The Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted a series of precision strikes with unmanned aerial vehicles, paralyzing key elements of Russia's military rear. The most serious attack targeted machine plants in Votkinsk, where modern Iskander and Oresnik missile systems are produced. Simultaneously, strikes were recorded in Sevastopol in Crimea and at a fuel base in the Pskov region, leading to extensive fires and infrastructure damage deep within the Russian Federation.

Attack on missile factory

Ukrainian drones hit plants in Votkinsk, crucial for the production of Iskander and Oresnik missiles, causing damage to infrastructure.

Fuel base fires

In the Pskov region, a refinery in Velikiye Luki caught fire after an attack attributed to the Ukrainian SBU service.

Nuclear threat

IAEA reports that the Zaporizhzhia plant lost its backup power line and is operating in emergency mode, risking a blackout.

Thwarted assassination attempts

10 people were detained in Ukraine and Moldova suspected of planning the murders of Ukrainian politicians on Moscow's orders.

On the night of February 20-21, 2026, Ukrainian forces conducted an operation targeting the Russian arms sector in the Udmurtia region using FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles. The target of the attack was the plants in Votkinsk, located over a thousand kilometers from the front line, which are a key producer of Iskander-M ballistic missiles and a probable production site for the new Oresnik weapon. The region's governor, Alexander Brechalov, confirmed damage to one of the facilities in the republic and the fact that there are injured persons, without naming the specific plant. Simultaneously, intense attacks covered occupied Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula, where according to local authorities at least one person died as a result of a drone strike in the port area. Russian air defense reportedly shot down 26 drones, but shrapnel caused damage to residential buildings. Another target was a fuel base in Velikiye Luki in the Pskov region, located near the borders with Estonia and Latvia. The fire at the fuel tank, caused by a strike from an SBU drone, is part of the systematic destruction of logistics necessary for moving Russian reserves. The strategy of drone attacks on Russian critical infrastructure has intensified in the fourth year of the war, aiming to shift the burden of the conflict onto the aggressor's territory and weaken its economic capabilities.The security situation remains tense also in the political sphere. The services of Ukraine and Moldova announced a joint success, which was the dismantling of a criminal group planning assassinations of high-ranking politicians in Kyiv. According to the prosecutor's office, Russia allegedly offered sums reaching 100 thousand dollars for successful attacks. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns about the critical state of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which after a failure of the backup power line relies on the only remaining power connection, drastically increasing the risk of a catastrophe in case of further military actions. „Obecność Europejczyków w negocjacjach o pokoju jest dla nas fundamentalna i ważna dla stabilności całego kontynentu.” (The presence of Europeans in peace negotiations is fundamental for us and important for the stability of the entire continent.) — Volodymyr Zelenskyy The Russian Ministry of Defense reported shooting down 113 Ukrainian drones during one night on February 19, which fits into the broad scale of the Ukrainian aerial offensive this week. Despite these declarations, satellite imagery and social media recordings confirm numerous hits on industrial and energy facilities.

Mentioned People

  • Wołodymyr Zełenski — President of Ukraine speaking about negotiations and security.
  • Rafael Grossi — Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring the Zaporizhzhia plant.
  • Alexander Breczalow — Governor of Udmurtia, who confirmed the drone attack on Votkinsk.