Russia's army recorded its slowest advance on the frontline in Ukraine in nearly two years in February, according to an analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War. The slowdown, which saw Moscow's forces advance by just 123 square kilometres, came after Ukrainian drone attacks cut Russian access to Starlink internet terminals, hampering their operations.
Ukrainian troops achieved several localised breakthroughs during the month, including a 61-square-kilometre gain on 15 February and further advances of more than 50 square kilometres on 21 and 23 February. Kyiv's forces saw most success along the southern frontline, pushing Russian troops back in the Dnipropetrovsk region, while Moscow continued to grind forward in the east, approaching the key hubs of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk. Russia now occupies just over 19% of Ukraine.
In a separate development, Ukraine's drone attack on Russia's Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk on Monday suspended oil loadings. The attack hit six of the terminal's seven loading facilities, injured five people, damaged 20 buildings and set a fuel terminal ablaze. Ukraine's security service said drones also struck Russian warships and an S-400 missile defence system, though Russia did not confirm damage to military assets.
US-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, expected later this week, may take place in Switzerland or Turkey if a meeting in Abu Dhabi is not possible due to the Middle East conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday. He noted that western countries had not indicated any disruption to deliveries of air defence missiles. Talks have stalled over Russia's demand that Ukraine cede the remaining part of the Donbas region.
Russian strikes killed at least eight people in Ukraine on Monday, including three in Kramatorsk and two in Druzhkivka. An attack on a civilian passenger train also caused casualties. Separately, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico called for an EU meeting to restart oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline, which Ukraine has blamed on a Russian attack on pumping stations.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would complete technical work needed to open EU accession negotiations within days, urging the bloc to set a firm date for membership. However, progress has been blocked by Hungary, which has withheld unanimous approval required for each of the six accession clusters.
