Asia, Africa, Latin America understand roots of Ukrainian conflict, says Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Alexander Shcherbak/TASS
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ©Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

Russia finds understanding of the causes of the Ukrainian conflict with most Asian, Latin American and African countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.

According to the top diplomat, three-quarters of the world's countries that retain their dignity and independence have not joined the anti-Russian sanctions.

"They have taken a balanced position on the conflict in Ukraine, which was a consequence of the long-standing crisis of European security," Lavrov told a meeting of the United Russia Party commission on international cooperation and support of compatriots abroad,

"We are actively explaining all the factors that ultimately contributed to this situation. We find understanding in our regular contacts with countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America".

Lavrov noted that against this background Moscow was actively developing ties with these countries in all areas. "We are consistently strengthening our strategic partnership with China; today we have the best relations with Beijing in our history. In parallel, the relations with India are developing progressively and very richly," the Foreign Minister stressed.

According to the top diplomat, close and multifaceted cooperation with Southeast Asia is progressing, relations with most Asian countries, as well as Russian-African cooperation, are generally strengthening despite Western pressure.

Russia-Africa summit to be boosted by parliamentary forum in Moscow — Lavrov

An international parliamentary forum with the participation of African partners, scheduled for March in Moscow, will give a significant impetus to the second Russia-Africa summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.

"We are working with Africans to fill with content the second Russia-Africa summit scheduled for late July in St. Petersburg.

The international parliamentary forum with the participation of African partners scheduled for March in Moscow should give a significant impetus to this preparatory work and the strengthening of contacts between our countries," the top diplomat told a meeting of the United Russia Party commission on international cooperation and support of compatriots abroad.

Lavrov also noted that Russia was constantly promoting foreign policy coordination with African partners through foreign ministries. "Just recently I returned from another trip to the African continent. We will be ready to host African guests, our colleagues from foreign ministries, such contacts are also planned," he added.

As Roscongress previously reported, the second Russia-Africa summit and economic forum is scheduled for July 26 to 29 in St. Petersburg. The first event was held October 22 to 24, 2019 in Sochi under the slogan ‘For Peace, Security and Development’.

BRICS expansion to yield global gains for Russia, China — South African scholar

The expansion of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will change the rules of the game in the world and strengthen the global positions of Russia and China, Dr. Omololu Fagbadebo, of the Department of Public Management, Law and Economics at the Durban University of Technology, told TASS in an interview.

"The expansion of members will boost the power play in the UN and global politics in general. Russia and China will be the beneficiaries of this expansion adventure in global politics," he believes.

Since its emergence BRICS has become "a paradigm shift in the global economic and political environment," Fagbadebo said. "Politically, BRICS is a common forum that could bolster Russia and China’s positions in the Security Council of the United Nations."

"As veto powers, they are sure of a solid support base," as witnessed in the situation over Ukraine. An expansion of BRICS "will challenge the present world order and increase hostility along the ideological line, akin to the Cold War era. Developing nations recruited to the bloc will have security against any repercussions from the Western powers," Fagbadebo said.

Additional members from Africa, probably one from each regional groupings in the continent will effectively secure African votes in favor of Russia and China at the UN, he forecasts.

"Russia and China can use their economic and political influence to attract new members to the BRICS group," he believes.

Military support from Russia, Fagbadebo remarked, and "more penetrating economic attractions, as China is doing in its loans and grants portfolio in Africa, will attract poorer African countries," especially those that do not share Western values.

South Africa’s place in BRICS

Fagbadebo is certain that the expansion of BRICS will also benefit South Africa, but the degree of these benefits depends on the influence of new members in the system of international relations.

"South Africa is the rank of the top economy in the continent and a regional leader. It could harness its power within the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) to lure more members from the region and across it to play a continental power hegemon in the expanded BRICS. But then, Pretoria’s domestic politics and foreign policy towards other African countries would need a reassessment," he said.

On January 1, 2023, South Africa took over as the BRICS group chair. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the group had an important role to play in spearheading the process in the UN and other international organizations of creating new decision-making mechanisms in order to establish a more inclusive, fair and sustainable world order. Ramaphosa believes that the BRICS group should lead the process of reforming the entire international architecture in the interests of most countries of the world.

