War

Considering the risks that arise in Russia’s war against Ukraine, the biggest risk of all is if Putin wins. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated this at the Munich Security Conference, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “There are no risk-free options. But, the biggest risk of all is if Putin wins,” Stoltenberg said. Putin's victory would be not only a tragedy for Ukraine, and not only a challenge for Europe, but also a global challenge, Stoltenberg said. Therefore, according to him, it is in the interests of the partners to sustain and step up support to Ukraine. Stoltenberg noted that NATO and…

Russian troops have opened fire on the Mykolaiv region’s Ochakiv community with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). The relevant statement was made by Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Head Vitalii Kim on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. At 10:00 a.m. and 01:32 p.m., February 17, 2023, Russian invaders launched mortar strikes on the Ochakiv community’s water area and shore line. At 05:32 a.m., February 18, 2023, Russian occupiers struck the Ochakiv community with MLRS. As a result, residential houses were damaged and household buildings caught fire. According to the preliminary data, no casualties were reported.

On February 16, 2023, another prisoner swap was carried out between Ukraine and Russia. A total of 100 Ukrainian servicemen and one civilian are returning to Ukraine. The relevant statement was made by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “We continue bringing Ukrainians back from captivity. Today a hundred of our warriors and one civilian are returning home,” Yermak wrote. In his words, there are members of the National Guard, border guard officers and servicemen from the Armed Forces of Ukraine among them. Ninety-four of them are the defenders…

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pekvur called on the international community to provide Ukraine before year-end with military support amounting to EUR 100 billion, including sending a million artillery rounds in the shortest term. The minister spoke at a joint press conference with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin in Tallinn on Thursday, Ukrinform’s own correspondent reports. “We can and must do more. I have three key proposals as to how. First, all European partners and NATO allies must spend more than 2%, ideally closer to 2.5% of the GDP on defense. More can only be given when there is more to give,”…

An explosion rang out in the area of a Russian military unit based Armiansk, the city in the north of the temporarily occupied Crimea. It’s according to the Crimean Wind Telegram channel, Ukrinform reports. "We are informed that this is an explosion in one of the Russian military units in Armyansk," writes the Telegram channel, adding the corresponding photo. Read also: In Lviv region, Russia strikes critical infrastructure facility - Regional Administration It is also noted that the sound of the explosion was definitely not the one produced by air defense capabilities, the report adds. As Ukrinform reported earlier, this…

Last night Russian troops struck the Dnipropetrovsk region’s Pavlohrad with missiles. One civilian was reported killed and seven injured. The relevant statement was made by Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Head Serhii Lysak on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “A terrible night in Pavlohrad. At 03:00 a.m., as people were peacefully sleeping in their homes, the enemy struck the city with missiles. A 79-year-old woman was killed. According to the preliminary data, seven civilians were injured,” Lysak wrote. A man, 79, and a woman, 37, were taken to hospital in moderately grave condition. According to Lysak, an industrial enterprise was also…

Russia is incapable of quickly repairing its military hardware that sustained damage in the war zone. That’s according to Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, Ukrinform reports. “Russia’s inability to reconstruct spent mechanized material in the short term further restricts the Russian military’s mechanized maneuver warfare capabilities,” ISW states. It is noted that at least two-thirds of Russia’s tanks were either destroyed or damaged in the course of the ongoing war. “Russia’s costly military campaign in Ukraine has likely significantly depleted Russian equipment and manpower reserves necessary to sustain a successful large-scale offensive in eastern Ukraine,”…

As Russia begins a new offensive in eastern Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies are skeptical Moscow has amassed the manpower and resources to make significant gains, US, UK and Ukrainian officials say. That’s according to CNN, Ukrinform reports. “It’s likely more aspirational than realistic,” a senior U.S. military official said. Russia has been amassing forces on its border and inside Russian-held territory in Ukraine but, despite the increased numbers, Western allies have not seen evidence of sufficient changes to Moscow’s ability to carry out combined arms operations required to gain and hold more ground. “It’s unlikely Russian forces will…

Training of the Ukrainian military on the Patriot air defense system on German soil is progressing rapidly. That’s according to an assessment by the Luftwaffe leadership, posted by Handelsblatt, Ukrinform reports. "Ukrainians are very motivated and often already have some experience, so everything is happening quicker than expected," the commander of the German training association said on Wednesday. Read also: Any attempts by Russia to retake the initiative must be thwarted – President Zelensky Courses for about 70 soldiers with the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been going on for about two weeks at the Bundeswehr training ground, the location…

Residents of Mariupol, temporarily captured by Russian troops, still have to stand in long lines in the frost to get warm food. "Mariupol. February 2023. Frost. Hundreds of people stand in line for hours to get warm food. The occupation routine," Petro Andriushchenko, adviser to the Mariupol city mayor, posted on Telegram, publishing the relevant photos. As reported, Russia's aggression caused one of the biggest humanitarian disasters in Mariupol. The city was almost 90% destroyed by enemy shelling. Currently, more than 100,000 residents remain in the city. Damaged houses have no heating, normal water or electricity supply. Hospitals are full…