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🇩🇪🇺🇦 Germany Delivers Five More Caracal Assault Vehicles to Ukraine

🤝 Rheinmetall has supplied Ukraine with five additional Caracal air assault vehicles, bringing Ukraine’s total fleet to 20 units, with five more scheduled for delivery soon, German Aid to Ukraine reported on 10 February. Funded by the German government, the Caracals are designed for airborne and special operations, offering modular versatility for troop transport, logistics, and combat roles.

⚔️ The delivery reinforces Germany’s continued military support for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion. The Caracal vehicles join a wide range of German military aid, including Leopard tanks, Gepard anti-aircraft systems, and Skynex air defense systems. The Gepard tanks have been particularly effective in countering Russian drones.

⚡ Germany remains Ukraine’s second-largest supporter after the US. These Caracals enhance Ukraine’s operational mobility and adaptability, which are crucial for its special operations and rapid-response forces.

✈️ Ukraine’s F-16s Deploy Advanced US Missiles to Counter Russian Air Tactics

🛡️ Recent photos show Ukrainian F-16s equipped with AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles, significantly boosting Ukraine’s air defense and combat capabilities, The War Zone reports. The AIM-9X is highly effective against drones and cruise missiles, while the long-range AMRAAM counters Russia’s R-37M missile, which is fired from standoff distances.

⚔️ This new missile capability allows Ukrainian pilots to engage Russian aircraft more effectively and conduct precision ground strikes near front lines. The F-16s are also armed with GBU-39/B Small-Diameter Bombs, which provide high accuracy and a standoff range for attacking semi-hardened targets.

📈 The jets feature advanced protection systems, including the AN/ALQ-131 radar defense pod and the Pylon Integrated Dispensing System Plus (PIDS+), optimized specifically for Russian threats with US assistance. While pilot training and parts shortages have caused delays, recent deliveries from NATO allies—particularly the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway—are bolstering Ukraine’s fleet, with approximately 85 F-16s expected in total.

🇩🇪🇺🇦 Germany Pledges 100 IRIS-T Missiles to Bolster Ukraine’s Air Defense

🛡️ Germany will supply 100 IRIS-T guided missiles to Ukraine, the German Mission to NATO announced. These advanced missiles will enhance Ukraine’s ability to intercept cruise missiles, drones, and other aerial threats, significantly improving the protection of cities and critical infrastructure.

⚔️ The announcement follows previous pledges of 50 missiles during the 9 January Ramstein meeting and an additional 60 during German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s visit to Kyiv on 14 January. Germany delivered its sixth IRIS-T air defense system in December 2023, further integrating these missiles into Ukraine’s growing defense network.

🤝 The missile delivery was confirmed at the 26th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, which included representatives from more than 50 nations. Germany’s joint ventures with Ukraine’s defense industry also focus on drone development and vehicle maintenance, strengthening mutual capabilities in the ongoing conflict.

🔥🛢 Drone Strikes Hit Russian Oil Infrastructure in Krasnodar and Tver Oblasts

🚀 Drones targeted Slavyansk-na-Kubani in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai on 14 February, with local residents reporting air defense activation and fires near the city’s outskirts, Astra Telegram channel reports. The Slavyansk oil refinery, with an annual capacity of 5.2 million tons, has been the target. The facility, which accounts for 9% of the region’s refining capacity, was previously hit by Ukrainian drones in April, May, and February 2025, forcing temporary shutdowns.

⚡ In a separate attack, nine drones struck the Andreapol oil pumping station in Tver Oblast overnight on 12-13 February. Despite Russian claims of downing all UAVs, Astra sources confirm they hit the station, damaging its communication hub and electrical systems. Operations at the facility were temporarily suspended.

💥 The Andreapol station is a key part of the Baltic Pipeline System-2, which is crucial for Russia’s oil transport. These attacks are part of Ukraine’s intensified campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure. In the last four months, Ukraine has launched 66 successful strikes on strategic sites, undermining Russia’s fuel supply and logistics network.

