Mezha: The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine intercepted a conversation of Russian servicemen, in which they confirm yet another war crime – the shooting of civilians near Pokrovsk.

The Kyiv Independent: Ukraine will open 10 weapon export centers in Europe, including in Baltic and Northern European countries, in 2026, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Feb. 8. Zelensky also announced the upcoming production of Ukrainian drones in Germany.

Kyiv Post: Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said the previous government made a mistake by transferring the country’s MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine without securing a replacement, while claiming that he would not involve himself in the political disputes surrounding the donation.

CNN: While Epstein’s interest in scouting models from Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe had previously come to light, the latest release of documents related to the disgraced financier offers new insight into his attempts to draw closer to high-ranking Russian officials, including Putin, who Epstein tried to meet or speak with multiple times.

United24 Media: Disruptions in Starlink access have significantly weakened Russian command-and-control capabilities on several parts of the front, forcing a shift in tactical behavior and reducing the effectiveness of small assault groups supported by drones, according to a recent report.

Reuters: Four Indian students were injured in a knife attack at a medical university in Russia's Bashkortostan region on Saturday, the Indian embassy in Moscow and Russian investigators said.

United24 Media: On February 8, Ukrainian Defense Forces confirmed a series of precision strikes on Russian military infrastructure in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and within Russia itself, including a UAV control center and a medium-range ballistic missile support facility.

Ukrainska Pravda: Russian forces dropped a FAB-250 aerial bomb equipped with a UMPK kit on the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast at 05:00 on 8 February, killing one woman and injuring three men.

CNN: Russia’s Investigative Committee has accused Ukrainian intelligence of being behind the assassination attempt on a Russian general in Moscow on Friday – and says the alleged perpetrator was arrested in Dubai after fleeing Moscow. One other suspect – described as an accomplice – was also detained, the Committee said. Another alleged accomplice escaped to Ukraine.

Reuters: Indian refiners are avoiding Russian oil purchases for delivery in April and are expected to stay away from such trades for longer, refining and trade sources said, a move that could help New Delhi seal a trade pact with Washington.

The Kyiv Independent: Ukrainian drones struck a Russian factory that manufactures fuel components for Kh-55 and Kh-101 cruise missiles in Tver Oblast, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine familiar with the operation told the Kyiv Independent on Feb. 7.

United24 Media: In a series of coordinated drone strikes throughout January, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency targeted and destroyed multiple components of Russia’s short-range air defense network and radar systems across the frontline, the agency reported on February 7.

AP News: The U.S. has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach a deal to end the nearly four‑year war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters, as Russian strikes on energy infrastructure forced nuclear power plants to cut output on Saturday. If the June deadline is not met, the Trump administration will likely put pressure on both sides to meet it, he added.

The Kyiv Independent: The U.S. and Russia could reach bilateral agreements affecting Ukraine without Kyiv's participation, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 6 during a briefing with journalists in Kyiv.

France 24: Ukraine's Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal on Saturday said Kyiv had requested emergency assistance from Poland after what the state grid operator called a "massive attack" by Russia on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Euronews: Russian forces are pushing into EU and NATO territory through hybrid warfare tactics including surveillance, airspace violations and psychological operations — and increasingly in the digital realm.

The Guardian: The UK is threatening to seize a Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker in a move that could lead to the opening up of a new front against Moscow at a time when the country’s oil revenues are tumbling.

The U.S. Department of State on Feb. 6 approved a potential $185 million “Foreign Military Sale” to Ukraine for spare parts and related equipment to support U.S.-supplied vehicles and weapon systems.

ISW: The Russian military command’s intention to conduct a large-scale summer offensive — even if Russian forces may struggle to achieve its objectives — demonstrates the Kremlin’s disinterest in finding a solution to end the war via negotiations in the coming weeks or months.

The Insider and Novaya Gazeta Europe have found that half of all sociopolitical content in the German-language segment of Telegram is controlled by the RT (formerly Russia Today) media network, which continues to spread pro-Kremlin disinformation.

WSJ: North Korean forces deployed to help Russia’s war against Ukraine are now operating surveillance drones, removing mines and executing artillery strikes, roles that illustrate the advancement in their combat skills after roughly 15 months of involvement in the conflict (archive).

Reuters: The European Commission on Friday proposed a sweeping ban on any services that support Russia's seaborne crude oil exports, going far beyond previous piecemeal EU sanctions in its effort to stunt Moscow's key source of income for its war on Ukraine.

The Moscow Times: A former Spanish university professor wanted in his home country for alleged acts of cyberterrorism said Friday that he has received political asylum in Russia.

Reuters: Canada is supplying AIM missiles to strengthen Ukraine's air defences, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on X on Friday, adding that delivery is already under way.

Reuters: France has uncovered a pro-Russia disinformation campaign falsely connecting President Emmanuel Macron to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a French government source said on Friday.

The Kyiv Independent: Foreign fighters serving in Ukraine’s Azov International Battalion captured 18 Russian soldiers in less than 24 hours during a uniquely successful clearing operation, the unit’s press service said on Feb. 6.

Reuters: The United States accused Beijing on Friday of conducting a secret nuclear test in 2020 as it called for a new, broader arms control treaty that would bring in China as well as Russia.

Reuters: Norwegian security services said they expect Russia to step up its spying on Norway this year, with a focus on the Arctic, and Moscow may commit acts of sabotage aimed at undermining Oslo's support for Ukraine.

Russa-Ukraine Daily Briefing is sent 5 days a week. Do you think your friend or colleague should know about this newsletter? Forward it to them, please. They can also sign up here.

Here are my: Telegram & Socials

Please consider supporting my work