[Korrespondent] 22.51 The first use of a Russian FPV drone on fiber optics in Kharkiv was recorded on Wednesday, February 25. The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office reported this on Telegram.
22.25 The next trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia is planned for early March. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this on Telegram after a telephone conversation with the American leader.
21.59 Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has officially instructed the FSB to ensure the alleged "sovereignty" of the upcoming State Duma elections and has effectively given the security forces the authority to "clean up," the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reports.
21.33 US President Donald Trump has instructed American negotiators to try to "end the killing" in the war in Ukraine. This was stated by US Vice President J.D. Vance, according to the official White House account in X.
20.49 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump are holding a telephone conversation today, Wednesday, February 25. Axios correspondent Barak Ravid reported this on the social network X, citing an unnamed source.
19.10 Russian invaders, using a 3-ton guided aerial bomb, destroyed the dam between Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka. The result was flooding of the area, where the water reached the Druzhkivka-Kostyantynivka road, turning the area into a "solid swamp", and travel there is currently impossible," DeepState analysts write, citing the words of Ukrainian fighters.
18.06 China has no information about the alleged "transfer" of nuclear weapons to Ukraine from France and Great Britain, as stated by Russia. This was stated by the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning at a briefing.
Beijing has always insisted in principle that nuclear weapons cannot be used, she recalled.
17.56 Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the acceleration of the construction of anti-drone nets to protect against enemy UAVs in border areas. He also posted a corresponding video on his Facebook page.
17.43 The number of people killed in a drone attack on a chemical plant in the city of Dorogobuzh, Smolensk region, Russia, has risen to seven. This was reported by the so-called governor of the Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, on Telegram.
17.29 During the four years of full-scale war, Metinvest Group allocated UAH 10.1 billion to support the state and citizens, of which UAH 7.3 billion was for the needs of the Defense Forces within the framework of Rinat Akhmetov's military initiative Steel Front. This was reported by the company's press service.
17.00 Since the beginning of the day and as of 16:00, 50 battles between the Ukrainian army and the Russian invaders have taken place at the front, which is more than twice as many as yesterday. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this in an operational summary.
The enemy has focused its main efforts on the Pokrovsky and Hulyaypil directions. Currently, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are repelling 15 assaults there.
16.56 In Dnipro, the first deputy of the regional department of the State Migration Service and a lawyer were detained, who for 5 thousand dollars issued fictitious "foreigner status" for men, which allowed them to avoid mobilization. This was reported by the press service of the State Migration Service.
16.47 On February 25, Russian troops attacked a car in the Sumy region using a drone. This was reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. It is noted that in the Velykypysarivska community, an enemy FPV drone hit a car, resulting in the death of Pavlo Kolisnyk, a firefighter and rescuer of the 33rd state fire and rescue post of the 1st state fire and rescue detachment of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Sumy region. The deceased rescuer was returning home from duty when the Russian drone hit his car.
16.31 Russia has been attacking Naftogaz facilities in two regions for two days in a row. Response and clean-up operations will begin immediately after the security situation stabilizes.
16.03 Nuclear threats from Moscow are political pressure on the eve of a trilateral meeting of delegations of Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this during a joint briefing with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Kyiv.
When the Russians fail to win on the battlefield, they begin to look for non-existent nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine, the head of state recalled.
15.58 On February 25, the Italian Senate finally extended its support for Ukraine until 2026. This was reported on the website of the Italian Parliament. It also regulates the extension of residence permits for Ukrainian citizens in Italy until March 4, 2027.
15.53 Settlements in the Pokrovsky direction, including Sukhetske, Suvorov, Nykanorivka, and Novy Donbas, remain under the control of Ukrainian troops and are not in the "gray zone." This was reported by Major Hryhoriy Shapoval, spokesman for the East Group of Forces, Ukrinform reports.
"They are under the Defense Forces. The enemy is trying to pressure and inflict artillery fire strikes, unmanned systems, but if we talk about each of those settlements individually, they are not even in the "gray zone," the spokesman noted.
