ZSU withdraws from Avdiivka, Navalny dead, ammunition situation

Your slice of the headlines in Ukraine. Daily. Monday, February 19, 2024.

●       Avdiivka withdrawal vital to protect Ukrainian soldiers’ lives, says Zelenskyy

The withdrawal from Avdiivka was the correct decision to safeguard the lives of Ukrainian defenders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17.

●       Russian air superiority aids offensive in Avdiivka; more aggressive frontline advances expected – ISW
Russian forces appear to have temporarily established limited and localized air superiority and were able to provide ground troops with close air support during the final days of their offensive operation to capture Avdiivka, the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Feb. 17.

●       17,000 Russian soldiers killed, 30,000 injured in Avdiivka capture – Tavria Defense Forces
About 17,000 Russian soldiers were killed and 30,000 others injured during the capture of the Ukrainian stronghold city in the partially occupied Donetsk Oblast, Tavria Defense Forces spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy said in an interview with the BBC on Feb. 17.

●       Ukrainian Air Force downs 12 Russian Shahed kamikaze drones, one Kh-59 missile, and Su-34 fighter jet
Twelve Russian Shahed kamikaze drones and one Kh-59 guided missile were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses overnight, the Air Force reported on Telegram on Feb. 18.

●       We will ‘bring millions of Ukrainians home’ if we have enough air defense systems – Zelenskyy
The presence of adequate air defense systems in Ukraine was highlighted as crucial for the safe return of millions of Ukrainians to their homes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17.

●       Navalny’s spokeswoman officially confirms Kremlin critic’s death
The death of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been officially confirmed by his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh in her Feb. 17 X (Twitter) post.

●       ‘If Trump comes to Ukraine, I am ready to go to the front with him’ – Zelenskyy
If Donald Trump “comes to Ukraine, I am ready to go to the front with him,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17 in response to a question about inviting the former U.S. president to visit the country.

●       Zaporizhzhia to open underground schools by September
Ukrainian authorities plan to resume in-person classes for school students in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, opening a series of underground schools in the region by Sept. 1, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said in an interview with Ukrinform news agency on Feb. 16.

●       Polish farmers border blockade may cause $200 million loss in Ukraine’s budget in February, says parliamentary
The ongoing blockade of the Ukrainian-Polish border is causing significant financial losses for Ukraine and “if the border is not unblocked by the end of the month, the Ukrainian budget will lose UAH 7.7 billion ($202 million) in revenues from the State Customs Service,” parliamentary Finance Committee Chairman Danylo Hetmantsev wrote on Telegram on Feb. 16.

●       Denmark to transfer all its artillery to Ukraine – PM Frederiksen
Denmark has decided to transfer all of its artillery units to Ukraine, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced at the 7th Ukrainian Lunch in Munich on Feb. 17.

●       Czech Republic found hundreds of thousands of artillery munitions abroad that could be transferred to Ukraine
Czechia will be able to transfer the ammunition for Ukraine “in a matter of weeks” if the United States, Germany, Sweden and other countries help with funding, President Petr Pavel said during the Munich Security Conference, as quoted by Czech outlet iRozhlas on Feb. 17.

●       Three EU countries block critical ammunition purchase decision for Ukraine amid severe deficit — Politico
France, Greece, and Cyprus have blocked a decision to purchase ammunition for Ukraine outside the bloc, Politico reported on Feb. 16, citing European diplomats.

●       ‘Everywhere is full of dead Russians’ — CNN reporter stunned after his trip to the frontlines
The number of Russian casualties is shocking, CNN International’s senior military correspondent, Frederik Pleitgen, noted about his last visit to the front, Bild reported.

●       Zelenskyy blames partners for creating ‘artificial arms shortage’ for Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused his partners of keeping Ukraine in an artificial shortage of weapons, particularly artillery and long-range weapons, allowing Russia to adapt to the intensity of fighting, stated in his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17.

●       Kyiv on track to get U.S.-made F-16 jets in June – European officials
Ukraine is on track to get ahold of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets in June, the American publication Foreign Policy reported on Feb. 17, citing two European officials.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine