Newsletter 06/02/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Zelensky confirms he is ready for talks with Putin
“We will work with partners to have a common understanding and vision [of the end of the war]. Even if Russia does not like something, we need a common vision among our partners, and then we are ready for diplomacy. Certainly, the United States, President Trump and the European Union believe that diplomacy is impossible without Russia, without Putin, and so I said: I am ready. If we have an understanding of how this war will end, we are ready for diplomacy. I have no problem with that,” Zelensky emphasized.
First Mirage 2000 fighter jets arrive in Ukraine
"The first jets arrived in Ukraine today. With Ukrainian pilots on board, who have undergone several months of training in France, they will now help defend Ukraine's skies," French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated.
Lecornu also added that the delivery of these aircraft was part of a promise made by President Emmanuel Macron.
The Mirage 2000-5F jets have been specially modified to enhance Ukraine's ability to conduct ground-attack missions. Originally part of the French Air and Space Force, the aircraft were upgraded under the supervision of France's Directorate General of Armaments (DGA).
Ukraine gets another batch of F-16s from the Netherlands
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has received long-awaited reinforcements—the first French Mirage 2000 fighter jets and F-16s from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Ukraine attacks Russia’s Primorsko-Akhtarsky airfield
Units of the Unmanned Systems Forces, jointly with other components of our Defense Forces, hit the Primorsko-Akhtarsky airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar Territory overnight Thursday, February 6. This is an operational base of aviation assets.
The airfield is used for storing, preparing, and launching Shahed attack drones at Ukraine, as well as servicing aircraft performing combat sorties in the areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
Evidence linking five Russians to abduction of Ukrainian children submitted to ICC
The OSINT for Ukraine Foundation has submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC) implicating five Russian officials in the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
"We have filed an official submission to the ICC under Article 15 of the Rome Statute. Our goal is to expand existing investigations, particularly those concerning Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, and to hold mid-level officials accountable as well. Forced transfer of children is a crime that, under the Rome Statute, qualifies as either a war crime or genocide. We have provided evidence demonstrating a systematic attempt to forcibly relocate Ukrainian children to Russia, erase their Ukrainian identity, and integrate them into Russian society. We argue this constitutes genocide under Article 6(e) of the Rome Statute," stated Natalia Yashtal, Co-director of the International Crimes Investigation Group (ICIG).
During the investigation, researchers uncovered networks of individuals and organizations facilitating the illegal transfer of children. The current submission focuses on five key figures: Aleksei Petrov, Advisor to Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Aleksey Gazaryan, Head of the Office of the Children’s Rights Commissioner, Anna Kuznetsova, former Commissioner for Children's Rights, who pushed legislative changes making it easier for Russian families to adopt Ukrainian children, Andrey Vorobyov, governor of Moscow region, Andrey Chibis, Governor of Murmansk region.
Denmark tightens control over Russia’s shadow fleet tankers
The Danish authorities have changed their policy of non-interference in maritime navigation in the Baltic Sea, intending to inspect those that, in their opinion, may pose a threat.
The Danish Maritime Authority said it would begin inspecting ships that "cannot be considered safe for navigation" and are standing in the roadstead off the coast of Skagen (a city on the northern tip of the Jutland Peninsula at the exit from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea).
Tankers will be the first to be checked for compliance with these standards, as they pose the greatest threat.
War
CinC Syrskyi: Attack drones disabled over 66% of Russian equipment in January
“Thus, in January, 66% of Russian equipment was disabled as a result of the operation of strike UAVs of various types. In total, our drones hit or destroyed 7% more targets in the reporting month than in December. FPV drones accounted for the largest share of hits (49%). The leaders in this area are the air defense units of the 46th Airmobile, 3rd Assault, and 80th Air Assault Brigades. I have decided to award the commanders of the Air Assault Forces units that demonstrate the best performance in destroying the enemy,” emphasized CinC Syrskyi.
General Staff reveals AFU achievements in six months of Kursk operation
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Facebook that the operation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation began on August 6, 2024, and has been going on for six months. For the first time in 11 years of war, combat operations were moved to the territory of Russia. Ukrainian troops continue to hold hundreds of square kilometers of the “buffer zone” in the Russian Federation.
North Korean missiles fired by Russia at Ukraine now more precise - Reuters
At a time when Moscow's burgeoning ties with Pyongyang are causing alarm from Washington to Seoul, the increase in accuracy - to within 50-100m of the intended target - suggests North Korea is successfully using the battlefield to test its missile technology, the sources said.
A military source, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive information, described a marked improvement in the precision in all the more than 20 North Korean ballistic missiles that hit Ukraine over the past several weeks. A second source, a senior government official familiar with the issue, confirmed the findings when asked by Reuters.
Yang Uk, a weapons expert at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said such improvements in North Korean missile capabilities have troubling implications for its potential to threaten South Korea, Japan and the United States or sell upgraded weapons to "failed" states or armed groups.
Russian subversive groups attempt to cross Ukrainian border twice in 2025 – SBGS spox
Russian forces create three passages in canal near Chasiv Yar – Ukraine's military
Ukraine ready to talk with South Korea on captured NK soldiers
Defense
Ukrainian drones Zeus and Hades approved for use in Ukrainian Armed Forces
According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, citing the Main Directorate for the Support of the Life Cycle of Weapons and Military Equipment, these maneuverable FPV drones come in different frame sizes. Thanks to engine adjustments and an advanced control system, they can chase down and strike enemy equipment moving at high speeds.
These drones are capable of targeting field fortifications, armored vehicles, and enemy personnel. Additionally, the aircraft are highly resistant to enemy electronic warfare (EW) systems.
Politics
Zelensky announces intensified contacts with Trump Administration
"We have significantly intensified our contacts with the U.S. Administration. We also have quite substantial communications with our other partners. Ukraine needs a real, lasting and guaranteed peace, and the means to ensure that Russia always knows what awaits those who wish to harm Ukraine. We are open to strong diplomacy, and we are preparing just such diplomacy. And this requires the resilience of our warriors, the effectiveness of our army, the modernization of our army," the President of Ukraine said.
France could send peacekeepers to Ukraine but their mandate must be clarified - expert
Kellogg says 'slim and none' chance of Ukraine getting nuclear weapons back
EU responds if Ukraine to be forced to resume Russian gas transit
Economy
Energoatom receives confirmation from Westinghouse on fuel for Khmelnytskyi NPP’s potential reactors
Energoatom National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine has received a letter from the U.S. company Westinghouse confirming its ability to timely modify the fuel needed for potential reactors at power unit 3 and power unit 4 of Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
The safety analysis report provided by the experts claims that the core of the VVER-1000 V-466V reactor consists of 163 fuel assemblies of the TV3-A type. That very type, TV3-A, has been used for a long time in the cores of the VVER-1000 reactors that are successfully operated in Ukraine.
Society
Poland opens 280 criminal cases against Ukrainians for "aiding illegal migration" in 2024
Zelensky asks EBRD to support veterans after USAID program suspension
Crime
Blasts at draft offices: nine incidents recorded since year-start
Since the beginning of the year, nine sabotage incidents and terrorist attacks similar to the explosion in the Kamianets-Podilskyi military recruitment center have been recorded in Ukraine.
The head of the National Police noted that since last year, law enforcers have been aware that Russian intelligence are on a hunt for security and defense operatives. The enemy has been coming up with various methods and ways to commit attacks against police operatives. "In one of the regions, a police squad was called up to an apartment where an explosive device was disguised as a children's toy," said Vyhivskyi.
Detained Dutch microchip company worker had ties to Russian intelligence - media
A former employee of ASML (one of the world's leading producers of chip manufacturing equipment - ed.) and NXP (a Dutch manufacturer of semiconductor electronic components - ed.), who has been detained for several months on suspicion of stealing corporate secrets, was in contact with Russian intelligence. This is stated in an official report by the Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) to the prosecutor's office.