THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
For: 25-02-06
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 6 stated that day 1079 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, 90 combat engagements took place.
Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 2 missile strikes, 85 air strikes, used 2,293 drones and fired approximately 5,800 artillery shells across the positions of Ukrainian forces and civilians.
Air Force Daily Report
56 ENEMY UAVS SHOT DOWN, 18 DRONES FAILED TO REACH THEIR TARGETS (LOCATIONALLY LOST)
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On the night of February 6, 2025 (from 19:00 on February 5), the enemy attacked with 77 Shahed attack UAVs and simulator drones of various types from the directions: Orel, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Shatalovo — Russian Federation and with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the Rostov region — Russian Federation.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine.
As of 09:00, the shooting down of 56 Shahed attack UAVs and drones of other types in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa regions was confirmed.
18 enemy drone simulators were lost in location (without negative consequences).
As a result of the enemy attack, the Kharkiv, Cherkasy, and Dnipropetrovsk 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 5 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment reported that Russian forces continued ground attacks in the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast on Feb 5 but did not make any confirmed advances. Russian forces continued attacks northwest of Sudzha near Sverdlikovo and Malaya Loknya and southwest of Sudzha near Kurilovka.
Grumpy Here - It has now been 6 months since Ukraine occupied part of the Kursk Oblast of the Russian Federation, for the first time in the 11 years since Russia invaded Ukraine the war has been fought on Russian soil. During that time Russia has suffered more than 40,000 casualties including 16,000 dead and nearly 1,000 captured trying to force the Ukrainians out, but they are still there.
The Kursk operation was aimed at disrupting a planned Russian invasion in the Sumy area of Ukraine and 6 months later it has still not occurred.
The operation forced Russian occupiers to transfer significant resources to the Kursk region, weakening their positions on other fronts. Perhaps most embarrassingly, Russia was forced to ask North Korea for help, who sent troops to assist, which have now been withdrawn from the front due to excessive casualties.
Today there are reports in Russian media (as yet unconfirmed by official Ukrainian sources) of a new Ukrainian offensive in Kursk.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kupyansk Sector: Russian forces recently advanced in the Kupyansk direction amid continued offensive operations in the area on Feb 5. Russian forces continued attacking north of Kupyansk toward Kindrashivka and Doroshivka; east of Kupyansk near Petropavlivka; and southeast of Kupyansk near Pishchane and toward Novoosynove on Feb 4 and 5
Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated on Feb 5 that Russian forces seized Zapadne (north of Kupyansk).
Chasiv Yar Sector: Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Chasiv Yar direction on Feb 5 but did not advance. Russian forces continued attacking within and near Chasiv Yar and south of Chasiv Yar near Stupochky, Predtechyne, and Bila Hora on Feb 4 and 5.
Ukrainian Luhansk Group of Forces Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Zaporozhets stated that Russian forces have become more active in the northern part of Chasiv Yar and that they are trying to advance to central Chasiv Yar near the Avanhard Stadium. Zaporozhets noted that the number of Russian assaults in the Chasiv Yar direction has increased by 97 percent compared to Dec 2024.
Zaporozhets stated that Russian forces are conducting frontal assaults in central Chasiv Yar and noted that Russian forces are using all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles despite muddy ground conditions. Russian forces are also conducting highly attritional attacks with civilian vehicles.
Toretsk Sector: Russian forces recently advanced in the Toretsk direction amid continued offensive operations in the area of February 5. Russian forces continued attacking near Toretsk; on the northern outskirts of Toretsk; and west of Toretsk near Shcherbynivka on February 4 and 5.[45]
Geolocated footage published on February 4 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced along Sierova and Hryhoriia Skovorody streets in northern Toretsk.
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 ongoing Russian offensive operations in the area on Feb 5. Russian forces continued assaults east of Pokrovsk near Kalynove, Vodyane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, and Myrolyubivka; southeast of Pokrovsk near Promin; south of Pokrovsk near Pishchane; and southwest of Pokrovsk near Kotlyne, Udachne, and Uspenivka on Feb 4 and 5.
Geolocated footage published on Feb 5 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced east of Nadiivka (southwest of Pokrovsk).
Geolocated footage published on Feb 5 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in southern Sribne (southwest of Pokrovsk) and likely seized the settlement. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets assessed on Feb 4 that Russian forceslikely seized Sribne.
Kurakhove Sector: Russian forces recently marginally advanced west of Kurakhove amid ongoing offensive operations in the Kurakhove direction on Jan 5. Geolocated footage published on Feb 4 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in a field southwest of Dachne.
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
1 killed, 24 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over past day
Russian attacks on multiple Ukrainian regions killed at least one civilian and injured 24 over the past day, the Kyiv Independent reported citing regional authorities on Feb. 6.
Russia launched 77 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones overnight, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 56 drones over nine oblasts, while 18 others were lost without causing damage.
In Kherson Oblast, Russian strikes killed one person and wounded 18 others, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
In Donetsk Oblast, four civilians were wounded — two in Pokrovsk, one in Lyman, and one in Roza — according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.
In Kharkiv Oblast, two men were injured in Kupiansk — a 57-year-old volunteer and a 43-year-old resident, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, shelling damaged at least 15 residential buildings, though no civilian casualties were reported.
Ukraine has faced daily Russian strikes targeting civilian areas, with regional authorities continuing to report casualties as Russia intensifies its offensive efforts.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Russia continues to prioritize the latent xenophobia of most Russians over economic stability.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its -- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment reported that the Kremlin continues to prioritize domestic political stability over efforts to mitigate economic pressure and labor shortages. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) announced on February 4 that it will enact a new migration regime that imposes severe restrictions on migrants residing in Russia starting on February 5. The law requires migrants who have committed a criminal offense or are undocumented to register with Russian authorities, regularly share geolocated photos to the MVD, and obtain MVD approval for basic activities including buying property, driving a car, accessing banking services, and traveling outside their region. The law gives the MVD the right to deport migrants who violate these restrictions without a court hearing and penalizes those who provide undocumented migrants with services.
Russian Investigative Committee Head Alexander Bastrykin reported that migrant-related crimes remain a "serious concern" for Russian authorities and the public and claimed that there was an 18 percent increase in court cases against migrants in 2024. Bastrykin's statements reinforce Russian ultra-nationalist narratives that migrants pose a security threat by supposedly violating laws, moving "uncontrollably" within Russia, and committing crimes.
The new MVD migration regime and Bastrykin's rhetoric demonstrate that Russian authorities are increasingly prioritizing efforts to appease particularly pro-war, xenophobic Russian ultranationalists and mitigate potential domestic security risks linked to rising anti-migrant sentiment rather than offsetting Russia's labor shortages and ongoing economic struggles, in part, with migrant labor.
Russia's space chief Borisov dismissed amid program failures
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Yury Borisov as CEO of the state space corporation Roscosmos, the Kyiv Inbdependent reported citing the Kremlin's official website on Feb. 6.
Borisov's removal allegedly stems from uncertainty over the costs and implementation of the National Space Center project in Moscow, according to Russian media outlet RBC.
Borisov was appointed as Roscosmos chief in July 2022, succeeding Dmitry Rogozin. His tenure saw a decline in launches, with 19 in 2023 — three fewer than in 2022. Launches fell by 25% from pre-war 2021 and nearly halved compared to the early 2000s.
Before leading Roscosmos, Borisov played a key role in Russia's military-industrial sector, overseeing the state rearmament program since 2011.
As deputy chairman of the Military Industrial Commission, then-deputy defense minister, and later deputy prime minister, he was responsible for funneling 2 trillion rubles ($20.5 billion) annually into the defense industry.
Under his leadership, Russia had pledged to produce divisions of new Armata tanks, a next-generation strategic bomber, 600 aircraft, and thousands of helicopters by 2020, while increasing the share of modern weapons in the military to 70%.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 exposed shortcomings in Russia's defense industry, with its forces relying heavily on aging Soviet-era equipment.
Borisov also admitted that Roscosmos had failed to meet its 2023 state launch plan, adding to concerns over Russia's declining space capabilities amid economic strain and Western sanctions.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Azerbaijan gathering evidence for international lawsuit against Russia
Azerbaijan is preparing to file an international lawsuit against Russia over the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, in December 2024, the Azerbaijani state news agency APA reported on Feb. 5.
The plane, which was en route from Baku to Grozny, was redirected and crashed near Aktau, resulting in the deaths of 38 out of 67 people on board.
Azerbaijan is collecting evidence to support its case. The country has obtained parts of the Pantsir-S missile system used by Russia to shoot down the aircraft. However, Russia is attempting to "bury the issue" and shift blame onto the plane's crew, similar to the scenario involving the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine.
Azerbaijan has stated that experts from Russia and Brazil, the country of the aircraft's manufacturer, are involved in the investigation, and thus Moscow is aware of the findings.
Azerbaijan is currently preparing to apply to an international court. At the same time, Baku says that "the door for dialogue with Russia is open."
"Moscow must openly admit its guilt and take responsibility. Otherwise, Baku is ready to take the next steps," APA writes.
Euronews, citing sources in the Azerbaijani government, reported that a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the crash. Reuters also reported that Azerbaijan’s government expected Russia to admit responsibility for the downing of the plane.
MILITARY & TECH
Ukraine receives Mirage 2000-5 jets and F-16s from allies, defence minister says.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has received the long-awaited reinforcement - F-16 fighters from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the first French Mirage 2000-5 fighters.
This is stated on the Facebook page of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umierov, Censor.NET reports.
"The Ukrainian sky is becoming more secure! These modern combat vehicles are already in Ukraine and will soon begin to perform combat missions, strengthening our defense and ability to effectively counter Russian aggression," he wrote.
Umierov thanked France and the Netherlands for supporting the Ukrainian people in the war against Russia.
"I am grateful to France for this strategically important contribution to our security - Mirage 2000 will become a new element of protection of the Ukrainian sky.
The support of the Netherlands is another important step that brings us closer to victory and ensures reliable protection of Ukrainian cities and citizens," the Defense Minister wrote.
"We continue to work systematically together with our partners to increase the number of modern combat aircraft in Ukraine. I am grateful to our allies for their trust, determination and continued support of Ukraine!" Umierov summarized.
The Mirage 2000-5, introduced in 1999, represents an upgraded version featuring advanced avionics, enhanced firing capabilities for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, and a modern sensor and control system.
“The (Mirage 2000)-5 variant has a high-quality radar, (is) fitted with drop tanks, has a reasonable range, and carries a range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons,” Peter Layton, a visiting fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute and an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told the Kyiv Independent last year.
A significant enhancement of the Mirage 2000-5 is the inclusion of the Thomson-CSF Radar Doppler Multi-target (RDY), augmenting its capabilities for deep-strike and close-support missions.
Equipped with a variety of air-to-air missiles and weapons, such as Mica missiles with a range of up to 60 kilometers or older Magic short-range missiles, the Mirage 2000-5 can be configured to meet diverse mission requirements.
Its capacity for carrying drop tanks further extends its operational range.
In terms of air-to-ground operations, the Mirage 2000 can deploy various weaponry, including SCALP missiles, previously supplied to Ukraine by France, and Hammer guided bombs.
While the French Air Force has around 40 Mirage 2000-5s, only 26 one-seaters are in active service. The French military is reportedly planning to phase them out by the end of the decade, replacing them with the more advanced Dassault Rafale and thereby potentially freeing up the older Mirage 2000 aircraft for transfer to Ukraine.
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