As the US expresses the “serious threat to national security” posed by Russia’s militarization of space and its “nuclear capabilities,” Russian President PutinIn an interview reported by Tass, he always says he is worried about the prospect of NATO expansion, including into Ukraine.
Kiev attacks the city of Belgorod on Russian territory: 5 dead and numerous injured. Moscow: “It was an act of terror.” Meanwhile, the defense ministers of the NATO countries are meeting in Brussels.
The war in Ukraine, what is there to know?
dossier – Warpaths
Live news from the Ukraine-Russia conflict
1:46 p.m
NATO will set up a training center for Ukrainian troops
There Born will open a defense training, analysis and training center for Ukrainian troops. The new project, which will complement the EU training mission and existing programs, aims to help Kiev not only in the military preparation of its soldiers and military personnel, but also to train them in the strategy and management of the mission. This was reported by the Spanish newspaper El País, citing allied sources.
The aim is to increase support for the country Russia invaded two years ago and help bring its armed forces up to the standards of the alliance it hopes to one day join.
During the summit of NATO defense ministers taking place in Brussels, the details of the project will be explained, which – continues El Pais – is expected to receive its final approval at the summit in Washington in July, an important event that will celebrate the 75th anniversary the existence of the alliance and, subject to an agreement, it may be possible to elect the new general secretary to replace the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, who has been in office for 10 years.
1:10 p.m
Macron and Zelensky will sign a security agreement
On the occasion of his visit to France planned for tomorrow, the Ukrainian President said, Volodymyr ZelenskyHe will sign a bilateral security agreement in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. Paris announced this without giving details of the agreement. Earlier this year, Macron announced that France was working on a bilateral agreement with Ukraine, similar to the one recently concluded between Kiev and the United Kingdom, covering a period of ten years.
The Elysée said Zelensky's visit would give Macron the opportunity to “reaffirm France's determination to continue to provide unwavering support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the long term and with all its partners.”
12:25 p.m
Moscow: “Terrorist attack in Belgorod”
“Another terrorist act by the Kiev regime”: This is how Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the Ukrainian rocket attack on the Russian city of Belgorod this morning, which, according to an initial assessment by the governor, resulted in at least 5 deaths, including a child 18 injured. Moscow, the spokeswoman wrote on her Telegram channel, will present the case to the relevant international organizations, including the UN Security Council.
11:48 a.m
Moscow: “5 dead, 18 injured by Ukrainian rockets on Belgorod”
The preliminary death toll from a Ukrainian rocket attack this morning on the Russian city of Belgorod is at least five dead and 18 injured civilians, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced on his Telegram channel. There was one child among those killed and five among the injured.
(afp) 11:12
Kiev attacks a shopping center in Belgorod, two dead
A shopping center in Belgorod, Russia, was hit in a Ukrainian rocket attack this morning, killing at least two people. This was reported by the Ria Novosti agency.
10:40 a.m
Tomorrow Zelenskyy in Germany and France
Tomorrow the Ukrainian president will be Volodymyr ZelenskyHe will travel to Germany and France, where he will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. This is what the Ukrainian presidency writes on its institutional website. On Saturday, February 17, Zelensky will speak at the “Munich Security Conference and hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the conference,” the statement continued. “Conversations are planned with US Vice President Kamala Harris, Czech President Petr Pavel, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other state and business leaders,” concludes the Ukrainian presidency.
(afp) 09:53
Stoltenberg: “The influence of the US Congress on the ground in Ukraine”
On the battlefield in Ukraine, “we are already seeing the impact of the fact that the United States has not been able to make a decision” on aid to Kiev, “but I expect that they will be able to do so, that Congress and the House of Representatives of …” Representatives agree on continued support for Ukraine. NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said this on the sidelines of the Defense Ministers' Conference in Brussels.
