The ongoing war in Ukraine, initiated by Russia's invasion in February 2022, continues to be a major geopolitical crisis in Eastern Europe. Recent reports from February 2026 highlight Ukraine's resilience, with President Zelensky stating the nation is not losing and has regained territory in the South. Ukraine has also claimed to thwart assassination plots by Russia and announced the transformation of its F-16s into drone hunters using APKWS II rockets. In a significant military development, Kiev achieved its best advance since 2023 following Russia's loss of Starlink access. The conflict also impacts international events, as Ukraine announced a boycott of the 2026 Paralympic opening ceremony due to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their flags, a decision Ukraine's president deemed "scandalous."