TASS has learned from diplomatic circles in the South African capital that negotiations on a possible expansion of BRICS will be held in the coming months. Algeria, Argentina and Iran have already applied for membership. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt have declared their interest in joining this group.

On September 26, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that the BRICS countries had begun work on the association’s possible expansion. However, earlier he pointed out that quick decisions on this matter should not be expected. As Ryabkov explained, the BRICS participants would have to reach "an understanding regarding the basic parameters of expansion," which was an "intricate and delicate" process. Large-scale consultations within the association are expected.

In 2006, Brazil, Russia, India and China created the BRIC group. South Africa joined it in 2011, turning it into BRICS.

480000 People Were Without Power in Texas

A lone driver makes their way through icy road conditions at the LBJ 635 Freeway and North Dallas Tollway interchange, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, in Dallas, Texas. ((AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) / AP Newsroom)

Texans in more than 340,000 homes and businesses braced for near-freezing temperatures without power Wednesday and more than 2,300 flights were canceled amid an unrelenting blast of treacherous, icy conditions and brutal cold that has left at least six dead.

The storm caused massive power outages and disruptions across highways and roads with central Texas stuck in thick ice since earlier this week. While the freezing temperatures and sleet should be gone by this weekend, they’ll move into the US Northeast with dangerous wind chills as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.

A dangerous winter storm washed over Texas this week causing cars to slide off of highways or otherwise crash into each-other, and has led to a massive power outage for more than 425,000 customers in the Lone Star State as of Thursday. Repair for damaged lines could take until Friday evening, with temperatures in Houston expected to drop to a low of 39 degrees on Thursday night and 37 degrees on Friday night.

The winter weather system, now in its third day, has swept from Minnesota deep into Texas. Wrecks on slippery roads have been reported in Texas, Arkansas and other states across the region all week.

"We really cannot emphasize this enough: DO NOT BE ON THE ROADS," the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth tweeted Wednesday. "They are going to virtually be impassable through today and tonight."

School systems across Arkansas, along with those in Dallas, Austin, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee, canceled classes for Thursday.

Power outages were expected to last 12 to 24 hours in the Texas state capital as ice brought down power lines and tree limbs, Austin Energy warned. The city’s community-owned electric utility said its crews were facing icy roads and frozen equipment, which made it "difficult to provide estimated restoration times."

Parts of Texas were colder than Alaska early in the day. AccuWeather reported a "real feel" temperature of 28 degrees in Dallas on Wednesday morning – 3 degrees warmer than in Anchorage, Alaska.

The weather service said Wednesday that "the epic ice storm should come to a close on Thursday," and states across the Southern Plains to the Mid-South remain under various storm warnings and advisories.

“The prolonged and damaging ice storm that has impacted a large region from Texas to Tennessee is forecast to finally come to an end today as a final surge of moisture slides eastward,” the National Weather Service said. “Highs will return into the 40s and 50s by Friday, likely eliminating any icy concerns.”

Texas Ice Storm 2023 🧊 pic.twitter.com/MAqXCrl4nH

— 🌈Lagoon⛈️ 🔜 TFF (@dragonsapphic) February 1, 2023

Across the state on Thursday afternoon, more than 425,000 customers in both businesses and homes in eastern and central Texas were left without power with 150,000 of those being served by Austin Energy. The company has warned customers that repairs could take until 6 p.m. local time on Friday. Meanwhile, schools and colleges and even the government have all had to close.

TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY in Fort Worth, Texas encased in ice from long-duration ice storm!

Ice storm warning continues until 9 am this morning.

Stay safe especially on the elevated road surfaces! @accuweather pic.twitter.com/PI48dWgdM6

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerAccu) February 2, 2023

CNN reported that Arkansas and Tennessee were also impacted by the winter storm.

Roads were slick with ice in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Driving conditions, which have already led to seven car-related deaths since Monday, are expected to worsen with freezing rain forecasted for Thursday afternoon. More than 250 flights leaving the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport were also canceled on Thursday.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said, “Approximately 1,600 roads have been impacted. TxDOT has used 1.3 million gallons of brine and other material to treat the roadways.”

You can see the complete lack of traction that trucks are dealing with so making it up this hill has forced probably 20 trucks to pull over or really just stack up on the shoulder and right two lanes
(@wfaa) pic.twitter.com/BzVz2qdlbX

— William Joy (@WilliamJoy) January 31, 2023

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson promised an update to the city’s emergency communications after city officials failed to warn the public about the storm and its subsequent power outages.

The storm will make its way to New England and will bring with it the coldest wind chills seen in decades with some areas reaching 50 degrees below zero. Across the Northeast more than 15 million people will be placed under wind chill warnings or advisories beginning early Friday morning through the weekend. Thankfully, temperatures will rise again by Sunday afternoon.

Extreme wind chills such as these could cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes.

“This is an epic, generational Arctic outbreak,” said the National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine. “The air mass descending on the area Friday into Friday night is the coldest air currently in the Northern Hemisphere.”

“The wind chills are something northern and eastern Maine has not seen since similar outbreaks in 1982 and 1988,” the weather service added.

The frigid temperatures are expected to thrash Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. They will also affect parts of northern New Jersey, northeast Pennsylvania and much of New York state, as well as New York City and Long Island. Temperatures for these areas are expected to plummet to 15 to 25 degrees below zero.

Dangerous arctic blast Friday and Saturday. Wind chill values as low as -35 for Southern New England. Frost bite can occur in less than 10min to exposed skin. #MAWX #CTWX #RIWX pic.twitter.com/gZzUbyrFjh

— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) February 1, 2023

Northern New England and northern New York’s wind chills will make the winter air even more blisteringly cold, with temperatures dipping between 35 and 50 degrees below zero. “New Yorkers across the state will experience dangerously cold temperatures and life-threatening wind chills this weekend,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement Thursday.

“Now is the time to prepare: plan to limit your time outdoors this weekend and know where to take shelter. Take all necessary precautions to ensure your residence is safely heated and use caution if you plan to use an alternative heat source, such as a space heater.”

“Avoid any outdoor activities on Friday and Saturday!” the New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management announced on social media. “Cold temperatures paired with the wind chill factor could lead to potentially life-threatening conditions outdoors.”

Boston will experience temperatures of 27 degrees below zero. The mayor, Michelle Wu, also declared a cold emergency for the city which will last from Friday until Sunday and urged residents to “take precautions, stay warm and safe, and check on your neighbors during this cold emergency.”

Bulgaria, Hungary believe arms supplies will not help resolve Ukrainian conflict

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Hungarian President Katalin Novak
©EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his Hungarian counterpart Katalin Novak share concerns over the developments in Ukraine, according to their press conference following talks in Sofia.

"We share a common concern in the context of the Ukrainian situation’s development," Radev said, "This conflict is escalating into a global economic clash, which now threatens all of Europe. It is turning into a war of attrition not only for the parties directly involved, but also for Europe, for our economy and social system. We are convinced that a solution to this conflict cannot be achieved by increasing arms supplies, only by showing the will to engage in dialogue and diplomacy. Tensions must be de-escalated and hostilities must cease."

"The crisis has been going on for a year now, and unfortunately, we do not yet see the conditions for peace in Ukraine. But we need to work so that the crisis and military pressure do not escalate further, so that the conditions for a sustainable peace can be created as soon as possible," the Hungarian head of state said.

The leaders discussed bilateral energy cooperation, agreed to work together on energy supplies and pointed to the importance of nuclear energy development.

Catalin Novak is also scheduled to meet with caretaker Prime Minister Galab Donev during her official visit to Bulgaria.

Mission Impossible? Why NATO is Failing to ‘Ukrainize’ South Korea & Japan

Tanks, artillery, armored personnel carriers, and even jet fighters and submarines are all produced and actively exported by South Korea. Japan also has significant military-industrial potential. NATO could use this to prolong the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

However, the NATO Secretary General's visits to Seoul and Tokyo have done little to inspire optimism in Kiev and Brussels: no offensive weapons supplies from South Korea and Japan are on the table.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg delivered the same message to both countries: the security of Asia and Europe are closely intertwined, and if Putin were to win in Europe, Chinese military action in Taiwan would inevitably follow. Of course, this was never said outright, as it would supposedly send a "bad signal" to all "authoritarian countries", right down to Afghanistan - where the Taliban have taken over after 20 years following a failed US-NATO mission. Ukraine, however, is obviously a different matter, so all progressive humanity must unite to prevent a bastion of democracy from falling.

