Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title
[Korrespondent] 22.50 Several explosions thundered in Kiev, air defense is working on enemy drones. In the Svyatoshinsky district, fragments of an enemy UAV fell. Preliminary, there is a fire on the territory of an industrial enterprise. Cars are also burning in the courtyard of a nearby residential building.
21.24 Ukrainian military destroyed a Russian T-90 tank in the Novopavlovsk direction with a Javelin ATGM missile.
Rodnoy - this is the name of the enemy tank that recently went to storm Ukrainian defensive positions. However, the enemy "pantsirnik" did not reach its target after being shot from a Javelin anti-tank missile system. Later, fighters from the battalion of unmanned systems burned the enemy tank.
20.55 European countries may send 25,000 to 30,000 troops to Ukraine as part of a potential ceasefire agreement, The Washington Post reports.
According to sources, European countries are currently ready to provide several brigades for potential deployment in Ukraine with an estimated number of 25 to 30 thousand. France has carried out the most balanced military planning for such a mission. The country can allocate about 10 thousand servicemen.
20.49 Operators of the 413th Battalion of the Raid Forces of Unmanned Systems destroyed a Russian ground robotic complex (GRC), which was supposed to deliver anti-tank mines to the positions of the occupiers. The corresponding video of the targeted hit was published by the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Monday, February 17.
20:00 Over the past week, from February 11 to 17, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed 88 tanks and 967 vehicles that were delivering ammunition, fuel and provisions to the positions of the Russian invaders. This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky on Facebook and he published a video of the military's combat work.
18.48 Germany has transferred a large package of weapons to Ukraine, including self-propelled artillery units, air defense missiles and many different types of ammunition. This is evidenced by updated data on the website of the German government.
17.50 The authorities of the Astrakhan region of Russia have acknowledged the death of 1,112 residents of the region in the war in Ukraine. This is almost 400 more than independent media reported.
In Astrakhan, the memorial to those killed in local conflicts is being reconstructed. The regional governor Igor Babushkin held a meeting on the preparation and holding of events in honor of February 23. At it, the mayor of Astrakhan Igor Redkin reported that seven plaques with the names of 1,112 Astrakhan residents who died in the war in Ukraine will appear on the monument.
17:22 Since the beginning of the day, 80 combat clashes have occurred on the front, more than a third of which were in the Pokrovsk direction. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in an operational report.
16.42 A video of the alleged execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian soldiers is being circulated on social networks. This was reported by Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. He added that he had sent letters to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
16:40 A photograph of an F-16 fighter jet of the Ukrainian Air Force with a full set of weapons - missiles and aerial bombs - has appeared online.
The photo shows the fighter carrying two AIM-120B/C AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles, two AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles and eight GBU-39/B SDB guided bombs.
Two external fuel tanks can be seen under the wings of the F-16, and the central pylon probably contains an AN/ALQ-131 electronic warfare pod, which is an electronic warfare system that detects the radiation of enemy radars and interferes with their operation.
16.39 The Security Service of Ukraine sentenced an FSB informant to 12 years in prison for transmitting intelligence to the enemy that helped adjust artillery fire on Ukrainian defenders of the Donetsk region.
15.59 Russian troops fired at SES rescuers while delivering water to civilians in Konstantinovka. This was reported by the press service of the SES of Donbass on Monday, February 17.
15:47 Russian troops attempted to storm the Kherson area eight times last week, said Pavlo Drogal, a representative of the Kherson operational-tactical group.
"The enemy is not abandoning its intentions to consolidate its position in the island zone at the mouth of the Dnieper River. In particular, eight attempts at assault were recorded last week. All attempts by the occupiers were repelled by Ukrainian defenders. The enemy's losses amounted to 135 Russian invaders killed and wounded. 53 units of weapons and military equipment were also destroyed," he said.
15.39 The head of the terrorist group "DPR" Denis Pushilin was declared suspect in absentia for implementing Russia's criminal policy of seizing the Donetsk region. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General on Monday, February 17.
