THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
For: 25-02-11
Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. In June 2023 I began providing a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 70 sources daily, which formed the basis of the script. While the Podcast no longer exists I have continued to make this Brief available for my followers here on Substack for those who wish to keep up with the news from the war.
All the latest news on the Russo-Ukraine War 6 days per week
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 08:00 on Feb 11 stated that day 1083 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine had begun.
The situation on the line of combat remains tense in some sectors. Ukrainian defenders continue to actively counteract the Russian aggressor, causing them significant losses in personnel, equipment and technology. Exhausting the enemy along the entire front line and continuing to disrupt the plans of Russian occupiers to advance deeper into the territory of Ukraine.
During the past day, 139 combat engagements took place.
Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 100 air strikes, used 2,853 drones and fired approximately 6,000 artillery shells across the positions of Ukrainian forces and civilians.
Air Force Daily Report
57 ENEMY UAVS SHOT DOWN, 66 DRONES FAILED TO REACH THEIR TARGETS (LOCATIONALLY LOST)
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On the night of February 11, 2025, the Russian occupiers carried out a combined strike with various types of air, ground, and sea-based missiles on gas production facilities in the Poltava region — a total of up to 19 cruise, ballistic, and guided aircraft missiles. Information on the types and results of the combat operation is being clarified.
The enemy also attacked with 124 Shahed attack UAVs and other types of simulator drones from the following directions: Millerovo, Orel, Bryansk, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk — Russia.
Aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare equipment, and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine were involved in repelling the enemy air attack.
As of 10:00, it has been confirmed that 57 Shahed attack UAVs and drones of other types have been shot down in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odessa regions.
64 enemy drone simulators were lost in location (without negative consequences).
As a result of the enemy attack, the Poltava, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy regions suffered.
Combat Operations in the Kursk Sector, Russian Federation
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Feb 10 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment reported that Russian forces recently advanced in the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast amid continued fighting in the area on Feb 10. Fighting continued northwest of Sudzha near Pogrebki and Viktorovka, west of Sudzha near Sverdlikovo, and southeast of Sudzha near Cherkasskaya Konopelka and Fanaseyevka.Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces attacked towards Ulanok (southeast of Sudzha).
Geolocated footage published on Feb 9 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced to the northwestern outskirts of Sverdlikovo. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated on February 10 that Ukrainian forces entered Sverdlikovo again.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Chasiv Yar Sector: Russian forces recently advanced south of Chasiv Yar amid continued fighting in the area on Feb 10. Russian forces continued ground attacks in Chasiv Yar and northeast of Chasiv Yar near Vasyukivka.
Assessed Russian advances: Geolocated footage published on February 10 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in fields east of Stupochky (south of Chasiv Yar).
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk Sector : Ukrainian and Russian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction amid continued Russian offensive operations in the area on Feb 10. Russian forces attacked northeast of Pokrovsk near Malynivka; east of Pokrovsk near Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Vodyane Druhe, Novooleksandrivka, Myrnohrad, Baranivka, Myrolyubivka, Novotoretske, and Zelene Pole; southeast of Pokrovsk near Lysivka and Novopavlivka; south of Pokrovsk near Dachenske; and southwest of Pokrovsk near Pishchane, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Uspenivka, Nadiivka, Yasenove, Kotlyarivka, Preobrazhenka, and Zaporizhzhia on Feb 9 and 10.
Ukrainian and Russian sources reported on February 10 that Ukrainian forces cleared the industrial zone in Vodyane Druhe and pushed Russian forces out of part of Dachenske. Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked in western Lysivka and near Pokrovsk itself, Kotlyne, Dachenske, Vodyane Druhe, and Preobrazhenka.
Geolocated footage published on Feb 5 and 10 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced to southwestern Pishchane and likely seized most of the settlement.
Geolocated footage published on Feb 10 indicates that Russian forces recently marginally advanced in eastern Udachne.
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
There have been no major changes to the combat environment since our last report.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing major to report.
THE HOME FRONT
3 killed, 17 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over past day.
Russian attacks on multiple Ukrainian regions killed at least three civilians and injured at least 17 over the past day, the Kyiv Independent reported citing regional authorities on Feb. 11.
