Exclusives
 |
Ukraine’s drones have taken out three Russian penguin troopers. Heat-trapping thermal ponchos can help soldiers hide from heat-sensing thermal drones. But only in the right conditions. |
 |
Gromyko’s ghost at Abu Dhabi: The Soviet playbook Russia still uses to sabotage peace talks. Moscow bombs between bargaining sessions, all while offering impossible deals. That's not a mistake—it's the method |
 |
She spent 15 years decoding Russian talks. Her verdict: the battlefield will decide.. A veteran diplomat on reading Russia's negotiation theater |
 |
Russia just blew up a fake F-16. The drone flew 200km to do it.. A Rubicon drone flew 200km for this. Ukraine's decoy fleet is just getting started. |
 |
Ukraine cuts rates for the first time since invasion—now lower than Russia’s (INFOGRAPHIC). First easing in almost four years comes as inflation falls and workers don’t return. |
Military
Ukraine strikes Russian repair base, drone control points in overnight assault (MAP). Strikes part of campaign to degrade Russian offensive capabilities.
Russia's January terror campaign: thousands of drones and bombs target Ukraine's infrastructure daily – Zelenskyy. Almost all strikes targeted energy facilities, railways, and civilian infrastructure; Zelenskyy says air defense need remains unchanged.
Ukrainian forces destroyed four platoons of Russian infantry in single day. Russia sent 90 troops under fog cover for rapid breakthrough. What happened next was devastating.
Russia's advance in Ukraine is the slowest of any major army in a century, analysis shows. Chasiv Yar offensive gains 10 km in two years - city still not captured.
Border guard drones destroy camouflaged Chinese Type-63 rocket system in southern Ukraine.
Intelligence and technology
SpaceX begins blocking Russian drones exploiting Starlink over Ukraine. Moscow serially integrating terminals into various types of attack drones launched at Ukrainian cities.
Poland traces December cyberattacks on 30 energy sites to Russian spy agency. Russian hackers struck Poland's energy infrastructure during snowstorms and freezing temperatures in the final days of 2025, attempting to irreversibly destroy data at a plant supplying heat to nearly 500,000 people.
International
Sweden prepares "one of its largest" aid packages for Ukraine with air defense, deep-strike drones. Saab systems and expanded support for Ukraine's defense industry included.
New Abu Dhabi talks set for 4-5 February as Ukraine seeks "real and dignified" end to war. Talks follow previous round of US-mediated negotiations in the UAE in January.
German Defense Minister: No signs Russia is seriously seeking peace. Russia launched some of the most intense attacks of the war on Ukraine while US-led peace negotiations were taking place in Abu Dhabi, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told RND, saying Moscow's actions contradict its stated willingness to negotiate.
Swiss OSCE Chair plans dual visit to Ukraine and Russia. Switzerland's Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis reportedly will try to revive dialogue on European security amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Kremlin representative Dmitriev begins US negotiations days before trilateral summit. The Kremlin leader's special representative Kirill Dmitriev started talks with an American delegation in Miami on Saturday morning, before trilateral talks on Sunday.
Estonia and Lithuania support ban on entry to Schengen area for Russians who fought against Ukraine. Foreign ministers from Estonia and Lithuania have expressed mutual support for a proposal to prohibit Russian citizens who served in the war against Ukraine from entering the Schengen zone.
Humanitarian and social impact
"Not sufficient": Zelenskyy criticizes Kyiv's response as over 500 buildings remain without heat. 114 additional repair teams and 500 workers deployed to speed recovery.
"Cynical and deliberate": Russia strikes passenger bus carrying energy workers, killing at least 12 and injuring 16. DTEK energy company workers targeted after completing underground shift.
Ukraine receives bodies of 1,000 fallen soldiers, Russia gets only dozens. Disparity seems damning until you understand PSYOP math. Expert Kovalenko investigated Russia's body transfers, and what he found changes the narrative.
Russia's energy war goes international: Ukraine blackout cascades into neighboring country. The technical explanation is alarming.
Political and legal developments
Russia threatens Ukraine to use "retaliation weapons" next week, hinting at Nazi V-1, V-2 bombs that bombed London. Russia bombed Kyiv during last talks, but no US sanctions followed. Now they promise "retaliation weapons." The term is from Nazi Germany.
Ukrainian architects demand UNESCO suspend validation of Russian schools over occupation projects. Russia developed master plans for occupied Ukrainian territories while its leadership was added to Ukraine's war criminals list.
Lithuania urges ICC to treat Russia's energy attacks as genocide: "Cannot be classified in any other way". Current ICC warrants do not fully reflect scope of Russia's crimes, Vilnius says, citing systematic attacks meant to leave Ukrainians without power, heat, and water.
Read our previous daily review here.
