Ukraine War Update: February 23, 2026 – Continued Fighting and International Efforts for Peace
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, fighting remains intense, particularly in the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. International efforts to identify a peaceful resolution are ongoing, with the United States reiterating its commitment to supporting Ukraine.
Intense Fighting on the Front Lines
Russian forces launched 448 attacks on 34 settlements in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region on February 20, 2026, resulting in injuries to a six-year-old child and damage to infrastructure . Attacks also continued in the Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy regions, causing damage to homes, including seven high-rise buildings in Kherson . Despite heavy fire in the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions in recent weeks, February 20th was reported as “unusually quiet” .
Recent Attacks and Casualties
A man was killed by shrapnel from a Ukrainian drone attack on Sevastopol, in Russian-occupied Crimea . A Ukrainian drone attack also caused a fire at an oil depot in Velikiye Luki in Russia’s Pskov region .
Military Claims
Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported that its forces shot down 301 Ukrainian drones, 10 missiles, and two guided bombs in a 24-hour period . On February 22, 2026, there were 112 combat encounters on the front lines, with Ukrainian forces striking 15 areas where Russian troops were concentrated .
International Response and Peace Efforts
United States President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace held its first meeting in Washington, DC, though Belarus did not participate despite receiving an invitation . On February 23, 2024, President Joe Biden marked the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion by imposing sanctions on over 500 targets and calling on Congress to approve additional funding for Kyiv . US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was in Ukraine with a delegation to demonstrate support .
Humanitarian Impact
More than 5,000 women and girls have been killed and another 14,000 injured in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 .