An analysis by the independent Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shows that since the counteroffensive in June 2023, the armed forces of Ukraine have not recaptured so much land in such a short time as now. In the days between Wednesday (11.2.) and Sunday (15.2), the Ukrainian army regained 201 square kilometers of its own territory.
Musk Turns Off "Starlink" for Russia
The main reason for this is that Russia no longer has access to the "Starlink" satellite internet system of multibillionaire Elon Musk. Since the beginning of February, the Russian armed forces have been unable to use this system, which has significantly hampered communication between individual military units and technical facilities on the front.
With the help of “Starlink“, Russian drones have until recently been able to bypass electronic jamming systems and have managed to hit Ukrainian targets with great accuracy, Kiev says. Without the ability to use “Starlink“, the Russian army has only made progress on the front last week on February 9, ISW notes. In the remaining days, the Ukrainian armed forces have been recapturing their territories, which are mainly concentrated in an area about 80 kilometers east of the city of Zaporizhia.
Peace talks in Geneva
While the fighting on the front continues, two-day talks between representatives of Ukraine and Russia are starting in Geneva today. However, hopes for a breakthrough are minimal, as the positions of the two sides remain irreconcilable.
The Kremlin said that Russia wants to discuss the disputed territorial issues and raise its long-standing demand that Ukraine cede the remaining 20 percent of eastern Donetsk, which the Russian army has not yet managed to capture.
Ukraine, on the other hand, has a number of humanitarian issues as a priority. Kiev wants a ceasefire and for Russia to stop attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which have left millions of Ukrainians without electricity, heating and water in extremely low temperatures.