Exclusives
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Ukraine built the world's only defense against mass drone attacks. Now it's rebuilding it—mid-war. Focus likely to be on mobile fire groups, interceptors, and training |
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Ukraine isn't counterattacking to win ground. It's racing to fortify before 715,000 Russians attack. With the Russian cut off from Starlink, the Ukrainians have the edge for now. Instead of attempting a risky counteroffensive, Ukrainian troops in the southeast are fighting to firm up their defenses. |
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Kyiv signals election readiness—while 59% of Ukrainians say wait until war ends (INFOGRAPHICS). Kyiv signals readiness to Washington while its own institutions say May is impossible. |
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TotalEnergies reclaims Dutch refinery sold to Russia's Lukoil in 2009 (INFOGRAPHIC). Sanctions unwind a Medvedev-era deal that expanded Moscow's grip on European energy. |
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Why a Ukrainian newsroom is asking the EU not to go easy on Ukraine. We are joining Ukrainian civil society groups in urging the EU to tie financial support to the rule of law. Here is what the letter asks for, and why it matters. |
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"There are no good hands anymore": Training gaps erode Ukraine's air defenses. Lack of training time prevents mobilized personnel from mastering air defense systems |
Military
Ukrainian pilot spots open hatch on retreating Russian SPG — sends drone straight inside for kill (VIDEO). Russian anti-drone operator fired at the approaching UAV, but the drone hit the SPG anyway.
Lukoil's Volgograd refinery burns again after ninth drone strike in two years. The plant supplies diesel for heavy armor and aviation kerosene for military aircraft operating against Ukraine.
Intelligence and technology
Britain joins PURL: $205 million for US-made weapons as NATO aims to raise $15 billion for Ukraine in 2026. The UK joins NATO's US weapons funding program for Ukraine.
Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine needs €5 billion in 2026 — only €1.4 billion raised so far.
Russian shell production reaches 7 million annually, 17 times pre-invasion levels – Estonian intelligence. While Russian diplomats talked peace, Russian factories produced 7 million artillery rounds in 2025 - up from 400,000 four years earlier - and began replenishing strategic stockpiles depleted in the first two years of the war against Ukraine, Estonia's Foreign Intelligence Service reports
US envoy names Norway, Netherlands, Germany as PURL program leaders with $4.5 billion in weapons commitments. A US-NATO weapons purchasing program for Ukraine has doubled its funding from $2.1 billion in September to $4.5 billion by February
Russia blackmails families of Ukrainian POWs into registering Starlink terminals for its military, Kyiv says. Registration requires identity verification, making anyone who complies easily traceable.
Ukraine destroys Russia's newest AI drone type on first encounter in air. Recovered Klin sample gives Ukraine window into Russia's AI drone technology with countermeasure adaptation to follow.
International
"Remembrance is not violation": Ukrainian soldiers respond to IOC ban of portraits of killed Ukrainian athletes on athlete's helmet. IOC prohibits Ukrainian skeleton athlete's tribute to fallen but allows Russian athletes to compete at same Olympics.
Civil society can mitigate Russian attacks: Czech organization delivers 357 generators to Ukraine. From protective gear sewn in a Prague warehouse to ambulances and generators — how one organization evolved with the war.
EU borrows €90 billion for Ukraine's defense — and sends the bill to Russia. Under the repayment mechanism approved by MEPs, Ukraine only has to pay back the principal once it receives war reparations from Moscow.
From shared Soviet past to mutual support: Azerbaijan delivers critical generators to Ukraine's emergency service. Once under Moscow's control together. Now helping each other.
Kenya demands Russia stop recruiting its citizens as cannon fodder for the war in Ukraine. Only 27 survivors were repatriated, and an unknown number of bodies still stranded in the war zone in Ukraine.
Humanitarian and social impact
Kharkiv authorities declare energy crisis, request state funds for backup power systems.
Russian drone kills father and three toddlers in Kharkiv Oblast home. The children's mother, 35 weeks pregnant, survived with blast injuries and burns.
Political and legal developments
Ukraine names 14 individuals behind Russia's museum looting — including theft of Potemkin's remains from Kherson cathedral. The stolen paintings appeared in a Moscow exhibition called "Always New Kakhovka."
International law dies when victim puts signature under its own defeat. This is what Russia wants — former Ukrainian ambassador to US. A former Ukrainian ambassador to the US says Putin regrets not launching full-scale aggression earlier. Here's why that matters now.
Read our earlier daily review here.
