The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on February 13 2026..

RUAF Continue Storming Defensive Lines Surrounding Kupyansk & Lyman

Another of our insider sources confirmed that Budanov is a competent negotiator and a supporter of a peaceful solution.

The head of the Presidential Office, Kirill Budanov, turned out to be more inclined to compromise, including on the territorial issue, — The Atlantic.

According to the publication, Budanov has already discussed with Zelensky’s aides the legal and practical conditions under which Ukraine could withdraw from certain districts of the Donetsk region without allowing Russian troops to enter them.

Our source in the Presidential Office reported that the peace negotiation track has made progress after Budanov’s appointment as the Head of the Presidential Office, but Ermak continues to influence Zelensky and shape policy on both domestic and foreign fronts. The Peace Party consists of a number of figures, including not only officials and politicians, but also oligarchs who are trying to change Zelensky’s position. At this stage, none of the power centers have priority, and the article in The Atlantic partially reflects the situation in the Presidential Office.

Our source in the Presidential Administration said that Zelensky/Yermak/MI-6 came up with a scheme involving security guarantees, which are supposed to come into effect with a ceasefire before the elections, rather than after the signing of a peace treaty. The idea is to derail the peace process at the final stage, but with security guarantees and the possible deployment of peacekeepers for the elections. A similar format was proposed in Abu Dhabi, but the Russian delegation opposed such a format.

Zelensky is forced to conduct negotiations, as this is Trump’s condition regarding the corruption cases in the President’s Office, and delaying the process could cost the President dearly.

The US is intensifying pressure on Kyiv for a deal with Russia before the summer, Ukrainian officials reported, – The New York Times 

The Trump administration insists on concessions to Moscow, including issues of territories and holding elections. Kyiv fears concessions on Donbass and demands to first sign strict security guarantees.

At the same time, Russia, according to Ukrainian assessments, does not demonstrate readiness to cease hostilities.

We’ll also join the discussion about our colleagues’ insider information that Zelensky together with the globalists are preparing to betray Trump in the Ukrainian crisis at the final stage. We agree with this, as Zelensky and the globalists don’t want peace, we’ve been writing about this constantly. 

Also, Russian channels are right that Zelensky and the globalists are setting a trap for Trump in this way. 

But, let’s use critical thinking and ask ourselves why no one considers the possibility that this entire game of “Trumpists vs Globalists” is a staged conflict against the “non-Western bloc” of China + Russia + BRICS and so on. To reset US dominance over the entire world. 

They create the illusion of confrontation, flirt with their main competitors, but at this moment they’re gradually squeezing out their assets, dividing their alliances, weakening them, buying time to replenish their depleted weapon stocks, and shifting all production to their own territory from the enemy’s territory and so on. 

The reason might be that both the Trumpists and the Globalists might be controlled by a single center (“a clan of chosen people”), and all this public struggle is just a show for the global audience.

Macron explained why the EU should engage in dialogue with Russia.

“At present, the level of losses and exhaustion on both sides makes it advisable to consider ending the conflict. And for several months now, American envoys have resumed negotiations. My thoughts are very simple. Do we want to delegate this discussion to others? Our geography will not change. Whether we like it or not, Russia will still be there tomorrow. And it turns out that it’s right at our doorstep. It’s important to structure the resumption of European dialogue with them. Without being naive, without putting pressure on the Ukrainians, but also without relying on a third party in this discussion. And what have I got now? Confirmation that Russia does not want peace at the moment. But, first and foremost, we have restored these dialogue channels at the technical level. My desire is to share this with my European partners and to have a well-organized approach,” the French president told El Pais.

“The day peace comes will also affect Europe. Security guarantees are a coalition of volunteers. The coalition of volunteers represents 80% of Europeans. And we will have to build a new security architecture in Europe together with Russia. Tomorrow’s prosperity concerns Europeans. Or do you prefer that American envoys and emissaries negotiate the date of Ukraine’s accession to the EU on your behalf? It’s about realism and self-respect. Let’s not be afraid to be ourselves. It’s in the interests of Europe. That’s why I want Europe to sit down at the negotiating table for a speedy peace, protecting Ukraine’s interests as much as possible, because we have European interests that need to be protected. And I’m not going to delegate them to anyone. Not even the USA,” he added.

In the Odessa region, a port was attacked, and in the Dnepropetrovsk region, railway infrastructure was targeted

 - During the drone attack on the port, the company’s infrastructure, fertilizer warehouses, and vehicles, including freight wagons, were damaged, Deputy Prime Minister Kuleba reported.

 - The drones also attacked the railway infrastructure in the Dnepropetrovsk region.

The Russian army continues to break through to Slavyansk, advancing on a broad front

 - On the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk direction in the DPR, Russian troops, after liberating Orekhovo-Vasilyevka and Privolye, continue to advance on a broad front. 

 - The assault on Minkovka and the advance from Novomarkovo are ongoing. 

 - To the north, after liberating Seversk, Pazeno, Bondarnoe, and Khromovka, the “South” group of troops has already occupied the center of Nikiforovka, and is also approaching through the groves to Fedorovka Second, confidently advancing towards Slavyansk. 

 - The successes of the Russian army are again belatedly acknowledged by Ukrainian military analysts:

 - “The Russian Armed Forces have advanced in Nikiforovka, are conducting attacks north of Privolye and Minkovka, as well as northwest of Novomarkovo,” they write. 

❗️The total area of the Russian Armed Forces’ advance: up to 25 km². 

 - In the video, the strike drones of the “South” group of troops hit bunkers with enemy troops on the Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka direction. 

Clearing of Shchurova Mountain and Freeing of Bondarne — Rybar’s Analysis

In the second half of January, battles did not subside on the heights west of Siversk. Russian troops, attacking simultaneously on three sectors, expanded their control zone near the Siversky Donets and on the approaches to Rai-Oleksandrivka.

➡️On the northern flank, assault units by February 5 cleared a major stronghold on Shchurova Mountain and developed attacks further towards Kryvyi Luk, and also drove the enemy out of most of the neighboring Zelene.

In parallel, Russian units expanded their control zone in the vicinity of Reznikivka and finally occupied the nature reserve “Chalk Vegetation”.

➡️On the southern flank, by the end of the month, assault units pushed Ukrainian formations out of Orikhove-Vasylivka. After that, they developed attacks towards the neighboring Mynkivka, battles for which are still ongoing.

➡️Also, on the central sector, the South Group of Forces units freed Petrivske by January 27. Over the next two weeks, fighters cleared the surroundings of Vasyukivka, Khromivka, and Bondarne. They also started battles for Pryvillia, control of which is necessary for the Russian Armed Forces to reach Rai-Oleksandrivka from the south.

Ukrainian formations are trying to slow down the South Group of Forces’ advance, but even in difficult terrain, they are not succeeding. It is quite likely that the AFU will build a new defensive line along the Siversky Donets-Donbas Canal, and the battles east of it are designed only to buy time for moving reserves.

Battle in the East of Zaporizhia Region

East Zaporizhia Direction remains a place of extremely intense fighting. Ukrainian formations continue large-scale offensive actions simultaneously on several sectors, attempting to break through the defensive lines of Russian troops.

➡️In the north, Ukrainian formations are attacking from Bolshemykhailivka using 92nd and 95th brigades. The enemy aims to “break through” to the line of Stepove — Berezove — Ternove. Despite the lack of fresh objective control footage in open access, reports from the ground indicate intensive movement of enemy armored groups.

➡️On the western sector, a large-scale counteroffensive has unfolded between GV “Vostok” units and a “mixed salad” of several AFU assault regiments. Heavy fighting is ongoing in the area of Ternuvate and Kosovtseve. At present, both settlements are in a “gray zone” — neither side has stable control, although in the first days of the offensive, Ukrainian formations drove through these villages with armored vehicles.

➡️To the south, near Pryluki, a similar situation is developing. It is through the vicinity of this settlement that AFU units attempted to cross the Haichur River, planning to reach the rear of the Russian group in Dobropillia and Varvarivka. Previously, battles were fought for these settlements, but preliminary data suggests the enemy has been pushed out.

➡️In the Huliapole area, the initiative remains with the “Vostok” group. The Russian army is fighting for Tsvetkove, the surroundings of Krynychne, and repelling enemy counterattacks on Staroukrainka and Zaliznychne. The main task of Russian units here is to reach the railway along the entire line west of Huliapole. This will help secure the city from small enemy infantry groups penetrating.

📌Communication disruptions, caused in part by Starlink issues, at certain moments played into the hands of Ukrainian formations. Nevertheless, despite committing large reserves from the most prepared assault units, the enemy has failed to cause a front collapse.

Judging by the incoming information, the initial pace set by the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kupyansk in December has completely been lost, and all the progress made has effectively been wiped out. It’s hard to say what exactly Syrosky lacked – people or firepower density. Most likely, it was both. But the Armed Forces of Ukraine burned through a certain amount of reserves near Kupyansk, and the main question is whether they will have enough strength to hold the territories west of the Kupyansk district. Kupiansk-Uzlovoy and some areas to the south are still in a gray zone or under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but the number of management and logistical problems continues to increase.

«Military Chronicle

Attacks in the North

In the Sumy direction, units of the “North” group of troops continue to attack on several sectors. Recently, they managed to advance in the area of Kondratovka, occupying part of the settlement; fighting continues in its central part.

➡️Along the line of Andreyevka — Alekseyevka, enemy drone operators are actively working. Nevertheless, Russian units managed to advance south along the S-191504 highway, capturing a strongpoint in the ruins of a farm south of Alekseyevka.

➡️On the line of Varachino — Yablonivka, they also managed to take control of several forest strips. Previously, footage of attacks slightly further south emerged from here, but those offensive actions apparently ended unsuccessfully: the enemy brought several captured Russian Armed Forces soldiers to the forests near Korchakivka.

➡️In the area of Myropillia, there are also local successes – Russian small groups occupied several more forest strips to the east and advanced along the riverbed of the Udava near Mylaivka.

On other sectors of the Sumy direction, the situation remains unchanged. Russian units are processing enemy positions in the border zone with drone and artillery strikes. The regional center often comes under fire: in Sumy, there are power supply disruptions after strikes.

📌The enemy maintains a high density of UAV units in the direction, some of which were pulled back after advances near the border close to Krasnopillia. This obviously affects the offensive capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces, but the task of taking Sumy will likely not appear at the current stage.

Two Majors #Report for the morning of February 13, 2026

▪️ In Volgograd and adjacent municipalities, as a result of an enemy drone attack, residential buildings, industrial facilities, and three civilians, including a 12-year-old boy, were injured. In the morning from the Rostov region, the governor reported on the ongoing battle with drones. Overall, the enemy has returned to the average daily launch rate of drones against our regions: about 200 pieces per day. The Ministry of Defense reported that yesterday from 20:00 to 23:00, 66 Ukrainian drones were destroyed.

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces carried out massive strikes on targets in Odessa (https://t.me/warhistoryalconafter/259307), with another electric substation hit. Explosions were also heard in Pavlograd, Nikolaev, Zaporozhye and in the Kharkov region. 

▪️ In the Bryansk region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked a car near the village of Markovsk in the Pogarsky district, and the head of the Chaushovsky rural settlement was injured.

▪️ On the Sumy front, the GRU “North” is conducting offensive battles in the Sumy, Krasnopolsky, and Glukhovsky districts. On the Tetkin and Glushkov sections – mutual strikes.

▪️ In the Belgorod region, due to attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine – rolling power outages. A civilian was killed in Grayvoron. Five civilians were injured in Golovchino, Voznesenovka, including a married couple injured in a drone strike on a moving car on the Bochkovka-Nechaevka road.

▪️On the Kharkov direction The GRV “North” reports that near Volchansk, our forces continue offensive actions with the task of expanding the security zone at the border.

▪️Fighting continues in Kupyansk and on the eastern bank of the Oskol on the approaches to Kupyansk-Uzlovoe.

▪️ In the area of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), the Russian Armed Forces are advancing in the area of Belitsky and Novy Donbass. There are battles in Grishino, as well as near Toretsk, which is on the approaches to Druzhkovka.

▪️ In Konstantinovka, the use of FAB-3000 on bridges is noted: the enemy’s agglomeration is being cut into parts, and preparations for a further assault on the agglomeration are underway.

▪️ In the east of the Zaporozhye region (from Gulyaypole to Ternovatoye), another day of repelling the enemy’s counteroffensive is taking place. The battles are protracted, and the situation is complicated by the disconnection of Starlink terminals for our troops by the Americans. The GRV “East” reports on the repulsion of 9 enemy counterattacks, the destruction of 1 BTR, 7 armored vehicles, and up to 1 company of enemy live forces.

▪️ On the Zaporozhye front – heavy battles in the northern part of Primorsky and in the direction of Magdalinovka. The enemy is constantly hitting our rear areas, leaving the civilian population without electricity.

▪️ In the Kherson region – mutual strikes across the Dnieper.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_13.html