A drone strike killed a woman and injured six other people in Ukraine’s southern city of Zaporizhzhia a couple of hours after the end of the first day of “peace talks” between Russia and Ukraine.
Local authorities said the woman was killed in one of at least two strikes at around 8pm local time.
The US-mediated talks in Geneva with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were tense but are to continue on Wednesday, Russian news agencies quoted a source as saying.
Vladimir Putin had blitzed Ukraine with more than 400 drones and missiles before the talks, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed responsibility for a “massive strike” on military-industrial and energy targets, with Ukraine’s battered energy infrastructure increasingly under strain amid the coldest winter in nearly 20 years.
At least one person was killed and 25 were injured, according to local authorities.
Ukraine recaptured 78 square miles of land from Russia between Wednesday and Sunday, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War.
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem? The $100 million energy scheme scandal explained
A Russian woman’s powerful Ukraine protest at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony
Eurasian lynx takes first steps in UK sanctuary after rescue from Ukraine
Ukraine’s civilian casualties have surged 26 per cent in the last year as Trump talked about peace
Key Points
- Woman killed in drone strike and six people wounded
- Trump presses Kyiv to agree quick deal
- Ukraine makes big gains as Putin’s troops suffer from Starlink shutdown
- Putin increasingly reliant on foreign fighters to fight Ukraine war, says Healey
Germany turns to Ukraine’s combat-tested troops to learn drone warfare
04:11 , Arpan RaiGerman Armed Forces have said they will seek battle-hardened Ukrainian soldiers to train their troops in drone operations and defensive tactics.
A spokesperson for the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, confirmed that an agreement has been signed last week between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and German defence minister Boris Pistorius to send Ukraine troops to German military schools, reported Der Spiegel.
German officials are trusting Ukraine’s hard-earned experience in drone warfare, counter-drone tactics, and rapid deployment of modern command technologies into frontline units.
The Ukrainian troops are expected to travel to Germany soon and will focus on infantry training.
“No one in Nato currently has more war experience than Ukraine, and we must take advantage of that,” an unnamed German officer told Der Spiegel.
Details on the timing and duration of the training were not immediately clear.
German officials also believe their troops could learn from Ukraine’s experience with modern command-and-control systems.
“In a very short time, [Ukraine’s] armed forces developed relatively simple systems for planning combat operations and managing their own units, most of which can be operated via apps on standard mobile phones,” Der Spiegel wrote.
Watch: Russian strikes in Ukraine continue as talks begin in Geneva, says Zelensky
04:01 , Arpan RaiPeace talks on Ukraine war settlement were tense but will continue
03:48 , Arpan RaiThe US-mediated talks in Geneva with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were "tense" but are set to continue on Wednesday, Russian news agencies quoted a source as saying yesterday.
"(The talks) were very tense," the source told the agencies. "They lasted six hours. They agreed to continue tomorrow."
The source said the talks took place in a combination of different bilateral and trilateral formats.
Zelensky says 2,000 Ukrainian children rescued from Russia
03:31 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine has managed to bring back 2,000 children from Russian-controlled territory as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
“Today we have an important result – 2,000 Ukrainian children who were successfully returned home from Russian control as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president thanked government officials, civil society groups and international partners for their role in securing each child’s return, but added that the effort is far from over.
“We still have a long and difficult road ahead of us. Thousands of Ukrainian children still remain hostages of Russia, becoming victims of its crimes every day,” he said.
Today, we have achieved a significant result – two thousand Ukrainian children have been brought home from under Russia’s control through the @BringKidsBackUA initiative.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 17, 2026
Each of these returns was made possible thanks to the daily efforts of our people, civil society… pic.twitter.com/6JVKMfZ1T1
Ukraine hits oil terminal in Russia's Krasnodar and chemicals plant in Perm
03:22 , Arpan RaiUkrainian drones hit the Taman oil terminal in Russia's southern Krasnodar region and a chemicals plant in the Perm region near the Ural mountains overnight, Ukraine's SBU domestic security service said on Tuesday.
Kyiv has stepped up long-range strikes on strategic Russian targets, particularly oil facilities, that have fuelled Moscow's war machine during the four-year-long war.
