Sunday, February 12

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Mariia Danchyna (2nd L), a paramedic of the volunteer medical battalion Hospitallers, which helps with medical evacuations of wounded Ukrainian servicemen reacts on their medical evacuation bus in Donetsk region on February 11, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)

Zelensky: We want to be in EU in 2 years, in NATO after victory. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 11 that Ukraine wants to be a member of the European Union in two years and should be part of the NATO alliance after the country’s victory over Russia.

Pentagon: Russia likely lost about half of its battle tanks in Ukraine. The capabilities of the Russian army, especially the ground forces, have significantly deteriorated, according to Celeste Wallander, the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs at the Pentagon.

Zelensky dismisses top official amid government clean-up drive. President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree on Feb. 11 sacking a senior security figure and said in his evening address that his drive to clean up the government would continue.

Ukraine to create centralized demining hub. The “Ukrainian Center for Humanitarian Demining” will help improve coordination between ministries, regional administrations, partner countries, and international organizations, and help to attract all possible resources for demining, said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Stand with the Kyiv Independent. Become a member today.

Danilov: Russia began new offensive but faces major challenges. National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said Russia has already begun its major offensive in Ukraine’s east but faces “big problems” with it. “They have already started their offensive, they don’t say it publicly. And our troops are repelling it,” Danilov said on television.

Wagner Group boss says Russia could take two years to capture Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, said it could take two years for Moscow to capture the entire Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. He added, “if we have to get to the Dnipro River, it will take about three years.”

ISW: Russian military appears unable to effectively prepare mobilized personnel for war. The Institute for the Study of War said in its latest update on Feb. 11 that the Russian military appears to have been unable to prepare its mobilized personnel to conduct effective mechanized offensive operations in the short period of time since their call-ups.

Ukrainian military strikes Russian temporary bases over 30 times. In their Feb. 12 update, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Ukraine’s rocket and artillery forces hit 14 temporary bases of Russian troops, an ammunition depot, and an anti-aircraft missile complex.

Civilian injured following Russian missile strike on Kharkiv. A 35-year-old man received shrapnel wounds after Russian forces struck the northeastern part of Kharkiv late on Feb. 11. Three missiles were fired at the city, damaging an infrastructure facility, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russian governor: 3 wounded by alleged attack on Belgorod Oblast. Russia’s Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that Shebekino, a community in Belgorod Oblast bordering Ukraine, was shelled on Feb. 11.

Read our exclusives

New media law: Tool to fight Russian propaganda or censorship attempt?

Ukraine’s new media law, signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in December, has triggered a major controversy. The law expands the powers of the media regulator and gives it the authority to block some media outlets without a court ruling.

Photo: Hennadii Minchenko/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Learn More

International response

First batch of Lithuanian anti-aircraft guns L-70 arrives in Ukraine. Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said on Feb. 11 that the first batch of L-70 anti-aircraft guns and ammunition, “which will help defend critical infrastructure,” has already arrived in Ukraine.

Der Spiegel: Ukrainian troops to start training on Leopard 2 tanks in Germany next week. German magazine Der Spiegel reported that the country’s Armed Forces will reportedly start training Ukrainian troops on the Leopard 2 main battle tanks next week. According to the publication, the first Ukrainian soldiers have already been brought from Poland to Germany in the past few days.

Support the Kyiv Independent for as little as $5 a month.

The Times: UK could provide Ukraine with missiles capable of reaching Crimea. Citing unnamed Ukrainian defense sources, The Times reported that Ukraine would be prepared to use the missiles to strike Crimea, following a notice from President Volodymyr Zelensky that longer-range missiles from western allies would be used to strike “deep in the occupied territories.”

Business news

Ukrenergo faces another Russian missile and drone attack on its energy facilities. Ukrenergo reported that Russia launched another missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. This was Russia’s 14th attack in its series of mass missile attacks and 16th in the series of drone attacks (since Oct. 10), Ukrenergo added. Read more at Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly – Issue 74.

In other news

Ukraine sent 80 first responders to Turkey. Ukraine sent 80 emergency workers and 16 pieces of engineering equipment to assist Turkey in clearing the rubble after two devastating earthquakes hit the country, Oleksandr Khorunzhiy, the spokesman of the State Emergency Service, said on Feb. 11.

Want to get the news faster? Follow our website: kyivindependent.com.

Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Francis Farrell, Daria Shulzhenko, Toma Istomina, Alexander Query, Oleksiy Sorokin, Thaisa Semenova, Brad LaFoy, and Olena Goncharova.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider becoming our patron on Patreon or donating via GoFundMe. Start supporting independent journalism today.