Technology
The U. S. Air Force is changing the iconic light blue and white design of Air Force One to a red, white, and blue palette with a gold stripe. This is the first major change since the Kennedy era, affecting the entire presidential fleet.
A massive outage occurred overnight in the operation of Google, YouTube, and Cloudflare services. YouTube announced the return of all platforms to normal operation after resolving an issue with the recommendation system.
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.
Ihor Zhovkva met with NATO Assistant Secretary General Boris Ruge. New defense support packages, which Ukraine expects to receive by February 24, were discussed.
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.
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 Ministry of Energy discussed the consequences of Russia's massive attack on infrastructure, especially in the Odesa region and on the left bank of Kyiv. Ukraine will receive 10 generators from Estonia, 32 boilers from Italy, and equipment from other countries.
The State Border Guard Service is restricting traffic through checkpoints on the border with Moldova starting at 5:00 AM on February 18, 2026. The restriction applies to freight vehicles and passenger transport due to severe weather conditions.
In Zakarpattia, rescuers from the State Emergency Service assisted a 22-year-old Kyiv resident and a 21-year-old Zhytomyr resident who were freezing on the Chornohora ridge. The tourists were taken to the village of Hoverla and handed over to medics.
The GUR recorded Starlink disconnections among Russian occupiers along the entire front line. Russians are forced to use low-quality Gazprom terminals, which do not provide stable communication.
SBU drones carried out a deep strike on the Metafrax Chemicals plant in the Perm Krai, which is one of the largest methanol producers. The plant produces chemical components for explosives and is under sanctions.
The European Commission has launched an official investigation into Shein over suspicions of violating European law. The investigation concerns the sale of illegal goods, as well as the addictive design of the service.
The SBU and National Police detained a Russian agent who blew up a car in Odesa on February 16, injuring the owner. The 33-year-old unemployed Odesa resident was recruited through Telegram channels and received instructions from a curator in Russia.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of a Russian Ka-27 helicopter in occupied Crimea. Three enemy UAV control points in Zaporizhzhia and Kursk regions were also hit.
The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of the Iskander storage site in occupied Crimea and the Rubikon piloting point in Zaporizhzhia. In total, more than 10 enemy military facilities were hit between February 9 and 14.
One Russian 'Shahed/Geran' type drone can contain up to 12 transistors manufactured by the German company Infineon Technologies. Russia receives these components through shadow schemes, bypassing sanctions.
The former Deputy Minister of Social Policy will be tried for official negligence. He is accused of signing a contract for UAH 23.7 million for the "E-social" system, which was never launched.
Over the past day, 201 combat engagements were recorded, the enemy launched two missile strikes and carried out 81 air strikes. The Russians used 4574 kamikaze drones and carried out 2306 shelling attacks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Due to the mass breakdown of garbage trucks, the capital of Cuba is on the verge of an ecological catastrophe. This is caused by financial restrictions from the United States and the inability to purchase spare parts.
Approximately 100 US military personnel have arrived in Nigeria to provide advisory and technical support in the fight against militants. American advisors will train Nigerian units and share intelligence.
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.
At the Karasovići border crossing in Croatia, border guards discovered 500,000 euros in cash with a 24-year-old Ukrainian citizen. The money was hidden in the side panels of a car with Czech registration, which was heading to Montenegro.
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.
Elon Musk's companies SpaceX and xAI are participating in a new secret Pentagon competition to develop voice-controlled drones. The goal is to create swarm control technology that translates voice commands into digital instructions for multiple drones.
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.