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Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 3, injure 12 over past day
Russian attacks against Ukraine killed three and injured 12 civilians over the past day, regional authorities reported on Feb. 15.
Russian forces launched 70 drones from the Russian cities of Orel, Millerovo, and Primosk-Akhtarsk, as well as from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea, at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.
Ukraine’s air defense shot down 33 drones over Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblasts, the Air Force said.
Another 37 drones disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement. Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are usually decoys. Russia sends them alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense.
In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 35 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, one person was killed, and 10 others were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian forces attacked the town of Preobrazhenka with glide bombs, killing a 50-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man. Their bodies were retrieved from under rubble, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
A 74-year-old woman was also injured in the attack against Huliaipole as Russian forces struck the town with glide bombs.
In Donetsk Oblast, one person was injured in the attack against the village of Novodmytrivka, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.
Editorial: America is folding. Europe, will you step up?The U.S. administration is ready to hand Russia a win in its brutal war against Ukraine. That’s the only conclusion we can make after following the news this week. If anyone held onto hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump would be tough on Russia’s Vladimir Putin,The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
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General Staff: Russia has lost 856,660 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost 856,660 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Feb. 15.
This number includes 1,180 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,068 tanks, 20,927 armored fighting vehicles, 37,379 vehicles and fuel tanks, 23,174 artillery systems, 1,283 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,067 air defense systems, 370 airplanes, 331 helicopters, 25,341 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
‘Nuclear blackmail:’ Russia strikes Chornobyl as world leaders gather for Munich Security ConferenceRussia attacked Ukraine’s decommissioned Chornobyl nuclear power plant on Feb. 14 just as world leaders gathered for the Munich Security Conference — in Moscow’s latest nuclear threat against Kyiv. Videos shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky show a drone breaking through Chornobyl’s “sa…The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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'No point trying to negotiate' with Putin, Yulia Navalnaya says
There is “no point trying to negotiate” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, said at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14.
Navalnaya’s comments come two days before the anniversary of her husband’s death, which coincided with the launch of the 2024 Munich Security Conference.
As U.S. and Ukrainian officials gathered in Europe to discuss steps towards negotiating an end to Russia’s war, Navalnaya warned against attempting to make agreements with Putin.
“Even if you decided to negotiate with Putin, just remember he will lie,” she said.
“He will betray. He will change the rules at the last moment and force you to play his game."
Days before this year’s Munich Security Conference began, U.S. President Donald Trump held separate calls with both Putin and President Volodymyr Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump called Putin first on Feb. 12, saying later that the two leaders agreed that negotiations to end the war in Ukraine will start “immediately."
Trump has repeatedly promised to strike a deal with Moscow that brings about a swift end to the war in Ukraine.
“There are only two possible outcomes for any deal with Putin,” Navalnaya said.
“If he remains in power, he will find a way to break the agreement. If he loses power, the agreement will become meaningless."
Navalnaya, who has emerged as a prominent leader in the Russian opposition movement in the wake of her husband’s death, spoke at a conference panel along exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Tsikhanouskaya added that supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression would help other countries, including Belarus and Moldova.
“By helping Ukraine, you’re helping the whole region,” she said.
Alexei Navalny died on Feb. 16 in a penal colony in northern Russia, after being convicted in several fabricated criminal cases as part of the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent. Navalnaya has accused Putin of murdering her husband and vowed to continue his political work.
The Kremlin has denied any role in Navalny’s death.
While Navalnaya is an outspoken critic of Putin’s government, she has expressed ambivalence on military support for Ukraine, commenting in October 2024 that “it’s difficult to say” whether Kyiv should receive weapons, because “the bombs are hitting Russians too.”
Ukraine war latest: Chornobyl Nuclear Plant sarcophagus hit by Russian drone; Zelensky sets out condition for talks with PutinKey developments on Feb. 14: * Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus hit by Russian drone, Zelensky releases video of explosion * “Peace deal can’t be signed in Munich” — Zelensky sets out condition for talks with Putin * “Crazy” Putin could attack NATO in 2026, Russia building up troops in…The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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Drone strike causes blaze at Russian industrial site in Kaluga Oblast, governor claims
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
A drone strike overnight on Feb. 15 caused a fire at an industrial facility in Russia’s Kaluga Oblast, regional Governor Vladislav Shapsha reported.
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed into an unspecified industrial site, the governor claimed.
“On the territory of an industrial enterprise in the Dzerzhinsky district, as a result of a UAV crash, a fire broke out in one of the buildings,” Shapsha said.
Emergency workers were dispatched to the scene, and preliminary reports indicate there are no casualties, Shapsha said.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify Shapsha’s claims at the time of publication.
While Shapsha did not specify the facility that came under attack, the Dzerzhinsky district is home to Russia’s Pervyy Zavod plant, the largest petrochemical enterprise in Kaluga Oblast. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) reported a successful attack on the facility in May 2024.
Last month, the Ukrainian military struck an oil depot in the town of Lyudinovo in Kaluga Oblast, causing a fire on the premises.
A number of other regions in Russia reported drone strikes on the night of Feb. 15.
A drone attack in the southern Russian city of Volgograd reportedly targeted an oil refinery and hit an apartment building, according to local residents. Russian officials have not commented on a possible attack.
Roman Busargin, the governor of Saratov Oblast, also reported a drone threat in the region.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Feb. 15 that 40 UAVs had been shot down over Kaluga, Volgograd, Saratov, and Rostov oblasts during the night.
The Kyiv Independent could not confirm these reports.
