Zelenskyy revealed secret long-range weapons and EU to deliver 1 mln shells for Ukraine - Thursday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine

• An overnight Russian missile strike on the center of Kharkiv destroyed a hotel, with local authorities reporting on the morning of January 11 that 12 people were injured. All civilians, including foreign journalists.
• The Russian Defense Ministry announced the alleged downing of drones at night and in the morning in three regions at once: Rostov, Tula, and Kaluga. Later in the day, the Belgorod region complained of a drone attack that hit an electricity facility.
• Ukrainian troops are holding back the Russians in the east and preparing a decisive response. Which, according to the command, the enemy will not like. Read about the situation at the front and whether Russia will dare to attack Kharkiv or Chernihiv in the RBC-Ukraine review.

New text for mobilization bill ready for government submission, Ukraine's MoD says

The Ministry of Defense has already prepared a new version of the mobilization bill. Soon, the updated document will be submitted for approval to the Cabinet of Ministers, reports Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

"Our team has already prepared a new version of the bill, taking into account all the proposals agreed in the working order with the members of parliament at the committee meetings on national security, defense, and intelligence. We are ready to submit it for the Government's approval shortly. The previous version of the bill was withdrawn," the minister announced on his Facebook page.

According to Umerov, the updated bill aims to establish a clear term of service during mobilization.

Zelenskyy arrives on a visit to Estonia and holds a series of meetings

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued his tour of the Baltic States on Thursday, January 11, with a working visit to the Estonian capital, Tallinn, where he held several important meetings and a joint briefing with Estonian President Alar Karis.

The Estonian leader said that the country would annually provide 0.25% of its defense budget to Ukraine and allocate €1.2 billion in aid until 2027. The president also noted that Estonia has specific plans to restore Ukraine, which would require the use of frozen Russian assets.

A memorandum of cooperation in the defense industry was signed between the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine and the Estonian Defense and Aerospace Industry Association in the presence of the Ukrainian President and Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

The document aims to support and develop partnerships between the defense industries of the two countries, in particular in the area of defense innovation. It is about the development and production of autonomous systems, electronic warfare equipment, and integrated solutions.

Howitzers, ammunition, and more: Latvia announces new aid package for Ukraine

Latvia is preparing a new assistance package for Ukraine, which will include howitzers, ammunition, and more, according to the statement of Latvian President Egils Levits during a joint press conference with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Additionally, agreements on military cooperation, particularly regarding drone production, have been signed between the two countries.

announced that Latvia will continue assisting Ukraine. He informed his Ukrainian counterpart about a new assistance package, which will encompass:

• Howitzers
• Ammunition
• Anti-tank weapons
• Helicopters
• Drones
• Communication devices
• Equipment

Latvia has also committed to leading a drone coalition within the framework of Ramstein, as mentioned by the Latvian leader.

Moreover, President Levits and President Zelenskyy signed memorandums of cooperation in the military sphere, including the production of drones, which is considered crucial for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy reveals secret long-range weapons for Ukrainian forces: 26 helicopters downed in day

Allies have provided Ukrainian forces with long-range weapons that cannot be discussed yet. With their help, 26 helicopters were destroyed within a day, states the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at a press conference.

"Partners have provided us with some long-range weapons. I won't say what, but our partners will understand. With it, we destroyed 26 helicopters in a day and 12 planes that took off and attacked with missiles, against which these systems were working. We destroyed 12 at once. We just had the means," Zelenskyy says.

World Bank's investment division secures nearly $1 billion for Ukraine

The private investment arm of the World Bank has attracted nearly $1 billion for the reconstruction of Ukraine's private sector, according to a statement by the Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Mahktar Diop, writes Reuters.

Diop mentioned that about $620 million of the funds raised for Ukraine, part of a $2 billion package announced in December 2022, came from the investment unit's balance, while another $360 million came from external financing.

Diop added that the IFC is more inclined to take risks in Ukraine compared to other development agencies.

Kyiv is considering mobilizing funds for reconstruction, estimated at $400 billion, more urgently than ever, as signs of donor fatigue emerge in Europe and the United States.

According to Diop, providing guarantees to give external investors confidence in deploying resources was the "main challenge" facing the IFC in mobilizing further funds for its support package.

Lithuania hosts first meeting of coalition for demining in Ukraine

The first meeting of coalition partners for demining in Ukraine, under the leadership of Lithuania, took place at the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania, according to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania.

In particular, it is reported that allies, along with representatives from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, discussed the coalition's plans and future work.

"This is the first working meeting where the needs of Ukraine in demining activities and the specific contribution of each coalition partner state were clarified," said Vaidotas Urbelis, Director of Defense Policy at the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

According to him, representatives from 19 countries personally participated in the meeting in addition to Lithuania and Ukraine, while six more countries joined remotely.

EU to deploy warships to Red Sea to counter Houthi, says Politico

The European Union is planning to deploy at least three military ships to safeguard vessels in the Red Sea facing attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen, reports Politico.

According to the European External Action Service document, the bloc is to establish a "new EU operation" that will "act in a broader area of operation, from the Red Sea to the Gulf." The operation may commence as early as the end of February.

The Houthis claim to have targeted ships in the Red Sea, one of the busiest waterways globally, in a show of support for Palestinians facing Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip.

The EU follows the example of the United States and its allies concerning protecting vessels in the Red Sea.

Initially, the EU considered possibly utilizing its anti-piracy mission, Atalanta, operating in the Indian Ocean. Still, Spain opposed this idea, stating it was open to a new mission.

EU commits to delivering 1 million shells to Ukraine by spring

The European Union, by the end of this winter, will be able to produce a million artillery shells promised to Ukraine, states the spokesperson of the European Commission for Defense Industry, Johanna Bernsel.

During today's address, the spokesperson noted that the EU's industry already has production capacities significantly exceeding a million artillery shells.

The EU representative expresses confidence that the bloc will be able to achieve this goal by spring.

However, Bernsel adds that the production process has currently slowed down.