Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv. 4 people injured and one killed

Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv early on February 12, killing one person and injuring four others, including a 9-year-old girl. Fires broke out in several parts of the city following the strikes.

In the Obolon district, a missile hit an office building, killing one person and injuring four others. Two of the victims required hospitalization. In the Holosiivskyi district, a large fire engulfed a 600-square-meter warehouse, while in the Solomianskyi district, the roof of a residential building caught fire.

Explosions were reported in Kyiv around 4:30 a.m. local time. Preliminary reports indicate that Russia launched four Iskander ballistic missiles at the capital. Ukraine’s Air Force had warned of an imminent missile threat before air raid alerts were lifted at 5:30 a.m.

Russia has intensified its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine in recent months, targeting multiple regions.

Notably, Russia launched the missile strike on Kyiv immediately after the visit of Trump's representative Steve Witkoff to Moscow and the release of the American diplomat Mark Vogel by Russia.

The Russians deliberately attacked the capital on the eve of the Munich conference, where the US and the EU will discuss a peace plan for Ukraine.

It might be a signal from the Kremlin that it has no plans to stop.

Russia rejects Zelenskyy's idea of territorial exchange

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the possibility of a territorial exchange between Russia and Ukraine, calling it "impossible."

"Russia has never discussed, and will never discuss, the idea of exchanging its territory," Peskov told journalists, according to Radio Liberty.

His comments were in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent remarks about potentially negotiating an exchange of occupied Ukrainian land for parts of Russia’s Kursk Oblast, currently held by Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine's air defense downed 6 ballistic missiles and 71 Russian drones this morning

Russia launched a massive air attack on Ukraine overnight on February 11-12, firing seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles and deploying 123 drones of various types. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed six missiles and 71 drones, while 40 UAVs disappeared from radar.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the attack targeted multiple regions, including Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts. Damage was reported in Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Poltava, and Chernihiv.

The missile strikes came from Russia’s Bryansk Oblast and occupied Crimea, while drones were launched from Millerovo, Orel, Bryansk, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Ukraine’s air defenses, including aircraft, missile units, electronic warfare, and mobile fire groups, responded to repel the attack.

 US Treasury secretary will travel to Ukraine to negotiate earth resources deal

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to visit Ukraine for preliminary talks on a deal granting the U.S. access to Kyiv’s rare earth resources in exchange for military assistance.

According to Bloomberg, Bessent could arrive in Kyiv as early as this week for initial discussions on securing U.S. access to critical minerals. His visit would mark the first trip to Ukraine by a member of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Trump confirmed the visit on Truth Social, stating that Bessent will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Quote: "I am sending Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to Ukraine to meet President Zelenskyy. This war MUST and WILL END SOON – Too much Death and Destruction."

Russia plans to increase its army by 150,000 this year - Zelenskiy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with The Guardian that Russian authorities plan to expand their army by 12 to 15 divisions in 2025, which would amount to approximately 150,000 additional soldiers.

He explained that intelligence reports had indicated Russia's intent to increase its forces through mobilization, training, and the recruitment of troops from North Korea, with plans to train these soldiers in Belarus.

Zelenskyy pointed out that Ukraine currently has 110 combat brigades, which is a significant force, but Russia has 220 brigades, with projections to expand to 250 in 2025. He emphasized that Russia’s army was already twice the size of Ukraine’s.

He also noted that the European combat force, including American troops stationed there, was estimated to have around 82 combat brigades. In contrast, Ukraine's 110 brigades were currently holding off Russia's 220 brigades.

Additionally, Zelenskyy warned that the number of Russian troops, excluding Ukraine’s forces, would outnumber Europe’s army by a ratio of 3 to 1. He stressed that without Ukraine, Europe would be at risk of complete occupation by Russian forces.

He further argued that the Ukrainian army was holding back Russia’s million-strong force. If Ukraine's forces were to collapse, he suggested that more equipped and strengthened Russian troops could return to Africa, Syria, Azerbaijan, and Armenia—unless Europe could secure a non-aggression pact with them.