Ukrainian parliament voted for resolution on Ukraine's elections after ceasefire

On Tuesday, February 25, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) successfully passed a resolution affirming its commitment to democracy and future presidential elections—but only once a "comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace" is secured.

The resolution, which had failed to pass the previous day, was approved on the second attempt, with 268 MPs voting in favor.

The document emphasizes that both President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Verkhovna Rada were elected in free, transparent, and internationally recognized elections. It also warns that holding elections under martial law would violate national and international electoral standards, making them illegitimate and comparable to Vladimir Putin’s reappointment in March 2024.

According to the resolution, Russia’s actions are the primary reason Ukraine cannot currently hold democratic elections. The Verkhovna Rada places full responsibility on Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressing that Ukraine cannot ensure the presence of international observers or meet electoral standards while the war continues.

Ukrainian lawmakers also highlight that the country’s martial law—imposed in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion—prevents elections from taking place under Ukraine’s constitution. At the same time, they reaffirm Ukraine’s commitment to democracy and insist that elections must be conducted under proper conditions once the war is over.
The resolution confirms that Ukraine will organize presidential elections as soon as lasting peace is secured and will ensure that they adhere to international standards. Until then, President Zelenskyy will remain in office, as stipulated by the Ukrainian Constitution.

With this decision, Ukraine signals its unwavering commitment to democratic principles, even in wartime.

Russia launched missile and drone attack in the morning

On the night of February 24-25, Russian forces launched a large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying seven cruise missiles, 213 Shahed attack drones, and various other UAVs. Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted and destroyed 139 of these airborne threats.

The assault began at 7:00 p.m. on February 24, with Russian forces launching Shahed drones and decoy UAVs from multiple locations, including Oryol, Bryansk, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. In addition, seven Kh-101 cruise missiles were fired from Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

By 11:00 a.m. on February 25, Ukrainian air defenses had confirmed the downing of six Kh-101 cruise missiles, 133 Shahed drones, and other UAVs over several regions, including Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

While 79 decoy drones vanished from radar without causing damage, the attack did affect several areas, particularly Kyiv and Zhytomyr oblasts. Despite the scale of the assault, Ukraine’s air defenses demonstrated a high level of effectiveness in countering the Russian offensive.

Kremlin denies Trump's claim that Putin agreed to European peacekeepers in Ukraine

The Kremlin has refrained from providing additional remarks beyond what Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already stated regarding the possibility of European nations deploying a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to inquiries about U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Vladimir Putin would not oppose European peacekeepers as part of a potential ceasefire. Peskov stated that Lavrov had already addressed the issue and that there was nothing further to add or comment on.

Lavrov previously emphasized that Russia would consider the deployment of NATO member state troops in Ukraine—following any agreement to end the war—as unacceptable.

Russia launched a strike on Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast

Russian forces launched an attack on Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, on February 25, killing one person and injuring at least 14 others, including four children, according to Ukraine's National Police.

The strike targeted a residential area around 2:20 p.m., damaging at least 17 houses. Rescue operations are still underway as officials work to determine the full extent of the damage and the number of casualties.

Governor Vadym Filashkin emphasized that authorities are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the front line, Kramatorsk remains a frequent target of Russian shelling. Daily artillery and airstrikes across Donetsk Oblast continue to result in civilian casualties, highlighting the ongoing danger to those living in the region.

Russian forces attack city of Sumy and oblast, killing 2 people and injuring 5

On February 24, Russian forces attacked a civilian vehicle in Sumy with a drone strike and later shelled the Velyka Pysarivka hromada in Sumy Oblast with artillery, killing two people and injuring five others, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General.

At approximately 4:00 p.m., a drone targeted a moving vehicle on one of Sumy's central streets. The 62-year-old driver succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital, while a 31-year-old passenger sustained injuries and was hospitalized.

Earlier that day, around 11:00 a.m., Russian forces launched an artillery strike on the Velyka Pysarivka hromada. The attack claimed the life of a local resident and left four others injured, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Sumy Oblast, located near the Russian border, has faced relentless strikes since the start of the full-scale invasion, with civilians frequently caught in the crossfire of Russian attacks.

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