Ville Kostian
@kostianv.bsky.social
Geopolitics, geoeconomics and military.
Reposted by Ville Kostian
"The higher death rate may be tied to Russia using fewer armored vehicles, which are valuable but easily detectable by drone, and instead attacking with only infantry," ISW's Kateryna Stepanenko told Foreign Policy
Read the full story:
Read the full story:
Can Ukraine Kill Its Way to Victory?
Increased losses could strain Russia’s military, but Ukraine faces steep hurdles.
foreignpolicy.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:30 PM
"The higher death rate may be tied to Russia using fewer armored vehicles, which are valuable but easily detectable by drone, and instead attacking with only infantry," ISW's Kateryna Stepanenko told Foreign Policy
Read the full story:
Read the full story:
Reposted by Ville Kostian
5/ Russian Occupation Update, February 12, 2026:
Russian Occupation Update, February 12, 2026
An approaching Russian administrative deadline is likely to enable the systematic removal of vulnerable Ukrainian children.
isw.pub
February 12, 2026 at 5:59 PM
5/ Russian Occupation Update, February 12, 2026:
Reposted by Ville Kostian
4/ The Kremlin’s efforts to throttle Telegram are further restricting information access in occupied Ukraine and forcing residents to migrate to the Russian state-controlled MAX messenger.
February 12, 2026 at 5:59 PM
4/ The Kremlin’s efforts to throttle Telegram are further restricting information access in occupied Ukraine and forcing residents to migrate to the Russian state-controlled MAX messenger.
Reposted by Ville Kostian
NEW: An approaching Russian administrative deadline is likely to enable the systematic removal of vulnerable Ukrainian children from their homes and families in occupied areas. 🧵(1/5)
Read more: isw.pub/OccupationUp...
Other Key Takeaways ⬇️
Read more: isw.pub/OccupationUp...
Other Key Takeaways ⬇️
February 12, 2026 at 5:59 PM
NEW: An approaching Russian administrative deadline is likely to enable the systematic removal of vulnerable Ukrainian children from their homes and families in occupied areas. 🧵(1/5)
Read more: isw.pub/OccupationUp...
Other Key Takeaways ⬇️
Read more: isw.pub/OccupationUp...
Other Key Takeaways ⬇️
Reposted by Ville Kostian
A senior legal adviser to Europe’s top court has deemed that the European Commission breached its own rules when it unfroze funding for Hungary in December 2023.
If the EU’s Court of Justice judges agree, Budapest would need to pay back the cash.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/comm...
If the EU’s Court of Justice judges agree, Budapest would need to pay back the cash.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/comm...
February 12, 2026 at 5:19 PM
A senior legal adviser to Europe’s top court has deemed that the European Commission breached its own rules when it unfroze funding for Hungary in December 2023.
If the EU’s Court of Justice judges agree, Budapest would need to pay back the cash.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/comm...
If the EU’s Court of Justice judges agree, Budapest would need to pay back the cash.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/comm...
#Space - " #China showcases new #Moon ship and reusable rocket in one extraordinary test"
arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...
arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...
China showcases new Moon ship and reusable rocket in one extraordinary test
The test marks a significant step in China's push to land humans on the Moon by 2030.
arstechnica.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:18 PM
#Space - " #China showcases new #Moon ship and reusable rocket in one extraordinary test"
arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...
arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...
"Deaths in #Iran ’s crackdown on protests reach at least 7,000, activists say"
apnews.com/article/iran...
apnews.com/article/iran...
Deaths in Iran's crackdown on protests reach at least 7,000, activists say
Activists say the death toll from a crackdown over Iran’s nationwide protests has reached at least 7,002 with many more people still feared dead. The U.S.
apnews.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:15 PM
"Deaths in #Iran ’s crackdown on protests reach at least 7,000, activists say"
apnews.com/article/iran...
apnews.com/article/iran...
Reposted by Ville Kostian
🫂 Netherlands, UK, Norway and Sweden allocate US$500m to buy US weapons for Ukraine
Netherlands, UK, Norway and Sweden allocate US$500m to buy US weapons for Ukraine
The Netherlands, UK, Norway and Sweden will purchase Patriot missiles, artillery shells and other munitions for the Armed Forces of Ukraine worth US$500 million.
www.pravda.com.ua
February 12, 2026 at 5:13 PM
🫂 Netherlands, UK, Norway and Sweden allocate US$500m to buy US weapons for Ukraine
"The #IOC has disqualified Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych for wearing a helmet that features images of athletes killed in the war on #Ukraine during competition." - #Russia
www.dw.com/en/is-banned...
www.dw.com/en/is-banned...