Ukraine routinely launches deep strikes against military and industrial facilities in Russia, primarily relying on domestically developed drones. Kyiv has particlarly taken aim at Russia’s fossil fuel infrastructure as part of its strategy to undermine funding for the Kremlin’s war chest.
Ukraine war latest: Chornobyl Nuclear Plant sarcophagus hit by Russian drone; Zelensky sets out condition for talks with PutinKey developments on Feb. 14: * Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus hit by Russian drone, Zelensky releases video of explosion * “Peace deal can’t be signed in Munich” — Zelensky sets out condition for talks with Putin * “Crazy” Putin could attack NATO in 2026, Russia building up troops in…The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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Drones hit apartment building, target oil refinery in Volgograd, Russian media says
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Multiple drones targeted an oil refinery near the city of Volgograd in southern Russia in the early hours of Feb. 15, Russian Telegram channels reported.
Local residents reported hearing over 15 explosions during a drone attack, according to the Telegram channel Shot. The reports claimed that the drones were headed towards an oil refinery in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city.
Following reports of explosions, the Telegram channel Astra reported that a drone struck a multistory residential building in Volgograd. Local residents said that security forces had cordoned off the site and that according to preliminary information, no one was injured in the strike.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
Russian officials have not commented on the alleged attack and no casualties have been reported.
The Volgograd refinery, owned by Russian oil giant Lukoil, was recently struck by Ukrainian drones in an attack on Jan. 31, according to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. The facility has been targeted multiple times throughout the full-scale war.
Ukraine considers Russian oil facilities as valid military targets, as fossil fuel profits supply Moscow’s war machine. The Ukrainian military has launched repeated attacks against Russian refineries with long-range drones.
‘Nuclear blackmail:’ Russia strikes Chornobyl as world leaders gather for Munich Security ConferenceRussia attacked Ukraine’s decommissioned Chornobyl nuclear power plant on Feb. 14 just as world leaders gathered for the Munich Security Conference — in Moscow’s latest nuclear threat against Kyiv. Videos shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky show a drone breaking through Chornobyl’s “sa…The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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Zelensky, Macron discuss Europe's role in Ukraine's security guarantees
President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed steps towards ending Russia’s war against Ukraine in a phone conversation on Feb. 14.
The call followed Zelensky’s meeting with U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, at the Munich Security Conference.
The two leaders discussed how European partners can coordinate with the U.S. and Ukraine to bring about a just peace, the Presidential Office reported.
“Europe must be represented at the negotiating table,” Zelensky reportedly emphasized to Macron.
According to the Presidential Office, the call focused particularly on “security guarantees and proposals of France.” While the president did not disclose the details of these proposals, Zelensky and Macron have previously discussed France’s idea of deploying Western peacekeepers to monitor a future ceasefire in Ukraine.
While Zelensky has said that Ukraine’s preferred postwar security guarantee is NATO membership, U.S. leadership has severely undercut that aim in the past few days.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during the Ramstein summit on Feb. 12 that Ukraine’s NATO membership was not a “realistic outcome” of peace negotiations. He also said that a return to the country’s pre-2014 borders was “an unrealistic objective.”
Later that day, U.S. President Donald Trump said he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin directly about negotiations to end the war. Trump called Zelensky some time after his talk with Putin.
European officials were reportedly caught off guard by Trump’s direct engagement with Putin, with key allies receiving no prior notice, according to Bloomberg.
Zelensky and Macron reportedly discussed the conversation with Trump in their latest call.
“If President Trump can truly convince President Putin to stop the aggression against Ukraine, that is great news,” Macron said on X after speaking with Zelensky.
“Then, it will be the Ukrainians alone who can drive the discussions for a solid and lasting peace. We will help them in this endeavor."
Zelensky thanked Macron for championing the idea of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
“The security of the whole of Europe in the future depends on unity now,” the Presidential Office said.
Many European leaders have reiterated their ongoing support for Ukraine amid Trump’s push for a swift deal to end the war. Still, some allies in Europe fear that they will have to shoulder the economic and security burdens of Ukraine’s postwar recovery as the U.S. and Russia exclude them from talks on ending the war.
Editorial: America is folding. Europe, will you step up?The U.S. administration is ready to hand Russia a win in its brutal war against Ukraine. That’s the only conclusion we can make after following the news this week. If anyone held onto hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump would be tough on Russia’s Vladimir Putin,The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
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'It doesn't advance American interests' — JD Vance walks back WSJ comments on US troops in Ukraine
U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Feb. 14 reiterated that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine “is between Russia and Ukraine” and accused the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of “twisting (his) words” in a recently published interview.
Vance told the WSJ on Feb. 13 that the U.S. had “military tools of leverage” it could potentially use to pressure Russia in negotiations to end the war. When asked if the possibility of U.S. troops in Ukraine was “officially off the table,” Vance replied that in negotiations with President Donald Trump, “everything is on the table.”
In a post on X the following day, Vance walked those comments back and called the WSJ’s coverage “absurd.”
“President Trump is the ultimate deal maker and will bring peace to the region by ending the war in Ukraine,” Vance wrote.
“As we’ve always said, American troops should never be put into harm’s way where it doesn’t advance American interests and security. This war is between Russia and Ukraine."
Vance appeared to take issue with the WSJ interview’s headline, which read “Vance wields threat of sanctions, military action to push (Russian President Vladimir) Putin into Ukraine deal.”
Even though Vance did not rule out the possibility of military leverage in future negotiations and refused to say deploying U.S. troops was off the table, he accused the outlet of “twisting (his) words.”
Vance lashed out at the publication further, claiming without evidence that the WSJ has “spent years pushing for more American sons and daughters in uniform to be unnecessarily deployed overseas."
