On the 1458th day of war, Russia and Ukraine launched aerial attacks.
Russian forces hit a neighborhood in the eastern city of Kharkiv with rockets. The attack caused multiple damages, and in the early hours of the morning, there was still no information about potential victims.
A ballistic missile and 21 drones launched by Russia hit 14 locations in Ukrainian territory last night. The air defense managed to neutralize over 100 drones.
In turn, Ukrainian forces launched a nighttime attack in Crimea, where authorities announced that they had shot down 16 drones. A man was killed by the debris of a drone.
Satellite images show that Russia has installed anti-drone nets to protect its fuel tanks. However, this measure proved ineffective on Wednesday night when Ukrainian drones set fire to a tank at the refinery in Velikiie Luki, in the Pskov region.
On the front line, the situation of Russian troops is complicated by corruption, with many documented cases of soldiers being forced to give their salaries to corrupt officers and contribute to replenishing supplies that disappear from units.
On the other hand, Ukrainian forces are ready to continue fighting for as long as necessary. The Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine declared that his country is capable of sustaining the war for several years.
And Donald Trump approved the extension by one year of the sanctions initially imposed following the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014.
Russia and Ukraine Attacks
- Rockets in Kharkiv - Russian forces hit a neighborhood in the city of Kharkiv with rockets this morning. Several cars caught fire, and windows of some buildings were shattered, announced Mayor Ihor Terehov. There is no information about potential victims, reports Ukrainska Pravda.
- Almost 130 Drones - Russia launched a ballistic missile and 128 drones. The Ukrainian Air Force neutralized 107 drones in the north, south, and east of the country. The missile and 21 drones fell in 14 locations on Ukrainian territory, announced the Ukrainian Air Force.
- One Fatality in Sevastopol - A man died following a Ukrainian airstrike in Sevastopol overnight from Thursday to Friday, announced Russian authorities, stating that they shot down 16 drones, as reported by AFP. "Due to the attack by Ukrainian armed forces on Sevastopol, a man was killed (…). He was injured in the head and chest by fragments from the downed drone," explained Mikhail Razvojaiev, the governor of Sevastopol, a major port in the annexed Crimea Peninsula in 2014. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the Belbek and Saky air bases, used by Russian forces, could have been targeted in the attack.
- Russians Set Up Nets - Satellite images taken in December by the American spatial intelligence firm Vantor show that Russia has installed anti-drone nets to protect its fuel tanks. This measure was also taken at the oil depot of the refinery in Velikiie Luki, a city in the Pskov region in western Russia, but it proved ineffective. Ukrainian drones that struck on Wednesday night breached the installed net and set a tank on fire, a security official told Business Insider. The nets failed to stop the strikes, added the source. Similar nets have been observed at other Russian oil facilities in recent months. This strategy highlights how Russia resorts to rudimentary improvisations to protect its energy infrastructure from Ukrainian attacks.
- Those Who Don't Pay Bribes End Up on the Front Line - Russian soldiers are forced to give their salaries to corrupt officers and contribute to replenishing supplies that disappear from units. Russian commanders demand up to 35,000 euros to spare soldiers from the front line, writes The Telegraph. Commanders "reset" soldiers (a term meaning they send them to death) if they refuse to pay the requested amounts, between 11,400 and almost 35,000 euros, a soldier said. "More than half of our unit has been reset by commanders. Everyone has to pay. If someone doesn't pay, they are considered useless, sent to the front line, and reset. I personally saw several people killed," he said. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), there have been cases where Russian commanders deliberately did not send wounded soldiers to the hospital if they did not pay or refused to release the necessary documents for state benefits granted to veterans. There are also numerous cases where commanders steal equipment, including drones, electronics, and other weapons, and force soldiers to buy them with their own money.
Other Relevant Information
- Ukraine Can Fight for Years - Oleksandr Pivnenko, the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, stated that his country is capable of continuing the war for several years and rejected Donald Trump's claim that Ukraine would lose without a rapid armistice. "We are capable of fighting for several more years, 100%. But wars should eventually end. Killing people for territory and resources is something we find hard to understand on this planet. It needs to stop," he said in an interview with BBC-Ukraine. "Ukraine's military victory means, of course, the recovery of its territories. I understand that this may not be a current goal today, but it remains crucial for the future. It could take decades, no matter," he emphasized. When asked if Ukraine would consider territorial concessions, Pivnenko replied that Kyiv is not considering such an option at this time. "An armistice along the contact line is something we can understand. But no one will give up territory," he said.
- Merz Predicts When the War Will End - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes there are few chances for a quick agreement to end the war in Ukraine, stating that this conflict, which has lasted for 4 years, will only end when one of the parties is militarily or economically exhausted. Details HERE.
- Trump Extends Some Sanctions Imposed on Russia - U.S. President Donald Trump approved the extension by one year of sanctions imposed on Moscow, initially introduced following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, as reported by Kiev Independent. The decree continues the measures initially introduced in 2014 and later extended in 2018 and 2022, including asset freezes and restrictions targeting individuals linked to Russia's occupation of Crimea. The document states that Russia's actions "continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States," justifying the extension of the initially declared national emergency. Trump's order maintains the national emergency framework established by Executive Order 13660, mentioning that the measures "must remain in effect after March 6, 2026." These sanctions have been updated several times in recent years, including during the Biden administration, as Washington responds to Russia's war in Ukraine.
- Ukraine's Billion-Dollar Military Exports - Kyiv could export military products and services worth billions of dollars this year, after authorizing its first foreign sales since the beginning of the war and considering introducing a tax on these exports, said a senior Ukrainian defense official to Reuters. Earlier this month, the state commission responsible for issuing necessary permits approved most of the 40 applications from defense sector manufacturers for exports of military materials and services, said Davîd Aloian, Deputy Secretary at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council. When asked about the export potential for this year, Aloian mentioned: "Taking into account the ready-made products, spare parts, components, and services that can be provided, this amounts to several billion dollars." Overall, the potential is "significantly higher" than pre-war exports, Aloian said. Priority will be given to exports to countries that are the strongest supporters of Kyiv.