15.19 The city of Nikolaev was attacked for the first time on the night of February 16 by a modernized Shahed-type drone with 12-channel antennas. This was reported on LIVE television by the head of the Nikolaev OVA Vitaly Kim. According to him, similar drones appeared in the Russian Federation in January of this year. By this time, there were only those with 4-8 channel antennas, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces already knew how to fight them.
15.13 A service for accompanying military personnel and their families has been launched in Ukraine, which will provide assistance in resolving legal, medical and social issues. According to Order No. 59, the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces are creating a comprehensive support system for defenders and their families.
14:39 According to preliminary data, air defense forces have eliminated an enemy Molniya UAV over Kharkov. This was reported by the head of the Kharkov OVA Oleg Sinegubov on Monday, February 17.
14.19 The Security Service of Ukraine exposed an Odessa company that supplied electrical equipment for Russian military bases and detained seven participants in the scheme.
13:51 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that he will soon go to Saudi Arabia for talks with US representatives on settling the war in Ukraine. At the same time, he ruled out territorial concessions to Ukraine. Lavrov made this statement for Russian media.
13:26 Russian troops hit the Krasnogrigorevsky community of Nikopol region with a kamikaze drone. This was reported by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk OVA Sergey Lysak. According to him, five people were injured in the strike - women aged 36, 57, 60, 71 and a 62-year-old man. One of the victims was hospitalized in moderate condition. The rest will be treated on an outpatient basis.
13:16 SBU and Ukrainian Special Operations Forces drones attacked the Ilsky oil refinery and the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station last night. As a result of the strikes, more than 20 explosions were heard at the refinery, and oil pumping was stopped at the station. This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine, citing sources in the SBU, on Monday, February 17.
12:59 The administration of US President Donald Trump has proposed deploying peacekeeping contingents from China and Brazil along the ceasefire line in Ukraine, together with military personnel from the European Union, The Economist reports.
12:33 Sweden is ready to consider participating in post-war peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Monday. This was reported by Reuters on Monday, February 17.
11:59 The largest oil pumping station of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in Russia, Kropotkinskaya, was disabled after drone strikes. There are allegedly no casualties among the NPS personnel. This was reported by the CPC press service on its Telegram channel.
11:36 The short film Rock, Paper, Scissors about the war in Ukraine has received a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award. Representatives of the award announced this on the social network X.
10:27 An agent of the ATESH partisan movement, who is in the ranks of the Russian army, successfully disabled a Russian electronic warfare (EW) system. The occupiers discovered the malfunction later. ATESH reported this on its Telegram channel.
9:15 On the night of February 17, 2025 (from 21:00 on February 16), the Russians attacked Ukraine with 147 Shahed-type attack UAVs and drone imitators of various types. The downing of 83 Shahed-type attack UAVs and drones of other types was confirmed in the Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa regions. 59 enemy drone imitators were lost (without negative consequences).
8:58 Russian aggressors launched another attack on Zaporizhia on the night of February 17. Dozens of houses were damaged, some have no electricity. This was reported by the head of the Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration (OVA) Ivan Fedorov on Telegram.
7:47 Russia's statements and actions once again highlight the Kremlin's unwillingness to negotiate in good faith and end the war in Ukraine. This was stated by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
7:25 Ukraine and Europe will be part of any "real negotiations" to end the war that Russia is waging against Ukrainians. The US-Russia talks this week are a chance to see how serious its ruler Putin is. This was stated by US Secretary of State Mark Rubio, Reuters reports.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent) The Ukrainian Armed Forces are waging heavy defensive battles in the east and south of Ukraine.
Most Russian attacks have been recorded in the Pokrovsky direction. The enemy is storming areas of 14 populated areas.
Since the beginning of the day, 80 combat clashes have occurred on the front, more than a third of which were in the Pokrovsk direction. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in an operational report on Monday, February 17.