The Vice President’s remarks came on the same day that he led a U.S. delegation in talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference. The leaders discussed a potential minerals agreement between Washington and Kyiv, which could involve access to Ukraine’s mineral reserves in exchange for continued U.S. military and financial support.
Before the meeting, Vance delivered an excoriating address to the conference attendees in which he suggested progressive European policies were a greater threat to the EU than Russia. His speech downplayed the threat of authoritarian states and touted the value of far-right political parties.
A few days before the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the U.S. would not send troops to Ukraine. Kyiv’s Western allies have discussed the possibility of deploying peacekeeping forces as a potential security guarantee in the event of a ceasefire.
JD Vance’s Munich speech met with shock, bewilderment, and ‘almost no applause’U.S. Vice President JD Vance stunned those watching on Feb. 14 when his speech at the Munich Security Conference turned into a searing attack on Europe’s ideals and a call to embrace far-right political parties. At an event focused almost entirely on how to end Russia’s full-scale invasion ofThe Kyiv IndependentChris York
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Ukraine's survival hinges on US military support, Zelensky tells NBC News
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that his country faces an uphill battle for survival without continued U.S. military assistance.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he told NBC News that it would be “very, very, very difficult” for Ukraine to sustain its fight against Russia and remain secure in the long term without American support. Zelensky stressed that while Ukraine would always fight for its survival, the chances of success would be significantly diminished without help from the United States.
During the interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Zelensky also dismissed the idea of negotiating a ceasefire on Russian terms, arguing that Moscow’s goal is to gain time to rebuild its military strength.
He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks a temporary truce to ease international sanctions and prepare for renewed aggression. “This is really what he wants,” Zelenskyy said, emphasizing that any pause in fighting could allow Russia to reinforce its forces.
His remarks come amid growing tensions between the U.S. and its European allies over support for Ukraine. At the Munich summit, U.S. Vice President JD Vance took a combative tone, criticizing European leaders on multiple fronts, including issues unrelated to the war. In response, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier accused the Trump administration of undermining long-standing partnerships. The widening rift has raised concerns in Europe about the future of Western unity against Russia.
Meanwhile, Trump’s recent statements on Ukraine have unsettled many European leaders.
‘A push for Ukraine’s capitulation’ – Baltic, Eastern Europe react to Trump’s rush to negotiate peace with PutinEditor’s note: The article was updated on Feb. 14 to include the Latvian Foreign Ministry’s comments. European nations, particularly Ukraine’s neighbors and the Baltic states, were stunned when the U.S. President Donald Trump suddenly announced the start of peace negotiations with Russian President…The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
Trump also downplayed criticism from within his party, telling reporters that he had not heard concerns from Senator Roger Wicker, who recently called U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments on Ukraine a “rookie mistake.” “I’ll speak to Roger. I’ll speak to Pete. I’ll find out,” Trump said.
Despite the shifting U.S. stance, Zelensky remains hopeful that Washington will not abandon Kyiv. He said earlier that he does not believe the U.S. has a concrete plan for peace and insisted that Ukraine must be included in any negotiations between Washington and Moscow.
Speaking at the Munich conference, he suggested that Trump could exert pressure on Putin if he chose to stand firmly with Ukraine. “And if he will choose our side, and if he will not be in the middle, I think he will pressure and he will push Putin to stop the war. He can do it,” Zelensky said.
Editorial: America is folding. Europe, will you step up?The U.S. administration is ready to hand Russia a win in its brutal war against Ukraine. That’s the only conclusion we can make after following the news this week. If anyone held onto hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump would be tough on Russia’s Vladimir Putin,The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
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Russia arrests US citizen at Moscow airport over alleged cannabis-laced sweets
A 28-year-old U.S. citizen was detained at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after Russian authorities allegedly found food items containing cannabis derivatives in his luggage. The man had arrived from Istanbul on Feb. 7 when a customs inspection led to his arrest, according to Russian state-run news agencies TASS and Interfax.
Russia’s Federal Customs Service claimed that a service dog alerted officials to one of the man’s suitcases, prompting a search. Inside, authorities reportedly discovered two plastic jars and a zip bag containing sweets. A chemical analysis later confirmed that the items contained narcotic substances from the cannabinoid group, TASS reported.
The detained traveler reportedly told officials that the gummies and marmalade had been prescribed to him by a doctor in the United States. He claimed he needed the products while traveling, according to TASS. The possession of cannabis, even for medical use, is illegal in Russia.
The U.S. State Department has not yet commented on the case. The detention comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia, including previous high-profile detentions of American citizens.
Earlier this week, Russia and the U.S. carried out a prisoner exchange, with Moscow releasing U.S. teacher Marc Fogel in exchange for Alexander Vinnik, a Russian national accused of Bitcoin fraud. Fogel had been sentenced to 14 years in prison for carrying marijuana he claimed was medically prescribed.
‘Totally screwed’ — How Trump, Hegseth are damaging Ukraine in talks with RussiaAfter promising to quickly resolve the war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump and his top officials’ actions on Feb. 12 appeared to undermine Ukraine’s leverage in peace talks, renewing fears that his plans for a quick resolution could amount to a victory for Russia. Trump announced heThe Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta
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Ukraine secures return of 8 children from Russian-occupied territories
Ukraine successfully brought back eight children who had been forcibly taken to Russian-occupied territory, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, reported on Feb. 14.
“Among the returned children are siblings,” Lubinets wrote. “All the children were separated from their families due to the war and occupation, and some lost their parents. In general, we managed to return children from Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblast.”
