Here’s the latest update for Saturday, February 8:

Military Developments

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that North Korean troops have returned to the battlefield in Russia’s Kursk region, after earlier reports suggested Moscow had withdrawn them due to severe losses. "New offensives are underway in the Kursk region operational areas... Russian forces and North Korean soldiers have been redeployed," Zelenskyy stated during his Friday evening address. He added that a “significant number” of enemy forces had been neutralized, estimating the losses to be in the hundreds for both Russian and North Korean soldiers.

• Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced on Friday that its forces had taken control of the strategically significant mining town of Toretsk in eastern Ukraine. However, Kyiv refuted claims that Russian troops had fully captured the city.

• Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned on Friday that attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have intensified. Russian news agency Tass quoted Grossi as saying, after meeting with Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev, that it remains unclear which side is responsible for the attacks. Russian forces have occupied the plant since the early days of the war in 2022.

• A Russian guided bomb strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region led to the deaths of three civilians, according to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office. The strike, which took place late Thursday, leveled a residential building in the village of Myropillya.

Diplomatic and Political Updates

• Lithuania has officially disconnected its electricity grid from Russia’s power system, a move that aligns with a broader plan for the three Baltic states to integrate with the European Union’s energy network. Latvia and Estonia are expected to follow suit, marking the final severance of energy ties between the former Soviet republics and Moscow.

• US President Donald Trump mentioned on Friday that he would "probably" meet with Zelenskyy next week. The Ukrainian leader welcomed the opportunity, though he did not confirm specifics. When asked about the location, Trump suggested Washington as a possibility but ruled out visiting Kyiv. Zelenskyy stated that discussions were in progress but did not confirm a meeting, adding on X: "Meetings and discussions at the teams’ level are also being arranged. Ukrainian and US teams are finalizing details."

• European foreign ministers are set to convene in Paris next week to deliberate on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs announced on Friday. Representatives from France, Germany, Poland, Britain, Spain, and Italy will participate in Wednesday’s talks, just ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Reports suggest that US officials may also attend. The gathering aims to reaffirm continued support for Ukraine.

• The Kremlin on Friday urged patience and dismissed speculation regarding US proposals for ending the war in Ukraine, stating that many reports circulating on the matter were inaccurate.

• Ukraine expressed hope that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will persist in prosecuting Russian war crimes, despite sanctions recently imposed by Trump. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented, "We trust that these sanctions will not hamper the court’s pursuit of justice for the victims of Russian aggression."

• Kyiv is anticipating a visit this month from Trump’s special envoy for the region. “Ukraine eagerly awaits the February visit of US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, who will receive comprehensive updates on Russian aggression against our nation,” wrote Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, on Telegram.