"But we also have Bucha town council member Elena Ukrainsteva warning residents to stay inside because Azov battalion was going to cleanse the town of Russian influences at least a day ahead of the reported mass killings. Also spreading across social media is Ukrainian commander “Boatswain” being asked by a soldier if he can shoot someone that isn’t wearing a blue armband. Boatswain’s answer, “shoot the bitch.”

In a warzone, white flags are a signal of surrender. White armbands signify a non-combatant that they are no danger to you. The victims in the images provided by Ukraine are not wearing blue armbands. Even more compelling are the mass murder images from Ukrainian sources showing people with Russian army meal packages which were given as humanitarian aid to Bucha residents.



Looking at these images critically, do militaries committing war crimes give out humanitarian aid packages first?

Anton Gerashchenko, pictured below in Bucha, is an adviser to the President of Ukraine. On his social networks called for reprisals against civilians who collaborated across Ukraine with the Russian military.

It is necessary to find and punish all those who interacted with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, he writes. Gerashchenko called on residents to inform on the “guilty.”

Gerashchenko included taking food packages and white armbands as interaction.

Let’s argue it’s normal to shoot civilians proclaiming neutral nonviolent statuses with white armbands. Would shooters committing war crimes leave evidence of their presence showing they enticed residents with food just to murder them directly after? Or does it make more sense to start from the perspective that accepting food from Russian soldiers was criminal enough to warrant mass shootings?

Azov battalion was there. With no mass casualties reported by the mayor for the first 3 days following liberation, the initial evidence points to a Ukrainian cause. If an investigation is mounted, it’s one that needs careful monitoring from the international community.

This is a first blush look at Bucha (). The evidence is from Ukrainian sources. If this holds up and I have no reason to think it won’t, where does this leave the international community supporting Ukraine? More importantly, where does this leave Ukrainian citizens?

This leads me to what some Ukrainians are saying about it. Some are voicing fear of what will happen when the Russian army leaves and the nationalists return. We may be seeing that end result in Bucha. Let’s be clear, they’re not talking about support for Russia or Ukraine, just the return of the nationalists.

One Ukrainian mayor surrendered his town (Kupyansk - my note) to Russia without a fight so the city would be spared and civilians remain unharmed. There was no military or military equipment to work with.

The SBU kidnapped his daughter in Lviv and called him a traitor to Ukraine. Is this normal?"


#ukraine #psyop #bucha #Azov #ukrainian #murders #Gerashchenko #SBU

Saturday, February 8

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A man prepares to board up windows of a residential building damaged by shelling in Kostyantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, on Feb. 7, 2025. (Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images)

'Let's do a deal' — Zelensky tells Reuters he's open to Trump's mineral partnership. President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed in an interview with Reuters on Feb. 7 that Ukraine was not offering to "give away" its resources but seeking a mutually beneficial partnership.

Zelensky, Trump may meet in Washington next week. "I will probably be meeting with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky next week, and I will probably be talking to President (Vladimir) Putin. I'd like to see the war end," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

37 Ukrainian MPs visit US to strengthen bilateral relations. "Ukraine is facing a critical task — to restart our relations with our strategic partner, the United States. And we are doing this systematically at all levels, including restoring relations with the U.S. Congress," Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said.

Ukraine to host Trump's envoy Kellogg in February, top official says. Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said that Kyiv wants Washington to be fully informed about Ukraine's mobilization efforts and the supply of weapons and equipment.

North Korean soldiers 'brought in again' to fight in Kursk Oblast. "A significant number of occupiers have been eliminated, we are re talking hundreds of Russian and North Korean servicemen," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukraine expecting important decisions at Ramstein meeting. Ukraine is actively preparing and expects important decisions to be made at the upcoming Ramstein meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said during a press conference on Feb. 7.

Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.

Trump's ICC sanctions won't hinder Russian war crimes investigation**, Kyiv says.** "I think that the U.S. decisions are not related to the Ukrainian context, and we hope that they will not affect the court's ability to achieve justice and justice for the victims of Russian aggression," said Heorhii Tykhyi, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Kyiv denies reports of alleged failed Russian Oreshnik missile launch at Ukraine. Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security on Feb. 7 refuted media reports of Russia's alleged failed launch of its new intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, at Ukraine.

Bucha massacre suspect becomes top official in Russian region. As a platoon commander at the 76th Airborne Assault Division, Mussagaleyev allegedly participated in Russia's brutal occupation of Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, in February and March 2022, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Hundreds of civilians were massacred by Russian troops in Bucha at the time.

2 Ukrainian military officers appointed as deputy defense ministers. "These decisions are part of a comprehensive approach to strengthening our Armed Forces, modernizing management, and advancing military technology," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

Russia designates Register of Damage against Ukraine as undesirable organization. Russia’s Justice Ministry declared the Register of Damage Caused by Russian Aggression against Ukraine an "undesirable organization" on Feb. 7.

Russia to expand seizure of foreign assets**, Reuters reports.** A draft law approved this week by the Russian government's legislative commission lays out the procedure for seizing foreign property in retaliation for freezing Russian assets abroad.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: North Korean soldiers 'brought in again' to fight in Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says

"A significant number of occupiers have been eliminated, we are talking hundreds of Russian and North Korean servicemen," the president said.

Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images

Learn more

A night with Ukraine’s Vampire drone team near Kurakhove

International response

US sanctions strain Russia’s oil exports as shipping costs surge, Bloomberg reports. The number of sanctioned vessels has now reached 265, with U.S. blacklisting proving to be the most disruptive. Of the 435 ships that transported Russian crude in 2024, 112—or 26%—are now under Washington’s sanctions.

Trump ready to step up Russia sanctions to end war in Ukraine, special envoy says. Current U.S. sanctions on Russia, particularly those targeting its energy sector, amount to a "3 on a 10-point scale" regarding economic pressure, Keith Kellogg, special envoy for Ukraine and Russia said.

Czechia extends protection for Ukrainians, tightens rules for Russian applicants. Under the new provisions, temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees, set to expire in March, will be extended for another year in line with an EU-wide decision.

In other news

Ukraine secures preliminary deals to replace USAID funding for critical projects, official says. Urgent funding has already been identified for recovery efforts, energy resilience, and cyber defense projects, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna said.

Putin acknowledges inflation as key challenge for Russia. Speaking at a televised meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Feb. 7, Putin noted that consumer prices in Russia rose by 9.5% in 2024 and have climbed further to 9.9% year-on-year this month.

Police investigate death of 32-year-old man at military enlistment office. The incident follows reports on the deaths of conscripts allegedly caused by beatings at military enlistment offices.

Are you a regular reader of Ukraine Daily? Consider taking our survey to help us improve this newsletter. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

TAKE A SURVEY

This newsletter is open for sponsorship. Boost your brand's visibility by reaching thousands of engaged subscribers. Contact partnerships@kyivindependent.com for more details.

Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Oleg Sukhov, Tymur Zadorozhnyy, Dmytro Basmat, Sonya Bandouil, Kateryna Denisova, Olena Goncharova, and Abbey Fenbert.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program_**. Start supporting independent journalism today.**_