Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 02-16-2024

A report from this important annual international security forum from Kyiv Post’s special correspondent.

The annual Munich Security Conference (MSC), which has entered its 60th year, opened on Friday, Feb. 16. Even though the focus of this year meeting has moved away Russia’s war in Ukraine to a much broader agenda on global polarization, Ukraine remains very much on the radar screen. 

This was visible during the opening day largely thanks to the message from Kamala Harris, the US Vice-Present and the running mate of President Joe Biden.

The agreement Zelensky has signed lays out support for the buildup of a modern army for a post-war Ukraine that can repel further future attacks by Russia.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a security deal with Germany on Friday, Feb. 16, in Berlin, which Chancellor Olaf Scholz hailed as a “historic step” in anchoring sustained support for Kyiv in its raging battle against Russian aggression.

Zelensky will also seal a similar deal with France later on Friday as he seeks to line up continuing help for his forces, who are continue to struggle to hold off Russian attacks on the frontline city of Avdiivka.

What the murder of Russian oppositionist Alexei Navalny signifies and what lessons should be drawn.

So, the latest victim of the cold-blooded tyrant and his entourage in the Kremlin, Alexei Navalny, has suddenly “died” in a remote Russian prison.

No need to pull the wool over our eyes. We all understand that Russia’s most prominent political prisoner was killed by the Putin regime.

The death of Alexei Navalny on the eve of the Russian presidential election has triggered a wave of criticism against the Kremlin’s suppression of all those who dare oppose the current regime.

Alexei Navalny, probably the most prominent opposition leader in Russia, has died in a prison within the Arctic Circle which Russia's federal penitentiary service say was caused by a detached blood clot just one month prior to the presidential election in Russia.

A fierce opponent of Putin’s regime, Navalny gained popularity with many for speaking out against corruption in the 2010s, but whose high profile eventually led to a suspected Novichok assassination attempt by Russian intelligence and landed him in prison.

Much of Avtandil Gurgenidze’s art reflects the affection he has had for Ukraine and its people since his first visit almost 20 years ago.

Avtandil Gurgenidze is a widely recognized contemporary Georgian artist known for his active presence in the art scene and more than fifty solo exhibitions.

In addition to his paintings, he also works on large-scale murals which can be found in such diverse locations as the Tbilisi’s Nadzaladevi metro station, a weather station on a 3750-meter-high mountain, ski stations, streets, playgrounds, and other urban areas in Georgia and Europe.

Ukraine’s spymaster admitted that he knew who was behind the poisoning of his wife and added that “in the near future, you will see the corresponding actions on Russian territory.”

Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR), admitted in an interview with the French edition of Liberation that he knows who is behind the poisoning of his wife Marianna.

“I think that in the near future you will see corresponding actions on Russian territory, and everyone will understand this,” Budanov said.

Here are 10 key dates in Navalny's campaign against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia's top opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who died Friday in an Arctic prison according to Russia's penitentiary service, survived a poisoning attack in 2020 only to be sentenced to 19 years in a penal colony.

Here are 10 key dates in his campaign against Russian President Vladimir Putin:

After being formally identified, the bodies of the defenders will be handed over to their families for a decent burial.

On Friday, Feb. 16, another repatriation event took place as the bodies of 58 more fallen defenders were returned to the territory controlled by Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

The bodies and remains of the soldier will first be examined by forensic experts to formally identify the victims, after which they will be returned to their families for final internment.

Support will increase Kyiv’s capacity to digitize services that strengthen the continuity of government delivery during wartime and meet acute mental health needs

From the Editors:  The following is a press release about an important initiative by Bloomberg Philanthropies to invest in the digitalization of the Ukrainian capital’s public and  mental health services.

NEW YORK, NY & KYIV, UKRAINE – (February 16, 2024) – As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced an investment in the City of Kyiv that will accelerate the digitization of public services that strengthen government delivery during wartime and address residents’ acute mental health needs.

Battles were in progress deeper inside the city. Reports disagreed on how much longer hard-pressed Ukrainian forces could hold out, but most reported a massive Russian firepower advantage.

Ukraine on Friday said it was pulling back from a position on the southern outskirts of the city of Avdiivka, where heavy battles were raging with Russian forces. 

