Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title
[Korrespondent] 20:26 Zelensky confirmed the exchange of prisoners of war: another 100 defenders returned to Ukraine, most of whom are defenders of Mariupol.
20:17 The US Senate supported consideration of a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan - without spending on protecting the border with Mexico. This is not a final vote, but makes it possible to expedite consideration of the document, which provides 60 billion for Ukraine. After the Senate, the bill will go to a vote in the House of Representatives.
19:29 The Russian Ministry of Defense announced an exchange of prisoners, as a result of which 100 Ukrainian soldiers returned home in exchange for 100 Russian ones. The UAE acted as an intermediary in the exchange.
19:18 Zelensky said in an evening video message that at today’s meeting with Zaluzhny he discussed the situation at the front: “Avdiivka - extraordinary actions of our soldiers and extraordinary difficulties in the defense of the city. Zaporozhye direction - very tough. Southern directions. Challenges for the Kharkov region. But ours opportunities - opportunities for Ukraine this year. The third year of a full-scale war... We must say honestly: the feeling of stagnation in the southern directions and the difficulties in the battles in the Donetsk region influenced the public mood. Ukrainians began to talk less often about victory. But the Ukrainian spirit has not lost faith into victory. Ukraine retains its historical chance. It is our duty to realize it."
The President assured that today’s decision to update the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “is not about names, and certainly not about politics - it is about the system of our army, about management in the Armed Forces and about attracting the experience of combat commanders of this war. Every soldier, every sergeant and Every officer who sees the front understands what decisions are needed. Significantly greater technological advancement of the army's actions. Reboot of the generals. Headquarters at all levels must know and feel the front in the same way as soldiers at "zero". Combat commanders of this war, commanders from "zero" must realize their special experience at the level of the entire army - in leadership." According to him, “a different approach is needed, in particular to rotations, front management, mobilization and recruiting.”
Zelensky also named the main changes that he expects in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the near future:
- A realistic, detailed action plan of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for 2024 should appear on the table, taking into account the real situation on the battlefield now and the prospects.
- Each combat brigade on the first line must receive effective Western weapons - there must be a fair redistribution of such weapons in favor of the first line of the front.
- Logistics problems need to be resolved: Avdiivka should not wait for the generals to figure out where the drones are stuck in their warehouses.
- Every general must know the front.
- Excessive and unjustified staff numbers must be corrected.
- It is necessary to build an effective rotation system in the army. The experience of individual combat brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and units of the State Border Service, where such a system exists, can be taken as a basis. Rotations are a must.
- There needs to be an obvious improvement in the quality of training of soldiers - only trained soldiers on the first line.
- A new type of force is being created within the structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - the Forces of Unmanned Systems. The first commander must be appointed.
Commander-in-Chief Syrsky will present the command to reboot the Ukrainian Armed Forces one of these days, the president added.
18:42 Zelensky appointed Alexander Syrsky as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The president announced this in an evening video message: “Starting today, a new management team is taking over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I want the vision of the war to be uniform among our soldiers in Rabotino or Avdievka, and at the General Staff and at Headquarters.”
The President said that he had dozens of conversations with commanders at various levels, in particular, today he spoke with Brigadier Generals Andrei Gnatov, Mikhail Drapaty, Igor Skibyuk and Colonels Pavel Palisa and Vadim Sukharevsky. “All of them are being considered for leadership positions in the army and will serve under the leadership of the most experienced Ukrainian commander. He has successful experience in defense - he conducted the Kiev defense operation. He also has successful experience in offensive - the Kharkov liberation operation. I appointed Colonel General Syrsky "Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Today I spoke with generals Moysyuk and Zabrodsky. Their experience is in the service of the state. 2024 can be successful for Ukraine only if there are effective changes in the basis of our defense, which is the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Zelensky said.
18:31 Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that “today a decision was made on the need to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” He also thanked Zaluzhny “for all his achievements and victories.” “War does not remain the same. War changes and requires changes. Combat operations in 2022, 2023 and 2024 are three different realities. 2024 will bring new changes for which we must be prepared. We need new approaches, new strategies,” the minister wrote.
18:15 Zelensky said that he met with Zaluzhny and “thanked him for two years of protecting Ukraine.” According to the president, they discussed what kind of updating the Armed Forces of Ukraine need and who could be in the updated leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. “The time for such an update is now. I suggested that Valery Fedorovich continue to be on the team,” Zelensky wrote.
Simultaneously with Zelensky’s post, Zaluzhny’s post was published, in which he states that “the tasks of 2022 are different from the tasks of 2024, so everyone must change and adapt to new realities.” “We just met with the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. An important and serious conversation. A decision was made on the need to change approaches and strategy. I am grateful to everyone who is nearby. The team of the General Staff, the Ministry of Defense, the President of Ukraine,” Zaluzhny wrote.
At the same time, neither Zelensky nor Zaluzhny directly stated that the commander-in-chief was leaving his post. But they both published the same photo:
17:58 Russian fuel industry enterprises are increasingly suffering from drone strikes. Moreover, drones fly further and further into the interior of the aggressor country. The Russian authorities blame Ukraine for the raids. Kyiv does not officially confirm involvement in the attacks on Russian enterprises, but does not dispute it either. For more details, see the material Range of Drones.
17:25 The Russian Central Election Commission stated that “early voting” for the presidential elections in the Russian Federation in the occupied territory of the Zaporozhye region will begin on February 25, in the Kherson region - on February 27. The first to participate in the “voting” will be residents of settlements that are located in “remote and hard-to-reach areas close to the line of combat contact.” Early “voting” assumes that members of the election commission will come to voters’ homes with ballots and ballot boxes. Putin's elections will take place in Russia on March 15-17.
16:47 Aid to Ukraine from the European Union in the amount of 50 billion euros will not cover the country’s needs until 2027, said the head of the budget committee of the European Parliament, Johan Van Overtveldt. According to him, Ukraine's non-military needs amount to 3 billion euros per month - thus, the country needs 36 billion euros annually.
As for the adopted aid package, on average 12.5 billion euros per year will be available to Ukraine, Van Overtveldt recalled. “According to the agreement between the EU and the United States, each of them will take on half of Ukrainian needs, that is, 18 billion euros for the EU and the United States. Thus, the Ukraine Facility will annually receive at least 5.5 billion euros less from EU obligations,” - he explained and added that for the entire period until 2027 the shortfall will amount to 22 billion euros.
16:05 Recently, a scandal erupted online over a video of a dispute between a special-purpose regiment of the National Police in the Dnipropetrovsk region and its leadership. The police allegedly refused to transfer to the Lyut assault brigade because, according to them, they were not prepared, and “trenches are not checkpoints.” It took the Ministry of Internal Affairs several days to resolve the situation. Read more in the article Riot in the Dnieper: how the police were “punished.”
15:53 On the eve of his visit to Washington, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on the US and the EU to intensify efforts to provide assistance to Ukraine: “We must find a way to do more together. What has been promised so far in Europe, and what was promised by the decisions of the American Congress is not enough yet."
15:08 The EU proposed to impose sanctions on 55 companies and more than 60 individuals as part of a new sanctions package against Russia, Bloomberg writes. The new restrictions will affect individuals and legal entities involved in the production of weapons and the supply of key technologies and electronics.
14:46 Governor of the Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said that in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka a kamikaze drone attacked a bus in which civilians were supposedly traveling, one person was injured. In addition, according to Gladkov, the village of Rzhevka, Shebekinsky urban district, came under fire, five people were injured.
14:27 Ukraine and Denmark have begun detailed negotiations on an agreement on security guarantees, the Presidential Office reported.
14:24 At night, the Russians fired at Selidovo, Donetsk region, with eight missiles - according to preliminary information, S-300 and North Korean KN-23, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. One of the rockets hit an apartment building, killing one person and injuring seven, including a six-year-old child.
