Feb 25: E-Stories
Day730 RalliesHonouring CombatSit BehindLines InRussia Allies Agreements A&P ISW UKDef CDS KI DecodingUA Amanpour Frei Stoltenberg Sumlenny TimesRad Michel Kallas Sidorski Landsbergis AC Baerbock
Catching up…
EA Worldview’s Ukraine Up-date- hop over to Scott’s amazing hourly Ukraine up-date page. I’ll fill in with some bits and bobs.
President Zelensky’s address on Feb 24, 2024.
Dear great people of a great country, I am immensely proud of each of you. I admire each one of you. I believe in each one of you.
Any normal person wants the war to end. But none of us will allow Ukraine to end. That is why when it comes to ending the war, we always add: on our terms. That is why, along with the word peace, there is always another word: just.
That is why, in the future, the word independent will always appear alongside the word Ukraine. This is what we fight for. And we will prevail. On the greatest day of our lives. I thank all of our soldiers, our people, and everyone around the world who stands with us and the truth. Glory to Ukraine!
Zelensky: 'We are 730 days closer to victory.' "Any normal person wants the war to end. But none of us will allow our Ukraine to end," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video marking the two-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
In addition to the President of the European Commission, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also arrived in Kyiv.
Von der Leyen: EU to open Defense Innovation office in Kyiv. The European Union will open an office for Defense Innovation in Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during a press conference in Kyiv on Feb. 24.
In over four hundred cities all across the world, rallies in support of Ukraine took place on the day of the second anniversay of Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine.
NATO chief, Jens Stoltenberg: NATO stands with Ukraine
Stories we’re following…
Air Force: Ukraine downs 16 out of 18 drones launched overnight. The drones were destroyed over Poltava, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.
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.
20 Days in Mariupol has been nominated for an Oscar as Best Documentary. It has already been awarded a BAFTA for the same category. I urge everyone to see it. Channel 4’s Matt Frei interviewed AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov, who began filming the Russian attack on Mariupol, and didn't stop for three weeks.
When I showed it to my class, they were shocked because they hadn’t realised what it meant when an invading army attacks and occupies territory. Most people don’t realise as well.
Ukrenergo: Backup power line restored at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The company reported that the overhead line had been heavily damged by Russian shelling on Feb. 20.
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.
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.
Ukraine's security services allegedly behind attack on Russian steel plant. Located approximately 400 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border, the plant serves as NLMK's primary production facility. It accounts for 80% of NLMK's steel output and contributes 18% to the total Russian steel production.
Military intelligence: Damaged Russian steel plant 'directly involved' in weapons production. Andrii Yusov, a military intelligence spokesperson, neither confirmed nor denied Ukraine's involvement in the fire at Russia's Lipetsk steel plant.
Combat Situation Update
Russia has occupied Lastochkyne, Ukrainian forces withdrew. We’re waiting for confirmation for the Ukrainian military about Sjeverne, but it seems Ukrainians have left this hamlet as well.
ISW: Russia has been generating new forces at a rate roughly equivalent to its current casualties, but it is unclear whether it will be able to sustain offensive operations in the same way at a higher operational level with even greater losses, ISW reports.
Analysts note that despite the fact that Russia has seized the initiative on the battlefield, the Russian army suffers from many of the same weaknesses that Ukraine has learned to exploit. And the combined economic power of Ukraine's allies is many times greater than Russia's.
Zelensky: Western long-range weapons won't be used outside of Ukraine. Ukraine will use its own weapons on targets outside of Ukraine's occupied territories, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press conference on Feb. 24.
Behind the Lines
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.
German Foreign Ministry adopts Ukrainian spelling of Kyiv. The German Foreign Ministry has officially adopted the Ukrainian transliteration of Kyiv, changing the spelling in the official country directory from the Russian transliteration of Kiew to Kyjiw from Feb. 24.
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.
Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico with an appalling video statement regarding the anniversary of the full scale war in Ukraine.
He said the West started a demonization of Putin in hope to get him on his knees, but failed. He furthermore stated that the war already started in 2014 by Ukrainian neo-nazis and also pointed towards NATO 'expanding to the east' which is against Russian interest.
He considers Ukraine joining NATO as the basis for World War III and once again expressed that Ukraine, Russia and Europe need peace and security guarantees by the strongest international players.
Decoding Ukraine with Maria Avdeeva and Artem Lysak: Artem's recent trip to Avdiivka, uncover the consequences of stalled US aid, and explore what Navalny's murder reveals about Putin's strategy. Can Ukraine endure year three? Subscribe now for in-depth analysis and unwavering resilience.
Meanwhile in Russia
The U.S. has charged VTB Bank CEO Andrey Kostin with money laundering and sanctions violations through his maintenance of two yachts worth more than $135 million and a home in the resort town of Aspen, Colorado, according to an indictment in Manhattan federal court. Two associates, Vadim Wolfson and Gannon Bond, were arrested in the U.S. on charges of helping to take care of the $12-million Colorado property while concealing that Kostin owned it, reports Reuters.
Alexei Navalny’s body was handed over to his mother on Feb 24, a spokesperson has confirmed. Russian authorities had told Navalny’s mother her son would be buried in the Arctic penal colony where he died unless she would agree within three hours to a secret funeral, Navalny’s spokesperson has said. She refused.
Washington has “privately warned Russia not to deploy a new nuclear-armed antisatellite weapon,” saying it would violate the Outer Space Treaty and jeopardize American national security interests, U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday. (Me: they’ve probably already done it.)
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).
Dutch far-right leader Wilders against signing security agreement with Ukraine. Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders said on Feb. 24 that he is against the Netherlands signing a 10-year agreement on security cooperation with Ukraine, the day after Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said the Netherlands will sign the agreement.
Polish Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski, responds to Russian ambassador’s comments at the UN. It is beyond me why Russia is still part of the UN Security Council.
Allied Support
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."
EU Council President, Charles Michel: “2 years of bravery, 2 years of courage, 2 years of fight. You are defending our common values of freedom and democracy. You will be a member of our EU family. Today, in our hearts, you are already one of us. Slava Ukraini.”
EU to send 4.5 billion euros to Ukraine in March in first payment under new aid program. The European Union’s new 50 billion euro ($54 billion) Ukraine Facility will make its first transfer of 4.5 billion euros ($4.9 billion) to Ukraine in March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Feb. 24.
President Zelensky met with for Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in Kyiv. The President of Ukraine thanked Johnson for his presence and support of Ukraine.
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.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday he had signed a bilateral security agreement with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv. Canada joins Italy, Britain, Germany, France and Denmark in concluding a 10-year security deal with Kyiv. The agreements are intended to shore up Ukraine’s security until it can reach its aim of becoming a member of the Western military alliance, Nato.
Rally in Tokyo, Japan, on Feb 24.
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.
Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas: Two years have passed since Russia initiated its full-scale war. Each day Ukrainians show the world what bravery really means. We stand with Ukraine, as you stand for the security of all of Europe. I believe in Ukraine’s victory and that Russia can be defeated.
US philanthropist pledges $300 million for Ukraine in 2024. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has already donated over $500 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The combined funds exceed the humanitarian aid contributions of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada.
Funding delays threaten USAID projects for Ukraine. The funding delay threatens USAID projects aimed at integrating Ukraine's railways into the European rail network and protecting Ukrainian farmers, among other humanitarian programs.
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuanian Foreign Minister, has been at the forefront speaking out about increasing aid to Ukraine and other measures. He’s been featured on E-Stories before. In his address at the UN, he spoke on behalf of Czechia, Estonia, and Latvia.
Today we are facing choices that might well define this century, just as the choices in the 1930s defined the previous century. Do we continue to appease the aggressor who is patient and meticulous in his attempts to turn everything this organisation holds dear into a mockery?
Do we once again allow him to escape responsibility for his aggression? Do we continue to feed him with lives and land, misled by our fear of escalation and naïve hopes that this time he will be fully satisfied?
German Foreign Office, German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock:
Putin's Russia has been attacking Ukraine for two years - and by that is tearing up the UN Charter every single day. Putin has it in his hands: if he withdraws his troops, the war will end immediately.
Our support for Ukraine continues - as long as necessary. It is the brave women and men of Ukraine who have liberated half of the captured territories and made grain shipments across the Black Sea possible again.
Christian Amanpour interviewed FM Baerbock for CNN:
The Associated Press called the South Carolina primary for Trump right when polls closed at 7pm ET, in a clear indication of his large victory in South Carolina, Haley’s home state. It is estimated that Trump should clock in at roughly 60% of the vote, with Haley at about 40%.
Save the date…
Join the DFRLab’s global research team on February 29 as they present their investigations, exploring the patterns of pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation tools and narratives worldwide. Researchers will detail how Kremlin informational tactics have evolved over the course of the second year of the invasion period, presenting case studies from Ukraine, Russia, across Europe, Middle East, and from Africa and Latin America. This year’s report follows the footsteps of the last year’s paper – Undermining Ukraine, which focused on the Russian tactics and techniques in the first year of the full-scale invasion. Their presentations will be followed by a conversation considering Russian tactics and possible ways of countering them.