Russia launched 297 drones and nearly 50 missiles at Ukraine, causing significant damage
Hungary threatens to block EU sanctions while Slovakia plans to cut electricity supplies
Both countries demand resumption of Russian oil through damaged Druzhba pipeline
EU foreign ministers meeting to discuss 20th round of sanctions against Russia
Pope calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine
📖 Full Retelling
Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack against Ukraine on Sunday, February 23, 2025, two days before the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion, as Moscow continues to escalate military pressure despite diplomatic talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the Kremlin had launched 297 drones and nearly 50 missiles, with 'a significant proportion' shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. The attacks targeted energy facilities, logistics infrastructure including railways and municipal water supplies, and resulted in one death and over a dozen injuries, including four children, after a residential house in Kyiv was completely destroyed. The intensified bombardment comes amid rising tensions with neighboring Slovakia and Hungary, both of which have threatened retaliatory measures against Ukraine. Despite four years of all-out war, Russia remains unable to achieve its original objectives of removing Ukraine's pro-Western government, with the conflict resulting in Russia occupying nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory and suffering approximately 1.2 million casualties. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV described peace in Ukraine as 'an urgent necessity' in his Sunday address, calling for 'the weapons [to] fall silent' and 'a ceasefire [to be] reached without delay'.
🏷️ Themes
Military escalation, Diplomatic tensions, Energy security
The Druzhba pipeline (Russian: нефтепровод «Дружба», Czech: Ropovod Družba), also referred to as the Friendship Pipeline and the Comecon Pipeline, is one of the world's longest oil pipelines and one of the largest oil pipeline networks in the world. It began operation in 1964 and remains in operatio...
An energy crisis or energy shortage is any significant bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy. In literature, it often refers to one of the energy sources used at a certain time and place, in particular, those that supply national electricity grids or those used as fuel in indust...
An essential tool of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) are restrictive measures, also known as "sanctions". They are utilized by the EU as a component of a coordinated and all-encompassing policy approach that includes political discussion, complementary actions, and the use of othe...
Russia fires scores of missiles at Ukraine as Hungary threatens to block EU sanctions ‘Moscow continues to invest in strikes more than diplomacy,’ says Zelenskyy, as logistics and energy facilities targeted Russia has fired scores of missiles and drones at targets across Ukraine , flattening a residential house in the capital, two days before the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Kremlin had launched 297 drones and nearly 50 missiles on Sunday, in the latest in a wave of overnight strikes. He said “a significant proportion” had been shot down as he called on allies to strengthen the country’s air defences against enemy attacks. The Ukrainian president said: “Moscow continues to invest in strikes more than in diplomacy. This time, Russian targets included not only energy facilities, but also logistics, in particular railway and municipal water supply infrastructure.” The Kremlin has systematically targeted Ukraine’s energy grid, leaving more than half a million people in Kyiv without power. Other cities have been battered repeatedly, including Odesa and Kharkiv; while temperatures have fallen to as low as -22C (-7.6F) in the coldest winter for years. Zelenskyy said there had been no let-up in Russia’s aerial bombardment, despite talks brokered by the US with Russia that took place in Geneva last week. The Kremlin wants Ukraine to cede territory in the eastern Donbas region its forces have been unable to conquer – a non-starter for Kyiv. The intense barrage came amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and neighbouring Slovakia and Hungary . Budapest is threatening to block a new package of European Union sanctions; while Bratislava says it will shut off electricity supplies to Ukraine on Monday. Both are demanding the resumption of Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory. Kyiv says a Russian drone attack in January damaged the pipeline that supplies oil to central Eu...
