War in Ukraine
The relevant ministry believes that the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Paralympic Games under national flags is outrageous and effectively contributes to the "normalization" of Russia's war against Ukraine.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed concern about the war in Ukraine. He noted that from both sides, there does not seem to be real progress towards peace.
As a result of enemy attacks and bad weather, consumers in four regions of Ukraine have been left without power. In Odesa region, almost 100,000 subscribers are without electricity due to equipment damage and difficult weather conditions.
After 24-year-old "Kolos-2" forward Danylo Kolesnyk found himself at the center of a scandal for assaulting a TCC employee, police detained the now ex-footballer.
The second day of trilateral talks has begun in Geneva. Consultations are taking place in groups by direction within the political and military blocs to clarify the parameters of decisions.
As a result of the enemy attack on Zaporizhzhia, seven people were injured, including a six-year-old girl with a head injury and a one-and-a-half-year-old child in critical condition. One woman died, and residential buildings were damaged.
Ukraine has imposed sanctions against Lukashenka for his assistance in Russian aggression. Zelenskyy stated that Belarus is helping Russia circumvent sanctions and supplies components for missiles.
Sweden has recognized Russia as the main military threat to itself and NATO. A military intelligence report points to airspace violations and cyber operations as examples of aggressive actions.
The Prosecutor General announced the notification of suspicion to a supplier of substandard ballistic glasses for the military, totaling UAH 154. 8 million. The suspect fled abroad after a similar suspicion was issued to another entrepreneur; both companies are controlled by the same individual.
Georgia's "friendliness" rating towards Russia increased from 15 to 19. 4 points over the year, according to a study by a Russian institute. The country is now in the category of "Relatively friendly/unfriendly communication regimes."
Over the past day, 160 combat engagements took place at the front, with 31 attacks occurring in the Huliaipole direction. The enemy launched missile and air strikes, using kamikaze drones and MLRS.
On the night of February 18, Russia launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 126 attack UAVs at Ukraine. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 100 enemy drones.
On February 17, Russian troops lost 740 soldiers and 1851 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 18.02.26 amount to 1,256,080 personnel.
US President's Special Envoy Steve Vitkoff announced significant progress after the first day of trilateral talks in Geneva. Both sides agreed to inform their leaders and continue working towards reaching an agreement.
According to foreign intelligence, the Kremlin plans to create an interdepartmental group to promote "traditional values" in the Russian information space. This includes banning films that discredit these values and introducing new subjects in schools.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that a face-to-face meeting with Putin is the best way to resolve the territorial issue. He instructed his team to organize such a meeting in Geneva.
Rustem Umerov met with representatives of the USA, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. The parties discussed the results of the negotiations and synchronized approaches for further steps.
As a result of the Russian shelling of Zaporizhzhia, 7 people were injured, including two children. A 48-year-old woman died, and two nine-story buildings were damaged.
According to journalist Barak Ravid, negotiations in the political group in Geneva today "stalled. " According to sources, the reason was the positions presented by Russia's new chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky.
As a result of Russian UAV attacks on Sumy region, the number of victims has increased to 11 people. One 28-year-old woman remains in the hospital, while others are receiving outpatient treatment.
Ihor Zhovkva met with NATO Assistant Secretary General Boris Ruge. New defense support packages, which Ukraine expects to receive by February 24, were discussed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not rule out the possibility of running in future elections, provided he has the support of the people. He suggested that elections could take place during an unstable ceasefire.
In Odesa, after Russia's night attack, critical infrastructure facilities have been switched to backup power. Additional tents and heating points are being deployed for people.
President Zelenskyy stated that the US had promised to provide licenses for the production of air defense missiles for Patriots, but ultimately refused. Ukraine proposed joint production in Europe, specifically with Romania and Poland.
As a result of a drone attack on Zaporizhzhia, a woman was killed and six people were injured, including two children. Residential buildings were damaged.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated his readiness to discuss the withdrawal of troops from the Donetsk region if Russia does the same. He rejected Russia's claims of sovereignty over this territory.
Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete under national flags at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Russia received six spots in para-alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding, while Belarus received four spots in cross-country skiing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian missiles and drones contain thousands of components that Russia does not produce. These include parts from China, Europe, the USA, and Japan, which highlights the aggressor's dependence on foreign supplies.
The energy crisis of 2025-2026 forced Ukrainian enterprises to reduce production and change working hours. Small businesses found themselves in the most vulnerable position, and electricity prices increased by 60%.
The first day of trilateral talks in Geneva has concluded. The political and military groups will continue their work tomorrow morning.