2/16/24-2/19/24 Ukrainian General Update LanguageLearner

2/16/24-2/19/24 Update, day 723-727 of Russian invasion.


Belarus/Western Border:

Polish protestors have been joined by a number of other protesting farmers, and have reportedly been blocking military and humanitarian shipments as well. Viktor Orban called for a complete ban on UA agricultural products entering the EU market.

Currently 6 checkpoints are blocked at the border, and UA ministers are contacting the National Security Bureau of Poland. Polish protestor's blocked a railway crossing point for 2 hours before being dispersed by Polish police.

Hungarian PM Orban is facing protests following the resignation of President Novak following her pardoning a coverup of child abuse at state orphanages.

UA continues to reiterate that RU does not have enough troops for a northern offensive, from Belarus or RU. There are less then 20,000 RU troops along the northern border in entirety.

A second set of RU Shahed drone wreckage was discovered in Moldova, about 2 km from the border. One was previously found on Feb 11th.


Kyiv/ Central Ukraine:

At least 24 DPRK provided ballistic missiles have been used in Ukraine thus far. They have a max range of 650 km and up to 1000kg of explosives. They appear to be very inaccurate, with only 2/24 hitting targets.

Per UA presidential office, all regions are working to establish fortified defensive positions.

RU hacker groups targeted UA Media organizations over the weekend.

Reportedly at least 50,000 UA citizens with criminal records have fallen outside recruitment possibilities. This includes people both actively serving sentences who have expressed interest, and those with expunged criminal records for things as minor as traffic violations. The UA government previously accepted 300 soldiers from prisoners, but reiterates that this is done on a case by case basis and they shouldn't serve in combat units.

UA is increasing teachers salary by 21% this year, and dedicating $65 million USD to expanding shelters at schools.

In 2023 UA received external financing totalling US$42.5 billion of which US$11.6 billion (27%) was non-repayable grant aid. UA total debt increased by $34 billion USD in 2023 due to longer term loans (most over 25 years with a 10 year grace period.)

UA debt currently stands at $145.3 billion USD. This comes out to approx $4-5000 USD of debt per every citizen depending on how many UA refugees are abroad. This is slightly higher then RU at $3800, and markedly less then the European average of $25,000

UA is working to construct infrared resistant clothing for troops.

UA presented mobile stabilization points, purchased by french volunteers. The project requires further tuning, but is designed as a prototype to allow for quicker access to surgical interventions off the battlefield. Additionally, UA is trialing a remoted controlled stretcher for evacuating wounded. This AWD vehicle can be operated from up to 700m away.


Sumy/Chernihiv/Kharkiv city region:

RU fired 4 Shahed drones towards Kharkiv overnight, all were intercepted.

RU attacked an infrastructure factory in Poltava oblast, W of Kharkiv.


Kupyansk/ E Kharkiv:

While RU continues to assault towards Kupyansk via the village of Synkivka to the NE, they don't appear to have success. UA artillery and drones maintain some fire control over the main roads through the forest area RU is encamped in, targeting any collection of RU armor.

UA is expanding the list of mandatory evacuation around Kupyansk.


Kreminna/Lyman:

RU assaulted 10 times towards Terny and the Zherebets river valley highway near Terny. RU forces remain approximately 2.5 km away from the main highway and village belt.


Kramatorsk/Bakhmut:

RU continues to heavily airstrike Bilhorivka to the NE of Siversk along the Siversky Donets river.

RU appears to have made gains to the NE of Soledar, near Berestove. 2 UA Pow's were executed on drone footage here.

RU assaulted 8 times from Bakhmut. RU continues to make gains in the hills towards Ivanivske, aided by drones and artillery.

RU artillery heavily shelled Klischiivka, and airstriked UA positions in the hills around the town.

RU shelled Kramatorsk with Kh-22 missiles, killing a family of 3 and wounding 2 other elderly people.

A school was destroyed by RU missiles in Slovyansk, killing a 65-year olds security guard. The school was used as a humanitarian hub for the city.


Avdiivka:

UA troops completed their withdrawal from Avdiivka with minimal abandonment or capture of troops. It appears that at least 6 soldiers were unable to evacuate from the Zenit anti-air defensive position, and were likely executed. There is additional footage of UA troops executed on drone video by RU fighters, and withdrawing UA troops state that the circumstances of withdrawal were very chaotic and led to losses.

RU forces are now effectively in control of Avdiivka. Their further attempts W towards Lastochkyne have not been as successful, with RU forces complaining about losses while pursuing UA fighters.

The village of Lastochkyne will likely become the new frontline area for a time, as well as the fields surrounding it. Reportedly only 1 couple lives in the village despite pleas from their daughter to evacuate.

UA troops were seen retreating back to Orlivka, the next major village W, and coming under RU airstrikes.

UA drone strikes continue to targeted RU equipment to the NE of avdiivka, damaging or destroying several vehicles.

UA's patriot battery appears to have shot down 2 more RU fighters, an Su-34 and Su-35 in the Eastern direction. UA use of "traveling patriot batteries" has resulted in significant RU aerial losses over the last several days.

One of the jets shot down apparently crashed into the formerly very pro-RU village of Anthracite, rather then the fields nearby.

Per UA commanders in the area, during the RU lost:

47,186 troops
364 tanks
748 APCs
248 artillery systems
5 planes.


Donetsk/Luhansk/Occupied areas:

RU attempted to assault out of Marinka some 18 times in the last 24 hours.

RU made some gains to the NE of Novomykhailivka, as they seek to further push out into the highways surrounding Marinka.


Zaporizhia/Southern Axis:

RU appears to have commenced offensive operations along the southern front, with 402 strikes on 12 settlements.

RU forces have pushed into S Robotyne, and were met with UA MLRS and artillery fire. RU drone usage here is high, and it remains to be seen the exact size and quality of the RU assault force here.


Kherson:

RU assaulted towards the UA bridgehead in Krynky 16 times over the past day. UA appears to have lost control of some of the area along the riverbank to the NE, potentially complicating the primary boat traversal route.

UA has increased its EW operations in this area to deny RU drone ops by approximately 1/3rd.

Another family of 3 was successfully evacuated from RU occupied Kherson. The circumstances of how they were evacuated are unclear.

Over the last week, 539 pieces of UXO were defused in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts.

UA constructed a temporary bridge over the Inhulets river NE of Kherson, replacing one blown up by RU troops.


Odessa/Black Sea/Crimea:

2 UA Right Sektor/UDA members were critically injured in a car bombing outside of Odesa last night.

RU has 2 ships in the Black sea, with 1 of them carrying up to 4 Kalibr cruise missiles.


Russia:

UA partisans targeted RU railway infrastructure in Volgograd, en route to Crimea.

RU shot down UA drones over Voronezh, Belgorod, and Kursk. It appears that UA is repurposing NATO training target drones in some capacity.

The Washington Post reports they received over 100 documents showing RU efforts to fan the flames of conflict between Zelensky and Zaluzhny.

Moscow will host an inter-Palestinian meeting at the end of February, to which Russia has invited all Palestinian organisations, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.



General:

Over the last day UA forces conducted 29 airstrikes and RU forces 56 air strikes (including drones) and 72 MLRS strikes.

Yesterday Ukrainian forces eliminated:
1290x troops (403,720 in total)
34x APC
22x Tank
0x Air defense
26x Artillery (2x MLRS)
1x Aircraft
31x vehicles
11 x UAV

These costs amount to some $167.5 million USD, or $2.4 billion over the last 30 days.


Overseas:

The PM of Denmark stated they will transfer all artillery systems to UA, and called on other EU countries to aid UA with equipment and ammo.

The Czech republic stated it found 500k 155mm and 300k 122mm artillery shells available for purchase abroad if it secures funding.

Per EU officials, F-16 are expected to appear in UA in June.

Canada will reportedly transfer over 800 Skyranger R80 drones (small quadcopters) by april of this year.

RU Helicopter defector Maksym Kuzminov, who defected with an Mi-8 and killed his copilot during the process, was found dead in spain. He was shot to death and hit with a car. Reportedly he had chosen to move to Spain instead of staying in Ukraine, and had contacted his ex to arrange a meeting shortly before he was killed.

UA will receive $4.7 billion USD grants from Japan for reconstruction and financial aid this month.

Italy will help provide 200 million euros for restoring UA Hydropower plants.

France announced an additional 3 billion euros of aid for UA this year, and signed an agreement on security guarantees.

The US transferred $500k USD of frozen RU assets to Estonia, who is themselves transfering onwards to UA.

UA refugees in Britain can extend their visas until September 2026 — UK Ministry of Internal Affairs

Per US Representatives, voting on the UA aid bill will not be considered until March 8th. The House adjourned for 2 weeks on vacation without the vote being held.