Ukraine has unveiled a new war‑year plan that seeks to raise Russian casualties to at least 50,000 soldiers each month, while Western allies have lifted their 2026 military‑aid pledges to €35 billion.
Strategic shift in Kyiv
Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorow told a briefing ahead of the Ramstein meeting in Brussels that Kyiv will systematically weaken Russia’s economy and dramatically expand its air‑defence network. He noted that Russia suffered a record loss of 35,000 soldiers in December and said the upcoming agenda includes 18 strategic projects for 2026, such as financing Ukrainian rockets and fielding new drone units. “Our goal is to make the cost of this war unbearable for Russia,” he wrote on X.
Boosted Western military assistance
The Ukraine Contact Group announced on Thursday that its commitments for 2026 have risen to €35 billion, British Defence Minister John Healey said after a meeting in Brussels. The sum combines previously announced contributions with new pledges. Germany had already earmarked roughly €11.5 billion for its 2026 Ukraine budget, though the exact share of the new commitments remains unclear.
Energy infrastructure under fire
Russian missile and drone strikes continue to cripple Ukraine’s power grid. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal told a parliamentary committee that the country’s peak demand is 16.4 GW, yet only 12.3 GW can be supplied, leaving millions without electricity for more than 20 hours a day. A modest improvement is expected in the spring.
EU and NATO discuss further aid
EU defence ministers met on Thursday to consider additional support. NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte expressed confidence that Ukraine will receive needed equipment, citing the PURL mechanism for U.S. Weapons packages. The United Kingdom pledged another air‑defence package worth over £500 million (≈ €570 million), and Sweden announced further contributions.
Disinformation using the Epstein files
A study by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue found that pro‑Russian posts on Facebook, X and TikTok have repeatedly cited the Jeffrey Epstein files to claim Russia rescued Ukrainian children from a sex‑trafficking network. Ukrainian officials counter that more than 20,000 children have been forcibly taken to Russia since 2022, prompting ICC arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova‑Belova.
Russian offensive actions
According to the DeepState monitoring service, Russian forces have made gains around Pokrovsk, employing 24 Iskander‑M/S‑300 ballistic missiles, one Kh‑59/69 air‑to‑air missile and 219 drones in the night of 12 February. In parallel, a debate in Russia over a potential WhatsApp block has raised concerns about the security of over 100 million users.
Ukrainian strikes on Russian sites
Ukraine reported long‑range FP‑5 “Flamingo” missile attacks on a munitions depot near Kotluban in the Volgograd region and a rocket‑production facility in Tambov. The General Staff described the Kotluban site as one of the largest ammunition depots of the Russian army.
Encirclement in Kupiansk
Ukrainian forces have confined a small Russian unit in Kupiansk, Kharkiv oblast, to a handful of high‑rise buildings. The troops are unable to conduct offensive actions and are limited to defending their positions.
Heating crisis in Kyiv
Following recent attacks, nearly 2,600 residential blocks in Kyiv are without heating, affecting districts on both banks of the Dnipro River, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported.
Russian losses continue to climb
Former British intelligence chief Sir Richard Moore told Sky News that roughly 30,000 Russian soldiers were killed in December 2025, a figure he described as “astonishing.” He compared the toll to the Soviet‑Afghan war, which saw about 15,000 Soviet casualties. Ukrainian General Staff data released on Facebook indicated that 770 Russian soldiers were lost on the previous day, bringing total war‑time casualties to approximately 1,250,150. Equipment losses include 11,662 tanks, 24,025 armoured fighting vehicles and 37,213 artillery systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ukraine’s target for Russian casualties in 2026?
Ukraine aims to increase Russian losses to at least 50,000 soldiers per month as part of its 2026 war strategy.
How much military aid has the Ukraine Contact Group pledged for 2026?
The group announced a total commitment of €35 billion for 2026, combining existing and new contributions.
What are the latest reported figures on Russian military losses?
According to Ukrainian sources, 770 Russian soldiers were lost in the most recent day, raising total casualties since the war began to about 1,250,150, with significant losses of tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery.
How might these developments shape the next phase of the conflict?
