• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that national elections will not take place until there is a ceasefire with Russia and adequate security assurances are in place. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in an audio message, Zelenskyy stated, "We will hold elections once our safety is guaranteed." He added that the path to elections is straightforward — establishing a ceasefire would lead to the vote. He also mentioned that should Russia cooperate, hostilities could potentially cease by summer. Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, elections have been indefinitely postponed under martial law.

• On Thursday, Kyiv endured what officials described as a "massive" missile strike from Russia, impacting multiple areas across the capital. Both residential and commercial buildings on either side of the Dnipro River sustained damage, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Emergency crews responded to the attacks, though reports indicate there were no casualties. The southeastern city of Dnipro was also hit, with private homes and vehicles suffering destruction, per regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha. Air raid warnings continued into the early hours in both cities.

• In response to recent aerial assaults, top Ukrainian leaders decided on Wednesday to reinforce air defense systems in and around Kyiv. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal noted in a public statement that they had also pinpointed other vital infrastructure sites requiring immediate security measures. This move follows missile strikes that have left many citizens without heat or electricity during the winter season.

• On Wednesday, Russian missile attacks led to the death of four civilians in Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, according to local governor Oleksandr Ganzha. The strikes targeted three villages near Synelnykove, east of Dnipro. In one incident, a man was killed and his wife injured. In another, a family — two parents and their adult son — lost their lives, and one man was wounded. A separate attack injured a woman in a third location.

• President Zelenskyy remarked that the United States needs to intensify pressure on Russia if peace discussions are to be fruitful and the conflict brought to an end by summer. He stated that the initiative is not solely Ukraine's responsibility, asserting that the U.S. must actively push Russia toward resolution. Zelenskyy also mentioned uncertainty about Russia's participation in upcoming peace negotiations brokered by the U.S. in Miami, but reiterated Ukraine’s readiness to engage.

• Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has declared that he is willing to face disqualification to honor fallen athletes from his homeland. Despite warnings from the International Olympic Committee, he plans to wear his symbolic "helmet of memory" during competition. "I will not betray these athletes," Heraskevych said after leading the final practice session, reaffirming his stance ahead of Thursday’s race.

• Regional authorities reported that Russia intercepted a missile attack in the Volgograd region, but falling debris ignited a blaze at a military site, prompting evacuations in the nearby village of Kotluban. Meanwhile, in Russia’s Tambov region, officials relocated a group of college students after a Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire there.

• The UK has pledged £150 million (approximately $205 million) toward the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program, which aims to deliver U.S.-sourced weapons to Ukraine despite pausing U.S. domestic military aid. British defense minister John Healey emphasized the urgency of assisting Ukraine’s air defenses amid ongoing Russian attacks. The initiative has so far raised over $4.5 billion from allied countries, a U.S. representative to NATO confirmed.

• A recent crackdown on the Telegram messaging platform by Russia has drawn concern from pro-war commentators, who warn that escalating restrictions could negatively impact the nation’s military operations. Russia’s communications regulator announced Wednesday that the service would be significantly slowed, citing unaddressed compliance issues. Telegram remains widely used by millions across the country, including within state and military channels.

• The head of Ukraine’s nuclear energy provider has warned that restarting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest in Europe, can only be safely done under Ukrainian control. The plant’s six reactors have been offline since Russia’s forces seized its surrounding territory. Although Moscow has expressed intentions to resume operations, Ukrainian energy chief Pavlo Kovtoniuk cautioned that Russia lacks necessary equipment, raising concerns about the potential for a nuclear incident if they proceed without proper authorization and resources.