War in Ukraine
Poland scrambled military aircraft on the night of February 17 due to Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. Polish military also recorded objects resembling balloons from Belarus.
In Odesa region, Russian troops attacked Odesa and the surrounding area overnight, with three men reported injured, one of whom is in serious condition. Hits were recorded on warehouses, a car service station, and an apartment building.
Air defense is operating in the Lviv district due to an enemy drone heading towards Lviv. The head of the OVA, Maksym Kozytskyi, and Mayor Andriy Sadovyi urged people to remain in shelters.
Dnipropetrovsk region was attacked with missiles, drones, artillery, and aerial bombs. In Dnipro, an enterprise, administrative buildings, and cars were damaged, and in Kryvyi Rih, an enterprise was hit.
Poland activated all available forces and resources in response to Russia's missile strike on Ukraine on February 17. Fighter jets were scrambled and air defense was put on alert.
US President Donald Trump advised Ukraine to act "fast" regarding negotiations. This happened before peace talks in Geneva, where the main topic will be territories.
Over the past day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces eliminated 890 Russian occupiers. Also destroyed were 614 UAVs, 71 units of automotive equipment, 4 artillery systems, 3 armored combat vehicles, and 2 tanks.
The third round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US begins in Geneva. Moscow's territorial claims remain the main stumbling block.
On February 17, Russian troops launched a massive cruise missile attack on Ukraine. Air defense is actively working, but the threat remains high, especially for the western regions.
Two people were injured as a result of a drone attack on Odesa. A multi-story building was hit, and retail outlets and a car service station were damaged.
In the Krasnodar Krai, the Ilsky oil refinery caught fire after a UAV attack. The fire engulfed fuel tanks and a private residential building, injuring two people.
The Kremlin has turned the Russian Orthodox Church into a soft power tool to solidify its position in Africa. Through the Patriarchal Exarchate, Moscow is luring clergy and spreading propaganda.
Slovakia plans to acquire four more F-16V Block 70/72 Viper fighter jets to strengthen its air defense. This decision is related to the transfer of its entire fleet of MiG-29s to Ukraine.
France plans to acquire Polish Piorun MANPADS under the SAFE program, despite its own Mistral production. Some of the systems will be transferred to Ukraine to strengthen its defense against enemy aircraft.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger stated that the volume of military aid to Kyiv is constrained by a lack of funding. The company is ready to increase supplies but requires clear financial guarantees.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković rejected Hungary's and Slovakia's request for Russian oil transit, accusing Budapest of manipulation. Hungary called Croatia an "unreliable transit country" seeking a monopoly.
Czech President Petr Pavel stated that there were attempts to interfere with ammunition purchases for Ukraine, but no corruption was recorded. Czechia involved 15 countries and supplied over 4.4 million rounds of ammunition.
A secret international F-16 squadron of US and Dutch veterans is patrolling the skies over Kyiv region. The pilots detect and destroy cruise missiles and drones, sharing their experience with Ukrainian pilots.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Germany has almost exhausted its stocks of air defense missiles that it could send to Ukraine. He emphasized that other European countries should also increase their contribution to the supply of air defense systems.
Since the beginning of the day, 182 combat engagements have been recorded, the enemy used 1654 kamikaze drones and carried out 1640 shellings. The occupiers were most active in the Huliaipole direction.
The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, announced the start of a new round of trilateral talks. The team is ready to work, the agenda has been agreed upon.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the First Deputy Head of the SBU, Oleksandr Poklad, to cleanse the Security Service of individuals who serve other interests. The President expects tough actions and results.
President Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian delegation is already in Geneva for the next round of negotiations on February 17. Russia rejects proposals for a ceasefire, continues assaults and strikes on cities.
Russian troops attacked Kryvyi Rih with ballistic missiles. The strike hit an infrastructure facility, Oleksandr Vilkul reported.
The Russian delegation will arrive in Geneva early on Tuesday morning and stay until Wednesday evening. The Ukrainian negotiating team has already left for Switzerland for consultations.
President Zelenskyy signed a decree on sanctions against 10 Russian athletes. They support Russian aggression, abduct Ukrainian children, and illegally visit occupied territories.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on active assault operations by the Defense Forces in the Oleksandrivka direction and in the Huliaipole area. The operational situation remains complex, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine are thwarting enemy intentions and inflicting significant losses on them.
On February 17, hourly power outage schedules and capacity restrictions will be in effect throughout Ukraine. This is due to the consequences of Russian attacks on energy facilities.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Secretary General of the Council of Europe with a 1st degree order for supporting Ukraine and efforts to create a Special Tribunal. Issues of bringing Russia to justice and implementing a compensation mechanism were discussed.
At the Munich Conference, the US announced plans to provide Ukraine with $15 billion in weapons in 2026. Europe is discussing the creation of its own army, and Ukraine is ready for elections after a ceasefire.