Kiev warns of Moscow's new attack plan, CIA sets up many secret bases in Ukraine, Houthi fires on US ships again

Poland destroys Ukrainian grain, Russian asylum seekers in South Korea skyrocket, CIA director secretly visits Kiev, terrorist attack in Burkina Faso, Ukraine publicly announces number of soldiers killed… are some of the notable international events in the past 24 hours.

Russia announced the destruction of the second Patriot system provided by the US to Ukraine. (Source: Global Look Press)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

Russia-Ukraine

* Ukraine announced the shooting down of many Russian UAVs and missiles: The Ukrainian Air Force said on February 26 that Russia launched 14 attack drones (UAVs) and a series of missiles into Ukraine overnight, and Ukrainian air defense systems destroyed 9 UAVs and 3 guided missiles in the Kharkov and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

On Telegram, the Ukrainian Air Force announced that Russia also launched two S-300 missiles from air defense systems and one Kh-31P air-to-ground missile, but did not say whether these missiles and UAVs were shot down. (Reuters)

* Ukraine warns of new Russian attack plan: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on February 25 that Russian forces will launch another attack in Ukraine in late May or next summer.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Zelensky affirmed: "We will prepare for the attack to begin on October 8, but I think it will not bring any results." (AP)

* Russia destroys Ukraine's Patriot system: On the social network “Iznanka” on the evening of February 25, a video appeared showing the destruction of the US Patriot air defense missile system (SAM) belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU).

The website also noted that this was the second Ukrainian Patriot air defense system destroyed this week, but the Russian Defense Ministry had only confirmed the destruction of the Patriot missile launcher earlier. (TASS)

* Ukraine plans new counterattack: On February 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the country has drawn up a specific plan for a new counterattack against Russia.

Speaking at a press conference in Kiev, Mr Zelensky said a major military reshuffle that saw the head of Ukraine’s army replaced earlier this month was linked to the new battlefield action plan. Mr Zelensky had previously said Kiev’s counteroffensive plan last year had been leaked and ended up “on the table in the Kremlin” before the operation began.

The Ukrainian army launched a counter-offensive last year but was unable to penetrate well-prepared defences in the Russian-controlled south and east. (AFP)

* Ukraine discovers 47 Russian intelligence networks: On February 25, Director of Ukraine's SBU security service, Mr. Vasyl Maliuk, announced that the country had discovered 47 Russian spy networks operating in Ukraine in 2023.

Maliuk made the announcement at a televised conference in Kiev, adding that Ukrainian authorities had detained more than 2,000 suspected "traitors" since the conflict began. (Reuters)

* Ukraine publishes number of soldiers killed since conflict: On February 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 31,000 soldiers of the country have been killed since Russia began launching a special military operation in the country two years ago. This is the first time Ukraine has published casualty figures in more than a year.

Speaking at a press conference in Kiev, Mr. Zelensky refused to disclose the number of injured people because this information would be beneficial for Russia's military planning.

Ukraine has not announced military losses since late 2022, when Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the conflict broke out on February 24, 2022. (Sputnik)

Asia-Pacific

* Beijing opposes US sanctions on Chinese companies over Russia ties: On February 26, China's Ministry of Commerce said that the country firmly opposes the US imposing sanctions on Chinese companies over Russia ties.

In a statement on its website, China's Ministry of Commerce stressed that Beijing will take necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

The administration of US President Joe Biden on February 23 announced a new package of trade restrictions on 93 entities from Russia, China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kyrgyzstan, India and South Korea because of their ties to Russia. (AFP)

*Taliban releases Austrian activist: On February 25, the Taliban government in Afghanistan released Herbert Fritz, an 84-year-old Austrian nationalist and far-right activist who was captured in Afghanistan last May.

Austria's Der Standard newspaper said the country's Foreign Ministry had been working to secure Fritz's release since last May, and thanked Qatar and the European Union's representative in Kabul for supporting the effort to bring Fritz back to Austria. Fritz was a founding member of the National Democratic Party (NDP), a far-right group that was banned in 1988. ( Der Standard)

* Number of Russians seeking asylum in South Korea increases 5-fold: According to the US TV channel CNN , in 2023, a record 5,800 Russians sought political asylum in South Korea, a 5-fold increase compared to 2022. In addition, the 2023 figures exceeded the total number of asylum applications recorded in more than a quarter of a century - from 1994 to 2019.

After Russia, the largest number of refugees entering South Korea came from Kazakhstan - more than 2,000 people, followed by 1,300 from China and 1,200 from Malaysia. South Korean authorities say that dodging military service is not a basis for obtaining refugee status. (Yonhap/CNN)

* China releases Blue Book on Aerospace Technology: At a press conference on February 26, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) released the Blue Book on China's aerospace science and technology.

China plans to carry out 100 space launches in 2024, a new record for the country. These launches include the first flight from China's first commercial spaceport and satellite launches to establish satellite constellations.

China's first commercial spaceport is currently under construction in Wenchang City on Hainan Island. CASC is a rocket developer and leader in China's space industry. (Xinhua)

* South Korea tightens export controls on Russia, Belarus: South Korea's trade ministry said on February 26 that the country plans to tighten export controls on Russia and Belarus related to items that are likely to be used for military purposes.

The announcement came after South Korea added 682 items with actual or potential military uses to a list of items banned from shipping to Russia and Belarus last week.

South Korea's trade ministry added that it will focus on monitoring exports of "high-priority items," including chips that can be used in drones, with other partner countries. (Yonhap)

Europe

*Germany is urgently looking for ammunition for Ukraine: Germany's Spiegel magazine reported on February 26 that the country is urgently looking for artillery shells for the Ukrainian armed forces. General Christian Freuding, head of the special headquarters for Ukraine under the German Ministry of Defense, said: "We are trying to buy ammunition all over the world."

Time is not on Ukraine's European allies' side , Spiegel said. Western intelligence agencies say Ukraine's reserves will run out "by June at the latest" and possibly even sooner. (Spiegel/Sputnik)

* Russia deploys first Upir FPV drones to battlefield: According to TASS , the first batch of Upir first-person view (FPV) drones with thermal imaging equipment has been deployed by the Russian Army to a special military operation zone.

Previously, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the country's army will be equipped with UAVs controlled by artificial intelligence.

Always at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies, the Russian military has taken advantage of the capabilities of FPV drones and effectively integrated them into reconnaissance and surveillance operations. (Sputnik/TASS)

* CIA establishes 12 secret bases in Ukraine: The New York Times (NYT) reported on February 25 that Washington has long turned Ukraine into one of the main areas to fight Russia by creating secret bases along the border between Ukraine and Russia, where intelligence work is carried out, including monitoring Russian military activities from the air.

According to the NYT, from 12 secret bases established by the CIA, all military activities on Russian territory are monitored. In addition, since 2016, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has trained Ukrainian special forces, including for the purpose of collecting information on Russian military technology, intercepting radio broadcasts... One of such centers trained the current Chief of the Main Directorate of Military Intelligence (GUR) of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov. (NYT)

* Poland destroys Ukrainian grain: About 160 tonnes of Ukrainian grain have been destroyed at a Polish railway station amid mass protests. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov posted photos of piles of grain spilled from train cars on social media X. "These photos show 160 tonnes of destroyed Ukrainian grain. The grain is being transported to the port of Gdansk and then to other countries. This is the fourth sabotage at Polish railway stations," he wrote.

This month, Polish farmers protested what they saw as unfair competition from Ukraine and European Union environmental regulations. Protesters blocked border crossings with Ukraine and highways, and dumped Ukrainian grain from train cars onto the tracks. (Politico)

*CIA Director Secretly Visits Kiev: Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns secretly visited Ukraine on February 22. This is the 10th such visit since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out on February 24. The visit is aimed at reassuring Ukrainian leaders in the event that the US House of Representatives does not approve additional funding for Kiev.

The US Congress has failed to approve additional funding for Ukraine since October 2023. During this time, the US suspended the supply of weapons and ammunition, including artillery shells, to Kiev at the end of December 2023, while EU supplies do not meet Ukraine's needs. (TASS)

Middle East – Africa

*Houthi attacks US oil tanker: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on the morning of February 26 that Yemen's Houthi forces on February 24 launched an anti-ship ballistic missile targeting the US oil tanker MV Torm Thor in the Gulf of Aden, but missed the target.

The missile did not cause any casualties or damage, according to CENTCOM. On February 25, the Iran-linked group said it had targeted the ship, as the Houthis continued to attack shipping lanes in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The US military also said it shot down two unmanned aerial vehicles in the southern Red Sea on February 25 in “self-defense.” (Reuters)

*Terrorist attack in Burkina Faso, at least 15 people killed: At least 15 civilians were killed and 2 others injured in a "terrorist" attack on a Catholic church in northern Burkina Faso.

This is just the latest in a series of atrocities believed to have been carried out by jihadist groups operating in the region, some targeting Catholic churches while others have involved the kidnapping of clergy.

Burkina Faso is part of the vast Sahel region, which has been embroiled in a battle against rising violent extremism since Libya's civil war in 2011, followed by the Islamist takeover of northern Mali in 2012. (AFP)

* 3 Hezbollah members killed in Israeli attacks: Xinhua News Agency on February 25 quoted Lebanese military sources as saying that 3 Hezbollah gunmen were killed and 9 people, including 3 members of the group and 6 civilians, were injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon's southern border.

Israel carried out 13 airstrikes on six towns and villages in the border area and shelled 18 villages and towns in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hezbollah reported that its fighters had attacked several Israeli sites.

The clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have left 314 people dead on the Lebanese side, including 212 Hezbollah members and 59 civilians. In a related development, on February 25, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel will not stop its actions against the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, even if a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza are secured. (Times of Israel)

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