Massive Missile Strikes on Ukraine: February Sees Highest Number of Attacks Since Early 2023

Analysis of data from February 2026 indicates a sharp increase in Russian aerial aggression. According to AFP data and Ukrainian command reports, the number of nighttime missile attacks was the highest since the beginning of 2023. The scale of military operations during the winter period proved devastating for Ukrainian infrastructure: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the aggressor used a total of 34,000 various types of projectiles. Particularly concerning is the intensity of drone use, whose number in the last quarter approached 19,000 units. The past 24 hours brought further reports of civilian casualties, especially in the Kherson region, where at least four elderly people were killed by shelling. ISW emphasizes in its reports that Russia is becoming increasingly dependent on supplies of raw materials and technology from North Korea, which, according to experts, now surpasses the importance of support received from Iran. Significant diplomatic reports have emerged from Ukrainian military intelligence. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the GUR, suggested that the Russian side might be willing to accept American security guarantees for Ukraine. This information, repeated by Italian and Polish media, would constitute a potential turning point in negotiations, though it still requires official confirmation by the Kremlin. Simultaneously, an incident involving the so-called Russian shadow fleet occurred in the North Sea. Belgian services seized one of the tankers suspected of transporting raw materials in violation of international sanctions. Since the full-scale aggression in February 2022, Russia has systematically changed its tactics, alternately employing massive missile strikes and cheaper-to-produce Shahed-type drones to overwhelm Ukrainian air defense.The humanitarian situation remains critical in many cities. In Kherson and other frontline towns, residential and educational buildings are regularly hit. Ukrainian soldiers point to the necessity of diversifying communication systems, seeking alternatives to the Starlink network, which, despite its crucial importance, can be vulnerable to disruptions or the political decisions of its provider. Despite the end of the harshest phase of winter, the intensity of the airstrikes suggests that Russia does not intend to abandon its campaign targeting civilian morale.

Perspektywy mediów: Media emphasize the scale of Russian brutality and the record number of attacks on civilian targets, highlighting Ukrainian resilience. Some European sources focus on the ineffectiveness of sanctions, as evidenced by the activity of the Russian shadow fleet and intensified weapons production.