LIVE: Day 344 of Russian aggression against Ukraine

The situation on the front lines in eastern Ukraine “has become tougher” as Russian forces push for gains that they could show on the first anniversary of their invasion, on February 24, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a sombre assessment.

22:37 CET

Photo of a building destroyed on February 1 in #Kramatorsk

Three people were killed and at least 22 others were wounded as a result of the Russian missile strike. pic.twitter.com/toReIWFfU5

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

22:05 CET

⚡️Russian forces shell kindergarten in Kherson Oblast.

Russian shelling destroyed a kindergarten in Zolota Balka in Kherson Oblast, according to regional military administration.

Photo: Kherson Oblast Military Administration/Telegram pic.twitter.com/tnCAyEG5ZM

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

21:26 CET

⚡️Reuters: Putin claims Russia ready to draw on entire arsenal as Germany sends tanks to Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin criticized Germany for providing Ukraine with the Leopard 2 battle tanks, saying he is ready to draw on Russia’s entire arsenal, according to Reuters.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

20:45 CET

🙅‍♂️ Ukraine is ready to guarantee that long-range missiles will not hit Russia https://t.co/E9ZUMTeGZS

— Ukrainska Pravda in English (@pravda_eng) February 2, 2023

19:56 CET

Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov also reported explosions at a Russian base near the city and at the oil depot in the occupied village Novobohdanivka, located 30 kilometers north of Melitopol.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

19:01 CET

💥 Ukroboronprom showed new 82-mm fragmentation mines on front lines https://t.co/ewpClcKpuJ

— Ukrainska Pravda in English (@pravda_eng) February 2, 2023

18:08 CET

⚡️Ukrainian military: Russia reportedly abducts high school students from occupied Luhansk Oblast.

Russia has abducted 50 high school children from Lysychansk in Luhansk Oblast to Russia’a Tatarstan region, the Ukrainian military's National Resistance Center said on Feb. 2.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

17:19 CET

😤 Ukraine's Defence Ministry procurement: court arrests ex-Deputy Defence Minister on bail of US$10 million https://t.co/ZUQCnuNTXS

— Ukrainska Pravda in English (@pravda_eng) February 2, 2023

16:48 CET

The European Union will create a coordination center in The Hague to gather evidence of Russian crimes.

"Russia must be held accountable in the courts for its heinous crimes," said Ursula von der Leyen.

Video: DW pic.twitter.com/myJWW3zEru

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

16:24 CET

⚡️Russian Feb. 2 missile attack on Kramatorsk injures at least 5.

Russian troops fired two missiles at central Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 2, wounding at least five people, according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, the oblast governor.

📷 Pavlo Kyrylenko pic.twitter.com/AbFiNdByiC

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

16:02 CET

🇪🇺🇺🇦 EU to train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers, allocate €25 million for demining https://t.co/aYva22E2qh pic.twitter.com/MK8iV3PW9r

— Ukrainska Pravda in English (@pravda_eng) February 2, 2023

15:19 CET

Ukrainian soldiers came to Germany for training on the Patriot air defense system. According to the German dpa news agency citing a source withing German security service, the 70-servicemen- strong group arrived on Tuesday.

The German government, in agreement with the U.S. government, wants to deliver Patriot weapons system to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian attacks.

Source: dpa via PAP

14:30 CET

Putin ordered to prevent shelling of border regions

"The priority task is to eliminate the possibility of shelling the border regions, but this is a matter for the military department," Putin said.

Hysterical reaction to the provision of long-range missiles from the U.S.? pic.twitter.com/IFCh9KNQdV

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 1, 2023

14:13 CET

The #EU intends to introduce new sanctions against #Russia on the anniversary of the start of the invasion of #Ukraine.

There are plans to impose restrictions against Lukoil and Rosatom, as well as the rejection of Russian uranium. pic.twitter.com/8uxQOGLPia

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

14:00 CET

The Baltic nations and Poland are calling on international sports bodies to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus from the Olympics and other events while the war in Ukraine continues, Lithuanian sports minister Jurgita Siugzdiniene said on Thursday.

13:46 CET

Russian troops have shelled Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast for the second time in two days. There are wounded.

Yesterday, at least 2 people were killed and 6 wounded. https://t.co/BmH6kILJHB pic.twitter.com/rKs7S7aMqE

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) February 2, 2023

13:32 CET

⚡️SBU detains local official in Odesa over alleged corruption.

The official allegedly offered local businessmen his assistance in the "unobstructed" allocation of land plots, according to Ukraine's Security Service (SBU).

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

13:03 CET

#Serbian President Aleksandar #Vucic stated that his country will remain militarily neutral and will not join #NATO. pic.twitter.com/GHeGaXVuBr

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

13:02 CET

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Thursday for more punitive measures against Russia by the European Union and said he had discussed a new EU sanctions package with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

12:49 CET

French Thales will sell two GM-200 radars for Ukraine after Ukraine's defense minister visit to France

He also discussed with French president and defense minister further military aid, including training, more Crotale air defense systems and ammunition. https://t.co/05Ow0dtcvx pic.twitter.com/g2yGXBj2XG

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) February 2, 2023

12:30 CET

The #Ukrainian Foreign Ministry compared the abuse of Mikheil #Saakashvili abuse to the torture perpetrated by the NKVD.

"We call on the #Georgian authorities to immediately stop humiliating Mikheil Saakashvili and hand him over to Ukraine," the ministry said. pic.twitter.com/VzisSB6eK4

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

12:15 CET

“I have no moral right to ask Ukrainians for forgiveness. I can’t forgive myself." Konstantin Yefremov, a Russian army officer witnessed looting and torture committed by Russian troops in Ukraine. He told BBC he left the army and fled abroad. https://t.co/RAumB2HYjl

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) February 2, 2023

11:53 CET

On the territory of the occupied #Luhansk region, the #Russians have disabled mobile Internet because local residents are actively surrendering the positions of the invaders to the #Ukrainian Armed Forces. pic.twitter.com/FqdyD4d6sl

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

11:39 CET

⚡️Budget Commissioner: EU to announce 400 million euro assistance package for Ukraine.

The EU will announce an additional 400 million euro ($440 million) aid package to Ukraine to support its reform process, Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said on Feb. 2, cited by Bloomberg.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

11:11 CET

#Lavrov hinted that #Moldova could become the next victim of #Russian aggression. pic.twitter.com/8s099Z3KvG

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

10:33 CET

These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Feb. 2, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/IlWKODNjS1

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

10:10 CET

#Putin ordered the seizure of #Donetsk and #Luhansk regions by March, #Ukrainian intelligence said. pic.twitter.com/vbdI4BWd7E

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

09:57 CET

Investigative journalist Christo Grozev left #Vienna because of an alleged threat from the #Russian secret services. He was warned by his sources that he might be in danger in the Austrian capital. pic.twitter.com/ZDF7uL5sqq

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

09:15 CET

Austria is expelling four Russian diplomats for behaving in a manner inconsistent with international agreements, a reason often invoked in spying cases, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday without giving specifics.

Two of the four diplomats declared personae non gratae and ordered to leave the country by February 8 are stationed at the Russian Embassy to Austria while the other two work at the Russian mission to the United Nations in Vienna, the ministry said in a statement.

09:04 CET

#UkraineRussiaWar #WarCrimes #russiankillers #civilians #russiaisaterroriststate russian forces kill three civilians, injure 22 more in Donetsk region over past day https://t.co/TP8jKJHWVR

— Ukrinform-EN (@Ukrinform_News) February 2, 2023

08:52 CET

⚡️Politico: Pentagon doesn't think Ukraine can retake Crimea soon.

Ukraine is unlikely to retake Russian-occupied Crimea in the near future, four senior Defense Department officials told House Armed Services Committee lawmakers during a classified briefing, Politico reported.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

08:40 CET

Good to be back in Kyiv, my 4th time since Russia‘s invasion.

This time, with my team of Commissioners.

We are here together to show that the EU stands by Ukraine as firmly as ever.

And to deepen further our support and cooperation. pic.twitter.com/zf8fvoNKnG

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 2, 2023

08:06 CET

The death toll in #Kramatorsk has risen to 3 and the number of injured to 20, the Donetsk Region police said.

It is reported that Russians hit a residential sector of the city with an "Iskander-K" missile. In addition to the fact that 1 house was destroyed, 7 more were damaged. pic.twitter.com/GwqrItZbPW

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 1, 2023

07:44 CET

⚡️General Staff: Ukraine repels Russian assaults near 14 settlements in Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts.

Ukraine's General Staff also said Russian forces continue to attempt offensive operations near Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Novopavlivka in Donetsk Oblast.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

07:16 CET

A two-story construction module caught fire in occupied #Sevastopol, #Crimea. The fire took place on an area of 200 square meters. Five people died. pic.twitter.com/VWakU9QfJl

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

07:14 CET

Russia scored 2.28 out of 10, a 22-point change from the previous year, ranking 146th out of 165 states included in the report. (2/2)

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 2, 2023

07:08 CET

#Russia may launch another offensive on February 24 on the anniversary of the full-scale invasion, stated defense minister Oleksii Reznikov. pic.twitter.com/jGchC3cpTZ

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023

07:00 CET

Fighters of the #Belarusian Kalinouski Regiment captured two #Wagner mercenaries. https://t.co/op458DRNkz

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 2, 2023