US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, will visit Ukraine from February 13-22. First attending the Munich Security Conference and visiting NATO and EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. In Ukraine, he will visit government officials and private citizens, according to a press release from the State Department regarding the trip. 

German Defense Minister Pistorius believes that the Trump administration has already made concessions to Russia in regards to Ukraine before peace talks have even started.


Russian State Duma deputy Nikonov reported that a meeting between Putin and Trump will likely take place in Saudi Arabia.


The Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) revealed that on the night of February 6-7, 2025, a powerful explosion occurred on the territory of military unit 52116 in the city of Dolgoprudny near Moscow, an explosive device destroyed two Russian Valdai radar complexes,  designed for 24-hour automatic detection and counteraction of UAVs. The Valdai radar is a new system being fielded by Russia, the first such system in its class operated by the Russian Military.


Videos surfaced from Russian military unit 75394, which shows that disabled soldiers are being loaded onto vehicles to be sent to the front to storm positions on crutches and with injuries.


On Friday, February 14 US vice president JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with President Zelenskyy in Germany at the Munich Security Conference to discuss the Trump administration’s demands on ending the war. In addition to negotiations with Zelensky, JD Vance will make a speech.


Due to Trump’s remarks about ending the war in Ukraine favoring Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged the Bundestag to declare a state of emergency. The emergency status would allow the government to take on more debt than the current limit permits to support Ukraine with additional funds. Scholz stressed that any peace deal must not be dictated to Ukraine and ruled out stationing German troops in Ukraine.


Despite sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, Russian oil exports rose by $900 million in January from what they were in December 2024, reaching $15.8 billion due to rising oil prices and stable export volumes despite sanctions, according to a monthly report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA stated that despite the price cap of $60 per barrel imposed by the West, all Russian oil was sold at prices exceeding the price cap. Despite the United States issuing a large sanctions package on the Russian oil industry at the beginning of January, it’s not expected to take effect until February or March.

Trump said the United States will continue helping Ukraine but wants the funds to be “secured” by access to Ukrainian rare earth, mineral, gas, and oil. He claims this support prevents Putin from declaring victory. He described previous tranches of aid as being provided in a “reckless” manner. He cited $350 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine, though Pentagon reports show the US has provided $66.5 billion in security assistance. He also claimed Europe contributed $100 billion mostly as loans. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Ukraine to secure guarantees. During a February 12 meeting with President Zelenskyy, Bessent confirmed support in exchange for mineral extraction agreements, and Zelenskyy announced receiving a preliminary partnership document. Trump previously discussed a $500 billion deal with Ukraine for access to resources in exchange for security guarantees.

Russia has destroyed 642 religious buildings in Ukraine since the invasion began, including 596 churches. Donetsk Oblast suffered the most damage with 131 religious sites affected.

 

German company Helsing will produce 6,000 HX-2 attack drones for Ukraine’s military, following an order of 4,000 HF-1 drones that is currently being fulfilled. The HX-2 is a newer model, designed in late 2024. It resembles the Lancet drone, with a similar pair of x-shaped wings. The HX-2 has a range of 100km, weighs 12 kg, and can reach speeds of up to 220 km/h. The warhead is designed to defeat armored vehicles, artillery, and “military structures.” The warhead weighs “several kilograms.” The HX-2 is equipped with AI allowing them to operate in a swarm, where multiple drones can be controlled by a single operator at once. The AI presumably also allows it to operate in hostile EW environments. Helsing can produce 1,000 drones every month at its factory in Southern Germany, meaning all 6,000 HX-2s will be delivered this year. 

Poland has completed the first 2.3 km section of its "Eastern Shield" fortification system along the borders with Russia and Belarus. Construction began in October 2024. The “Eastern Shield” was announced in May 2024, is expected to be complete by 2028, and is expected to cost $2.55 billion. 

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk ranked seventh on Sportico's 2024 highest-paid athletes list, earning $122 million. Tyson Fury, a boxer Usyk defeated twice, earned $147 million and ranked third. Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list with $260 million, followed by Stephen Curry at $153.8 million. Usyk said he spent $700,000 on training for the second fight with Fury. 

On the night of February 12-13, Russia launched 140 Shaheds at Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense intercepted 85 drones across multiple regions. The attack damaged infrastructure in Odesa and Kharkiv oblasts. One woman was hospitalized in the Izmail district of Odesa Oblast. Port infrastructure and an educational institution were damaged. 

