China News Agency, Beijing, January 18th. Comprehensive news: The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine confirmed on the 18th that the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine was killed in a helicopter crash in the Ukrainian Oblast that day.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov held an annual press conference on the 18th to express his latest views on the situation in Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on the 17th that Russia will expand its military to 1.5 million people.

　　Ukraine's interior minister dies in plane crash

　　Ukrainian media reported on the 18th that a helicopter crashed near Kyiv on the same day, killing 18 people, including Ukrainian Minister of the Interior Monastersky, and the Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior confirmed the news.

The report also quoted sources from the Ukrainian Air Force as saying that the crashed helicopter belonged to the Ukrainian National Emergency Service and was on mission at the time of the incident.

　　Ukrainian and Russian media reported earlier in the day that a Ukrainian helicopter crashed in Kyiv region, killing 16 people and injuring 22.

The report quoted police sources as saying that nine of the victims were on board the plane, including the Ukrainian Minister of the Interior and his first deputy.

Since the crash site was close to a local kindergarten, casualties including children were caused in the kindergarten.

　　Russian Ministry of Defense announces that Russia will expand its military to 1.5 million

　　According to news from the Russian Ministry of Defense on the 17th, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said on the same day that plans to implement large-scale adjustments to the Russian armed forces, increase in numbers, and adjustments to military administrative divisions will be implemented between 2023 and 2026. 1.5 million people.

　　Shoigu said that Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to increase the number of armed forces to 1.5 million.

Only by strengthening the construction of key components of the armed forces can we ensure national military security and protect the safety of relevant areas and key facilities and targets.

　　Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov said on the same day that Russia's military expansion is due to Western actions, and national security should be guaranteed unconditionally.

　　Russian foreign minister holds annual press conference

　　Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov held an annual press conference on the 18th.

According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, Lavrov pointed out at the press conference on the situation in Ukraine that the West is using Ukraine as a proxy to start a war.

The West wants to "plunder the world" under the new geopolitical conditions.

　　According to the report, Lavrov said in response to the question "whether Russia's special military operation against Ukraine will end this year" that the target of the special military operation is not fictional, and it is determined by the fundamental interests of Russia's national security.

He also said that there should be no threats to Russia from Ukraine, and there should be no military infrastructure on Ukrainian territory that threatens Russia.

　　45 people were killed in the attack on a residential building in Uzbekistan

　　According to the "Ukraine Pravda" report, the Ukrainian President's press secretary confirmed on the 17th that the Ukrainian Presidential Palace approved the resignation application of the Ukrainian President's Office Advisor Arestovich.

　　Earlier in the day, Arestovich announced his resignation in a message on social media platforms.

The British "Guardian" and other foreign media reported that he had commented on the attack on a residential building in Dnipro, Ukraine, saying that a Russian missile shot down by the Ukrainian air defense system fell on a residential building and exploded.

But the Ukrainian military subsequently denied this claim.

The remark triggered accusations from many parties in Ukraine, who believed that they blamed the Ukrainian side and slandered the Ukrainian military.

　　According to a report by the Ukrainian National News Agency on the 17th, a residential building in Dnipro City was attacked by a missile on the 14th local time, causing part of the building to collapse, killing 45 people and injuring 79.

At present, search and rescue work and debris clearing work have been completed.

　　Reuters and other foreign media reported that Ukraine blamed the Russian missile attack for causing the tragedy.

The Russian side denied attacking residential buildings, and said that the target of the Russian army's attack was a Ukrainian military target.

　　Nine EU polls show nearly half want Ukraine crisis to end soon

　　According to Russia Today TV, a poll released on the 17th showed that about 48% of the respondents in the nine countries of Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain expressed the hope that Ukraine compromised for peace to end the Ukrainian crisis as soon as possible.

　　According to the report, 60% of the German respondents favored Uzbekistan’s compromise and were skeptical of EU military aid.

Public opinion diverges from the official position of the German government.

60% of the Greek respondents and 50% of the Italian respondents clearly expressed their opposition to EU military aid.

　　According to CNN, European Commission President Von der Leyen said on the 17th that the 10th round of sanctions against Russia is coming soon.

This round of sanctions will focus on "closing the loopholes in the measures already taken."

She also said Western allies need to increase the level of military support and equipment they provide to Ukraine.

Ukraine needs "all the military equipment it can operate".

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