Category: World

A brand new worldwide F-16 fighter jet squadron staffed by Ukrainian, US and Dutch pilots has been assembled in Ukraine. The western pilots, who’re working below non permanent contracts, are serving to the Ukrainian pilots to grasp the plane's technical benefits.

Supply: Intelligence On-line

Particulars: The unit was created "in current weeks" by the Ukrainian Air Power for rapid deployment. The worldwide squadron is at present enjoying a central position within the air defence of Kyiv Oblast, which Russia is attacking with drones and missiles, Intelligence On-line says.

The unit contains American pilots who "have carried out quite a few fight missions in Afghanistan" and a western veteran who carried out missions within the Center East earlier than becoming a member of the mission in Ukraine. Among the many Dutch pilots are graduates of "main European air fight colleges recognized for his or her superior coaching in interception and trendy aerial warfare".

Intelligence On-line says that not like Ukrainian pilots, who’re built-in into the traditional chain of command, the Western veterans are working below non permanent contracts, just like specialised contractors. These agreements cowl six-month rotations which might be renewable in step with operational necessities.

Pilots from the worldwide F-16 unit regularly patrol throughout in a single day Russian assaults to supply a extra fast response to aerial threats and maximise radar protection. Intelligence On-line notes that essentially the most vital contribution of the Western veterans inside Ukraine's air defence construction is their expertise and abilities in utilizing the fighter jets' high-precision sensors, significantly the Lockheed Martin Sniper concentrating on pod.

This ultra-high-precision electro-optical and infrared system is used for long-range identification, monitoring fast-moving targets and conducting strikes in adversarial climate circumstances. In response to a number of sources near the Basic Workers, the Ukrainian crews already had some understanding of those technological parts, however solely partially, as a result of lack of a few years of coaching on one of these Western system.

The worldwide squadron helps repel Russian aerial assaults virtually day by day, significantly by intercepting Kalibr and Kh-101 missiles, Geran-5 drones and different property, Intelligence On-line added.

Background:

• It was lately reported that the Netherlands is about to ship coaching simulators for F-16 pilots to Ukraine.
• The US Division of Battle has signed a contract price over US$235.4 million for the upkeep of F-16 fighter jets, together with for Ukraine.

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US Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal has stated Russia is intentionally focusing on US-owned companies in Ukraine and confused that there needs to be little question that the US will proceed to do enterprise there.

Supply: Blumenthal at a press convention in Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Blumenthal stated that in his go to to Kyiv, he discovered that Russian assaults have focused American companies in Ukraine.

"In Ukraine, it's open season on American companies. Vladimir Putin is focusing on American crops and headquarters right here in Ukraine with missiles and drones," he famous.

The US senator warned that there needs to be little question that the US will proceed doing enterprise in Ukraine.

Quote: "America will proceed to do enterprise in Ukraine. We're going to be as resilient because the folks of Ukraine. However the American folks ought to perceive that companies right here and a number of the main names in American enterprise have been focused purposely, repeatedly and relentlessly by Russia. And that type of assault ought to spur even higher outrage than we're seeing already."

Background:

• On 21 August, Russia struck Zakarpattia Oblast (Transcarpathia) in Ukraine's west. The area suffered important destruction for the primary time because the begin of the full-scale battle. Two Kalibr missiles destroyed premises belonging to Flex, a US electronics manufacturing firm, on the outskirts of Mukachevo.
• On 8 January, the US Embassy in Ukraine warned of a "doubtlessly important" aerial assault within the coming days. That very same night time, Russia struck areas throughout Ukraine and launched an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in opposition to Lviv.

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Russian forces carried out a ballistic missile strike on infrastructure within the metropolis of Kryvyi Rih on the night of 16 February.

Supply: Oleksandr Vilkul, Head of Kryvyi Rih Defence Council; Oleksandr Hanzha, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Navy Administration

Quote: "The enemy has carried out a ballistic missile strike on infrastructure.

Stay in shelters till the all-clear is given – additional launches are potential."

Particulars: Later, Hanzha clarified that Russia had struck transport infrastructure.

Early stories point out that there have been no casualties.

Background: Throughout a coordination name on the vitality state of affairs in Ukraine's areas, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised the native authorities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, notably these in Kryvyi Rih, for his or her delayed response in coping with the aftermath of Russian assaults, which has led to extended energy outages.

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The Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Geneva for talks in a trilateral format, with the following spherical of negotiations set to start on Tuesday 17 February.

Supply: Rustem Umierov, Secretary of the Nationwide Safety and Defence Council of Ukraine and head of the Ukrainian delegation

Quote: "The Ukrainian delegation has already arrived in Geneva.

Tomorrow, we start the following spherical of negotiations within the trilateral format. The agenda has been agreed and the crew is able to work.

We count on constructive engagement and substantive conferences on safety and humanitarian points with the intention to transfer in the direction of a dignified and lasting peace."

Background:

• New talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine are deliberate in Geneva, the place Russia intends to ship Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Putin.
• Umierov lately introduced the names of the delegates Ukraine plans to ship to the talks.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on 16 February enacting a choice of the Nationwide Safety and Defence Council relating to sanctions in opposition to 10 Russian athletes whom Kyiv considers to be complicit in supporting Russia's aggression.

Supply: Workplace of the President of Ukraine

Particulars: The President's Workplace stated the sanctions bundle is predicated on a petition by Vladyslav Heraskevych, a Ukrainian skeleton racer and member of the nationwide Olympic staff.

The Workplace reported that the listing contains athletes who, amongst different issues, have visited the briefly occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Crimea, publicly justified Russian aggression and raised funds for the Russian armed forces.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "This Ukrainian sanctions bundle ought to ship a sign to others on the earth – a sign that it’s not acceptable to easily flip a blind eye to help for aggression. When Ukrainians on the Olympic Video games are prohibited from even mentioning those that have been killed attributable to Russian aggression, that’s clearly a world rollback of justice. We’ll restore justice."

Background:

• On 15 February, Zelenskyy reported that Kyiv was getting ready a brand new sanctions bundle concentrating on Russians who "work for the struggle and put sport on the service of struggle".
• Heraskevych was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympic Video games over his "helmet of remembrance" that includes 20 Ukrainian athletes who have been killed attributable to Russia's aggression.
• He has been awarded the Order of Freedom by Zelenskyy.

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Ukraine is contemplating the introduction of a full life-cycle method to managing particles generated by wartime destruction, addressing the whole lot from era to the reuse of recovered supplies.

Supply: Ukraine's Ministry of Financial system following a spherical desk entitled Coordination Occasion on the Administration of Destruction Waste, organised collectively with the Debris2Resources challenge consortium (EU-supported LIFE programme)

Particulars: The occasion's members mentioned the necessity to introduce pre-demolition audits to evaluate materials composition and security dangers, set up a community of authorised waste-processing websites, and develop environment friendly logistics techniques – all important to a functioning recycling economic system.

"Destruction waste shouldn’t be solely a problem but in addition a possible useful resource for reconstruction. Our activity is to create clear guidelines, strengthen coordination between authorities and native communities, and make sure the secure and environment friendly administration of those supplies," mentioned Iryna Ovcharenko, Deputy Minister of Financial system, Atmosphere and Agriculture.

For reference: The problem of particles is likely one of the most complicated challenges in Ukraine's post-war restoration. Tens of millions of tonnes of rubble typically stay combined and unclassified, whereas native communities are compelled to deal with a scarcity of information, the absence of unified rules and heightened security dangers, significantly the attainable presence of explosive ordnance and dangerous supplies comparable to asbestos.

Background: Because the begin of Russia's full-scale invasion, the United Nations Improvement Programme (UNDP) has helped clear 1 million tonnes of particles in Ukraine.

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A bundle of EU laws offering for a €90 billion mortgage to Ukraine in 2026-2027 is because of obtain formal approval from the Council of the European Union on 24 February.

Supply: European Pravda, citing a senior EU diplomat on situation of anonymity

Particulars: The EU is about to formally approve the €90 billion bundle masking Ukraine's wants for 2026-2027 at a gathering of the Basic Affairs Council.

Quote: "The legislative bundle wanted to grant Ukraine a €90 billion mortgage to cowl its monetary wants for 2026 and 2027 is anticipated to obtain last approval on the EU Basic Affairs Council assembly on 24 February."

Extra particulars: The official added that the merchandise will seem on the Basic Affairs Council's agenda on 24 February as a degree not requiring dialogue.

The choice requires a certified majority vote by EU member states.

Quote: "Ukraine will obtain these much-needed funds within the second quarter of this 12 months."

Background:

• On 19 December, the European Union summit accepted a call on a joint mortgage to supply Ukraine with €90 billion in assist, designed to cowl two-thirds of Ukraine's wants in 2026-2027 in each the finances and defence spheres.
• On 11 February, the European Parliament accepted a European Fee proposal to grant Ukraine a €90 billion mortgage to finance army and budgetary expenditures.
• On 4 February, EU member state ambassadors on the Committee of Everlasting Representatives (Coreper) agreed on mechanisms for offering Ukraine with a €90 billion mortgage in 2026-27, together with permitting third nations to take part.

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Alain Berset, the Secretary Normal of the Council of Europe, has arrived in Ukraine and has already met Ukraine's International Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Supply: European Pravda, citing Interfax-Ukraine, a Ukrainian information company; Reuters

Particulars: Berset held talks with Sybiha on the morning of 16 February, adopted by a joint information convention.

Reuters reported that Berset and Sybiha additionally paid tribute to fallen Ukrainian defenders at an improvised memorial in Kyiv's Independence Sq..

Background:

• In January, the Council of Europe, the European Fee and the European Exterior Motion Service signed an settlement to arrange a gaggle to organize a Particular Tribunal to research Russia's crime of aggression.
• The deliberate particular tribunal would enable investigations into Russia's prime management, together with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.

Learn additionally: Trial for Lavrov and Putin: all about the tribunal for Russia that received Europe's blessing

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Russian corporations have sharply diminished their demand for employees because the financial scenario within the nation worsens.

Supply: The Moscow Instances, an impartial Amsterdam-based information outlet citing Russian newspaper Kommersant

Particulars: In December, employers reported 1.469 million job vacancies in state employment providers, down 13% year-on-year and down 9% in comparison with November.

The unemployment fee rose from 2.1% in November to 2.2% in December.

The largest fall in labour demand in December was recorded within the Volga Federal District, the place the determine dropped 23% in comparison with final yr to 261,000 vacancies.

Official statistics present demand for workers peaked in mid-2024. In June that yr there have been 2.124 million job vacancies. Since then, the determine has fallen steadily, with small seasonal upticks.

Background: The variety of court docket rulings in prison instances involving property confiscation in Russia rose from 11,000 in 2023 to 31,000 in 2025 and new legal guidelines have widened the scope for confiscation.

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Russian forces attacked Ukraine utilizing 4 Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, an Iskander-M ballistic missile, a Kh-31P anti-radar missile and 62 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and different kinds of drones on the night time of 15-16 February. About 40 of the UAVs have been Shahed loitering munitions.

Supply: Ukraine's Air Power

Particulars: Early experiences indicated that as of 09:00, Ukrainian air defence forces had destroyed or jammed two Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles and 52 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and different kinds of drones.

Hits by 1 missile and 9 UAVs had been recorded at 8 places and the autumn of downed aerial property (particles) at 2 places.

Details about three different missiles is being confirmed.

Plane, anti-aircraft missile models, digital warfare property, unmanned techniques models and cellular fireplace teams from Ukraine's defence forces have been concerned in repelling the assault.

The assault is ongoing, as a number of Russian drones are nonetheless in Ukrainian airspace.

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