Bloomberg Economics reports protecting Ukraine and expanding European military forces could cost $3.1 trillion over ten years. Rebuilding Ukraine's military could cost $175 billion, while a peacekeeping force would cost $30 billion. European NATO members would need to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP. Rebuilding Ukraine's infrastructure could require $230 billion.

The Come Back Alive Foundation has distributed equipment worth $1.220 million to five Ukrainian military units, funded by Ukrnafta. The 28th Mechanized Brigade received electronic warfare equipment. The K-2 regiment's drone unit got vehicles, drones, thermal imaging optics, and radios. The 4th Rubizh Rapid Reaction Brigade received six pickup trucks, a minibus, six attack drone systems, electronic warfare systems, and power supplies. A mobile training center for drone operators and an electronic warfare laboratory at the 36th Separate Marine Brigade were also supported. The 68th Oleksa Dovbush Jaeger Brigade's training center received 10 vehicles, 14 electronic warfare systems, 9 attack drone systems, 25 Mavic drones, 7 Autel drones, and various equipment.

Ukraine and Belgium are discussing plans to establish F-16 fighter jet maintenance facilities inside Ukraine, Defense Minister Rustem Umierov announced after meeting with his Belgian counterpart Theo Francken. They also talked about ways to strengthen the Ukrainian Air Force through pilot technician training, and the creation of local maintenance facilities.


The US will provide Ukraine with the D-PICC information and coordination center to improve the coordination of their Patriot air defense systems with other systems. The D-PICC is a remote coordination center. $11 million will be spent on this system. Ukraine will be provided with elements of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense System (IAMD), Combat Command System (IBCS), Operational Control Center (EOC), and Integrated Communications Environment (ICE). These new components will replace outdated control systems in Ukraine's Patriot batteries, particularly in the PAC-2 systems provided by Germany. This will improve coordination with other defense systems and Western fighter aircraft.


Colonel Dmytro Kozyura, head of the Ukrainian Security Service's Anti-Terrorist Center, has been placed in pre-trial detention until April 11 on suspicion of collaborating with Russia's FSB. He is accused of passing state secrets and missile strike information to Russia. The SBU's "Operation Rat" uncovered 14 illegal activities through evidence gathered from hacking his phone. Kozyura was allegedly recruited by the FSB in 2018 and resumed contact with them in December 2024. He faces charges of high treason.


Oleh Kulinich, former head of Ukraine’s SBU Crimean department, is accused of treason for collaborating with Russia’s FSB in 2018-2019. He is linked to American lawyer/lobbyist Marcus Cohen, who worked with Kulinich and Russian agents. Kulinich helped Russia by passing sensitive data and sabotaging Ukraine’s defenses. He was appointed head of the SBU office in Crimea after Zelenskyy’s election. Kulinich obstructed attempts to warn Kyiv about Russia's invasion plans and passed information to Russia during the war. He was arrested in July 2022 and faces espionage and treason charges, with a possible 15-year sentence.


The SBU announced sanctions against Israeli citizen Ihor Kolomoisky and Ukrainians Hennadii Boholiubov, Kostiantyn Zhevago, Petro Poroshenko, and Viktor Medvedchuk, most of whom are already involved in criminal cases. Poroshenko and Medvedchuk face charges of treason and aiding terrorist organizations, while Kolomoisky is charged with financial crimes and also is suspected of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot. Poroshenko called the sanctions a "demonstrative purge," but did confirm the restrictions were related to treason charges.


Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, and Andriy Kovalenko, head of the National Security and Defense Council’s Center for Countering Disinformation reported a Russian drone strike on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on February 14. The strike caused significant damage to the protective shelter, but no radiation release was reported. Kovalenko said that the attack posed a global nuclear threat, with Russia deliberately targeting Chornobyl. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the explosion over reactor No. 4's sarcophagus. Photos have been published showing the damage.


President Zelenskyy:

Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world, together with America - all those committed to real security for humanity. The only country in the world that attacks such sites, occupies nuclear power plants, and wages war without any regard for the consequences is today's Russia. This is a terrorist threat to the entire world.

The shelter at the Chornobyl NPP was damaged by this drone. The fire has been extinguished. As of now, radiation levels have not increased and are being constantly monitored. According to initial assessments, the damage to the shelter is significant.

Every night, Russia carries out such attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure and cities. Russia continues to expand its army and shows no change in its deranged, anti-human state rhetoric. This means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations - he is preparing to continue deceiving the world. That is why there must be unified pressure from all who value life - pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for its actions.

Quote of the Day:

“Hedgehogs have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.”

― G.K. Chesterton, Alarms and Discursions