War in Ukraine today: latest news, 24 February 2026 (photo)

It has been the 1462  th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression. 

Today marks the anniversary of the full-scale invasion.

What happened in Ukraine today:

Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 4 pm:   

The occupiers continue their attempts to advance in certain sectors of the front. The Defense Forces are holding back the enemy, inflicting significant losses. On 24 February, the number of aggressor attacks reached 50.

Shelling of border areas continued. Today, in Sumy oblast, the settlements of Volfyne, Yastrubshchyna, Kucherivka, Ryzhivka, Novovasylivka, Khodyne, and Tovstodubove came under fire.

• Towards Northern Sloboda and Kursk: The enemy carried out 44 strikes on settlements and our troops’ positions, seven of which involved the use of MLRS. Five combat engagements occurred in this direction.
• Towards Southern Sloboda: The adversary twice attacked towards the settlement of Vilcha. Currently, no enemy attempts to advance are observed.
• Towards Kupiansk: The adversary moved forward twice in the vicinity of Hlushkivka.
• Towards Lyman: Ukrainian warriors repelled three attempts by the invaders to advance towards Shyiivka, Drobysheve, and Stavky. One assault action is ongoing.
• Towards Sloviansk: The occupiers attempted to advance on Ukrainian troops’ positions towards Rai-Oleksandrivka, Yampil, and Dronivka. Two out of three attacks are ongoing.
• Towards Kramatorsk: The aggressor attacked once.
• Towards Kostiantynivka: The invaders carried out 10 offensive actions near Kostiantynivka, Berestok, Pleshchiivka, and Sofiivka.
• Towards Pokrovsk: The occupiers attempted 13 times to push Ukrainian warriors from their positions in the vicinities of Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Molodetske, and Filiia. Three combat engagements are still ongoing.
• Towards Oleksandrivka: The enemy went on the offensive twice near Ternove and Nove Zaporizhzhia. The areas of Havrylivka and Pysantsi sustained airstrikes.
• Towards Huiliaipole: there were 11 attacks in the vicinity of Huiliaipole and towards Zaliznychne and Zahirne. The enemy launched airstrikes in the areas of Verkhnia Tersa, Huiliaipilske, and Liubytske. Three combat engagements are ongoing.
• Towards Orikhiv: The occupiers attacked three times. Combat engagements took place in the vicinity of Stepove, Stepnohirsk, and Plavni.
• Towards Kherson: No active offensive actions by the enemy have been recorded.

In other directions, there were no significant changes in the situation or enemy attempts to advance.

The Ministry of Development has approved Methodological Recommendations on the formation of a barrier-free environment for residential and public buildings. The purpose of this document is to provide practical guidelines for those who plan, design, build, restore, and maintain buildings. The Methodological Recommendations detail exactly how accessibility should be implemented in residential buildings. This includes the arrangement of entrances and exits, stairs and ramps, doors, vestibules, elevators, and common areas so that they can be conveniently and safely used by various people, including people with disabilities, parents with strollers, the elderly, etc. Particular attention is paid to barrier-free access to shelters and protective structures in basement floors, as well as the adaptation of housing for people with disabilities who use wheelchairs. The Methodological Recommendations advise application during new construction, reconstruction, and capital repairs, the restoration of damaged objects, as well as the adaptation of existing residential and public buildings. They supplement current state building codes and emphasize the actual needs of people rather than the mere “fulfillment of requirements.”

Ukraine’s national debt has reached a staggering size. According to the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, as of December 31, 2025, the total amount of state and state-guaranteed debt of Ukraine amounted to UAH 9,042.7 billion ($213.3 billion), which is 29.5% (28.4% in dollar equivalent) more than at the end of 2024.

Recent war events in the east of Ukraine

Kharkiv oblast

According to the General Staff operational update, over the past day, there were 116 combat engagements.

Towards Southern Sloboda, the adversary twice assaulted the positions of our units in the direction of Grafske and Kutkivka.

Towards Kupiansk, two attacks by the invaders took place yesterday. The Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions in the vicinity of Pishchane.

Over the past day, the city of Kharkiv and 8 settlements in Kharkiv oblast came under enemy strikes.

As a result of the shelling, 11 people were injured, including two children.

In the city of Kharkiv, 55-year-old and 80-year-old men and a 70-year-old woman were injured; in the village of Novooshynove (Kurylivka community), a 33-year-old woman and girls aged 13 and 7 were injured; in the village of Husynka (Kindrashivka community), a 42-year-old man was injured; in the village of Krasnyi Yar (Vovchansk community), a 45-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man were injured; on the highway near the settlement of Sharivka, 42-year-old and 50-year-old men were injured.