"After many months of confrontation, the command decided to withdraw from the Zenit position on the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka... The decision was made to save personnel and improve the operational situation," Oleksandr Tarnavsky, a Ukrainian general in the east, said on social media.

The 47-year-old was Russia's most prominent opposition leader and won a huge following with his criticism of corruption in Vladimir Putin's Russia.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died Friday at the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year term, Russia's federal penitentiary service said in a statement.

"Navalny felt bad after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness. Medical staff arrived immediately and an ambulance team was called," stated the FSIN in a release.

Ukraine’s president signed a law to legalize the use of medical cannabis in Ukraine amidst the growing voice for its adoption in the country to help cope with war-related medical conditions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a draft law on Feb. 13 to legalize the use of medical cannabis in Ukraine, which is set to take effect in six months. The signed document appeared on Verkhowna Rada's official website on Thursday, Feb. 15. 

The draft law (No. 7457), which underwent a series of debates in the Verkhovna Rada, was first initiated in June 2022 and regulates the use of cannabis in Ukraine, namely to move the substance from List 1 (drugs not permitted for circulation) to List 2 (permitted under strict control). 

With existing funding having dried up, Republicans in the US House of Representatives are blocking authorising $60 billion in new military aid despite Ukrainian troops running out of ammunition.

The European Union will have to double its military support to Ukraine to fill a gap left by the United States after months of blockage of new aid by Congress, a research institute that monitors assistance said on Friday.

With existing funding having already dried up, Republicans in the US House of Representatives are blocking authorising $60 billion in new military aid despite Ukrainian commanders and Western officials have said in recent days that Ukrainian troops are running out of ammunition.

The case against Biden, now being used by Republicans to impeach him, hinges on Alexander Smirnov’s claims that the President and his son received money from a Ukrainian company.

FBI informant Alexander Smirnov appeared at a closed-door court session in Las Vegas after being charged with perjury and fabrication of records in connection with allegations he made against US President Joe Biden, Associated Press reported on Thursday.

Smirnov is accused of falsely claiming to his FBI handler that an executive of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma told him they had paid Biden and his son Hunter $5 million each to “protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems.” His initial claim was made in 2020 but he repeated them again in September 2023, further embellishing his narrative by falsely claiming to have also met with Russian officials.

The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.

Andrey Kurkov, Ukraine's internationally bestselling writer and now also a war diarist, discusses with Kyiv Post's Chief Editor Bohdan Nahaylo the impact of Russia's war on his country.

“Fierce battles are taking place within the city” of Avdiivka, with Ukrainian troops holding their ground and preparing new defensive positions. Lack of ammo is the cause, says the US.

You can read ead the update here.

Ukraine said Friday there was fierce fighting in the beleaguered frontline city of Avdiivka, which has become a main Russian target ahead of the second anniversary of its full-scale invasion.

With the US Congress preventing the Biden administration from mustering the support Ukraine needs to fight Russia, it’s time for a concerted effort from the “leader of the free world.”

As the saying goes, “if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem” – and Washington, we have a problem.

The White House, Senate, House of Representatives, Republicans and Democrats – instead of airing their Festivus-like grievances towards one another in the media, should be huddled in the Oval Office coming up with a solution. Country must prevail over party. Lives and democracies are at risk.

Zelensky's European tour comes at a critical time for Ukrainian troops, who are facing an incredibly difficult situation on the eastern frontlines because of ammunition shortages.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky travels Friday to Berlin and Paris where he is due to sign security deals with the two European giants and seek further support for Kyiv's battle against Russia.

With the war in Ukraine about to enter its third year, Zelensky will also bring his plea for sustained help on financing and armaments to the Munich Security Conference, where leaders including US Vice President Kamala Harris are due to gather.

As Ukraine enters the third year of full-scale war, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group discussed air defenses, artillery systems, and F-16 fighters, and launched a multi-national Drone Coalition.

According to Ukraine’s Defense Minister, at Wednesday’s “fruitful” meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein Format Group, allies discussed air defenses, artillery systems, and F-16 fighters as well as launched a Drone Coalition.

The 19th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), held online on Feb. 14, saw agreement on the new Drone Coalition, which already includes eight countries: Sweden, Great Britain, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Latvia.

Initially, the Ukrainian military surprised observers with its resilience. However, hopes that the counter-offensive would push back the aggressor were disappointed. Europe's press takes stock.

