February 16, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, as part of his visit to Germany, signed an agreement on security guarantees with the country’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which is an important step in supporting our state in the fight against Russian aggression. Germany also announced a new aid package, which included Skynex systems, missiles for IRIS-T and more.
The situation in Avdievka remains difficult; our defenders were forced to withdraw from the Zenit position in the outskirts of the city. However, according to the command, this does not give the enemy a strategic advantage.
Opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who during his career repeatedly spoke out about Crimea and the war in Ukraine, died in Russia. This happened in a correctional colony during a walk.
Now watching
- Security agreement with Germany and €1.1 billion in aid
- Withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the Zenit position in Avdievka
- Death of Navalny
- Return of the bodies of 58 defenders
- Explosions in Poltava region and Kropyvnytskyi
- The situation on the Ukrainian-Polish border
What happened in Ukraine and the world in a day on February 16, 2024 — read further in the material on the website Facts ICTV.
Security agreement with Germany and €1.1 billion in aid
During the visit of President Vladimir Zelensky to Berlin on February 16, a bilateral agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Germany was signed.
Photo: OP
With this agreement, Germany reaffirms its unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its recognized borders since 1991.
Berlin also intends to provide support to Kyiv as long as necessary – until territorial integrity is completely restored.
In addition, Germany announced a new aid package for Ukraine in the amount of €1.1 billion, which will include 36 armored wheeled howitzers from industrial stocks, 120 thousand sets of ammunition, two Skynex systems and missiles for IRIS-T.
Withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the Zenit position in Avdievka
Commander of the operational-strategic group of troops Tavria Alexander Tarnavsky stated that the Ukrainian defenders had withdrawn from the Zenit position on the outskirts of Avdiivka.
This decision was made to preserve personnel and improve the operational situation.
— Tactically, occupying these positions does not provide the enemy with a strategic advantage and does not change the situation within the Avdeevka defensive operation, — he added.
In particular, press officer of the 3rd Special Brigade Alexander Borodin, speaking about the defense of Avdievka, said that the Russian Federation was dropping dozens of air bombs and phosphorus shells.
“It’s a very difficult, critical situation.” The enemy continues to press – this is an incredible ratio of the two armies (at the brigade level – 7 to 1). Plus, the occupiers began to use porcelain ammunition and increased the use of guided aerial bombs (KAB), he said.
Death of Navalny
February 16 it became known that Russian politician Alexei Navalny, who had repeatedly spoke out about Crimea and the war in Ukraine.
He felt bad after the walk, and almost immediately Navalny lost consciousness. The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Yamalo-Nenets District stated that medical workers from the institution immediately arrived and called an ambulance. The cause of his death is currently being established.
Russian Telegram channels suggest that death could have been caused by a blood clot.
The news of the death of Alexei Navalny was commented on by the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky.
“It’s obvious: he was killed by Putin, like thousands of others tortured and tortured by this one creature,” he said at a press conference with the German Chancellor in Berlin.
In turn, Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba called Navalny just one of the many victims of the Kremlin regime.
“Politkovskaya, Litvinenko, Magnitsky, Nemtsov, Navalny are just some of the most famous names in the long list of critics killed by Putin,” Kuleba pointed out.
Return of bodies of 58 defenders
Ukraine has returned the bodies of 58 more dead Ukrainian defenders. Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine will ensure the transportation of repatriated bodies and remains to certain government institutions.
There they will be handed over to law enforcement officers and forensic experts to establish the identities of the dead.
After the bodies are identified, relatives will be able to bury the fallen defenders.
Explosions in Poltava region and Kropyvnytskyi
The enemy struck the Poltava region. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage.
— The enemy launched attacks on the territory of the Poltava region. Second time in 24 hours. The sounds of explosions were heard. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage, — reported the head of the Poltava OVA Philip Pronin.
Explosions occurred in Kropyvnytskyi during the day. There were also no casualties or destruction, informed the head of the Kirovograd OVA Andrey Raikovich.
The situation on the Ukrainian-Polish border
Polish farmers blocked the sixth checkpoint Krakovets – Korczeva. Thus, as of February 16, six checkpoints were blocked on the border of Ukraine with Poland.
— About 1,730 trucks are waiting to enter Ukraine on the territory of Poland. There are no plans to obstruct the movement of buses and passenger vehicles, Ukrainian border guards clarified.
Yagodin, Rava-Russkaya, Shegini, Ustilug and Ugrinov also remain blocked.
– There are a total of 1,400 trucks waiting in queues on the other side of the border in all these directions, most of all opposite the Yagodin and Rava-Russkaya checkpoints. The least is opposite the Ustilug and Ugrinov points,” said State Border Service Speaker Andrey Demchenko
