Mariia Tril

During the meeting with the justice minister, the ambassadors reportedly emphasized the importance of reforms in the judicial and law enforcement spheres to spur greater investment and backing from the international community.

Russia carried out attacks against nine of Ukraine's oblasts over the past day, killing at least two civilians and injuring at least 12 others, regional authorities reported on Feb. 9.

Moscow reportedly plans to open a "center for military-sports training and patriotic education of youth called 'Warrior' based on the 'Iskra' children's health camp."

The Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing Russia's Defense Ministry, that its air defense "shot down two Ukrainian drones over Kursk Oblast, five over Bryansk Oblast, four over Orlov Oblast, two over Krasnodar Krai, and six over the Black Sea" overnight on Feb. 9.

The agreement would aim to provide Ukraine with "effective security guarantees" along with the commitment of NATO leaders at the 2023 Vilnius Summit, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva said.

The Belarusian police are summoning Ukrainians for interrogations more often, as well as increasing the number of searches of Ukrainians, according to Ukraine’s Resistance Center. The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify this information.

"The situation is tense and requires constant monitoring and prompt decision-making on the ground," General Oleksandr Syrskyi said during his visit to military units holding the defense in the Bakhmut direction.

The previous arrangement, which removed levies on all U.K.-Ukraine trade, was due to expire in March 2024 after being introduced in 2022 following Russia's attack on Ukraine. All tariffs on goods imported from Ukraine were reduced to zero, and all quotas were removed under the free trade agreement.

According to Ukrenergo, its high-voltage power transmission lines are operating normally. There is some reported damage to power grids in Kyiv and Kharkiv, however.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a Russian military intelligence informant who collected data on Ukraine’s military and adjusted Russian fire on civilian infrastructure in Donetsk Oblast, the SBU's press service reported on Feb. 7.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to visit Germany to participate in the Munich Security Conference at the end of next week, the German outlet Tagesspiegel reported on Feb. 7.

"The success of Ukraine's efforts to build its (defense industrial base) depends on Ukraine's ability to liberate strategically vital areas occupied by Russian forces," according to the ISW.

Russian businessman Igor Churkin, who was detained in Argentina at the request of Ukraine, has applied for political asylum in the South American country, the Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported, citing Natalia Pustovalova, an official of the Russian Embassy in Buenos Aires.

The suspects were allegedly tasked with passing intelligence about Ukraine's military and strategically important energy facilities to the FSB. They were managed by an FSB handler based in Russian-occupied Crimea, the SBU said.

This is part of the IFC's Better Futures Program that aims to mobilize over 500 million euros ($537 million) across sectors, including infrastructure, goods production, decarbonization, and job preservation.