Another release of Ukrainian POWs, shelling of Kherson and Pavlohrad: today's highlights

Ukraine returns 100 more military and one civilian from captivity

Ukraine has returned 101 more people from Russian captivity: 100 servicemen and one civilian. This was announced by the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrii Yermak.

Among the released soldiers are National Guardsmen, border guards, and servicemen of the Armed Forces. 94 of them are defenders of Mariupol, including 63 soldiers from Azovstal.

“Their families have been waiting for them for so long. Many of the heroes were injured of varying severity. We continue to work, thanks to the team and the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War,” Yermak wrote.

Slovak Parliament recognizes the current Russian regime as a terrorist one

The Slovak parliament has adopted a resolution recognizing the current Russian regime as a terrorist regime and Russia as a state that supports terrorism. This is stated in a statement by the parliament.

In the adopted document, Slovakia once again condemned Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and the occupiers' attacks on civilians and facilities, and expressed support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

At the same time, the deputies condemned the hybrid war that Russia is also waging on the territory of Slovakia and called on law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and other competent authorities not to underestimate the threat but to take effective measures against it to preserve security and democracy in the country.

Russian shell killed an elderly woman in Kherson

Today, on February 16, a Russian shell killed a 70-year-old resident of Kherson. It happened on the street when the woman was walking peacefully through her city. This was reported by the press service of the regional military administration, citing employees of a store located near the site of the shell's hit.

“There is not a single intact glass in the store building, people are worried and scared. When they came out of the building, they saw the bloody body of an elderly Kherson woman on the sidewalk, who had suffered a fatal abdominal injury. The doctors who arrived at the scene could not help her," the Regional Military Administration noted.

Russians may launch a massive strike on February 23-24

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksii Danilov said that Russians will try to launch a massive strike on the anniversary of the full-scale invasion on February 23-24. He said this during a telethon.

“We need to be calm about this, we are ready for it. We understand what attacks are like after having ‘received’ 115-120 missiles in one day,” Danilov said.

He also said that the occupiers are now using new air assets — balloons — to distract Ukrainian forces. In addition, Danilov emphasized that the Russians have changed their tactics and will continue to carry out night attacks more often.

Occupiers shelled a village in Kherson Oblast in the morning

At dawn on February 16, Russian troops shelled the village of Zmiivka in the Kherson Oblast, killing a couple. This was reported by the Kherson Regional Military Administration.

The occupiers' shell hit the couple's house in Beryslav Raion.

“Russian artillerymen knew where they were hitting. This is a targeted attack on civilians in the Kherson Oblast,” the Regional Military Administration said.

Russians attacked Pavlohrad at night

On the night of February 16, Russian occupation forces attacked the city of Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. As a result, there were civilian casualties. This was reported by the head of the regional military administration Serhii Lysak.

A 79-year-old woman died as a result of the attack. There are 8 known casualties and more than 60 damaged houses.