**Ukrainian General Released from Detention**
Lieutenant General Artur Horbenko has been released from a detention facility and placed under house arrest until March 20. This decision was made by the Kyiv Court of Appeal on February 27, according to Ukrainian Pravda.
Horbenko, along with General Yurii Halushkin and Colonel Illia Lapin, was arrested on January 21 for mismanaging Ukraine’s defense in Kharkiv Oblast during Russia’s cross-border offensive in May 2024. He is suspected of negligence in military service.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) accused the three officers of failing to properly fortify the region and use all available resources to repel Russian forces. Russia’s offensive into northeastern Kharkiv Oblast saw rapid advances, prompting criticism of military and regional leadership for inadequate defensive preparations.
**Other Detained Officers Remain in Custody**
While Horbenko will remain under house arrest, the status of the other detained officers remains unchanged. Halushkin was accused of assigning inadequate defensive positions to the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade, which was under Horbenko’s command, and failing to provide sufficient artillery and air support.
**NATO Increases Support for Ukraine**
In related news, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has announced that alliance members are ramping up their defense investments and preparing additional financial support for Ukraine. This decision comes amid renewed engagement between Russia and the West.
**Ukraine’s Relations with Other Countries**
The Ukrainian government received a message from Washington stating that President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s visit to the US would not take place, according to reports. However, this was later confirmed by Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers, which approved the decision to sign a critical minerals agreement with the U.S.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly discussed the possibility of signing a deal between Turkey and Russia with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.