Russian strike on Odesa region causes ‘incredibly serious’ damage to power infrastructure
A Russian strike on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region caused “incredibly serious” damage to power infrastructure supplying the regional capital, Ukrainian energy company DTEK said.
“Repairs will take a long time to restore the equipment to working order,” the company said on social media.
Putin aide warns European powers over seizure of vessels
Russia could use the navy to prevent European powers seizing its vessels and may retaliate against European shipping if Russian vessels are seized, Nikolai Patrushev, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin has been quoted as saying.
“If we don’t give them a tough rebuff, then soon the British, French and even the Balts will become arrogant to such an extent that they will try to block our country’s access to the seas at least in the Atlantic basin,” said Patrushev, a senior politician and security official who has served on the Security Council of Russia as well as the FSB intelligence service in the past.
Russian delegation arrives in Geneva for talks on Ukraine, Interfax reports
The Russian delegation has arrived in Geneva for talks on Ukraine, according to Russian news agency Interfax.
Land in focus at Geneva peace talks between Russia and Ukraine
As Russian and Ukrainian teams meet in Geneva, the US-mediated peace talks are likely to focus on land, the main sticking point.
Russia is demanding that Ukraine cede the remaining 20% of the eastern region of Donetsk that Moscow has failed to capture, which Kyiv refuses to do.
Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s national territory, including Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas region seized before the 2022 invasion.
More than 150 Ukrainian drones repelled overnight, says Russian state media
Russia repelled more than 150 Ukrainian drones overnight, Moscow’s defence ministry has told state media ahead of talks in Geneva.
“Overnight, air defence forces destroyed 151 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, as well as over the Black and Azov Seas,” the ministry reported.
In Russian-annexed Crimea, Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said two dozen drones were shot down during “one of the longest attacks in recent times”.
“Unfortunately, there were injuries. According to preliminary information, one child was wounded,” he posted on Telegram.
Who are the lead negotiators in Geneva?
The Russian delegation in Geneva is led by Vladimir Medinsky, a nationalist hawk and former culture minister who now serves an advisor to President Vladimir Putin. The head of Russian military intelligence, Igor Kostyukov, is also on the negotiating team, while Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev takes part in a separate working group on economic issues.
Ukraine’s team is led by former defence minister Rustem Umerov, while the US team is led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Ukraine made fastest battlefield gain in 2.5 years last week, data analysis shows
Ukraine recaptured 201 square kilometres (78 square miles) from Russia between Wednesday and Sunday last week, taking advantage of a Starlink shutdown for Russian forces, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The recaptured area is almost equivalent to the Russian gains for the entire month of December and is the most land retaken by Kyiv’s forces in such a short period since a June 2023 counter-offensive.
“These Ukrainian counterattacks are likely leveraging the recent block on Russian forces’ access to Starlink, which Russian milbloggers (military bloggers) have claimed is causing communications and command and control issues on the battlefield,” the ISW, which collaborates with the Critical Threats Project, another US think-tank, stated.
On February 5, military observers noted disruption of the Starlink antennas used by Moscow on the front lines, following announcements by Elon Musk of “measures” to end the Kremlin’s use of this technology.
Why the Kremlin reinstated Medinsky as lead negotiator for Geneva talks
For the talks in Geneva, the Kremlin has reinstated nationalist hawk and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky as its lead negotiator.
“This time, we plan to discuss a broader set of issues, focusing on key ones related to the territories and other demands,” a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin told reporters, explaining the personnel change.
Trump says Ukraine must move ‘fast’ to sign peace deal
“Ukraine better come to the table, fast,” US President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Washington.
Zelensky claims necessity of ‘sufficient pressure on Russia’
“Even on the eve of the trilateral meetings in Geneva, the Russian army has no orders other than to continue striking Ukraine. This speaks volumes about how Russia regards the partners’ diplomatic efforts,” Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky posted on social media Monday.
“Only with sufficient pressure on Russia and clear security guarantees for Ukraine can this war realistically be brought to an end,” he added.
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