Thus, in the Kharkov direction the enemy attacked near Volchansk and was suppressed.
In the Kupyansk direction, Russian occupiers carried out four attacks near Petropavlovka, Glushkovka, Zagryzovo and in the direction of Novoosinove. Two clashes are still ongoing.
In the Liman direction, the invader's army has carried out six attacks today near Grekovka, Zarechnoye and Yampolovka. Two clashes are still ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy is trying to advance in the area of Chasovy Yar and Vasyukovka. One of the three attacks has already been repelled. The fighting continues.
In the Toretsk direction, the enemy is trying to penetrate the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defense in the Toretsk area. Two attacks are ongoing, three assaults by the invaders have failed.
In the Pokrovsky direction, the invaders made 33 attack attempts in the areas of Mirolyubovka, Yelizavetovka, Promin, Lisovka, Novoukrainka, Peschanoye, Kotlino, Udachnoye, Uspenovka, Nadeyevka, Yasenovoye, Ulakley, Andreyevka and Dachnoye. The defense forces repelled 23 assaults, and another 10 battles are ongoing.
Eight assaults have been repelled in the Novopavlovsk direction, and six more clashes are currently ongoing. The enemy is attempting to advance in the areas of Novosilka, Rivnepol, Novy Komar and in the direction of Konstantinopol and Burlatskoye.
One attack was repelled in the Orekhov direction, another clash is ongoing. The enemy was active in the area of Shcherbaki and Nesteryanka.
The operation in Kursk region continues. Our soldiers have repelled six enemy attacks today, two more clashes are still ongoing.
Earlier it was reported that the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 23 occupiers during the clearing of an industrial building behind enemy lines.
Linked article is available only through a VPN
[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of two territorial defence brigades close to Liptsy and Volchansk (Kharkov region).
The AFU lost up to 35 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, and one artillery gun. One materiel depot was destroyed.
As a result of the decisive actions of the Zapad Group of Forces, the settlement of Figolevka (Kharkov region) has been liberated.
Three mechanised brigades, two assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two territorial defence brigades have been hit by the Zapad Group of Forces close to Kondrashovka, Golubovka, Zagoruykovka, Novaya Kruglyakovka (Kharkov region), Novolyubovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Kolodezi, and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 190 troops, three U.S.-made M-113 armoured personnel carriers, seven motor vehicles, and six field artillery guns, including one UK-made 155mm FH-70 howitzer. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.
The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. The Group inflicted fire damage on four mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one territorial defence brigade, and formations of the International Legion have been hit near Nikiforovka, Chasov Yar, Chervonoye, Ivanopolye, Pravdovka, and Ulakly (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 180 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and two ammunition depots.
The Tsentr Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line. The Group inflicted fire damage on five mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one airmobile brigade, two assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one territorial defence brigade, and one National Guard brigade near Ulyanovka, Zverevo, Kotlino, Udachnoye, Uspenovka, Nadezhdinka, Novoandreyevka, and Alekseyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy has lost more than 585 troops, two tanks, including one German-made Leopard tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, three pick-up trucks, and four field artillery guns.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. They inflicted fire damage on three mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one naval infantry brigade, and two territorial defence brigades near Poddubnoye, Konstantinopol, and Razliv, Otradnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Temirovka and Gulyaipole (Zaporozhye region).
The enemy's losses amounted to up to 160 troops, three tanks, including two German-made Leopard tanks, two motor vehicles, and five field artillery guns, including one French-made 155mm Caesar self-propelled artillery system.
The Dnepr Group's units defeated units of one mechanised brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Novoandreyevka, Malye Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region), Mylovoye, Tyaginka, and Pridneprovskoye (Kherson region).
The AFU lost up to 75 troops, five motor vehicles, and one artillery gun. Two electronic warfare stations and one ammunition depot were eliminated.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack UAVs, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have inflicted damage on the facilities of Ukrainian military airfields and port infrastructure, production workshops, storage areas of unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 152 areas.