An SBU official said the attack on the Taman terminal was the agency's second on the facility since 22 January. Ukraine’s General Staff had separately reported striking the terminal on Sunday.
SBU drones also attacked the Metafrax Chemicals plant in the Perm region, some 1,600km from Ukraine, a facility the official described as one of the biggest methanol producers in Russia and Europe.
Ukrainian drones have struck nine oil refineries across Russia since the start of the year, the commander of Kyiv's drone forces said.
In a statement released on Telegram as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators sat for their latest peace talks in Geneva, Robert Brovdi said the refineries were among 240 facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territory hit by Ukrainian forces.
Thousands of Ukrainian children returned from Russia, says Zelensky
03:20 , Jane DaltonSome 2,000 Ukrainian children have been taken home from under Russia’s control, President Zelensky has announced.
The returns were organised by the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
“The road ahead remains long and difficult. Thousands of Ukrainian children are still held captive by Russia, becoming victims of its crimes every day. But we will not stop until every Ukrainian child is back home,” he posted.
Today, we have achieved a significant result – two thousand Ukrainian children have been brought home from under Russia’s control through the @BringKidsBackUA initiative.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 17, 2026
Each of these returns was made possible thanks to the daily efforts of our people, civil society… pic.twitter.com/6JVKMfZ1T1
Trump exerting 'unfair' pressure on Ukraine, says Zelensky
03:06 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said US president Donald Trump was exerting pressure on Ukraine to reach a ceasefire resolution, and not Russia.
Speaking to Axios, Zelensky said it was “not fair” that the US president kept publicly calling on Ukraine and not Russia to make concessions in the ongoing negotiations for a peace plan.
“I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision,” Zelensky said in an interview conducted as Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators held talks in Geneva.
Zelensky added that any plan requiring Ukraine to give up territory that Russia had not captured in the eastern Donbas region would be rejected by Ukrainians if put to a referendum.
On Monday, Trump issued a call for Ukraine to end the war, claiming it was up to the war-hit nation to reach a conclusion.
“Ukraine better come to the table fast. That’s all I’m telling you,” Trump said on Air Force One.
Talks focused on mechanics of decisions, says Kyiv negotiator
02:54 , Arpan RaiUkraine's lead negotiator in the Swiss talks, Rustem Umerov, head of the National Security and Defence Council, said that Tuesday's talks had focused on "practical issues and the mechanics of possible decisions".
He said negotiations would resume on Wednesday.
Delegations from several European countries were present in Geneva, according to four sources, but did not attend the trilateral peace talks themselves.
The Europeans were invited after Zelensky asked US officials to include them, one of the sources said.
The Geneva round comes just days before the fourth anniversary, on 24 February, of Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukraine's national territory, including Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas.
Mapped: Russia's advances in Ukraine
01:15 , James ReynoldsUkraine’s corruption problem and a $100m energy scheme scandal
00:15 , Jane Dalton
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem? The $100m energy scheme scandal explained
Poison, a plane crash and falling from a window: How Putin’s critics and rivals have met mysterious ends
Tuesday 17 February 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsThe late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin during his detention in a harsh Arctic penal colony two years ago, the UK and its European allies have concluded.
Analysis of samples conclusively confirmed the presence of Epibatidine, a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America and not naturally found in Russia, according to a joint statement issued on Saturday.
But the 47 year-old was just one in a long line of Kremlin critics who have been jailed, silenced and met brutal ends over the years:
Poison, plane crash and prison: How Putin’s critics have met mysterious ends
Six-hour Moscow-Kyiv talks 'tense'
Tuesday 17 February 2026 21:59 , Jane DaltonThe US-mediated talks in Geneva between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were tense, Russian news agencies quoted a source as saying.
The source told the agencies: "They lasted six hours. They agreed to continue tomorrow."
The talks were reportedly in different bilateral and trilateral formats.
Ukraine frontline mapped: Kyiv counteroffensive regains territory
Tuesday 17 February 2026 20:59 , Jane Dalton
Ukraine frontline mapped: Kyiv counteroffensive regains territory as talks resume
Trump presses Kyiv to agree quick deal
Tuesday 17 February 2026 20:46 , Jane DaltonUS president Donald Trump is pressing Kyiv to act fast to reach a deal to end the four-year war.
Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia have concluded the first of two days of US-mediated peace talks in Geneva.
Mr Trump put the ball in Ukraine's court when asked what he was expecting from Tuesday's talks with Russia.
"Ukraine better come to the table fast. That's all I'm telling you," he told reporters on board Air Force One.
Russia is demanding that Ukraine cede the remaining 20 per cent of the eastern region of Donetsk that Moscow has failed to capture - something Kyiv refuses to do.
Woman killed in drone strike and six people wounded
Tuesday 17 February 2026 20:40 , Sam Kiley in ZaporizhzhiaA woman was killed and six other civilians injured in a Shahed drone strike on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia a couple of hours after the first day of the latest “peace talks” brokered by the US between Russia and Ukraine.
Local authorities said the woman was killed in one of at least two strikes heard across the city at around 8pm local time.
They are the latest in waves of attacks that less than 24 hours before heralded talks that are expected to achieve nothing as the US continues to put pressure on Ukraine to accept vast territorial concessions in return for a vague prospect of American “security guarantees” to protect the country first invaded by Russia in 2014.
Recap: Russia pummels Ukraine's power grid before talks
Tuesday 17 February 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsRussia pounded Ukrainian power infrastructure before the latest round of peace talks started today, killing three energy workers and leaving tens of thousands of people without power and heat, officials said on Tuesday.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the overnight strikes on 12 Ukrainian regions that came under attack hours before the scheduled start of US-backed trilateral talks involving Kyiv and Moscow in Geneva.
"It was a combined strike, specially calculated to cause as much damage as possible to our energy sector," Zelensky wrote on X, calling for diplomacy to be backed by "justice and strength."
Power infrastructure supplying Ukraine's strategic Black Sea port city of Odesa suffered "incredibly serious" damage, said private energy company DTEK.
"Repairs will take a long time to restore the equipment to working order," the company said on social media.
Ukraine's air force said Russia launched nearly 400 drones and 29 missiles. Most were downed, but 13 targets in Ukraine were hit, it added.
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem? The $100 million energy scheme scandal explained
Tuesday 17 February 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine’s anti-corruption agency has accused a former energy minister of laundering millions of dollars. German Galushchenko, who led the department from 2021 until 2025, was detained by border guards on Monday as he tried to leave the country on a train, officials said.
The arrest is the latest high-profile move under Operation Midas, a sweeping probe into allegations of graft around state nuclear power company Energoatom that has rocked the government at a critical time for diplomacy.
Here’s how the investigation continues to topple senior officials:
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem? The $100m energy scheme scandal explained
Ukrainian drones have struck nine oil refineries in Russia so far this year, commander says
Tuesday 17 February 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsUkrainian drones have struck nine oil refineries across Russia since the start of the year, the commander of Kyiv's drone forces said on Tuesday.
As Ukrainian and Russian negotiators sat for their latest peace talks in Geneva, Robert Brovdi said the refineries were among 240 facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territory hit by Ukrainian forces.
Geneva talks end for today
Tuesday 17 February 2026 17:18 , Jane DaltonThe political portion of US-mediated trilateral peace talks in Geneva between Ukraine and Russia have ended for the day, but military representatives from both sides are still meeting, a source has told Reuters.
Talks are expected to continue for a second day on Wednesday.
Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker pays penalty to be freed
Tuesday 17 February 2026 17:09 , Jane DaltonFrench authorities say they have released a tanker intercepted last month that is suspected of being part of Russia's "shadow fleet" shipping oil in violation of international sanctions.
French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the tanker, Grinch, diverted in the Mediterranean Sea, is to leave French waters after paying a penalty of "several million euros" and "three weeks of costly immobilisation".
"Circumventing European sanctions comes at a price. Russia will no longer be able to finance its war with impunity through a ghost fleet off our coasts," Mr Barrot said.
The French military last month anchored the tanker in the port of Fos-sur-Mer as part of an investigation into a charge of failure to fly a valid flag.
Contourner les sanctions européennes a un prix. La Russie ne financera plus impunément sa guerre via une flotte fantôme au large de nos côtes. Le pétrolier Grinch va quitter les eaux françaises après plusieurs millions d’euros versés et 3 semaines d’immobilisation coûteuse à… pic.twitter.com/Z4LI0l65e4
— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) February 17, 2026
Cucumbers have become the new ‘gold’ in wartime Russia
Tuesday 17 February 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsThe humble cucumber, a staple in Russian salads and meals, has become the latest everyday item to see its price dramatically surge, sparking widespread consumer anger and prompting swift political intervention to quell popular discontent during a time of war.
Official statistics reveal that the cost of cucumbers has doubled since December, now averaging just over 300 roubles (£3.91) per kilogram.
Social media platforms have been flooded with images showing prices sometimes two or three times higher than this average.
Here’s how the cucumber became a symbol of inflation in Russia’s wartime economy:
Moscow only understands the language of pressure, says Ukrainian FM
Tuesday 17 February 2026 16:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Tuesday that heavy strikes ahead of today’s talks in Geneva showed “the extent to which Russia disregards peace efforts”.
Sharing a map of extensive drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, he said: “Moscow only understands the language of pressure. It will not take diplomacy seriously if it is not backed by strength.”
“New sanctions packages are critical,” he urged. “Blocking shadow fleet. Maritime services ban. Entry ban for participants of Russian aggression. Only our unity and strength will bring an end to this war.”
Humanitarian issues also on the agenda in Geneva, says Umerov
Tuesday 17 February 2026 15:00 , James ReynoldsLead Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Tuesday that "security and humanitarian issues" would be on the agenda for today’s talks.
"We are working constructively, focused and without excessive expectations," he posted on social media.
"Our task is to maximally advance those solutions that can bring sustainable peace closer.”
Two people killed in blast at military facility in Leningrad: Russian media
Tuesday 17 February 2026 14:20 , James ReynoldsTwo people were killed in a blast at a military facility in the town of Sertolovo in Russia's Leningrad region, the Mash Telegram channel reported on Tuesday.
Governor Alexander Drozdenko said that the blast occurred in a military police building. He provided no additional details.
"I have instructed the security forces to assist the military in clearing the rubble and rescuing those injured in the collapse of the military police building on the territory of the military unit in Sertolovo," Drozdenko said.
The Mash Telegram channel reported that four people may be under the rubble.
Watch: Ukraine talks will be 'very easy', says Trump
Tuesday 17 February 2026 13:40 , James ReynoldsMapped: Russia's recent advances in Ukraine
Tuesday 17 February 2026 13:37 , James ReynoldsTalks start in Geneva: RIA
Tuesday 17 February 2026 13:18 , James ReynoldsTrilateral talks between Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. delegations on a possible settlement in Ukraine have started in Geneva, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem? The $100 million energy scheme scandal explained
Tuesday 17 February 2026 13:20 , James ReynoldsUkraine’s anti-corruption agency has accused a former energy minister of laundering millions of dollars. German Galushchenko, who led the department from 2021 until 2025, was detained by border guards on Monday as he tried to leave the country on a train, officials said.
The arrest is the latest high-profile move under Operation Midas, a sweeping probe into allegations of graft around state nuclear power company Energoatom that has rocked the government at a critical time for diplomacy.
Here’s how the investigation continues to topple senior officials:
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem? The $100m energy scheme scandal explained
Ukraine claims attack on Krasnodar oil refinery
Tuesday 17 February 2026 11:15 , James ReynoldsUkraine has now claimed responsibility for the attack on an oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region (see 10:09 post).
Sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker allowed to leave France with a fine
Tuesday 17 February 2026 10:56 , James ReynoldsThe sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker GRINCH was allowed to leave France after paying a fine worth “several million euros”, foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday.
"Circumventing European sanctions comes at a price. Russia will no longer be able to finance its war with impunity through a ghost fleet off our coasts," Barrot said in a post on social media.
The ship was seized in the Mediterranean last month, and then diverted to anchor off the French port city of Marseille.
Russia suffers nearly 900 casualties in one day, Ukraine reports
Tuesday 17 February 2026 10:45 , James ReynoldsRussia has lost around 1,255,340 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale four years ago, Ukraine’s military reported on Tuesday.
The figure reflects a rise of 890 assessed casualties over the past day.
Moscow only understands the language of pressure, says Ukrainian FM
Tuesday 17 February 2026 10:30 , James ReynoldsUkraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said this morning that heavy strikes overnight ahead of talks in Geneva show “the extent to which Russia disregards peace efforts”.
