THE UK's Ministry of Defence has claimed that Vladimir Putin has been "downplaying war failures" as the Makiivka attack death toll was "far higher than Moscow admitted".
In their latest intelligence update, the UK's Ministry of Defence claimed that Russia faced hundreds of deaths in the Makiivka attack, despite only claiming 89 had died.
The Ministry tweeted: "Russia highly likely suffered more than 300 casualties in a strike on troop accommodation at Makiivka."
The added: "The difference between the number of casualties Russia acknowledged and the likely true total highlights the pervasive presence of disinformation in Russian public announcements.
"This typically comes about through a combination of deliberate lying authorised by senior leaders, and the communication of inaccurate reports by more junior officials, keen to downplay their failings in Russia’s ‘blame and sack’ culture."
Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news…
During his nightly address, President Zelensky expressed his disappointment in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as it's considering letting Russian and Belarusian athletes compete in Paris 2024.
He said: "Today we are starting a marathon of honesty, which will be aimed at clearing the leadership of international Olympic structures of hypocrisy and any attempts to bring representatives of the terrorist state into world sports.
"One cannot but be disappointed by the statements of the current President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. I spoke with him several times.
"And I never heard how he is going to protect sports from war propaganda if he returns Russian athletes to international competitions.
"There is no such thing as neutrality when a war like this is going on. And we know how often tyrannies try to use sports for their ideological interests. It is obvious that any neutral flag of Russian athletes is stained with blood.
"I do not want to get into what exactly motivated Mr. Bach to promote such an initiative. But we will do everything so that the world will protect sports from political and any other influence of the terrorist state, which is simply inevitable if Russian athletes participate in competitions. And especially – at the Paris Olympics.
Since the start of the war, an estimated number of 124,710 Russian troops have been killed, the Ukrainian military claims.
In 24 hours alone, 850 were allegedly killed as the Ukrainian forces post daily numerical updates on their Twitter page.
The Institue for the Study of War suggested that Putin's forces are planning more attacks on Ukraine.
The US institution referred to a Bloomberg article that said Kremlin insiders revealed intention's to launch new attacks over February and March.
It added: "Russia is redeploying elements of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division from Belarus to Luhansk region.
"This recent development suggests that the planned Russian offensive referenced in the Bloomberg report is most likely aimed at Luhansk region though it could also occur in the Vuhledar area in western Donetsk."
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, will be meeting with the new US ambassador Lynne Tracy, as reported by the RIA news agency.
Tracy is already in Moscow and will meet with Ryabkov "at the beginning of the week."
He said: "It is expected that the transfer of copies of credentials by Ambassador Tracy will be made to me."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that with the "hybrid war" going on between the two countries, talks with Tracy can't improve the relationship between Russia and the US.
According to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, a number of servicemen have been chosen to head the “first in the world” attack drone units.
Those selected are said to be the “most professional servicemen”.
Each of them will receive drones and ammunition, Starlink terminals, and other necessary equipment.
EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that he’s hopeful that South African convinces Russia to end the Ukraine war.
While speaking next to South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor, Borrell said: “This is not only a European war. It’s happening on European soil but affects the whole world.
“It’s not just South Africa and other African countries that must play a role at seeking peace. It’s all of us that must be seeking to arrive at a negotiated outcome to address the concerns of all the parties involved.”
The Institue for the Study of War suggested that Putin’s forces are planning more attacks on Ukraine.
The US institution referred to a Bloomberg article that said Kremlin insiders revealed intention’s to launch new attacks over February and March.
It added: “Russia is redeploying elements of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division from Belarus to Luhansk region.
“This recent development suggests that the planned Russian offensive referenced in the Bloomberg report is most likely aimed at Luhansk region though it could also occur in the Vuhledar area in western Donetsk.”
Zelensky told Sky that Russia only used peace talks as an excuse to take “time to regroup on the battlefield.”
He said that Putin was trying to “mislead” Ukraine because he “doesn’t want peace.
The Ukrainian President added: “When they had huge losses, they were saying that they wanted peace. This is a lie. We saw them say that they wanted peace and then they would strike with missiles at night.
“We hope that once Russia pulls its troops back to their territory, they will admit their big mistakes, and there will be a new government in the Russian Federation.
“We are neighbours. It will be only then that we will be resolving this situation. Then, probably, talks will be possible.”
Health Minister Liga Mengelsone has confirmed that Latvia will continue supporting the people of Ukraine, as cited by LSM.
Her comments came after a meeting was held with Latvian surgeons who had operated on wounded Ukrainians.
According to reports, German arms-maker Rheinmetall is ready to greatly boost the output of tank and artillery munitions for Ukraine.
Reuters quoted the firm’s chief executive Armin Papperger as saying it may start producing HIMARS multiple rocket launchers in Germany.
He said: "We can produce 240,000 rounds of tank ammunition (120mm) per year, which is more than the entire world needs."
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, will be meeting with the new US ambassador Lynne Tracy, as reported by the RIA news agency.
Tracy is already in Moscow and will meet with Ryabkov “at the beginning of the week.”
He said: “It is expected that the transfer of copies of credentials by Ambassador Tracy will be made to me.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that with the “hybrid war” going on between the two countries, talks with Tracy can’t improve the relationship between Russia and the US.
Ukraine's armed forces have claimed that 800 Russian soldiers were killed in the past 24 hours.
The total number of losses is estimated to be 125,510 according to Ukraine.
"The truth has a million faces, but there is only one truth."
Hermann Hesse
Total combat losses of the enemy from Feb 24 to Jan 28: pic.twitter.com/HcMHmiMVeJ
Volodymyr Zelensky has tweeted his support for Israel after seven people were killed including one Ukrainian.