Russian air defence systems have shot down five French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, three HIMARS MLRS projectiles, one Neptune anti-ship missile converted to engage ground targets, as well as 177 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, including 102 out of the special military operation zone.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 653 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 43,699 unmanned aerial vehicles, 594 anti-aircraft missile systems, 21,488 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,517 MLRS combat vehicles, 21,793 field artillery guns and mortars, and 31,750 units of support military vehicles of the enemy have been neutralised.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region.
In the course of the offensive actions, the Sever Group of Forces liberated Sverdlikovo.
Strikes were delivered at formations of two tank brigades, one heavy mechanised brigade, five mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, three air assault brigades, one naval infantry brigade, one territorial defence brigade, and three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Goncharovka, Guyevo, Zamostye, Zaoleshenka, Kazachya Loknya, Kolmakov, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Loknya, Nikolsky, Rubanshchina, and Yuzhny. Four enemy counter-attacks were repelled.
Operational-tactical, army aviation and artillery fire hit enemy manpower and hardware close to Bondarevaka, Gogolevka, Pervy Knyazhy, Kositsa, Malaya Loknya, Martynovka, Makhnovka, Melovoy, Nikolayevka, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, as well as Basovka, Belovody, Veselovka, Zhuravka, and Yunakovka in Sumy region.
Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses have amounted to more than 300 troops, four tanks were destroyed, including one U.S.-made Abrams tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made Bradley armoured fighting vehicles, three armoured personnel carriers, 15 armoured fighting vehicles, 23 motor vehicles, three self-propelled artillery systems, and one artillery gun, one launcher and one radar of the Norwegian-made NASAMS system, as well as one UAV command post. Four AFU servicemen surrendered.
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 61,310 troops, 369 tanks, 276 infantry fighting vehicles, 222 armoured personnel carriers, 1,901 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,017 motor vehicles, 445 artillery guns, 48 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 22 anti-aircraft missile launchers, eight transport-loading vehicles, 109 EW stations, 15 counter-battery warfare radars, seven air defence radars, 48 units of engineering and other materiel, including 18 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five bridge launchers, one engineering reconnaissance vehicle, as well as 14 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.
The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 19:30 Georgian mercenary Levan Parkaia has been eliminated. The militant was listed as a member of the Solidarity detachment of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. He was spotted in the Zaporizhzhya direction and in the Khar'kov region. According to the latest information, Parkaia was eliminated by fighters of the Sever military group in the Kursk border area. 18:20 Our operators are working on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' strongholds on the combat contact line.
Zaporizhia direction. Near the settlement of Novaya Danilovka, –video.
17:45 A crew of the Lancet loitering munition from the North group of forces destroyed a Krab self-propelled artillery unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of a forest belt in the Sumy region, –video.
16:20 Drone operators of the Sever group destroyed an M-113 armored personnel carrier of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a wooded area, –video.
15:25 In Andreyevka, the cleanup, consolidation and advancement on the northwestern outskirts continues, –MAP.
North of Andreyevka, our units advanced along the plantings in a northerly direction west of the T-0515 road.
In Ulakly, the enemy has been almost completely driven out from the southern part up to the H-15 highway and from the eastern part.
In Constantinople, our assaults are trying to gain a foothold on the southeastern outskirts. The enemy is counterattacking.
In the Razliv area, slight progress in plantings has been noted.
14:30 In the conditions of a special military operation, the fuel and lubricants service supplies all types of fuel and lubricants to the forward units. In particular, the fuel service refuels the aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, –video.
13:15 Units of the North group of forces during offensive operations released the settlement of Sverdlikovo.
12:45 Armed Forces of Ukraine fired upon with cluster munitions on the territory of the State Unitary Enterprise "Post of Tavria" in the Vasilievsky Municipal District.
12:10 Units of the West group of forces, as a result of decisive actions released the settlement Figolovka, Khar'kov region.
