Ukraine has attacked 1,224 Russian military targets over the past 24 hours, including dozens of drone launch sites, a new official update has revealed. According to the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a statement on Tuesday (February 18), the strikes targeted personnel, artillery systems, vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by Russian forces.
The force reported that among the targets hit were hundreds of Russian service members, bringing the number killed over the past day to 740 and the total number of personnel losses in the war to almost 1.3 million. Ukrainian drone units also struck 44 drone launch points, 20 artillery systems, 67 vehicles and 28 motorcycles. Over 120 Russian UAVs, of both « copter » and fixed-wing types, were also destroyed or damaged. « Overall, throughout February (01–17.02), 16,256 targets have been destroyed or hit, including 5,002 enemy personnel,” the Unmanned Systems Forces stated in their update.
The Unmanned Systems Forces – a separate branch of Ukraine‘s Armed Forces – coordinates drone operations across multiple sections of the front line.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, the total combat losses of the Russian forces between February 24, 2022 and February 18, 2026 – after almost four years of fighting – are estimated to be approximately 1,256,080 military personell, as well as 11,681 tanks, 24,051 armoured combat vehicles, 37,363 artillery systems, 435 fixed-wing aircraft, 347 helicopters, 29 ships or boats and two submarines.
This latest update comes after Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces reported striking an Iskander missile system in occupied Crimea and destroying a remote piloting post of the Russian “Rubikon” unit in the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region. According to the Special Operations Forces, the attacks were carried out using FP-2 drones against the Russian rear and operational infrastructure, United24 Media reported.
On Tuesday (February 17), Ukraine launched another massive overnight attack on Russia, sparking large-scale fires and even the temporary closures of several airports. Airports in Krasnodar, Sochi and Gelendzhik suspended operations for at least four hours due to aerial threats, while Kazan and Nizhnekamsk also temporarily suspended arrivals and departures.
Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, southern Russia, which supplies fuel to Russian troops, was one of the targets, resulting in a massive fire. According to Ukraine‘s General Staff, the refinery processes 6.42 million tons of oil annually and, due to its proximity to Black Sea ports, its products are widely used to support Russian military logistics.
Krasnodar Krai Operational Headquarters confirmed the attack on the refinery in the morning: « A fire broke out at the Ilsky oil refinery as a result of the UAV attack. There were no casualties. A tank containing petroleum products was damaged. The total area of the fire is about 700 sqm [7,535sq ft] ». It noted that 72 firefighters, 21 fire appliances and a fire train had been involved in tackling the blaze.
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