War in Ukraine
Four South Africans, deceptively recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, have been repatriated. They were recruited by the daughter of a former South African president, who promised them jobs as security guards.
Additional autonomous power generation equipment and diesel buses have been sent to Odesa. Individual houses are already being powered by generators, and repair crews are working around the clock.
In Kyiv, a 17-year-old teenager scattered flowers and defiled the wall near a memorial plaque to a defender. The police drew up a report for petty hooliganism, and the minor apologized to the fallen soldier's mother.
The Defense Forces continue to strike important enemy targets. An S-300VM air defense system launcher, UAV control points, and enemy troop concentrations have been hit.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on operational work in communities, particularly in Kyiv, in the conditions of an emergency energy situation. Priority steps have been identified to ensure backup power and the development of distributed generation.
Talks between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva brought no breakthrough, with Zelenskyy accusing Russia of stalling for time. Expert Zhelikhovsky believes that Moscow is using the negotiations to gain time on the battlefield.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine state that the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes under national flags to the Paralympic Games is unacceptable. This decision undermines trust in international sports and justifies the crimes of the aggressors.
In Zaporizhzhia, a 56-year-old man died on February 17 as a result of a grenade explosion in an apartment building. Police are investigating the incident and establishing the origin of the ammunition.
Two Russian generals have been charged with ecocide and violating the laws of war for destroying the dam of the Oskil reservoir. Environmental damage is estimated at over 39.1 billion hryvnias.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs service centers have updated the routes for practical driving tests in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, and Cherkasy regions. This was done to adapt to changes in traffic organization and improve candidate safety.
At a technical level, there is an understanding of how the ceasefire will be monitored. Monitoring will definitely take place with the participation of the United States.
The Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine expressed gratitude to representatives of the governments of the countries of the "free world" who, according to him, will also not participate in the official events of the Paralympics.
UNN tells about the uniqueness of American aircraft, how much the machines cost, and what made them popular.
EU Commissioner Glen Micallef refused to attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games due to the admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus under national flags. He called this unacceptable against the backdrop of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.
FC Kolos forward Danylo Kolesnyk explained the incident with the TCC, stating that he defended himself against aggression and stood up for a citizen. Police detained him and are preparing charges.
MFA spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi commented on Budapest's provocations regarding the shutdown of the "Druzhba" oil pipeline.
In the Russian Federation, where internet censorship and surveillance of the opposition already prevail, the innovations are becoming another element of totalitarian control.
Expert Serhiy Kuyun states that the cessation of diesel fuel supplies from Hungary and Slovakia is not critical for Ukraine. These supplies account for up to 10% of the market and can be easily replaced.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhii Tykhyi, stated that work is underway on the legal and technical details of the Prosperity Plan. The US is a strategic partner in this process.
The PURL program remains a reliable mechanism for purchasing American air defense missiles. Contributions of $584 million have already been announced for 2026, but the need reaches $15 billion.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi stated that Russia is trying to sabotage the progress achieved in Abu Dhabi on military-political issues. Details of the negotiations are not being disclosed; Volodymyr Zelenskyy will present a full report.
Russia has classified key economic data, concealing the real level of poverty and the state of the economy. 168 tables were removed from statistical compilations, and 115 indicators stopped being updated in the Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System (EMISS).
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy states that the Russian delegation is deadlocking negotiations to buy time for the Kremlin.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reports that the Kremlin uses passportization as a lever of influence in the occupied regions of Georgia. Support depends on the loyalty of local elites.
Kyrylo Budanov announced the completion of another round of negotiations in Geneva, calling it difficult but important. The next round is scheduled for the near future.
Business investments in solar generation will partially mitigate risks but will not solve problems for large consumers.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry announced its readiness to host a new round of talks on Ukraine. This followed the third round of negotiations in Geneva on February 17-18.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Russia has not attacked any EU country, and Ukraine is only defending itself. He added that the security of Hungary and other EU states is guaranteed by NATO.
Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi spoke about the failure of the 2023 counteroffensive due to a lack of resources and the SBU searches in 2022, which he regarded as an act of intimidation. He warned the President's Office about his readiness to call in military personnel to protect the command center.
Following the peace talks in Geneva between Ukraine, the US, and the Russian Federation, there is a principal agreement on the next meeting. Details and dates are not yet disclosed, but the parties have agreed to continue the dialogue.