However, while the narrative that "Russia started it" and is therefore worthy of condemnation still prevails in the mass consciousness of Asian countries that have joined the Western coalition, calls to sacrifice themselves for a distant Eastern European country no longer evoke the same fervor. As a result, US and NATO attempts to drag their East Asian partners into the conflict in Ukraine by any means necessary are viewed with considerable skepticism.

"The US keeps leaking information that Russia is allegedly buying weapons from North Korea. But in the end, all this is meant to spoil relations between South Korea and Russia. So that they can then say that if you do that, then you should also supply ammunition to Poland. But (the possibility of their transfer to Ukraine - ed. Sputnik) will be an irritant in relations between Seoul and Moscow. Therefore, in order to maintain its line, South Korea should not take overly provocative actions. And in my opinion, it is trying to do so," Yang Uk, a PhD in Military Strategic Studies and an associate research fellow from the Center for Foreign Policy and National Security at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said.

According to him, the fact that Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin immediately followed Stoltenberg in visiting Seoul may indicate serious pressure on South Korea. Although they've tried not to advertise it, behind the scenes they probably continued to ask for more and more for Ukraine. However, the South Korean government has no reason to clash with Russia.

"We would be willing to do this if we were interested. But it is one thing to sell arms to Poland, and another to intervene directly in the conflict in Ukraine. The latter is not in our interest at all. Yes, we are an ally of the US, there is a community of values, as our president says, so we have to take some symbolic measures. But the authorities will avoid any direct involvement. Washington has been very unhappy about this since the days of Crimea. But our logic is simple: no matter what Russia does, we need to maintain a certain level of relations with Russia to prevent it from moving closer to North Korea," Yang Uk explained.

Seoul has a very pragmatic approach to cooperation with NATO: several NATO member states have a great need to renew their military equipment fleets, and South Korea is ready to meet this demand. In addition, Seoul is even willing to supply equipment originally produced for the needs of its own military for the sake of the timely fulfillment of orders from Poland. And Seoul is counting on reciprocity in case it needs something for itself.

Therefore, when NATO's Secretary General urges the country to fight for ideals and follow the example of Germany and Sweden, which have already abandoned their principles of not supplying weapons to a warring country, South Korea responds as Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop did during a press conference with his American counterpart:

"I can only say that we are closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine."

According to Cho Jin-goo, an associate professor at South Korea's Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, Japan shares South Korea's assessment of what is happening in Ukraine as Russia's attempt to "change the status quo by force," but is equally reluctant to provide direct military support.

"In my opinion, Japan is thinking more about participating in postwar reconstruction. Even if there is a direct request for weapons, the chances of Tokyo accepting it are slim. Japan has no such obligations under the mutual defense treaty with the United States. And the fact that the leaders of South Korea and Japan attended the NATO summit last year doesn't change much," Cho Jin-goo said.

He recalled that Japan, unlike South Korea, has long adopted the "three principles" of arms exports, one of which is a ban on shipments to countries involved in international conflicts. Therefore, even if Japan is willing to respond to NATO's requests, it will have to adjust them in one way or another, and this will take a long time.

Japan is worried about the situation in Ukraine. The fact that the prime minister himself received Jens Stoltenberg is further proof of this. However, the real reason for Tokyo's concern is the growing power of China, while the "Russian threat" is only used as a pretext to convince its own citizens to increase defense spending. Nevertheless, even this decision has its critics.

"Japan has important local and mid-term parliamentary elections in April, which, depending on the results, could create a crisis situation for Kishida's cabinet. Therefore, support for Ukraine at the diplomatic level will continue, but Tokyo is unlikely to be active in military assistance due to the difficult domestic situation," Professor Cho said.

In his opinion, NATO hardly expects to get everything Kiev needs from South Korea and Japan, because they know the positions of the parties, but they continue to bend their line. If Japan is compensated for this by the coincidence of interests in the Indo-Pacific region, South Korea is very wary of attempts to pass off its assistance in replenishing US artillery supplies as almost direct supplies to Ukraine.

