Key developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict - Day 1,081

Sunday 09 February 2025 - 08:58

On February 9, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues with significant military and diplomatic developments.

Military Actions: Russian defense forces intercepted and destroyed 35 Ukrainian drones overnight. The majority were taken down over the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine. On the Ukrainian side, the air force reported shooting down 67 of 139 Russian drones launched. Additionally, 71 Russian drones vanished from radar before hitting their targets. In a separate incident, Russia’s telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea was damaged due to external factors, though restoration is ongoing and no service disruptions occurred. Ukraine's forces also reported downing a Russian Su-25 aircraft near the town of Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast.

Diplomatic Efforts: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania took a major step in severing Soviet-era ties by connecting to the European Union's power grid, citing security concerns. US President Donald Trump disclosed he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss potential peace efforts in Ukraine. Putin expressed a desire to end the war and stop the loss of life. However, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Gennady Gatilov, mentioned that there has been no progress from the US on disarmament. Nevertheless, Russia remains open to cooperating with any US administration. In another diplomatic statement, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed support for Russia, stating that Pyongyang would back Moscow in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.