4 years ago, the defense of the city of Mariupol ended - one of the most heroic and tragic pages of Ukrainian resistance to russian aggression. This battle lasted 86 days (February 24 - May 20, 2022), 82 of which the Ukrainian defenders of the city fought in complete encirclement. Here the russians committed terrible war crimes - causing a humanitarian catastrophe and destroying tens of thousands of civilians.

Mariupol - a large city, industrial center and port on the Sea of Azov - was very close to the territories of Donbas, which the russians captured back in 2014. This city symbolized a free and prosperous Ukrainian Donbas. Therefore, from the first hours of the full-scale invasion, Mariupol became a priority target for the russians. Having a significant advantage in manpower and equipment, complete domination in the sky and at sea, the invaders tried to seize the city from the east.

But the plan for a quick assault in the first days of the invasion failed. Then the russian command redirected columns of armored vehicles that were heading to Zaporizhia to Mariupol. The blockaded city attracted large forces of the invaders. They took Mariupol into a siege ring and began shelling and bombing the city.

During the siege, russian aviation carried out up to 100 strikes on the city per day. Immediately, the russians targeted the energy infrastructure and hit firefighting equipment. On March 16, a russian plane dropped a powerful bomb on the building of the drama theater, where about 1,200 civilians were hiding from the shelling. Approximately half of these people died. The invaders were not stopped even by the fact that “CHILDREN” was written in large letters in front of the theater. The russians also attacked hospitals that were overflowing with wounded people, and even a maternity hospital.

According to the Mariupol City Hall, about 90% of the city’s buildings were destroyed or damaged as a result of russian shelling. According to various estimates, from 25 to 75 thousand civilians died. In fact, the russians destroyed a large, thriving city, which by February 24, 2022 had a population of about 450 thousand. Thousands of Mariupol residents passed through russian filtration camps, where they were subjected to abuse.

Fierce street fighting lasted for more than two months. The center and symbol of the city’s defense was the large Azovstal metallurgical plant, which had large dungeons. In support of the surrounded defenders of Mariupol, an airlift was organized in March-April. Facing mortal danger, Ukrainian helicopter crews flew to the surrounded city - delivering ammunition and medicine to the defenders, evacuating the wounded. A total of seven such raids were carried out, in which 16 helicopters were involved.

Thousands of russian invaders died in the battles for the city, including a general - division commander and a captain of the 1st rank - deputy commander of the russian Black Sea fleet, who drove the marines into battle. The russians also lost more than a hundred units of armored vehicles, including 78 tanks, 4 aircraft and 1 landing craft.

By the end of April, the defense ring had shrunk to the territory of the Azovstal plant, which had been converted into a fortress. Starting on May 3, the russians storm Azovstal, but the fortress-like plant holds out. Having suffered heavy losses, the russians subject Azovstal to massive artillery fire and unprecedented air attacks. Heavy air bombs pierce the vaults of two bunkers, one of which housed a hospital. As a result, several dozen soldiers and medics die.

The defenders of Azovstal are running out of ammunition, and the medics are running out of medicine and painkillers. About 600 wounded are in unsanitary conditions, without medicine, water, or food. In such conditions, the higher military-political leadership of Ukraine ordered the Mariupol garrison to save the lives of its personnel. The garrison ceases resistance, and on May 20, the withdrawal of the defenders from Azovstal is complete.

The heroic garrison of Mariupol honorably fulfilled its tasks. For almost three months, the city's defenders held off significant enemy forces. Thanks to them, Ukraine gained critical time to build up reserves, regroup forces, and receive foreign aid. The heroic defense of Mariupol buried the russians' plans for a quick victory.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the service of foreign volunteers with combat commanders and awarded two volunteer soldiers from Colombia with orders.

The head of state visited the 31st mechanized brigade, which is conducting defensive battles. At the brigade command post, together with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, met with the soldiers of the unit. The president listened to the brigade commander, discussed with the battalion and company commanders the features of the service of foreigners in the brigade, their recruitment, training and integration.

In addition, the development of the use of ground robotic complexes was discussed. The soldiers of the 31st brigade presented their own system of logistics using ground drones, which allows reducing the level of material losses. In particular, 60% of the unit's logistics are performed by ground drones.

The president and the commander-in-chief also visited the command post of the 20th Corps, which includes the 31st Brigade.

The head of state thanked the defenders of Ukraine for their service, and awarded the soldiers who distinguished themselves in battles with orders. Among the awardees are two Colombian volunteers who help deter russian aggression and defend Ukraine in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2025. They were awarded for their significant contribution to the defense of our country, the destruction of the enemy, and the preservation of the lives of their comrades. Thus, on November 28, 2025, both volunteer soldiers took part in the evacuation of a seriously wounded defender from the battlefield. Despite poor visibility, fire damage, and assault actions by the russians, they covered 10 kilometers on foot as part of a group to help their comrade and evacuate him.

“I am sure that the russians are already reeling. "And this is thanks to the fact that you, with your strength and courage, have stood and defended Ukraine for so many years in a row," the President of Ukraine said, addressing the military.

From May 10, 2026, the law regulating the legal status and medical care of foreign military personnel has changed in Ukraine. The Government approved new rules for stay and processing documents for foreigners who have joined Ukrainian Army Units - simplified obtaining temporary residence permits.

The permit is issued for the entire term of the contract plus an additional six months after its expiration, or for six months after the early termination of the contract. This period of six months is important for the social adaptation of a foreign veteran or his safe departure. Foreign contract workers receive a permit with a special code.

The Government has removed a few bureaucratic obstacles that were previously mandatory for all foreigners. Foreigners who have joined the Ukrainian army no longer have to look for a place to register, and the Migration Service will no longer check the address of their place of residence in Ukraine. After all, their address is often where they perform combat missions.

In order to obtain a temporary residence permit, you must have the following package of documents:

- passport or identity document;
- a notarized translation into Ukrainian of the page of the passport or document with personal data;
- a document certifying payment of the administrative fee (1,140 hryvnias, about 26 USD);
- a military registration document or military serviceman's certificate;
- a contract for military service;
- an obligation of the military unit to notify the State Migration Service of early termination of the contract.
 

With this set of documents, you must apply to the local branch of the State Migration Service or to the Center for the Provision of Administrative Services (only in the city of Kyiv). The certificate is produced and issued within 15 working days and must be received personally by the serviceman no later than 6 months from the date of its issuance.

Foreign military personnel who do not have a residence permit in Ukraine are required to obtain a temporary residence permit from May 10 to November 11, 2026. Thus, foreigners who conclude a contract with units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine receive a legally defined status and a set of legal guarantees for the duration of their service and after its completion. This creates more predictable and understandable conditions for those who join The Ukrainian.

Ukraine appreciates the contribution and assistance of foreign volunteers in the national war for the Independence of Ukraine. "Supporting those who stood shoulder to shoulder with us in the defense of Ukraine is our duty and responsibility," the Ukrainian government emphasizes.

With the onset of spring and warming, the russians have intensified their offensive almost along the entire front line. In conditions where the enemy has greater resources in equipment and personnel, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are choosing an asymmetric strategy instead of a “war of attrition”.

“Our key tasks are to make every step of the enemy as costly as possible, to destroy the enemy, to restrain his advance, to strike rear areas, in particular, military-industrial complex facilities deep inside russian territory,” says the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrsky.

As a result, the enemy is suffering losses that exceed its capabilities to replenish its units. March became a record month for losses for the russians in all categories: from air defense systems to personnel – about 36 thousand soldiers killed and wounded.

The invaders are losing a safe rear

The UAV Forces are inflicting the greatest losses on the enemy's manpower. They have orders to kill more enemy soldiers every month than Russia is able to recruit. As the commander of the Ukrainian UAV Forces, Robert Brovdy "Magyar", noted in an interview with the British BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d9wvd2e4ro), they have orders to destroy more than 30 thousand invaders every month and have been achieving this goal for the fourth month. He also noted that "the territory at a distance of 1,500-2,000 km deep into russia is no longer a peaceful rear, because Ukrainian drones fly there whenever and wherever they want."

According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion, Ukrainian defenders have increased the range of deep strikes on the aggressor's deep rear by more than 2.5 times. If in 2022 it was possible to hit a military facility approximately 630 km from the front line, then in 2026 it will be about 1,800 km. The other day, Ukrainian drones “visited” the distant russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, where military-industrial facilities and military training centers are located. Interestingly, the day before, even the former russian defense minister shoigu admitted that the Urals (the region where these cities are located) can no longer be considered a safe rear.

Successful hunting on the Black Sea

However, Ukrainian defenders do not forget about much closer enemy targets. After the third attack by Ukrainian drones in a month, the oil refining and oil-tanking infrastructure in the city and port of Tuapse on the Black Sea was actually destroyed.

Drones of the Security Service of Ukraine successfully attacked enemy military facilities on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula. As a result of this attack, the large landing ships Yamal and Filchenkov, the reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs were hit; two radar stations and an air defense headquarters, the infrastructure of a military airfield and one aircraft.

And soon, special operations forces drones hit the Iskander missile system storage site on the peninsula. Data on the camouflaged storage base was provided by participants in the Ukrainian resistance movement in the occupied territories.

More combat robots on the front

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff to deliver 50 thousand ground robotic systems to the Defense Forces of Ukraine in 2026. The real need of combat units in combat robots and the level of supply will be checked monthly. He made this decision following the results of a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters, where this issue was considered.

According to President Zelensky, ground robotic complexes are currently one of the most pressing requests from the Ukrainian military.

“Everyone should understand that this is the protection of life. Logistics at the front, evacuation of the wounded, combat missions - now the use of ground robotic complexes is developing as actively as possible. "That's how it should be," says President Zelensky.

(Read more about the successful Ukrainian experience in the development and use of ground robotic complexes here https://joinuarmy.org/en/all-news/forbes-ukrainian-combat-robots/)

A new Ukrainian invention

A light twin-engine AN-28 aircraft has been armed with P1-Sun drone interceptors. The aircraft has three mounts on each wing, meaning it carries six drone interceptors in total. The new method allows for the destruction of enemy air targets, using the drone as an affordable and cheaper alternative to air-to-air missiles. Drone operators can control them from the aircraft cabin.

This is the first time in history that an aircraft has become a platform for launching anti-aircraft drones!

As we have already said, the Ukrainian P1-Sun drone interceptor has shown its effectiveness in the fight against drones of the type Shahed, with which the Russians are terrorizing Ukrainian cities. Light aircraft AN-28 armed with machine guns have also proven their effectiveness against Russian drones of this type. From now on, thanks to the combination of various means of destruction, the fight against Russian drones reaches a new level.

Ukraine has become a forge of the most modern weapons, and the Ukrainian army has the most advanced experience of modern warfare. Ukrainian soldiers call for foreign volunteers to join their ranks and are ready to share with them the most modern military experience.

Four years ago, Ukraine won a major victory at sea. On April 13, 2022, Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles hit the flagship of the russian Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser «Moskva». The next day, the ship sank.

The russian flagship probably believed that they were keeping a safe distance from the Ukrainian coast - about 120 km. But, as the Ukrainian military later recalled, that day superior forces were on the side of Ukraine.

The fact is that the Ukrainian radars available at that time could not see beyond the horizon. But low, dense clouds created additional opportunities. The signal was reflected from the clouds to the surface of the water, and from it back to the clouds - and in such a corridor the radar saw the "Moskva" and was able to target the missiles. The target was clearly identified and attacked.

The cruiser "Moskva" had a powerful three-level air defense system: the "Fort" anti-aircraft missile system with a range of 75 km, two "Osa-M" missile systems - 10-15 km, and 4 rapid-fire six-barreled guns. Not far from the "Moskva" were modern frigates, which could also use their air defense systems.

The decisive factor was that the Ukrainian missiles flew at an extremely low altitude - about 3 meters above the water. Therefore, the Russian air defense did not notice them in time. As a result, two "Neptunes" with a small interval hit the port side of the "Moskva".

However, the flagship cruiser is a huge ship 186 meters long (almost two football fields). It is not so easy to destroy it even by hit by hit. And here again success – the missiles hit precisely the most critical places of the flagship: the engine room, the central command post of the ship’s survivability and the “cellar”, where anti-aircraft ammunition was stored… However, the crew fought for the cruiser’s survivability, and the ships that were nearby rushed to help.

And here again nature came to the aid of the Ukrainians. A storm with a force of three points arose at sea. Under normal conditions, this does not pose any threat to a large ship. But under conditions when the ship was hit by missiles – it was much more difficult for the crew to fight for its survivability, and for other ships to approach and provide assistance.

They tried to tow the damaged “Moskva” to the naval base, but it gave a significant list and sank.

Obviously, the death of the flagship is not only a great loss, but also a major blow to military-political prestige. To minimize the scale of the defeat, his russian propaganda initially published a version that a fire had broken out on the ship and ammunition had detonated. In order not to cast a shadow on the helm of the country, russian propagandists discredited the dead sailors: they said that they had started the fire and were unable to extinguish it. If before the full-scale war they talked about the overhaul and excellent modernization that the «Moskva» had undergone, then after the sinking they began to say that the cruiser was outdated and of little value.

Meanwhile, the «Moskva» was only a successful debut in the Ukrainian hunt for the enemy’s naval forces. Soon, under the blows of Ukrainian missiles and drones, the russians lost control of the western part of the Black Sea and withdrew the main forces of their fleet from the temporarily occupied Sevastopol to the more remote Novorossiysk. But even there, russian ships are subjected to stinging attacks by Ukrainian air and naval drones.

Ukraine changed the rules of war at sea. Without a classic military fleet, it defeated a powerful enemy fleet.

In the second half of March, the intensity of the Russian invaders’ offensive actions increased. They tried to break through the defense of the Ukrainian troops in several strategic directions at once. However, despite the enormous pressure and the involvement of significant reserves, the Ukrainian soldiers managed to stop the enemy and inflict significant losses on him.

– I would like to emphasize that the successful repelling of the enemy’s massive assaults was made possible primarily thanks to the courage and resilience of each soldier who performs combat missions and maintains formation, - noted the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky.

In March, Russian losses reached a record high – more than 35 thousand Russian soldiers were killed or seriously wounded in a month. Each such defeat is confirmed by video. The vast majority of the enemy’s losses were provided by unmanned systems. As the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine emphasizes, for the fourth month in a row, the enemy's losses exceed the rate of replenishment of its troops.

Sea of fire instead of petrodollars

The Ukrainian defense forces have carried out complex high-precision strikes on Russia's oil refining and oil transportation infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The facilities that provided financing for the aggressor's war machine have suffered critical damage. According to Western experts, as a result of the Ukrainian attacks, up to 40% of Russian oil exports have been damaged.

In particular, Ukrainian drones have hit one of the three largest Russian oil refineries in the city of Kirishi. This is not only a disruption of exports, but also a direct blow to the supply of fuel to Russian troops.

Oil refining and oil loading facilities in the Baltic ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk have also been hit. This is the main gateway for Russian exports to the Baltic Sea, from which Russia exported tens of millions of tons of crude oil and petroleum products every year.

In addition, Ukrainian drones hit the patrol icebreaker "Purga", which was being repaired at a shipyard. This is a hybrid military ship of the coast guard designed for operations in the cold waters of the north.

Located 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, the Baltic region has turned from a "safe hub" into a high-risk zone for Russia. Instead of oil super-profits, the Russians received a sea of fire and destroyed infrastructure. The Russian government was forced to ban gasoline exports until the end of July.

In total, during March, the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit 5 strategic enemy plants and 10 oil refining facilities with precision strikes.

New achievement of Ukrainian drones

For the first time in history, fighters of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces shot down a Russian Alligator attack helicopter using a fiber-optic FPV drone "General Chereshnya". A drone worth 1 thousand dollars destroyed a modern attack helicopter worth 16 million dollars!

As the commander of the unit whose fighters shot down the helicopter said, it was quite difficult to do this, because an FPV drone does not have the same speed as an attack helicopter. Moreover, it was a fiber-optic drone, and fiber optics are more demanding in flight. It has a lower speed and in general, you need to be more meticulous in controlling these drones.

But the drone operators correctly oriented themselves where to expect a pair of enemy helicopters. They failed to hit the first one, but they managed to hit the second one. As a result of the emergency landing, the crew of the Russian helicopter tried to escape, but was discovered in time and eliminated by a drone strike.

Ukrainian soldiers demonstrate courage and high skill in defending their homeland. They call on foreign volunteers to join their ranks and are ready to share with them the most modern military experience.
 

4 years ago, the Battle for Kyiv ended with the defeat and retreat of the russian troops.

From the first day of the russian invasion, February 24, 2022, it became obvious that one of the main goals of the russian troops was to capture the capital of Ukraine – the city of Kyiv.
Initially, the russians tried to capture Kyiv with a lightning strike over 2-3 days. They landed troops from helicopters at the Gostomel airfield, 10 km from Kyiv. And they intended to receive transport planes with troops there. But the defenders thwarted these plans by damaging the runway.

Then the russians tried to surround the Ukrainian capital. The invaders attacked the Ukrainian capital from three sides – from the northwest, from the northeast and from the east. Particularly fierce battles were fought on the northwestern outskirts of Kyiv, where the russians captured the satellite towns of the capital - Bucha, Vorzel and Gostomel. In the area of the village of Moshchun, they crossed the Irpin River and came very close to Kyiv. However, Ukrainian troops blew up a dam, which made it difficult for the invaders to cross, and then destroyed the russian bridgehead with artillery fire.

From the first days of the russian invasion, thousands of Kyivans took up arms and joined the Ukrainian army. With artillery and air strikes, and ambushes, the Ukrainians paralyzed many-kilometer columns of russian equipment. In the north-eastern direction, the Russian offensive was stopped near the city of Brovary, approximately 33 km from Kyiv, where Ukrainian artillerymen defeated a large column of russian equipment. In the eastern direction, russian columns got stuck, not reaching Kyiv, as Ukrainian troops paralyzed their fuel supply.

Unable to surround Kyiv, on March 21, the russians went on the defensive. Instead, Ukrainian troops, having increased their forces, went on the counteroffensive on March 22 and soon completely seized the initiative. Within a week, the russian defense collapsed.

On March 29, 2022, the russians announced their intention to “reduce military activity in the Kyiv direction”. This was an attempt to pass off their military defeat as a diplomatic “gesture of goodwill”, but in fact it marked a mass retreat, which under the blows of Ukrainian troops very soon turned into a flight.

On March 31, the Ukrainian Defense Forces liberated Bucha. But the joy of liberation was overshadowed by the facts of russian war crimes discovered here. It turned out that the russian invaders were mass killing civilians.

Meanwhile, russian troops began to retreat at a rate of 20–30 kilometers per day, dropping everything that hindered speed. Ukrainian artillerymen “helped” the russians to flee faster. Among other things, in the defeated russian columns they found a parade uniform in which the invaders intended to march along the main street of the Ukrainian capital. But the defenders of Kyiv put an end to these plans. On April 2, russian troops finally left the Kyiv region – Ukrainian troops reached the state border. The battle for Kyiv lasted 36 days and ended in a complete strategic failure of the russian “special military operation”. The occupiers lost thousands of pieces of equipment and the best airborne units. The Ukrainian capital remained free, and the world saw that the “second army of the world” praised by moscow propagandists could be defeated and not just retreat, but flee in panic.
 

March 26 is the Day of the fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine. This is a legendary formation, the basis of which was formed by Ukrainian volunteers.

The National Guard of Ukraine was created shortly after the proclamation of Independence of Ukraine in 1991. It was again created in the spring of 2014 in response to the hybrid russian aggression. The basis of the first combat units of the National Guard, which immediately joined the fight against russian aggression, were volunteer formations that emerged during the Revolution of Dignity. The National Guard battalions "Azov" and "Donbas" played an important role in the fight against russian proxy formations. The National Guard combines military and law enforcement functions.

In the winter of 2022, with the beginning of full-scale russian aggression, the fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine, together with the fighters of other units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, stood up to defend the independence of the state. In the first days of the war, the National Guard played an important role in the defense of the Gostomel airfield and thwarted the russians' plans to use it for the rapid capture of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. They heroically, until the last opportunity, defended the surrounded Mariupol…

In 2023, assault brigades were created within the National Guard to liberate the occupied Ukrainian territories and restore the Ukrainian constitutional order there. Subsequently, the combat units of the National Guard were united into two corps - "Azov" and "Khartiia". This year, the formation of unmanned systems regiments and a separate airspace cover regiment began within the National Guard regiments.

Along with Ukrainians, foreign volunteers also serve in the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine. Recently, these units have distinguished themselves during counterattacks in the area of the cities of Dobropillya and Kupyansk. The fighters of "Azov" distinguished themselves by capturing 18 russian invaders in one day. And  "Khartiya" distinguished themselves in the battles for Kupyansk - encircling the russian group there and raising the Ukrainian flag over the city hall.

"Over 12 years, the National Guard of Ukraine has gone through a difficult path of formation, has been hardened in battles and has gained unique combat experience, – said the commander of the National Guard, Major General Oleksandr Pivnenko. – I am proud of every fighter and commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, who in extremely difficult conditions hold the line and do not allow the enemy to realize their intentions”.

Honor. Courage. Law – this is the motto of the National Guard of Ukraine. And the National Guardsmen prove their loyalty to this motto every day, showing their will and heroism for the sake of protecting the law and security of the Ukrainian state.

On March 25, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (Ukrainian abbreviation SBU) celebrate their professional holiday. From the first days of the full-scale russian invasion, employees of the Ukrainian special services, like other defenders, stood up to defend the homeland. They identified and destroyed enemy agents, and soon transferred the war to the territory of the aggressor. Units of long-range drones of the SBU inflict devastating blows on military, military-industrial and oil refining facilities in the deep russian rear.

The most resonant operation of the SBU was Operation “Spiderweb” – a simultaneous impression of several dozen russian military aircraft. On June 1, 2025, four russian military airfields located in the deep rear, hundreds and even thousands of kilometers from the line of combat contact, were simultaneously attacked. The attack was carried out using remotely controlled drones, which were able to be delivered to enemy targets unnoticed.

The preparation of the special operation took place in conditions of maximum secrecy for almost a year and a half. First, the SBU implemented a complex logistical operation to bring hundreds of drones and eight launch cabins disguised as modular wooden houses to russian territory. The cabins were equipped with solar panels and batteries, and the drones with communication equipment, which made it possible to control them from the territory of Ukraine. The cargo was transported across the border using corrupt loopholes in russian customs.

The operation was coordinated in enemy territory by a married couple. Being from Ukraine, they had moved to russia a long time ago. Fluent in russian and with russian passports, they did not arouse suspicion. In one russian city, they created a logistics company, equipped a warehouse, hired drivers and quietly prepared the launch of the “Spiderweb”.

At the end of May, the trucks set off on different routes across russia. The drivers had no idea what they were carrying. And on June 1, the roofs of the cabs were opened remotely, and more than a hundred drones simultaneously rose into the air and struck four russian airfields. In an hour, operators from Ukraine were able to destroy or damage 41 russian military aircraft. In total, a third of russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers were hit. In addition, a warehouse of cruise missiles that were being prepared for launch at Ukrainian cities was destroyed at one of the airfields. The estimated value of the equipment hit as a result of Operation Spiderweb exceeds $7 billion.

After the attack, russian security forces put the Ukrainian agents’ spouses on the wanted list – but it was too late. They left Russia a few days before the end of the operation.

“In accordance with the laws and customs of war, we have worked out absolutely legitimate targets – military airfields and aircraft that bomb our peaceful cities,” the SBU leadership emphasized at the time.

Military experts from different countries called this Ukrainian operation “the aviation Pearl Harbor”, comparing it with the devastating Japanese attack on the American fleet in 1941 or even with the legendary Trojan Horse. Unique in its concept and implementation, Operation “Spiderweb” will certainly be included in the textbooks of military history and the work of special services.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the employees of the Security Service of Ukraine on their professional holiday and noted that Ukrainians can be quite deservedly proud of their Security Service - truly combative, truly patriotic, truly effective.
 

The Ukrainian Defense Forces have foiled a russian strategic offensive operation that the enemy was preparing for March. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The russians began preparing a major offensive operation at the end of last year. In turn, the Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted their own counteroffensive actions to prevent a large-scale russian offensive. As a result, the intensity of the Russian attacks was not at all as intense as their command had promised the russian political leadership.

According to the Ukrainian leader, now russia actually does not want to stop the war against Ukraine and conduct peace talks.

The invaders are stealing Ukrainian children

The UN International Commission has recognized the forced displacement and deportation of Ukrainian children by russia as crimes against humanity. The russians' unwillingness to return young Ukrainians to their homeland is a war crime. This is stated in a report presented to the UN Human Rights Council.

The international commission has recorded at least 1,205 cases of russian deportation of Ukrainian children from the occupied Ukrainian territories. More than 80% of the children are still under the control of the occupiers. They were placed with russian families or in children's shelters in various russian regions. Many parents and close relatives do not even know where their children are and whether they will ever be able to return home, UN investigators note.

Commenting on the situation, children's rights advocates emphasize that this is not just about the physical deportation of a child from the occupied territory. This is an attempt to tear Ukrainian children away from their family, from their native language and identity, and, ultimately, from Ukraine itself.

The report of the UN international commission emphasizes that russia is pursuing a coordinated state policy for which officials at various levels are responsible, in particular russian ruler putin. It is worth recalling that in 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Russian ruler Putin on charges of illegally deporting Ukrainian children.

Ukraine defeated NATO during naval exercises

Ukrainian soldiers once again proved their high skills at international military exercises. At the NATO naval exercises REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 2025, which took place in Portugal, Ukrainian sailors won all five combat scenarios. This is reported by the German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ukraine/nato-manoever-vor-portugal-ukraine-versenkt-alliierte-fregatte-accg-200633625.html

NATO forces tested the protection of ports and convoys. The Ukrainian team used Magura V7 naval drones in various modifications: from reconnaissance to strike. During a simulated attack on a convoy, Ukrainian naval drones struck so many NATO frigates that in a real battle, it would have sunk. Moreover, even five minutes after the simulated defeat, the NATO ship’s crew continued to ask in the chat about the start of the attack, since they did not notice the approach of Ukrainian drones at all. As noted in the publication, NATO representatives called Ukraine’s participation a historic moment that forced the Alliance to reconsider its tactics of defense against drones. The results of the maneuvers showed that NATO troops are not sufficiently prepared for the threats of modern warfare at sea.

Magura naval drones have been repeatedly used against russian targets in the Black Sea and have inflicted significant losses on the enemy, not only at sea but also in the air. This is the world’s first naval unmanned platform to destroy an aircraft, helicopter, and warships.

And at the international cybersecurity exercises Defence Cyber Marvel 2026, which took place in Singapore, the Ukrainian Armed Forces team took second place. 36 teams – over 2,500 representatives from 29 countries – took part in these exercises. The participants practiced scenarios that simulated attacks on military control systems and segments of critical infrastructure. The Ukrainian side acted taking into account the practical experience of countering real russian cyberattacks. The practices developed by the cybersecurity units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed high applied value. Ukrainian soldiers consistently show a high level of training, demonstrate courage and skill in defending the homeland. They call on foreign volunteers to join their ranks and are ready to share with them the most modern military experience.
 

During the winter counteroffensive on the southern sector of the front, Ukrainian troops liberated 9 settlements and, in total, regained control over more than 400 square kilometers of territory.

During the advance, Ukrainian units reached the enemy’s rear positions 7-8 km from the line of combat clashes. As a result, Ukrainian soldiers managed to destroy two russian battalion commanders. Thanks to this, they managed to destabilize the management of the enemy units.

As we have already written, at the initial stage, the Ukrainian counteroffensive was facilitated by the fact that the russians had major communication problems after their Starlink system was turned off.

"The russian aggressor is numerically superior, but, given our active actions, is forced to postpone the dates of its planned operations, patch holes in its defenses and transfer troops from other directions," noted the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky.

During January-February 2026, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck three large russian military enterprises, one of the key missile ranges and two large arsenals with long-range strikes. Details of the Ukrainian attack on the russian naval base of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea also became known. Among other things, there, Ukrainian drones hit two Russian frigates that were launching missiles at peaceful Ukrainian cities. Now these ships are out of action.

Drones are taking prisoners

During this winter, more than 100 Russian occupiers surrendered thanks to the work of Ukrainian drone units. This was reported by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov.

Drone operators find separate groups of occupiers, through loudspeakers mounted on drones they offer them to surrender, and then the drones accompany the prisoners to Ukrainian positions, showing the direction of movement.

One of the most resonant such cases occurred in January. An FPV drone of the Rubizh brigade recorded a dugout in which four russians were hiding and offered them to surrender. The occupiers decided to save their lives - they began to leave, following the commands of the Ukrainian military, who heard from the loudspeaker. At the same time, other Russians tried to destroy their own military and attacked them with drones. But two russians still managed to be captured alive. And in February 2026, fighters of the 158th separate mechanized brigade captured five russian occupiers using a drone and loudspeaker.

Ukrainian shares air defense experience

Ukraine has received 11 requests for security support from Iran's neighboring countries, European states, and the United States. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Events in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region directly affect Europe — and, in particular, Ukraine — other parts of the world, the critically important supply to Ukraine, the security and well-being of our people," the Ukrainian head of state said.

Ukraine analyzed the prospects of the war in Iran and considered requests from states for security support from the Ukrainian side in countering Iranian Shahed drones and other similar challenges. After all, Russian invaders have been shelling Ukrainian cities with Iranian Shaheds or their Russian counterparts for several years. In view of this, Ukrainian expertise in protection against Shaheds is currently the largest in the world. Therefore, now Iran's neighboring countries, European states and America are very interested in Ukrainian experience - appropriate interceptors, electronic warfare systems, training.

"Ukraine is ready to respond positively to the requests of those who help us protect the lives of Ukrainians and the independence of Ukraine. We have already responded to some of the requests with specific support," Zelensky noted.

He noted that Ukraine has long offered partners to update and strengthen joint capabilities for protection against drones and missiles. It is also about destroying the relevant production facilities of the aggressor regimes. After all, the Iranian and russian regimes support each other. And now there is more and more information about the russian details in the Shaheeds, with which Iran strikes neighboring countries.