23 February 2022 felt interminable. All sorts of intelligence agencies had spent the previous few weeks trying to give President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the date when the great Russian invasion would "definitely" begin.
Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggest that the Kremlin needs statements about the capture of a bridgehead on the left bank of Kherson Oblast to enhance the desired information effect on the eve of the presidential election.
The Russians launched a Russian Kh-59 guided air-to-surface missile on the city of Odesa from tactical aircraft manoeuvring over the Black Sea. The air defence system successfully destroyed the air target.
Russian troops in Ukraine's south have significantly increased their use of drones: more than 80 were recorded as having been used by the Russians in just one day. Source: Nataliia Humeniuk, Head of the Joint Press Centre of Operational Command Pivden (South), at the Ukraine-Ukrinform media centre Quote: "The enemy does not cease their activity in the area of the Right Bank.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has analysed the Russian versions of the downing of a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and damage to an Il-22M airborne command post plane. Source: ISW Details: Ukrainian officials have stated that Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft and severely damaged an Il-22 airborne command post plane on the night of 14 January.