Summary of the Day:
Russian President Putin is strategically selecting negotiators to match the U.S. delegation for upcoming talks, particularly following recent discussions in Saudi Arabia. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to achieving a “fair, enduring, sustainable” peace acceptable to all parties. During this period, U.S. Special Representative Keith Kellogg made his first official visit to Kyiv, meeting with Ukrainian Presidential Administration Chief Andriy Yermak.
Combat operations saw Ukrainian forces advancing near Vovchansk and Toretsk, while Russian forces pushed forward near multiple settlements including Borova, Siversk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Velyka Novosilka. Ukrainian forces successfully targeted Russian military logistics with a drone strike on the Rosneft Syzran Oil Refinery in Samara Oblast, forcing its suspension of operations. Lithuania delivered new military aid worth 80 million euros, including trucks and thermal imaging equipment, with plans to increase support to one billion euros in 2025.
Ukrainian President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine requires either NATO membership or enhanced military capabilities for sustainable peace, specifically requesting 20 Patriot air defense systems and domestic production rights. Meanwhile, Russian federal subjects have reportedly stopped recruiting non-Russian speaking foreigners for military service.
Picture of the Day:
Yana Stepanenko, 13, who lost her legs in Russian missile attack on Kramatorsk, trains for the Tokyo Marathon at the Skif Stadium in Lviv, Ukraine. During the marathon, Yana Stepanenko will raise funds for the prosthesis for Ukrainian war veteran Oleksandr Zhavnenko. This will be Yana’s third marathon. (Les Kasyanov / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Beyond Ukraine – The March Towards World War
Russia has proposed a deal offering U.S. oil companies a return to Russian operations and joint Arctic projects, during recent talks in Saudi Arabia. This potential shift in U.S.-Russia economic relations could impact global energy markets.
The Path to Peace
Russia’s diplomatic strategy at recent Saudi Arabia talks included carefully matching negotiators with U.S. counterparts, including Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, with potential plans to add Vladimir Medinsky if Ukraine joins future talks. Russia seeks to unfreeze $6 billion in Central Bank reserves in the U.S. and restore full diplomatic relations, including the return of seized diplomatic properties. U.S. officials Marco Rubio and Michael Waltz emphasized President Trump’s goal of a “fair, enduring, sustainable” peace in Ukraine, with future discussions addressing territory and security guarantees, including Russia’s claims to annexed lands.
President Trump, speaking at Mar-a-Lago following the first high-level U.S.-Russia meeting since the 2022 invasion, dismissed Ukraine’s concerns about exclusion from the Riyadh talks, claiming they “had a seat for three years” and should have ended the conflict earlier. Trump plans to meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia before the end of February, following their 90-minute February 12 phone call, while a potential meeting with President Zelensky in Washington remains unconfirmed.
Ukrainian President Zelensky, who stated he would reject any agreements made without Kyiv’s participation, emphasized that Ukraine needs either NATO membership or enhanced military capabilities, specifically requesting 20 Patriot air defense systems and domestic production rights. Putin responded positively to the Riyadh talks, expressing willingness to meet Trump once key issues are prepared, and confirmed Trump’s assurance that Ukraine would be included in future negotiations.
Situation On The Land, Sea, and Air in Ukraine
Russian military bloggers are criticizing a battalion commander from the 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade for berating wounded soldiers who requested to be removed from combat. The commander reportedly scolded injured personnel for using injury payments and complaining about their wounds, leading to backlash from other military commentators who condemned his poor leadership and disregard for proper injury recovery.
Ukrainian Operations in the Russian Federation – Initiative Russia
Russian forces conducted offensive operations in Kursk Oblast with ground attacks near Sverdlikovo, Pogrebki, and Guyevo in the Sudzha area, leading to conflicting claims between Russian President Putin, who stated Russian forces crossed the Ukraine border, and Ukrainian officials including Border Service Spokesperson Andriy Demchenko and military spokesperson Dmytro Lykhovyi, who denied any successful Russian breakthroughs, stating they repelled reconnaissance attempts near Nikolayev-Darino-Zhuravka, with Lykhovyi specifically reporting 12 combat engagements in the region, three of which were ongoing while the remainder were repelled.
