On February 18, key developments in the Ukraine war included Ukraine's consideration of requiring passport verification for the sale of local SIM cards. This discussion comes in the context of escalating tactics from Russia, which recently deployed large unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) known as 'mothership drones'. These drones significantly enhance the range and effectiveness of FPV (first-person-view) drones, enabling them to conduct operations at distances that are potentially more threatening to Ukrainian defenses.

The adviser to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Serhii Beskrestnov, highlighted concerns over the security implications of these aerial tactics. The potential new regulation would aim to prevent misuse of telecommunications by foreign adversaries and to bolster Ukraine's overall security measures in a time of conflict. Following the increasing drone activity, this move underlines the urgency with which Ukraine is addressing asymmetrical warfare tactics employed by Russian forces.

Additionally, on the same day, reports indicated an explosion at a Ukrainian military enlistment office, which has since been declared a terrorist attack. In military operations, Ukraine's forces successfully targeted six Russian military installations, including a critical S-300VM missile launcher. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) also addressed claims regarding a raid involving Army Commander Zaluzhnyi, emphasizing the ongoing complex and volatile situation amid the war's unfolding events.