A man suspected of shooting a top military intelligence officer in Moscow has been detained, according to Russia’s security service.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev – an official previously linked to the Salisbury poisonings – was shot several times outside an apartment building in an alleged assassination attempt. He is currently recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said that a Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba was detained in Dubai and has been extradited to Russia, in a statement on Sunday.
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister accused Ukraine of the attack, which it has denied.
It comes as the US is aiming to get a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia over the line in March despite a lack of progress on territorial concessions, according to reports.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that the Americans “want to do everything by June” in comments released on Saturday.
But attacks continued as Russia launched more than 400 drones and about 40 missiles on Saturday in strikes on Ukraine's energy sector, targeting the power grid, generation facilities, and distribution substations, Zelensky said.
UK ‘threatens to seize’ Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker in escalation of tensions
Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise peace deal and end war
Top Russian general reportedly behind Salisbury poisonings shot in assassination bid in Moscow
Why the end of the New START treaty doesn’t necessarily mean another nuclear arms race
Key Points
- Russia says man suspected of shooting top general has been detained
- Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia
- Ukraine faces acute power crisis amid a freezing winter
- Hungary's Orban declares Ukraine as 'enemy' state
Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine is preparing for 'next trilateral meetings' after Abu Dhabi talks
04:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkrainian foreign minister says only 'Trump can stop the war'
03:56 , Arpan RaiUkrainian and Russian leaders need to meet in person to hash out the hardest remaining issues in peace talks, Kyiv’s foreign minister has said, adding that only US president Donald Trump has the power to bring about an agreement.
"Only Trump can stop the war," Sybiha told Reuters in his office in Kyiv, close to the Dnipro river.
From a 20-point peace plan that has formed the basis of recent trilateral negotiations, only "a few" items remain outstanding, Sybiha said.
"The most sensitive and most difficult, to be dealt with at the leaders' level."
Sybiha said Ukraine wants to accelerate the efforts to end the four-yer-old war and capitalise on the momentum in the US-brokered talks before other factors come into play, such as campaigning for the US Congressional mid-term elections in November.
Watch: Zelensky confirms of another overnight Russian attack amidst ongoing negotiations
03:40 , Arpan RaiPutin thanks UAE president for detention of suspect in shooting of his general
03:27 , Arpan RaiRussian president Vladimir Putin thanked his UAE counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for help with the detention of a man suspected of shooting a Russian military intelligence officer in Moscow.
The two leaders spoke over the phone on Saturday evening, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
“Vladimir Putin thanked Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for ensuring effective cooperation between the two countries' security agencies and for the assistance of the Emirati side in apprehending the suspect in the assassination attempt on General Vladimir Alekseyev,” a statement said.
In addition, the leaders had a further discussion of the issues raised during the President of the UAE's recent visit to Moscow.
A Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of gravely injuring Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia's vast GRU military intelligence service.
Russian airstrike on Ukrainian city kills one
03:13 , Arpan RaiA Russian airstrike on a residential area in eastern Ukraine killed one person and wounded two, officials said on Sunday.
The attack on the city of Kramatorsk in Ukraine's Donetsk region caused a fire in a nine-story apartment block, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service.
Russia also struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine's Poltava region overnight into Sunday, Serhii Koretskyi, chief executive of Ukraine's state-owned gas company Naftogaz said.
Russia has hammered Ukraine's power grid, especially in winter, throughout the nearly 4-year-old war. It aims to weaken the Ukrainian will to resist in a strategy that Kyiv officials call "weaponising winter”.
Russia says man suspected of shooting top general has been flown to Moscow from Dubai
03:05 , Arpan RaiA Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of gravely injuring one of Russia's most senior military intelligence officers, Russian security officials and investigators said on Sunday.
The Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said in a statement that a Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba was detained in Dubai on suspicion of carrying out the shooting.
Russian investigators said Korba, born in the Ternopil region of Soviet Ukraine in 1960, was tasked by Ukrainian intelligence to carry out the shooting. Russia said Ukraine was behind the shooting, a charge Kyiv has denied.
Russian media showed masked FSB officers escorting a blindfolded man from a small jet in Russia in the dark.
The FSB said it had identified two accomplices, also Russian citizens. One, Viktor Vasin, was detained in Moscow, while another, Zinaida Serebritskaya, escaped to Ukraine, Russian investigators said.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia's vast GRU military intelligence service, was shot three times on Friday with a Makarov pistol equipped with a silencer in an apartment block on the Volokolamsk highway in northern Moscow, the investigators said.
Recap: Russia says it captured two settlements in eastern Ukraine
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia has claimed to have captured two settlements in eastern Ukraine on Sunday.
The country’s defence ministry said its forces had captured the settlements of Hlushkivka in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region and Sydorivka in Sumy region.
The Independent could not independently verify the battlefield report.
Ukraine backs call for ceasefire during Winter Olympics
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine has backed calls for a ceasefire during the Winter Olympics.
The idea was proposed by Pope Leo under what he said was the tradition of the Olympic truce. Ukraine responded to the suggestion and backed the proposal.
“We are interested in a ceasefire and if Russia once again rejects, it will once again confirm who is the obstacle for peace and who wants to continue this war,” Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha told Reuters.
