On Monday, February 9, Ukrainian officials reported at least one person was killed following Russian airstrikes on the port city of Odesa. On the same day, Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian diplomats commented on the status of potential peace negotiations.
The developments occurred on the 1,446th day of the full-scale conflict.
Military and Infrastructure Updates
Ukrainian authorities in Odesa reported that Russian forces conducted air raids on the city, resulting in at least one fatality. In the Poltava region, Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas company, Naftogaz, stated that its facilities were attacked overnight. The company reported damage from the strike, which it identified as the 19th attack on the facility. The extent of the damage was not specified.
In a statement distributed by Russian state media, Moscow’s military claimed to have taken control of the settlements of Hlushkivka in the Kharkiv region and Sydorivka in the Sumy region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the targeting of energy infrastructure in a public statement. He described Russia’s energy sector as “a legitimate target” for Ukrainian strikes, stating that it provides funds for weapon production. According to Zelenskyy, Russian forces launched over 2,000 drones, 1,200 guided aerial bombs, and 116 missiles at Ukrainian targets in the preceding week.
Diplomatic and Political Developments
On the diplomatic front, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha discussed the conditions for potential peace talks. Sybiha stated that a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian leaders is necessary to resolve the “most sensitive and most difficult” issues remaining from a 20-point peace plan.
Sybiha also commented on security arrangements, saying the United States has communicated to Ukraine its preparedness to ratify security guarantees in Congress as part of a potential ceasefire agreement. He added that other countries, including France and the United Kingdom, have indicated a readiness to send troops to Ukraine as a deterrent force if an accord is reached.
In a separate development, Russian security officials confirmed that a Ukrainian-born Russian citizen was extradited from Dubai to Moscow. The individual is suspected of involvement in a shooting attack that wounded Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, a senior military intelligence officer. A Kremlin spokesperson said Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his United Arab Emirates counterpart, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, by phone for assistance in the suspect’s detention.
President Zelenskyy also announced new sanctions via the social media platform X, targeting some foreign companies that manufacture components for Russian drones and missiles. He said the measures were a response to Moscow obtaining parts by circumventing existing international sanctions.
Energy Sector
The Reuters news agency reported that Indian refiners, including Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum, are not purchasing Russian oil for delivery in April. Citing refining and trade sources, the report indicated that this trend is expected to continue.
