Russia Calls Speedboat Shooting Incident Off Cuba An 'Aggressive US Provocation'

"The deadly US-registered speedboat shooting incident in Cuba carries the potential to ignite a serious conflict between Cuba and the United States, amid an ongoing investigation into exactly what happened overseen by the White House.

Russia has reacted, on Thursday laying quick blame on the US side for a 'deliberate' act of 'provocation' in order to keep up the pressure on Havana and escalate the situation.
The Cuban version of events is that a speedboat out of Florida entered its sovereign waters and that when a Cuban patrol boat approached, people on board opened fire. The Cuban soldiers then fired back, killing four people and wounding six aboard the US vessel.
Notably, Havana has said the commander of the Cuban border patrol boat was injured. The Cuban government described the incident as a "foiled armed infiltration" of the island-nation.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed to quickly get to the bottom of what happened, also as some US politicians have demanded that Cuba be crushed because of the assault.
"What I’m telling you is we’re going to find out exactly what happened and who was involved," Rubio said. "We’re not going to just take what somebody else tells us. I’m very confident we will be able to know the story independently." 

ZeroHedge

Sweden intercepts suspected Russian drone approaching French aircraft carrier

"Sweden's military jammed a suspected Russian drone that was flying toward the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which was docked in the port of Malmo.
Charles de Gaulle, the flagship of the French Navy, arrived at Malmo as part of the Lafayette 26 exercise in the North Atlantic. The French military said that the drills are meant to strengthen NATO's deterrent and defensive posture." KI

Blasts rock Kabul as Pakistan and Afghanistan exchange strikes

"Multiple explosions shook the Afghan capital, Kabul, and several other regions early Friday morning as Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged military strikes across their volatile border, accusing each other of escalating the conflict.

Islamabad launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq (“Wrath of Justice”) hours after Afghan forces conducted cross-border attacks against Pakistani military positions. Residents of the Afghan capital reported hearing at least three blasts, but authorities have not confirmed the precise locations of the explosions.
“The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on X." RT

5.3 Earthquake - 26 km SE of Tāki, India

"The closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Kolkata, a city of 4.6 million

people in India, in 81 km (50 mi) distance west of the epicenter. People likely experienced light shaking there. Many smaller towns and villages are located closer to the epicenter and might have experienced stronger shaking. In the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 191 km (119 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake was probably felt as weak shaking. The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking." VD

230 combat engagements on front line

"230 combat clashes took place between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian troops.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk axes, Ukrainian defenders repelled one Russian attack over the past day. The enemy carried out four airstrikes, dropping eleven guided bombs, and conducted 112 shelling attacks on Ukrainian positions and settlements, six of them using multiple launch rocket systems.

In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy stormed Ukrainian positions 13 times in the areas of Starytsia, Pishchane, Kruhle, Nesterne, Chuhunivka, and toward Zelene and Okhrimivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, six enemy attacks took place yesterday. The Defense Forces repelled assault actions near Kruhlakivka and toward Kurylivka, Bohuslavka, and Novoplatonivka.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy attacked 14 times, attempting to advance toward Chervonyi Stav, Novoiehorivka, Drobysheve, Stavky, Lyman, and in the areas of Zarichne and Novoselivka.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight attempts by the invaders to advance near Yampil and Zakytne and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces twice attempted to advance toward Ukrainian positions near Orikhovo-Vasylivka and Bondarne.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 24 attacks in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, and toward Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Berestok, Stepanivka, Sofiivka, and Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 50 offensive actions by the aggressor near Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Udachne, Muravka, Filiia, and toward Bilitske, Shevchenko, Hryshyne, Serhiivka, and Novopidhorodne.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions ten times near Ternove, Zlahoda, and toward Verbove, Vyshneve, and Oleksandrohrad.
In the Huliaipole sector, the enemy attempted to advance 35 times toward Ukrainian defensive positions near Dobropillia, Huliaipole, and toward Zaliznychne, Staroukrainka, Hirke, Varvarivka, Olenokostiantynivka, Sviatopetrivka, and Charivne." Ukrin

