US France Ambassador Banned from Meeting French Government

The U.S. Ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, has been Banned from Meeting Members of the French Government, after Not Showing-Up at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Earlier in the Day, where He had been Summoned over Comments on the Killing of a French Far-Right Activist last week, Diplomatic Sources said on Monday.

Following the Publication by the U.S. Embassy, of Comments on a Tragedy that Occurred in France and Concerns Only our National Public Debate. which we refuse to allow to be exploited, Ambassador Charles Kushner was summoned today to the Ministry. He did not show up."

French Far-Right Activist Quentin Deranque, was Beaten to Death in a Fight with Alleged Hhard-Left Activists, in an Incident that Shocked the Nation and has been called "France's Charlie Kirk Moment", referring to 2025 Shooting of the U.S. Conservative Activist.

The U.S. Embassy in France and the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism, said they were Monitoring the Case, Warning on X that "violent radical leftism was on the rise" and should be Treated as a Public Safety Threat.

"Faced with this apparent misunderstanding of the basic expectations of an ambassador who has the honour of representing his country, the minister requested that he no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government," the Source Added.

This was the Second Time Kushner did Not sSow after being Summoned. In August 2025, He had been Asked to Explain Himself at the French Foreign AffairsMministry, after having Publicly Raised His Concern about the Rise in Anti-Semitic Acts in France, and Criticising the French Authorities for Not doing enough Aagainst it.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukraine Controls 97% of Kupyansk

“Despite statements by General Gerasimov and Putin himself, 97% of Kupyansk is currently under the control of Ukrainian troops,” Syrskyi said.

He Acknowledged that the Situation in Pokrovsk is more Difficult, but said the City’s Defense is Ongoing. “The enemy has been trying to seize the city for 19 months,” Syrskyi said.

According to the Top Commander, Russian Forces have Committed Significant Resources to the Assault on Pokrovsk. However, Ukrainian Troops continue to Control the Northern Part of the City and have Stabilized the Situation in the West, Situation in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad.

Recent Developments in Kupiansk

On 1/11/2026 - Viktor Trehubov, Head of Communications for Ukraine’s Joint Forces Grouping, said Russian Troops were Losing their Grip on Kupyansk and would Not be able to Regain Access to the City, by their stated Deadline of 2/2026.

On 2/6/2026 - Volodymyr Polevyi, Head of Communications for the 7th Air Assault Corps, said Russian Troops had Seized Key High Ground in Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk, significantly complicating logistics for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

On 2/9.2026 - Ukraine’s Eastern Group of Forces Reported that Ukrainian Troops Control the Northern Part of Myrnohrad, with Small-Arms Fighting continuing in the City center. The 7th Air Assault Corps said Russian Forces have Intensified attempts to Encircle Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in a Pincer Movement, Increasing Pressure from the Settlements of Kotlyne and Rodynske.

On 2/12/2026 - the 2nd National Guard Corps “Khartiia” Reported that Ukrainian Forces had taken Control of Kupiansk’s City Council Building.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, said Russian Military Leadership continues to Falsely Claim Full Control of Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast, describing it as an effort to “Create an Alternative Reality” on the Battlefield and Influence U.S. Decision making on Potential Peace Talks.

On 2/13/2026 - Ukraine’s 7th Air Assault Corps said Russian Forces had Suffered 15,000 Killed and Wounded over Six Months, in its Defensive Sector along the Pokrovsk Axis.

On 2/16/2026 - Trehubov said several Dozen Russian Troops remain in Kupyansk, but are Confined to a Single City Block.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Russian Economy is Now Eating Itself to Death

Four years after Vladimir Putin Ordered an Invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s Economy has entered a “Death Zone,” said Alexandra Prokopenko, a Fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. In a recent Economist Op-Ed, the Former Russian Central Bank Adviser Drew on a Term from Mountain Climbing when High Altitude Forces the Body to Consume itself Faster than it can Repair Itself. “Russia’s economy is stuck in what might be described as negative equilibrium: holding itself together while steadily destroying its own future capacity,” She wrote.

