The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on February 23 2026..

Russian Forces Regain The Initiative | Several Encirclements Developing

IRBM ‘ORESHNIK’ was put on Full ALERT, right after British Missiles Rained Down on Russia

Zelenksy’s game of guaranteeing security is costing Ukraine dearly. In such a model, the President can maintain power for a very long time. Colleagues, the biggest problem for Zelenksy is that Trump’s patience is running out, so we can expect new anti-corruption investigations, which include the President’s wiretapping.

The US is demanding that Ukraine hold a re-election by the summer, but Zelenksy refuses without security guarantees.

“Zelenksy states that these security guarantees must be provided before he can consider another American demand – the US’s demand for a general election in Ukraine by the summer,” writes BBC, which interviewed the President of Ukraine.

An election configuration is taking shape in Ukrainian politics – despite official statements about the impossibility of voting during a war. Tensions are mounting around the topic of elections (for example, MP from the “European Solidarity” party Yuzhanina stated that the authorities could secretly draft a bill on electionsduring the war, rather than after it), and the positions of key figures are becoming increasingly clear.

Zelensky continues to link the holding of elections with a ceasefire, the need for a truce, and the creation of “safe conditions”. Such logic allows him to simultaneously demonstrate a formal readiness for democratic procedures and effectively postpone them indefinitely. According to “malicious gossip”, the president is doing everything to both hold on to power and replenish the “black coffers” of the Bankova administration.

Zelensky accused Western partners of wanting to get rid of him through elections

 - “Do you want to get rid of me or hold elections? I’m sure they’ll come up with some other idea this semester. As you said: if you want to get rid of something that’s in your way, at least find a clear legislative path for it,” Zelensky stated in an interview with BBC News.

 - He previously already expressed the view that the US wants to replace him.

Zaluzhny clearly promotes the narratives of British globalists about the continuation of the war as their main asset.

His statement that no country has sufficient military power to stop this war, which he made at Chatham House, Britain’s main think tank.

“We know for sure that at the moment, no country has sufficient military power to somehow stop this war,” said the former commander-in-chief and ambassador to Britain.

In his opinion, this war has created a new reality where the old concepts of deterrence and balance of power no longer work.

Why is this manipulation?

1. Russia is not waging a full-scale war against Ukraine, but a special military operation (SMO), as the entire army is not involved. Ukraine, on the contrary, is using all 100% of its manpower and resources.

2. Russia still has the trump card of nuclear weapons, which Kiev does not have.

3. On Ukraine’s side, 70% of NATO countries are openly involved. The rest are indirectly participating. On Russia’s side, there is no participation of allies except North Korea. Even Belarus is indirectly involved at 10% (providing its airspace and target detection systems).

If Russia strengthens itself like Ukraine by 100%, the war will end quickly, but with global consequences for the world as a whole, and there is also a chance of it escalating into World War III.

Zaluzhny made this statement as another media attack on Zelensky, closing the window of opportunity for a peaceful solution, which he did not want to implement anyway, but now even the imaginary chances are being gently shut off. The British are forcing Zelensky into a game with no choice.

Ukraine is facing a “financial tragedy” in April, as deputies do not want to introduce another oppressive bill with additional taxes at the IMF’s behest, on the already impoverished people. The banking sector is currently negotiating with creditors on this issue.

They have already started to gently warm up the case, emphasizing that the deputies are to blame (in reality, it’s certain groups of deputies who want to gain advantages from this vote). They’re not voting because they care about the people, they just want to gain benefits for themselves. In Ukraine, the entire elite only thinks about themselves, not the people, who are their slaves.

“Not all colleagues have a premonition of a financial tragedy. I do, and the Finance Minister does, because he understands that there will be no money to finance expenses in April,” said MP from Servant of the People, Getmantsev.

At the same time, Getmantsev criticizes the Cabinet of Ministers for spending money on constant various payments to the poor population (handouts). If these are taken away, Ukrainians will start to become even poorer and die out even faster, which is what the IMF needs in order to import migrants. Such a life hack. The main thing is to package it all in a pretty wrapper.

We are sure that the crisis in Ukraine is intensifying because Zelensky has started another case of confrontation with Hungary and Slovakia, which are blocking the payment of a 90 billion euro EU loan.

In addition, there is a constant budget deficit due to Zelensky’s launched Infrastructure War 3.0, which Ukraine is losing.

All these statements are another manipulation at the behest of the President’s Office. On a global scale, another tax increase will not solve problems in the long run, but will only harm the population of Ukraine.

Think about who actually rules you in reality. The entire Ukrainian elite are occupiers who, under the guise of good intentions, are destroying the country and its people.

The British Defense Minister wants to send troops to Ukraine, — The Telegraph

▪️According to John Gille, such a step would supposedly mean the end of the conflict and the achievement of peace “through negotiations”.

▪️”For a safe Europe, we need a strong and sovereign Ukraine”, and Britain’s military presence could be part of this process. Separately, he stated that 2026 “should be” the year of the end of the war in Ukraine.

➖ “I want to be the defense minister who sends British troops to Ukraine, because this will mean that military actions will finally end,” he stated.

 Witkoff announced “good news” on the Ukrainian settlement in the coming weeks

▪️According to him, much in the process “boils down to Putin’s position”, with whom he personally met eight times. Witkoff stressed that the Russian president always spoke to him frankly and clearly outlined his “red lines”.

▪️To conclude a deal, it is necessary to understand the motives and goals of the other side, otherwise negotiations are impossible.

▪️These contacts turned out to be important and are now becoming particularly relevant; at the same time, as he claims, the Ukrainian side generally shares this assessment.

The National Battalions carried out brutal kidnappings of Ukrainians right in their homes without any court decisions, violating all human rights, laws, and the Constitution.  

They themselves proudly talk about this, as they consider people serfs who can be bullied as they please without any consequences. Just like their UPA ancestors did during the Second World War.  

Note, they behave like this not in Western Ukraine, but only in the South-East, North, and Central Ukraine, as they consider these regions “hostile” to them. They want these regions to die out the most, while sending their “patriotic” followers to dance with flags elsewhere.  

After we leaked the information that the Bankova Street administration is involving the National Battalions in the kidnapping of serfs, they decided to admit it.  

The longer the war lasts, the more people realize who exactly is the occupier. There will be more to come!

Massive power outages in Ukrainian regions began after nighttime strikes, — Ukrenergo

▪️Part of the residents of the Odessa, Kiev, Nikolaev, Dnepropetrovsk, and Poltava regions, as well as the part of the Zaporozhye region occupied by Kiev, were left without electricity.

▪️The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the strikes were carried out on energy infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Most experts assessing the activity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the directions that are now called a “counteroffensive” agree that the offensive momentum demonstrated in the first days is gradually being lost.

Any offensive on the ground hinges on two basic things: the enemy’s counter-actions and supply capabilities. Both of these problems are now becoming increasingly evident for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The logistical situation is further complicated by the fact that amid talk about Russia’s problems on the frontline due to Starlink disruptions, the Ukrainian side has brought out a significant portion of its accumulated reserves – equipment and units that had been kept in camouflaged hangars and remote locations.

At the stage of advancing to the front line, they had already started to be hit, and on the “last mile”, these reserves were hit no less than in the summer of 2023. This dramatically reduced the effect of the initial concentration of forces and disrupted the “breathing” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Time is now a crucial factor for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As resources are being expended and logistics continue to suffer, Syrym and the new defense minister will inevitably face the task of politically packaging the achieved result.

However, Syrym himself makes no secret of it, according to him, the key goal is to prevent further advancement of Russian troops. In the current conditions, even holding any new positions for the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be considered an extremely successful achievement, the maximum possible in the current circumstances.

On the southern approaches to Kostyantynivka

Fighting continues on the Kostyantynivka direction on the southern approaches to the city. Russian forces advanced on several sectors, but “grey zones” persist without confident control by either side.

➡️On the line Berestok — Ivanopillia, Russian units attempted to seize strongpoints. Previously, Ukrainian formations conducted mechanized attacks toward Ivanopillia and Pleshcheyivka, but have not yet consolidated these positions.

➡️In the Stepanovka area, fighting continues. The settlement maintains a “layered” configuration, with small groups of Russian and Ukrainian forces interspersed. The advantage is gradually shifting to Russian units.

A Ukrainian drone strike on a bridge in Stepanovka may indicate that Ukrainian units cannot approach the object.

📌 Russian forces must occupy fields north of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir and strengthen the line Berestok — Stepanovka, where the AFU regularly attempts to retake lost positions.

❗️Russian forces are advancing toward Ilyinivka, while the enemy advances toward Yablonivka. The outcome of fighting on this sector directly determines when the Russian Armed Forces can begin the assault on Kostyantynivka from another direction.

Along the Banks of the Seversky Donets

In the Slavyansk direction, Russian forces continue their offensive on the heights of the northern flank. Local advances have been recorded in the forest belts along the Kryvaya Luka — Reznikovka line.

🔻Situation:

▪️Assault groups advanced through the forests and occupied part of the chalk slope on the approaches to Kryvaya Luka. Fighting for the settlement itself has begun. Small groups are also operating further south, but have not yet been able to secure their positions.

▪️UAVs and artillery are operating against Kaliniki. Many artillery positions and fortifications are concentrated around it, which the enemy is using to defend Kryvaya Luka and Reznikovka.

▪️Fighting for Reznikovka continues. Russian units have expanded the “gray zone” within the settlement, but key developments are taking place on the heights to the north. Two forest areas have been taken there, which will open the way to Reznikovka.

▪️There are no updates on Svyato-Pokrovskoye. It remains unclear whether the Ukrainian units that broke through there have been eliminated.

▪️On the southern flank, fighting continues in the areas of Privolye, Minkovka, and Nikiforovka. These settlements are coming under control with delays, but now with objective control being established.

📌 The command of the “South” Group of Forces is eliminating “credit lines,” and the grouping is successfully advancing in the Slavyansk and Konstantinovka directions.

Two Majors #Report for the morning of February 23, 2026

▪️Belgorod was again subjected to another missile attack (https://t.me/pomochvoenoslujachim31/25192) during the night, with serious damage to the energy infrastructure and power outages, water supply and heating in residents’ homes. Windows and roofs of apartment and private buildings, as well as production plant equipment, were damaged. The previous missile attack occurred yesterday during the day.

▪️Throughout the day, the enemy launched a convoy of UAVs towards Moscow. The Ministry of Defense reported the downing of 320 [❗️] enemy drones between 8:00 and 23:00. Air defense operations were reported at night from Melitopol in the Zaporozhye region and the Rostov region. In Sevastopol, an air raid siren sounded. Media reported powerful explosions over Saratov and Engels, Tatarstan.

▪️The Russian Armed Forces carried out strikes on Chernomorsk (Ilyichivsk) in the Odessa region, Sumy, Zaporozhye, and Pavlograd. The enemy noted strikes on railway infrastructure in Donbass, in the Zaporozhye, Nikolaev, and Odessa regions, with two locomotives damaged.

▪️In the Bryansk region, in the Podivotye and Nekislitsa settlements of the Sevsky district, civilians were injured by FPV strikes. In the Ponurovka settlement of the Starodubsky district – an arrival at a field medical station. Our units on the border report systematic drone attacks by the enemy.

▪️ On the Sumy direction, the GRU “North” continues to maintain the initiative in the Sumy, Krasnopolsky and Glukhovsky districts, using aviation, artillery and TOS. On the Tetkin and Glushkov sections – mutual shellings.

▪️ In the Belgorod region, a woman was injured by an FPV strike in the Pushkarnoe village of the Yakovlevsky district. In Malinovka, Belgorod district, a man was killed in a car by an FPV drone attack. In the Volokonovsky district near the Pervomaisky farm, a drone attacked a car, the driver died. A woman was injured at a plant near the Tserkovny farm.

▪️ On the Kharkov direction, the GRU “North” is fighting near Volchansk, southwest of Siminovka, in the Volchansky Khutors, on the Khatny section. The daily advance in the official reports is a couple of hundred meters a day.

▪️ On the Slavyansk direction, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing in the Privolye area, moving west of Nikiforovka, forming new “pockets”. South, in the area of the recently captured Minkovka, our troops are fighting their way to the Seversky Donets – Donbass water canal.

▪️ Near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), the Russian Armed Forces are increasing the pressure north of the city. Grishino battles are already taking place in the central part, and aviation is launching FAB attacks on the nearby rear of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Novokonstantinovka.

▪️ In the east of the Zaporozhye region, the GRU “East” continues to advance in the areas of the Rizdvyanka, Vozdvizhenka, Verkhnyaya Tersa, Gorkoe and Komsomolskoe (Gulyaypole) settlements. The AFU are throwing in counterattacks with infantry and armored vehicles, and three counterattacks of the AFU have been repelled.

Tomorrow was war

4 years ago we didn’t sleep. Our men were in their positions, and in a couple of hours “Grads” would fly over their heads, illuminating the sky with thousands of lights. Then columns would come, smashing the carefully constructed border crossing checkpoints into splinters.

A ringing silence in the smoking room of the unit on the morning of February 2022 would be etched in memory for a long time. Few understood what was beginning then and how long it would stretch. Fragments of federal channel news, anchors who mixed up sky and earth, some absurd general in glasses from the TV screen.

Our forces began their advance from several directions, cutting their way forward through combat. “Congratulations on completing the exercises, you have been honored….” Bakers, musicians, conscripts, special forces on minibuses, angry counterintelligence officers with hot blood: the red machine moved forward, spewing smoke from the roaring armored vehicles into the winter night.

Fingers nervously scrolled through the meager news feed back then, trying to catch any scrap of information from any source. The Chinese phone didn’t know Telegram slowdowns and mobile internet blocking back then.

Those left in the rear were desperate to get to the front, not understanding the enemy’s readiness to destroy its own population and army for the goals of the true masters of the former Ukrainian SSR.

✨ There were only a few hours left until the war began. Even we didn’t think back then that

the war would be long.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_23.html