Russia says explosions at ammunition depot in Crimea occurred ‘due to sabotage’

2:19 PM  (Updated:  February 23, 2025 10:29 pm)

KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: Events to look out for this week

8:54 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Zelensky willing to step down in exchange for peace; Russia launches largest drone attack since start of full-scale invasion

8:13 PM

'Do international observers want to be placed in Pokrovsk?' — Zelensky criticizes calls for elections following Trump's comments.

President Volodymyr Zelensky lambasted ongoing calls to hold elections in Ukraine during a press conference on Feb. 23 amid an unstable security situation across the country.

7:26 PM

Hungary playing role in spreading disinformation about rationale for Russia's invasion to Trump's team, Zelensky says.

"I know that there are people from this Hungarian leader who have contact with people in President Trump's orbit, and are constantly raising questions... in regards to not expanding NATO into eastern Europe," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, criticizing Kremlin talking points that NATO was at fault for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

6:22 PM

Ukraine needs the US to win, says Polish PM.

The Polish leader told reporters that President Donald Trump is determined to end Russia’s war on Ukraine adding that Russia cannot be allowed to win.

6:10 PM

Zelensky won't sign natural resource deal that 'will be paid by 10 generations of Ukrainians'.

President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back at the U.S.’ demand for a $500 billion deal for its natural resources, saying that the U.S.’s aid grants are not debts, during the Ukraine: Year 2025 forum in Kyiv on Feb. 23.

5:22 PM

Defense Minister: Ukraine has alternatives to Starlink system.

Umerov did not specify what the alternatives were or go into details about the discussions. Last month, the Digital Transformation Ministry told the Kyiv Independent that Starlinks were still a critical part of communication on the frontline and that a new order was underway.

5:14 PM

Zelensky willing to step down in exchange for peace.

“I am focusing on security today and not in 20 years time. I don’t plan to be in power for 10 years,” Zelensky told the forum.

4:49 PM

Video

US sidelines Ukraine in favor of Russia | Ukraine This Week.

The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the stories impacting Ukraine this week. The U.S. special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg visited Kyiv as the U.S. President Donald Trump’s team started talks with Russia about a ceasefire deal — without Ukraine’s involvement.

4:14 PM

Economy Minister: Occupied Ukrainian territories have over $350 billion in natural resources.

Yulia Svyrydenko's comment comes as Kyiv and Washington negotiate a deal for Ukraine’s natural resources in return for support and security guarantees.

3:20 PM

Foreign Minister: Ukraine plans to end war this year.

Andrii Sybiha noted that this is the goal of President Volodymyr Zelensky and told partners that “it is time to fasten our diplomatic seat belts” and “not give in to emotions.”

12:28 PM

Russia launches largest drone attack since start of full-scale invasion.

Ukraine’s air defense shot down 138 drones while 119 decoy drones were lost.

11:04 AM

Starmer urges Trump to put Ukraine at center of peace negotiations.

Starmer will visit Washington D.C. in the coming week where he will meet Trump and emphasize that Kyiv “must be at the heart of any negotiations to end the war.”

9:18 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 867,180 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,180 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:47 AM

Russian missile attack in Kryvyi Rih kills 1, injures 5.

Three of the injured victims have been hospitalized, with one woman reportedly in critical condition. She is being treated in the hospital's intensive care unit.

6:32 AM

Investigation names over 95,000 Russians killed in Ukraine.

Military analysts consulted by researchers estimated that the list likely represents only 45% to 65% of Russia's total casualties.

5:29 AM

Trump team could strike a deal to end war 'this week,' White House says.

"The president, his team are very much focused on continuing negotiations with both sides of this war to end the conflict, and the president is very confident we can get it done this week," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Feb. 22.

3:53 AM

Trump-Putin meeting preparations already underway, Russia claims.

The two leaders could discuss a broad range of global topics in addition to the war in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. The meeting would be a step toward "normalizing relations" between the U.S. and Russia.

2:46 AM

'We're going to get our money back' — Trump on US-Ukraine resources deal.

"I want them to give us something for all of the money that we put up," Trump said on Feb. 22. "We're asking for rare earth and oil — anything we can get."

2:03 AM

Russia exceeded mobilization goals in occupied Ukrainian territories last year, official says.

"In 2024, Russia had to mobilize thousands of people from the newly occupied territories and those who had previously been under occupation. According to HUR, this plan has been fulfilled by 104%."

12:57 AM

US mineral deal offers no security guarantees for Ukraine, NYT reports.

The terms of the revised proposal are virtually the same as those of an earlier version rejected by President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a draft dated Feb. 21.

11:20 PM

Ukraine expects further F-16 deliveries from the Netherlands, Zelensky says.

Following his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof at the Munich Security Conference, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses remains a top priority.

10:01 PM

Musk denies US threat to cut Starlink over Ukraine minerals deal.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has denied reports that the United States threatened to shut off Starlink in Ukraine unless Kyiv agreed to a minerals deal. Responding to a report by Reuters, Musk called the claim "false" and accused the news agency of lying.

8:57 PM

EU considers confiscating part of Russia’s frozen $280 billion, Bloomberg reports.

The European Union is discussing how to seize Russia’s frozen central bank assets to provide financial and military aid to Ukraine, as concerns grow that the United States may scale back its support.

7:33 PM

Field report

As Trump and Moscow align their vision, battle to stabilize Donetsk front rests on a knife edge