09:33
Kiev sends an assault brigade to the east: “Extremely critical situation in Avdiivka”
The Ukrainian army has urgently deployed the third assault brigade to the Avdiivka region to reinforce the troops on the ground, which have run into difficulties due to ongoing attacks by Russian forces, which have massed an additional 50,000 soldiers in the area. “The situation in the city is extremely critical,” the brigade wrote on Telegram, as reported by UNIAN. Yesterday, new head of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky expressed concern about the precarious situation at the front during a visit to eastern Ukraine along with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. And he said that “the Russian occupiers are increasing their efforts and have a military advantage.”
(afp) 08:50
The Kremlin: “Rumors about nuclear weapons in space are a US trick”
The Kremlin today denied rumors circulating in the US that Russia was planning to deploy nuclear weapons in space, saying it was “another trick by the White House.” This was reported by Tass.
08:24
Stoltenberg: “Trump? American-European unity is our strength.”
“NATO has also called on European allies to invest more in capabilities and now European allies are realizing that this is not an alternative to NATO. This is actually a way to strengthen NATO. And we shouldn't take a path that suggests that we are trying to separate Europe from North America. The strength is that we have a Europe and a North America to achieve this goal in NATO.” The Secretary General of NATO said this: Jens Stoltenberg, upon his arrival at the defense ministers' meeting in Brussels, answering a question about Donald Trump's statements. “So as long as we stand together, we can send the message to any adversary that we can protect all allies,” he added.
(afp) 08:08
In Ukraine, the death toll in Kharkiv has risen to 4
The death toll from last night's rocket attack by Russian forces in the region has risen to four Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine: This was announced by regional and local authorities, as Rbc-Ukraine reports. In particular, the head of the regional prosecutor's office, Oleg Sinegubov, announced on Telegram that in Veliky Burluk the number of victims increased to three and five people were injured. Earlier, Chuhuiv Mayor Halyna Minaeva said that a rocket hit a residential area of the city, killing one person.
07:18
Russian bombs on Zaporizhia, 4 injured
Four people were injured in a Russian attack on civilian infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia this morning: this was announced by the secretary of the city's city council, Anatoly Kurtev, via Telegram, Rbc-Ukraine reported. “Multi-family homes, a school and the site of a shopping center were damaged,” wrote Kurtev, reporting the four injured.
07:04
Ukrainian army: attack on Kiev repelled, all rockets shot down, there are no casualties
Ukraine's air defense forces have shot down all Russian missiles aimed at Kiev, the capital's military administration said in a Telegram post. The air alert issued in Kiev this morning lasted more than two hours. There were no injuries or special damage.
05:33
Air alert in Ukraine, Russian Tupolev Tu-95MS bombers have spotted the takeoff
Ukraine raised air alert after detecting a bomber squadron taking off from a Russian base. The Tupolev Tu-95MS took off from Olenya in the Murmansk region of northeastern Russia. In a message on Telegram he referred to the Ukrainian army and shortly afterwards added that rockets were aimed at Kiev.
05:27
Kiev is under attack, Mayor Klitschko invites citizens to go to emergency shelters
The air defense is busy neutralizing a missile attack on the capital Kiev. Mayor Vitali Klitschko made this known and called on citizens to seek shelter in emergency shelters. Witnesses from international news agencies report explosions in various parts of the city.
04:28
Ukraine: Russian missile hits Kharkiv region, one dead
A Russian missile attack on Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine left one person dead tonight. This was announced by the local authorities. Quoted by Ukrainian media, Mayor Halyna Minaeva said a rocket hit a residential area of the city. An air raid alarm was sounded in the region last night.
04:26
Moscow: Ukrainian drone over the Russian region of Kursk, fire in an oil facility
A drone strike by Kiev forces caused a fire at an oil depot in Russia's Kursk region on the border with Ukraine. This was announced by the Moscow authorities, citing the Tass agency. “A fire broke out at an oil depot in the Kursk region after an attack by a Ukrainian drone. According to initial information, there were no victims,” Governor Roman Starovoit said on Telegram.