeds of 100 km/h. Additionally, Latvia delivered 100 Ardlat FPV drones to Ukraine's 21st Brigade and National Police Brigade Liut. The drones have a 15-kilometer range and can carry a payload that weighs up to 3 kg.

The State Emergency Service warned that Russia is using new self-destructing drones that detonate on contact to target civilians.


Russia has begun using Orion reconnaissance drones armed with Kh-BPLA laser-guided missiles to destroy Ukrainian naval drones. The drones can operate for 24 hours within a 250-kilometer radius and are being used to patrol the Black Sea. The Kh-BPLA is based on the Kornet anti-tank missile.


Ukraine is exploring plans to establish a food hub in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone, which has six ports and offers tax and customs benefits. The hub would allow Ukrainian farmers to process raw materials into finished products like flour and pasta, providing food for over 1.3 billion people in Africa and Arab nations. The goal is to make Ukraine an exporter of more finished products instead of just raw resources like whole grain. Ukraine's agricultural exports reached $24.5 billion in 2024, making up 59% of total exports, second only to 2021's $27.7 billion.


Ukraine's agricultural-food product imports in 2024 totaled $7.82 billion, a 9.7% increase from the previous year. The EU supplied 51.3% of these imports, worth $4 billion, a 9% increase. Imports from Asia rose by 19.1% to $1.5 billion, from Latin America by 7.4% to $580 million, and from Africa by 5.2% to $410 million. Poland was the top supplier at $925 million, followed by Germany at $623 million, Turkey at $603 million, and  Italy at $388 million. Top import categories included fish and seafood at $929 million, fruits, berries, and nuts at $866 million, and beverages at $808 million, which together accounted for 64% of total imports.


President Zelenskyy said Ukraine is open to exchanging military aid for access to rare earth minerals. Speaking at a February 4 briefing, he noted this was discussed with Trump in September 2024 and is part of Ukraine's "victory plan." Zelenskyy warned that if Russia gains control of these minerals, companies from countries like Iran or North Korea might benefit from them instead.


Jack Lopresti, a former Conservative MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, has joined the Ukrainian International Legion and works in a support role, and focuses on diplomacy, weapons procurement, and some work with veterans and charities.



Ukraine’s 92nd Brigade has received upgraded MT-LBu armored personnel carrier with Ukrainian-made BM-7 Parus remote weapon systems mounted on them. The BM-7 is the same turret used ont he BTR-4 and is armed with a 30mm cannon, twin machine guns, and a grenade launcher. These MT-LBs also got additional slat armor mounted on them.

President Zelenskyy has signed a law allowing spouses of Ukrainian Defense Forces personnel to obtain Ukrainian citizenship. The legislation also establishes immigration quotas for foreigners seeking to reunite with Ukrainian military personnel and allows for citizenship for foreigners who defended Ukraine.

Zelenskyy estimated that Russian forces have suffered 300,000–350,000 deaths, with an additional 50,000 to 70,000 missing, and 600,000–700,000 wounded. He said that Russia’s high mortality rate is due to inferior medical treatment Russian troops receive. Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine has lost 45,100 soldiers, with 390,000 wounded cases, though some soldiers were wounded multiple times and returned to combat. This is also true for Russian troops.

In an interview on February 4, President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine needs alternative security guarantees, including nuclear weapons or a sufficient supply of missiles, if Ukraine’s entrance into NATO continues to be delayed. Zelenskyy said that if NATO membership is not granted soon, Western countries should consider providing military assistance, including nuclear weapons or missile systems, and deploying troops in Ukraine.


Zelenskyy announced that the issue of liberating the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant would be addressed in the first formal meeting between Ukraine and Russia on  February 6. Zelenskyy said that there is an urgent need to restore Ukrainian control over the plant. The condition of the plant has deteriorated under Russian control. It is currently not operating, in part due to Russia's failure to fully man and maintain it. He also said that Russia had taken two Ukrainian energy workers hostage at the plant.

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has ordered the transfer of 50,000 troops to the Ground Forces, to begin Ukraine's first full-scale troop rotation in three years. A military source said the move will establish a proper rotation procedure. This source also said that current training centers only allow for minimal unit replenishment.

Ukrainian soldier Muchnoy airborn:
Between the Solona and Vovcha rivers: The enemy is making great efforts to advance somehow in Uspenivka but all attempts end in death of the pig-invaders, our warriors repel attacks and do not allow them to take control of the village! There was also a small counterattack on the ruscist positions south of Nadezhdinka, the enemy was pushed out of 2 tree lines and thrown back 1km. Similarly, the bastards are attacking the settlement of Zaporizhzhia and have only tactical successes, they tried to secure positions in the outermost houses and were quickly sent to Kobzon's concert in the front rows!
It seems that reinforcements have arrived in this direction, the front here may also stabilize!
...

Kurakhove direction: In the north, fighting continues for Andriivka! If the enemy starts to severely break our defense, as I have said repeatedly, units in the settlement of Ulakly will find themselves in an uncomfortable position and will be suppressed by ruscist fire from all sides. Our command understands this and is trying to extinguish this fire so this doesn't happen! I want to thank my brothers in arms who are holding the defense there with titanic efforts and not allowing the enemy to execute competent maneuvers. We are also repelling attacks by the metallurgy workers in the area of Kostiantynopil! They're pushing, yes, we need to prepare strongly so we don't start sagging south of the Vovcha river. Regarding the settlement of Dachne, the ruscists claim they fully control the village, no, our infantry is still there. In fact, the village is already completely in the grey zone, the enemy runs to the western part, we unwind them and withdrawal will be a matter of time. Further on there are kilometers of fucking useless field, and after that comes Ulakly and the fire pocket!

Quote of the Day:

“The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving hedgehogs too much, and forgetting that you are special too.”

― Ernest Hemingway