Russia “strikes back” today. This might be a response to successful attacks on Russian oil infrastructure
Zelensky: over 60 "shaheds" and nearly 90 different missiles targeted at power plants, power lines, a hydroelectric dam, residential buildings 1/
This is the largest combined attack on the Ukrainian power system since the beginning of the full-scale invasion: Ukrenergo
100s of thousands of homes are in blackout 2/
Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Donetsk are in blackout and being stabilized
There are interruptions of internet and water supply in multiple regions 3/
-Russia hit the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant. There is a major fire but no threat of a dam breach.
Ukrhydroenergo reported two direct missile hits on the plant. One part is in a critical condition and unlikely to be repaired, Ukrhydroenergo director Ihor Syrota 4/
Ukrainian Armed Forces shoot down 92 out of 151 missiles and drones - Air Force.
There’s a 50–60% chance of a ceasefire in Ukraine this year — not soon, but before the US midterms.
If this window closes, the war could last another 1–2 years, with major consequences for Ukraine and Europe.
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Me: Russia is using global distraction to Iran to escalate — yesterday’s super major attack hit during the day, when people were at work and in traffic.
We can’t view these wars in isolation — Russia and Iran coordinate on intelligence, technology, and military.
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Me: Russia is using drones far more intensively than Iran.
To stop it, the key is cutting supply chains — especially sanctioning electronics and enforcing secondary sanctions on those enabling drone production in Iran and Russia.
Save Ukraine, charitable foundation, rescued 1,162 Ukrainian children using "underground railroad”. Russia is doing everything to prevent returns, so they use covert operations.
Founder Mykola Kuleba: "It's like special operation for every child" — CNN. 1/
Rostyslav Lavrov, 16, walked out of Russian naval academy in occupied Crimea October 2023. Save Ukraine volunteers waited to pick him up.
Took two days to reach Ukrainian territory. Russian authorities declared him "missing and wanted." 2/
Roughly 2,000 Ukrainian children returned home after being forcibly deported, illegally transferred to or stuck in Russia, Belarus or occupied areas.
Less than quarter came through official channels: 83 with help of Qatar, 19 through scheme spearheaded by Melania Trump. 3/
Oleksandr “Teren” Tarnai served nearly 4 years in an assault company. He fought across Zaporizhzhia, Kherson Oblast, Donetsk Oblast. On February 13, 2026 an artillery shell killed him. He was 35. 1/
He stayed by the vehicle waiting for a tow truck — not wanting to lose a single second delivering his men to the front. His friend, officer Yaroslav Halas of the 128th Brigade, writes about him on Ukrainska Pravda. 2/
Sashko did not wait for a conscription notice. On February 28, 2022 — his 32nd birthday — he walked into the recruitment office himself. He had every reason to join artillery: in 2016–2017 he served with a 152mm D-20 howitzer. He asked for infantry instead. 3/
Ukraine shot down 140,000 Russian missiles, drones and aircraft over 4 years — including 44,000 Shahed-type drones now hitting US bases in the Middle East.
Ukraine sent 200 advisers to the Gulf.
Trump's response: "The last person we need help from is Zelenskyy" — The Times. 1/
Despite Trump's dismissal, US Central Command requested those Ukrainian advisers now deployed in Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
"It was short-sighted dismissing what Ukraine can contribute in specialist advice," says RUSI's Justin Bronk. 2/
Ukrainian officers were astonished to see Gulf states firing as many as eight Patriot missiles (each $3+ million) at a single target — even using them to hit cheap drones.
Ukrainians use only one or two missiles to down Russian ballistic missiles. 3/
Ukrainian drones are killing Russians faster than Russia can replace them.
A top Ukrainian drone commander “Madyar”: We need to keep milking this cow, exhausting it beyond its maximum capacity — The Economist.
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Ukrainian drones killed or incapacitated at least 8,776 more Russian soldiers than Moscow replaced over winter. Drone units are just 2% of the army, but cause over a third of Russian losses.
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At peak, drones caused 388 Russian losses in a single day — about one assault battalion. Madyar’s unit alone accounts for roughly one-sixth of total losses.
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