"South Korea takes NATO's calls a little more coldly than Japan does, because NATO doesn't have much to offer South Korea on its own. They don't have anything that we would be willing to trade, just some rhetoric. But that is not surprising, given the way NATO is structured. By and large, the United States is in charge, and the role of the Europeans is not so great. Even if a European state wanted to buy weapons directly from South Korea, it would be impossible without US approval," Yang Uk said.

Therefore, if South Korea wanted to send a "message" to its NATO partners, the country’s president would meet Stoltenberg in Seoul. But the South Korean side seemed to have no such desire.

Putin: Decades After WWII, Russia is Once Again Threatened With German Leopards Tanks

©Alexey Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

The Russian president promised a tough response to unfriendly actions against the country, noting the threats posed to Russia by powers which seek to wage an undeclared war against the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lamented that Nazism in its current guise once again threatens Russia during a speech at a concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad. He added that Moscow once again has to make a stand against the forces of the collective West.

“We don’t send our tanks to their borders, but we have something to answer”: Putin in Volgograd commented on the sending of Leopards to Kyiv and the West’s attempts to fight Russia

Referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin noted that Russia is once again threatened with German tanks and that foreign powers try to use the adherents of Stepan Bandera - the infamous WWII Ukrainian Nazi collaborator - to attack Russia.

"Unbelievable, but it is a fact: we are once again being threatened with German tanks – Leopards – that have crosses (painted) on their sides," Putin said.

The Russian president also warned that those who seek to drag Germany into a new war and hope to achieve victory on the battlefield apparently fail to understand that a war with Russia today would be quite different.

These powers which try to wage an undeclared war against Russia will receive a tough response to their actions, Putin remarked.

"We do not send tanks to their borders," the president remarked, adding, however, that Russia still has other means to retaliate.

Regarding the nature of this response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that Russia is going to utilize its significant capabilities to a greater extent as the collective West continues to supply new weapons to Ukraine.

Last week, Germany announced its intent to supply some 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, making this move after repeatedly being urged to do so by Washington and Kiev. Shortly afterwards, the United States said it would send Ukraine 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Kiev.

Putin lays wreath in memory of Stalingrad defenders

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday visited the memorial complex on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd as part of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad.

The president laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame in the Hall of Military Glory, then observed a minute of silence in memory of Soviet soldiers killed during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Putin then went to the grave of Marshal Vasily Chuikov, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, who is buried on Mamaev Kurgan, and also laid flowers. During the war, Chuikov commanded the 62nd Army, which became famous for its heroic six-month defense of Stalingrad.··

80th anniversary

February 2, 2023, marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad. During the days of celebration in Volgograd there will be about 250 events, the main ones being a military parade, a concert conducted by Yury Bashmet, as well as fireworks on Mamaev Kurgan and the central waterfront.

The Battle of Stalingrad (July 17, 1942 - February 2, 1943) was one of the largest during the Great Patriotic War in terms of size, duration and number of participants. It radically changed the course of the war and heralded the victory of the Soviet army over the Nazi troops.

Kremlin reacts to calls to bring back Stalingrad

Calls to rename the Russian city of Volgograd back to Stalingrad should be treated with caution, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

The idea has been proposed by several activists ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad, one of the key events of World War II, marked on February 2.

“There are no discussions in the administration or at the presidential level” regarding the proposed name change, Peskov told journalists on Thursday.

The spokesman referred to a recent survey by state-run pollster VTSIOM, showing most locals “didn’t share the opinion” that their city should be called Stalingrad again.

“That’s why one must be very careful and weigh all pros and cons” when deciding the issue, Peskov said.

Some 67% of Volgograd residents who took part in the study published on Wednesday said that they were against restoring the name ‘Stalingrad.’ The most popular grounds for objection were that it would be too costly for the city budget. Those in favor of the name change made up 26%, according to the poll, viewing it as a means of preserving historical memory.

Volgograd, home to around a million people, sits on the Volga River in southern Russia and was established in the late 16th century with the original name Tsaritsyn. It was renamed Stalingrad in 1925 after Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, and received its modern-day name in 1961.

Between July 17, 1942 and February 2, 1943, the city was the venue of the Battle of Stalingrad, believed to be the biggest and bloodiest standoff of World War II. The events played a decisive role in turning the tide of the conflict in favor of the USSR. According to some estimates, the fighting between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany resulted in up to two million casualties, with more than a million dead. The city was razed to the ground during the hostilities, and had to be rebuilt almost from scratch.

The idea of bringing back the name ‘Stalingrad’ has repeatedly been mooted in recent years. Last month, a group called the International Union of Former Juvenile Victims of Fascism made the proposal in letters to former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who is in charge of the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad, and to Volgograd Region Governor Andrey Bocharov.

Some of the signs in Volgograd have temporarily been replaced with those reading ‘Stalingrad,’ a change made for nine days every year on the anniversary of the historic battle.

Russian forces strike over 70 Ukrainian artillery units in past day, top brass reports

©Andrei Rubtcov/TASS

Russian forces struck over 70 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions in the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Thursday.

"Operational-tactical aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian group of forces struck 78 artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military hardware in 105 areas," the spokesman said.

Russian combat aircraft and artillery delivered strikes on Ukrainian army units in the Kupyansk area, destroying over 25 enemy troops in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, army aviation aircraft and artillery of the western battlegroup delivered strikes on units of the Ukrainian army’s 92nd mechanized brigade near the settlement of Novosyolovskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

The strikes eliminated enemy manpower and military equipment, the general said.

"Over 25 Ukrainian servicemen, an armored combat vehicle and two motor vehicles were eliminated. In addition, in the area of the settlement of Volchansk in the Kharkov Region, three Ukrainian Grad multiple rocket launchers were hit," Konashenkov reported.

Russian forces inflicted damage on Ukrainian army units in the Krasny Liman area, eliminating over 100 enemy troops in the past day, he said.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, units of the battlegroup Center inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army’s 95th air assault brigade in the area of the settlement of Karmazinovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic and also the Serebryansky forestry as a result of their artillery fire and successful offensive operations," the spokesman said.

As the general specified, "the enemy’s losses in those areas in the past 24 hours amounted to over 100 Ukrainian personnel, six armored combat vehicles and a D-30 howitzer."

Russian forces pushed forward in their offensive in the Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the southern battlegroup continue their offensive operations. Army aviation, missile troops and artillery inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army’s 59th motorized infantry brigade and 3rd National Guard Brigade in areas near the settlements of Pervomaiskoye and Vasyukovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminated as many as 50 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one armored personnel carrier, two pickup trucks, one Msta-B howitzer and one D-30 howitzer in that area in the past 24 hours, the general specified.

Russian forces destroyed over 65 Ukrainian troops in the Zaporozhye Region and near Ugledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye areas, over 65 Ukrainian servicemen from the 110th territorial defense brigade in the area of the settlement of Poltavka in the Zaporozhye Region and 72nd mechanized brigade in the area of the community of Ugledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic were destroyed as a result of artillery fire and active operations by the battlegroup East," the spokesman said.

During the last 24-hour period, Russian forces also destroyed four Ukrainian armored combat vehicles and two motor vehicles, the general specified.

Russian forces destroyed two Ukrainian ammunition depots over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kherson direction, two ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army were destroyed as a result of artillery fire in the areas of the city of Kherson and the settlement of Zmiyevka in the Kherson Region," the spokesman said.

Russian combat aircraft destroyed two radar stations of the Ukrainian army in the Zaporozhye Region over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed a 35D6 low-altitude radar in the area of the settlement of Malokaterinovka in the Zaporozhye Region along with a US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed two US-made multiple launch rocket systems near Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the area of the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, an M142 HIMARS launcher and an M270 MLRS of US-manufacture were obliterated," the spokesman said.

Russian forces "also wiped out three Ukrainian missile/artillery armament depots in areas near the settlements of Malinovka and Avdeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Druzhelyubovka in the Zaporozhye Region," the general added.

Russian air defense forces shot down five Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and four rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, air defense capabilities shot down four rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and five Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near the settlements of Golikovo and Kremennaya in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Berestovoye in the Kharkov Region and Peschanoye in the Kherson Region," the spokesman said.

Russian forces have destroyed over 3,000 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.

