February 10, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Sana Noor Haq, Ed Upright, Aditi Sangal, Leinz Vales, Adrienne Vogt and Matt Meyer, CNN

Updated 7:59 PM ET, Fri February 10, 2023
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11:44 a.m. ET, February 10, 2023

Ukraine claims to have shot down 61 of 71 Russian cruise missiles

From CNN's Maria Kostenko in Kyiv

Ukraine’s Air Force Command said it has shot down 61 out of 71 missiles launched by Russia on Friday, as air raid sirens blared across the country earlier amid a series of attacks.

“The enemy attacked from the air using eight Tu-95MS strategic bombers that launched Kh-101 and Kh-555 missiles from Volgodonsk and the Caspian Sea area,” the Air Force said in a statement. “The enemy also attacked with Kalibr-type sea-based cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea.”

Ukraine’s military says that in addition, Russian launched around 35 S-300 missiles at the southern city of Zaporizhzhia and the northeastern Kharkiv region – a missile designed to be surface-to-air, but used by Russia to strike the ground.

The military also claimed to have down five Iranian-made Shahed drones overnight.

7:51 a.m. ET, February 10, 2023

In photos: Zelensky meets European leaders on diplomatic mission, as war rages on in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to western Europe this week, forming an unannounced diplomatic tour aimed at persuading allies to send more modern weapons and military support to Kyiv.

The Ukrainian leader has made strides to keep the spotlight on Russia's war on his country as we approach the one-year anniversary of the invasion later this month. Meanwhile, officials in Kyiv have warned of an expected Russian offensive this spring.

Zelensky returned to Kyiv on Friday and posted a video to his Telegram channel from his office in the Ukrainian capital.

Referring to Friday’s nationwide missiles attacks, he said: “This is terror that can and must be stopped. Stopped by the world.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his arrival in England, on February 8.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his arrival in England, on February 8. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters)

Zelensky addresses British MPs in Westminster Hall, inside London's Palace of Westminster, on February 8.
Zelensky addresses British MPs in Westminster Hall, inside London's Palace of Westminster, on February 8. (Stefan Rousseau/AFP/Getty Images)

King Charles III holds an audience with Zelensky at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
King Charles III holds an audience with Zelensky at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. (Aaron Chown/Getty Images)

Zelensky and Sunak arrive to meet Ukrainian troops being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks at a military facility in Lulworth, England, on February 8.
Zelensky and Sunak arrive to meet Ukrainian troops being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks at a military facility in Lulworth, England, on February 8. (Andrew Matthews/AFP/Getty Images)

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Zelensky for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on February 8.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Zelensky for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on February 8. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters)

Macron, Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrive to give a joint statement at the Elysee Palace on February 8.
Macron, Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrive to give a joint statement at the Elysee Palace on February 8. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters)

Macron and Zelensky walk on the tarmac of Velizy-Villacoublay airbase as they prepare to board a flight together, en route to Brussels for a summit at the EU parliament, on February 9.
Macron and Zelensky walk on the tarmac of Velizy-Villacoublay airbase as they prepare to board a flight together, en route to Brussels for a summit at the EU parliament, on February 9. (Mohammed Badra/AFP/Getty Images)

Zelensky delivers a speech at the start of a summit at the EU parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on February 9.
Zelensky delivers a speech at the start of a summit at the EU parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on February 9. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Zelensky and European Council President Charles Michel shake hands at the end of a news conference during the European leaders summit in Brussels on Thursday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Zelensky and European Council President Charles Michel shake hands at the end of a news conference during the European leaders summit in Brussels on Thursday. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

Zelensky and King Philippe of Belgium pictured during a diplomatic meeting at the Royal Palace in Brussels on February 9.
Zelensky and King Philippe of Belgium pictured during a diplomatic meeting at the Royal Palace in Brussels on February 9. (Eric Lamland/Reuters)

Zelensky attends a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Rzeszow, Poland, on February 10.
Zelensky attends a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Rzeszow, Poland, on February 10. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters)

11:51 a.m. ET, February 10, 2023

Moldova summons Russian ambassador over alleged missile over its territory

From CNN's Radina Gigova

Russian ambassador to Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov speaks to media in Chisinau, Moldova, in November 2022.
Russian ambassador to Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov speaks to media in Chisinau, Moldova, in November 2022. (Dumitru Doru/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/File)

Moldova's Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu has instructed authorities to urgently summon the Russian ambassador, after the Ukrainian and Moldovan governments alleged a Russian cruise missile crossed the territory of Moldova.

The move has been made to "point out to the Russian side the unacceptable violation of our airspace by a Russian missile over the sovereign territory of the Republic of Moldova," the ministry tweeted Friday.

"Moldovan diplomacy notes that Russia continues the brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, and missile attacks on neighboring country is directly and negatively affecting the citizens of Moldova," the ministry said.

"We call on Russia to stop its military aggression against Ukraine that causes loss of human life and material destruction," it added.

Russian missiles have crossed over Moldova, which borders Ukraine, several times over the course of the nearly year-long war.

7:24 a.m. ET, February 10, 2023

Zelensky discusses need for "military support" with Polish counterpart

From CNN's Antonia Mortensen and Sana Noor Haq

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Poland to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda on February 10.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Poland to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda on February 10. (Marek Borawski/KPRP/Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Andrzej Duda discussed "the need for further joint actions for military support" in a meeting Friday, as the Ukrainian leader makes an unannounced diplomatic tour of European capitals.

The pair also talked about "the current situation at the front and the security in our region" and "the agenda before the upcoming summit #NATO in Vilnius," the Office of International Policy of the President of the Republic of Poland said in a series of tweets. 

Zelensky thanked Duda "for the support that Poland provides to Ukraine, including the care for millions of Ukrainian refugees," the office added. 

Some context: Zelensky gave an emotional address to EU lawmakers in Brussels Thursday, following a surprise visit to London and Paris as part of a trip aimed at persuading the West to send more weapons and military support to counter an expected Russian spring offensive.

Russia's invasion exacerbated the global refugee crisis, with millions of refugees from Ukraine spilling into countries in Europe as the conflict rages on at home.

Over 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees have been recorded in neighboring Poland, according to the latest figures from the UN's refugee agency.

6:28 a.m. ET, February 10, 2023

Putin to address Russian Federal Assembly before one-year anniversary of Ukraine invasion

From CNN’s Anna Chernova

Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver an address to the Federal Assembly on February 21, three days before the one-year anniversary of his invasion of Ukraine.

Putin will cover the “special military operation” in Ukraine, economics, and social issues in his address, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

The decision in regards to possible accreditation for journalists for the address has not been made yet, Peskov added.

Asked if participants, or servicemen, of the war in Ukraine would be attending Putin’s address, Peskov said: “We can say with certainty that they will be invited.”

The announcement from the Kremlin came after Ukraine's defense minister said Kyiv believes Russia will mark the first anniversary of its invasion next month with a renewed offensive.

5:56 a.m. ET, February 10, 2023

Ukrainian air raid alerts have stopped

From CNN's Maria Kostenko in Kyiv

Residents wait behind police cordon to return to their homes after a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 10.
Residents wait behind police cordon to return to their homes after a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 10. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

Air raid alerts have now ended across all of Ukraine except for the eastern Luhansk region, after officials earlier warned of a potentially widespread Russian missile attack.

Russia launched strikes on critical infrastructure in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia and the western city of Khmelnytskyi, as well as the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to regional leaders. Seven people were injured in Kharkiv, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the regional military administration. 

Ukrainian air defense was confirmed to be active in the Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Poltava and Odesa regions, according to officials.

5:53 a.m. ET, February 10, 2023

Ukraine asks the Netherlands for F-16 fighter jets

From CNN's Mick Krever

A F-16 jet fighter of Royal Dutch Air Force lands on the runway of Volkel air base, southern Netherlands, on January 2, 2019
A F-16 jet fighter of Royal Dutch Air Force lands on the runway of Volkel air base, southern Netherlands, on January 2, 2019 (Remko de Waal/AFP/Getty Images)

The Ukrainian government has officially asked the Netherlands for American-made F-16 fighter jets, as President Volodymyr Zelensky continues an unannounced diplomatic tour of European capitals aimed at persuading Western allies to send more weapons and military support.

“Ukraine submitted a request to the Netherlands for the supply of F-16 fighters,” Ukraine’s Air Force said on Twitter.

Though Ukrainian officials have for some time been voicing their desire for Western fighter aircraft, they had not yet officially submitted a request.

The Dutch Defense Ministry also confirmed Ukraine’s official request to CNN.

“Ukraine has indeed requested to also help with fighter jets,” Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren told CNN affiliate NOS News on Thursday. “We always take all of Ukraine’s requests very seriously. They are fighting that war, they are being attacked by Russia. But fighter jets, that is very complex." 

The Netherlands is phasing out F-16s. It has 24 F-16s left, but plans to be rid of them by next year, as it switches over to the next-generation F-35. In 2021, it sold 12 planes back to the US to use as trainers. 

When asked what made the request for fighter jets different from other weapons that the Netherlands has given Ukraine, Ollongren said “the complexity of the system.”

“Learning to work with that, and that is more than just learning to fly in such an aircraft. There is a whole logistical system around it. The availability of it, the face that we then need to discuss it with the Americans and a number of allies. And also just looking very seriously at the implications of such a delivery," she said.

5:20 a.m. ET, February 10, 2023

Russian missile crossed Moldova, allege Kyiv and Chisinau

From CNN's Tim Lister and Maria Kostenko in Kyiv

A Russian cruise missile crossed over the territory of Moldova Friday, allege the governments of Ukraine in Kyiv and Moldova in the capital of Chisinau.

“The responsible structures within the institution detected, at 10:18 a.m. (3:18 a.m. ET), a missile, which crossed the airspace of the Republic of Moldova, over the town of Mocra in the Transnistrian region and, later, over the town of Cosauți in the Soroca district, heading towards Ukraine,” the Moldovan Defense Ministry said on Facebook.

The Moldovan Ministry of Defense “strongly condemns the violation of the airspace of the Republic of Moldova.”

General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander in chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, also reported the violation of Moldova’s airspace on his official Telegram channel.

Russian missiles have crossed over Moldova, which borders Ukraine, several times over the course of the war.

8:30 a.m. ET, February 10, 2023

Air defense systems are firing in western Ukraine

From CNN's Fred Pleitgen in the Lviv region and Maria Kostenko in Kyiv

Ukrainian air defense systems in the western region of Lviv are currently in action defending against a Russian attack, according to CNN’s Fred Pleitgen, who is in the region, and the head of the region’s military administration.

Russian forces launched dozens of missiles at Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia city and the northeast region of Kharkiv Friday, prompting power interruptions across western, eastern and southern regions of the country, according to the state energy company.

In Kyiv, air defense systems were also reported to be defending the Ukrainian capital, as Ukrainian officials warned of a potentially widespread missile attack from Moscow.

CNN's Mick Krever contributed reporting to this post.