Russia-Ukraine War: Key Events – Day 1,096 (February 24, 2025)

Fighting

• Russian Advances: The Russian Ministry of Defence reported capturing Ulakly and Novoandriivka in Donetsk.
• Air Defence Development: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine is working on a domestic alternative to the US Patriot air defence system.
• Execution Allegation: Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets cited social media footage showing a Russian soldier executing a Ukrainian prisoner in Kursk Oblast, as reported by the Institute for the Study of War.
• Global Protests: Demonstrators in the US, France, Turkiye, Greece, and Taiwan rallied to mark the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Politics and Diplomacy

• Putin’s Stance: On the eve of the anniversary, President Vladimir Putin defended Russia’s actions, calling it a mission to protect national interests and pledging to continue strengthening the armed forces.
• Religious Rhetoric: At a military award ceremony, Putin claimed God and fate entrusted him and the Russian army to defend the nation.
• Territorial Claims: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov ruled out selling captured Ukrainian territories, stating, “The people decided to join Russia a long time ago.”
• Trump and Zelenskyy: Peskov called Donald Trump’s hostility toward Zelenskyy “understandable,” accusing the Ukrainian president of making inappropriate remarks against him.
• No Compromise: Zelenskyy’s top aide Andriy Yermak insisted that Ukraine would not compromise on its independence, territorial integrity, or sovereignty.

US-Ukraine Relations

• US Confidence: White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump is “very confident” that the war will end this week.
• Rare Earth Minerals: Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko revealed that $350bn worth of rare earth minerals are located in Russia-occupied regions.
• North Korea’s Role: Ukrainian military spy chief Kyrylo Budanov claimed that 50% of Russia’s ammunition comes from North Korea.
• Starlink Alternatives: Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed Ukraine is exploring alternatives to Starlink satellite internet amid concerns about potential US access restrictions.

Potential Deals and Security

• US-Ukraine Agreement: Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that the US and Ukraine are expected to sign an agreement on rare earth minerals this week.
• Zelenskyy’s Offer: Zelenskyy said he is willing to step down as president if it ensures Ukraine’s entry into NATO.
• Aid Repayment Rejected: Zelenskyy rejected claims that Ukraine owes the US $500bn for past aid, stating the US provided $100bn over three years and insisting that a minerals deal cannot proceed if the US demands repayment.
• US Troop Deployment: Zelenskyy suggested that American soldiers could be deployed to Ukraine if a bilateral minerals deal includes security guarantees.