Saturday, February 24

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A mobile drone defense unit trains to shoot down Russian drones east of the port city of Odesa overnight on Feb. 24. February 24, 2024 marks the second anniversary of the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Ukrainian crowdfunding campaign raises $7.8 million for sea drone fleet in record 36 hours. A crowdfunding campaign to raise money to produce maritime drones has raised enough money for 35 naval drones, worth in total Hr. 297,500,000 (over $7.77 million), in a record 36 hours, Ukrainian fundraising platform United24 announced on Feb. 23.

Air Force: Ukraine shoots down another Russian A-50 aircraft over Azov Sea. The Ukrainian Air Force downed another Russian A-50 military aircraft over the Azov Sea, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported on Feb. 23.

US Senator Schumer in Lviv: ‘Without aid, Ukraine will lose war, with aid it will win.’ Directing his comments to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senator Richard Blumenthal said that the U.S. must “pay now, or pay later.”

Ukrainian government visits border, proposes plan to Poland to solve blockade. The Ukrainian government has developed and proposed a five-point plan to Poland to solve the ongoing blockade led by Polish farmers, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Feb. 23 after visiting the border and speaking to Ukrainian truckers.

Ukrainian Railways: Agricultural goods again dumped from train at Polish border. Grain has been dumped from Ukrainian trains at the Polish border on at least two other occasions earlier in February, sparking condemnations in Ukraine.

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Ukraine downs 12 drones, 2 missiles over southern oblasts. Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s southern oblasts overnight on Feb. 24 with Shahed-131/136 attack drones and also launched Kh-59 missiles from the Sea of Azov, Southern Defense Forces reported on Telegram.

Ukrainian, Western officials gather in Berlin for war crimes conference. Ukrainian and Western officials gathered in Berlin on Feb. 23 to discuss how to assist Ukraine with investigating Russian war crimes and bring perpetrators to justice, Ukrainian media outlet Ukrinform reported.

Fire reported at Russian steelmaker in Lipetsk Oblast. On the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a fire erupted at the main plant of Russian steelmaker Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK), according to statements from the regional governor.

Infrastructure Ministry: 93% of Ukrainian agricultural exports exit Ukraine by sea, river. Ukrainian farmers have exported 93% of their products through the ports in and around Odesa and on the Danube since August 2023, Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry reported on Feb. 23.

Ukraine to open new border crossing with Hungary. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the crossing will be open for passenger vehicles and will help to reduce lines, according to comments reported by Ukrinform.

Read our exclusives

‘Our reserves will run out:’ Ukrainian artillery sounds alarm on Western shell shortage

As Western sanctions designed to cripple Russian energy exports barely slow them down, the Kremlin continues to make enough money to keep its war against Ukraine going indefinitely.

Photo: Pavel Byrkin/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine shoots down another Russian A-50 aircraft over Azov Sea, Air Force says

The Ukrainian Air Force downed a rare Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft over the Azov Sea on the evening of Feb. 23, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported.

Photo: Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Volker: West has made a lot of mistakes in Russia-Ukraine war

The West doesn’t spend enough time analyzing its miscalculations in the Russia-Ukraine war, Kurt Volker, a former U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations, said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.

Photo: Kyiv Independent

Human cost of war

UN records over 10,500 civilian deaths in Ukraine since February 2022. At least 10,582 civilians have been killed and nearly 20,000 have been injured since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said.

Russian drone attack on Odesa kills 1, injures 3. A Russian drone attack on Odesa caused a residential building to catch fire, injuring at least three people, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram on Feb. 23.

Body found under rubble of Dnipro apartment hit in Russian attack. The body of a man was found under the rubble at the top of a nine-story apartment building that was hit in a Russian drone attack overnight, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported on Feb. 23.

Opinions and Insights

Opinion: In the past 2 years of war, we have all died a little

“Every Ukrainian will forever remember the dark morning of Feb. 24, 2022, when the full-scale invasion began. Some woke up to explosions, others to frightened calls from their families – but everyone remembers that second to the last detail. It’s a memory that pierces through our entire lives,” writes Andriy Lyubka, a Ukrainian poet, essayist, and translator.

Photo: Scott Peterson/Getty Images

International response

UK announces $311 million aid package to replenish Ukraine’s artillery supplies. On the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the U.K. pledges £245 million ($311 million) to enhance Ukraine’s artillery ammunition reserves within the next year, according to the country’s defense ministry.

Canada announces new sanctions against Russia. Canada’s new sanctions will target those who provide Russia with military equipment, offer services such as insurance to Russian soldiers, and otherwise help support the finances and logistics of the Russian state.

FT: Europe exploring $1.5 billion backup plan to purchase shells outside of EU for Ukraine. The Financial Times reported, citing unnamed officials, that the Czech Republic is ready to head up the initiative to purchase shell stockpiles that have already been identified outside of the EU, but needs help from European allies to secure $1.5 billion in funding.

RFE/RL: Hungary blocks shared EU statement to commemorate 2nd anniversary of full-scale war. Hungary did not give an explicit reason for its objection, sources told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

Ukraine, Denmark finalize long-term security agreement. The U.K., Germany, and France have earlier signed similar deals to help Ukraine repel Russia’s aggression based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) last July. Denmark is the first non-G7 country to finalize the deal.

In other news

Private equity firm attracts $350 million to support Ukrainian businesses, exceeding target by $100 million. Private equity firm Horizon Capital has attracted $350 million to support Ukrainian businesses through the Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV (HCGF), the company announced on Feb. 23.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Dinara Khalilova, Nate Ostiller, Francis Farrell, Elsa Court, and Olena Goncharova.

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