Since February 2022, at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories and sent to other Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine or to Russia itself, according to a Ukrainian national database, “Children of War."
Lubinets estimated that Russia has unlawfully deported up to 150,000 Ukrainian children, while the Children’s Ombudswoman, Daria Herasymchuk, puts the figure at 200,000–300,000.
Ukraine considers these abductions a war crime and argues that they meet the U.N.’s legal definition of genocide. Russia often claims it is relocating children to protect them from conflict zones. According to the Ministry of Reintegration, the government has managed to return 388 children so far.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, citing their involvement in the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children. Russia dismissed the ICC’s decision as “outrageous and unacceptable."
A Yale School of Public Health study published on Dec. 3 detailed Russia’s systematic program of deporting and forcibly assimilating Ukrainian children.
Under orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin, children were transported via military aircraft in 2022, reclassified in Russian databases as native-born, and subjected to pro-Russian re-education before being adopted into Russian families. Ukrainian children had been transported to at least 21 regions throughout Russia.
‘Nuclear blackmail:’ Russia strikes Chornobyl as world leaders gather for Munich Security ConferenceRussia attacked Ukraine’s decommissioned Chornobyl nuclear power plant on Feb. 14 just as world leaders gathered for the Munich Security Conference — in Moscow’s latest nuclear threat against Kyiv. Videos shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky show a drone breaking through Chornobyl’s “sa…The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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JD Vance's Munich speech met with shock, bewilderment, and 'almost no applause'
U.S. Vice President JD Vance stunned those watching on Feb. 14 when his speech at the Munich Security Conference turned into a searing attack on Europe’s ideals and a call to embrace far-right political parties.
At an event focused almost entirely on how to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vance said what he fears most isn’t authoritarian states but Europe’s “threat from within."
“The threat I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor. It is the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values.,” he said.
Vance went on to admonish Europe for not paying enough attention to “uncontrolled migration” and for what he described as the “retreat” of free speech.
He argued that Europe should not “just talk about democratic values” but “live them,” adding the continent could not “force people what to think, what to believe."
Vance said these efforts included restrictions on “misinformation,” which he described as a “Soviet-era” word, and laws against abortion protests that he said unfairly silenced Christians.
Speaking a little over a week before the German elections, the vice president called on European nations to drop their opposition to far-right parties such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which Berlin suspects of extremism.
“If you are afraid of your own people, there is nothing America can do for you,” he said, adding: “You cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in jail."
The speech stunned those in attendance — Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko said in a post on X the speech amounted to " the total humiliation of all European leaders."
“There was almost no applause,” he added in another post.
US Vice President Vance just spoke. The only thing that can be said about Vance’s speech was the total humiliation of all European leaders. People in the room are shocked.
— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) February 14, 2025For most of Vance's speech, the European leaders and bureaucrats looked at each other, and there was almost no applause.
— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) February 14, 2025"It's a strange style," EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told the Kyiv Independent at the conference, adding: "Of course, he attracted a lot of attention, but (there were) no substantial messages. Not on Ukraine, not on Gaza."
Kubilius added that he was "not surprised" at the speech, adding it was now a question of how Europe reacted to it.
"And my reaction is quite simple — keep calm and carry on," he said.
"...the U.S. vice president decided to openly downplay a very tangible Russian threat in front of an audience comprising people from countries that suffered decades of brutal Soviet occupation..."
Federico Borsari, a resident fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told the Kyiv Independent that Vance's comments "risk creating a fracture between the U.S. and Europe at a time when unity at all levels is essential to counter Russia."
"Rather than using the prestigious MSC’s stage to promote the image of the new U.S. administration in front of European leaders... the U.S. vice president decided to openly downplay a very tangible Russian threat in front of an audience comprising people from countries that suffered decades of brutal Soviet occupation and directly criticize European countries and their governments... for their alleged attack on democracy and freedom of speech," Borsari noted.
The expert also highlighted that Vance's comments were promptly praised by members of the far-right AfD.
Elsewhere, social media was awash with criticism of the speech — Gideon Rachman, the chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times (FT), described it as "shocking hypocrisy."
Shocking hypocrisy from Vance - lecturing Europe on democracy when he serves as vice president to a man who attempted a coup in the US
— Gideon Rachman (@gideonrachman) February 14, 2025Carl Bildt, co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the speech was "significantly worse than expected."
The #MSC2025 speech by 🇺🇸 VP Vance was significantly worse than expected. At best it was totally irrelevant to European or global security concerns. At worst it was blatant interference in the 🇩🇪 election campaign in favor of far-right AfD. pic.twitter.com/4IKknWhoR8
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) February 14, 2025Speaking at the conference after Vance's speech, Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius tackled the vice president's comments about the AfD head-on.
"Democracy does not mean that a vociferous minority can decide what truth is… democracy must be able to defend itself against extremists," he said.
German Defense Minister Pistorius reacts to Vance's speech: "This is not acceptable." pic.twitter.com/LdVuLC6PbU
— AlexandruC4 (@AlexandruC4) February 14, 2025Vance later met with President Volodymyr Zelensky. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, also attended the meeting.
"Our teams will continue to work on the document (on critical minerals). We have addressed many of the key issues and look forward to welcoming General Kellogg to Ukraine for further discussions and a deeper assessment of the situation on the ground," Zelensky wrote.
"We are ready to move towards real and guaranteed peace as quickly as possible. We sincerely appreciate President Trump's determination to help stop the war and provide Ukraine with justice and security guarantees," Zelensky added.
I wonder if JD Vance is planning to lecture his boss’s buddy Vladimir Putin on democracy and free speech. 🤔
— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) February 14, 2025Vance's speech came at the end of a tumultuous week for U.S.-Europe relations and the future of the war in Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump and his top officials on Feb. 12 appeared to undermine Ukraine’s leverage in peace talks, renewing fears that his plans for a quick resolution could amount to a victory for Russia.
Editorial: America is folding. Europe, will you step up?The U.S. administration is ready to hand Russia a win in its brutal war against Ukraine. That’s the only conclusion we can make after following the news this week. If anyone held onto hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump would be tough on Russia’s Vladimir Putin,The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
Trump announced he had held phone calls with both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Zelensky, saying peace negotiations would start "immediately" and a ceasefire is in the "not too distant future."
Earlier in the day, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said "returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective," and that NATO membership for Ukraine is not an option.
JD Vance says Putin isn't Europe's biggest threat less than 24 hours after Putin hits Chernobyl with a drone. You can't make this stuff up.
— Devin Duke (@sirDukeDevin) February 14, 2025European leaders — suddenly left out of discussions after nearly three years of close involvement with the U.S. on Ukraine-related issues under President Joe Biden’s administration — scrambled to react to Trump’s comments.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, said on the same day: "Why are we giving (Russia) everything they want, even before negotiations have started? … If there is an agreement made behind our backs, it simply will not work."
A ‘very bloody war:’ What is the death toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine?After holding a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 12, U.S. President Donald Trump once again claimed the “horrible, very bloody war” in Ukraine had cost “millions” of lives. It’s not the first time Trump has claimed that such numbers of people have been killedThe Kyiv IndependentElsa Court
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Putin’s Last Hope? 70% of Russia’s Artillery Shells Now Come from North Korea
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Senior Republican senator calls Hegseth’s Ukraine remarks 'rookie mistake,' Politico reports
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced criticism from Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker after suggesting that Ukraine’s return to its pre-war borders was “unrealistic."
While Hegseth has since walked back some of his comments, Wicker, a staunch supporter of Kyiv, argued in an interview with Politico that the damage was done, saying: “He made a rookie mistake in Brussels and he’s walked back some of what he said but not that line."
The controversy stems from Hegseth’s initial remarks, in which he also said that NATO membership for Ukraine was off the table and that reclaiming its internationally recognized borders was not feasible. His comments were met with backlash, particularly from Wicker, who speculated on their origins, saying, “I don’t know who wrote the speech — it is the kind of thing Tucker Carlson could have written, and Carlson is a fool.”
Wicker said he was surprised by Hegseth’s initial remarks but heartened by his partial reversal. “Everybody knows … and people in the administration know you don’t say before your first meeting what you will agree to and what you won’t agree to,” Wicker added, noting that he found Hegseth’s statements puzzling and disturbing. Many U.S., EU officials shared a similar sentiment.
‘Surrender & betrayal’ — US, EU officials condemn Trump, Hegseth’s comments on Ukraine peace negotiationsSenator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. said on Feb. 12 that “to prevent Putin from dining in Kyiv, we need to mobilize the bipartisan Congressional coalition standing with Ukraine.”The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
The criticism of Hegseth is also tied to broader diplomatic moves by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump held a call this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war, while Vice President JD Vance was set to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Munich.
Trump later reinforced Hegseth’s message, stating that Ukraine’s NATO membership was not “practical” and that a return to pre-2014 borders was “unlikely.” The direct talks between Trump and Putin have raised concerns among European allies that Ukraine could be sidelined in any potential peace agreement.
In contrast, Wicker maintained a hardline stance, calling Putin a “war criminal who needs to be in prison for the rest of his life.” He also pushed back against Trump’s suggestion that NATO enlargement provoked Russia’s invasion, stating unequivocally that Russia alone was responsible. “There are good guys and bad guys in this war, and the Russians are the bad guys,” Wicker said. “They invaded, contrary to almost every international law, and they should be defeated. And Ukraine is entitled to the promises that the world made to it."
Trump, however, denied being aware of Wicker’s criticism from within his own party. When asked about it on Feb. 14, he said: “Roger is a very good friend of mine, and Pete is obviously, he’s been doing a great job. I haven’t heard.” He added, “I’ll speak to Roger. I’ll speak to Pete. I’ll find out,” after asking the reporter to clarify Wicker’s remarks.
Despite the internal Republican divide, Wicker continued to push for sustained U.S. military aid to Ukraine, calling for continued weapons shipments “until there is a ceasefire."
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Russia’s Budget Deficit Skyrockets – War Costs Are Bleeding the Economy Dry
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Ukraine war latest: Chornobyl Nuclear Plant sarcophagus hit by Russian drone; Zelensky sets out condition for talks with Putin
Key developments on Feb. 14:
- Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus hit by Russian drone, Zelensky releases video of explosion
- “Peace deal can’t be signed in Munich” — Zelensky sets out condition for talks with Putin
- “Crazy” Putin could attack NATO in 2026, Russia building up troops in Belarus, Zelensky says
- 4,000 North Korean casualties in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, 2/3 killed, Zelensky says
- German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems plans to double production in Ukraine
A Russian attack drone struck the protective shelter of the destroyed 4th reactor at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on Feb. 14.
The strike damaged the sarcophagus, but the fire was extinguished and radiation levels remained stable, according to the president. Monitoring efforts continue to assess any potential risks.
“This is a terrorist threat to the entire world,” Zelensky said, adding that the damage to the shelter is significant.
“The only country in the world that attacks such sites, occupies nuclear power plants, and wages war without any regard for the consequences is today’s Russia."
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed the explosion. The organization reported that a drone struck the shelter’s roof.
Chornobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, remains a highly sensitive location. The explosion of the plant’s reactor on Apr. 26, 1986, contaminated a vast area spanning Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.
The sarcophagus was installed over the 4th reactor in the aftermath of the disaster to contain the uranium, plutonium, and radioactive dust at the site. The protective structure would only last 30 years, with the construction of a new sarcophagus completed in 2017.
0:00/Alleged moment of a Russian drone strike on the protective shelter of the destroyed 4th power unit at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Feb. 14, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram). “Ukraine is urging the international community to urgently intensify efforts in response to Russia’s unprecedented act of nuclear terrorism. The attack on the shelter of the 4th power unit at Chornobyl poses a threat to the entire continent,” said Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
Zelensky said the attack underscores Russia’s continued disregard for global security.
“Russia continues to expand its army and shows no change in its deranged, anti-human state rhetoric. This means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world,” he said.
Russia attacked the station’s protective shelter on the day of the Munich Security Conference. Zelensky is leading Ukraine’s delegation at the conference, where U.S. President Donald Trump’s team is expected to outline its diplomatic strategy for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky’s office, said Ukraine would provide the U.S. with detailed information on Russia’s attack on Chornobyl’s protective shelter.
‘Nuclear blackmail:’ Russia strikes Chornobyl as world leaders gather for Munich Security ConferenceRussia attacked Ukraine’s decommissioned Chornobyl nuclear power plant on Feb. 14 just as world leaders gathered for the Munich Security Conference — in Moscow’s latest nuclear threat against Kyiv. Videos shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky show a drone breaking through Chornobyl’s “sa…The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
“Peace deal can’t be signed in Munich” — Zelensky sets out condition for talks with Putin
Ukraine is not talking about any peace deal now, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14.
“Today, we are not talking about any peace agreement. Frankly to say, it is unfortunate,” Zelensky said.
“The war has been going on for three years, there have been many deaths, much has been destroyed, especially lives. All this was brought by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and him alone."The president said that Ukraine needs the firm support of the U.S. and a “strong” President Donald Trump, who will be on Kyiv’s side.
According to Zelensky, a peace deal “can only be about a plan to end the war” which should be agreed between Ukraine and the U.S. president, and backed by both sides. He also reiterated the importance of Europe’s role in the potential deal.
“A peace deal cannot be signed in Munich because it is Munich. We remember what things were signed here. I do not repeat such things,” Zelensky added, recalling the infamous Munich meeting when Germany, the U.K., France, and Italy came to an agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia.
Zelensky said he was ready to meet with the Russian president only after there is a joint plan with Trump and the EU.
“I am ready to meet only in this case. And we will sit down with Putin and stop the war,” Zelensky said.
Editorial: America is folding. Europe, will you step up?The U.S. administration is ready to hand Russia a win in its brutal war against Ukraine. That’s the only conclusion we can make after following the news this week. If anyone held onto hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump would be tough on Russia’s Vladimir Putin,The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
“Crazy” Putin could attack NATO in 2026, Russia building up troops in Belarus, Zelensky says
Russia is possibly preparing for a major military escalation, potentially targeting NATO countries next year, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 14.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky said that Russia plans to deploy 15 divisions, totaling 100,000 to 150,000 troops, primarily in Belarus, a Kyiv Independent journalist reported from the event.
While the buildup could focus on Ukraine, he cautioned that Russian forces might shift toward Poland or the Baltics, raising concerns about a broader conflict with NATO.
“Based on all the information I’ve gathered from intelligence and other sources, I think he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) is preparing for war against NATO countries next year,” Zelensky said, but added he “can’t be 100 percent certain."
“Just like in 2022, they could move forward towards Ukraine, or they could go to Poland or the Baltics. And I believe this is his idea,” he said.
“God bless, we will stop this crazy guy,” Zelensky added.
The president also warned that without NATO membership, Ukraine must build a self-sufficient military capable of defending its sovereignty. “This means the appropriate NATO weaponry and a sufficient number of our Ukrainian soldiers,” he said.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine would require an army numbering 1.5 million soldiers. Last month, he said the current total of those serving in Ukraine’s armed forces was 880,000.
‘A push for Ukraine’s capitulation’ – Baltic, Eastern Europe react to Trump’s rush to negotiate peace with PutinEditor’s note: The article was updated on Feb. 14 to include the Latvian Foreign Ministry’s comments. European nations, particularly Ukraine’s neighbors and the Baltic states, were stunned when the U.S. President Donald Trump suddenly announced the start of peace negotiations with Russian President…The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
4,000 North Korean casualties in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, 2/3 killed, Zelensky says
North Korean troops fighting for Russia against Ukraine have suffered 4,000 casualties, two-thirds of whom have been killed, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 14.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky said the morale of Pyongyang’s troops had been “broken” by the losses, a Kyiv Independent journalist reported from the event.
“We understand that their losses are more than four thousand. I think two-thirds have died,” he added.
Up to 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Kursk Oblast last fall to support Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian incursion launched in early August 2024.
Zelensky also said 2,000-3,000 more troops are being transferred from North Korea to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, saying it was important that U.S. President Donald Trump takes note of such developments as he tries to bring Moscow to the negotiating table.
Putin assembling veteran negotiators for talks on ending Ukraine war, Bloomberg reportsPutin’s team will reportedly include Sergey Naryshkin, director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems plans to double production in Ukraine
Quantum Systems, a German drone manufacturer operating two plants in Ukraine, plans to double its drone production in the country, Ukraine’s Strategic Industries Ministry announced on Feb. 14.
The company produces advanced Vector reconnaissance drones. It opened its first facility in Ukraine in April 2024.
Unmanned systems have become a key capability for both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war. to meet its battlefield needs, Kyiv has ramped up domestic production and imports of drones since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The ministry met with Quantum Systems representatives at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14 to discuss ways to speed up drone production.
“We all want the same result — more quality weapons for the Ukrainian military,” said Herman Smetanin, Ukraine’s strategic industries minister.
The ministry wrote that Quantum Systems operates an R&D center and a drone maintenance and development facility in Ukraine, calling it “a good example of localized manufacturing."
Note from the author:
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10 Ukrainian drone makers to watchIn the three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine has almost certainly become the largest producer of drones in the Western-aligned world. Early workshop tinkering on mainly commercial Chinese drones evolved into steadily more professional and massive production of domestic…The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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'We're ready to move to real and guaranteed peace as quickly as possible' — Zelensky on meeting with Vance
A Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelensky met with representatives of the U.S. government, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14.
The meeting was initially postponed, allowing the U.S. time to review a draft memorandum of partnership submitted by Kyiv, a source in the Zelensky’s Office told the Kyiv Independent.
Following the meeting, Zelensky thanked Vance and his team. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, also attended the meeting.
“Our teams will continue to work on the document (on critical minerals). We have addressed many of the key issues and look forward to welcoming General Kellogg to Ukraine for further discussions and a deeper assessment of the situation on the ground,” Zelensky wrote.
“We are ready to move towards real and guaranteed peace as quickly as possible. We sincerely appreciate President Trump’s determination to help stop the war and provide Ukraine with justice and security guarantees,” Zelensky added.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a draft of the agreement to Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv on Feb. 12. Ukraine finalized and handed over the memorandum to the U.S. side, which requested additional time to review the document until 5 p.m.
The draft memorandum is part of broader discussions on a potential minerals agreement, which Trump has suggested could involve access to Ukraine’s mineral reserves in exchange for continued military and financial support.
Zelensky has expressed openness to such an arrangement, saying that Ukraine is willing to grant U.S. companies access to minerals in exchange for sustained support from Washington.
Dmytro Kuleba: Trump’s rare earth deal risks Ukraine repeating history’s mistakesOn Feb. 10, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that he aimed to secure “$500 billion worth of rare earth” minerals as part of negotiations over continued U.S. support for Ukraine amid its war with Russia. When history repeats itself, it’s time to reflect. At the beginningThe Kyiv IndependentDmytro Kuleba
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Over 150 Ukrainian war prisoners may be held in Chechnya, Kyiv says
More than 150 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) may be held in Chechnya, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Feb. 14.
Ukraine has documented over 100 cases of Russia summarily executing Ukrainian POWs since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets clarified that the actual number is likely much higher since it is difficult to document Russian war crimes without supporting evidence, such as videos of the executions.
Some 36 Ukrainian POWs are being sought and may be in the city of Grozny, Chechnya, according to the headquarters.
The Red Cross International Committee has not confirmed that there are any Ukrainians in captivity in Chechnya. The headquarters are also not aware of any visits by the humanitarian organization to Ukrainian POWs in Chechnya, as reported by RFE/RL.
Ukrainian soldiers are captured in different sectors of the frontline, and then they are transferred to Chechnya, the headquarters said.
“As in other places of detention on the territory of the aggressor state and the Ukrainian occupied territories, the norms of humanitarian law and the requirements of the Third Geneva Convention related to the treatment of POWs are not observed,” the organization said.
"(Chechen dictator Ramzan) Kadyrov’s regime uses prisoners as human shields for military facilities, as well as a lever to lift sanctions against members of the Kadyrov family."
Ukraine has not received any requests from Chechnya for the exchange of POWs, the headquarters added.
In 2024, 1,358 Ukrainians were released, and since the beginning of the all-out war, 3,956 Ukrainians have returned from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his New Year’s address.
How Kadyrov became so powerful, and why Chechnya remains vital for survival of Putin’s regimeIn December 1994, Russian troops launched a brutal and eventually unsuccessful military campaign against Chechen rebels, effectively beginning the First Chechen War. Thirty years later and two wars since, Chechnya, under strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, has become a key pillar of Russian President Vladimi…The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
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Over 6,000 cases of Russian use of chemicals recorded over 2 years, Ukraine says
Ukraine has recorded 6,129 cases of the use of munitions containing hazardous chemicals by Russian troops since February 2023, the Foreign Ministry reported on Feb. 14.
Russia has been intensifying its use of chemical agents on the battlefield in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the all-out war, Ukraine’s radiation, chemical, and biological intelligence units have been monitoring and recording the use of hazardous chemicals in attacks.
For a recent report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), experts analyzed the materials provided by Ukraine, including four Russian RG-Vo type gas grenades, as well as soil and grass samples.
Two OPCW laboratories confirmed that they contained riot control agent known as CS. Among other hazardous chemicals, chloroacetophenone (CN), as well as chloropicrin and mercaptans (malodorants) were found, according to the statement.
By using them, Russia violates Article 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Foreign Ministry said.
“The international community must demonstrate its unity in countering the aggressor, and a practical element of this should be the establishment of an international coalition to hold the Russian Federation accountable for the violation of its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention,” the statement read.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, more than 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been hospitalized with chemical poisoning, and three have died, Ukrainian Colonel Artem Vlasiuk said in December 2024.
Ukraine struck back at Russia’s use of illegal chemical weapons on Dec. 17, when the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) assassinated Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian Armed Forces' radiation, chemical, and biological defense troops.
