Ukraine imports gas in bigger volume after infrastructure attacks

Ukraine has sustained high levels of gas imports from the EU following recent Russian missile strikes targeting its gas infrastructure, according to a February 9 Reuters report.

On Sunday alone, Ukraine imported 16.3 million cubic meters of gas, sourced primarily from Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland, based on data from the state-run gas transmission operator.

Russia has consistently attacked Ukraine’s infrastructure, including gas storage facilities in western regions, throughout the war.

Earlier this week, Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko acknowledged that Russian strikes had severely impacted the country’s domestic gas production capacity. He estimated that Ukraine would need to import approximately 1 billion cubic meters of gas by the end of the year, though specific figures on the extent of the damage were not disclosed.

Ukraine terminated its agreement with Russia to transport gas to European customers via Ukrainian pipelines at the beginning of the year, following the expiration of the deal at the end of 2024.

Zelenskyy about possible elections: If we suspend martial law for elections, we will lose the army

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that suspending martial law to hold elections during the ongoing war would compromise Ukraine’s army, a vulnerability Russia would likely exploit.

In an interview with ITV News, Zelenskyy explained that lifting martial law would legally prevent the retention of the military, disrupting combat capability and morale. "People will come back home and have every right to do so, but even those who stay will face a moral pause," he said, warning that this would benefit Russia's counteroffensive strategies.

Zelenskyy highlighted challenges for voters in the military, in Russian-occupied territories, and those displaced abroad. He expressed concern over the credibility of such elections, noting that Russia would dismiss them as illegitimate. "How can people in temporarily occupied territories vote fairly? It would be akin to the referendum in Crimea—one held at gunpoint," Zelenskyy remarked, stressing that Russia seeks instability in Ukraine through such scenarios.

He reiterated that while Ukraine aspires to hold elections, national security and territorial integrity must remain the priority until the war ends.

Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv Oblast overnight. Air defenses respond to drone wreckage falls on building sites and open areas

Russian forces launched a large-scale drone attack on Kyiv Oblast during the night of February 8-9, prompting an air-raid warning that lasted over 11 hours, according to the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration.

Air defense units were active throughout the attack, successfully shooting down several enemy targets. Authorities confirmed there were no casualties or damage to critical or residential infrastructure.

However, wreckage from a downed drone fell on the facade of a high-rise building under construction in the Obukhiv district, causing some damage. Additional debris reportedly landed in open areas in other parts of the oblast.

Operational groups are continuing their work to assess and manage the aftermath of the attack.

Exhumations of Volyn tragedy victims to begin this spring - Ukraine's ambassador to Poland

Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, has confirmed that exhumation work on the victims of the Volyn tragedy will commence this spring.

Speaking on the Polish news channel TVN24, Bodnar revealed that the first approved site for exhumation is in Puzhnyky. Preparations are underway to secure the necessary decisions for exhumations at additional locations in both Ukraine and Poland.

While there is no confirmed start date, Bodnar noted that efforts are focused on beginning the work as soon as weather conditions permit and all authorizations are finalized.

Bodnar emphasized that Ukrainian law requires a licensed Ukrainian company to conduct such operations. A suitable partner has already been identified, and cooperation with a Ukrainian institution holding the necessary permits is in progress.

Once the teams begin excavation together, an official announcement will be made through the ministers of culture.

The information about the Volyn tragedy:

The Volyn (Volhynia) Tragedy, also known as the Volyn Massacre, occurred between 1943 and 1944 during World War II in the Volhynia and Eastern Galicia regions, now part of western Ukraine. It involved brutal ethnic violence primarily carried out by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) against Polish civilians, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 Poles. In retaliation, Polish forces killed thousands of Ukrainians.

The tragedy was fueled by long-standing tensions over territorial control and national identity. Poland considers it an act of genocide against its population, while Ukraine views it within the broader context of a conflict between both ethnic groups during the war.

The massacre remains a sensitive issue in Polish-Ukrainian relations, with ongoing efforts for reconciliation, truth-seeking, and historical justice through exhumation and commemoration.