Is banned Olympic 'helmet of remembrance' political?
The IOC has disqualified Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych for wearing a helmet that features images of athletes killed in the war on Ukraine during competition. DW has what you need to k...
www.dw.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:10 PM
"The #IOC has disqualified Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych for wearing a helmet that features images of athletes killed in the war on #Ukraine during competition." - #Russia
www.dw.com/en/is-banned...
www.dw.com/en/is-banned...
Reposted by Ville Kostian
The Russians struck a regular food market in one of Odesa's residential areas. Additionally, a supermarket and a high-rise apartment building were damaged. An energy facility was also attacked.
February 12, 2026 at 4:22 PM
The Russians struck a regular food market in one of Odesa's residential areas. Additionally, a supermarket and a high-rise apartment building were damaged. An energy facility was also attacked.
#Ukraine - " #Russia fires barrage at Ukrainian cities as next round of US-brokered talks is unclear"
apnews.com/article/russ...
apnews.com/article/russ...
Russia fires barrage at Ukrainian cities as next round of US-brokered talks is unclear
Russia has attacked Ukrainian cities again overnight as Ukraine accuses Russia of dragging its feet on new U.S.-brokered peace talks.
apnews.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:05 PM
#Ukraine - " #Russia fires barrage at Ukrainian cities as next round of US-brokered talks is unclear"
apnews.com/article/russ...
apnews.com/article/russ...
#DPRK - "Kim close to naming teenage daughter as future North Korean leader, South believes"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Kim close to naming teenage daughter as future North Korean leader, South believes
South Korea’s spy agency monitoring whether girl, believed to be 13, will appear at political conference this month
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:03 PM
#DPRK - "Kim close to naming teenage daughter as future North Korean leader, South believes"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
"U.S. allies at #NATO focus on #Europe as the #Trump administration steps back"
apnews.com/article/nato...
apnews.com/article/nato...
US allies at NATO focus on Europe as the Trump administration steps back
European allies at NATO are brushing aside concerns that the United States has stepped back from its leadership role at the alliance. U.S.
apnews.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:02 PM
"U.S. allies at #NATO focus on #Europe as the #Trump administration steps back"
apnews.com/article/nato...
apnews.com/article/nato...
"Billions in funding wrongly released to #Hungary, says #EU court’s top adviser"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Billions in funding wrongly released to Hungary, says EU court’s top adviser
Advocate general questions decision, saying reforms needed to unfreeze about €10bn have not been carried out
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:44 PM
"Billions in funding wrongly released to #Hungary, says #EU court’s top adviser"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
" #RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding"
apnews.com/article/rfk-...
apnews.com/article/rfk-...
RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reshaping U.S. health policy as HHS secretary, and doctors say his changes are eroding trust.
apnews.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:41 PM
" #RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding"
apnews.com/article/rfk-...
apnews.com/article/rfk-...
Reposted by Ville Kostian
🇩🇪 Germany will join NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission by sending four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
According to sources in the Bundeswehr, the aircraft could be transferred to the Arctic by the end of this week to begin surveillance flights.
militarnyi.com/en/news/germ...
According to sources in the Bundeswehr, the aircraft could be transferred to the Arctic by the end of this week to begin surveillance flights.
militarnyi.com/en/news/germ...
Germany Will Provide Four Eurofighter Typhoon Fighters for NATO Mission in the Arctic
Germany will join NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission by sending four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced this in Brussels, according to Der Spiegel.According t...
militarnyi.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:39 PM
🇩🇪 Germany will join NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission by sending four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
According to sources in the Bundeswehr, the aircraft could be transferred to the Arctic by the end of this week to begin surveillance flights.
militarnyi.com/en/news/germ...
According to sources in the Bundeswehr, the aircraft could be transferred to the Arctic by the end of this week to begin surveillance flights.
militarnyi.com/en/news/germ...
" #Russia still sees US as its top adversary, Estonian intelligence report says"
www.defenseone.com/threats/2026...
www.defenseone.com/threats/2026...
Russia still sees US as its top adversary, Estonian intelligence report says
Moscow’s gestures toward normalized relations are no more than an “illusory thaw.”
www.defenseone.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:33 AM
" #Russia still sees US as its top adversary, Estonian intelligence report says"
www.defenseone.com/threats/2026...
www.defenseone.com/threats/2026...
" #Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ #WhatsApp, #Meta -owned company says"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company says
Move is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:32 AM
" #Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ #WhatsApp, #Meta -owned company says"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