"In all, the following targets have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation: 381 aircraft, 206 helicopters, 3,001 unmanned aerial vehicles, 402 surface-to-air missile systems, 7,719 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,003 multiple rocket launchers, 3,981 field artillery guns and mortars and 8,249 special military motor vehicles," the spokesman said.

North Korea Vows ‘Toughest Reaction’ Possible After US Military Pledges More Weapons to Peninsula

©AP Photo / Ahn Young-joon

After the US Defense Secretary promised to beef up South Korean military capabilities, North Korean officials have pledged an especially harsh response in the event of a US attack.

The North Korean government has pledged it will respond with the “toughest possible” measures to any US military provocation against the country, after the US pledged to deploy more weapons to the Korean peninsula.

Following recent “reckless military confrontational maneuvers and hostile acts of the US and its vassal forces,” the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Thursday that the Biden regime brought the “military and political situation on the Korean peninsula and in the region” to an “extreme red line.”

“The US is going to ignite an all-out showdown with the DPRK,” officials there said, citing the intimidating new war games the US is set to hold along with the South Korean regime in February – including a "drill for operating extended deterrence" and the “largest-ever field mobile live shell firing drill simulating the use of nuclear weapons.”

As North Korean authorities noted, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with his counterpart in South Korea Tuesday amid an ongoing tour of the Pacific.

“During the visit to South Korea on January 31, the US Defense Secretary openly declared that the US would deploy more strategic assets such as the fifth generation stealth fighters and nuclear carriers,” and he spoke “unhesitatingly” about the potential deployment of nuclear weapons against their country, they said.

This “vivid expression” of the US brinkmanship will “result in turning the Korean peninsula into a huge war arsenal and a more critical war zone,” per DPRK officials.

With North Koreans now “seeing through the true intention of the US,” officials point out that “the DPRK has a clear counteraction strategy,” which they note is “capable of coping with any short- and long-term scheme implemented by the US and its vassal forces.”

Officials underscored that it “will strongly control the present and future potential challenges with the most overwhelming nuclear force.”

“If the US continues to introduce strategic assets into the Korean peninsula and its surrounding area, the DPRK will make clearer its deterring activities without fail according to their nature,” they promised.

As it stands, the DPRK is “not interested in any contact or dialogue with the US” as long as it continues to pursue what the North Korean government condemned as a “hostile policy and confrontational line.”

For now, “the escalating tension on the Korean peninsula and in the region is entirely attributable to the hostile policy of the US,” they say, given that Washington is forcing the DPRK to “disarm itself unilaterally by means of sanctions and military pressure” while it “pursues the military expansion of its allies.”

“The decades-long history of the DPRK-US confrontation shows that the DPRK should deal with the US imperialists by force only, as they are dreaming of disarming the DPRK and bringing down its social system with the 'end' of the DPRK set as a goal of their state administration,” the statement noted.

Officials concluded: “The more dangerous the US threat to the DPRK gets, the stronger backfire the US will face in direct proportion to it.”

Special operation of the Russian Federation, February 1. The main thing:

▪️ The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk and Krasnolymansk directions lost more than 120 soldiers per day, in the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye - more than 60;

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces carried out offensive operations in the Donetsk direction, as a result, the Ukrainian forces lost more than 100 military;

▪️ Up to 10 Ukrainian troops were destroyed in the Kherson direction;

▪️ All questions on the restoration of housing in the areas bordering Ukraine should be closed as soon as possible, Putin said;

▪️ Putin called it a priority to prevent shelling of the regions by Ukraine;

▪️ In the Kursk region, due to shelling from Ukraine, a total of 23 apartment buildings and 379 private houses, as well as seven social facilities, were damaged, the governor of the region said;

▪️ An attempt to shell the oil pumping station of the Druzhba oil pipeline was made on January 31, there were no casualties, the pipeline is operating normally, Transneft reported;

▪️The meeting of the UN Security Council on Ukraine is scheduled for February 24, follows from the program of events of the Security Council;

▪️ The West is expanding the volume and range of shock offensive weapons supplied to the Kyiv regime, Naryshkin told RIA Novosti;

▪️ Peskov on the new US aid package for Kyiv: this is the way to increase the escalation, but will not change the course of events.