Ukraine has been defending itself against the full-scale Russian invasion launched on 24 February 2022 for almost two years now. Initially, the Ukrainian military surprised observers with its resilience. However, hopes that the Ukrainian counter-offensive that began in June 2023 would quickly push back the aggressor were disappointed. Europe's press takes stock.

Reinforce air combat and recruit new troops

In January, the EU Commission proposed renewing the duty-free status of Ukrainian products for another year, which was introduced in 2022 to support the country as it fights off Russia's invasion.

The European Union's proposals to better control Ukrainian agricultural imports are insufficient, six farmers' organisations said Thursday, threatening further demonstrations if tighter restrictions aren't imposed.

The European Commission proposed in late January to renew for another year starting in June the duty-free status of Ukrainian products, which was introduced in 2022 to support the country as it fights off Russia's invasion.

Moscow denied the "malicious" and "unfounded" reports, describing them as a White House ploy to try to pass a multi-billion-dollar Ukrainian war aid package stalled in Congress.

US President Joe Biden's national security chief will brief top lawmakers Thursday after they warned of a "serious" threat reportedly involving a Russian bid to build a space-based nuclear capability.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will hold a closed-doors meeting with congressional leaders, as US media said Russia was developing a weapon that could knock out Western satellites.

The next few weeks will be spent on tests and procedure checking to ensure the satellites are operational ahead of two years of in-orbit proving of the systems.

The Pentagon announced on Wednesday the successful joint launch of six satellites by the Space Development Agency (SDA) and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The launch used a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to carry them into low-Earth orbit (LEO), about 1,200 miles above Earth’s surface.

Four of the satellites are the last of 27 launched since April 2023 as part of the SDA’s constellation of “Tranche 0” tracking layer satellites – eight for missile tracking and 19 for data transport and communications.

A local official noted “reinforcements of all kinds” around Mariupol as Russia brought in 5,000 more troops for training and to bolster reserve units for the eastern front.

A local politician reported Russian soldiers and equipment movements in occupied Mariupol with an addition of 5,000 troops for training and to bolster the reserve units.

“In general, we can talk about another reinforcement both for training and for the reserve unit. In the total number (in particular, reinforcements of all kinds) we record an increase in personnel [of] 5,000 people,” said Petro Andryushchenko, advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, in a Telegram announcement.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Russian forces are conducting a tactical turning movement through Avdiika likely to create conditions that would force Ukrainian troops to withdraw from their positions in the settlement. Ukrainian forces have yet to fully withdraw from the settlement and continue to prevent Russian forces from making gains that are more significant than the current incremental Russian advances.
• The Russian offensive effort to capture Avdiivka underscores the Russian military’s inability to conduct a successful operational envelopment or encirclement in Ukraine.
• The potential Russian capture of Avdiivka would not be operationally significant and would likely only offer the Kremlin immediate informational and political victories.
• The Russian command reportedly reorganized the command structures of the Russian grouping of forces in southern Ukraine.
• Russian forces conducted a relatively larger series of missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of February 14 to 15.
• Ukrainian security forces reportedly conducted a successful drone strike against an oil depot in Kursk Oblast.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to elaborate on an amorphous ideology for Russia to support geopolitical confrontation with the West by attempting to portray Russia as the leader of an international anti-Nazi movement.
• Putin intentionally misrepresented a statement from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an attempt to promote pseudo-history aimed at denying Ukrainian statehood.
• Russian sources claimed that the Russian military officially removed Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) Commander Admiral Viktor Sokolov and replaced him with the BSF’s Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk.
• Select members of the US-led coalition the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format) formally launched an air defense coalition and agreed to form a drone coalition and demining coalition to support Ukraine following the group’s 19th meeting in Brussels on February 14.
• NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that NATO and Ukraine will create a joint analysis, training, and education center in Poland following the meetings of NATO Defense Ministers in Brussels on February 15.
• Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Kupyansk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Uralvagonzavod plant in Sverdlovsk Oblast, one of Russia’s largest tank producers, on February 15 to promote Russian efforts to expand Russia’s defense industrial base (DIB).
• Head of Ukraine’s nuclear operating enterprise Energoatom Petro Kotin stated that the situation at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is becoming more dangerous due to Russian activity near and at the plant.