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Insurance costs succeed where sanctions fail: Ukraine hits Russia's shadow fleet. Shipowners halt Russia-linked voyages as war risk premiums surge up to 250%. |
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Hungary's veto sparks EU push to seize €210bn in frozen Russian assets. Budapest wanted to slow things down. It may have accelerated them. |
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Africa ordered me restaurant dinners from his dugout. Then they offered him discharge. He said no.. A Ukrainian widow remembers her husband — the polymath who climbed Kilimanjaro in a day and fed baby dormice between combat missions |
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Washington tried to profit from Ukraine's ruins. Europe, what's your move?. The Witkoff plan revealed the game. Time to use Russia's billions. |
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Russia's hedgehog armor works great. Unless your vehicle is too light to carry it.. Tanks can carry full hedgehog coverage. Lighter vehicles can't — and that's an opportunity for Ukraine |
Military
ISW: Ukraine advances near Donetsk's Kostiantynivka, Russia near Zaporizhzhia's Huliaipole (MAPS). ISW highlighted Russia's growing reliance on exaggerated battlefield stories, including staged flag-raisings used to simulate progress.
Russia burns through 1% of its men to grab 1.45% of Ukraine, The Economist reports. After years of brutal warfare, Moscow's cost-benefit ratio looks increasingly devastating, according to The Economist.
Intelligence and technology
Ukraine shows what took out Russia's flying titan: SBU Alpha unit blows up giant Mi-26 chopper (VIDEO). The strike may have taken place back in June, but new footage released by the SBU shows the massive aircraft being hit on the ground.
"That's what we get paid for": Ukraine's spy chief confirms ability to eavesdrop on Kremlin's inner circle. Kyrylo Budanov casually acknowledged that Ukraine's military intelligence can tap into top-level Kremlin conversations, hinting at wider espionage capabilities.
International
US, Russia and Ukraine don't have unified view on Donbas future, says Zelenskyy. "What will our partners do?" This question Ukraine asked in 1994 and still hasn't received an answer.
War isn't about what West thinks: Trump offered Putin deal that would reward aggression, but Kremlin still said no, and it had its reasons. The US misreads Putin's real problem and goal.
Trump criticizes Zelenskyy for not reading peace proposal as Ukrainian leader pivots to Europe. Pressure mounts amid Kyiv's bid for security guarantees
Kremlin hails Trump security strategy as "largely consistent with our vision". Peskov calls adjustments "modest guarantee" for Ukraine settlement talks
Italy pledges emergency support to Ukraine after indiscriminate Russian strikes. PM Meloni vowed to send generators and reaffirmed backing for peace talks after a call with President Zelenskyy.
Russia and Trump allies rally behind Musk's call to abolish EU as Poland warns of fracturing transatlantic alliance. Digital Services Act fine ignites Russia-US alignment against Brussels
Humanitarian and social impact
Metal boxes, electrocution, icy water: Ukraine exposes Russian torturer of Lithuanian volunteer by name. First one handed over. Second one exposed.
Energy outages and 12 civilian deaths reported across Ukraine amid Russia's strikes (MAP). Energy sites, residential buildings, and public facilities were hit in different parts of the country. The Russians injured at least 59 more civilians.
Political and legal developments
Russia tests crypto-funded hybrid warfare on Moldova. Latest "experiment" costs it $107 million. The funds were supposed to be used to buy protests and loyal politicians.
Russia plans to use Ukrainian mothers as ammunition in hybrid attack. Russia's final weapon isn't missiles.
Russia quietly ships gas to China despite international sanctions, Bloomberg says (MAP). The Valera LNG tanker loaded in October and arrived in Beihai on "Monday."
Lithuania blames Belarus for hybrid attack that paralyzed Vilnius Airport. Balloons flying in from Belarus forced sudden airspace restrictions as tensions across the border flare again.
Read our earlier daily review here.
