MSM Geopolitical Reporting for 2026-02-20
Today’s western leaning web coverage of the West vs Russia conflict. Most of these sources are what forms popular opinion in the west regarding geopolitics and conflict in particular.
Will Turkey be Trump’s next military target?
Turkey continues to be a useful ally for Washington, but no longer a necessary one, and certainly a problematic one.
Strategic Culture Foundation
Feb 19, 2026 - strategic-culture.su
‘Remember Putin is a KGB officer’: Ukraine’s ex-leader fears Russia is playing Zelenskyy
Petro Poroshenko has some advice for his bitter rival, the current president of Ukraine.
War in Ukraine – POLITICO
Feb 19, 2026 - politico.eu
Israel on the brink
Amid the largest genocide of this century in Gaza and the violent ethnic cleansing on the West Bank, two prominent Jewish historians believe that one democratic secular state in Palestine is not only ...
Strategic Culture Foundation
Feb 19, 2026 - strategic-culture.su
Private F-16 Aggressors Just Brought A Huge Upgrade To The Fight
Top Aces' advanced aggressor F-16 features an AESA, IRST, helmet mounted display, open architecture mission system and now Link 16 to tie it all together. The post Private F-16 Aggressors Just Brought...
The War Zone
Feb 19, 2026 - twz.com
Peeling back the U.S. information operation in Iran
As part of the US campaign to engineer a regime change in Iran, the US military and intelligence community are using Operational Preparation of the Environmnet aka OPE. OPE is defined in joint publica...
Strategic Culture Foundation
Feb 19, 2026 - strategic-culture.su
U.K. Denying U.S. Use Of Key Bases Would Impact Bombers’ Role In Iran Air Campaign
The U.K. is reportedly preventing the U.S. from using Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford to attack Iran. The post U.K. Denying U.S. Use Of Key Bases Would Impact Bombers’ Role In Iran Air Campaign appeared...
The War Zone
Feb 19, 2026 - twz.com
China’s Largest Modern Naval Gun To Date Just Appeared On A Test Ship
A new 155mm gun could give Chinese warships added firepower for amphibious operations, as well as against targets at sea or even in the air. The post China’s Largest Modern Naval Gun To Date Just Appe...
The War Zone
Feb 19, 2026 - twz.com
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine reportedly strikes Russian oil depot in Pskov Oblast, hits Belgorod with missiles
Key developments on Feb. 19: Ukraine reportedly strikes oil depot in Russia's Pskov Oblast, targets Belgorod with missiles, leaving blackoutsUS reportedly presses allies to block Ukraine from full par...
The Kyiv Independent
Feb 19, 2026 - kyivindependent.com
Ukraine Peace Talks Are Stalling. A Firebrand Russian Historian May Be To Blame.
Why did Ukraine’s president refer to the latest round of peace talks using a barnyard epithet? The presence of a firebrand, revisionist Russian historian-- whose writings have been derided as propagan...
Russia Invades Ukraine - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Feb 19, 2026 - rferl.org
Will EU Sanctions On Russia Stall As Hungary And Slovakia Leverage Oil Vetoes?
As the European Union races to approve its new sanctions package on Russia by the fourth anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine next week, a new obstacle may have appeared.
Russia Invades Ukraine - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Feb 19, 2026 - rferl.org
Polish president ends special refugee support system for Ukrainians, shifts assistance to general foreigner protections
Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed legislation on Feb. 19 transferring support measures for Ukrainian refugees into Poland’s general Law on the Protection of Foreigners, ending a separate legal fr...
The Kyiv Independent
Feb 19, 2026 - kyivindependent.com
At least 9 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
Russia launched 37 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said, of which Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or jammed 29.
The Kyiv Independent
Feb 19, 2026 - kyivindependent.com
Russia tested NATO’s airspace 18 times in 2025 alone – a 200% surge that signals a dangerous shift
With each year of the Ukraine-Russia war, Moscow has upped its violations of neighboring states’ airspace – testing NATO’s resolve.
Ukraine invasion 2022 – The Conversation
Feb 19, 2026 - theconversation.com
When GPS Goes Dark: Building a Force That Navigates from Orbit to Seabed
GPS denial is no longer a theoretical future threat. It is the environment in which modern forces increasingly operate.China has invested heavily in space and counterspace capabilities designed to deg...
War on the Rocks
Feb 19, 2026 - warontherocks.com
Banned Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych gifted $200,000 by Shakhtar Donetsk owner
$1 submitted by /u/JOE_Media
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Analysis: Syrskyi's flawed, unfinished corps system key for Ukraine's front-line stability
$1 submitted by /u/KI_official
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Zelenskyy rules out ceding Donbas, draws hard line in peace talks
submitted by /u/BlackWolfHowling
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Zelensky Putin Peace Plan ‘I Don’t Need That Historical Sh*t’: Zelensky on Putin, Donbas and the Price of Peace
submitted by /u/Then-Historian4525
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Ukraine to receive additional AIM missiles to strengthen defense against Russian drones and cruise missiles
submitted by /u/WillyNilly1997
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Trump extends Ukraine-related national emergency, certain US sanctions against Russia for another year
U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 19 approved a one-year extension of the national emergency and related sanctions first introduced following Russia’s 2014 occupation of Crimea.
The Kyiv Independent
Feb 19, 2026 - kyivindependent.com
This Air Force officer has set 17 Guinness World Records — so far
Air Force Maj. Johnny Cruz Buckingham, a former tanker pilot, raises money for children's programs by attempting to set new Guinness World Records. The post This Air Force officer has set 17 Guinness ...
Task & Purpose
Feb 19, 2026 - taskandpurpose.com
Military leaders should assume an absent troop is ‘in danger,’ watchdog finds
Troops who are "involuntarily absent" are almost always in severe danger, but the Army, Navy, and Air Force all have different rules for how commanders should react, a new report found. The post Mili...
Task & Purpose
Feb 19, 2026 - taskandpurpose.com
War in Ukraine today: latest news, 19 February 2026 (photo)
It has been the 1457 th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression. What happened in Ukraine today: Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 4 pm: Since t...
News - Ukrainian Women's Guard
Feb 19, 2026 - uavarta.org
Power, Paranoia, and the People’s Liberation Army
China’s top military leadership has been shaken by a new round of purges at the highest level, raising urgent questions about loyalty, corruption, and combat readiness. What do these removals, and esp...
War on the Rocks
Feb 19, 2026 - warontherocks.com
A Worrying Military Build-up in the Western Balkans?
Europe’s most fragile region is not sleepwalking toward war, but it is quietly recalibrating for it. Across the Western Balkans, military procurement decisions once framed as technical upgrades are ev...
War on the Rocks
Feb 19, 2026 - warontherocks.com
Where Things Stand on Witkoff and Kushner’s Negotiations Over Iran, Ukraine and Gaza
Iran, Ukraine and Gaza are in play as the Trump envoys conduct talks on all of them. But progress in each conflict is scant.
NYT > Russia-Ukraine War
Feb 19, 2026 - nytimes.com
Ukrainian Ratel H UGV Now Equipped to Launch FPV Drones With New Four-Cell Launcher
$1 submitted by /u/Scary_Statement4612
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Thursday Birdsday: Meet the Firecrest a Tiny “Ukrainian Hummingbird who is like a 5-gram Gold or even more
$1 submitted by /u/OkPerformance1868
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
The CIA was informed early about the Nord Stream attackers’ plans. A Ukrainian covert unit blew up the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. Investigations by SPIEGEL reveal that U.S. agents discussed the attack plans with the saboteurs — before later opposing them
submitted by /u/Flimsy_Pudding1362
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Nova guerra no Oriente Médio parece questão de tempo
EUA, Israel e Irã aumentam suas tensões.
Strategic Culture Foundation
Feb 19, 2026 - strategic-culture.su
Russia e India, verso quale futuro dei rapporti commerciali?
Insieme, Russia e India possono dare un contributo significativo nell'affrontare le sfide alla sicurezza in Eurasia e oltre.
Strategic Culture Foundation
Feb 19, 2026 - strategic-culture.su
'Ready to fight' — Baltics face NATO fragility fears in the age of Trump
As the crisis in Washington’s relations with its European allies escalated in recent months, it raised a stark question: how secure are the U.S. guarantees for countries bordering Russia?U.S. Presiden...
The Kyiv Independent
Feb 19, 2026 - kyivindependent.com
Sweden to send cutting-edge air defense system to Ukraine as part of new $1.42 billion aid package
The package also includes procurement of ammunition and "expansion of cooperation... on long-range drones."
The Kyiv Independent
Feb 19, 2026 - kyivindependent.com
US reportedly presses allies to block Ukraine from full participation at NATO summit
The reported move would limit Kyiv's role at a key gathering of NATO leaders.
The Kyiv Independent
Feb 19, 2026 - kyivindependent.com
VA pauses new disability rule 2 days after announcing it
Department of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins announced the rule ‘will not be enforced at any time in the future.’ The post VA pauses new disability rule 2 days after announcing it appeared first on Tas...
Task & Purpose
Feb 19, 2026 - taskandpurpose.com
VA to end gun restrictions on veterans who require money managers
The VA will no longer flag veterans as "prohibited persons" for inclusion in the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System after they are appointed a money manager to handle their disabi...
Military – Daily Press
Feb 19, 2026 - dailypress.com
Trump warns of ‘bad things’ if Iran doesn’t make a deal, as US carrier nears Mideast
Iran earlier this week launched a drill that involved live-fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
Military – Daily Press
Feb 19, 2026 - dailypress.com
“russian war crimes must never be forgotten. History shows us who not to trust.”
submitted by /u/Due_Collar2
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Zelenskyy explains why Ukraine won't trust Russia even after Putin is gone
submitted by /u/UNITED24Media
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Hi everyone! Thanks to your support, we’ve already reached 50% of our goal. The war is still ongoing, and we need your help to raise the remaining half to improve the working conditions of the 78th Brigade headquarters. Details are in the description and comments.
$1 submitted by /u/KateKozakDrive
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
90% of Wild Hornets STING interceptors now destroy a Shahed—up from 70% last fall—thanks to our new HD video system. STINGs were created in large part with a crowdfunded mobile R&D lab. Join our raffle to fund a second lab!
$1 submitted by /u/AlexRoslin
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Figured it’s time the people behind these drones start getting some attention.
$1 submitted by /u/inebriatedshark
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Ukrainian Army of Drones bonus system. Painted on 30mm shell.
submitted by /u/Ukraine_Aid_Ops
Reddit : Welcome to Ukraine - Ласкаво просимо в Україну!
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Zelenskyy: Belarus must not be lost to Europe — but Lukashenka certainly should be
submitted by /u/PjeterPannos
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Ukrainian Partisans Knock Out Military Communications Deep Inside Russia
submitted by /u/BlackWolfHowling
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Sweden pledges another $1.4 billion in military aid to Ukraine
submitted by /u/PjeterPannos
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Jack Lopresti, Former Tory Deputy Leader, Joins Azov Brigade
submitted by /u/Mil_in_ua
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Tridon Mk2 and Long-Range Missiles—Sweden Expands Ukraine’s Arsenal With $1.3 Billion Aid Package — UNITED24 Media
submitted by /u/BlackWolfHowling
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Russian commanders demand £30k to spare soldiers from front line
submitted by /u/TheTelegraph
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Ukraine’s Flamingo Missile is Making a BIG Comeback
submitted by /u/one_and_equal
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Enemies attempt to break through border in Kharkiv and Sumy regions, but suffer losses, says Demchenko
submitted by /u/BlackWolfHowling
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Ukrainian forces holding back Russian advance towards Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Oleksandrivka front
submitted by /u/BlackWolfHowling
Reddit : News & Events Surrounding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 19, 2026 - reddit.com
Bond is back. How the British press are still in love with Russian movie scripts
The Navalny story presented to journalists at Munich might as well have been a James Bond movie script for its lack of facts and romantic folly.
Strategic Culture Foundation
Feb 19, 2026 - strategic-culture.su
Russia e Cina bollate come dittature rappresentative del male
Le miserevoli e irriflessive considerazioni di un direttore di quotidiano italiano
Strategic Culture Foundation
Feb 18, 2026 - strategic-culture.su
Ukraine reportedly strikes oil depot in Russia's Pskov Oblast, targets Belgorod with missiles, leaving blackouts
Ukraine reportedly struck an oil depot in Russia's Pskov Oblast and launched missiles at the Russian city of Belgorod, causing power outages in parts of the city, Telegram news channels and local auth...
The Kyiv Independent
Feb 18, 2026 - kyivindependent.com
War in Ukraine today: latest news, 18 February 2026 (photo)
It has been the 1456 th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression. What happened in Ukraine today: Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 4 pm: The oc...
News - Ukrainian Women's Guard
Feb 18, 2026 - uavarta.org
Russian oil depot in Pskov struck by Ukrainian long-range drones. 18.02.2026
submitted by /u/GermanDronePilot