Katarina Mathernova

Force in Play

Representing EU interests and documenting Russian violations

Russian drone operators watched a bus full of miners leaving their shift in Ternivka on February 1, 2026, deliberately striking the civilian vehicle and killing 15 despite recognizing it as non-military. The attack on the exact day a Trump-brokered pause expired drew international condemnation, including from EU Ambassador Katarina Mathernova who questioned if explosions and dead civilians represent a ceasefire. Russia then escalated with 171 drones and a missile on February 2, followed by massive barrages of over 400 drones/missiles on February 6-7 and February 9, killing at least 18 more civilians including a mother and child in Kharkiv. Most recently, on February 11-12, Russia launched 244 total missiles and drones targeting energy infrastructure in Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and Kharkiv, injuring at least 7 civilians and leaving over 107,000 residents without power amid freezing temperatures.

Updated Feb 12