Exclusives
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Russia used Belarus's cell towers to bomb Ukrainian power plants. Then hackers got inside the operators' chatrooms. For six months, Ukrainian IT specialists watched Russian drone operators plan routes in real time — tracking launch orders and flight paths, feeding everything to Ukraine's defense forces. |
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Russia rushed reinforcements to its fracturing southeast. They rode in unarmored and in broad daylight. Two weeks after Russian communications collapsed, Ukrainian troops are still counterattacking—and inflicting heavy losses on the Russians. |
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Only 10% of Ukrainians want wartime elections—so why does anyone else?. Only 10% of Ukrainians want elections before a ceasefire. The law agrees with them. |
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Hungary holds $106 bn Ukraine aid hostage over Russian oil — EU says Orban promised not to. Two months after pledging not to obstruct a $106 bn EU loan to Ukraine, Hungary reversed course on 20 Feb., with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó declaring the credit frozen until Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline resumes |
Military
Defending a city that no longer exists — Ukraine's impossible fight in Vovchansk. With every building destroyed, there's no infrastructure to anchor a defensive line, yet Ukrainian troops in the south refuse to withdraw as Russian forces attempt flanking operations from both sides, the military says.
Ukraine's Air Assault Forces officially reveal southern "operation" that reclaimed 300+ km² and eight settlements. Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi visited the troops on the Oleksandrivka axis on 16 February, days before Zelenskyy announced the first 300 km² liberated — now the unit running the operation has confirmed the details
One kilometer from Donetsk, a Russian Tor air defense system was hunting Ukrainian drones — until drones hunted it. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces destroyed two Tors overnight and set an oil depot ablaze in occupied Luhansk, where the fire was still burning six hours later
Ukraine hits two Russian patrol ships and two planes in occupied Crimea overnight. Two Russian Project "Okhotnik" border patrol ships were struck near Inkerman in occupied Crimea overnight on 21 February, with two Be-12 aircraft also hit at the Yevpatoriia Aircraft Repair Plant, the Ukrainian General Staff reported.
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.
As of 22 FEB 2026, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:
- Personnel: 1259780 (+890)
- Tanks: 11694 (+9)
- APV: 24069 (+6)
- Artillery systems: 37470 (+41)
- MLRS: 1652 (+1)
- Anti-aircraft systems: 1303
- Aircraft: 435
- Helicopters: 348
- UAV: 142113 (+1705)
- Cruise missiles : 4314
- Warships/boats: 29
- Submarines: 2
- Vehicles and fuel tanks: 79500 (+205)
Intelligence and technology
Oreshnik moves closer to NATO — and closer to being destroyed, warns Finland's ex-spy chief. Russian deployment of Oreshnik in Belarus is a calculated nuclear signal to Europe that violates every remaining rule of de-escalation, says retired Finnish Major General and MEP Pekka Toveri.
International
Former UK PM says West should deploy troops to Ukraine before a ceasefire, not after. Britain should send peacetime ground forces to Ukraine to prove it backs Ukrainian sovereignty, former PM Boris Johnson said in a BBC interview, challenging the logic of reserving troop deployments for a ceasefire dictated by Moscow.
President Pavel walks among protesters as 800 rally in Prague on invasion anniversary. "We will do everything so that their sacrifice is rewarded by our victory," Ukraine's Ambassador to Czechia Vasyl Zvarych said at Prague's Old Town Square, where 800 people rallied on Saturday alongside President Petr Pavel to mark four years of Russia's full-scale war.
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.
Humanitarian and social impact
From 10% to 48%: Employment of Ukrainian women in Austria has grown fivefold in three years. More than 94,000 Ukrainians now live in Austria, 61% of them women and 30% under the age of 20
Political and legal developments
Ukraine detains suspected bomber after Lviv double-tap attack kills policewoman, injures 25— accomplices still sought. The trap started with a fake store break-in call: the first blast hit when her patrol arrived, the second explosion targeted the crew that came to save her.
Zelenskyy sanctions 225 shadow fleet captains from 11 countries for smuggling Russian oil. Some 188 of the tankers whose captains Ukraine just sanctioned are already on the sanctions lists of seven Western nations — but the people steering them were not, until now.
New developments
Aidar soldiers attacked with firearms while off duty in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, refrain from using weapons. Six people attacked off-duty soldiers of the 24th Assault Regiment "Aidar" in a Dnipropetrovsk Oblast city on 21 February, with one assailant firing a gun, the regiment reported.
Read our earlier daily review here.
