Russian forces conducted a series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of February 8 and 9.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 11 Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Bryansk Oblast and 149 Shahed-type, Gerbera-type, Italmas-type, and other drones – of which roughly 90 were Shaheds – from the directions of Kursk, Oryol, and Bryansk cities; Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; Shatalovo, Smolensk Oblast; occupied Donetsk City; and occupied Hvardiiske, Crimea.[85] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed an unspecified number of ballistic missiles and 116 drones, that 23 drones and several missiles struck 15 locations, and that drone debris fell on six locations as of 0930 on February 9. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces struck energy, residential, and railway infrastructure in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Odesa oblasts.[86]
Ukraine says air defenses downed or jammed 116 Russian drones during an overnight attack. Russia launched 11 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 149 strike drones from multiple directions. Hits were recorded at 15 locations, with debris falling at six sites
Ukrainian forces continued their mid-to-long range strikes campaign in Russia.The Ukrainian General Staff reported on February 9 that Ukrainian forces struck a command post of the Russian Airborne (VDV) forces in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, (roughly 10 kilometers from the international border) on the night of February 8 to 9.[32] The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that Ukrainian forces destroyed three containers with first-person view (FPV) drones and components near Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast, during a previous strike, destroying roughly 6,000 FPV drones.
Russian and Ukrainian sources recently reported that Russian forces have increased the range of their guided glide bombs to 200 kilometers, but this is not a new Russian innovation.A Russian milblogger claimed on February 6, and a Ukrainian OSINT source stated on February 8, that Russian forces are employing UMPB-5R guided glide bombs with a range of up to 200 kilometers.[21] Reports of Russian forces using glide bombs with such ranges are not new, however. Ukrainian electronic and radio warfare expert Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov reported in October 2025 that Russian forces introduced the UMPB-5R bombs with an extended range of 100 to 180 kilometers.[22] Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Deputy Chief Major General Vadym Skibitskyi also stated in November 2025 that Russia planned in 2025 to produce 500 of the longer-range glide bomb variants that can fly up to 200 kilometers.[23]
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explicitly blamed the United States on February 9 for the lack of progress in ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Lavrov reiterated Russia’s demand for effective control over Ukraine’s post-war government and the size and composition of its military.
Russian State Duma deputies are explicitly demanding that the United States concede to all Russian demands.
Russian forces are likely falsely claiming that Ukrainian forces are conducting a “counteroffensive” near the Dnipropetrovsk-Zaporizhia Oblast administrative border to rectify earlier false reports about alleged Russian advances in the area.
Russian and Ukrainian sources recently reported that Russian forces have increased the range of their guided glide bombs to 200 kilometers, but this is not a new Russian innovation.
India will reportedly dramatically decrease or halt its direct and indirect purchases of Russian oil.
The United States seized another Russian shadow fleet oil tanker.
Likely Belarusian balloons violated Polish airspace on the night of February 8 to 9.
Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Velykyi Burluk. Russian forces recently advanced in northern Sumy Oblast, near Velykyi Burluk, Kupyansk, Slovyansk, and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls for a lifelong ban on entry to Europe for Russians who participated in the war against Ukraine.
**General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine** *Operational information as of 22:00 on 09.02.2026 regarding the Russian invasion*
In total, there have been 159 combat clashes since the beginning of this day. The defense forces are stopping the Russian occupiers, exhausting their combat potential, and inflicting effective fire damage across the entire front line. The enemy launched one missile strike using two missiles, 43 air strikes, and dropped 113 guided bombs. In addition, they used 4,034 kamikaze drones and carried out 2,089 shellings of populated areas and positions of our troops.
– In the North Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, there was one combat engagement today, and the enemy carried out 54 shellings of our troops’ positions and populated areas.
– In the South Slobozhanskyi direction, the enemy stormed the positions of our units five times in the areas of the settlements of Prylipka, Zelenе, and Vovchansk.
– In the Kupianskyi direction, the enemy attacked three times in the areas of Pishchane and Dovhenke. One combat engagement is ongoing.
– In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped five attacks by the occupiers in the areas of Stavky, Drobyshevo, and Novoselivka.
– In the Sloviansk direction, our defenders repelled 12 attempts by the occupiers to advance towards Rai-Oleksandrivka, Ozerne, Dronivka, Zakytne, and Platonivka.
– In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy attempted to advance towards Stupochky.
– In the Kostyantynivka direction, the occupiers stormed the positions of our defenders 12 times today near the settlements of Kostyantynivka, Kleban-Byk, Rusyn Yar, Stepanivka, Illinivka, and Novopavlivka. One attack is still ongoing.
– In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy carried out 36 attacks. The occupiers tried to advance in the areas of the settlements of Sofiivka, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetsk, Novopidhorodne, Novopavlivka, Ivanivka, Filia, and Dachne.
According to preliminary estimates, 57 occupiers were eliminated and 35 wounded in this direction today; six vehicles were destroyed and damaged. Nineteen personnel shelters were hit and an enemy cannon was destroyed.
– In the Oleksandrivka direction, according to updated information, Ukrainian units stopped two attacks by the occupiers in the Ivanivka area.
– In the Huliaipole direction, there were 17 attacks by the occupiers: in the Huliaipole area and in the direction of Zlagoda, Dobropillia, Zaliznychne, Zelenyi, Zahirnyi, and Sviatopetrivka. The enemy also carried out air strikes near Huliaipole, Dibrova, Charivne, and Vozdvyzhivka.
– In the Orikhiv direction, the enemy twice attacked the positions of our defenders in the areas of Stepnogorsk and Maly Shcherbakiv.
– There were no enemy offensive actions in the Prydniprovsk direction.
– No significant changes in the situation have been recorded in other directions.
Let’s defeat the enemy and bring our victory closer! Glory to Ukraine!
The United States seized another Russian shadow fleet oil tanker.The US Department of Defense (DoD) reported on February 9 that the United States conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction, and boarded theAquila IIon the night of February 8 to 9 in the area of responsibility of US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).[27] The DoD stated that the vessel was violating the US quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean Sea and noted that the DoD tracked the vessel from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean. Data from the Starboard Maritime Intelligence ship-tracking platform indicates that theAquila IIsailed under the Panamanian flag and briefly transmitted its automatic identification systems (AIS) signal in the Indian Ocean on February 8. Starboard data indicates that the ship’s last AIS transmission before that was near the Strait of Hormuz on March 10, 2025. The United States sanctioned Sunne Co Limited, which owns theAquilla II,in 2025 for its involvement in illegally transporting Russian oil above the G7 price cap.[28]
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