The President said: "We share Israel's pain after the terrorist attacks in Jerusalem. Among the victims is a Ukrainian woman.
"Sincere condolences to the victims' families. The crimes were cynically committed on the Intl Holocaust Remembrance Day.
"Terror must have no place in today's world. Neither in Israel nor in Ukraine."
We share 🇮🇱 pain after the terrorist attacks in Jerusalem. Among the victims is a 🇺🇦 woman. Sincere condolences to the victims' families. The crimes were cynically committed on the Intl Holocaust Remembrance Day. Terror must have no place in today's world. Neither in 🇮🇱 nor in 🇺🇦
Ukraine confirmed that at least three people died while two were wounded in recent Russian strikes in the city of Kostiantynivka.
The regional governor of Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said that in the last 24 hours, four people lost their lives while seven are suffering from injuries.
Four apartment buildings along with a hotel have been damaged.
Police officials were on the scene to "carefully document yet another crime by the Russian occupiers."
The series of attacks come after the US and Germany along with other European countries confirmed that they'll provide Ukraine with a number of tanks to help combat Russian aggression.
The fearsome Challenger 2s are protected by world-beating Chobham armour made from a secret blend of ceramics, steel and shock-absorbing compounds.
Britain led the world by pledging 14 Challenger 2s to Ukraine — but defence sources say it would be a nightmare if one was captured by Vladimir Putin’s invaders.
His military scientists would then be free to study the armour and how to defeat it.
A source explained: “The British armour is the best in the world.
“In the history of Challenger 2s only one has been destroyed in battle and that was by friendly fire in Iraq."
Top brass are working with Ukraine’s high command to ensure UK tanks can be dragged back to safety if one is knocked out of action.
A defence source said: “If a tank is destroyed or disabled the first option is always to try and self-recover. You tow it with another tank or use a specialist armoured repair and recovery vehicle — which looks like a tank with a crane."
Volodymyr Zelensky has again hit out at the IOC's decision involving Russian athletes.
He insists that Russia must "stop aggression and terror" and only then can they be considered for the Olympics.
Olympic principles and war fundamentally oppose each other. Russia must stop aggression and terror, and only after it will be possible to talk about Russian participation in the Olympic movement.
📷 Nikolay Synelnykov pic.twitter.com/KrMuWHXdVP
On Monday, the Ukrainian military will commence training on how to use the Challenger 2 British tanks.
Defence minister Alex Chalk hopes that the tanks can be delivered by the end of March.
Until then, Ukrainian soldiers will be undergoing a “significant programme of training, not just for the tank crews who are to operate this vehicle, but also for those who will be charged with maintaining it.”
Mr Chalk added: “Equipping Ukraine to push Russia out of its territory is as important as equipping them to defend what they already have. Together we will continue supporting Ukraine to move from resisting Russian forces to expelling them from Ukrainian soil.
“Our united resolve can and will prove decisive. In 2023 we are more determined than ever. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
North Korea is against the West sending tanks to Ukraine, claiming that the US and its allies are "further crossing the red line."
Kim Yo Jong added that the US has a "sinister intention to realize its hegemonic aim by further expanding the proxy war for destroying Russia.”
Jong accused the West of "wrecking the global peace and the regional security while handing military hardware running into astronomical sums of money over to Ukraine in total disregard of Russia’s concern about security."
North Korea concluded that its people would “always stand in the same trench” as Russians.
Former senior military intelligence and security officer, Philip Ingram, told Sky News that Ukraine might have to give up territory around Bakhmut to 'buy time.'
He said: "The Ukrainians are probably going to have to give up some of the territory to buy them some time.
"They need that time to send some of their best troops out to train in the new tanks, to train in the new fighting vehicles – to get ready for a potential counter attack."
British tanks damaged in Ukraine shall be recovered as part of emergency plans laid out by the army.
These plans aim to stop Vladimir Putin's forces from getting their hands on the top-secret armour and technology.
A source told The Sun: "The British armour is the best in the world. In the history of Challenger 2s only one has been destroyed in battle and that was by friendly fire in Iraq.
"The Russians will be desperate to try and kill and capture a Challenger 2, partly for their propaganda but also to get their hands on its secrets."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other commissioners from the EU will hold an EU-Ukraine summit on February 3.
While attending an event in Duesseldorf, Germany, with her part the Christian Democrat CDU, Ms von der Leyen said: "We stand by Ukraine's side without any ifs and buts.
"(Ukraine) is fighting for our shared values, it is fighting for the respect of international law and for the principles of democracy and that is why Ukraine has to win this war."
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi opened up on how Russia is "violating fundamental principles of child protection."
He said: "Giving them (Russian) nationality or having them adopted goes against the fundamental principles of child protection in situations of war. This is something that is happening in Russia and must not happen."
It comes after President Zelensky asked for the refugee agency "to do more" to help children in occupied regions of Ukraine.
Grandi admitted that the agency is finding difficult: "We are seeking access all the time, and access has been rather rare, sporadic and not unfettered."
EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that he's hopeful that South African convinces Russia to end the Ukraine war.
While speaking next to South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor, Borrell said: "This is not only a European war. It’s happening on European soil but affects the whole world.
"It’s not just South Africa and other African countries that must play a role at seeking peace. It’s all of us that must be seeking to arrive at a negotiated outcome to address the concerns of all the parties involved."
Spanish defence minister Margarita Robles confirmed that Spain will send German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
The tanks will be send by spring as Ms Robles said: "It's not only about sending tanks, but also about crew training and maintenance."
It's understood that the West will provide Ukraine with 321 heavy tanks, as agreed so far.
The regional governor of Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko, confirmed that in the last 24 hours, four people lost their lives while seven were wounded.
This comes after a series of Russian strikes.
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