Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[KavkazUzel] The Supreme Court of Dagestan sentenced a local resident to 15 years in prison for the 2011 murder of the rector of the Institute of Theology and International Relations, Maksud Sadikov, and his nephew, Zalimkhan Musayev.
As the "Caucasian Knot" reported, in April 2024, former State Duma deputy Magomed Gadzhiev was charged in absentia with organizing the murder of Maksud Sadikov, rector of the Dagestani Institute of Theology, and was placed on the wanted list.
Maksud Sadikov, a public and religious figure and rector of the Makhachkala Institute of Theology and International Relations, was shot dead on June 7, 2011, at the entrance to his home. His nephew, Zalimkhan Musayev, was also killed. Investigators considered Sadikov's professional activities—specifically, his active advocacy "against the extremist trend of Islam"—as the primary motive for the murder.
Activists and Caucasus scholars interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" in June 2011 suggested that forces opposing the reconciliation process between religious communities in Dagestan were behind Maksud Sadikov's murder.
According to the case materials, unidentified individuals were recruited to commit the murder of the religious figure and his nephew, and they engaged the defendant and another individual, whose identity could not be established, as the direct perpetrators.
The defendant and his accomplice had collected information about the victim, his daily routine, and his mode of transportation in advance, and had also acquired a firearm. Knowing that the victim was accompanied by an armed bodyguard, who was his nephew, the criminals planned to kill both of them.
On June 7, 2011, in the courtyard of a building on Abubakarov Street in Makhachkala, the accomplices waited for the victims to return and opened fire on them. The attackers fired at least 30 shots. Both died at the scene from their wounds. The two other people in the car with them were unharmed.
The criminal case was investigated on the grounds of the murder of two people, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, for hire
The case against the alleged organizer of the crime, which he committed due to personal animosity, has been separated into a separate proceeding, the press service clarified.
"The Criminal Division of the Supreme Court of Dagestan sentenced the defendant to 15 years' imprisonment in a maximum-security penal colony. The sentence has not yet entered into legal force and can be appealed to a higher court," the statement reads.
According to "Chernovika", the convict is an employee of the security enterprise Ramazan Magomedov.
In 2024, the Investigative Committee announced that it had solved the murder of Maksud Sadikov, naming former State Duma deputy Magomed Gadzhiev, who is currently abroad, as the organizer of the murder, Kommersant reported on the night of April 10 in its article " Deputy's order fulfilled with excess."
Before his election to the State Duma, Magomed Gadzhiev served as Deputy Head of the State Tax Inspectorate for Dagestan and Deputy Head of the Interregional Inspectorate of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties. He first received a State Duma seat in 2003, and his final term expired in 2021.
On May 26, 2023, the Ministry of Justice added Magomed Gadzhiev to the register of foreign agents. The reason cited was Gadzhiev's support for the Ukrainian government and his willingness to cooperate with foreign sources to obtain citizenship. The following day, Magomed Gadzhiev was expelled from the ruling United Russia party.
"The suspect in the murder, security company employee Ramazan Magomedov, was arrested in March 2023. According to investigators, he and an unidentified accomplice shot at Messrs. Sadikov and Musayev. Magomedov, whose case is being heard in the Supreme Court of Dagestan, denies any involvement in the crime," the publication states.
The case against Gadzhiev was separated into a separate proceeding. In particular, employees of the Makhachkala-based private security company "Gard-M," who worked for the security company in 2010-2011, were questioned as witnesses, the publication writes.
"The investigation also focused on the head of the private security company Sphinx Alliance and the former general director of the Makhachkala Commercial Sea Port (MCSP), Akhmed Gadzhiev. According to Kommersant, the brother of the State Duma deputy, the alleged organizer of the crime, went on an extended leave in 2017 and, without returning to his job at MCSP, left Russia.
According to unofficial reports, investigators have questions for the port's general director regarding several criminal cases that were under investigation," the publication reports.
According to the case file, in early June 2011, the deputy, "amid a previously established personal animosity with Maksud Sadikov, decided to organize his murder by hiring assassins. "To commit the crime, he recruited 'individuals not identified by the investigation' and instructed them to find those who, for money, could kill the rector. No later than June 7, the order was carried out—Ramazan Magomedov and an unknown individual were selected as the shooters," the author of the material, Yulia Rybina, noted.
As a reminder, Maksud Sadikov was known for his socio-political work, including as the leader of the all-Russian political movement "Nur" (Light). From 1997 to 1999, he worked in the Russian Ministry of National Policy; from 1999 to 2000, he served as a consultant to the Department of Local Government at the Russian Ministry of Federation and Nationalities; and from 2000 to 2002, he served at the Russian Ministry of Federation, Nationalities, and Migration Policy. From 1998 to 1999, Sadikov led the Russian Hajj Mission, which organized the pilgrimage for Russian Muslims.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] 22.56 A bilateral meeting between representatives of Ukraine and Russia in a narrow format is a common practice that has been used before. This was reported by Diana Davityan, Head of the NSDC Secretary Service.
According to her, the narrow-format meeting with the participation of the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov took place in the usual format for the negotiation process and did not go beyond the main agenda.
"This is a common format, which was practiced in Istanbul, in particular, when the heads of delegations can hold a meeting in a narrow format, while involving other representatives of the delegation," Davityan said.
20.58 During the Ukrainian-American-Russian talks on ending the war in Ukraine, which took place on February 17-18 in Geneva, political issues about possible compromises and the necessary meeting of leaders were not sufficiently worked out. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Today, we spoke in detail several times with our team at the negotiations in Geneva. There was a second day of meetings - both the trilateral format and other formats. Ukraine is interested in the result. As of today, we cannot say that the result is sufficient. The military talked about some issues - seriously and meaningfully. Sensitive political issues, questions about possible compromises and the necessary meeting of leaders have not yet been sufficiently worked out. We are counting on the next meeting, and it would be right to do so in February," the head of state said.
Zelenskyy called it important that representatives of European countries - France, Great Britain, Germany and Italy, as well as Switzerland as the host country, were present at the negotiations. "It is we in Ukraine who always promote the position that Europe should be a participant in the process," the president emphasized, thanking the United States "for hearing this position."
19.22 The Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the S-300VM air defense missile system launcher, UAV control points, and the concentration of forces and equipment of Russian troops.
At night, Ukrainian military personnel struck a concentration area of a Russian UAV unit near the village of Trudove in the Zaporizhia region, and a UAV workshop near the village of Tokmak.
Also, in the area of the village of Staromlynivka in the Donetsk region, a communications hub was hit, and in occupied Donetsk, a concentration of the occupiers' military equipment was hit.
In addition, on February 17, a launcher of the S-300VM anti-aircraft missile system was hit in the Mariupol area.
Also, in the area of the village of Salne in Kursk and in the area of the town of Rodynske in the Donetsk Oblast, enemy UAV control points were hit.
19.01 After the main round of talks in Geneva on Wednesday, February 18, Ukraine and Russia held a separate meeting. This was reported by Suspilne, citing Diana Davityan, Head of the NSDC Secretary Service.
It is noted that the heads of the two delegations, Rustem Umerov and Volodymyr Medinsky, respectively, as well as David Arakhamia, were represented at the meeting.
A correspondent for Suspilny reported that she met Medinsky near the hotel, who was leaving the meeting.
In a comment to Russian media, he confirmed that he met with the Ukrainian delegation. These negotiations lasted about an hour and a half, the topics of communication are unknown.
18.39 Ukrainian military managed to reduce the "gray zone" near the settlements of Vyshneve, Verbovye, and Ternove in the Dnipropetrovsk region and push back Russian reinforcement groups. This was stated by the spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces Vladyslav Voloshyn in a comment to Ukrinform.
Dozens of battles took place in the Hulyaipil and Oleksandriv directions, some of which were counterattacks, he noted.
17.31 The Ukrainian army pushed back Russian occupiers near three villages in the Dnipropetrovsk region. This was reported by the DeepState monitoring project. The area of the territories liberated by the Defense Forces in the Oleksandrivka direction has increased by more than 17 sq. km.
17.03 Since the beginning of the year, contributions under the PURL program have already amounted to $584 million. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky on the social network X. The total financing need under the PURL program in 2026 is $15 billion.
16.50 The case of two Russian generals who ordered the demolition and subsequent destruction of the Oskil reservoir dam in the Kharkiv region in the fall of 2022 has been referred to court.