The Economy isn’t Headed for an Imminent Ccrash, but GDP has Stagnated, Oil Revenue has been Halved amid Western Sanctions, and the Government’s Budget Deficit is Rapidly Draining Reserves. At the same time, Two Economic systems have Emerged. One is Comprised of the Military and Related Industries that Receive Priority from the Kremlin. And then there’s Everything else that’s been “Left in the Cold,” Prokopenko Explained.

“The most dangerous feature of this new structure is the fuel it burns,” She added. “Russia’s economy now runs on what might be called ‘military rent’: budget transfers to defense enterprises that generate wages and economic activity.”

But the Transfers are aimed at Assets Designed for Destruction, Prokopenko pointed out. In other Words, the Money that Keeps Russia’s Factories Humming Pays for Tanks, Armored Vehicles, and other Weapons that eventually get Destroyed or Damaged, making them Useless for Future Economic Growth. Similarly, Money Spent to Attract Fresh Recruits to Russia’s Army doesn’t Retrain them to become more Productive. Instead, many Die or Return Home Permanently Wounded. The Center for Strategic and International Studies has Estimated Russian Military Casualties at 1.2 million, including 325,000 Killed. “The body is metabolizing its own muscle tissue for energy,” Prokopenko said.

While the Central Bank has Cut Interest Rates to Prop-Up Growth and the Kremlin has taken Steps to Rein in the Budget Deficit, Russia’s Economic Predicament can’t be Fixed with Monetary or Fiscal Policies, She wrote. In fact, Interest Payments on Government Debt this year, are Already Set to Exceed Spending on Education and Health Care Combined.

Unlike a Cyclical Downturn such as a Recession, Prokopenko Argued that what Russia is Suffering from is more akin to Altitude Sickness, ”the longer you stay, the worse it gets, regardless of rest.” But Putin can’t Afford to Climb Back Down the Mountain, as the Economy has becoming increasingly Reliant on the Defense Sector while a Military Demobilization would likely Trigger an Economic Crisis. And rather than End-the-War, Putin insists on Continuing as He waits to see if Ukraine or its Western Backers Crack First.

“Russia can probably continue waging war for the foreseeable future,” She Predicted. “But no climber can survive the death zone indefinitely, and not all climbers who attempt the descent survive it.” Alarm Bells about the Economy have been coming from inside Russia in recent Months. Russian Officials Earned Putin that a Financial Crisis could Hit by the Summer.

Weak Oil Revenue, which Crashed by 50% in 2/2026 from 2025, and a Budget Deficit that Continues to Widen, even after Putin Hiked Taxes on Consumers. A Moscow Business Executive also said that the Crisis could Arrive in “three or four months” amid Spiraling Inflation, adding that Restaurants have been Closing and Thousands of Workers are getting Laid-Off.

The Economic Strains go back to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Four years ago. As Sanctions took Hold and Putin Mobilized the Eeconomy for a Prolonged War, a Tight Labor Market and High Inflation forced the Central Bank to Keep Interest Rates High. Recent Easing has Failed to Prevent Spending Declines in Sseveral Consumer Categories.

With Companies Feeling the Squeeze of High Rates and Weaker Consumption, more Workers are going Unpaided, getting Furloughed, or seeing their Hours Cut. As a Result, Consumers are having Trouble Servicing their Loans, Raising concerns of a Crash in the Financial Sector. “A banking crisis is possible,” a Russian Official told the Post in December. “A nonpayments crisis is possible. I don’t want to think about a continuation of the war or an escalation.”

At the same time, Western Officials have been trying to Dispel the Notion that Russia is Winning. Indeed, Ukraine has even Launched a Counterattack in recent weeks to take Advantage of Russian Troops getting Cut off from SpaceX’s Starlink Internet Service. The Institute for the Study of War estimated that Ukraine has Liberated at least 168.9 square Kilometers of Territory in the Southern part of the Country since 1/1/2026.

Russia’s Military is now Suffering more Casualties than it can Recruit, according to Christina Harward, Deputy Russia Team Lead at the Institute for the Study-of-War. She Wrote in the New York Post on 2/22/2026, that Putin may even need to begin a Limited, Rolling Military Call-Up to Sustain His War, Adding that His Bravado in Negotiations is really a Bluff.

With Recruitment Rates Declining, Inflation Rates Rising, and His Troops’ Ability to Actually Seize Territory, won’t be long, before Putin has to Force His Population to Suffer Economic Hhardship, and Death.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Outlook of Lawmakers as Congress Midterms 2026 Arrives

Departures include: Resignations, Expulsions, Retirements, and Members seeking another Office. Members are considered “Seeking-other-Office” if they Announced a Run for another Office before the End of their Term. The Number of Departures does Not include Members who died in Office, or who Left Congress after Losing their Race. Like No Time in recent Memory, Lawmakers are setting their Sights anywhere but Capitol Hill, Setting the Stage for Crucial Midterm Elections that will Feature fewer Incumbents than Usual, and Ensure more Fresh Faces in 2027 Congress. As of late 2/2026, 68 Senate and House Members have said they will Not Seek Re-Election.

An Unprecedented 31 of those Lawmakers have Filed to Run for another Office. In some Cases, Members Exiting the House, are Hoping to enter the Senate. In Others, Lawmakers are Seeking to Return Home as Governor. While looming Midterms often Prompt a Swell of Retirements, the Number of Announced Departures, at this point in the Re-Elaction Cycle is notably Higher than in other recent Cycles. “It looks like we’re heading toward a record number,” said Sarah Binder, a Political Science Professor at George Washington University, and a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Some Who are leaving Capitol Hill, are Frustrated with how Little is getting Done. In recent Terms, Congress has Passed the Fewest Bills that have become Law, since the early 1900s. Lawmakers largely Attribute the Inability to Legislate to Bitterly Partisan Politics, Intraparty Feuds, and Narrow Majorities that make it Difficult for Leaders to Compromise without Backlash from Influential Corners of their Caucuses. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE, 2nd District) said in 6/2025, He would Not Run for a Sixth Term, Shocking Republican Colleagues, because Holding on to His District Helps keep the GOP Majority.

“It’s very hard to move up the ladder in the House unless you’re in a very safe district,” said Bacon, who Represents a Swing District that leans Democratic in Eastern Nebraska. “I feel like I sort of peaked at what I could do. I think it’s a little bit glorified here, overly glorified in reality. I mean, I’ve got the fire to succeed, but 10 years of this was enough.” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently became the Latest Lawmake, and the Fourth in the Senate, to Announce a Rrun for Governor. Her Decision was based in part on the Recognition that after Serving almost 20 years in the Senate, She was unlikely to Move Up in Democratic Lleadership, and could instead Shape Party Politics as Governor.

The Senate has Changed Dramatically, said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who is Retiring after nearly 30 years in the Upper Chamber. “Members who used to be active legislators are now active observers,” Durbin said. “I think that discourages many people.” Eight Senators are Retiring from Public Office after this Term. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Klobuchar, are All Running to be their State’s Governors.

“We’re quitters!” joked Tuberville, referring to His Cadre of Departing Colleagues. He is Leaving after a Single Term in Washington, an Unusual Trend in the Senate, given most Stay for Multiple Terms. Tuberville thought He’d Serve at least Two Terms, He said, but the Alabama Governorship Opened Up, and with it, the Chance to Flex a Muscle that Feels more Familiar. “I’m more of a CEO type,” said Tuberville, a former College Football Coach. “Go hire your own team, your cabinet members. Have a game plan.”

Tuberville has been Picking the Brains of His Colleagues Who Maneuvered in the Opposite Direction, Serving as Governor before coming to the Senate, and He’s Chatted with Bennet, He said, another Senator who is Running for Governor. The Number of Planned Departures in the House, has Increased more Compared with recent Cycles than those in the Senate. Fifty-Four House Members have said they are Leaving, compared with roughly 40 in the Previous Three Congresses at this Point in the Cycle. Of the 54, 27 are Running for another Office, the Largest Group to do so since 2020. In recent Cycles, roughly a Dozen House Members set their Sights on Higher Pursuits.

Republicans are Retiring or Running for another Office in Larger Numbers than Democrats, a Trend often seen in Midterm Election years, when the Majority Party also Holds the White House. Historically, Midterm Voters Rebuke the President’s Party in Congress, often Leading to Changes in Control of the Cchambers. Twenty-Nine House Republicans are Not Seeking Re-Election, but only 10 are Retiring from Public Office. Ten are Running for Governor, while Eight are Hoping to move to the Senate.

House Republicans have been Plagued by Internal Battles over the Past Four Years, that they have been in the Majority, including the Historic Ousting of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA, 20th District} in 2023. Several Republicans Surveyed said that the Fights and Legislative Stagnation are Not why they are Retiring. In other Cases, those Unsavory Parts of the job are a Factor.

So far, this year’s Crop of Departing House Republicans Include some in Dafe Red Districts, Binder pointed out. That Shows the Prospect of Serving in the Minority in 2027 is probably Motivating Republicans to consider other Opportunities or Retirement, more than Individual Fears about being Ousted from their Seats, She said.

In fact, most of those leaving Capitol Hill are leaving behind solidly Republican or Democratic districts. Three vulnerable lawmakers — Bacon, David Schweikert (R-Arizona) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) — are not seeking reelection, putting their swing districts up for grabs for the opposing party to try to flip. Age, electoral vulnerability and career opportunity are all common factors that can drive a member’s decision to leave, Binder said.

Some Republicans have said they are Retiring because they Feel they could Achieve Nothing Greater in their years of Service, than Helping Pass Trump’s Massive Tax and Border Security Agenda, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, last year. Twenty-two House Democrats have announced their Retirements, with Seven Running for Senate, and One Running for Governor.

There are Fewer Departing Democrats than Republicans, who are Not Seeking any other Ppublic Office. But more Democrats than Republicans are Choosing to Leave after Factoring their Age and Decades in Service. Thirteen Democrats are Voluntarily Ending their Political Careers, Five of whom have been Serving in the House since the 1990s. The Average Age of Retiring Democrats is 75, compared with 62 for Republicans. The Democratic Party has been grappling with Generational Change. In 2024, Congressional Democrats persuaded President Joe Biden (D), then 81, to Step Aside rather than Seek Re-Election, and many have since pointed to the Moment as One that has led them to Reflect on their Own Careers.

One of those Democrats was former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA), who, after 20 years, Stepped Down as the Top Democratic Leader in 2022, and said She would End Her Political Career after this Term. Her Leadership Lieutenant, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD, 5th District) Joked in an Interview last month, that His coming Retirement “at this young age” of 86 is “probably premature.”

In an Interview with the New York Times last year, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY, 12th District), who is also Retiring, said: “Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that.” Republicans who are Not Running for another Office also noted that Age was a Factor to Consider.

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA, 4th District), 70, said His Decision was based on “looking ahead at what age” He’d be at the End of His Next Term, rather than the Prospects of facing a Tough Re-Election Campaign. He is also One of the Two last House Republicans Remaining, Who Voted to Impeach Trump, for His Role in the Jan. 6th, 2021, Capitol Insurrection, and faced a Formidable GOP Challenger Last Cycle.

Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV, 2nd District), who Chairs the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Recently became the Latest High-Ranking Republican to say He is Leaving Congress. His Announcement in Early February, came Months after He Secured Trump’s Endorsement for Re-Election, but the Decision to Retire was Based on recognizing that he isn’t getting any younger. “I’ve swung the bat hard for a very long time,” said Amodei, who has been in the House for 15 years. “I’d rather go out Hopefully Leaving PeopleWwanting some More, than going, ‘When in the heck is he going to leave?’”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

TX Democrat Seeks Public Hearing after ICE Agent Killed US Citizen

A Texas Democrat is Demanding a Public Hearing of His Committee into the March 2025 Fatal Shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S. Citizen, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Agent, whose Involvement was Disclosed in Newly Released Documents nearly a year after the Incident.

State Representative Ray Lopez (D-TX, 125th District) and is Vice Chair of the Texas House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs, is Invoking a Newly introduced State Legislative Rule for the 1st time. Under Rule 4, Section 6A of the Texas House Rules, which was Passed in the State’s 89th Legislature, Lopez can Officially Compel Committee Chairman Cole Hefner (R-5th District) to “promptly schedule” a Hearing on Martinez’s Death.

“When government uses its most serious power, the power to take a life, the facts cannot remain hidden,” Lopez said in a Statement. “A young Texan lost his life, and the public was left without full clarity for nearly a year. That is not about politics. It is about trust.”

Lopez added: “Under Rule 4, Section 6A of the House Rules, a Vice Chair has the authority to formally designate a matter for committee consideration. I have exercised that authority because the people of Texas deserve a transparent accounting of what occurred on March 15, 2025. The House Rules require that a designated matter be promptly scheduled. I expect that requirement to be honored consistent with both the letter and the spirit of the rules. The seriousness of this issue warrants timely action.”

He continued: “Because of the seriousness of these unanswered questions, I have formally invoked the House Rules to demand a public hearing. It is a rare step taken to ensure the people of Texas see the facts for themselves. When federal agents operate on Texas soil, transparency is not optional. It belongs to the people.” Martinez, from San Antonio, was Fatally Shot by an ICE Agent on South Padre Island on 3/15/2025. While His Death was Reported at the time, there was No mention that it had been at the Hands of a Federal Immigration Agent.

But New Details Emerged this Week, through Internal ICE Records obtained by "Watchdog American Oversight", via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request, which indicated a Federal Immigration Agent’s Involvement in the Fatal Shooting. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that a DHS Investigations Agent Fired “Defensive Shots” at a Person after the Driver “intentionally ran over” another Federal Agent. DHS Agents were at the Scene of the incident to Assist the South Padre Island Police Department following a Major Accident, the DHS said in a Statement. HSI is the Primary investigative arm of ICE, Rresponsible for Federal Criminal Investigations.

“A driver of a blue Ford intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent resulting in him being on the hood of the vehicle. Upon witnessing this, another agent fired defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public,” a Spokesperson for the Agency said. “The driver was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The agent who was run over sustained a knee injury and was taken to the hospital.” Christopher Olivarez, a Spokesperson with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said that there is an Open Iinvestigation into the Incident.

Lopez sent a Letter to Hefner, Demanding a Public Hearing into Martinez’s Shooting, saying that theMmatter called for “the careful and timely attention” of their Committee. “For nearly 12 months, neither the Department of Homeland Security, the Texas Department of Public Safety, nor the Texas Rangers publicly disclosed federal agent involvement in his death,” He wrote in the Document.

“As vice chair of this committee, and pursuant to Rule 4, Section 6A of the House Rules of Procedure, I am formally designating this matter for committee consideration and requesting that we work together to schedule a public hearing at the earliest appropriate opportunity,” Lopez added. For the San Antonio Lawmakers, the Way that Martinez’s Shooting was Reported, raises several Questions which should be Addressed by State Representatives.

“If an agent was struck with sufficient force to justify the use of lethal force by another officer, how was that determination made? What contemporaneous evidence exists, including body-worn or dash-camera footage? What was the sequence of communication among agents present? And what role did state agencies play in the investigation and subsequent public disclosure?” He wrote in His Letter.

A Haring would Force the Texas House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs, to Convene before the Public to Discuss Martinez’s Killing. This, Lopez said, “is the appropriate mechanism through which relevant facts can be examined transparently and placed before the people of Texas.”

Lopez said He is Not Invoking a Hearing “in a spirit of confrontation, but in fulfillment of our shared constitutional responsibility as members of the Texas House of Representatives.”

It is both His and Hefner’s Duty, He told His Committee’s Chair, “to ensure that when governmental authority is exercised on Texas soil, particularly in matters involving the loss of life, it is subject to appropriate transparency and review.”
Lopez has Requested a Written aAswer by Hefner, by the End of Business 2/23/2026. It is not yet Clear when a Public Hearing might be Scheduled.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump’s New Tariff Order Will Be Defeated by Congress

Trump’s (R) Decision to Issue New Import Taxes across the Globe, following the Supreme Court’s Rebuke of His Sweeping Tariffs on Friday, is drawing Broad Criticism, including from several Republican Lawmakers. Rep. Don Bacon (NE, 2nd District) said on 2/20/2026, that Congress is sure to Challenge the New Tariffs and Signaled Confidence that the Levies “Will Be Defeated. It may not have a veto-proof majority, but it will have a majority that will go against that 10 percent global tariff, so I think the president is making a mistake here,” Bacon said.

After the High Court Ruled on Friday, that the Trump Administration Unlawfully imposed Tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), Trump Imposed a new 10% Global Tariff. The Executive Order enacted the Taxes under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which Allows for Tariffs up to 15^ for a Duration of 150 days to address “large and serious” Trade Deficits. Then Congress has to Approve another 150 Days.

Trump, on a 2/21/2026 Post on Truth Social, Signaled He would Up-the-Tariffs to the full 15%. A Mmajority of the Supreme Court, including Two Trump Appointed Justices, Affirmed Congress’s Constitutional Authority over Federal Taxes in its 6-3 Decision to Block Trump’s use of the IEEPA to Impose Tariffs.

On 2/20/2026, Trump wrote Online that the Justices who Ruled against Him “should be ashamed of themselves,” but He Vowed to Continue Pursuing other Avenues to Enact His Trade Agenda. The Decision follows a House Vote earlier this Month on a Resolution to Repeal the Trump Administration’s Tariffs on Canada. Six Republican Lawmakers, including Bacon, joined Democrats in Voting in Favor of this Resolution.

“Bottom line is any tariff that the president wants to do has to go through Congress and be approved. That’s the bottom line from this ruling, and I agree with that,” Bacon said. “That’s what the founders wanted, and that’s what Republicans should want. We have long held this view. Just because President Trump disagrees shouldn’t change what Republicans believe in.”

Trump’s Tariffs have been Subject to Increasingly Negative Feedback from American Consumers and Lawmakers from Both sides of the Aisle. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who Supported a similar Resolution to Repeal Trump’s Tariffs that Passed in the Senate 10/2025, said the High Court’s Decision leaves “no room for doubt” about Congress’ Constitutional Authority over Tariff Decisions.

“Congress’ role in trade policy, as I have warned repeatedly, is not an inconvenience to avoid,” McConnell said. “If the executive would like to enact trade policies that impact American producers and consumers, its path forward is crystal clear: convince their representatives under Article 1.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky) also Hailed the Court’s Ruling as a “defense of our Republic” in a Post on Social Platform X.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukraine Retakes Southern Areas

Ukraine Restored Control over more than 300 square kilometers of Territory in the Huliaipole and Neighboring Directions in the ZaporizhzhiaRregion following its Counter Attacks and Assault Operations, according to Vladyslav Voloshyn, Spokesperson for the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine.

"Our units are conducting counteroffensive and assault operations, reducing parts of the so-called 'gray zone' and holding back enemy attempts to attack our positions," Voloshyn said.

He Stressed that since the Start of the Operation in late January 2026, Ukrainian Forces have Regained Control of 300 square kilometers of Territory, including "several settlements along the administrative border of the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions."

"While the operation is in its active phase, it is somewhat premature to speak about its final outcomes," the Spokesperson added.

He also Nnoted that up to 50 Combat Clashes occur Daily in the Huliaipole and Oleksandrivka Directions.

On 2/20/2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian Defenders had Liberated 300 square kilometers of Territory from Russian Forces on the Southern Section of the front.

According to Reports as of 2/23/2026, Ukrainian Forces were Conducting Localized Counterattacks at the junction of the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Regions.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggested Ukrainian Troops may have taken Advantage of Russian Communication Problems, including the Blocking of Starlink Terminals and Telegram.

On 2/16/2026, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Visited Ukrainian Troops Engaged in Fighting in the Oleksandrivka Direction and near Huliaipole Settlement, where Active Battles are currently Underway.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker