Ville Kostian
@kostianv.bsky.social
Geopolitics, geoeconomics and military.
Reposted by Ville Kostian
Talks on Russia-Ukraine War Enter 2nd Day in Geneva #Ukraine
Talks on Russia-Ukraine War Enter 2nd Day in Geneva
The talks in Geneva, Switzerland, were expected to focus on Ukrainian-held territory in the east that Russia wants to control as the price of peace. Kyiv has said that demand is a nonstarter.
www.nytimes.com
February 18, 2026 at 5:29 AM
Talks on Russia-Ukraine War Enter 2nd Day in Geneva #Ukraine
Reposted by Ville Kostian
3/ Russia is opposing South Korean efforts to build nuclear submarines despite reportedly enabling North Korea to develop the same capability.
Full report:
Full report:
Korean Peninsula Update, February 17, 2026
Kim Jong Un likely intends for his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, to succeed him, according to the South Korean National Intelligence Service.
isw.pub
February 17, 2026 at 6:08 PM
3/ Russia is opposing South Korean efforts to build nuclear submarines despite reportedly enabling North Korea to develop the same capability.
Full report:
Full report:
Reposted by Ville Kostian
2/ Other key takeaways from the February 17, 2026, Korean Peninsula Update:
Around 8,000 North Korean troops remain deployed around Kursk Oblast, Russia, and have performed fire support functions under Russian command, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
Around 8,000 North Korean troops remain deployed around Kursk Oblast, Russia, and have performed fire support functions under Russian command, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
February 17, 2026 at 6:08 PM
2/ Other key takeaways from the February 17, 2026, Korean Peninsula Update:
Around 8,000 North Korean troops remain deployed around Kursk Oblast, Russia, and have performed fire support functions under Russian command, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
Around 8,000 North Korean troops remain deployed around Kursk Oblast, Russia, and have performed fire support functions under Russian command, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
Reposted by Ville Kostian
NEW: WPK General Secretary Kim Jong Un likely intends for his daughter Kim Ju Ae, who is roughly 13 years old, to succeed him, according to the South Korean National Intelligence Service. His daughter has become an increasingly public figure in recent years. (🧵1/3)
More: isw.pub/KoreanPenins...
More: isw.pub/KoreanPenins...
February 17, 2026 at 6:08 PM
NEW: WPK General Secretary Kim Jong Un likely intends for his daughter Kim Ju Ae, who is roughly 13 years old, to succeed him, according to the South Korean National Intelligence Service. His daughter has become an increasingly public figure in recent years. (🧵1/3)
More: isw.pub/KoreanPenins...
More: isw.pub/KoreanPenins...
Reposted by Ville Kostian
5/ ISW thus does not count the Claimed Russian Territory in Ukraine layer in assessments of Ukrainian-liberated territory because ISW never found evidence to assess that Ukrainian forces had lost the territory in question in the first place.
February 18, 2026 at 12:18 AM
5/ ISW thus does not count the Claimed Russian Territory in Ukraine layer in assessments of Ukrainian-liberated territory because ISW never found evidence to assess that Ukrainian forces had lost the territory in question in the first place.
Reposted by Ville Kostian
4/ ISW routinely recesses the Claimed Russian Territory in Ukraine feature after observing evidence of Ukrainian forces operating in or within the areas that Russian sources claimed — without evidence — to be under Russian control.
February 18, 2026 at 12:18 AM
4/ ISW routinely recesses the Claimed Russian Territory in Ukraine feature after observing evidence of Ukrainian forces operating in or within the areas that Russian sources claimed — without evidence — to be under Russian control.
Reposted by Ville Kostian
Assessment: ISW assesses that Ukrainian forces liberated about 91.1 square kilometers in Ukraine between February 11 and 15. ISW assesses that Russian forces seized an estimated total of 28.3 square kilometers in Ukraine during the same period. (1/5)
February 18, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Assessment: ISW assesses that Ukrainian forces liberated about 91.1 square kilometers in Ukraine between February 11 and 15. ISW assesses that Russian forces seized an estimated total of 28.3 square kilometers in Ukraine during the same period. (1/5)
Reposted by Ville Kostian
6/ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 17, 2026: isw.pub/UkrWar021726
February 18, 2026 at 2:16 AM
6/ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 17, 2026: isw.pub/UkrWar021726
Reposted by Ville Kostian
5/ Patrushev baselessly criticized Finland for preparing to attack Russia.
Russian forces recently advanced near Borova, in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, and near Pokrovsk.
Russian forces recently advanced near Borova, in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, and near Pokrovsk.
February 18, 2026 at 2:16 AM
5/ Patrushev baselessly criticized Finland for preparing to attack Russia.
Russian forces recently advanced near Borova, in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, and near Pokrovsk.
Russian forces recently advanced near Borova, in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, and near Pokrovsk.
Reposted by Ville Kostian
NEW: Russian forces conducted another large, combined strike package against Ukrainian energy infrastructure overnight on February 16 to 17 — the eve of trilateral US-Ukrainian-Russian negotiations in Geneva. 🧵(1/6)
Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar021726
Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar021726
February 18, 2026 at 2:16 AM
NEW: Russian forces conducted another large, combined strike package against Ukrainian energy infrastructure overnight on February 16 to 17 — the eve of trilateral US-Ukrainian-Russian negotiations in Geneva. 🧵(1/6)
Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar021726
Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar021726
Reposted by Ville Kostian
8/ Iran Update, February 17, 2026:
Iran Update, February 17, 2026
Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei rejected the US demands for Iran to halt uranium enrichment and limit its ballistic missile program.
isw.pub
February 18, 2026 at 2:52 AM
8/ Iran Update, February 17, 2026:
Reposted by Ville Kostian
7/ The Syrian government transferred some authorities from the central government to governors and local officials on February 15, which may satisfy some of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ demands regarding decentralization.
February 18, 2026 at 2:52 AM
7/ The Syrian government transferred some authorities from the central government to governors and local officials on February 15, which may satisfy some of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ demands regarding decentralization.
Reposted by Ville Kostian
NEW: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected the United States’ demands for Iran to halt uranium enrichment and limit its ballistic missile program in a speech on February 17. (1/8)
Read more: isw.pub/IranUpdate02...
Read more: isw.pub/IranUpdate02...
February 18, 2026 at 2:51 AM
NEW: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected the United States’ demands for Iran to halt uranium enrichment and limit its ballistic missile program in a speech on February 17. (1/8)
Read more: isw.pub/IranUpdate02...
Read more: isw.pub/IranUpdate02...
" #Algeria and #Niger put an end to their cold war to revive a major trans-Saharan energy project" africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...
Algeria and Niger put an end to their cold war to revive a major trans-Saharan energy project
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared on Monday the launch of a long-expected trans-Saharan gas pipeline through Niger, indicating a huge diplomatic and economic reset between the two neigh...
africa.businessinsider.com
February 18, 2026 at 5:56 AM
" #Algeria and #Niger put an end to their cold war to revive a major trans-Saharan energy project" africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...
Reposted by Ville Kostian
Swedish Military Intelligence: "Despite several diplomatic initiatives, Russian leadership continues to appear unwilling to seek any political resolution to the [war in Ukraine] that does not satisfy Russian objectives… Preventing Ukrainian NATO membership is an important Russian objective."
February 17, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Swedish Military Intelligence: "Despite several diplomatic initiatives, Russian leadership continues to appear unwilling to seek any political resolution to the [war in Ukraine] that does not satisfy Russian objectives… Preventing Ukrainian NATO membership is an important Russian objective."
Reposted by Ville Kostian
Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Sailing in the Atlantic, Headed for Strait of Gibraltar — USNI News
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/c...
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/c...
Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Sailing in the Atlantic, Headed for Strait of Gibraltar - USNI News
Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and its escorts are operating in the Atlantic Ocean as they sail to U.S. Central Command amid tensions with Iran, USNI News has learned. Gerald R. Ford an...
news.usni.org
February 17, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Sailing in the Atlantic, Headed for Strait of Gibraltar — USNI News
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/c...
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/c...
Reposted by Ville Kostian
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 17, 2026 — USNI News
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/u...
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/u...
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 17, 2026
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Feb. 17, 2026, based on Navy and public data. In cases in w...
news.usni.org
February 17, 2026 at 7:05 PM
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 17, 2026 — USNI News
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/u...
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/u...
Reposted by Ville Kostian
U.S. Forces Strike 3 Suspected Narco Boats in Eastern Pacific, Caribbean — USNI News
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/u...
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/u...
U.S. Forces Strike 3 Suspected Narco Boats in Eastern Pacific, Caribbean - USNI News
The U.S. struck three boats Monday that were allegedly carrying illicit narcotics, killing 11 people in the strikes, U.S. Southern Command announced Tuesday. Two of the strikes were against boats in t...
news.usni.org
February 17, 2026 at 7:30 PM
U.S. Forces Strike 3 Suspected Narco Boats in Eastern Pacific, Caribbean — USNI News
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/u...
news.usni.org/2026/02/17/u...
" #Russia poses ‘serious and concrete’ threat to #Sweden ’s security, Stockholm warns"
www.politico.eu/article/swed...
www.politico.eu/article/swed...
Russia poses ‘serious and concrete’ threat to Sweden’s security, Stockholm warns
“What protects us is the strength of the alliance,” a senior NATO official says.
www.politico.eu
February 17, 2026 at 6:47 PM
" #Russia poses ‘serious and concrete’ threat to #Sweden ’s security, Stockholm warns"
www.politico.eu/article/swed...
www.politico.eu/article/swed...
Reposted by Ville Kostian
The Sunday Times established the identities of 13 Russian soldiers suspected of killing civilians on the Zhytomyr Highway in Kyiv region in 2022.
Over a three-week period, Russian soldiers killed at least 27 civilians on the highway, burning the bodies in their cars to hide the evidence.
Over a three-week period, Russian soldiers killed at least 27 civilians on the highway, burning the bodies in their cars to hide the evidence.
February 17, 2026 at 4:52 PM
The Sunday Times established the identities of 13 Russian soldiers suspected of killing civilians on the Zhytomyr Highway in Kyiv region in 2022.
Over a three-week period, Russian soldiers killed at least 27 civilians on the highway, burning the bodies in their cars to hide the evidence.
Over a three-week period, Russian soldiers killed at least 27 civilians on the highway, burning the bodies in their cars to hide the evidence.
Reposted by Ville Kostian
U.S. plans to blunt a potential large-scale aerial assault in Europe were put to the test at training grounds across five countries, where American and allied artillery forces confronted a battlefield saturated with missiles and drones. Learn more:
NATO artillery exercise tests cross-border ‘kill chain’ across Europe
U.S. plans to blunt a potential large-scale aerial assault in Europe were put to the test this month at training grounds across five countries.
www.stripes.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:59 PM
U.S. plans to blunt a potential large-scale aerial assault in Europe were put to the test at training grounds across five countries, where American and allied artillery forces confronted a battlefield saturated with missiles and drones. Learn more:
"US soldiers arrive in #Nigeria to aid its fight against Islamist militants"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
US soldiers arrive in Nigeria to aid its fight against Islamist militants
The troops, who landed at an airfield in Bauchi state, will not take part in combat operations, officials say.
www.bbc.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:49 PM
"US soldiers arrive in #Nigeria to aid its fight against Islamist militants"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ville Kostian
France releases seized Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker after fine paid
France releases seized Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker after fine paid
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the vessel was departing Marseille after a payment of "several million euros".
www.bbc.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:42 PM
France releases seized Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker after fine paid