The terms of the minerals agreement between Ukraine and the United States have been revealed. The head of the Azov Brigade, Bohdan Krotevych, is stepping down from his position. President Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Here are the key news highlights for February 26.
The publication "European Truth" has released the framework agreement between Ukraine and the United States regarding minerals. According to this agreement, the parties are to establish a joint Investment Fund for Recovery. Both sides will manage it.
The agreement stipulates that no participant in the contract shall sell, transfer, or in any other way directly or indirectly alienate any part of their share in the fund without the prior written consent of the other participant.
It is expected that Ukraine will contribute 50% of all revenues received from the future monetization of its natural assets owned by the state of Kyiv.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government supports Ukraine's efforts to obtain security guarantees necessary for establishing lasting peace. As noted in the agreement, the participants will seek to identify any necessary steps to protect mutual investments, as defined in the fund agreement.
After this, the Cabinet of Ministers approved decisions necessary for signing the agreement between Ukraine and the United States on mineral extraction. President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the U.S. on February 28 to sign this agreement.
The head of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade "Azov," Bohdan Krotevych (Tavr), is leaving his position after 10 years of service.
It was reported that he became part of "Azov" in 2014 and rose from a soldier to a platoon commander. He also participated in key combat operations during ATO/JFO and worked to develop the unit.
In 2021, he took command of the "Azov" headquarters, and after the onset of the full-scale invasion, Tavr was involved in managing the defense of Mariupol and was a reliable assistant to the commander.
In September 2022, Krotevych returned from Russian captivity and began restoring the combat capability of the unit and scaling it up to the 12th Brigade "Azov."
President Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Iryna Tsybukh (Cheka), who was a combat medic in the volunteer battalion "Hospitallers."
The title of Hero of Ukraine was also awarded to the officer of the "Svoboda" battalion, Vladyslav Stotsky, who, along with his comrades, held their position in the Severodonetsk direction for 68 days while surrounded by the enemy.
The family of Kyiv City Council member Oleksandr Pluzhnyk owns property worth about $6 million — an elite estate by the lake, 11 apartments in prestigious districts of the capital and Odesa, luxury cars, and about a thousand square meters of commercial real estate.
However, in the official declaration, the official only listed a house and a plot in Kremenchuk, a rented car, and a motorcycle. Read more about this in the new investigation by hromadske.
As a result of a nighttime attack by Russian drones in the Kyiv region, the spouses were killed: journalist from "Ukrinform," Tatyana Kulyk, and the head of the Department of Surgery No. 3 at the Bogomolets National Medical University, Professor Pavlo Ivanchiev.
Overall, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 177 strike drones of the Shahed type and various types of imitation drones on the night of February 26. As of 09:00, 110 drones have been confirmed shot down. Another 66 Russian imitation drones were lost in location (without negative consequences).
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine will maintain the maximum number of troops necessary to protect its interests after the war.
According to Zelensky, maintaining the army's composition will be one of the main guarantees of security.
"Regardless of the situation, we do not trust the Russians that they want anything peaceful. We operate under the principle that we believe in our army," emphasized Zelensky.
The head of state also mentioned that Ukraine is discussing with partners the deployment of foreign contingents on its territory. Zelensky noted that there is currently "a different vision" regarding the number of troops, but discussions are ongoing.
President Donald Trump stated that he does not intend to provide "very many" security guarantees for Ukraine.