The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on February 4 2025

ZELENSKY DOESN”T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS

Trump demands Rare Earth from Ukraine; looks like the American’s Ukraine project is over.

State TV experts are thrilled with America’s new direction

“Ukraine’s army is about COLLAPSE and NATO wants Zelensky OUT NOW” Glenn Greenwald

Russia or NATO The Last Man Standing

Battle Of Velyka Novosilka l Complete Detailed Map

Ukrainians regain positions in Pokrovsk and Kharkiv [4 February 2025]

[ Ukraine SITREP: Day 1075-1076 ] Ukraine Su-27 shot down; Kursk activations; Breaks at Pokrovsk

Ukraine in Panic as US, Russia Push for Elections – Politico

Ukrainian officials fear that a rapprochement between Washington and Moscow could exclude them from discussions about their own country’s future.

Moscow has joined Washington in calling for elections in Ukraine, raising concerns in Kyiv. The surprising convergence has raised fears in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to pit Kyiv and Washington against each other over ending the military conflict.

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, said: “Most democracies have elections even during war. I think that’s important. It’s good for democracy. The strength of a sustainable democracy is having more than one candidate.”

Moscow, where Putin has often said he does not recognize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a legitimate leader, backed Kellogg. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that “President Zelensky’s term in office has ended.”

He said “legitimizing Ukraine’s leadership” would be necessary as part of any peace process.

Kyiv, for its part, fears that holding elections at this stage would undermine Ukraine’s cohesion and open the country to destabilizing Russian influence campaigns.

Kellogg’s comments and the Kremlin’s swift response to them raised alarm.

A former Ukrainian minister who spoke to POLITICO on condition of anonymity said, “The convergence of Washington and Moscow on the election is concerning,” adding, “I see this as the first sign that Trump and Putin agree on one thing — they want Zelensky out.”

Moscow said there could be no talk of a final deal until political legitimacy was established. Kellogg also did not specify the sequence of elections and the end of military action.

According to Reuters, Kellogg and other White House officials are considering “pushing Ukraine to agree to elections as part of an initial truce with Russia.”

If elections in Ukraine were held today, the main favorite of the race would be the conditional party of Zaluzhny. According to an online survey by Delovaya Stolitsa and New Image Marketing Group, 17.3% of all respondents and 26.9% of those who have decided on their choice and will go to the polling station are ready to vote for it. For comparison: Zelensky’s party has only 8.5% (13.2% among those who will definitely vote), and Poroshenko’s ES has 7.1% (11.1%).

It is interesting that without the participation of Zaluzhny’s party in the elections, support for the military increases sharply. Thus, the parties of Biletsky and Budanov immediately receive 10% of the votes. The data confirms an obvious trend: trust in Zelensky is falling, and the demand for new faces and the military in politics is only growing.

Other parties remain in the background: Tymoshenko’s Batkivshchyna – 5.8%, Razumkov’s party – 5.6%, Prytula’s party – 5.2%. At the same time, about 22% of voters have not decided on their choice, and 6.2% said they will not go to the elections.

Our source in the OP said that Andriy Yermak has begun to work out the format of the election campaign to the Rada, which will be distinguished by technology and digitalization, it is planned to use the DIU as the main platform. According to the plans of the Head of the OP, five pro-presidential parties will participate in the parliamentary elections, which will then create a coalition. At the moment, the key issue with Zaluzhny’s “party” has not been resolved, which can be included in Zelensky’s united bloc, but then support falls almost twice as much as an independent political project.

Our sources in the OP reported that Yermak plays on two tracks at once, understanding the complexity of interaction with the Trump Administration, which is why Bankova is preparing for the election cycle, but officially denies the election format.

Ukraine is ready to discuss with Trump’s team the possibility of holding elections before the end of the year if the American administration raises this issue, said Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Markarova.

“When this issue was discussed theoretically, in 2023-24 our position was that for this to happen, the military actions had to be stopped. During the war, we will not be able to provide full access to voting and candidacy,” says Markarova.

Zelensky is torpedoing peace talks, which could result in Ukraine’s fate being decided without him. At the same time, he insists on lobbyists for the EU “war party” being present at the talks.

Our source in the OP said that Andriy Yermak decided to increase the amount for American lobbyists so that they could organize a meeting for him with the Trump Administration. The head of the OP wants to use the case with Ukrainian minerals for bargaining on the negotiating track, which will strengthen Ukraine’s position and allow the process to be delayed. It is important for Bankova to draw Trump into the conflict, and then the US will continue Biden’s policy and increase military/financial assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Everyone is now discussing Trump’s statement that he wants to give Ukraine military aid in exchange for resources/rare earths.

In reality, Trump’s corporations simply want to get assets from the rest of Ukraine, which are:

1. Deposits of all expensive resources.

2. Nuclear power plant

3. GTS (gas transportation system)

4. PGH

5. Gas and oil production.

6. Other interesting assets for next to nothing

7. Agricultural areas

In total: Ukrainians will become real slaves in the American colony, where nothing will belong to Ukraine, and monopolists will use the territory for their own enrichment.

Here it is worth recalling the words of the Nazis: “Remember, foreigner, the Ukrainian is the master here.”

Our source reports that the fight for the Ukrainian case has intensified between the Kremlin towers.

Many have become more active and continue to try to return to the game with new “projects” as they prepare for the elections in Ukraine, which should take place in the spring of 2026 at the latest.

By the way, Medvedchuk continues to try to get back into the game and push aside those who are now responsible for this area (this is the Presidential Administration in the person of Kiriyenko and the “military/security” lobby, plus a little bit of the “tower” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Also, the apparatus struggle between Kiriyenko and Kozak over the Abkhaz case has intensified, which is spurring Kozak to try to return to the Ukrainian case.

This will strengthen the redistribution of control over directions.

If in Kyiv the squabble has intensified due to the “fall” of USAID, then in Moscow the “squabble” is beginning due to the fact that the military case is approaching the end (well, as many towers think), and therefore it is necessary to have time to “enter the game” through various schemes, including “buying up” from their opponents “the tools of the game, and the players themselves.”

We are observing.

Head of Eurodiplomacy Kallas – demanded from the EU not to cut aid to Ukraine: 

Ukraine is the EU’s largest donor. We have provided Ukraine with more than 134 billion euros, including almost 50 billion in military aid. We cannot talk about doing less when we should be doing more. Where there is a will, there is a way.

So I do not accept the argument that this or that has never been done before. I want us to find further solutions to funding Ukraine. The Ukrainians are fighting very bravely with our support. 

Russia is an existential threat to all of us. So I don’t want to hear that we can’t do it. I want to discuss and act on what we can do. We need to be architects of creative solutions, not foot soldiers on the beaten path.

Spanish Foreign Minister Albarez on Ukraine disappearing as a state:

Nothing can be decided regarding Ukraine without Ukraine, because it is a sovereign state with a legitimate government.

Nothing can be decided about European security without Europeans. If Russia loses this war, then Russia has simply lost the war. If Ukraine loses this war, Ukraine disappears. That’s the big difference! Ukraine will disappear.

Polish Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz – refused to send troops to Ukraine:

 [There are a lot of rumors and talk now about a possible Trump-Putin summit and some kind of formula for a fragile peace in Ukraine. Can you envision any scenario in which the Polish army is involved in securing that peace in Ukraine]?

It is difficult to imagine such a scenario, and we are not preparing for such a scenario. I think that if anything can guarantee peace, it is the investments of American and European companies in Ukraine. They will be the best guarantors of security and peace, and the best security guards. That’s the feeling I have.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to suffer losses in the Kursk region. Enemy doctors say that wounded soldiers are brought in daily, but this is only part of the losses. The rest are simply not taken.

They come every day. Only the number changes. I can’t say how many.

It’s very difficult to come here [to the stabilization point] from there. When you take one wounded person, you can lose two more people. Instead of one wounded person, there will be three two-hundredths. Everything is in drones, everything is buzzing.