On the orders of Oleg Makovetsky and Oleg Tsokov, Russian troops carried out air strikes on the dam from fighter jets - using Kh-59 missiles and FAB-250/500/1500 high-explosive bombs. In September 2022, during the retreat from the Kharkiv region, the Russian military mined and blew up the dam's sluice structures.
The dam was completely destroyed. The reservoir lost up to 70% of its water. Fertile soils were eroded.
The ecosystem of the Seversky Donets River has undergone devastating changes. Flora and fauna are under threat of destruction. Environmental damage amounted to over 39.1 billion hryvnias.
16.40 Since the beginning of the day, 102 attacks by the Russian occupation army have been recorded on the front. The enemy is most actively advancing in the areas of Gulyaipol and Pokrovsk, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in an operational update as of 16:00.
16.22 Ukrainian military personnel received domestic night vision devices that have a range of almost 2 thousand meters and are able to withstand extreme loads.
The Ministry of Defense has approved the use of the MT-GEKKO-PRO-40 and MT-GEKKO-PRO-50 monoculars in the Defense Forces. The new devices have already been tested in combat, have enhanced protection, and can withstand extreme loads.
Depending on the configuration, monoculars can see human figures at a distance of over 400 meters, and equipment at a distance of almost 2 kilometers.
These night vision devices help to navigate the terrain, perform technical work on equipment, provide medical care to the wounded, read maps, and drive vehicles in conditions of limited visibility.
The convenience of the mounts allows you to use the MT-GEKKO-PRO monoculars while holding them in your hands, or mount them on a helmet or weapon.
15.54 To combat Russian drones that use the LTE mobile network for control, it is necessary to introduce the sale of SIM cards based on passports and with a limit on their quantity. This was stated by Advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov.
"Our enemy has come up with the simplest way to control FPV... They figured out that it is possible to deliver FPV drones on winged UAVs to places where mobile communication is good and stable, and there to drop drones on objects. Such a drone is controlled by an operator from Russia, the drone's flight time is literally minutes. For these tasks, Ukrainian SIM cards, in particular, are used," he wrote.
One solution that will help influence the processes is the sale of SIM cards by passport with limited quantities, the minister's advisor emphasized. However, Beskrestnov noted that it is not a 100 percent solution to the problem.
"Will this help 100%? Of course not. In Russia, SIM cards have long been sold using passports, and buying SIM cards from criminals or homeless people is not a problem. Will this help in any way? Yes! Imagine that now any "Zhdun" can buy 3,000 cards without any problems and send them to the Russian Federation. Selling using passports will at least somehow limit the gigantic scale of this uncontrolled process," he noted.
Other options may include disabling data transmission services in one format or another, but, the minister's advisor noted, "we all understand how painful these actions are for the country."
15.47 Russian troops dropped three FAB-250 aerial bombs on high-rise buildings in Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region. This was reported by the head of the Ministry of Defense, Sergey Gorbunov.
As a result of the airstrike, three high-rise buildings were reduced to ruins. The head of the MVA noted that the Russian Federation has once again proven its terrorist nature by purposefully targeting the homes of ordinary civilians.
"This time, the Russian aviation used three FAB-250 guided bombs. This is a super-powerful weapon designed to destroy fortifications, but the enemy is using it to wipe out peaceful high-rise buildings. Fortunately, according to preliminary information, there are no casualties, but the scale of the destruction is terrifying," Gorbunov noted.
15.25 Delegations of Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation at the talks in Geneva agreed to hold the next meeting on peace efforts. This was announced by Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhyi at a briefing in Kyiv.
15.23 Two brothers from Khmelnytskyi region tried to illegally cross the border with Moldova across the Dniester River and were detained by border guards of the Mogilev-Podilskyi detachment. This was reported by the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
The servicemen recorded the movement of two people towards the river. As it turned out, they were 24-year-old twin brothers from the Khmelnytskyi region, who were planning to illegally cross the border to Moldova on a rubber boat.
15.21 SBI employees reported suspicions to a serviceman who organized his escape from the training center.
Before mobilization, the man worked at one of the service stations in Kremenchuk. After receiving a summons, he was sent to a training center in Zhytomyr region, but he did not plan to serve. Therefore, he turned to his employer at the service station with a request to help him leave the unit. He involved an acquaintance who agreed to take the serviceman out of the region in his own car.
