Victory Chronicles-DAY 1091

Kyiv’s forces struck an oil refinery and two pumping stations in Russia’s Krasnodar region, causing extensive damage that will disrupt fuel supplies to Russian military units, Ukraine’s General Staff said on Feb. 17.

The strikes targeted the Ilisk oil refinery, where a major fire erupted, and the Kropotkinskaya and Andreapol pumping stations that are connected to pipelines, military officials said. The facilities had been used to transport fuel to Russian forces.

“These facilities are now non-operational, which will significantly complicate fuel logistics for the Russian army,” the General Staff said in a statement.

Ukrainian military officials said they would continue targeting strategic infrastructure supporting Russia’s war effort, asserting their right to strike facilities contributing to Russia’s military operations.

Ukraine recovers bodies of 7,017 killed soldiers since the full-scale invasion began. Ukrainian authorities have recovered the bodies of 7,017 soldiers who’ve perished through 75 repatriation operations since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, officials said Feb. 17.

Two repatriations in January and February 2025 recovered 757 bodies, according to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The previous 73 operations had brought back 5,503 bodies through December 2024.

Ukraine has also conducted 61 prisoner exchanges, securing the return of 4,131 people, including both military personnel and civilians, officials told Ukrainska Pravda.

Ukraine approves two homegrown drones for military use. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has cleared two domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the U13 and U15, for deployment with defense forces, officials announced on Feb. 17.

The drones are designed to target enemy fortified positions, armored vehicles and personnel, according to the ministry. While similar in function, the two models differ in frame size and payload capacity. Military officials said the drones feature high-powered electric motors and are resistant to electronic warfare measures. The UAVs can operate in various weather conditions.

Ukrainian drone strikes halt Russian assault near Vovchansk city in northeastern region of Kharkiv. Ukrainian forces destroyed two Russian combat vehicles and damaged another in drone strikes near Vovchansk, military officials said on Feb. 17.

Drone operators from Ukraine’s 113th Territorial Defense Brigade targeted Russian positions after their forces attempted to assault Ukrainian fortifications, according to the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group, Ukraine’s main military grouping that is facing the brunt of Russia’s ongoing invasion. The strikes also hit Russian troop shelters and killed several Russian soldiers in the area, military officials reported on Telegram.

“Russian forces continue attempting assault operations with armored vehicles against our fortifications near Vovchansk on the Kharkiv front,” the military statement said. Ukrainian territorial defense units, working with other forces, successfully repelled the Russian assault attempt, officials added.

Key Takeaways:

• The Kremlin reiterated its demands that Ukraine cede additional territory in eastern and southern Ukraine to Russia and disband the Ukrainian military in the future while continuing to message that the Kremlin is unwilling to make territorial concessions itself in any future peace negotiations.
• Lavrov and Nebenzya also categorically rejected European involvement in future peace negotiations and accused European countries of being aggressive toward Russia.
• The Kremlin also appears to be resurrecting Putin’s previous demands and information operations aimed at delegitimizing Ukraine and its government in the eyes of the West – notably ahead of the February 18 Russia-US bilateral meeting in Saudi Arabia.
• The Russian delegation participating in Russian-American talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 18 does not include one of the members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s innermost circle who had been reported as a likely negotiator.
• Ukrainian forces continue to conduct drone strikes against Russian energy facilities supplying the Russian military.
• Russian commanders continue to give orders for Russian forces to execute Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) on the frontline.
• Unspecified sources told Bloomberg that Russia appears to be nearing a deal with the Syrian interim government to maintain a “reduced” military presence in Syria.
• Russian forces advanced near Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Velyka Novosilka.
• Russian occupation authorities continue to violate the Geneva Convention by conscripting civilians in occupied Ukraine to serve in the Russian military.

Jr. Sgt. Maksym Kupetskyi, known by the call sign Max Max, was killed in battle on July 4 near the town of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine’s easternmost Donetsk region. He was 44 years old.

Kupetskyi was fatally wounded during an artillery attack by Russian forces. He was born in the village of Nova Skvariava in the Lviv region. After high school, he graduated from Vocational School No. 60 in Rava-Ruska and became a tractor driver and mechanic. Since 2000, he had lived in Lviv, where he worked in the trade sector as a goods picker.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kupetskyi joined the Armed Forces and fought in the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after King Danylo. He served as a rifle squad commander.

“My dad was very kind, sincere, loving, hardworking, and always came to the rescue. He loved to cook. Even during the war, when we came back from the position, he would cook for his comrades,” said his daughter, Nadiya.

Kupetskyi was posthumously awarded the Order of the Hero’s Cross. He was buried in the honorary burial ground at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv. He is survived by his mother, brother, sister, two daughters and a grandson.

*Maksym’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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