North Korean prisoners of war revealed to South Korea’s Chosun Daily that their troops stationed in Russia’s Kursk Oblast were told they were fighting both Ukrainian and South Korean forces. The North Korean security services deployed up to 12,000 troops to support Russian forces against Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast, which began in August 2024. According to Ukrainian President Zelensky, North Korean forces have suffered 4,000 casualties, with military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov attributing these high losses to lack of combat experience and human wave attack tactics.
Ukrainian forces conducted a drone strike against the Rosneft Syzran Oil Refinery in Samara Oblast. The refinery, which produces fuel, jet fuel, and bitumen for Russian troops, suspended operations after the strike caused a fire at its primary refining unit. The facility was already operating at reduced capacity due to previous Ukrainian strikes. While Samara Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev acknowledged the strike, he claimed there was no “major” damage.
Kharkiv Front – Initiative Russia
Ukrainian forces made video verified advances in central Vovchansk, northeast of Kharkiv City. A Ukrainian officer reported that Russian forces have intensified their attacks near Vovchansk during cold weather, aiming to reach the southern bank of the Vovcha River.
Luhansk Front – Initiative Russia
Kupyansk
Russian forces continued offensive operations near Kupyansk attacking near Holubivka, Mala Shapkivka, Petropavlivka, and Pishchane. Ukrainian forces reported repelling a mechanized assault, destroying three armored personnel carriers and one tank. A Ukrainian brigade spokesperson revealed that Russian forces are using a tactical approach of sending less trained infantry first to locate Ukrainian positions, followed by strikes and flanking attacks by better-trained troops.
Borova
Russian forces advanced in the Borova direction, capturing Zelenyi Hai to the east, according to a Ukrainian General Staff map. Russian forces also conducted operations near Zahryzove, Lozova, Kopanky, and Makiivka.
Lyman
Russian forces conducted offensive operations in the Lyman direction attacking near Novolyubivka, Nevske, Yampolivka, Kolodyazi, and in the Serebryanske forest area, but made no confirmed advances.
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia
Siversk
Russian forces launched offensive operations near Siversk, with confirmed advances reported north of Mykolaivka. The attacks focused on the areas around Hryhorivka, Bilohorivka, and Verkhnokamyanske. Russian artillery units are operating in the region, while Russian sources claim additional gains in Bilohorivka, though these remain unverified.
Chasiv Yar
Russian forces launched attacks near Chasiv Yar and surrounding areas including Vasyukivka and Oleksandro-Shultyne but failed to make any advances.
Toretsk
Ukrainian forces made advances in eastern Shcherbynivka while Russian forces launched attacks around Toretsk and nearby settlements including Ozaryanivka, Dyliivka, Krymske, and Leonidivka. Russian sources claim advances near Druzhba, Novospaske, and Leonidivka, though these remain unconfirmed. Russian forces are reportedly using small infantry groups for house-to-house urban combat rather than vehicles.
Pokrovsk
Russian forces advanced north of Nadiivka while conducting widespread attacks across the Pokrovsk direction. The attacks focused on multiple settlements including Vodyane Druhe, Zelene Pole, Malynivka, Tarasivka, and several others. Ukrainian forces reportedly counterattacked successfully near Dachenske and launched operations near Zaporizhzhia, Preobrazhenka, Tarasivka, and Yelyzavetivka. Russian forces are employing small infantry groups using civilian vehicles confiscated from occupied territories.
Andriivka
Russian forces advanced southeast of Kostiantynopil while launching attacks near Andriivka, Ulakly, Oleksiivka, and Rozdolne. A significant Russian mechanized assault involving about 40 armored vehicles was reported, with Ukrainian forces claiming to have destroyed approximately 20 of them. Russian forces have shifted their artillery strategy from high-volume to precision targeting. Multiple Russian motorized rifle units are operating in the area, particularly along the Dachne-Ulakly line.