Additionally, medics provided assistance to a 73-year-old man who was injured on 2 February in the village of Osynove (Kupiansk community).

The enemy actively utilized various types of weaponry across Kharkiv oblast:

• 6 KABs;
• 5 Geran-2 type UAVs;
• 3 Molniia type UAVs;
• 3 FPV drones;
• 26 UAVs (type being established).

Civilian infrastructure objects were damaged or destroyed:

• Kharkiv: 4 private houses and a vehicle damaged;
• Bohodukhiv region: a civilian building damaged (Zolochiv settlement), 2 vehicles damaged (Myronivka village);
• Kupiansk region: a minibus damaged (Velyki Khutory village), a vehicle damaged (Prykolotne village);
• Izium region: 5 private houses damaged (Oskil village);
• Chuhuiv region: a private house damaged (Krasnyi Yar village).

The transit evacuation point in Lozova received 127 people over the past day. A total of 20,169 people have been registered at the point since its opening.

Donetsk oblast

Furthermore, tonight Russia twice attacked Kramatorsk with drones—hits were recorded on an apartment building and a gas station.

On 23 February, police recorded 1,319 russian strikes along the frontline and residential sectors of the oblast. Under fire were 9 settlements: the cities of Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, Mykolaivka, Sloviansk; the settlements of Bilenke, Raihorodok, Sviatohorivka, Shabelkivka; and the village of Osykove. A total of 26 civilian objects sustained damage, including 18 residential buildings.

• In Kramatorsk, Russians struck with two V2U UAVs—wounding 5 civilians and damaging an apartment building, a shop, and a civilian vehicle.
• One person was injured in Mykolaivka; infrastructure was damaged.
• Towards Sloviansk, Russian troops directed 4 drones—damaging a private house and burning a civilian vehicle.
• The enemy shelled Druzhkivka with a KAB-250 bomb and UAVs—damaging 2 private houses and a municipal enterprise.
• In Shabelkivka, 12 private houses were damaged as a result of hits by two KAB-250 bombs. In Bilenke, an enemy Geran-2 UAV damaged 2 private houses and an outbuilding.

Luhansk oblast

Over the past 24 hours, the invaders have attacked three times with multiple launch rocket systems in settlements in our region located near the line of contact. On nine occasions, they used grenade launchers. They also fired barrel artillery and mortars. Seven Russian drones carried out combat missions.

The enemy carried out a total of thirteen attacks towards Lyman and Sloviansk.

The so-called ‘lpr’ is threatening administrative and even criminal liability for violations relating to the state registration, replenishment, storage and purchase of stuffed animals. Anyone in possession of stuffed animals, carcasses, skeletons or animal skins must submit the relevant documents to the local office of the ‘Russian Nature Conservation Agency’.

A high-rise building in Severodonetsk, which was abandoned by builders five months ago, is still officially undergoing repairs. Work on the restoration was halted in October, leaving the building in the city’s new districts in a semi-demolished state. In response to residents’ complaints, the occupation administration stated that the contractor is still on site and the relevant work is continuing. Two different realities in the occupied settlement.

What is happening now in the north of Ukraine

Kyiv oblast

According to Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, during the full-scale invasion by the russian Federation, 236 civilians were killed in Kyiv as a result of russian shelling, including at least 25 children. Law enforcement agencies have launched 225 criminal proceedings into violations of the laws of war by russian military personnel in Kyiv. Four russian generals who gave orders to strike civilian targets in the Ukrainian capital have had charges brought against them.

According to Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, since 24 February 2022, the russians have destroyed or damaged more than 20,500 civilian infrastructure facilities in Kyiv oblast. These include 19,993 residential buildings, 221 educational institutions, and 269 life support networks (gas pipelines, water pipelines, and power grids). Law enforcement agencies in the oblast have launched investigations into 20,359 criminal offences within 4,528 criminal proceedings. As a result of the investigation, 152 russian Armed Forces personnel had charges brought against them. Prosecutors sent charges against 109 individuals to court, and 22 russians were convicted.

On 24 February, Kyiv will host a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and a summit between Ukraine and the countries of Northern Europe and the Baltic states. This was announced by the spokesperson for the President of Ukraine, Serhiy Nikiforov. The President of the European Council, António Costa, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the leaders of Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway have arrived in the capital. Many other countries and organisations are represented at another level. The guests will also take part in a prayer for Ukraine, honour the memory of fallen defenders and visit energy facilities destroyed by russia.

On 24 February, a rally was held in Kyiv in support of Ukrainian prisoners of war and missing persons. People with flags and photographs of their relatives gathered near the Verkhovna Rada.

An exposition dedicated to the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion was presented at the Central Railway Station in Kyiv. The exposition consists of three symbolic train cars. The first is a car from Chop—Barvinkove train, which russians attacked with drones in Kharkiv oblast less than a month ago; nearly 300 people were saved, though there were fatalities. The second is a specialized medical car designed for transporting the wounded. The third is a new third-class sleeper car.

Zhytomyr oblast

On 24 February, commemorative events were held in Zhytomyr to mark the fourth anniversary of the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the russian army and the National Day of Prayer. Townspeople, military personnel, and families of fallen soldiers gathered to honour the memory of Ukraine’s defenders, as well as all civilians who died during the russian-Ukrainian war.

Mayor Mykola Borovets announced that in 2026, Zviahel plans to install a memorial composition called ‘Wings of Hope,’ dedicated to the missing defenders of Ukraine. The installation of the memorial composition is an initiative of the families of missing soldiers and the public organisation ‘Voices of the Missing’. Approximately 280,000 hryvnias have been allocated in the community budget for the installation and arrangement of the composition.

Sumy oblast

The Regional Military Administration reported that since 24 February 2022, 578 civilians have been killed and nearly 2,500 injured in Sumy oblast as a result of russian attacks. During the full-scale war, russian servicemen have killed 29 children and injured more than 190.

Over this period, 13,147 residential buildings, 171 administrative buildings and 335 educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed by russian shelling in Sumy oblast. Of these, 85 educational institutions can be restored after the active phase of hostilities ends, and restoration works are already underway at 12 facilities. Eleven industrial enterprises have relocated production to other regions of Ukraine. In 78 settlements of the oblast, no residents remain, as they evacuated due to the security situation.

The Regional Military Administration informed that over the course of 23–24 February, russian forces carried out more than 100 attacks on 36 settlements across 16 territorial communities of the oblast. The highest number of strikes was recorded in Sumy and Shostka regions. The enemy used mortars, artillery, FPV drones, UAVs and guided aerial bombs. Air raid alerts in the oblast lasted for 20 hours and 47 minutes during the reporting period.

Civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged or destroyed:

• In Mykolaivka rural community, a civilian infrastructure facility was damaged;
• In Shalyhyne community, a private residential house was damaged;
• In Seredyno-Buda community, private residential houses, outbuildings and civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged;
• In Nedryhailivka community, non-residential premises were damaged;
• In Sumy community, non-residential premises were damaged;
• In Velyka Pysarivka community, private households were damaged;
• In Shostka community, an apartment block, private residential houses, outbuildings and a civilian infrastructure facility were damaged;
• In Znob-Novhorodske community, private residential houses, premises of educational and medical institutions, and civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged;
• In Hlukhivka community, an apartment block was damaged;
• In Khutir-Mykhailivka community, a civilian infrastructure facility was damaged;
• In Berezivka community, a civilian infrastructure facility was damaged.

During the day, 19 people were evacuated from border communities by local authorities in cooperation with units of the State Emergency Service, the National Police and public organisations.

Chernihiv oblast

Chernihiv Border Guard Detachment reported that over the course of 23 February, russian troops attacked four border communities of Chernihiv oblast: Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, Horodnia and Snovsk. The enemy carried out mortar shelling (10 explosions), launched FPV drone strikes (five explosions) and dropped explosive devices from UAVs (seven explosions). Eight settlements came under fire.

According to  the State Environmental Inspectorate in Chernihiv oblast, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, as of 30 January 2026, environmental damage in Chernihiv oblast caused by the armed aggression of russia has amounted to more than UAH 32.34b. The damage primarily concerns air, soil and water pollution. In particular, as a result of russian attacks, around 600 tonnes of harmful substances were released into the air within the oblast, and the area of contaminated land reached 1.59m square metres, or nearly 160 hectares. 

Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Nikopol region. In the evening in Nikopol, a 35-year-old man was killed. He discovered an FPV drone operating on a fiber-optic cable. After cutting the fiber-optic line and approaching the drone, it detonated. The man died at the scene. The enemy attacked Marhanets and Pokrovske rural communities by drones.

Kryvyi Rih region. An FPV drone strike in Hrushivka community damaged a private house.

Synelnykove region. The occupiers struck Vasylkivka community by a UAV and attacked the Pokrovske community. Private houses were damaged.

Synelnykove region. The occupiers launched KABs at Pokrovske and Malomykhailivka communities. In the latter, a multi-apartment building was damaged, and people may be trapped under the rubble. Emergency response operations are ongoing. In Pokrovske community, a 20-year-old man was injured and hospitalised. A school and a private house caught fire. 15 private houses were damaged.

Nikopol region. The enemy attacked Pokrovske rural community by a drone. Also, as a result of yesterday’s strikes in Nikopol, a 22-year-old man was injured. He will receive outpatient treatment.

Vinnytsia oblast 

Mayor Serhii Morhunov reported that Vinnytsia oblast transferred FPV drones, 20 Matrice 4E drones, and 4 camouflage nets. This time, another batch of assistance was prepared for the 3rd Assault Brigade and the 120th Territorial Defence Brigade.

Kirovohrad oblast

Volodymyr Osypenko, Deputy Head of Oleksandrivka community, reported that in Oleksandrivka in Kropyvnytskyi region, a downed russian drone fell onto a cemetery. This occurred during an air raid alert on the night of 22 February. The unexploded warhead of the russian UAV was transported to a safe distance and detonated by explosives experts.

Poltava oblast

In Poltava, memorial ceremonies were held for soldiers Pavlo Nalyvaiko and Yevhen Prokofiev.

Pavlo Nalyvaiko died on 11 February 2026, at Dnipropetrovsk Regional Clinical Hospital named after Mechnikov in Dnipropetrovsk oblast.

Yevhen Prokofiev was killed on 12 February 2026, in Kharkiv oblast.

Ihor Borovko from Orzhytsia community was killed on 10 February 2026, while carrying out a combat mission near Vilniansk city in Zaporizhzhia oblast.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi once again awarded the Cross of Military Merit distinction to a serviceman from Poltava oblast. Battalion commander and Hero of Ukraine Ivan Kozin became the first defender to receive this award 3 times.

Memorial plaques honoring fallen alumni were unveiled on the facade of Kremenchuk Lyceum No. 6 Pravoberezhnyi. The plaques commemorate Dmytro Slabko, Roman Zelenskyi, Stanislav Shevchenko and Serhii Voznyi.

Cherkasy oblast

Cherkasy veteran and senior instructor at the Centre for Civilian Resistance Training, Roman Kovalov, was awarded the Order For Merit, III degree, by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi.

Cherkasy volunteer and servicwoman Oksana Tsyhanok was awarded the Order of Princess Olga, III degree. She became a volunteer in 2014 and joined the Armed Forces in 2023.

In Cherkasy, at the Museum of the russian-Ukrainian War, the commemorative stamp With Sword and Will was officially canceled. Its release was dedicated to the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion and 12 years since the beginning of the russian-Ukrainian war.

Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine

Zaporizhzhia oblast

Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, reported that an 87-year-old man was injured as a result of an airstrike on Komyshuvakha in Zaporizhzhia oblast. The premises of an agricultural enterprise was damaged, and a fire broke out.

The City Council reported that 12 high-rise buildings and a number of non-residential premises were damaged as a result of a russian attack on Zaporizhzhia. In Voznesensk region, a high-rise buildings and several non-residential premises were damaged. In Dnipro, 3 high-rise buildings were affected. The blast wave shattered windows and damaged balconies.

According to updated information provided by the RMA, russian forces carried out 9 strikes by Shahed UAVs on Zaporizhzhia on the night of 24 February. The National Police of the oblast reported that as a result of the attack, two women aged 34 and 45, two men aged 33 and 53, and a 6-year-old child were injured.

Ivan Fedorov, Head of the RMA, stated that 3 people, including a child, were injured, and a multi-apartment building was damaged by the blast wave and debris. These are the preliminary consequences of the attack on Zaporizhzhia. Also, an infrastructure facility was damaged.

Based on the information provided by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on 23 February, the Defence Forces of Ukraine repelled 25 russian attacks in Huliaipole and Oleksandrivka regions. In particular, combat engagements took place near Huliaipole and towards Varvarivka, Zaliznychne and Nove Zaporizhzhia.

Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia RMA, stated that on 23 February, over 910 russian strikes were carried out on the territory of 36 cities and villages in Zaporizhzhia oblast. In particular, 21 airstrikes targeted Komyshuvakha, Novomykolaivka, Stepne, Lezhyne, Veselianka, Hryhorivka, Orikhiv, Vozdvyzhivka, Novoselivka, Huliaipilske, Luhivske, Myrne, Dolynka, Verkhniа Tersa and Charivne.

Mykolaiv oblast

Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration reported that on 23 February, the russian forces attacked the energy infrastructure of Mykolaiv by Shahed drones. Windows in 3 high-rise buildings were damaged. During the day, russian forces attacked Ochakiv and Kutsurub communities by FPV drones. A private house in Dmytrivka village was damaged. In both cases, there were no injuries reported.

Odesa oblast

According to the Air Force, UAVs were detected in the airspace over Odesa oblast in the waters of the Black Sea heading toward Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi region.

The Air Command South reported that on the evening of 23 February, during an air raid alert, russian forces launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile at Odesa oblast from Crimea.

Kherson oblast

Referring to Kherson RMA, at approximately 1pm in the central part of Kherson, a municipal worker was injured due to the detonation of an explosive device. While collecting garbage from the city streets, an unknown object exploded, causing a 60-year-old man to suffer blast trauma and shrapnel wounds to the abdomen.

At around 11am in Sofiivka of Stanislav community, russian forces attacked an evacuation vehicle belonging to a charitable foundation by an FPV drone. As a result of the strike, a man was injured and preliminarily sustained blast trauma.

At about 9am, a 62-year-old employee of a municipal enterprise in Kherson sustained injuries incompatible with life as a result of an enemy UAV strike.

At approximately 9am, russian forces shelled Korabelnyi district of Kherson. A 49-year-old man came under enemy fire and sustained blast trauma and a concussion.

Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine

Volyn oblast

In Volyn, the wife of the fallen defender Serhii Shevchuk was awarded with the III degree For Courage Order. Serhii Shevchuk, Senior Sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Gunner of the Machine Gun Platoon of the 3rd Mechanized Battalion of the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade, was killed on 21 September 2024 while performing a combat mission near the village of Terny, Kramatorsk region, Donetsk oblast.

Zakarpattia oblast

The RMA reported that 11 projects in the oblast will receive over EUR 2.6m for implementation within the framework of the cross-border Interreg NEXT Program.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

The RMA reported that on behalf of the President of Ukraine, a state award was presented to Oleksandr Dadykin – the III degree For Courage Order (posthumously).

Lviv oblast

In the village of Romanivka, Velykolyubinsk community, parishioners of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary raised almost UAH 18,000, and in the People’s House, local residents collected over UAH 5,000. Employees of the village council of Velykolyubinsk territorial community added another UAH 10,000. With the raised funds, they purchased a charging station, which they handed over to a serviceman, a resident of the village of Koropuzh.

Hlynyansk City Council purchased 3 units of DJI Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo quadcopters for a total amount of UAH 420,000.

Representatives of Horodok City Council took another 179 drones (24 Mavics/Matrixes + 25 interceptor drones + 130 fpv drones), 24 charging stations, a vehicle platform, camouflage nets, and medicine to the front.

Rivne oblast

3,500 calls were made by rescuers of Rivne oblast in 2025. As a result, over 2,000 fires were extinguished, 42 people were saved. In addition, dozens of forest and peat fires were extinguished, and assistance was provided to citizens during road accidents and bad weather.

Ternopil oblast

In Ternopil, a prayer action Our Freedom is in Their Strength was held on the Theater Square near the Alley of Memory Indestructible. The event was timed to coincide with the National Day of Prayer for Ukraine and dedicated to the memory of fallen Ukrainian soldiers.

Khmelnytskyi oblast

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, presented a ribbon to the Battle Banner with the honorary name Podilskyi to the 36th Podilsky Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine.

Chernivtsi oblast

A joint prayer was held in Chernivtsi on the occasion of the Day of National Prayer – the anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Representatives of different faiths, together with the community, prayed for the fallen Heroes, for Ukraine and its people, for all defenders, for peace and Victory.

International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)

The Danish government will provide EUR 20m to strengthen the Ukrainian energy sector. DKK 80m is a contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund; DKK 30m is through UNOPS for equipment to protect energy facilities; DKK 40m is through partners for the fastest possible emergency assistance. Used equipment from the Asnes power plant in Kalundborg is also being transferred.

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Materials compiled by Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Helena Albahachiieva, Kristina Maknynia 

Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Alla Litrovnyk, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Ilona Korolevska, Tetiana Moiseienko, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova

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