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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• Ukraine Withdraws Some Units From Avdiyivka After Deploying Advanced Brigade To 'Hellish' Battle RFE/RL 15 Feb 2024 -- Ukrainian troops are withdrawing from the eastern town of Avdiyivka after months of heavy fighting for control of the city, a Ukrainian military spokesman said on February 15 as Kyiv's hold on the city appeared increasingly shaky.
• Ukraine to Redeploy Troops to City in Donetsk Region VOA 15 Feb 2024 -- Ukraine says it will strategically redeploy troops to the Avdiivka area to strengthen itself against "extremely critical" conditions. The town now has fewer than 1,000 residents, despite its prewar population of 32,000.
• Ukraine, Russia Exchange Missile Strikes With Both Sides Reporting Deaths RFE/RL 15 Feb 2024 -- Ukraine and Russia on February 15 both reported missile and drone strikes that caused deaths and injuries among civilians and caused material damage.
• Ukraine Says Russian Attacks Target Kyiv VOA 15 Feb 2024 -- The mayor of Ukraine's capital reported explosions in the city Thursday, urging people to stay inside as the Ukrainian air force warned of Russian rockets targeting the city.
• Foreign Ministry statement on the Kiev regime's latest crime Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Feb 2024
• Ukrainian Troops Reportedly Beginning Partial Withdrawal From Avdeyevka Sputnik 15 Feb 2024 -- Ukrainian forces have reportedly started withdrawing from the city of Avdeyevka as they otherwise risk being cut off by advancing Russian troops.
• Russian Missiles Hit Ukrainian Military Industry Facilities - MoD Sputnik 15 Feb 2024 -- The Russian armed forces on Thursday launched missile attacks targeting facilities of the Ukrainian defense industry, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.
• Ukraine Attacks Russia's Belgorod With Vampire MLRS: Six Killed, 17 Wounded, Shopping Mall Damaged Sputnik 15 Feb 2024 -- At least six people were killed during a Ukrainian missile attack on the Russian city of Belgorod today.
• Ukraine's Drone Attack Causes Fire at Oil Depot in Russia's Kursk Region - Governor Sputnik 15 Feb 2024 -- A fire broke out at an oil depot in Russia's Kursk region after a Ukrainian drone strike, but there were casualties reported so far, Governor Roman Starovoit said early on Thursday.
• Statement by Russian Defence Ministry Russia MoD 15 Feb 2024 -- At around 12.30 a.m., the Russian Armed Forces have foiled another attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack by RM-70 Vampire MLRS projectiles against facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Confirms Russia Pursuing 'Space-Based' Anti-Satellite System VOA 15 Feb 2024 -- The new national security threat that sent some in Washington into a tizzy and sparked calls urging Americans not to panic, is a new Russian anti-satellite capability, the White House confirmed Thursday, again emphasizing there is no immediate threat to life or limb.
• Russia slams US for 'malicious fabrication' over space capabilities Press TV 15 Feb 2024 -- Moscow has dismissed as mere "malicious fabrication" a warning by Washington about Russia's newly-achieved capabilities in space.
• Blinken Says Russian 'Threat' Not Active Capability, But US Taking It 'Very Seriously' Sputnik 15 Feb 2024 -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that an alleged Russia-related "national security threat" is not an active capability, but a potential one that Washington is taking "very, very seriously" and discussing with its allies.

Foreign Policy

• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's participation in the presentation of the second edition of the collection titled Crimea in Russia's Development: History, Politics, Diplomacy. Documents from the Foreign Ministry Archives Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Feb 2024
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the presentation of the collection of documents titled Crimea in Russia's Development: History, Politics, Diplomacy. Documents from the Foreign Ministry Archives, Moscow, February 15, 2024 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Feb 2024
• Justice Department Conducts Court-Authorized Disruption of Botnet Controlled by the Russian Federation's Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) US Dept. of Justice 15 Feb 2024 -- A January 2024 court-authorized operation has neutralized a network of hundreds of small office/home office (SOHO) routers that GRU Military Unit 26165, also known as APT 28, Sofacy Group, Forest Blizzard, Pawn Storm, Fancy Bear, and Sednit, used to conceal and otherwise enable a variety of crimes.
• U.S. Offers Rewards Worth Millions For Info On Russian Ransomware Group RFE/RL 15 Feb 2024 -- The United States on February 15 announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any of the leaders of the Russian-based criminal group known as BlackCat.
• China, Russia Double Down on Ties Despite Complications in Trade Relations VOA 15 Feb 2024 -- China and Russia have doubled down on their "no-limits partnership" in recent weeks, with leaders from both countries vowing to maintain "close personal interaction" and the Chinese ambassador to Russia revealing Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to visit China this year.
• Russia, China denounce US-UK strikes on Yemen as illegal Press TV 15 Feb 2024 -- Russia and China have denounced as illegal the strikes by the United States and United Kingdom against targets in Yemen, saying they were not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.
• Red Sea stability depends on Gaza peace: Russia IRNA 15 Feb 2024 -- First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Wednesday that the cessation of war and the establishment of peace in the Gaza Strip will stabilize the situation in the Red Sea.

News Reports

• Russian Anti-War Presidential Hopeful's Appeals Denied RFE/RL 15 Feb 2024 -- Russia's Supreme Court on February 15 rejected two appeals filed by anti-war presidential hopeful Boris Nadezhdin related to a decision by election officials not to register him for next month's election.
• Pro-Kremlin Leader In Breakaway Abkhazia Pushes 'Foreign Agents' Bill To Silence Critics RFE/RL 15 Feb 2024 -- If the de facto pro-Kremlin leader of Abkhazia gets his way, Georgia's breakaway region could face draconian restrictions on any individual or group receiving foreign funding as its rubberstamp parliament debates legislation apparently modeled after Russia's much criticized "foreign agents" law.