Velyka Novosilka
Russian forces advanced to southeastern Novoocheretuvate while conducting attacks near Burlatske, Novosilka, Pryvilne, and Novopil. Russian sources claim additional advances near Novoocheretuvate, Pryvilne, and Novosilka, including alleged control of most of Novoocheretuvate and Novosilka, though these claims remain unverified.
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces launched ground attacks in western Zaporizhia Oblast near the settlements of Mali Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, and Stepove, but failed to make any advances. Ukrainian forces successfully countered these operations, using drones to destroy several Russian air defense systems, including Tor and Buk models. They also struck Russian positions near Chumatske.
Kherson (Dnipro River) Front – Initiative Russia
No fighting was reported by either Russian or Ukrainian forces in the Kherson region.
Ukraine News
Russian forces launched a combined assault of missiles and drones against Ukraine. The attack included two Iskander ballistic missiles fired at Sumy Oblast and 167 Shahed and decoy drones launched from multiple Russian regions. Ukrainian forces intercepted 106 drones across 14 oblasts and disrupted 56 decoy drones through electronic warfare. The strikes hit energy infrastructure in Odesa City and caused damage in Odesa, Kyiv, Sumy, Cherkasy, and Zaporizhia oblasts.
Emergency services continue to battle smoldering fires at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected a proposed deal with the United States that would have given the US preferential access to 50% of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and critical natural resources, which President Trump valued at $500 billion and framed as compensation for previous US support under the Biden administration. The rejection came after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s presentation of a draft agreement on February 12, with Zelensky telling CNN Turk that while Ukraine welcomes investment, it refuses to become “a center for the extraction of raw materials” without concrete security guarantees for the nation, stating “I am defending Ukraine, I cannot sell our country.”
During discussions at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky disclosed Ukraine’s wartime military costs total $320 billion, with Ukraine covering $120 billion while the U.S. and EU provided $200 billion in defense support, and he refuted Trump’s $500 billion claim by clarifying that U.S. support actually consisted of $67 billion in weapons and $31.5 billion in budget support, while maintaining that although Ukraine remains open to further negotiations and discussing a natural resources agreement, any such deal must include protection for Ukraine’s territories and resources.
U.S. Special Representative for Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg made his first official visit to Kyiv for a three-day stay, meeting with Ukrainian Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, who emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to maintaining a long-term strategic partnership with the United States, while Kellogg’s stated primary mission was to listen and report back to the White House despite President Zelensky suggesting a possible front-line inspection, and the visit follows recent U.S.-Russia peace talks in Saudi Arabia that notably excluded Ukraine, with Zelensky firmly stating his country would not accept decisions made without its participation.
Ukraine’s Allies
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reassured European allies that U.S. sanctions against Russia would remain in place until a peace agreement is reached in the Russia-Ukraine war. Following U.S.-Russian talks in Saudi Arabia, Rubio indicated that lifting sanctions would be part of any peace process, requiring concessions from all sides.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda proposed a six-point plan to support Ukraine amid concerns over U.S.-Russia peace talks that exclude European participation, which includes NATO membership consideration, immediate military funding with a €10 billion investment in Ukraine’s defense industry, maintaining sanctions on Russia until aggression ends, seizing frozen Russian assets (currently over $300 billion in Europe), and accelerating Ukraine’s EU membership by 2030, while Lithuania delivered a new military aid package worth 80 million euros ($83.3 million) including trucks and thermal imaging sights, with plans to increase support to one billion euros ($1.042 billion) in 2025 focusing on air defense, ammunition, drones, anti-drone systems, and funding for Ukraine’s domestic weapons production, though U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested Ukraine’s NATO membership might not be realistic despite President Zelensky maintaining it as crucial to prevent future Russian aggression.
Czechia and Poland are developing plans for Ukrainian refugees’ status after a potential ceasefire or war end, Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan announced. Currently, over 4 million Ukrainian refugees have EU temporary protection until March 2026. Under the proposed plan, when hostilities end, Ukrainians would have 12-18 months to transition to a different immigration status. The EU also plans to establish special centers to help Ukrainians either return home or relocate within Europe. Czechia currently hosts about 390,000 Ukrainian refugees, making it one of the three largest host countries in Europe.
