**Ukraine Shoots Down Russian Guided Bomb**
On February 7, Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian guided aerial bomb near the city of Zaporizhzhia. This is not the first time Ukraine has successfully downed such a bomb, according to Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat.
Guided aerial bombs (KABs) are difficult to shoot down because they have heavy iron structures and come in fast from high altitudes. They are cheaper to produce than missiles and can be launched from Russian territory or occupied territories.
Ihnat said that to counter this threat, Ukraine needs a comprehensive approach using both ground-based air defense and aviation components. The spokesperson did not specify how the target was shot down.
**Russian Attacks Continue**
Russia regularly attacks Ukrainian front-line settlements with guided bombs. Over the past week, 760 such bombs were launched at Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. These attacks have resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties, with 360 killed and 1,861 injured in 2024, according to the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
**Other Developments**
A draft law approved by the Russian government’s legislative commission lays out the procedure for seizing foreign property in retaliation for freezing Russian assets abroad. Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said that Russia’s ability to retain its naval base in Tartus and airbase in Khmeimim will depend on what Moscow offers in return.
Ukrainian officials are working to restart relations with the United States, including restoring relations with the U.S. Congress. Bulgaria has provided Ukraine with old Soviet-era military equipment, which is being reinvested into purchasing modern Western weapons.
**Casualties and Funding**
Overnight, Russia launched 112 Shahed combat drones and decoy drones, according to the Air Force. The Ukrainian delegation will present the country‘s position on ending the war and its vision of achieving a “lasting and sustainable peace,” Presidential Administration head Andriy Yermak noted.
Urgent funding has been identified for recovery efforts, energy resilience, and cyber defense projects, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna said. The cuts will reduce the agency from 10,000 staff around the world to just 290, three sources with knowledge of the layoffs said.
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