Newsletter 12/02/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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Missile attack on Kyiv: One killed, four injured in Obolonskyi district
A Russian missile attack in the early hours of February 12 killed one person and injured four others, including a child, in the Obolonskyi district of Kyiv.
According to the Kyiv police, debris fell in the Holosiivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Obolonskyi districts of the capital.
Trump, Putin have phone call: agreed to start negotiations to end war
"I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the dollar, and various other subjects. We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!" Trump wrote about this in the social network Truth Social
Trump stated that it was also agreed that teams from both countries would immediately begin negotiations.
"And we will begin by calling President Zelensky, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now," Trump added.
Zelensky, Trump discuss opportunities to achieve peace
A phone conversation occurred between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump.
"I had a meaningful conversation with President Donald J. Trump. We long talked about opportunities to achieve peace, discussed our readiness to work together at the team level, and Ukraine’s technological capabilities — including drones and other advanced industries. I am grateful to President Trump for his interest in what we can accomplish together," Zelensky shared.
Zelensky: Without Ukraine, Europe will be totally occupied
“Today, the Ukrainian army consists of 110 combat brigades. This is a lot. Russia has 220 [brigades], and they will be approaching 250 in 2025. That is, their army is twice as large. The European combat component, taking into account the American component that is present there, is about 82 combat brigades,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in an interview with The Guardian
He emphasized that today the Ukrainian army, which has 110 brigades, is holding back the army, which has 220 brigades, but it is one to two.
Zelensky: No talks with Russia, they must be stopped or they’ll push forward
“Putin has never asked for anything - he simply invaded our territory. So why should people on whose continent there is a war today ask him? Maybe we should just stop these infantile conversations? Our security guarantees are ours. Europe needs to defend itself because it is Europe. And the 'Russians' are the 'Russians'. They need to be put in their place,” Zelensky said.
New Ukraine lend-lease bill introduced in U.S. Congress
Republican Congressman Joe Wilson has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to grant the president expanded authority to provide Ukraine with military assistance through a lend-lease program.
Zelensky on Russian night attack: ‘Putin is not preparing for peace’
According to the President, last night Russia attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles and drones. Apartment buildings, office premises and civilian infrastructure were damaged. All services are working on the ground to help people and eliminate the consequences of this terror.
As the Head of State emphasized, “this Russian terror against Ukraine will not stop by itself. Putin is not preparing for peace - he continues to kill Ukrainians and destroy cities.”
UK announces £150M military aid package for Ukraine
The United Kingdom has announced the allocation of a new defense aid package to Ukraine, which will include tanks, artillery, missiles and other types of weapons, as well as contracts for the maintenance of previously supplied equipment.
European NATO countries must provide overwhelming aid to Ukraine – U.S. SecDef
"Safeguarding European security must be an imperative for European members of NATO. As part of this, Europe must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said this at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in BrusselsAccording to him, this includes supplying more ammunition and equipment, leveraging comparative advantages, and expanding defense production.
The Pentagon chief also stressed the importance of informing European citizens about the threats facing the continent. "Part of this is speaking frankly with your people about how this threat can only be met by spending more on defense," he stressed.
War
AFU down six Russian Iskander-M missiles, 71 UAVs
As of 08:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 12, six Iskander-M ballistic missiles (S-400) and 71 Shahed-type attack drones (other types of drones) were confirmed downed in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Dnipro, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions.
Ukraine's defense minister: One-year contracts approved for volunteers aged 18-24
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a new one-year contract system for military volunteers aged 18 to 24, with a potential annual income of up to UAH 2 million.
Ukrainian forces destroy Russian Smerch-2 bomb launcher in Lyman sector
Soldiers from Ukraine's 63rd Mechanized Brigade have destroyed a rare piece of enemy military equipment -- a Smerch-2 naval bomb launcher -- in the Lyman sector.
Ukrainian defenders shoot down three enemy Zala reconnaissance UAVs in Novopavlivka sector
Operators from the unmanned systems battalion detected enemy drones in the sky, which at various times attempted to conduct aerial reconnaissance of Ukrainian positions.
The Russian UAVs were successfully neutralized by the coordinated actions of the drone operators.
Russians relocating equipment in Crimea to hide it from Ukrainian forces – reports
Ukrainian forces repel Russian armored assault in Lyman sector
War update: 74 clashes on frontline since day-start, battles ongoing in eight sectors
Eight wounded in Kharkiv region due to Russian airstrikes and shelling
Russians attack critical infrastructure facility in Chernihiv region - two wounded
Russians strikes Sloviansk in Donetsk region: enterprise, houses damaged
Defense
M777, Krab, Archer, ammo: MoD told about assistance from artillery coalition
During the work of the Coalition, Ukraine has received legendary M777, Caesar, Krab, Zuzana, Archer, PzH-2000 artillery systems, as well as a number of other systems and millions of shells.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the arrival of high-precision Western multiple launch rocket systems, such as HIMARS, in the Armed Forces of Ukraine not only enhanced long-range capabilities, but also became one of the first game changers to change the conduct of hostilities along the front line.
It is emphasized that all of this was made possible by partners who provided their own equipment.
According to the Ministry of Defense, during the coalition's work, Ukraine has received a number of Western artillery systems: M777 and M102 from the United States, M109 from Italy, France and Denmark handed over Caesar self-propelled artillery systems, Poland - Krab, Slovakia - Zuzana, Sweden - Archer, Czech Republic - Dita, Germany - PzH-2000, and a number of different types of mortars and Soviet systems.
Politics
U.S. Treasury Secretary brings Partnership Agreement to Kyiv – Zelensky
"I know that our team has received the first draft of the Partnership Agreement from the United States. I really want our team to review this document, and we will do everything possible to study and sign it as soon as possible. The United States is our key partner. We will carefully examine all the details of this document in time for the Munich Conference because we do not want to waste time," said President Volodymyr Zelensky after a one-on-one meeting with the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Ohryzko says shifting security guarantees for Ukraine to Europe is unfair
Volodymyr Ohryzko, former Ukrainian foreign minister and head of the Center for Russian Studies, said this in an interview with Ukrinform, responding to a statement by Trump's national security advisor, Mike Waltz, who suggested that the U.S. aims to end the Russia-Ukraine war while leaving security guarantees for Ukraine in Europe's hands.
"I believe this approach is absolutely unfair and dishonest. The United States, together with their then-beloved Russia, was the one that took away our nuclear weapons. Therefore, Washington bears responsibility for Ukraine's security, as directly stated in the Budapest Memorandum, regardless of how we view it," Ohryzko said.
He said that the document explicitly mentions that the U.S., among others, guarantees Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Sybiha to visit Paris on Feb 12 to discuss sanctions against Russia, European security
Pentagon chief says U.S. will not deploy its troops to Ukraine as part of peacekeeping mission
Economy
Suspended USAID programs may cut assistance to Ukrainian water utility companies by 20% – expert’s opinion
Having the programs of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended may reduce the total amount of humanitarian assistance provided to Ukrainian water utility companies by 20%.
In Ukrainian Association of Water Supply and Sewerage Enterprises ‘Ukrvodokanalekologia’ President Dmytro Novytskyi words, water utility companies do not receive direct assistance from USAID, but this organization used to support projects on improving the energy sustainability of certain enterprises. This includes the supply of cogeneration plants and generators that help ensure the uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructure.
EIB to allocate EUR 2B for recovery projects under Ukraine Facility
Representatives of the Ukrainian Finance Ministry, the European Investment Bank and the European Commission discussed the implementation of investment projects for Ukraine’s recovery, including projects under Pillar 2 of the Ukraine Facility.
Sport
Ukrainian team wins 16 medals at Invictus Games in one day
In alpine skiing, Ukraine won three medals, including two silver and one gold. In cross-country skiing, the Ukrainian team achieved remarkable success by securing two gold, two silver, and one bronze medals. Ukraine also received two medals in snowboarding: one gold and one bronze. Ukrainian athletes won two more gold, two bronze and one silver medal in biathlon. Finally, at the end of a busy day of competition, Ilia Haiduk brought Ukraine a bronze medal in skeleton.