Currently, Ukrainian units are conducting active operations to deter the enemy on this section of the front.
15.33 The commander of a military unit from the Rivne region, who involved subordinates in the construction of his own house, pleaded guilty to abuse of office and reimbursed the state over UAH 3 million. This was reported by the press service of the State Bureau of Investigation.
15.00 A large-scale scheme of embezzlement of funds from the defense budget of Ukraine has been exposed in the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The SBU reported this. The commander of logistics of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the head of the SBU department in the Zhytomyr region were detained "red-handed".
14.50 A serviceman of the Kirovohrad Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support was exposed for organizing a scheme to earn money by evading mobilization. The officer actually introduced a system of "paid services" for those liable for military service. The amounts depended on the desired result:
$6,000 - removal from wanted list and release from the CCC after forced delivery;
up to $20,000 - registration of "armor" from mobilization or change of status to limited fit;
from $20,000 - complete exclusion from military registration "turnkey".
Before receiving the money, the official accompanied the "clients" to currency exchange points, where he checked the authenticity of the banknotes and tried to make sure that they were not marked.
On February 19, the serviceman received a second installment of $20,000 from another client for booking. After being exposed, he tried to escape and almost ran over law enforcement officers, but was detained.
14:46 Russian troops shelled Orikhiv with artillery, killing a man. This was reported by the head of the Zaporizhzhia OVA Ivan Fedorov on February 25.
"The Russians hit a frontline town with artillery. Houses were destroyed. A 61-year-old man died as a result of the attack," he noted.
According to Fedorov, the fate of another person is unknown. Search operations are underway.
14.34 All Flamingo cruise missiles launched from the Votkinsk missile plant in the Russian Federation have reached their target. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint briefing with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Kyiv.
14.05 Ukraine has 230 priority facilities that need to be protected from Russian air attacks. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint briefing with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Kyiv.
On April 14, the Verkhovna Rada voted on a law establishing a comprehensive system of social guarantees for military personnel in basic service and their families. The corresponding bill No. 13646 was supported by a total of 284 votes, Ukrinform reports.
"This is about justice for the people who stood up to defend the country, and about the state's responsibility to them and their families," emphasized Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
According to the law, during service, military personnel are guaranteed financial, medical, food and material support. In addition, family leave, treatment and rehabilitation are provided by the decision of the Military Council. The state provides accommodation, free travel and postal services.
It is envisaged that the time of basic and conscription service will be counted towards insurance experience, length of service in a specialty, length of service in civil service, as well as towards preferential experience for the purpose of pension assignment.
13.56 On the night of February 25, Middle Strike units of the Special Operations Forces successfully struck Russian air defense positions in temporarily occupied Crimea.
The results of the fire attack confirmed the destruction of the S-400 launcher, the 92N6E radar station, and auxiliary elements of the S-400 system.
"The Pantsir-S1, which covered important objects and enemy air defense positions from drones and missiles at low and medium altitudes, has also ceased to exist," the special forces said.
13.49 Ukraine will receive almost 1.96 million units of large-caliber ammunition in 2025 thanks to the Czech initiative. This was announced by the Czech National Security Advisor Hynek Kmonicek during hearings in the Senate, Radio Prague International reports.
Previously, supplies were estimated at around 1.8 million units. According to Kmonicek, the initiative provided approximately 48% of all shell supplies to Ukraine last year.
Funding for approximately 880,000 units of ammunition has already been secured for this year.
13.14 Ukraine will provide diplomats with access to its citizens who fought on the side of the Russian Federation and were captured during the visit of Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said following talks in Kyiv, Ukrinform reports.
The parties separately and frankly discussed the issue of the return to the Republic of Ghana of prisoners of war who were captured by Ukrainian defenders. Sibiga emphasized that Ukraine strictly adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law, in particular the provisions of the Geneva Conventions regarding the treatment of prisoners of war.
At the same time, Sibiga called on the Ghanaian side to take more active public measures to prevent cases of recruitment of citizens of African countries into the Russian occupation army.
13.00 The Artan special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense is conducting an offensive operation in the Zaporizhia direction in the Stepnohirsk area. This was reported by the GUR.
We managed to regain control over important positions and significantly improve the tactical situation in the Stepnohirsk area.
12.51 Ukraine and Ghana have begun negotiations on a defense cooperation agreement. This was announced by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. According to him, technical experts from the Foreign Ministries of both countries have already met to outline the terms of the future agreement.
12.40 A video of the "arrival" of a Flamingo cruise missile at a strategic missile plant in the Russian city of Votkinsk has been released. This was reported by the Spy's Dossier Telegram channel.
12.34 Over 1,700 citizens from African countries are fighting against Ukraine on the side of Russia. This was announced by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga at a joint press conference with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in Kyiv on February 25, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
12.32 The Security Service reported suspicions to an 18-year-old Kharkiv woman who "lured" police officers to the scene of a terrorist attack that took place in Lviv.
On the instructions of her supervisor, she called a hotline while in Kharkiv and voiced a pre-prepared text saying that she had allegedly seen two unknown people entering a grocery store in Lviv. The girl planned to receive $100 for this fake call.
12.12 In Kyiv, law enforcement officers detained a 16-year-old girl and a 19-year-old boy who burned three Tesla cars on behalf of the Russian Federation. The National Police reported this. Of the promised $2,000 for setting the cars on fire, the Russian special services transferred only $20 to the perpetrators.
12.05 Russia may use the risk of a radiological incident on the territory of Ukraine for information manipulation and attempts to discredit Ukraine. This is stated in a report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
"The Kremlin may blame Ukraine for a Moscow-caused radiological incident in Ukraine, likely to convince the West not to support Ukraine or again trying to break the will of Ukrainians to resist," analysts said.
The Kremlin focused on the unfounded claim by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service that the UK and France were allegedly trying to transfer a "dirty bomb" or nuclear weapon to Ukraine, thus trying to increase the rhetoric about nuclear escalation and divert attention from the anniversary of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine.
11.52 Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov will hold meetings with US representatives this week. President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters about this. The recovery package for Ukraine and preparations for the upcoming trilateral meeting with Russia will be discussed, he noted.
11.31 Materials regarding Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure between July 2025 and February 2026 have been sent to the International Criminal Court.
During this year's heating season, Russian attacks have targeted all types of energy facilities in most regions of Ukraine. The attacks have been carried out in the format of prolonged massive combined strikes using ground, air and sea-based weapons.
Their intensity exceeds the previous periods of massive attacks from October 2022 to March 2023 and from March 2024 to March 2025 combined.
The entire technological chain of the power system was affected - from generation to main transmission and distribution. Thermal power plants, hydroelectric power plants, CHP plants and distribution networks were damaged.
As a result of missile attacks on energy facilities during the specified period, 11 civilians were killed and 68 were injured.
11.25 On Wednesday morning, new power outages were recorded in four regions of Ukraine due to Russian shelling. This was reported by Ukrenergo. Where the security situation allows, emergency restoration work is already underway.
11.01 On Wednesday night, drones attacked the Dorogobuzh chemical plant in the city of Dorogobuzh, Smolensk region of the Russian Federation. According to the so-called governor Vasily Anokhin, four employees of the enterprise were killed and 10 were injured.
10.35 In Kyiv, a businessman corrected Russian attacks. The enemy agent did this "under the guise" of fulfilling defense orders for the Defense Forces, the SBU reported.
10.21 Lithuania will produce weapons for Ukraine on its territory. This was announced by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
"We signed an agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the production of defense equipment for Ukraine in Lithuania. The projects will be financed from the EU SAFE fund and other sources," he noted.
Nauseda added that Lithuania confirms its commitment to allocate 0.25% of GDP annually for Ukraine's needs. This year, it is planned to allocate 223 million euros.
10.04 In Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, a man stabbed a serviceman of the territorial recruitment and social support center.
On February 24, the alert group, together with the police, stopped a citizen to check his military registration documents and found out that this conscript turned out to be a military registration violator and was wanted.
"During communication with the detainee, "indifferent citizens" resorted to obstructing state activities in the field of mobilization training. As a result of aggressive actions, one of the servicemen received a knife wound," the CCK emphasized.
The injured serviceman was promptly hospitalized. He is being provided with the necessary medical care. His condition is stable. There are no other victims in this offense, the CCC said.
09.48 The Russian reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs was spotted in Sevastopol, which has significant damage after an attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in March 2024. As a result of the shelling, the ship suffered damage to the upper part. In particular, the captain's cabin, pipe, and mast with antenna equipment were damaged.
There are construction structures installed on the mast, which may indicate that repairs are being carried out. It is also reported that some equipment is missing from the stern, and the bow is covered with camouflage netting.
9.47 Russian drones attacked critical and transport infrastructure facilities in Mykolaiv and Voznesenskyi district of Mykolaiv region. This was reported by the head of the Mykolaiv Oblast Regional Administration, Vitaly Kim.
09.18 Russian military hit Malomykhaylivska community in Dnipropetrovsk region with KABs, four people may be under the rubble. This was reported by the head of the regional council Mykola Lukashuk.
"As a result of yesterday's strike by KABs on the Malomykhaylivska community, the entrance to a residential building was partially destroyed. Search operations are still ongoing. Four people may be under the rubble," he wrote in Telegram.
08.56 The United States announced a demarche to Ukraine over strikes on the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in November 2025. This was reported by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna.
The U.S. State Department said that Ukrainian strikes on Novorossiysk had affected American investments flowing through Kazakhstan, damaging infrastructure on the Caspian oil pipeline, one of Russia's largest taxpayers.
"We heard from the State Department that we should refrain from attacks on American interests," Stefanishyna said.
The Ukrainian Embassy received a demarche - an official diplomatic message from the US State Department - on this occasion. The Ukrainian Ambassador clarified that this is about US economic interests, and not about a ban on attacks on Russian military or energy infrastructure in general.
08.30 Over the past 24 hours, 164 combat clashes were recorded on the front. Missile troops and artillery of the Defense Forces struck one area of ​​concentration of manpower of the Russian invaders.
08.17 On the night of February 25, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 115 attack UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas types and drones of other types, about 60 of them - "Shaheeds".
Air defenses shot down/suppressed 95 enemy Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and other types of drones in the north, south and east of the country. 18 strike UAVs were recorded at 11 locations.
07.44 From February 24, 2022 to February 25, 2026, the total combat losses of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine amounted to approximately 1,262,490 people (+1,070 per day).
07.28 US President Donald Trump, during his annual address to Congress, said that the United States is "working hard to stop the killing and massacre between Russia and Ukraine."
"We are working very hard to stop the ninth war, the killing and the massacre between Russia and Ukraine, where 25,000 soldiers are dying every month, a war that would never have happened if I were president," the American leader said.
04.37 Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa emphasized during the UN Security Council meeting on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the start of the full-scale war, which took place on February 24, that Ukraine will never agree to territorial concessions to Russia.
02.26 At a meeting of the UN Security Council, US Deputy Permanent Representative Tammy Bruce called on countries to stop supporting Russia, which allows it to continue its war against Ukraine. During her speech, the US representative emphasized the role of China, North Korea, Iran and Cuba in helping Russia.
01.02 The UN General Assembly rejected the US initiative to exclude from the text of the resolution the paragraphs concerning the territorial integrity of Ukraine and ensuring a just peace. This proposal was made on the eve of the vote on the resolution "Supporting a lasting peace in Ukraine".
00.24 The US did not threaten Kyiv with a halt to arms sales to allies if it does not agree to certain deadlines and a ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference.