Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1458: Russia’s army stalls as Trump extends sanctions and New Zealand targets 100 shadow fleet vessels
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Exclusives
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Euromaidan chose freedom. Russia chose war. Why Russia went to war with Ukraine in 2014—not 2022.. The start date matters. Get it wrong, and you misread the war entirely. This is not a territorial dispute—it is an eleven-year campaign to crush a people’s revolution. |
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Bilateral deals for Washington, maximalist war aims for Moscow — ISW maps the Kremlin’s two-track play. While Lavrov blamed Ukraine and the EU and railed against Western security guarantees, Kremlin officials were at the same time calling on Washington to lift “illegal” sanctions and calculate the price of frozen US–Russian commerce. |
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Three-year loans up 50%, five-year up 72%—but Ukraine’s workforce just keeps shrinking. Three-year-plus loans grew 50% as companies bypassed cheap government programs. The binding constraint isn’t capital—it’s people. |
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War created Ukraine’s biggest publishing boom in modern history. New data shows 117 new publishers registered in 2025—60% above prewar levels. |
Military
Bomber crews hunt down Russia’s 203mm Pion guns deep behind Luhansk front – 13 vehicles destroyed (VIDEO) National Guard says raid cut Russian artillery and rocket fire on Ukrainian positions.
Ukrainian ground drone takes direct FPV hit – still evacuates two wounded soldiers near Pokrovsk Conventional vehicle evacuation too risky under constant Russian FPV drone activity.
Two more French Mirage 2000s to hunt Russian missiles in Ukraine’s skies by mid-2026 Deliveries follow January announcement that France may provide up to 26 aircraft.
Belarus rounds up reservists on hours’ notice near Polish border in snap military readiness check Social media flooded with reports of same-day summonses in Hrodna.
Russia’s army hasn’t grown in six months. Ukraine is making it pay. Troop numbers flatlined at 711,000 even as Moscow adapted to cut casualties. Now Ukraine is counterattacking where Russia can’t reinforce.
“Ballistic missiles hit when there aren’t enough interceptors”: Western aid is growing, but late delivery kills Deputy presidential office head says on-time deliveries would have shielded energy infrastructure.
Why AIM missiles work for Ukraine: EW-resistant, “fire-and-forget,” effective against drones and cruise missiles Ukraine uses three AIM missile types: Sidewinder (35 km, infrared), AMRAAM (up to 180 km, “fire-and-forget”), and Sparrow (70 km, semi-active radar).
“Generals thanked us for coming”: NATO soldiers stood frozen under Ukrainian drones during Hedgehog-2025 drills “If you are detected, consider yourself ‘200.’”
Russia built anti-drone nets over this oil depot 500 km from Ukraine — drones burned it anyway The Velikolukskaya depot in Russia’s Pskov Oblast was already hit once in April 2024. Russians installed protective nets over the fuel tanks afterward.
ISW: Russia is laying the groundwork for rolling involuntary call-ups as its recruitment system runs dry A new Duma bill adopted on 18 February would criminalize criticism of reserve call-ups, while Bloomberg reports Russia lost 9,000 more troops than it replaced in January 2026 — the first time recruitment has visibly fallen behind losses.
Intelligence and technology
Russia offered $100,000 per kill: Joint Ukrainian-Moldovan operation dismantles assassination network targeting public figures A defense intelligence spokesperson, a journalist on Russia’s “extremist” list, a head of a state enterprise, special operations soldiers, and a pro-Ukrainian Russian activist — these were among at least five people a Russian-directed assassination network planned to kill in Ukraine.
Rheinmetall says its new FV-014 drone has “combat experience”: There’s only one place where that could have happened FV-014: 100 km range, 5 kg HEDP warhead, 600 mm penetration, swarm capable.
Tower in Russia’s Lipetsk connected three military facilities. Pro-Ukrainian partisans just took it down Communications down near arsenal. “Any strike now more destructive,” partisans say after Lipetsk sabotage.
Ukrainian drone expertise earned something new — access to NATO defense contracts for first time Battlefield-tested expertise now enters NATO competitions. Ukrainian companies allowed for the first time.
International
France and Ukraine sign nuclear energy pact alongside €71mn grant package as Ukraine fights to keep the lights on Over 140 high-capacity generators already delivered, 150 more coming in February.
Ukraine pitches Japan on defense cooperation – starting with the maritime drones that sank a fleet President offers to share lessons from maritime drones, cyber warfare, and infrastructure defense.
South Korea sells weapons to NATO members — now NATO wants Seoul to help buy weapons for Ukraine Seoul confirmed NATO formally asked it to join the PURL program, which pools allied money to buy US-made arms and air defense systems for Ukraine.
Drones, long-range missiles, artillery ammo: Sweden reloads Ukraine’s battlefield punch with $1.42B aid package $11.3B total since 2022—Sweden cements top-tier backer status.
Nairobi thought Russia recruited 200 Kenyan citizens to kill Ukrainians. A new report says it’s over 1,000 Families of the mercenaries gathered in the Kenyan capital demanding their return while the government condemned Moscow’s use of Kenyans as “cannon fodder” and its foreign minister prepares to visit Russia next month.
Humanitarian and social impact
Leaked chats expose Russian general’s brutality: Severed ears, tortured animals, and orders to kill POWs Archive links deputy commander of Russia’s 20th Army to systematic POW killings.
Frankfurt to mark four years of Russia’s full-scale war with Ukraine’s solidarity rally. Interior minister, deputy mayor among participants 24 February marks four years since Russia’s full-scale war.
Political and legal developments
New Zealand sanctions 100 Russian shadow fleet vessels and cuts oil price cap to $44.10 New targets also include Russian intelligence officers, Garantex crypto exchange leaders, and Iranian drone manufacturer board members in Wellington’s largest single-day vessel designation since 2022.
Trump extends all US sanctions against Russia for another year, calling it an “extraordinary threat” The renewal covers the full range of restrictions imposed under Obama, Trump’s first term, and Biden since 2014 — keeping them in force until at least 6 March 2027.
“Even if IOC betrayed them, I will not”: Heraskevych announces legal action after disqualification for memorial helmet Heraskevych is taking the IOC to Swiss Federal Court.
Read our previous daily review here.
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