At night, the "carrier" arrived at a designated location near a military unit. The serviceman quietly left the area, changed into civilian clothes, and got into a car. Later, they reached Kremenchuk.
Upon returning to the city, the man celebrated his return with a bottle of vodka and went to work at the same service station.
SBI employees have located him. The serviceman has been reported on suspicion of desertion. The carrier has been charged with aiding and abetting desertion.
14.51 Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed concern about the war in Ukraine, days before the fourth anniversary of the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vatican News reports.
14.06 According to the results of two-day negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine, the United States and Russia in Geneva, there is progress on military issues, namely monitoring the ceasefire, but on political issues - territories, the ZNPP, and other sensitive issues - the positions of the parties remain different. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a conversation with journalists.
13.46 During the trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia in Geneva, some issues were clarified. The next stage is to achieve the necessary level of coordination in order to submit the developed decisions for consideration by the leaders of the countries. This was reported by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov on Telegram.
13.22 A 17-year-old girl was detained in Kharkiv, who, on behalf of the FSB, was preparing a series of explosions in crowded places. The SBU reported this.
The attacker intended to transport the explosives to the city center by taxi and hide them for remote detonation during rush hour.
12.54 Trilateral talks between the delegations of Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation have concluded in Geneva, Switzerland. This was stated by Diana Davityan, spokeswoman for the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
And the Head of the Russian negotiating delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that the negotiations were "difficult, but businesslike." The next round will take place "in the near future."
12.43 Law enforcement officers detained the heads of two defense state enterprises while receiving $12,000 for fictitious employment with subsequent reservation from mobilization.
According to the investigation, the officials, in a preliminary conspiracy, demanded $12,000 from a Ukrainian citizen for registering him for work with a reservation. At the same time, the employment was supposed to be formal, the person was not supposed to perform labor duties, but only be listed on the company's staff.
12.31 In the Kirovohrad region, the head of the personnel department of the headquarters of one of the military units will be tried for failing to stop accruing over UAH 1.4 million in cash benefits to servicemen in the SFR. This was reported by the press service of the State Bureau of Investigation.
The indictment has already been sent to court.
12.27 Ukrainians returning from captivity need only apply to the Central Military District once to obtain a deferment from mobilization. In the future, it will be extended automatically every 90 days. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. They recalled that from November 1, 2025, the procedure for obtaining a deferment from mobilization has been simplified. The right to extend the deferment from mobilization is granted to persons deprived of their liberty as a result of armed aggression against Ukraine; servicemen released from captivity.
12.19 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Ukrainian team before the delegations began their work in Geneva. He reported this on Telegram.
According to him, "yesterday there were really difficult meetings, and we can state that Russia is trying to drag out negotiations, which could already have reached the final stage."
12.05 Finland will increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine to 22 million euros. This was announced by Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratyuk.
"The Finnish government plans to send an additional 52 generators to Ukraine in February and increase humanitarian support to 22 million euros. We are grateful to Finland for this assistance and leadership in the international "Civil Protection Shelter Coalition," she noted following a meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Helsinki.
12.00 In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, an explosion occurred in the city of Kolomyia in the premises of the local CCC and SP. The regional prosecutor's office reported this. Criminal proceedings have been initiated under the article about a terrorist act committed by a group of persons in a preliminary conspiracy.
11.30 On Wednesday night, Russian aggressors attacked energy facilities in four regions of Ukraine. This was reported by Ukrenergo. The most difficult situation is in the Odessa region, where almost 100 thousand subscribers were left without electricity as a result of shelling and bad weather.
11.16 An agent of the Russian military intelligence (GRU) was detained in the Kyiv region, who was helping the Russians prepare new missile attacks on thermal power plants in the capital region. The SBU reported this.
11.10 Pilots of the 412th separate Nemesis unmanned systems brigade carried out a precision strike on the Russian OSA air defense system, which was used to cover units and important facilities of the Russian Armed Forces from strikes by aircraft, cruise missiles, and UAVs. The Unmanned Systems Forces reported this in a video.
10.50 Delegations of Ukraine, the United States and Russia have begun the second day of trilateral talks in Geneva, Switzerland. This was reported by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov on Telegram. Consultations are taking place in groups by direction within the political and military blocs, he noted.
10.29 Ukraine has imposed sanctions against the self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko for aiding Russia in armed aggression against Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
8.58 On the front line over the past 24 hours, 160 combat clashes between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on February 18. The enemy launched two missile strikes, using 30 missiles, and carried out 76 air strikes, dropping 168 guided bombs.
8.16 Russian troops attacked two districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region at night with drones, shelled with artillery and MLRS Grad. This was reported by the head of the regional state administration Oleksandr Ganzha on February 18. According to him, 11 private houses, outbuildings, and a car were damaged in the Chervonohryhorivska community of the Nikopol district.
The Pokrovska community was also hit. In the Troitska community of the Pavlohrad district, a private enterprise, housing, an administrative building, a gymnasium, and cars were damaged.
7.50 The Ukrainian Defense Forces neutralized 740 Russian invaders over the past 24 hours, and the total losses of enemy personnel in the war exceeded 1 million 256 thousand people. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on February 18.
7.23 As a result of a night attack by Russian drones on Mykolaiv, houses in the private sector were damaged. This was reported by the head of the Mykolaiv OVA, Vitaly Kim, on February 18.
03.33 The Russians have begun to transport FPV drones using Shahed-type strike drones. This was reported on Tuesday, February 17, by the advisor to the Minister of Defense, Sergey (Flash) Beskrestnov. He called on all units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to take information about new risks into account.
01.00 In Sumy region, the number of people injured as a result of a series of enemy drone strikes has increased to 11. In the regional center, apartment buildings and other buildings were damaged - hundreds of windows were broken, facades and roofs were damaged.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] The area of territories liberated by the Defense Forces in the Oleksandrivka direction has increased by more than 17 sq. km.
The Ukrainian army has pushed back Russian occupiers near three villages in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the monitoring project DeepState reported on Wednesday, February 18.
It is alleged that the enemy army withdrew near the villages of Vyshneve and Verbove in the Pokrovska settlement-territorial community and near the village of Ternove in the Zaitsivska rural-territorial community in the Synelnyky district of the Dnipropetrovsk region. This is about the Olekandrivka direction.
As Interfax-Ukraine reports, citing an analysis of project data, the area of territories liberated by the Defense Forces in the Oleksandrivka direction increased by 17.45 sq. km due to a decrease in the area of "penetration areas."
At the same time, the enemy advanced near the village of Berestok, Illinivska rural community, Kramatorsk district, Donetsk region, analysts report.
As a result, the area of territories under the control of the occupiers in the Kostyantynivka direction increased by 11.18 sq. km, while the area of "infiltration areas" decreased by 8.16 sq. km.
At the same time, the spokesman for the East Group of Forces, Hryhoriy Shapoval, told Ukrinform that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are conducting search and strike operations to prevent the enemy from infiltrating the settlement of Berestok.
"Berestok is currently controlled by the Defense Forces, but the enemy is trying to infiltrate in small groups, occupy the inter-position space, or gain a foothold in buildings. At the same time, our Defense Forces are conducting search and strike operations and the enemy is being destroyed," he assured.
According to Shapoval, despite the enemy's loud statements and alleged "advancement" near the settlement of Berestok, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "continue to hold the designated lines, controlling key approaches to the settlement and preventing the enemy from entrenching themselves."
We remind you that since the beginning of the day, 102 attacks by the Russian army have been recorded on the front. The enemy is most actively advancing in the areas of Gulyaipol and Pokrovsk, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in an operational report.
It was previously reported that Russia lost more than 700 soldiers killed and wounded in the 24 hours of February 17. The total number of Russian casualties is approaching 1.3 million since the start of the Great War.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[NewsFront] 21:33 In the period from 14:00 Moscow time to 20:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 120 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the fixed-wing type:
81 UAVs over the territory of the Bryansk region,
22 UAVs over the territory of the Smolensk region,
Five UAVs over the territory of the Kursk region,
Five UAVs over the territory of the Novgorod region,
Two UAVs over the territory of the Tver region,
Two UAVs over the territory of the Moscow region,
Two UAVs over the territory of the Kaluga region,
One UAV over the territory of the Belgorod region.
20:10 Near the village of Zakharovka, Khar'kov region revealed the position of the 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled gun of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Several FPV strikes by the 71st Guards Motorized Rifle Division crews destroyed the enemy artillery unit.
18:51 Drone operators of the Center group of forces destroyed dugouts with enemy manpower in the Krasnoarmeysk direction.
Attack UAV crews from the Vostok group of forces struck Ukrainian Armed Forces artillery firing positions in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
FPV drone operators from the Northern Forces group destroyed several R-18 heavy combat drones in the Sumy region.
17:29 Zaporizhia Oblast. Units of the Eastern Front have regained full control of Ternovate. MAP.
15:21 In the period from 8:00 Moscow time to 14:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 52 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the fixed-wing type:
32 UAVs over the territory of the Bryansk region,
Seven UAVs over the territory of the Kaluga region,
Six UAVs over the territory of the Smolensk region,
Six UAVs over the territory of the Kursk region,
One UAV over the territory of the Volgograd region.
15:28 Assault groups of the 80th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade took decisive action took control over the settlement of Khar'kovka in the Sumy region.
Before the main assault, our fiber-optic UAV units and mobile mortar crews worked closely on enemy positions at night.
14:56 Crew of the 2S7 203mm self-propelled gun "Pion" of the "Southern" group of forces destroyed camouflaged enemy weapon in the Seversky direction.
13:25 Summary of Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the Special Military Operation as of February 18, 2026:
As a result of active operations, units of the North military group established control over the village of Khar'kovka in the Sumy region.
The formations of the mechanized and airmobile brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the territorial defense brigade were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Novaya Sich, Volfino, Pisarevka, Bereza and Miropolye in the Sumy region.
In the Khar'kov region, units of the mechanized, motorized infantry, artillery brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a naval infantry brigade, the territorial defense brigade, and the national guard brigade were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Veterinarnoye, Okhrimovka, Ternovaya, Kazachya Lopan, Kutuzovka, and Sredniy Burluk in the Khar'kov region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 210 servicemen, 23 vehicles, two artillery pieces, an electronic warfare station, an ammunition depot, and three supply depots.
Units of the "West" force grouping improved their tactical position. They defeated the personnel and equipment of an airmobile, two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a National Guard brigade near the settlements of Petrovka, Novoosinovo, Kovsharovka, Gusinka, and Lesnaya Stenka in Khar'kov Oblast and Brusovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 140 service members, a British-made Bulldog armored personnel carrier, two Cossack armored fighting vehicles, 17 vehicles, two artillery pieces, including a US-made M-777 155mm howitzer, and a Grad multiple launch rocket system. An ammunition depot was destroyed.
Units of the Southern Group of Forces improved their position along the forward edge. They defeated formations of four mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a territorial defense brigade near the settlements of Izhevka, Stenki, Reznikovka, Malinovka, Slavyansk, Vasyutinskoye, Artem, and Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost over 145 service members, four armored combat vehicles, six vehicles, and an artillery piece. Two electronic warfare stations and a supply depot were destroyed.
Units of the Center Forces Group improved their tactical position. They defeated the personnel and equipment of six mechanized brigades, two Jaeger brigades, an airmobile brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a naval infantry brigade, four National Guard brigades, and the Azov special forces brigade near the settlements of Tarasovka, Lenina, Zolotoy Kolodez, Kucherov Yar, Sergeyevka, Grishino, Maryevka, Svetloye, and Belitskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic, and Novopavlivka and Gavrilovka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 340 servicemen, a Finnish-made Pasi armored personnel carrier, three armored combat vehicles, and nine cars.
Units of the "East" group of forces continued to advance into the depths of the enemy's defenses and liberated the village of Krinichnoye in the Zaporizhzhia region.
They defeated the formations of an assault, two mechanized, two airborne assault brigades, four assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a naval infantry brigade in the areas of the settlements of Aleksandrovka, Pokrovskoe, Kolomiytsy in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Rizdvyanka, Zelena Dibrova, Lyubitske, Rozovka, Gavrilovka and Gorke in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The enemy lost up to 345 servicemen, an armored personnel carrier, 12 vehicles, a 122mm BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system combat vehicle, and a supply depot.
Units of the Dnipro Forces Group improved their tactical position. They defeated the personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' mechanized and mountain assault brigades near the villages of Lyubimovka, Hryhorivka, and Orekhov in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Up to 55 Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen, 16 vehicles, an ammunition depot and two supply depots were destroyed.
12:39 On frames: OK strikes of FAB-500 on the anti-tank missile system of the 159th Separate Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the settlement of Okhrimovka and the anti-tank missile system of the 22nd Separate Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the settlement of Veterinary in the Khar'kov region.
12:37 Russian Aerospace Forces inflicted FAB-3000 strike on the position of the 59th Separate Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Pokrovsky direction.
11:35 Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Guardsmen of the 218th Tank Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Army of the Guards "East" took the settlement of Krinichnoye under control. Units are being deployed along the railway line.
10:39 Advance of the Russian Armed Forces in the Dobropolsky direction, –MAP.
10:05 During decisive offensive actions, assault units of the 80th separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the North group of forces broke the resistance of the 101st Separate Troop Brigade and released the settlement of Khar'kovka, Glukhovsky district.
09:41 Liberated Khar'kov, Sumy region map.
08:31 103rd Regiment destroys infantry and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, advancing towards Konstantinovka
Fighters from the 103rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division continue their offensive in the Konstantinovsky direction, destroying Ukrainian Armed Forces militants, their equipment, and enemy positions with drone strikes and artillery fire.
Strike FPVs, Lightning missiles, and artillery cover positions, UAV control points, dugouts, firing points, and Ukrainian Armed Forces infantry, destroying them en masse.
08:16 During the past night from 23:00 Moscow time on February 17 to 7:00 Moscow time on February 18, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 43 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles:
21 UAVs – over the territory of the Bryansk region,
Six UAVs – over the territory of the Belgorod region,
Six UAVs – over the territory of the Republic of Crimea,
Five UAVs – over the territory of the Kursk region,
Two UAVs – over the territory of the Rostov region,
Two UAVs – over the territory of the Chuvash Republic,
One UAV – over the Black Sea.
07:35 Changes on map over the past 24 hours:
Advance southwest of Belitsky
Expansion of the control zone in the Grishino area
Adjustment of the control zone in the Hatnego area in favor of the enemy
06:3Crew of the 152mm 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled gun of the Dnepr force group destroyed 122mm D-30 gun and fortified positions with Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel on the right bank of the Dnieper.
[IntelliNews] Russia has conducted the first launch of an unmanned stratospheric platform designed as a potential alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network.
Starlink relies on expansive satellites in space, but the Russian project will maintain a fleet of Zeplin-like floating platforms in the stratospheric 20km above the surface of the plant that carry telecoms equipment to provide fast internet access to very large territories and are cheap and easy to maintain.
The platform, known as “Barrier-1”, was developed by Aerodromash in Novgorod in collaboration with Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Russia News reports. According to the developers, the initial test flight was successfully completed in Russia, marking a step towards creating a high-altitude communications system positioned in the stratosphere rather than low Earth orbit.
Barrier-1 is capable of lifting a payload of up to 100kg to an altitude of up to 20km. The platform uses an aerodynamic stabilisation system to adjust its flight altitude and exploit air currents, allowing it to manoeuvre, maintain a fixed position or move along a defined trajectory. Developers say the use of special polymer materials is intended to ensure long-term aerial endurance.
The project is being presented as an “alternative to Starlink”, the satellite broadband constellation operated by SpaceX that has become a critical component of communications infrastructure in conflict zones and remote regions.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) is heavily reliant on Musk’s Starlink for battlefield communications and coordination. Russia has also been using the system and even built Starlink into the guidance system of some of its newer drones. Recently, SpaceX has required all users of the system to register in an effort to cut Russian users off from access to the system.
The Barrage platform is described by its developers as an effective and economical substitute for what they characterise as expensive satellite towers in low Earth orbit. Among the priority tasks of the Barrier project is the testing of 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) communications. Placing transmitters at an altitude of 20km would enable high-speed internet and communications services to be delivered across vast areas where constructing ground-based towers is either impractical or unprofitable.
Russia has accelerated efforts to develop domestic alternatives to western technology providers following sweeping export controls imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. High-altitude platform systems have also been explored by companies in the US, Europe and China as a complement to satellite networks for broadband connectivity.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