11:15 Calculations of the 220mm BM-27Uragan MLRS of the Zapad group applied crushing blows to the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces – video.
During aerial reconnaissance, the UAV crew discovered a concentration of nationalists and armored vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, camouflaged in a forest belt. Having received the coordinates of the targets, the MLRS crews moved to the combat area.
A woman born in 1955 was injured - she has an open fracture of the forearm.
10:20 Completed investigative actions in a criminal case against Ukrainian militants
The military investigative bodies of the Investigative Committee of Russia have completed investigative actions in the criminal case against servicemen of the 225th Separate Assault Battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Artem Mironenko, Oleg Patabenko, Vladimir Dobizha and a serviceman of the 103rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade Sergei Kozub.
Depending on the role of each, they are accused of committing terrorist acts in the Kursk region (subparagraphs "a", "c" of Part 2 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
9:35 The FPV crew of the 56th Airborne Assault Regiment of the Airborne Forces destroyed a pickup truck and two mortars of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, –video.
In the Sverdlikovo area for the second day alreadythey are involving in very active combat operations with the use of artillery, UAVs and armored vehicles.
Our special forces were able to advance along the right flank and are organizing an attempt to encircle the ASU militants.
7:10 During the past night, air defense systems on duty intercepted and 90 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed:
38 UAVs over the waters of the Sea of Azov,
24 UAVs over the territory of Krasnodar Krai,
15 UAVs over the territory of the Republic of Crimea,
seven UAVs over the waters of the Black Sea,
two UAVs each over the territories of Kursk and Rostov regions, and
one UAV each over the territories of Bryansk and Belgorod regions.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] Russian troops continue to advance in the SVO zone. Exactly one year ago, on February 17, the Russian Armed Forces completed the operation to liberate Avdiivka, the largest defense hub of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. At that time, Russian troops broke through the enemy's front line north of Donetsk and continued to advance westward, toward Pokrovsk.
Today, it is the Pokrovsk direction that remains the most tense section of the front. At the same time, the successful offensive in the Avdeevka and later in the Pokrovsk direction made it possible to undermine the enemy's defense in other areas.
The successes in the Pokrovsk area resulted in the liberation of the city of Kurakhovo, located 30 kilometers west of Donetsk. The Russian Armed Forces continue to advance in this direction. The day before, it became known that the village of Dachnoye had been liberated, after several weeks of fighting.
“Units of the Southern Group of Forces have improved their tactical position and liberated the settlements of Orekhovo-Vasilevka and Dachnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the Defense Ministry’s report notes.
There is also information about the liberation of the settlement of Andreyevka. Currently, military actions on the Kurakhovsky section of the front continue in the area of the settlements of Ulakly and Konstantinopol.
The Russian army's offensive will continue further south, in the area of the settlement of Velikaya Novosyolka. North of the city, assault units of the Russian army crossed the Mokrye Yaly River and advanced towards the village of Novoocheretovatoye. According to the latest information, the eastern part of the settlement was liberated during the offensive, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to resist.
Information about the advancement of Russian troops is also confirmed by Ukrainian sources.
“The enemy has advanced north of the settlements of Vremevka, Velikaya Novosyolka, west of the settlement of Novy Komar and on the southeastern outskirts of the settlement of Novoocheretovatoye on a section of the front up to 5 kilometers long and up to 2 kilometers deep,” reports the analytical portal DeepState.
However, even despite the relative calm, the most tense section of the front remains the Pokrovsk direction.
INFANTRY IN TRENCHES AND DRONE OPERATORS RUNNING
In recent weeks, the Ukrainian Armed Forces command has attempted to stabilize the front line in the Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) area, seeking to prevent the loss of the strategically important city.
Both regular units of the Ukrainian army and newly formed brigades from among those mobilized were transferred here. Despite problems with manning, low morale and incompetence of mid-level commanders, fresh enemy forces were able to slow down the pace of the Russian advance.
According to reports from the field, the enemy filled the defensive lines on the approaches to the city with infantry, creating, if not a continuous front line, then at least something like one.
