Ukraine war latest live: Russian drones hit railway, 'Invincibility Train' sheltering civilians in Sumy Oblast
This is Tania Myronyshena reporting from Kyiv on day 1,442 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Today's top story so far:
Russian forces carried out a mass drone attack on railway infrastructure in Ukraine's Sumy Oblast overnight, damaging rail facilities and striking an Invincibility Train used to provide warmth and basic services to civilians, Ukrainian officials reported on Feb. 5.
One of the strikes hit the Shostka district, where a female railway worker was injured while heading to work and received medical assistance, officials said. The same attack also struck the Invincibility Train stationed in the community.
"People were sheltering at the time. Railway buildings and a locomotive were also damaged," Oleksii Kuleba, Ukraine's deputy prime minister for restoration, said on Telegram.
Another drone strike damaged a railway station in Okhtyrka district, affecting technical facilities and tracks.
Later the same day, Mykola Noha, head of the Shostka community, said Russian drones destroyed several infrastructure facilities in the city and nearby areas. Ten residential houses, two cars, and other vehicles were damaged, while two women aged 55 and 31 were injured and hospitalized.
Invincibility Trains are rail cars deployed by Ukraine's state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia to support civilians during power outages and extreme winter conditions. Together with Invincibility Points located across the country, they provide heat, electricity, mobile charging, water, and hot drinks for people left without basic services due to Russian attacks.
According to Ukrzaliznytsia, nearly 360,000 people have used Invincibility Points since the start of winter, including about 65,000 residents who sought help in January following Russia's large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy system.
"Despite the threats, we continue operating in front-line regions with enhanced security measures," Ukrzaliznytsia said, commenting on the attack on Feb. 5.
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Come Back Alive head Taras Chmut appointed to Ukraine's defense procurement board
Last updated 4:49 p.m. Kyiv time.
Taras Chmut, the head of the Come Back Alive foundation, a leading Ukrainian charity supporting the Armed Forces, has been appointed to the supervisory board of Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced on Feb. 5.
According to Fedorov, Chmut will represent the Defense Ministry on the board and help align procurement with real front-line needs, strengthen transparency, ensure quality control and timely deliveries, and build a more flexible system capable of responding to battlefield innovation.
"Everything we procure must be directly linked to the objectives of the war and the current needs of the military," Fedorov said on Telegram.
Fedorov said Chmut's experience in building one of Ukraine's most effective and transparent support systems for the Armed Forces would significantly strengthen the board's work.
157 Ukrainian POWs, civilians come home in first exchange after months-long pause
Last updated 4:20 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukraine has brought back home 157 Ukrainians from Russian captivity in its latest exchange with Moscow, following an agreement reached during the latest round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Feb. 5.
Moscow released 150 Ukrainian soldiers and seven civilians from captivity, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs).
Russia's Defense Ministry also reported releasing 157 Ukrainians in exchange for 157 Russian soldiers.
This is the first prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia in almost five months, with Moscow halting the process throughout that time, according to Zelensky.
Starlink 'catastrophe' for Russia as forces lose access across front line in Ukraine
Last updated 4:15 p.m. Kyiv time.
A new "white list" from SpaceX is shutting off Russia's illicit access to Starlink's satellite internet across the front line.
At shortly before 3:00 a.m. Kyiv time on Feb. 5, Elon Musk retweeted a new guide from Ukraine's Digital Transformation Ministry for registering a Starlink terminal within Ukraine.
Subsequently, a series of alarmed Russian social media posts indicate that Starlink terminals were disconnecting en masse along the front.
Three Ukrainian commanders, speaking to the Kyiv Independent on the condition of anonymity, reported intercepting messages from Russian forces complaining about Starlink terminals failing in large numbers.
"The enemy at the front doesn't have a problem, the enemy has a catastrophe," wrote Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov, a longtime commentator on electronic warfare more recently appointed as advisor to Defense Minister Mykhaylo Fedorov.
"This will hit harder than anywhere at our front line assault groups, for example in Kupiansk," a a popular Russian propaganda channel wrote. "They will be deprived of any chance of connection with the wider world, alas."
At least 13 killed, 39 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least 13 people were killed and 39 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Feb. 5.
In Donetsk Oblast, eight people were killed and 20 others injured, local authorities reported. Russian attacks damaged homes, civilian infrastructure, and vehicles across multiple settlements in the region.
In Kherson Oblast, four people were killed and five others injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Russian forces attacked 35 settlements, including the city of Kherson, using drones, air strikes, and artillery.
In Sumy Oblast, one civilian was killed and eight others injured as a result of Russian attacks, local authorities reported. Russian forces carried out nearly 120 attacks on 39 settlements across 19 territorial communities, with the heaviest attacks recorded in Sumy and Shostka districts.
In Odesa Oblast, one civilian was injured in an Russian overnight drone attack, local authorities reported. In the city of Odesa, about 20 residential buildings and civilian vehicles were damaged. Four people were rescued from the rubble. The blast wave shattered windows at two kindergartens and a lyceum.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian attacks injured three civilians, local authorities reported. Russian forces carried out 786 strikes on 30 settlements, with 69 reports of damage recorded across the region.
In Kyiv, two people were injured as a result of a Russian attack overnight, Vitali Klitschko, the city's mayor, reported. Falling drone debris was recorded in four districts, damaging residential buildings, a kindergarten, an office building, a shopping area, and parked vehicles.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,243,840 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,243,840 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Feb. 5.
The number includes 770 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,642 tanks, 23,996 armored fighting vehicles, 77,149 vehicles and fuel tanks, 36,975 artillery systems, 1,636 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,293 air defense systems, 435 airplanes, 347 helicopters, 125,094 drones, 28 ships and boats, and two submarines.
