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Stay on top of Russia-Ukraine war 02-09-2024 developments on the ground with KyivPost fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated war maps.
Ukraine has launched drone attacks on Russia for months following Moscow's almost two-year offensive.
Ukraine's security services have claimed responsibility for attacking two oil refineries in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, a source in security services told AFP Friday, Feb. 9.
Ukraine has launched drone attacks on Russia for months following Moscow's almost two-year offensive.
Presidential decrees state that the titles are awarded "for notable personal merits in defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), the title of Hero of Ukraine along with the Golden Star order, as stated in the relevant decree published on the president's website.
Zaluzhny led the Ukrainian army since Russia's full-scale invasion began, successfully defending against initial Russian attacks and reclaiming some occupied territories.
Syrsky makes first statement as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, made his first statement after his appointment on Thursday, Feb. 9.
Syrsky said his forces would need to evolve and be prepared to alter how they fight Russian troops to win the war.
The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.
Ukraine's president has named Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy as the country's top military commander. He replaces General Valeriy Zaluzhniy after months of speculation that he was at odds with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over battlefield strategy, reported RFE/RL. Meanwhile, the New York Times said the move was widely perceived as “a politicized shakeup of Ukraine’s military” while The Guardian said it was a risky move for Zelensky in the midst of a war.
Zelensky said Syrskiy "has successful defense experience -- he conducted the Kyiv defense operation. He also has successful offensive experience -- the Kharkiv liberation operation." The Russia-born, 58-year-old Syrskiy, who has served as the commander of Ukrainian ground forces since 2019, replaces General Valeriy Zaluzhniy following reports that Zelensky was strongly considering removing him. Zelenksy said in a message on X, formerly Twitter, that is he grateful to Zaluzhniy and he appreciates "every victory we have achieved together." Before announcing the leadership change, Zelensky said he had "candidly discussed" with Zaluzhniy issues in the army that require urgent change.
Warsaw is considering a full ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports after local farmers have started a new wave of border blockades against the EU's decision not to restrict said imports.
Polish farmers on Friday staged blockades at border checkpoints with Ukraine to protest competition from its neighbour as Warsaw hinted it could impose new import bans on Ukrainian agricultural products.
Farmers protested at over 250 locations across Poland, blocking highways and snarling traffic with columns of slow-moving tractors converging on major cities.
Accusations have been leveled at countries such as France, Italy, and Spain that they are not pulling their weight.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will Friday hold talks in Washington with President Joe Biden focused on sustaining military support for war-torn Ukraine as a political impasse holds up a multi-billion-dollar US package.
High on the agenda will also be escalating tensions in the Middle East, where Israel's war against Hamas is raging on and Washington has launched strikes on Iran-linked targets following attacks on American troops.
Danilov is sure that there were no Ukrainian prisoners on board the Il-76 military transport plane that crashed in the Belgorod region of Russia in January.
Ukraine’s Secretary of the National Security Council has said there were no Ukrainian POWs aboard a Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft downed in Belgorod last month.
In an interview with Babel, Oleksiy Danilov said the 2020 downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 by Iranian forces meant they have experience dealing with crash sites involving a large number of victims.
During Tucker Carlson’s interview, Putin brought up the case of Vadim Krasikov, serving a life sentence in Germany for a 2019 killing.
Moscow on Friday refused to say whether a convicted hitman who killed a former Chechen fighter in Berlin four years ago was a Russian agent, after President Vladimir Putin hinted he wanted him freed in a three-way prisoner exchange.
In an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson published Thursday, Putin brought up the case of Vadim Krasikov -- without mentioning him by name -- in the context of ongoing negotiations over a deal to free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
Random sampling of reactions among the Ukrainian military.
Rumors about the dismissal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny have been swirling for the past few months. The internal conflict between the “father” of the military and the head of the country was discussed more and more often.
The reason was allegedly a disagreement in military strategic solutions. Although neither the first nor the second openly confirmed the rumors.
Recent satellite images reported by the Institute for the Study of War show a slight advance of Russian troops in the southern part of Avdiivka.
Vitaliy Barabash, head of the military administration in Avdiivka, confirmed during a televised broadcast that Russian forces are encroaching on the city's outskirts.
Barabash described the situation as highly challenging, with Russian troops attempting to encircle the city from the south and north flanks.
Oleksandr Syrsky is said to sleep only four and a half hours a day with his only relaxation seemingly to be a daily workout in the gym.
On Thursday, Feb 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree appointing 58-year-old Russian-born Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), replacing 50-year-old Valerii Zaluzhny, who was dismissed.
Zelensky called Syrsky “the most experienced Ukrainian commander.”
Kyiv Post brings to your attention reactions from public figures regarding these changes in Ukraine's military leadership.
President Zelensky, on Thursday, Feb. 8, announced the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny.
"I met with General Valerii Zaluzhny. I thanked him for the two years of defending Ukraine," Zelensky said in a video address posted on his social media accounts.
Betrayal will have effects that go far beyond Ukraine
It has now become now apparent that Donald Trump and his populist entourage are willing to go to heroic lengths to undermine the defense of the West.
After months of being stalled by bad faith negotiations, on Feb. 8 the US Senate voted 67-32 to advance a bill that would provide $60 billion in desperately needed arms aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine aid issue moving again in US Congress.
US senators cleared a first hurdle Thursday, Feb. 8, to a sweeping foreign aid package -- including a $60 billion lifeline for Ukraine -- although opposition from right-wing allies of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump means final passage remains far from guaranteed.
The procedural vote to at least consider the bill marked a stunning about-face by Senate Republicans.
Commentators fear this will boost both Putin's and Trump's election campaigns.
The ultra-right US journalist Tucker Carlson has conducted an interview with Vladimir Putin, which was broadcast on Thursday evening. Over the past few days, there have been enthusiastic reports in Russian state media about the Moscow visit of the TV journalist who was fired by Fox News in 2023 and has since been broadcasting on the platform X. Commentators fear this will boost both Putin's and Trump's election campaigns.
Fatal timing
Another major exchange of Ukrainian-Russian POWs has taken place.
Ukraine and Russia on Thursday said they swapped 100 prisoners of war each, in the latest exchange between the warring sides since Moscow accused Kyiv of downing a plane carrying captured Ukrainian soldiers.
Moscow and Kyiv have both vowed to keep exchanging prisoners as Russia's invasion in Ukraine drags on for almost two years.
Outpouring for Zaluzhny’s service after dismissal, questions about his replacement; Senate Republicans forge new path on aid for Kyiv; More POWs returned
Overview:
Ukrainians laud outgoing military commander, wonder what his replacement will bring
Tucker Carlson gives a platform for the autocrat to pontificate about his invasion of Ukraine and a lengthy treatise on Slavic history, beginning with, naturally, Kyivan Rus.
Former Fox News personality and now social media pundit, Tucker Carlson, posted his online interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, giving the autocrat free reign to make his case to the world, and to his domestic audience in an election year.
As the right-wing pundit politely listened, Putin spoke for about two hours on various topics seemingly of his own choosing, including why Russia cannot be stopped in Ukraine, and why the West is wrong to send weapons for its defense.
