• Russia seeks sanctions relief and asset recovery in U.S. talks

    Among the conditions for ending the war and restoring peace in Ukraine, Russia has demanded that the U.S. lift the freeze on its state assets and soften sanctions. The Moscow Times reports, citing a diplomatic source familiar with the Riyadh meeting, that Moscow is pushing for access to approximately $6 billion—part of the Central Bank's reserves invested in dollar assets prior to the war's onset. Western nations have sanctioned a total of $300 billion of the Central Bank's reserves, with …

  • Russian forces employ 'human wave' tactics amid ongoing clashes near Pokrovsk

    In a report from the southern flank of the Pokrovsk region, Russian forces are employing "human wave" tactics to assault Ukrainian Defense Force positions in small groups. They have been noted to rarely use armored vehicles during these attacks, reports press officer of the 32nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Bordian.

    "We rarely see any machinery. Occasionally, they use equipment seized in temporarily occupied territories," Bordian stated. He recalled a specific …

  • Ukraine's ambitious 'Drone Line' project aims to expand frontline surveillance and combat range with advanced UAV technology

    Ukrainian drone manufactures have highlighted that the operational range of their drone zone could be extended to 40 kilometers in the future but achieving this will require a sufficient fleet of UAVs. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced the launch of the "Drone Line" project earlier in February, aiming to create a "kill zone" on the frontline with a depth of 10-15 kilometers. This initiative is deemed optimal for current capabilities, though the drone coverage range could eventually …

  • Ukrainian drone strike forces shutdown of Syzran oil refinery in strategic blow to Russian supply chain

    In a series of strikes that continue to echo across Russian territories, the Syzran Oil Refinery has ceased operations following a drone attack believed to be carried out by Ukrainian forces. According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation with the National Security and Defense Council, the facility, which plays a pivotal role in the logistics of the Russian Armed Forces, processes 8.9 million tons of crude oil annually.

    On the night of February 18-19, Ukrainian …

  • Russia offers U.S. access to oil and Arctic resources

    According to the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, American oil companies previously engaged in "very successful business" in Russia. Due to sanctions, they have incurred losses of around $300 billion, reports The Moscow Times.

    The Kremlin has proposed a deal to President Donald Trump’s administration involving access to Russian natural resources. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, stated that Russia is interested in joint projects with Americans in the …

  • EU approves 16th sanctions package against Russia: targeting banks, media, and 'shadow fleet'

    EU nations have greenlit a new wave of sanctions against Russia amid its ongoing military invasion of Ukraine. This marks the 16th sanctions package, set to take effect on February 24, 2025, coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine, according to Poland, the current holder of the EU Council presidency.

    This latest round introduces more stringent measures: 13 additional Russian banks are set to be cut off from the SWIFT system. Furthermore, eight Russian …

  • Ukraine-U.S. negotiations on $500 billion critical minerals deal in limbo amid U.S. Administration transition

    Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina provided updates on discussions between Ukraine and the United States regarding critical mineral resources. During a briefing in Warsaw, Stefanishina explained that delays in formalizing an agreement with the U.S. are due to the ongoing transition of the U.S. presidential administration

    Contrary to reports, Ukraine has not outright rejected the agreement proposed by new U.S. President Donald Trump. The negotiations are simply paused as both …

  • Russian offensive fizzles near Pokrovsk as Ukrainian defense holds firm

    Despite a year of preparations and redeployment of fresh troops, Russian efforts to isolate Pokrovsk have fallen short. The Russian troops failed to establish reliable flanks for encirclement, while Ukrainian defenses inflicted catastrophic losses. Military expert Alexander Kovalenko reports on the situation. Moscow's initial strategy to encircle Pokrovsk hinged on two critical goals: severing the Kurakhove salient and forming a resilient line of contact with sturdy flanks, yet neither …

  • Russia's Khmeimim air base attacked by drones amid Syrian regime change

    In a late-night assault stretching from Monday into Tuesday, drones targeted Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base. This attack has been reported by local Telegram channel Sabereen News and OSINT researcher SyrianOSINT.

    According to a Russian war correspondent Oleg Blokhin, alarms went off at the Russian base around 2:30 AM local time.

    "It was described as an 'assault by a ground enemy.' Pantsir systems immediately engaged. Gunfire and explosions were heard. By 3:30 AM, the intensity of shooting had …

  • Ukrainian Forces strike key Russian military and energy infrastructure in Krasnodar region

    The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed successful precision strikes by Ukrainian Forces on fuel-energy and military infrastructure in Russia's Krasnodar region yesterday.

    The Ukrainian Forces targeted the Ilsky Oil Refinery, which has an annual processing capacity of 6.6 million tons of oil. The facility experienced a major fire outbreak.

    Additionally, two oil pumping stations, "Andreapol" and "Kropotkinskaya," were hit. The latter is the largest oil pumping station in the …