The previous day, Ukrainain prosecutors charged Kirillov in absentia for the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Editorial: America is folding. Europe, will you step up?The U.S. administration is ready to hand Russia a win in its brutal war against Ukraine. That’s the only conclusion we can make after following the news this week. If anyone held onto hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump would be tough on Russia’s Vladimir Putin,The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
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German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems plans to double production in Ukraine
Quantum Systems, a German drone manufacturer operating two plants in Ukraine, plans to double its drone production in the country, Ukraine’s Strategic Industries Ministry announced on Feb. 14.
The company produces advanced Vector reconnaissance drones. It opened its first facility in Ukraine in April 2024.
Unmanned systems have become a key capability for both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war. to meet its battlefield needs, Kyiv has ramped up domestic production and imports of drones since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The ministry met with Quantum Systems representatives at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14 to discuss ways to speed up drone production.
“We all want the same result — more quality weapons for the Ukrainian military,” said Herman Smetanin, Ukraine’s strategic industries minister.
The ministry wrote that Quantum Systems operates an R&D center and a drone maintenance and development facility in Ukraine, calling it “a good example of localized manufacturing."
Quantum Systems first began providing Ukraine with drones after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The firm also established a service, support, training, and logistics center in Ukraine in the following year.
The company promised to supply Kyiv with 500 reconnaissance drones by the end of 2024.
In September 2024, Ukraine created the Unmanned Systems' Forces — a separate branch of the military focused on drones, forming special drone-specific units, and improving the production, training, and innovation of unmanned vehicles.
10 Ukrainian drone makers to watchIn the three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine has almost certainly become the largest producer of drones in the Western-aligned world. Early workshop tinkering on mainly commercial Chinese drones evolved into steadily more professional and massive production of domestic…The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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‘Nuclear blackmail:’ Russia strikes Chornobyl as world leaders gather for Munich Security Conference
Russia attacked Ukraine’s decommissioned Chornobyl nuclear power plant on Feb. 14 just as world leaders gathered for the Munich Security Conference — in Moscow’s latest nuclear threat against Kyiv.
Videos shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky show a drone breaking through Chornobyl’s “sarcophagus,” an international project to cover reactor number four that exploded in 1986 in the most devastating nuclear disaster in history.
Zelensky called the drone attack “a terrorist threat to the whole world.” Without going into details about the attack, a representative for the Chornobyl station called the strike an “act of terror by Russia.”
The strike is likely more signaling on Russia’s part. The Munich Security Conference, historically a show of force by NATO, started on Feb. 14. Andriy Yermak, the head of the president’s office, wrote, “The atmosphere (at Munich) right now is such that everyone in Munich is very angry because of this news.”
Images of the attack released by Ukraine’s security service show that Russia used a long-range Shahed attack drone in the strike, but that damage was limited. The president said that following the attack, higher radiation levels were not detected.
“It’s a tiny warhead in the drone,” says Fabian Hoffman, a missile expert at the Oslo Nuclear Project, of the explosion visible in photos.
“(Russia) very much knew that this would absolutely not penetrate the meter-thick concrete walls surrounding the reactor, so they knew there would be no radiation leakage,” he said.
The sarcophagus surrounding the derelict reactor is not the only defense. “The blocks also have this concrete shell that gets in the way of some kind of large-scale projection of radioactive waste,” said Olena Lapenko, an energy security specialist at the Dixi Group, a Kyiv-based energy think tank.
“We understand, and they understand, that a single drone is not going to get through to the center of the nuclear block.”
0:00/Alleged moment of a Russian drone strike on the protective shelter of the destroyed 4th power unit at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Feb. 14, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram). As negotiations to end the war pick up steam, Russia may be flexing its muscles.
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky on the phone this week, saying peace talks would start “immediately” and that a ceasefire was in the “not too distant future."
Trump’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also came out this week saying that both a return to Ukraine’s 2014 borders and NATO accession were unrealistic. The statement caused alarm that the U.S. was making concessions to Russia before negotiations had even begun.
Zelensky connected the attack to negotiations, saying, “Russia carries out such attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure and our cities every night. Russia continues to increase its army. Russia does not change its crazy anti-human state rhetoric. This means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations.”
“There’s this wave of information regarding negotiations. I would not rule out that this (attack) is to put pressure on Ukraine,” says Lapenko, who called the attack “a new wave of nuclear blackmail.”
The engine reportedly from a Russian drone that struck the protective shelter of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant on Feb. 14, 2025. (Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation / Telegram) Moscow has deployed various forms of nuclear saber-rattling since the start of the full-scale invasion. It has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons to deter Ukraine’s allies from assisting it further. In the early days of the invasion, Russian troops occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe’s largest nuclear facility — effectively using it as a military base.
After nearly three years of campaigns against Ukraine’s energy system, Russia also began targeting the infrastructure near the country’s nuclear power plants last year, putting their connection with the energy grid at risk.
While Ukraine has gotten better at protecting its energy facilities since the attacks began, the strikes against nuclear-connected infrastructure represent a “change in tactics,” says Lapenko.
As Russia struggles with ramping up its missile attacks against Ukraine, it may be looking for any avenue it can to ratchet up the pressure on Kyiv, said Hoffman.
“From a Russian perspective, you really want to bring home this message that Russia still has tools to increase the suffering of the Ukrainian people if they don’t settle this conflict soon.”
‘Peace deal can’t be signed in Munich’ — Zelensky sets out condition for talks with Putin“Today, we are not talking about any peace agreement… A peace deal cannot be signed in Munich because it is Munich. We remember what things were signed here. I do not repeat such things,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova