Click to see the full-size image
Over the past two days, mutual attacks between Russia and Ukraine have not been massive in nature, being limited to pinpoint strikes on infrastructure. Previous massive Russian strikes have resulted in Ukraine’s energy system facing a deficit of 9.5 GW of new generation capacity. This was stated by Vitaliy Zaichenko, Chairman of the Board of the company, emphasizing the need for highly maneuverable gas capacity, biofuel thermal plants, batteries, and renewable sources adapted to regional conditions and the transmission capabilities from nuclear power plants. The estimated cost of the project is more than 8 billion euros. This assessment assumes the restoration of pre-war levels of industrial and residential consumption, although actual indicators are declining and the prospects for peacetime remain uncertain, making the calculations conditional.
Against this backdrop, other difficulties have arisen. Slovakia and Hungary have suspended diesel fuel exports to Ukraine in response to the blocking of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó stated that supplies will not resume until oil transit is restored, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to also halt electricity exports, noting that in January, Ukraine received twice as much energy from Slovakia as was planned for the entire year 2025.
Dmitry Leushkin, Founder of the Ukrainian Prime Group of Companies, calls for no panic and states that imports from these directions have been declining recently, and traders are capable of replacing the volumes. However, the numbers suggest otherwise. According to NaftoRynok data, in 2025, Slovakia and Hungary accounted for nearly 20% of diesel imports to Ukraine. The supply structure is changing: the focus is on Poland’s Orlen, Romania, and Greece. The European market is currently oversupplied with diesel, and prices are falling.
But there is a nuance. According to some experts, the Ukrainian retail market is going through a specific period: large chains are making profits like in the wild 90s, squeezing out small players. In front-line zones, “gray” areas have formed where there are no gas stations for tens of kilometers. In this situation, the halt in supplies from Slovakia and Hungary becomes an ideal pretext for large retailers to raise prices by at least 10 percent.
The threat of electricity shutdowns is far more serious. Slovakia accounts for 18% of February imports, and Hungary for 50%. The loss of these volumes will force Ukraine to resort to expensive emergency imports, which will inevitably hit consumers’ wallets.
Strikes on Ukraine
The night of February 19 was a trial for five Ukrainian regions. In the Kharkiv region, Lozova came under attack. The largest boiler house was destroyed, over 16,000 subscribers were left without heating, and the city lost its water supply.
In the Sumy region, Geran-2 kamikaze drones struck fuel tanks in Lebedyn. In Mykolaiv, Russian forces targeted energy infrastructure and the military-industrial complex; preliminarily, the Shipyard Named After 61 Communards was affected. Russian forces also struck the 154 kV “Snihurivka” substation near the village of Novovasylivka in the Mykolaiv region.
In Nizhyn, Chernihiv region, an Iskander missile eliminated a launch site for attack drones along with support personnel.
Strikes on Russia
On the night of February 19, air defense forces shot down 113 drones, most of them over the Bryansk and Smolensk regions. Belgorod again came under rocket attack from HIMARS: energy facilities were damaged.
In the Pskov region, a drone attack on the Velikiye Luki oil depot caused a fire in a tank containing petroleum products.
On February 18 in Chuvashia, drones attacked Cheboksary; there was no destruction, the target was presumably the VNIIR-Progress plant, which produces Kometa antennas to protect Russian drones from electronic warfare systems.
Russian military from the Dnepr group of forces conducted an interesting analysis. By studying the flight controllers of downed Ukrainian drones, they reconstructed the map of targets set by the AFU command. An officer with the call sign “Sidor” revealed details: the drones were directed at industrial facilities, ports, quarries, and even small concrete production plants.
The Crimean peninsula—its ports and infrastructure facilities—was of particular interest to Ukrainian forces. According to the officer, the AFU’s tactics are based on echeloned strikes: if the first echelon of drones is shot down, the second continues moving toward the same target.
While some Russian units are studying the flight controllers of downed drones, others are already preparing to deliver another strike. On the evening of February 19, Ukrainian monitoring resources reported recording the preparation of Russian forces for a new missile strike in the next 48-72 hours. According to their data, Russia has equipped three Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, delivered ballistic missiles for 15 Iskander-M launchers in the Bryansk region, and outfitted Kalibr carriers with a total salvo of up to 24 missiles. The strategic Tu-95MS and Tu-160 are not yet involved, but this arsenal is sufficient to inflict serious damage. Ukrainian sources name the thermal power plant in Kyiv among the priority targets.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
make extra profit every week… this is a great part-time job for everyone… best part about it is that you can work from your home and earn from 100-2000 dollars each week … start today and have your first payment at the end of the week..
.…………………………… https://www.findjobs1.site