Russia-Ukraine war: Key developments on day 1,086

On Day 1,086 of the Russia-Ukraine conflict (Friday, February 14), several military and diplomatic events unfolded. Russia's Defence Ministry reported the capture of Ukraine's Vodyane Druhe settlement in the Donetsk region. Additionally, Moscow claimed to have executed a coordinated overnight strike on Ukraine's military airfields, ports, drone production facilities, and fuel storage sites.

In retaliation, Ukraine launched a large-scale assault, deploying drones and missiles. Russia confirmed the downing of 202 unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as three French-made Hammer bombs and American-made HIMARS rockets. Ukraine’s Security Service targeted Russia’s Andreapol oil pumping station, causing an oil spill and a subsequent fire.

Russia also launched 140 drones in a separate overnight attack, which led to the destruction of 85 by Ukrainian forces, and over 50 drones were lost in flight before reaching their targets. The strikes caused damage and injuries in Ukraine's Kharkiv and Odesa regions.

Ukrainian military commander Oleksandr Syrskii stated that Ukrainian forces control approximately 500 square kilometers of Russia's Kursk region, a decrease from 800 square kilometers in September. In the Donetsk region, a Russian strike on Kramatorsk resulted in one fatality and five injuries, including a 16-year-old girl. Another attack in the Kherson region claimed two lives, aged 58 and 62.

In the realm of politics, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated the need for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging prompt organization. Moscow is keen to discuss European security with the U.S. leader. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized the importance of including Kyiv and Europe in any future negotiations between Trump and Putin regarding the conflict's resolution.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear that Ukraine would not accept any decisions about its future made between Washington and Moscow without its involvement. He also reiterated the need for a plan to "stop Putin" before peace talks could commence. Zelenskyy urged world leaders to remain cautious of Putin’s assertions of wanting to end the war. The European Union's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, warned that any agreement made about the war without Europe’s involvement would ultimately fail.