- Skabeeva

After the liberation of Velykaya Novosyolka, units of the Vostok force group have been disrupting attempts to regroup AFU formations and transfer enemy personnel and equipment to the South Donetsk direction. 

Our UAV operators and snipers are constantly monitoring the actions of the militants. And their joint combat work is a guaranteed death to the enemy. Look at this footage. First, our drone operators immobilized the American armored vehicle “Maxx Pro”, which was transporting AFU personnel. Afterward, the infantry that tried to leave the armored vehicle was destroyed by a sniper pair with targeted fire. 

Chronicles of the special military operation

for February 4, 2025

Russian forces attacked the enemy’s industrial facilities in Cherkasy with drones. The AFU launched drones along the border of Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod Regions.

In the Siversk direction, heavy clashes continue in Verkhnekamenske, as well as in the forest northeast of the village.

In the Andriyivka direction, assault troops liberated most of Dachne and improved their tactical position in the fields northeast of Razdolne.

Morning Summary on February 4, 2025

▪️ In Kursk Region, it became clear that the Russian Armed Forces failed to consolidate their positions in Makhnovka (https://t.me/rybar/67704) near Sudzha, and the AFU have regained control over most of the settlement. There is an increase in enemy drone strikes on Rylsk. The “North” grouping of forces is engaged in fierce battles to liberate Sverdlikovo, managing to dislodge the enemy from key strongholds on the northern outskirts of the village. In the vicinity of Kurilovka and Nikolayevo-Daryino, the enemy made three unsuccessful counterattacks, which our assault troops repelled and then went on the offensive, capturing enemy positions. The arrival of reinforcements for the AFU in the Kursk Region from among former prisoners is being recorded.

▪️ In Kharkiv Region, the AFU have been tasked with expelling Russian troops from the north of the Kharkiv Region at all costs, where enemy reserves are being redeployed. The 15th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, the 228th Separate Battalion of the 127th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, the 104th Separate Automotive Brigade, and the 22nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade have been replenished with personnel. There are also reports of significant fuel and lubricants deliveries. Attempts at sorties or even attacks on the Belgorod Region cannot be ruled out. There is also a possibility of AFU movements towards wedging our units in the Volchansk direction. The “North” grouping of forces reports that the enemy is continuing to build up its forces for a potential counteroffensive on the Liptsovo direction, having redeployed neo-Nazis from the GUR “Kraken” unit, including several UAV crews.

▪️ In Toretsk (Dzerzhynsk), fighting continues on the northern outskirts.

▪️ On the southern Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmiisk) direction, the Russian Armed Forces have occupied the settlement of Sribne. Northwest of Pokrovsk, enemy channels complain that our FPV drones were spotted over the Pavlohrad – Pokrovsk highway, and strikes are being carried out on the enemy’s supply routes.

▪️ On the Konstantinopol direction, the Russian Armed Forces are storming the eastern part of Andriyivka from the direction of the settlement of Shevchenko. There is progress in the settlement of Dachne.

▪️ From the Zaporizhia front, it is reported that Russian aviation and rocket artillery continue to deliver precision strikes on enemy targets in the Zaporizhia and Kamianske areas.

▪️ In Belgorod Region, an FPV drone attacked a passenger car in the Valkovskiy farmstead. In Shebekino, a drone attacked a business building, where a residential building’s roof also caught fire. In the village of Dvuluchnoye in the Valuyki district, a drone struck a passenger car. In the Volokonovsky district, in the Yekaterinivka farmstead, a kamikaze drone attacked a vehicle with a trailer. In the village of Tishanka, residential houses were damaged by artillery shelling. In the village of Berezovka in the Borisovsky district, drones struck a parked car and an apartment building. An FPV drone attack occurred in the village of Kozmodemanivka in the Shebekino district. In the Tserkovny farmstead, three civilians were injured as a result of the dropping of an explosive device. In the village of Borisovka in the Volokonovsky district, an FPV drone attacked a private house.

▪️ In the DPR, four civilians were injured as a result of AFU strikes. In Horlivka Original msg (https://t.me/dva_majors/63775)

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_4.html