Russia is advancing in Kursk

According to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian troops have recently advanced in the Kursk region and continued their offensive along the international border, pushing northeast of Sumy region.

ISW reports that Russian forces are making gains northwest of Sudzha, particularly in the areas of Nikolske, Sverdlikovo, and Lebedivka, as well as southeast of Sudzha near Cherkaska Konopelka and Ulanok.

Geolocated footage released on February 21 confirms that Russian troops have advanced east of Cherkaska Konopelka and north of Fanaseevka, which is southeast of Sudzha.

Russian military sources claim that their forces have captured Cherkaska Konopelka and half of Lebedivka in the Kursk region while making advances near Zhuravka in Sumy region. However, these reports remain unverified.

Russia launched a record number of drones in the overnight attack on Ukraine

Russian forces launched a massive overnight attack on Ukrainian regions from February 22 to 23, using ballistic missiles, 267 Shahed drones, and various other types of drones, according to Ukraine's Air Force and Colonel Yurii Ihnat.

This marked the largest drone attack since the start of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian air defense managed to destroy 138 drones, while 119 disappeared from radar, three flew back toward Russia, and one headed toward Belarus.

The drones were launched from multiple Russian locations, including Oryol, Bryansk, Kursk, Shatalovo, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Chauda in occupied Crimea. Additionally, Russian forces fired three Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Crimea.

As of 08:00, drones were shot down over Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. The attacks caused damage across Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Poltava, Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Russia has seized US$350 billion worth of Ukrainian mineral resources - Minister of Economy

Speaking at the Ukraine. Year 2025 forum, Svyrydenko emphasized that these resources could be exploited by Russia for its defense industry.Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yuliia Svyrydenko, stated that mineral deposits in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories are valued at over $350 billion.

Ukraine opposes US demand to create US$500bn fund under minerals deal - Bloomberg

Ukraine has rejected a $500 billion U.S. proposal that would have granted Washington a share of the country’s mineral resources in exchange for financial support, according to Bloomberg, citing a Ukrainian official.

The proposed fund was meant to compensate the U.S. for its aid to Kyiv, but Ukraine argues that actual U.S. assistance has been significantly lower—around $90 billion.

Negotiations remain ongoing, with some Ukrainian officials expressing concerns over elements of the U.S. proposal. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not yet approved the deal, while U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push for an agreement, claiming the two countries are “very close” to a deal.

The deal, as outlined by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, would direct revenues from Ukraine’s natural resources, infrastructure, and government-controlled assets into a long-term recovery fund. The U.S. would hold economic and governance rights, ensuring transparency and accountability to attract private investment. However, Bessent clarified that the U.S. would not take ownership of physical assets or burden Ukraine with additional debt.

Talks between Ukrainian officials and Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg continued during his recent visit to Kyiv. A key issue remains the lack of guarantees for future U.S. military and financial assistance.

Pentagon denies Trump's statement about 350 billion spent on Ukraine

President Donald Trump's recent claims that the United States has spent $350 billion on Ukraine are significantly higher than official figures from the Department of Defense and independent oversight groups.

According to the interagency oversight group that reports to Congress, the U.S. has allocated about $183 billion to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Pentagon confirms that $65.9 billion of this has gone toward military aid, with an additional $3.9 billion authorized but not yet spent.

Notably, around $58 billion of the total U.S. aid has been spent domestically, primarily on bolstering the American defense industry by replacing weapons sent to Ukraine and investing in new production.

Trump's claim that the U.S. has spent $200 billion more than Europe is also disputed. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy reports that European countries—including the EU, UK, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland—have provided approximately $140 billion in aid to Ukraine, compared to about $120 billion from the U.S. While the U.S. has given slightly more in military aid, European donors have led in financial and humanitarian support.

For context, U.S. aid to Ukraine represents a small fraction of GDP for major contributors. The U.S., Germany, and the UK have each spent less than 0.2% of their annual GDP on Ukraine, while France, Italy, and Spain have contributed about 0.1%.

Experts, including Liana Fix from the Council on Foreign Relations, have challenged Trump's figures, calling them inaccurate.

Russia remains aggressor regardless of wording - Ukraine's foreign minister as US reportedly avoids term

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on the international community to scrutinize Russia's actions, following reports that the United States has avoided explicitly naming Russia as an aggressor in several resolutions.

In a post on X (Twitter) on February 23, Sybiha highlighted Russia’s latest large-scale attack, in which it launched a record 267 drones targeting Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure.

"This demonstrates that avoiding calling Russia an aggressor does not change the fact that it is one. No one should trust Putin’s words. Look at his actions instead," Sybiha stated.

Five people injured in Russian strike on Kryvyi Rih

The number of people injured in the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on the evening of February 22 has risen to five, according to the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration.

Authorities reported that four women and one man were injured. Three people remain hospitalized, with one in serious condition.

The attack caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, a church, a social facility, a company’s premises, and a petrol station. Several cars were also damaged.

"I am ready to step down as president for peace or in return for NATO membership" - Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he is willing to step down if it leads to peace in Ukraine or secures NATO membership for the country.

At a press conference on February 23, Zelenskyy was asked whether he would resign if it meant achieving peace.

"If it is for peace in Ukraine if you really need me to leave my position, then I am ready," he said. "The second scenario is that I can exchange this for NATO if such conditions exist. I say this right away so we don't talk about it for long."

Three people were injured in a Russian drone attack on Odesa

Russian forces attacked the Odesa district with loitering munitions on the night of February 22-23, injuring three people.

According to the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, a house caught fire following a drone strike. The State Emergency Service later confirmed that the house had been hit by a Shahed loitering munition.

Firefighters reported that the strike caused fires and significant damage to the house.

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