"On the approaches to Pokrovsk, they dug three rows of trenches and ditches last summer and fall. The only problem is that there was no one to fill them. We occupied these lines one after another, penetrating the defense in areas where they had no one at all. Now it is more difficult, because forces have actually appeared in the trenches, even if they are mobilized people collected from around the country," a source in the Pokrovsk direction told Regnum.
In addition to infantry, the enemy has deployed additional drone operator units to Pokrovsk, partly due to the weakening of other sections of the front.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces command is betting on drone strikes on Russian troops' supply routes. The tactics of massive use of drones for logistics have become known in military analytical circles as the "Drone Line".
At the same time, the enemy actively uses UAVs, which are controlled using fiber optic cable. Drones of this model are not susceptible to the influence of electronic warfare means and pose a serious threat.
"Classic drones" are also actively used. According to sources of IA Regnum, the enemy places control points and relay stations in the industrial zone of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd, as well as in residential areas on the outskirts of the city.
Drone operators are constantly moving around the city, changing their location.
It is also reported that a drone control point has been set up in the area of the settlement of Udachnoye, east of Pokrovsk, from where the enemy is trying to attack Russian army units trying to encircle the city. The enemy is hiding in waste heaps to avoid retaliatory strikes.
By using reserves, the enemy not only managed to stabilize the front line, but even attempted to launch a counteroffensive in the area of the settlements of Kotlino and Peschanoye. Despite the victorious reports of official Kyiv, Russian troops managed to repel all attempts by the enemy to regain lost positions.
However, the situation in the Pokrovsk area remains tense.
"As for the threat from the air, any drone, even on fiber optics, is a target. In the assault units, there are hunting rifles and other means of combating drones at positions, they are used effectively. There are already our own specialized hunters. There is a problem with drones, but there will be a response to any action," the interlocutor of IA Regnum reports.
According to information from the field, the Ukrainian Armed Forces command has set the task of driving Russian troops out of the Udachnoye-Kotlino-Peschanoye area and thereby removing the threat of a deep breakthrough of Russian troops into the rear of the group in Pokrovsk and the subsequent encirclement of the city.
In turn, Ukrainian sources report that the lull on the front may soon be broken by a new offensive by the Russian army.
FIGHTING IN THE BORDER AREA
The activation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Pokrovsk direction has predictably affected other sections of the front. Some of the reserves thrown into containing the Russian offensive in Donbass were previously intended to be sent to the front in the Kursk region.
As a result, the enemy forces in this direction did not receive timely reinforcements and were driven from their positions in the Sverdlikovo area. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry reported the liberation of this settlement.
It is noteworthy that in the Kursk region the enemy is facing the same problems as the Russian troops in the Pokrovsk area: Ukrainian sources complain about the massive use of fiber-optic FPV drones by the Russian Armed Forces. As a rule, the drones' prey is artillery and air defense systems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Among the latest "victims" of drones are the Ukrainian Uragan MLRS, used to shell populated areas near the front line, the German-made PzH 2000 self-propelled gun, and the Strela-10 anti-aircraft system. Russian artillery is also actively working, conducting counter-battery fire on enemy positions in the Sumy region.
Obviously, Kyiv is now trying to mobilize all available forces to stabilize the front line on the most favorable terms for itself. But the reserves of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are still not enough, so they have to retreat and lose positions.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] During the modernization, the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun system will soon be equipped with laser weapons. This was announced on February 17 by First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov.
“Work is currently underway on a laser complex, which will also be used on Pantsirs in the near future,” he told journalists on the sidelines of the IDEX 2025 exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
The First Deputy Prime Minister clarified that these air defense systems are primarily used by the Russian army, but there is a portfolio of orders for Pantsirs from other countries as well.
Manturov added that the Pantsirs are being modernized constantly and that the air defense system recently received mini-missiles for combating drones, which allowed it to avoid using more expensive traditional anti-aircraft guided missiles for such purposes and has generated additional interest among foreign customers.
As reported by Regnum News Agency, earlier on February 17, the head of Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheyev stated that the most advanced technologies and new technical solutions were used in the design of the modernized Russian T-90MS Proryv tank. According to him, the combat vehicle also has a new fire control system of the "digital board" type with integrated information and control command systems.
Earlier in the day, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov said artificial intelligence (AI) had become an integral part of technologies, including those used in Russian ground drones. He added that AI is also used in onboard systems of Russian aircraft.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The head of the Kiev regime, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that the Ukrainian side will not participate in the upcoming negotiations between Russia and the United States in Riyadh, “even if asked to do so.”
"My visits have nothing to do with these negotiations. Although, when I come to Saudi Arabia, I will ask His Majesty what he knows about the topics of the negotiations," Zelensky said.
According to the head of the Kyiv regime, any negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict without the participation of Kyiv will allegedly have no result.
"We cannot recognize any agreements regarding us that were made without us. We do not recognize such agreements," Zelensky said.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, on February 17, upon arrival with the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh, the Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that the negotiations would only take place between Moscow and Washington, and no trilateral contacts with representatives of Kiev were planned. In addition, he noted that the main goal of the upcoming meeting with the American delegation was to normalize relations with Washington.
The day before, Lavrov expressed his readiness to listen to the position of the US representatives and convey it to the Russian leadership, which will determine further steps. The diplomat also emphasized that Russia will not make any concessions in the course of resolving the Ukrainian crisis.
The press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that in Riyadh they will primarily discuss the restoration of Russian-American relations, the preparation of possible negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement and the organization of a meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
The talks in Riyadh will only take place between Moscow and Washington; no trilateral contacts with Kiev representatives are planned. This was reported on February 17 by Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, commenting on the Rossiya 24 TV channel on information about the arrival of a certain group of Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia.
"We came to negotiate with our American colleagues. These are bilateral negotiations, purely bilateral. There can be no trilateral negotiations in Riyadh," Ushakov emphasized, commenting on the information that in Saudi Arabia, in addition to representatives of Russia and the United States, there is already a Ukrainian delegation.
Earlier, Regnum news agency reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov arrived in Riyadh to participate in negotiations with the United States.
Upon arrival in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Ushakov noted that the main goal of the upcoming meeting with the American delegation is to normalize relations with Washington.
The day before, Lavrov expressed his readiness to listen to the position of the US representatives and convey it to the Russian leadership, which will determine further steps. The diplomat also emphasized that Russia will not make any concessions in the course of resolving the Ukrainian crisis.
In turn, the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, said that in Riyadh they will primarily discuss the restoration of Russian-American relations, the preparation of possible negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement and the organization of a meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
The representative of the UN chief Stephane Dujarric called the upcoming talks in Riyadh critically important. Dujarric added that the UN intends to observe the results of the Russian-American talks.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[RIA] Negotiations between delegations of Russia and the United States were held in Riyadh. Moscow and Washington discussed bilateral relations, the settlement of the situation in Ukraine and preparations for a meeting of the leaders of the two countries. The results of the meeting are in the RIA Novosti material. STATEMENTS FROM THE RUSSIAN SIDE
"The conversation was, I believe, very useful. We not only listened, but also heard each other. I have reason to believe that the American side has begun to better understand our position," noted Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Besides:
the delegations were engaged in establishing relations between the two countries, which was "quite successful";
the negotiators felt a complete determination and a concrete commitment to actively advance relations between the countries;
the meeting took place on the instructions of the presidents, who agreed to meet in person and instructed them to identify issues that needed to be worked out before the start of negotiations on setting the date and duration of the summit;
