Battle for Bakhmut: Russia Retreats in ‘Bad Order’ as Ukrainians Gain 1km of Territory, British Intel Claims
The battle for Bakhmut has apparently taken a turn in favour of Ukraine, with the Russians retreating in “bad order”, according to UK intel.
Luhansk
Putin Plans Speech and ‘Large-Scale Concert Rally’ for Ukraine Invasion Anniversary
The Kremlin on Friday confirmed a report that Russian President Vladimir Putin will give his long-delayed 2022 annual address to the Federal Assembly on February 21, 2023, a date chosen to coincide with the anniversary of his attack on Ukraine.
Viktor Bout, ‘Merchant of Death’ Freed by Biden, Visits Ukraine
Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, the infamous “Merchant of Death” exchanged for basketball player Brittney Griner in a controversial prisoner swap by the Biden administration two weeks ago, visited the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk on Saturday to attend a political event.
Russia Making ‘Tactical Advances’ in Donbas: UK Defence Intel
Russian forces are making “tactical advances” in the Donbas following a long run of bad news for their “special military operation”, according to British intelligence.
Suicide Drones Strike Zelensky’s Hometown After Russians Driven from Eastern City: Reports
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russia attacked the Ukrainian president’s hometown with suicide drones on Sunday, and Ukraine pushed ahead with its counteroffensive after taking back control of a strategic eastern city.
Russia Vetoes UN Resolution Declaring Referendums on Ukrainian Regions Joining Russia Illegal
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia defended the referendums, claiming that more than 100 international observers from Italy, Germany, Venezuela, and Latvia who observed the voting recognized the outcomes as legitimate.
Moscow Launches Strikes as Occupied Regions Hold Referendums on Joining Russia
Russian forces launched new strikes on Ukrainian cities Saturday as Kremlin-orchestrated votes continued in occupied regions of Ukraine to pave the way for their annexation by Moscow.
Kyiv Promises Major Southern Counter-Offensive, Urges Residents to Flee ‘Massive Fight’
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russian forces are managing to “raise true hell” in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland despite reports of them taking an operational pause, a regional governor said Saturday, while the government in Kyiv urged people in Russian-occupied southern areas to evacuate “by all possible means” ahead of a Ukrainian offensive.
Russian Forces Press Kyiv’s Last Stronghold in Luhansk Province
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russian forces are pounding the city of Lysychansk and its surroundings in an all-out attempt to seize the last stronghold of resistance in eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk province, the governor said Saturday.
WAR PICS: Zelensky Says Counter-Offensive Driving Russians Back in South as Donbas Fighting Rages
A counter-offensive has pushed Russians out of parts of the southern Kherson region they took early in the war, according to Zelensky.
Zelensky Compares Russia to ISIS for Kidnapping Ukrainian Mayor Accused of ‘Terrorist Crimes’ In Donbas
LVIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Friday of kidnapping the mayor of the city of Melitopol, equating it to the actions of “ISIS terrorists.”
Syria’s Assad ‘Ready to Recognize’ Russian Separatist States in Ukraine
The regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, which remains in power almost exclusively thanks to Russian intervention during a decade-long civil war, expressed “support” for Vladimir Putin’s decision on Monday to recognize Russian proxy groups in Ukraine as sovereign “states.”
Ukraine: Zelensky Seeks End to Russia Diplomatic Ties After Hinting at Pursuing Nuclear Weapons
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday that he was reviewing a request from his diplomats to cut all ties to Russia in response to Russian leader Vladimir Putin recognizing Russian proxies in the country as sovereign states and ordering “peacekeeping” troops into Ukraine.
UK and EU Ready Russian Sanctions as Putin Moves More Troops into Ukraine
The UK and the EU will impose new sanctions on Russia following Vladimir Putin recognising separatist regions of Ukraine as sovereign.
Pro-Russia Separatists Mobilise, Alleging ‘Immediate Threat of Aggression’ from Ukraine Govt
Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine ordered a full military mobilization Saturday amid a spike of violence in the war-torn region and fears in the West that Russia might use the strife as a pretext for an invasion.
