For today, links to reports from the Kyiv Post, Agence France-Presse, Tass, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Reuters, and to commentary from the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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Ukrainian air force downs two more Russian fighter-bombers, bringing total to 6 in 72 hours, by Alisa Orlova and Kateryna Kakharchenko | Kyiv Post In a series of significant blows to Russian forces’ aircraft over the past three days, the Ukrainian Air Force took down two more fighter bombers, the SU-34 and SU-35, this morning. Confirming the . . . READ MORE . . .
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NEWER Ukraine says Russia attacking with ‘heavy fire’ in south. From AFP. Ukrainian troops are facing “heavy fire” from advancing Russian forces in the southern Zaporizhzhia region after Moscow last week made its most significant territorial gain in nine months, Ukrainian military officials said today. Russian forces are back on the offensive across eastern and southern . . . READ MORE . . .
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Kiev loses over 560 troops near Avdeyevka in past day — Russia’s top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units near Avdeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, killing and wounding roughly 565 enemy troops over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a general briefing. Russian troops . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia says it has crushed the last pocket of resistance in Avdiivka to complete the city’s capture, by Susie Blann | AP KYIV — Russian forces have completed their takeover of Avdiivka by eliminating the last pocket of resistance at the eastern Ukraine city’s huge coke plant, the Russian military said today. Ukrainian forces confirmed pulling out of the bombed-out city in what . . .READ MORE . . .
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Russia’s military forces Ukrainian troops out of a strategically important town. Reported by A Martínez and Joanna Kakissis | NPR As Ukraine struggles for military supplies and aid, a town in the eastern region of Donetsk that has been on the frontline for 10 years has fallen to Russia. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM FEB. 18 Ukraine withdraws from Avdiivka, in Russia’s first major battlefield win in months. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR DNIPRO, Ukraine — Russian troops have occupied the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka after a months-long assault that wore down Ukrainian troops running low on ammunition. It’s Russia’s first major battlefield win since last May and a boost for Russian President . . . Click HERE to listen and read.
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Russia launches ground assaults in a new sector, recovers ground lost to Ukraine’s summer offensive, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post Russian tanks and infantry have launched a new round of assaults in the formerly quiet southern Zaporizhzhia sector, overwhelming forward Ukrainian positions and recovering some ground lost to a Kyiv offensive last summer. The Kremlin armored attacks backed by . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukrainian businesses fear new mobilisation law could paralyse economy, by Olena Harmash | Reuters KYIV — Ukraine’s leading business associations are calling for changes to be made to draft legislation that would overhaul the process for mobilising troops, saying the reforms could deal a blow to the already embattled economy. The issue is highly sensitive for the army, business community and wider public. “Business asks the parliament . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia takes Avdiivka at steep price, as Ukraine forced to face shortcomings, by Igor Kossov | The Kyiv Independent The capture of Avdiivka is Russia’s first major achievement in nine months, but it doesn’t leave any side looking good. For Russia, it . . . READ MORE . . .