Exclusives
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Munich Security Report 2026 paints stark picture of Europe’s security crisis. Europe faces a choice between unity or submission, report warns |
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Ukraine flew drones almost to the Urals — and hit an oil refinery at a record 1,700 km Russia thought was out of reach. Lukoil's Ukhta facility in Komi Republic was struck in what appears to be the longest confirmed drone attack of the war, as footage showed thick black smoke rising over the facility. |
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Ukraine’s Flamingo missiles strike Russia twice in one week; rocket arsenal hit. The Flamingo is mired in controversy — can successful strikes redeem its reputation? |
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Mindich fled Ukraine—but where has his sister been living since Crimea’s annexation?. Delivery records and medical profiles contradict the fugitive’s denials. |
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Russia’s occupiers had a 60-second Telegram kill chain. Their own government just turned it into a hours-long crawl. Before the slowdown, target data from a drone reportedly reached fire teams in under two minutes. Now, without Telegram, it crawls through layers of internal communication — arriving too late to matter, the occupiers themselves admit. |
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Ukraine is rewriting the world’s only playbook for stopping 800 drones a night. 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. |
Military
$38bn, 35 Patriot missiles, long-range drones: What Ukraine got at Ramstein. Fedorov says most funding targets air defense and unmanned systems.
Russia strikes DTEK thermal power plants for 11th time since October as winter energy crisis deepens. Odesa substation also damaged; repairs expected to take considerable time.
Ukraine creates new military branch to shield critical infrastructure from Russian air strikes. Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi outlines structural overhaul amid 100-200 daily Shahed attacks.
Russian drones hit ambulance and shop in Kharkiv Oblast, 3 dead and 20 injured. A Geran-2 drone struck a two-story shop in Barvinkove and a Lancet drone hit an ambulance near Borshchivka, killing a 63-year-old woman inside the medical vehicle
Defense Minister: European partners to announce new air defense, drone financing at Ramstein
Russia launches ballistic strike on Kyiv ahead of Munich Security Conference. A man sustained explosive injuries to his head and limbs while a woman suffered a hand laceration after Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv overnight, as nearly 2,600 residential buildings lost heating and more than 1,100 others remain without heat from previous attacks
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.
Intelligence and technology
Russians paid crypto to restore Starlink. Ukrainian hackers took the money – and the data. Fake registration channels collected data on Russian units, contacts, and terminal locations.
International
700,000 Western-brand cars sold in Russia since Ukraine invasion, routed through China bypassing sanctions – Reuters. BMWs, Toyotas, and Mercedes reach Russian buyers via gray-market reclassification schemes.
NATO chief Rutte defends US role on Ukraine, says Washington is doing "exactly what we need". NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte dismissed accusations that Washington isn't doing enough to pressure Moscow, telling journalists in Brussels that the US continues to impose sanctions on Russian energy giants and provide Ukraine with critical weapons through the PURL initiative.
Netherlands to transfer F-16 simulators to Ukraine for pilot training. As part of the Denmark-Netherlands-Norway F-16 aviation coalition, the Dutch government will deliver flight simulators to Ukraine for pilot training, Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced
Britain commits $625m for Ukraine air defense as NATO allies gather in Brussels
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
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.
Humanitarian and social impact
IOC disqualifies Ukrainian skeleton racer from Olympics after he refused to remove helmet honoring war victims. Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych will not compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics after the International Olympic Committee disqualified the 27-year-old Kyiv native for wearing a helmet featuring images of Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia's invasion during training sessions
"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.
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."
Political and legal developments
Zelenskyy won't say no to May elections—he just attached an impossible condition (INFOGRAPHIC). Says using the invasion anniversary for political announcements "is an absolutely foolish idea".
Ukraine ready for EU entry by 2027, wants specific timeline—Zelenskyy. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insisted Ukraine needs a specific date for EU accession following reports that Brussels is considering a "partial membership" plan, warning that vague timelines would allow Russia to block the process.
Zelenskyy says war could end by summer — but only under one condition that depends entirely on US
Mindich fled Ukraine—but where has his sister been living since Crimea's annexation?. Delivery records and medical profiles contradict the fugitive's denials.
Read our previous daily review here.