Moscow agrees with Rubio's position that Russia and the United States need to be guided by national interests;
Moscow and Washington believe that when their interests do not coincide, they need to solve problems rather than provoke conflict;
Russia and the United States have shown great interest in resuming consultations on geopolitical issues;
the parties agreed to ensure the earliest possible appointment of ambassadors to the capitals of the two states and to resolve the problem of the work of diplomatic missions once and for all;
Russian representatives informed the American delegation that the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine is unacceptable to Moscow, even if they are under the auspices of the European Union, foreign or national flags;
a process for Ukrainian settlement will be formed in the near future;
consultations between Russia and the United States on this issue will be regular, after both sides appoint negotiating teams;
the Russian side will appoint its representatives to work on ending the conflict after it is informed of the composition of the American delegation;
Moscow and Washington agreed on the need to remove barriers to mutually beneficial economic cooperation;
The United States proposed introducing a moratorium on attacks on energy facilities, but the Russian side indicated that it did not endanger civilian energy supply systems and was only striking facilities that directly served the Ukrainian Armed Forces;
The Ukrainian attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium oil pumping station should strengthen the international community's view that Zelensky needs to be "slapped on the wrist";
The deputy heads of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the US State Department will soon agree to meet, their work will be aimed at eliminating the inconveniences that hinder the implementation of bilateral relations;
At today's negotiations, the parties did not discuss everything that currently divides Russia and the United States.
STATEMENTS BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE RUSSIAN DELEGATION:
"We agreed that we would take each other's interests into account, but at the same time we would also advance bilateral relations, since both Moscow and Washington are interested in this," said presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is unlikely to take place next week; it is difficult to talk about specific dates; intensive work is needed;
Moscow and Washington will work to create conditions for a meeting of the leaders;
the parties outlined to each other their fundamental approaches to the situation in Ukraine ;
The decision on who will be on the Russian team of negotiators to resolve the conflict will be made by Putin;
It is difficult to say yet whether the positions of Moscow and Washington are getting closer, but there was talk about this in Riyadh.
STATEMENTS FROM THE AMERICAN SIDE
"There is an extraordinary opportunity for cooperation if this conflict is resolved on acceptable terms. It will open the way to partnership with Russia - both in geopolitics and in economics," said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Besides this:
the work to end the conflict in Ukraine will require "difficult and difficult diplomacy" over a long period of time;
the situation can only be resolved with the consent of all parties; the conditions must be acceptable to everyone;
ending the fighting will require concessions from all sides;
Trump wants to end the conflict in Ukraine fairly and prevent it from recurring "in two or three years";
Washington is negotiating with both sides of the Ukrainian conflict, including Kyiv;
The EU must be at the negotiating table at some point, as it imposed sanctions on Russia;
sanctions against Moscow are a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine, and Washington’s task is to put an end to it;
the Russian side is irreplaceable in resolving military actions in Ukraine;
The US and Russian delegations have not set a date for a bilateral summit involving Trump and Putin;
work to restore normal operations of the diplomatic missions of the two countries could be quite quick, and this will become the next stage of the negotiating activities between Washington and Moscow;
The United States considers it impossible to conduct negotiations with Russia on Ukraine without the normal operation of diplomatic missions;
the question of resuming the work of consulates in both countries remains open;
Moscow and Washington agreed that the settlement of the situation should be strong, sustainable and acceptable to all parties;
the parties plan to continue to interact to ensure timely and productive progress of the process;
Riyadh meeting was "important step forward" to end conflict in Ukraine, but more steps needed;
The United States considers itself the only party capable of achieving a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Fair is fair. When you foment a coup d'état which started the war, and arming Ukraine, then assisting them in their military endeavors, you should take your share of responsibility for the war. THE AMERICAN PRESS ALSO PUBLISHES INFORMATION ABOUT THE AGREEMENTS:
the issue of elections in Ukraine is being raised in discussions, it was not part of the negotiations in Riyadh, but may be considered in the future;
Moscow and Washington will create a consultation mechanism to eliminate "irritants" in relations between them.
The negotiations lasted 4.5 hours. From the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Washington was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Regnum] During the modernization, the 