Sharing a map of extensive drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, he said: “Moscow only understands the language of pressure. It will not take diplomacy seriously if it is not backed by strength.”
“New sanctions packages are critical,” he urged. “Blocking shadow fleet. Maritime services ban. Entry ban for participants of Russian aggression. Only our unity and strength will bring an end to this war.”
One killed, 25 injured in latest strikes on Ukraine: local authorities
Tuesday 17 February 2026 10:15 , James ReynoldsAt least one person was killed and 25 were injured in the overnight attacks across Ukraine, local authorities are reporting.
The victim was identified in local media as a 68-year-old woman in Kyrykivka, in Sumy oblast.
Six other residents, including two children, were injured in drone attacks at the same time, authorities said.
Krasnodar fire extinguished, authorities say
Tuesday 17 February 2026 10:09 , James ReynoldsThe fire at an oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region (see 09:45 post) has now been extinguished, local authorities are saying.
Kremlin claims 'massive strike' on Ukraine
Tuesday 17 February 2026 10:00 , James ReynoldsRussia’s defence ministry claimed responsibility for a “massive strike” on Ukraine ahead of peace talks in Geneva later today.
The ministry said it had targeted military-industrial and energy facilities, as Ukraine battles rolling blackouts and freezing temperatures.
Inferno at Russian oil refinery following drone strike, Russia says
Tuesday 17 February 2026 09:45 , James ReynoldsA fire broke out at an oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region following a drone attacks, local authorities said this morning.
Officials said the Ilsky refinery, producing around 138,000 barrels a day, had been hit. It was unclear whether operations had been affected.
Trilateral talks to continue tomorrow, says Russia
Tuesday 17 February 2026 09:25 , James ReynoldsAhead of crunch talks with Ukraine in Geneva today, the Kremlin said that three-way talks involving the US will continue tomorrow.
Trump pressures Ukraine ahead of peace talks in Geneva
Tuesday 17 February 2026 09:16 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump is pressuring Ukraine to reach a deal with Russia ahead of the US-brokered talks in Geneva.
“It’s easy… Ukraine better come to the table, fast,” the US president said, speaking to the reporters onboard Air Force One while en route to Washington.
Officials in Kyiv confirmed a Ukrainian delegation was heading to Geneva on Monday for another round of talks with Russian officials, ahead of next week's fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Trump’s remarks did not call for action from the Russian side, which has been seeking Ukraine’s territory and political concessions from Kyiv without budging from its demands.
Moscow wants Ukraine to cede the entirety of the Donbas area, including areas it has failed to capture by force.
What to expect from talks in Geneva today
Tuesday 17 February 2026 09:00 , James ReynoldsDelegations from Russia and Ukraine will be meeting in Geneva today for the latest round of talks to end the war.
These talks - the third round - are expected to continue through Tuesday and Wednesday, focusing on the thorniest question of the conflict - the fate of Ukrainian territory part held by Russia.
Moscow wants Ukraine to cede the entirety of the Donbas area, which Ukraine maintains it cannot and will not allow.
Russia’s delegation will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin. He is joined by military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov and special envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
The head of Ukraine's delegation, Rustem Umerov, said on Telegram that his team was already in Geneva looking forward "to constructive work and substantive meetings on security and humanitarian issues".
A Russian woman’s powerful Ukraine protest at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony
Tuesday 17 February 2026 07:45 , Arpan RaiA Russian national living in Milan staged a poignant, anonymous protest against the war in Ukraine, choosing to carry the Ukrainian team's placard during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Games.
Anastasia Kucherova, an architect who has resided in Italy for 14 years, was one of 92 placard bearers, all cloaked in long, hooded silver puffer coats and dark glasses, ensuring their anonymity. Initially, country assignments were random, but when volunteers were later offered a choice, Ms Kucherova deliberately selected Ukraine.
Her identity remained concealed, and her Russian nationality was not disclosed to the public as she led the five Ukrainian athletes into San Siro stadium. The team was met with resounding cheers, a moment amplified by the silent defiance of their placard bearer.
A Russian woman’s powerful Ukraine protest at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony
