Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,459 | Russia-Ukraine war News

Key Developments from Day 1,459 of Russia’s War on Ukraine

Published February 22, 2026

Here is the latest update on the conflict in Ukraine:

Fighting

• Drone Attacks: A Russian drone strike in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including a 17-year-old boy. In a separate incident, an attack in the southeastern Zaporizhia region claimed the life of a 77-year-old man, according to Ukrainian officials.
• Ongoing Assaults: Russian attacks in the Odesa region wounded two people and caused damage to homes, vehicles, and an energy facility. Additionally, drone strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk region injured another 77-year-old man.
• Casualties in Donetsk: In the Donetsk region, Russian shelling injured four individuals during 18 assaults throughout the day. Local authorities reported the evacuation of 562 individuals, including 244 children, from frontline areas.
• Targeting U.S. Businesses: Russian forces targeted a facility belonging to U.S. snack company Mondelez in Sumy, prompting a statement from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who criticized Moscow for attacking American interests in Europe.
• Civilian Impact in Kherson: In the Kherson region, Russian shelling injured two police officers and one civilian. The attacks damaged three apartment buildings, 18 homes, a hospital, and several public buildings.
• Countermeasures: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian security forces neutralized Russian mercenaries who were allegedly planning assassination attempts on high-profile individuals, including military personnel and journalists.
• Russian Advances: Reports from the Russian RIA state news agency indicated that Russian forces took control of the village of Karpivka in eastern Donetsk.
• Ukrainian Drone Strikes: A Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Belgorod region reportedly injured a man and a three-year-old child. Additionally, Ukraine’s military claimed success in striking a Russian ballistic missile plant in Udmurtia and a gas facility in Samara with domestically produced “Flamingo” cruise missiles.

Politics and Diplomacy

• Diplomatic Discussions: Zelenskyy engaged in discussions with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte regarding upcoming trilateral talks with the U.S. and Russia, as well as Ukraine’s energy situation. Zelenskyy noted significant alignment in their perspectives.
• Upcoming Negotiations: In an evening address, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his commitment to achieving productive outcomes in negotiations with European partners and emphasized the importance of the EU’s involvement.
• Public Support Rallies: Demonstrations in Washington, D.C., Paris, and Prague saw public support for Ukraine ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
• Honoring Allies: Zelenskyy awarded the Order of Princess Olga to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo during her sixth visit to Kyiv since the war began.
• Recruitment Concerns: Sybiha condemned Russia’s ongoing recruitment of Kenyans and other Africans for military service, likening it to colonial practices and urging caution against signing contracts with Russian recruiters.
• New Sanctions: Ukraine implemented sanctions against 225 captains of vessels suspected of transporting Russian oil.

Energy

• Electricity Supply Threats: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine would cease unless Kyiv resumed the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Hungary has threatened to block a €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine over the same issue.
• Pipeline Disruptions: Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia have been suspended since January 27 due to damage from a Ukrainian drone strike. Both countries attribute the ongoing disruptions to Ukraine.
• Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Response: Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the statements from Hungary and Slovakia, asserting that the ultimatums threaten regional energy security.
• Political Reactions: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized Hungary’s position, implying it serves Russian interests.

Military Aid

• Drones from the Czech Republic: The Czech Republic has provided 200 reconnaissance drones to five Ukrainian brigades, valued at approximately $800,000, as reported by Ukraine’s Interfax news agency.
• Call for Ground Forces: Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed in a BBC interview that the UK and EU should consider deploying “peaceful ground forces” to support Ukraine’s sovereignty.

These updates reflect the ongoing complexities and challenges arising from the conflict in Ukraine as international responses and local events continue to unfold.

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