14:19 Vice-Presidents of the European Commission for Finance, Mairead McGuinness, and for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, appealed to the governments of EU countries to immediately stop the illegal flow of goods to Russia, Politico writes with reference to their letter. They noted that they would soon publish “detailed information” about companies evading sanctions.
Sanctioned goods from the EU enter Russia through countries that are not members of the European Union. They are also supplied by subsidiaries of European companies operating outside the bloc. These are mainly items and technologies that are not weapons, but can be used for military purposes and end up on the battlefield. The publication writes that the European Commission is studying the possibility of creating an EU body to monitor compliance with sanctions, essentially taking over this function from governments.
The day before, the media reported that the Italian arms manufacturer Beretta, despite sanctions, still exports small arms to Russia through its subsidiary and the companies of the Russian arms baron Mikhail Khubutia. Of the total number of arms supplies to the Russian Federation that violate sanctions, almost half are from products of Beretta-owned companies. In total, after the start of a full-scale war, more than 835 thousand rounds of ammunition and 5.9 thousand small arms produced by the holding reached Russia.
14:03 In Russia, there was a massive failure of the drone control program - the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported a corresponding operation by cyber specialists. The Russians install hacked software to re-flash DJI drones for the needs of military operations. It allows Russian drone operators to configure control panels and create new ones, shoot video and transmit the image to the command post, and control the drone from a computer. In addition, through web servers, the specified Russian drone re-flashing project ensures the functioning of the “friend or foe” system.
According to preliminary data, as a result of a cyber attack by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the servers stopped working, so all software is recognized as “foreign” and denies access to Russians. Without access to servers, controlling drones from remote controls is probably impossible. Now the enemy is trying to solve the problem, in particular by switching to manual control mode.
13:46 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized American Republican senators who are blocking bills to help Ukraine: “Dear American Republican senators. Ronald Reagan, who helped millions of us win our freedom and independence, today is apparently turning over in his grave. How shame on you".
13:12 Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets said that he sent official letters to the UN and ICRC regarding the illegal trial of Ukrainian defenders in the “DPR”. He recalled that the day before in the DPR, 33 Ukrainian soldiers received sentences ranging from 27 to 29 years for shelling residential buildings of the “republic.”
“I urge the world community to increase pressure on the aggressor in order to stop the practice of convicting Ukrainian defenders in fake courts who are driving the enemy away from their land... Once again, I note that the announced sentences are passed by quasi-entities not recognized by the international community, and are illegal. Such a “court” “This is a violation of the right to a fair trial and another Russian war crime,” the ombudsman emphasized.
12:59 Ukraine should not expect significant progress on its application for NATO membership at the upcoming Alliance summit in Washington in July, British Ambassador to NATO David Quarry said. At the same time, he said, Britain is “absolutely convinced that Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO.”
12:07 In the Tavria direction, the Defense Forces destroyed the Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter, said the commander of the Tavria operational-strategic group of troops, Alexander Tarnavsky. He clarified that the enemy Alligator with its crew was hit by a MANPADS in the Avdeevsky direction. The commander also said that the enemy is concentrating the main offensive efforts on the Novopavlovsk, Avdeevsky and Orekhovsky directions.
11:48 In Mariupol, from March 2022 to February 2023, more than 10 thousand people were buried, at least 8,000 died from combat or war-related causes, according to a report by the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch. However, the report emphasizes that the real death toll could be significantly higher, in part because some graves contained multiple bodies, while the remains of others were likely left under rubble.
11:25 In Odessa, during a night attack, two patrol police officers who were heading to the site of the previous attack were injured as a result of a second explosion, the Southern Defense Forces reported.
10:54 The US Senate failed a procedural vote on a bill that provided for assistance to Israel and Ukraine and strengthening control measures on the southern border of the United States. During the voting, the Democrats were unable to get the required 60 votes - there were only 49 in favor and 50 against. About what to expect next - in the material the US Senate did not support assistance to Ukraine.
10:46 Biden said that Ukraine is at a “critical point in the war,” while the United States is “stepping back.” According to him, Putin is “stepping on his heels - and what are we doing? Are we retreating back?” Biden emphasized that stockpiles of ammunition and weapons in Ukraine are dwindling, and fighting is expected to intensify in the spring. “The United States is seen as - we are the main nation. If the United States withdraws from events, what will happen? What will happen in the Middle East? The Taiwan Strait? What will happen in Asia? What will happen to Ukraine?” the president noted.
10:19 Commander of the Ground Forces Alexander Syrsky visited military units and units that hold defense in the Bakhmut direction. According to him, the enemy is trying to break through the Ukrainian defenses in the Chasovy Yar area, attacking in small groups under the cover of drones and artillery. The situation is tense and requires constant monitoring of the situation and prompt decision-making directly on the ground, the commander noted.
09:47 At night, the Russians fired at Selidovo, Pokrovsky district, Donetsk region - one person was killed, seven were wounded, said the head of the OVA Vadim Filkshkin. 53 high-rise buildings, ten private houses, seven administrative buildings, and 24 cars were damaged. Another person was wounded as a result of Russian shelling of Avdeevka.
09:28 Scholz said that Ukraine could soon face a serious shortage of weapons and ammunition: “Despite our support, Ukraine may soon face a serious shortage of weapons and ammunition. Some financial commitments have already been exhausted, while others need to be continued. Long-term costs "The costs associated with failing to stop Putin's aggression will dwarf any investment we make now."
08:49 On the evening of February 7, the Russians shelled Kupyansk - a private house and a gas pipe were damaged, one person was injured, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA. Another person was wounded as a result of shelling. Glushkovka, Kupyansky district, a private farm there was damaged.
08:35 In the Vinnytsia region, debris from downed UAVs caused a fire at one of the infrastructure facilities. The fire was localized and there were no casualties, said Sergei Borzov, the head of the OVA.
08:27 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of February 8:
- personnel - about 392,380 (+910) people,
- tanks - 6383 (+11),
- armored combat vehicles - 11,899 (+20),
- artillery systems - 9411 (+24),
- MLRS - 980 (+0),
- air defense systems - 666 (+1),
- aircraft - 332 (+0),
- helicopters - 325 (+1),
- UAV of operational-tactical level - 7191 (+14),
- cruise missiles - 1880 (+31),
- ships/boats - 24 (+0),
- submarines - 1 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tank trucks - 12,513 (+27),
- special equipment - 1505 (+8).
08:03 At night, the Russians attacked Nikolaev with Shahed drones - as a result of the hit, fires occurred on the territory of an industrial enterprise and a private house. The fires were quickly extinguished. Apartment buildings and a sports infrastructure facility were also damaged, but no people were injured, said Vitaly Kim, head of the OBA.
07:44 Over the past 24 hours, 92 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report. In the Avdeevsky direction, the Defense Forces repelled 27 attacks in the areas of Novobakhmutovka, Avdeevka and another 13 attacks near Nevelskoye and Pervomaiskoye, Donetsk region. In the Maryinsky direction, 22 attacks were repulsed near Krasnohorivka, Georgievka, Pobeda and Novomikhailovka, Donetsk region.
In the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled three enemy attacks near Sinkovka and Ivanovka, Kharkov region; in Limansky - nine attacks in the areas of Belogorivka, Luhansk region and Ternov, Torsky, Donetsk region; on Bakhmutskoye - eight attacks near Ivanovskoye and Kleshcheevka, Donetsk region; on Zaporozhye - two attacks west of Verbovoy and Rabotino, Zaporozhye region. The enemy did not conduct offensive actions in the Shakhtarsky direction. In the Kherson direction, the Defense Forces hold their positions and repelled four assaults by Russian troops.
07:18 Air defense at night destroyed 11 of 17 attack UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type, which Russia attacked from the Crimean Cape Chauda, the Air Force command reported. The drones were destroyed within the Nikolaev, Odessa, Vinnitsa and Dnepropetrovsk regions.
03:07 Russia attacked Odessa with drones - there was damage to civilian infrastructure, said Oleg Kiper, head of the OVA. An unfinished high-rise building and an educational institution building were also damaged by the drone strike.