💥 Drones Strike Russia’s Largest Steel Plant in Lipetsk

🚀 A major drone attack hit Lipetsk Oblast overnight on
13 February, with debris falling near the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant (NLMK), Russia’s largest steel plant and a key producer of military-grade steel. Power outages affected several districts but were later restored.

⚔️ NLMK, located 400 km from the Russia-Ukraine border, plays a crucial role in Russia’s industrial and defense production. Local reports cited 12 explosions in Lipetsk’s industrial zone.

⚡ The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed it intercepted 83 Ukrainian drones across nine oblasts in one of the largest reported drone attacks on Russian territory. The attack highlights Ukraine’s continued efforts to target critical Russian infrastructure deep inside its territory.

🇪🇪🇺🇦 Estonia Commits €600 Million to Strengthen Ukraine’s Navy

🌊 Estonian Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet announced that the country has pledged €600 million to bolster Ukraine’s naval forces and maritime infrastructure. According to UkrInform, approximately 25% of the package will go directly to Ukraine’s Navy for critical operational needs, while the rest will focus on protecting maritime infrastructure and supporting civilian initiatives like the “Grain from Ukraine” program.

⚔️ The funding comes as Ukraine’s Navy continues to play a crucial role in the conflict. In 2024, it successfully struck around 50 Russian military targets, including airfields, fuel depots, and Shahed drone facilities. Estonia’s support is part of a broader coalition effort to enhance Ukraine’s maritime capabilities.

🤝 Norway and the UK led the Maritime Capability Coalition for Ukraine, which was launched in December 2023. Norway recently committed $241 million to support Ukraine’s naval defense, including mine clearance and soldier training at a multinational maritime training center. These initiatives aim to strengthen Ukraine’s naval power and secure its maritime trade routes against ongoing threats.

🇰🇵 North Korea Sends 200 Long-Range Artillery Pieces and Troops to Russia

🛠️ North Korea has delivered 200 long-range artillery pieces, missiles, and an estimated 11,000 troops to Russia, South Korea’s defense ministry confirmed on 11 February. Additional shipments of weapons and soldiers are expected as Pyongyang strengthens its military support for Moscow’s war against Ukraine, Yonhap reports.

⚔️ According to Seoul, North Korean troops have already suffered 300 combat deaths and 2,700 wounded in Russia, with artillery and ammunition deliveries making Pyongyang a key supplier for Moscow. Kyiv previously estimated that North Korea deployed 12,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, with 4,000 killed or wounded.

⚡ In return for its military aid, Pyongyang may receive Russian assistance in developing nuclear submarines and solid-fuel ICBMs, raising concerns in Seoul. Such technology could significantly enhance North Korea’s strategic capabilities. As North Korea continues its military expansion, South Korea warns of growing threats from Pyongyang’s advanced weapons programs, including nuclear-powered submarines and spy satellites.

💻 Ukraine’s Cyberattack Cripples 23 Russian Energy Firms with Insider Assistance

🖥️ Ukrainian cyber experts, with help from an insider, launched a major operation on 7-8 February, targeting 23 Russian energy companies, including Gazprom’s key contractor, Gazstroyprom, UkrInform reports. The attack disabled over 120 servers and 1,500 virtual machines, wiped 2 million GB of documentation, and shut down 10,000 employee computers.

⚡ According to a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), the operation exploited vulnerabilities in Russia’s cybersecurity systems, resulting in losses estimated at several billion rubles. The insider’s cooperation was critical in granting Ukrainian forces access to key servers and ensuring the attack's success.

🔎 Since 2022, HUR has conducted over one hundred large-scale cyber operations, targeting critical Russian infrastructure, including government websites and nuclear weapons enterprises. This latest strike underscores the growing intensity of Ukraine’s cyber campaign. HUR signals that further operations will escalate, causing significant disruption to Russia’s energy sector and beyond.