Russia launches combined overnight missile and drone attack at Ukrainian cities

"Russia launched a combined missile and drone attack across

Ukraine in the early hours 
injuring at least 26 people......Explosions first took place in Ukraine's capital at around 4:00 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground, as Ukrainian air defense systems engaged incoming targets." KI

5.4 Earthquake - 28 km north of Ishqoshim, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan

"A strong magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit 28 km (18 mi) away from Ishqoshim, Gorno-
Badakhshan, Tajikistan, in the afternoon at 4.12 pm local time (Asia/Dushanbe GMT +5). The quake had a moderate depth of 104 km (65 mi) and was felt widely in the area." VD

5.7 Earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 183 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Kamchatka, Russia

"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 237 km (147 mi)

from Russia in the early afternoon at 3.59 pm local time (GMT +11). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD

235 frontline clashes over past day

"Ukrainian Defense Forces engaged in 235 combat clashes with Russian invaders along the frontlines.
Ukrainian missile and artillery forces struck four clusters of Russian personnel and one UAV control point.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, 12 Russian attacks were repelled; the Russian invaders carried out three airstrikes with nine glide bombs and 103 shelling attacks, including 10 from MLRS.

In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, there were 12 enemy attacks near Pishchane, Starytsia, Rybalkyne, Vovchansk, as well as toward Zelene and Lyman.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched eight attacks; Ukrainian forces repelled assaults near Borivska Andriivka, Novoplatonivka, Pishchane, and Kurylivka.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces carried out 11 attacks attempting to advance toward Novoiehorivka, Drobysheve, Lyman, and Myrne.
In the Sloviansk sector, two enemy attempts were repelled near Yampil and Platonivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian attempted five advances toward Rai-Oleksandrivka, Bondarne, and Minkivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, there were 18 enemy attacks toward Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Berestok, Rusyn Yar, Stepankivka, Novopavlivka, and Sofiivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian forces stopped 57 enemy assaults near Rodynske, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Udachne, Novomykolaivka, Muravka, Filiia, and toward Bilytske, Hryshyne, Novopidhorodnie, Novooleksandrivka, Novopavlivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Russian forces launched five attacks near Zelenyi Hai, Ternove, Vyshneve, and Kalynivske.
In the Huliaipole sector, Russian forces made 36 attempts to advance toward Huliaipole, Bilohiria, Dobropillia, Zaliznychne, Hirke, and Varvarivka.
In the Orikhiv sector, eight Russian attacks were repelled near Stepnohirsk, Mali Shcherbaky, and Stepove.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Ukrainian forces repelled one enemy attack." Ukrin

Russia's Transneft cuts oil intake after Ukrainian strike on Druzhba pipeline hub

"Russia's

state-owned oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has cut crude intake by 250,000 barrels
per day after a Ukrainian drone strike damaged a critical pumping station.
Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) launched a drone attack on the Kaleykino oil pumping station — a key oil transportation hub — in Russia's Tatarstan overnight, an agency source told the Kyiv Independent. The station serves the Druzhba pipeline, one of the world's largest crude oil networks, carrying nearly two million barrels per day from Russia through Belarus and Ukraine to Central Europe." KI

5.0 Earthquake - Kermadec Islands

"A strong magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean 126 km (78 mi) from Gisborne, New Zealand, in the early morning at 3.51 am local time (GMT +12). The quake had a great depth of 314 km (195 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD

164 combat clashes recorded on front lines

"Ukrainian forces engaged in 164 combat clashes with Russian invaders.
Over the past day, missile forces and artillery units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck one concentration area of enemy manpower.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, eight combat engagements were recorded over the past day. The enemy carried out 87 shelling attacks, including nine using multiple launch rocket systems. It also conducted one airstrike using two guided aerial bombs.

In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy attempted five times to break through Ukrainian defensive lines near the settlements of Vilcha, Synelnykove, Mala Vovcha, and Zelene.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched nine attacks near Hlushkivka, Pishchane, Kurylivka, Borysivska Andriivka, and Kupiansk.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy launched seven attacks, attempting to break into Ukrainian defenses near Shyikivka, Drobysheve, Stavky, Novoserhiivka, and Stepove.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled nine attempts by Russian forces to advance near Yampil, Dronivka, Rai-Oleksandrivka, and Zakitne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian positions near Novodmytrivka and Kostiantynivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 16 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Sofiivka, Pleshchiivka, Berestok, Illinivka, and Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 27 assault actions by the aggressor near Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Filiia, Hryshyne, Novooleksandrivka, and Udachne.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked four times near Ternove, Nove Zaporizhzhia, and Zlahoda.
In the Huliaipole sector, 19 attacks by Russian forces were recorded near Zaliznychne, Zahirne, Sviatopetrivka, Krynychne, and Huliaipole.
In the Orikhiv sector, the aggressor attempted once to improve its position near Stepnohirsk, Stepove, and Plavni." Ukrin

Belarus helping Russia adjust Shahed drone strikes on Ukraine, Zelensky says

"President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 23 in an interview with Belarusian independent outlet Dzerkalo that Russia has deployed Shahed drone repeaters in Belarus to help coordinate attacks on Ukraine, saying Minsk can no longer deny responsibility.

"Now Belarus knows exactly what is happening on its territory," Zelensky said. "It is no longer possible to say… that ‘the missiles were launched, and they had been here for a long time, and we do not control this.’"
He said the repeaters represent new technology used to adjust drone strikes targeting Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure.
"The repeaters of modern Shahed drones are a new technology that has appeared on the territory of Belarus and helps to strike our people and energy facilities," Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine has acted to remove several of them. "We did everything we could to ensure that three or four of them were no longer there."
Zelensky stressed that Russian drones are not only flying through Belarusian airspace but are also receiving technical support from its territory, arguing that responsibility now lies directly with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
"Now it definitely depends on (Lukashenko)," he said, warning Belarusians must understand the risks of deeper involvement in the war." KI

5.5 Earthquake - South Papua, 30 km south of Sarmi, Kabupaten Sarmi, Provinsi Papua, Indonesia

"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit 30 km (19 mi) away from Sarmi, Provinsi Papua, Indonesia, in the afternoon at 4.46 pm local time (Asia/Jayapura GMT +9). The quake had a very shallow depth of 10.6 km (7 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

116 clashes on front line

"116 combat clashes between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian troops.
Ukrainian defenders repelled two Russian attacks in the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors. The enemy launched one air strike, dropping one guided bomb, and carried out 107 shelling attacks, 16 of them with MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the Russians twice stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the direction of Hrafske and Kutkivka.

Two enemy attacks took place in the Kupiansk sector. Defense Forces repelled the invaders' assault in the Pishchane area.
In the Lyman sector, the Russians attacked seven times, attempting to advance toward Drobysheve and toward Novoserhiivka, Shyikivka, and Lyman.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled six Russian attempts to advance in the areas of Platonivka and Zakitne.
No enemy offensive actions were recorded in the Kramatorsk sector, the General Staff emphasized.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian troops carried out 17 attacks in the areas of Kleban-Byk, Shcherbynivka, Ivanopillia, Sofiivka, Berestok, and toward Kostiantynivka and Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Defense Forces stopped 22 assaults and offensive actions by Russian troops in the areas of Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Udachne, Molodetske, Shakhove, and toward Shevchenko.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 11 times in the Ternove area and toward Vyshneve and Nove Zaporizhzhia.
In the Huliaipole sector, the Russians attempted 14 times to advance on the positions of the Defense Forces in the areas of Huliaipole and toward Varvarivka and Zaliznychne.
No enemy offensive actions were recorded in the Orikhiv sector.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the Defense Forces repelled one Russian attack.." Ukrin