In a significant escalation ahead of the upcoming peace talks, a Ukrainian drone strike on the Taman port in Russia has ignited fires and injured two people, damaging an oil storage tank and other facilities, according to regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev. This incident coincides with a notable shift in the battlefield dynamics, as Ukrainian forces reportedly recaptured 201 square kilometers from Russian troops between February 8 and February 12, 2026, marking the fastest gains since 2023. Analysts suggest that these advancements are likely linked to a recent disruption of Russian access to Starlink technology, which has hampered their communications and operational effectiveness, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).