Overnight, Russia launched 124 Shahed-type combat and decoy drones, according to the Air Force. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 57 drones across 11 oblasts, while 64 others were lost without causing damage, according to the statement.
Moscow's forces also launched up to 19 cruise, ballistic, and guided missiles from aerial, ground- and sea-based platforms, targeting gas production facilities in Poltava Oblast, the report said.
As a result of the strike on Poltava Oblast, Naftogaz facilities were damaged, and nine settlements in the Myrhorod district were left without a gas supply. Governor Filip Pronin reported no casualties.
Two people were killed and six injured during Russian attacks in Kherson Oblast, said the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin. Six high-rise buildings and 12 houses were reportedly damaged.
Russian forces launched heavy drone and artillery attacks against Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, injuring at least four people, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.
Two women aged 18 and 44 were injured in the Russian shelling of Nikopol on the evening of Feb. 10, while a 67-year-old man and a 78-year-old woman were injured in Marhanets. Dozens of houses, high-rise buildings, and other buildings were damaged across the region.
In Cherkasy Oblast, two men were injured by drone debris after Ukrainian air defenses shot down 17 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles, Governor Ihor Taburets said. The victims have been hospitalized and are in a condition of moderate severity, according to the governor.
Russian attacks injured three people in Donetsk Oblast over the past day, Governor Vadym Filashkin said, reporting victims in Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Leontovychi.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, one person was killed and two others were injured in Russian strikes against the Zaporizhzhia and Polohy districts, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Russia sends wounded soldiers to North Korea for treatment.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Feb 10 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment reported that A Russian official claimed that Russia is sending experienced Russian military personnel to North Korea for medical treatment.
Matsegora claimed that Russia has sent "hundreds" of wounded soldiers who fought against Ukraine to North Korea for rehabilitation and medical care and that North Korea refused Russia's offer of financial compensation for the medical care, food, and other expenses related to the Russians' stay in North Korea.
The Russian military command has reportedly been sending wounded personnel back into assault groups without treatment, demonstrating a general disregard for soldiers' health in the Russian military and calling into question official Russian claims to be sending Russian soldiers abroad for treatment, particularly to North Korea. The arrival of combat experienced Russian soldiers, particularly if they include officers or non-commissioned officers, to North Korea may allow the Russian military to work with North Korean forces and disseminate lessons from the war in Ukraine while ostensibly recuperating.
Russia records it’s worst-ever ranking in key corruption index.
Russia ranked 154th out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, marking its worst performance in the index's history, the organization reported on Feb. 11.
"In order for autocratic regimes to secure power, they dismantle critical checks and balances — allowing corruption to run rampant," Transparency International said in the report.
Russia was given a score of 22 points, with the lower number indicating higher corruption perceptions. In 2023, Transparency International placed Russia 141st with a score of 26 points.
The organization highlighted that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has further entrenched authoritarianism, with the Kremlin suppressing dissent, redirecting resources to its military agenda, and eliminating independent voices.
Ukraine ranked 105th with 35 points, moving up one spot from 2023 relative to other countries but losing one point. Kyiv saw a three-point increase between 2022 and 2023.
"Despite the Russian invasion, Ukraine is making strides in judicial independence and high-level corruption prosecutions," the report said.
After the EuroMaidan Revolution ousted pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, Ukraine launched an extensive anti-corruption campaign. Observers warned that Russia's full-scale invasion presents an increasingly significant challenge to Ukraine's anti-graft reforms.
Andrii Borovik, the executive director of Transparency International Ukraine, noted that while a one-point drop is not necessarily a sign of decline, it suggests stagnation and warns authorities that more reforms are needed.
Tackling corruption is one of the main conditions for Ukraine's integration into Western political structures, namely the EU. Among the reforms recommended by Brussels in 2022 were changes to Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies, judiciary reforms, legislation against money laundering, and more.
Among other countries in the region, Moldova improved its performance by reaching 43 points, ranking 76th, while Albania climbed five points to 80th place with 42 points.
The European Union's average score dropped by two points this year to 62. Denmark topped the index for the seventh consecutive year with a score of 90, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84).
The index ranks countries on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating lower perceived corruption.
Russia’s fears over ex-Soviet nations laid bare in leaked report.
Russian officials are concerned that the Western sanctions are undermining Russia's economic influence over countries in its close neighborhood and the Global South, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 10, citing a leaked government report.
The report offers rare insight into how Moscow sees it’s invasion of Ukraine harming ties with close allies.
Russian officials believe western pressure is hampering Moscow’s efforts to draw former Soviet nations closer into its orbit and build economic ties with the global south, according to a leaked government report.
The internal presentation, shown at a strategy session led by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin last April, offers a rare insight into how Russia’s war in Ukraine has harmed ties with some of its closest allies.
The analysis notably concedes that western sanctions pressure, as well as economic overtures, had succeeded in driving a wedge between Moscow and some of its nearest trade partners.
Moscow’s ambition, the report says, is to restore its access to global trade by putting Russia at the centre of a Eurasian trade bloc that would aim to rival the US, EU, and China’s spheres of economic influence.
Russia sees creating the “macroregion” as an important long-term project, which would outlast any talks with the west over the future of Ukraine, to help strengthen its footing on the “global arena”, the report says.
But it admits the obstacles to Russia’s global resurgence remain considerable. The report says western countries have successfully threatened central Asian countries into complying with sanctions through a “carrot-and-stick” approach while offering them access to global markets, transport corridors and supply chains that bypass Moscow.
The report admits Russia will have to “play the long game” to keep central Asian countries in its orbit. It suggests Moscow appeals to their shared history and respect their independence, while understanding a Russian victory in the war against Ukraine will not be enough to end western sanctions pressure. “Close relations with a country [like Russia] will be a source of difficulties,” the report says.
Central Asian countries, it adds, are taking advantage of Russia’s “vulnerability” and looking to “integrate without Russia” in groups such as the Organization of Turkic States. The nations have “changed their world view” by “rethinking our collective history”, promoting English as a second language instead of Russian and moving to western educational standards, as well as sending their elites to be schooled in the west.
Kazakhstan, the region’s largest economy, has condemned the invasion, refused to recognise Russia’s territorial gains and made an effort to demonstrate compliance with western sanctions. Neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, however, has thrown its lot in firmly with Russia and emerged as an important route for alleged sanctions evasion.
But the development of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, is also struggling with “systemic problems”, according to the report. Those include sanctions risks, the use of different payment systems after western countries kicked Russia out of the Swift messaging system, and the currency controls Moscow introduced to help weather the impact of the sanctions.
Ukraine strikes Russia's Saratov oil refinery, military confirms.
Ukrainian forces struck Russia's Saratov oil refinery in a strike overnight on Feb. 11, the Kyiv Independent reported citing the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces after reports of drone attacks in the region.
Unverified videos posted to social media showed a large fire and search lights raking the sky reportedly in the vicinity of the refinery.
"The refinery mainly produces gasoline, fuel oil, and diesel fuel. In total, more than 20 types of oil products (are being produced there)," the General Staff said, adding that the facility supplies Russian occupation forces in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military reported a confirmed hit and a fire at the Rosneft facility. The full extent of damage is being determined, it added.
The attack was carried out jointly by the Unmanned Systems Forces, the military intelligence agency (HUR), and the Special Operations Forces, as well as other units, according to the statement.
The confirmation of the attack on the Saratov oil refinery came after earlier reports of a drone attack against the oil refinery lying some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from Ukraine's border.
The Russian Telegram news channel Shot also reported at least 11 explosions over Engels, a city lying across the Volga River from Saratov.
The Russian strategic aviation airbase Engels-2, which has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian long-range strikes, lies in the vicinity.
"The Saratov Oil Refinery is one of the key facilities in Russia's fuel infrastructure. Its refining capacity reaches 7 million tons of oil annually," said Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, adding that the refinery is crucial in supplying fuel to the Russian military.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian energy infrastructure, including oil refineries and fuel depots, to disrupt supplies to Russian forces. The strikes are part of a broader strategy to weaken Russia's military logistics and economic resilience amid the ongoing war.
In particular, Kyiv has stepped up long-range attacks this winter. Recent drone strikes hit a refinery in Ryazan, a distillery in Tambov Oblast, and a chemical plant in Bryansk. The Ryazan Oil Refinery, one of Russia's largest, later suspended operations due to the damage.
Russia's seaborne exports of petroleum products declined by 9.1% to 113.7 million metric tons in 2024, reflecting mounting challenges to its fossil fuel industry, including Ukrainian drone strikes, Reuters reported on Jan. 17.
Russian refineries reportedly processed approximately 267 million metric tons of oil in 2024, the lowest since 2012, as rising production costs, falling prices, and an export ban on gasoline strained operations.
Exports through Baltic ports fell by 9% to 61.96 million tons, while shipments via Black and Azov Sea ports dropped 10% to 42.75 million tons.
Notably, exports from Tuapse plummeted by a third to 9.1 million tons, largely due to drone attacks and operational disruptions at state-owned Rosneft refineries.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
German authorities investigating assets of sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is under investigation for undeclared assets in Germany, Spiegel reported on Feb. 8, citing the Frankfurt am Main Public Prosecutor's Office.
Abramovich is widely known as the former owner of the Chelsea soccer club. The Russian billionaire allegedly owes up to $1.2 billion in unpaid taxes in the U.K., a media investigation has found.
The EU has imposed sanctions on Abramovich, requiring the billionaire to declare his assets. If found guilty, Abramovich could face hefty fines or up to a year in prison for failing to report his assets.
Luxury cars including two Bugatti Chirons, a Lamborghini Reventon, and a Mercedes CLK GTR have been frozen while authorities in Germany investigate, Spiegel reported.
Several pieces of artwork have been confiscated from a villa in Bavaria that persecutors allege belong to Abramovich.
The billionaire's lawyers maintain Abramovich is not the owner of the villa or the frozen luxury cars.
When reached for comment by Spiegel, the Frankfurt am Main Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed it was investigating a "58-year-old businessman from the Russian Federation" under the country's Foreign Trade Act, although did not confirm directly that it was Abramovich.
Abramovich was sanctioned by the EU and the U.K. following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The billionaire unsuccessfully appealed for the sanctions to be removed in 2023.
Abramovich was forced to sell the Chelsea soccer club he once owned due to sanctions. U.K. lawmakers have called for assets from the sale to be spent on Ukraine aid.
Russian Foreign Intelligence Service accuses Ukraine of allegedly intending to blow up foreign vessel in Baltic Sea.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service accuses Ukrainian special services of allegedly preparing to carry out a series of high-profile anti-Russian provocations. Censor.NET reported.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service's report was quoted by the Russian propaganda news agency RIA-Novosti.
Russia’s propaganda outlet claims that it is planned to blow up a foreign vessel in the Baltic Sea with Russian-made mines, "and to blame Russia".
This, according to Russia, will push NATO to decide to close Russia's access to the Baltic Sea.
It should be noted that such a message from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service may indicate that Russia is preparing such an attack.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service accuses Ukrainian special services of allegedly preparing to carry out a series of high-profile anti-Russian provocations.
MILITARY & TECH
North Korea sends 200 long-range artillery pieces to Russia.
North Korea has provided Russia with around 200 long-range artillery pieces to boost its war effort against Ukraine, the Yonhap news agency reported on Feb. 11, citing South Korea's Defense Ministry.
Seoul further warned that Pyongyang is likely preparing to send additional troops and arms to back Russia's war, confirming earlier warnings by the Ukrainian intelligence.
North Korea has reportedly also supplied ballistic missiles, millions of artillery shells, and other arms to Moscow. In addition, the country has deployed up to 12,000 troops to Russia's Kursk Oblast to support Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian cross-border incursion launched in early August 2024.
The South Korean Defense Ministry suspects that North Korea is receiving Russia's technological assistance with nuclear-powered submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in exchange for its military support, Yonhap reported.
According to the Japanese public broadcaster NHK, North Korea is also expected to begin drone production this year with Russian technical assistance.
At least 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and another 2,700 wounded fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) claimed in mid-January.
Ukraine placed North Korean losses to as many as 4,000 killed and injured. Kyiv’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov nevertheless predicted that North Korea might soon send reinforcements to Russia, namely gun and rocket artillery units.
The New York Times reported on Jan. 30 that North Korean troops had been pulled from the front, and a Special Operations Forces spokesperson confirmed to the Kyiv Independent at the time that Ukraine's special forces had not faced Pyongyang's soldiers for three weeks.
On Feb. 7, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that North Korean soldiers were "brought in again" to Kursk Oblast, a day after Russian media claimed Ukraine had launched a new offensive in the Russian region.
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