Ukrainian Mobilization and Defense Industrial Base
Ukraine has transformed its fleet of approximately 5,000 US-supplied Humvees into versatile military assets, adapting them far beyond their original roles. Ukrainian forces have modified these vehicles for various purposes, including ambulances, mine clearing operations with Pearson Engineering “Spark” rollers, and weapons platforms mounting multiple systems such as the Sivalka VM-8 rocket launchers and anti-tank platforms. A recently spotted adaptation includes a Humvee equipped with electronic warfare capabilities, featuring multiple antennas potentially designed to disrupt enemy communications and drone systems. Ukraine has also established a comprehensive maintenance network, from field workshops to major repair centers, and has begun manufacturing replacement parts locally when needed.
Russia News
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling Zelensky “pathetic” and endorsing Trump’s stance on NATO’s role in the Ukraine conflict. Lavrov specifically commended Trump for being the first Western leader to publicly blame the war on NATO’s efforts to integrate Ukraine. While Trump cited Ukraine’s potential NATO membership as provoking Russia, this aligns with Moscow’s narrative but contradicts Ukraine and its allies’ position that Russia’s invasion was an unprovoked act of aggression. The comments came after US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, which excluded Ukraine’s participation.
Russia’s Allies
Hungary secured exemptions from the EU’s latest sanctions package against Russia, allowing domestic use of Russian oil products and blocking sanctions against Moscow Patriarch Kirill, according to government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs. The exemptions permit Hungary’s MOL company to use Russian oil products and maintain the Druzhba pipeline, while protecting Budapest’s metro system operations. This continues Hungary’s pattern of opposing EU sanctions under Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Russian Mobilization and Defense Industrial Base
Russian authorities are now stopping the recruitment of non-Russian speaking foreigners into their military, according to opposition outlet Verstka. In Moscow Oblast, 150 Chinese citizens who signed military contracts are on hold, as language barriers are causing problems at the front lines. Multiple regions across Russia have reportedly adopted similar policies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Security Council Deputy Dmitry Medvedev made separate visits to defense facilities, showcasing Russia’s military production capabilities. Putin awarded the Radar MMS enterprise in St. Petersburg for its work on drones and electronic systems, while Medvedev toured the Kazan Gunpowder Plant, claiming increased ammunition production.
Russian War Losses (Today/Total)
Troops +1190
863580 |
Tanks +14
10134 |
Artillery +63
23410 |
Arm. Veh. +14
21112 |
Aircraft 
370 |
Heli
331 |
Ships
28 |
Controlling the Narrative and Russian Propaganda
Donald Trump escalated criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Truth Social, calling him a “dictator” who refuses to hold elections and erroneously claiming his approval rating was 4%, while according to new Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) surveys, Zelensky’s actual approval rating stands at 57%, up from 52% in December 2024 and down from 90% in March 2022 shortly after Russia’s invasion, with KIIS Executive Director Anton Hrushetskyi noting Ukrainians continue to view Zelensky as legitimate despite Russian propaganda claiming otherwise, and Zelensky clarified that total wartime military costs have reached $320 billion (with Ukraine covering $120 billion and the U.S. and EU combined providing $200 billion in defense support), dismissed Trump’s claims as Russian disinformation, corrected Trump’s statement about U.S. aid totaling nearly $100 billion rather than $500 billion, and explained that elections cannot be held under Ukraine’s constitution during martial law, which has been in effect since Russia’s 2022 invasion. These exchanges occurred amid tensions over recent U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia where Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian officials Sergey Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov on February 18 – the highest-level U.S.-Russia meeting since the 2022 invasion – with Zelensky criticizing the talks for helping Putin escape isolation while U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelensky’s public comments about Trump as counterproductive, maintaining that Trump’s position on Ukraine was not influenced by Russian narratives and calling for a quick end to the war.
Source Material
Institute for the Study of War – understandingwar.org
The Kyiv Independent – kyivindependent.com
Kyiv Post – kyivpost.com