❗️UN on Belgorod attacks: We call to stop attacks on civilian objects and infrastructure.

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❗️The Ukrainian military has already begun a partial withdrawal in Avdeevka. They consider the surrender of the city to Russian forces to be only a matter of time, according to the Washington Post.

"The ruined coke and chemical plant, once an economic pillar in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region, is likely to be the last Ukrainian stronghold in Avdeevka, which has been embattled since 2014. Ukrainian troops say it is just a matter of time before they will have to surrender the city, and on Thursday the military said a partial withdrawal has already begun," the Washington Post writes.

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US hysteria over Russian nuclear arms in space is just smoke and mirrors

The US mainstream media's comments on the groundless rumors of Russia's development of space-based nuclear arms are contradictory, Dmitry Stefanovich of the Moscow-based Institute of World Economy and International Relations with the Russian Academy of Sciences told Sputnik.

"Some say that something has already been deployed [in space], some say that something is planned to be deployed, some are talking about nuclear arms, and someone are speculating about nuclear power equipment," Stefanovich said, adding that it resembles nothing more than an exercise in smoke and mirrors.

Russia placing nuclear weapons in space is nonsensical given that it would go contrary to Moscow's obligations as a signatory country and, moreover, as a depositary country of the Outer Space Treaty, the expert stressed.

One should also bear in mind that the use of nuclear weapons in space would destroy spacecraft indiscriminately, knocking out American and Russian satellites alike, and those of third countries, too, Stefanovich continued.

"The militarization of space began, in fact, simultaneously with the beginning of the space age. Space has always had a military dimension. Russia's position is that we need a legally binding document to prevent the placement of weapons in space. We need to stop the arms race in outer space," the expert underscored.

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Will Bobulinski's testimony end Joe Biden's presidential bid?

"For years, [Tony] Bobulinski has been trying to make his case against the Biden family 'business,' yet over the same period, the FBI, Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service have refused to prosecute the lay-down cases against many Biden family members and associates for corruption, influence peddling, money-laundering and income tax evasion," Wall Street analyst Charles Ortel told Sputnik.

Former business associate of Joe Biden's son Hunter, Tony Bobulinski, delivered his bombshell testimony concerning Joe Biden's involvement in his son's business dealings on February 13 before American lawmakers in the House impeachment probe. Bobulinski alleged that Joe Biden could be probed in relation to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity statutes, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

Nonetheless, there's little if any chance that Biden's DoJ will pick up the case and prosecute the US president, as retired certified public accountant Robert Bishop and CrowdSource the Truth founder Jason Goodman told Sputnik.

Apparently, only Donald Trump's victory and an overhaul of the House and Senate would be the guarantee that the Bidens and other political dynasty families will be held accountable, Sputnik's interlocutors believe.

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▪️Security, really? 'Galactic' record of US hegemonic ambitions to militarize space

▪️US hysteria over Russian nuclear arms in space is just smoke and mirrors

▪️From missiles to EW and laser arms: Meet Russia’s various anti-satellite warfare innovations

▪️The Ukrainian military has already begun a partial withdrawal in Avdeevka

▪️Ukraine attacked a Belgorod shopping center using RM-70 “Vampire” MLRS. What do we know about the weapon that killed civilians, including a child?

▪️Western pharma giants have been doing illegal medical experiments on people for decades

▪️Will Bobulinski's testimony end Joe Biden's presidential bid?

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⚡️The situation in Avdeyevka is critical as the city may fall under Russian control due to a lack of ammunition, the White House said.

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Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating plummets – Ukrainian survey

After the Ukrainian president dismissed Valery Zaluzhny as his commander-in-chief, Zelensky’s public approval rating declined by 13%, according to poll results published by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

In the framework of the poll noscriptd “Trust in political, military and public figures”, Ukrainians also expressed their attitudes towards the country's most important names:

▪️Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian president – 64% of respondents expressed their confidence in their president, compared to 77% last December, while 35% mistrust him, compared to 22% last December;

▪️Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky's office – public trust dropped from 33% in December to 27% in February;

▪️Oleksandr Syrsky, new commander-in-chief – 40% of respondents trust him, 21% do not, and 4% are uncertain (35% of people were unaware of who he was);

▪️Valery Zaluzhny, former commander-in-chief – enjoys 94% trust rating, with mere 5% of people distrusting him (same as last year).

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The US is in Process of contacting Russia, consulting with allies over the alleged 'threat,' Strategic Communications Advisor John Kirby said.

US President Joe Biden has instructed his team to initiate direct diplomatic contacts with Russia in connection with a "national security threat" related to Russia's ongoing development of anti-satellite capabilities, Strategic Communications Advisor John Kirby said.

"He [Biden] has directed a series of initial actions including additional briefings to congressional leaders, direct diplomatic engagement with Russia, with our allies and our partners as well, and with other countries," Kirby said during a press briefing.

Kirby said that while Russia's development of this particular capability is concerning, it does not pose an immediate threat to anyone's safety. "Our general knowledge of Russian pursuit of this kind of capability, goes back many months, if not a few years," he added.

The US has contacted Russia regarding a potential threat to US national security, but has not secured actual talks so far, Kirby specified.

"We reached out to the Russian side, but we have not secured actual conversations at this point," the official clarified, when asked if any contact had been made with Russia.

Commenting on an alleged Russian-related "security threat" to the US, the Kremlin said Thursday that the White House is trying to get Congress pass a bill on new assistance to Kiev by hook or crook.

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John Kirby blames Republicans unwilling to support the supplemental funding bill for the critical situation in the city of Avdeyevka.

"In very large part this is happening because the Ukrainian forces on the ground are running out of artillery ammunition… And because Congress is yet to pass the supplemental bill, we’ve not been able to provide Ukraine with the artillery shells… The Russian forces are now reaching Ukrainian trenches actually in Avdeyevka, and they are beginning to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses," the official insisted.

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What US weapons may be a bigger problem to their wielders than to the enemy

The United States has been forced to rely on the aging C-2 cargo planes for delivering cargo to their aircraft carriers at sea after the US Navy and US Air Force had to ground their fleets of the more advanced V-22 Osprey aircraft due to safety concerns.

This move, prompted by a deadly Osprey crash in Japan in November 2023, is far from the only example of the supposedly advanced US military hardware turning out to be a lot more faulty than advertised by its makers.

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The Houthis attacked the British ship Lycavitos under the flag of Barbados with anti-ship missiles in the Gulf of Aden, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said.

"UK vessel Lycavitos was attacked in the Gulf of Aden by anti-ship missiles with a direct hit on the target. We will continue to hamper the passage of ships associated with Israel until the aggression in the Gaza Strip ceases and the blockade is lifted," Saree stressed.

Earlier in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that it had received a report of an attack on a vessel 85 nautical miles east of the Yemeni city of Aden.

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❗️ The US House of Representatives will break from legislative business until February 28, without having advanced any legislation to provide assistance to Ukraine and Israel.

House lawmakers adjourned on Thursday for a President’s Day break, before beginning consideration of legislation to provide aid to Ukraine and Israel, such as a $95 billion supplemental funding bill passed by the US Senate earlier this week.

US Congressman Don Bacon reportedly said that he intends to introduce a new bipartisan bill with foreign aid and border security measures, which cut some economic and humanitarian assistance included in the US Senate bill.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that he has no plans to bring the Senate bill to the House floor for a vote.

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