Russo-Ukrainian war, day 737: Netherlands signs decade-long security pact with Ukraine, allocates €2 billion million in military aid

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“It’s a holy war”: British medic sees Ukraine’s battle against “pure evil”. Former British policeman Peter Fouche, now a combat medic in Ukraine’s army, calls on the West to give Ukraine weapons now, or find themselves using those weapons soon.

Military

Commander: Ukrainians regain some lost positions near Avdiivka amid Russian attacks. Intense Russian artillery strikes and reinforced assault battalions pressure Ukrainian lines near Avdiivka, though Ukraine’s forces regain some lost ground amid ongoing defensive efforts, as per a Ukrainian commander.

Ukraine destroys all drones Russia launched overnight. The Russian military also attacked Ukraine with five S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles overnight, but Ukraine’s military did not specify which targets were hit

As of 01 Mar 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • • Personnel: 414680 (+920)
    • Tanks: 6610 (+17)
    • APV: 12582 (+30)
    • Artillery systems: 10106 (+636)
    • MLRS: 1000
    • Anti-aircraft systems: 691 (+1)
    • Aircraft: 345 (+3)
    • Helicopters: 325
    • UAV: 7794 (+26)
    • Cruise missiles : 1912
    • Warships/boats: 25
    • Submarines: 1
    • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 13206 (+54)

Intelligence and technology

UK intel: Russia boosts military output in 2023, will have materiel edge over Ukraine in 2024. In 2023, Russia’s defense industry boosted output, employing 3.5 million workers and refurbishing existing stocks. Artillery munition production surged, but may peak in 2024 due to capacity limits, still offering a likely material advantage over Ukraine for the year, per UK intelligence.

Ukraine introduces civil drone operator training in vocational schools. “This year, seven vocational schools in Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts will offer training for civil drone operators,” Ukraine’s Digital Minister announced.

International

Zelenskyy and Rutte sign long-term security pact between Ukraine and Netherlands. The Netherlands pledges €2 billion in military aid to Ukraine for 2024 as part of a new security agreement signed in Kharkiv.

Switzerland aligns with EU’s 13th sanctions package against Russia. Switzerland’s latest sanctions include a ban on the export of drone components to Russia, as part of efforts to curb its military capabilities.

Netherlands contributes €250 million to Czech artillery initiative for Ukraine. The Netherlands is set to supply Ukraine combat and patrol boats, alongside a €250 million contribution to a Czech initiative for artillery shells.

Zelenskyy: F-16 fighter jets will be in Ukrainian skies “this year”. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced that new fighter jets will enter service in Ukrainian skies this year as part of a Netherlands-led F-16 coalition.

EU to increase checks on Ukrainian grain transport as farmer protests persist. The move aims to address the concerns of protesting farmers across Europe and facilitate trade that benefits the entire bloc, the EU Transport Commissioner said.

Canada tightens import restrictions on Russian diamonds. Canada has announced additional import restrictions on Russian diamonds, targeting indirect imports of diamonds weighing 1 carat and above.

New developments

OSCE launches special mechanism to investigate Russia’s arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilians. For the first time, an international mechanism is being used to address the issue of detained Ukrainian civilians by Russia.

Odesa blast techs detonate river mine discovered on seaside. Ukrainian state emergency personnel identified then eliminated a Russian anchor river mine, uncovered along sandy beaches in the Odesa coastal region.

Read our earlier daily review here.