Top Russian general reportedly behind Salisbury poisonings shot in assassination bid in Moscow
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe top Russian military general reportedly shot in an alleged attempted assassination outside his Moscow apartment has been accused of being involved in the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev is deputy head of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence arm.
Mr Alexeyev is believed to have been behind the deadly Salisbury poisonings that caused the tragic death of mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess, 44, according to reports. The EU imposed sanctions on him over the poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in 2018.
You can read more below:
Top Russian general reportedly behind Salisbury poisonings shot in assassination bid
ICYMI: Trump envoy showed ‘troubling lack of knowledge at Ukraine peace talks and could not say when war began’
00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneOne of Donald Trump’s senior envoys for Ukraine has sparked alarm after making a series of blunders during crucial peace talks, according to a report.
The unnamed official is alleged to have made several comments that exposed a basic lack of knowledge about the war between Ukraine and Russia during trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi last month.
You can read more below in our piece from 31 January:
Trump envoy showed ‘troubling lack of knowledge at Ukraine peace talks
Kremlin says it won’t stop fighting until Kyiv gives in
Sunday 8 February 2026 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia has warned Ukraine that it will not stop fighting until Kyiv makes what the Kremlin considers the right “decisions” to end the conflict during peace talks held this week.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner led the US delegation while Ukraine was represented by Rustem Umerov and Russia by military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov.
However, despite reports that the discussions were constructive, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Russian troops would continue to fight until Kyiv made the right “decisions”.
The Independent’s Maira Butt and Alex Croft have more below:
Kremlin says it won’t stop fighting until Kyiv gives in as first day of talks end
Recap: Putin thanks UAE leader as Moscow general assassination attempt suspect detained
Sunday 8 February 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneVladimir Putin has thanked his UAE counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan after a man suspected of shooting a Russian military officer was detained.
A Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of the “assassination attempt” of Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia's vast GRU military intelligence service said.
How Putin lures foreign nationals to the frontlines with the promise of work
Sunday 8 February 2026 21:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFor average wage earners in Russia, it's a big payday. For criminals seeking to escape the harsh conditions and abuse in prison, it's a chance at freedom. For immigrants hoping for a better life, it's a simplified path to citizenship.
All they have to do is sign a contract to fight in Ukraine.
This desperate recruitment drive is part of Moscow's strategy to replenish its forces in the nearly four-year conflict, while simultaneously avoiding an unpopular nationwide mobilisation. The bloody war of attrition has also seen foreign combatants join the fray. Following a mutual defence treaty in 2024, North Korea reportedly sent thousands of soldiers to help Russia defend its Kursk region against a Ukrainian incursion.
Furthermore, men from South Asian countries, including India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, have reported being duped by recruiters who promised legitimate jobs, only to find themselves conscripted for combat. Officials in Kenya, South Africa, and Iraq have confirmed similar instances of their citizens being misled into fighting.
You can read more below:
How Putin lures foreign nationals to the frontlines with the promise of work
Ukraine says Russia is illegally targeting the power grid. Here's what the law says
Sunday 8 February 2026 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussian missiles and drones have pounded Ukraine’s energy grid in recent weeks, plunging people into frozen darkness in one of the country’s coldest winters on record.
Ukraine has accused Russia of illegally targeting power infrastructure during the war to deny civilians light, heating and running water.
But Russia says its attacks are a legitimate part of its military campaign against its neighbour. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine itself is widely regarded as an illegal act of aggression.
So, are attacks on energy installations allowed during war? You can read more below:
Ukraine says Russia is illegally targeting the power grid. Here's what the law says
Russia offered US £9tn cooperation deal, Zelensky says
Sunday 8 February 2026 19:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussia offered the United States a cooperation deal worth £9tn in a bid for agreement between the two countries, Zelensky has said.
The Ukrainian leader said intelligence suggested Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev proposed US-Russian co-operation deals worth as much as $12 trillion (£9tn) during negotiations.
He said that such agreements between Moscow and Washington must not violate Ukraine’s constitution, on Saturday.
“Intelligence showed me the so-called ‘Dmitriev package’ that he presented in the US – it amounts to around $12tn (£9tn),” Mr Zelensky said.
Russian airstrike kills one and injures two, Ukrainian officials say
Sunday 8 February 2026 18:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA Russian airstrike on a residential area in eastern Ukraine killed one person and wounded two, officials said Sunday.
The attack on the city of Kramatorsk in Ukraine's Donetsk region caused a fire in a nine-story apartment block, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service.
Russia also struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine's Poltava region overnight into Sunday, Serhii Koretskyi, chief executive of Ukraine's state-owned gas company Naftogaz said.
It comes as Russia continues to batter Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, bidding to weaken the Ukrainian will to resist in a strategy that Kyiv officials call "weaponising winter."
Watch: Zelensky says 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in war as Kremlin vows to fight on
Sunday 8 February 2026 18:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneMelania Trump says she is in talks with Putin’s team over return of Ukrainian children
Sunday 8 February 2026 17:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneMelania Trump has confirmed she remains in direct communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s team, pursuing efforts to facilitate the return of more Ukrainian children from Russia.
The announcement comes amid ongoing international concern over the thousands of children allegedly abducted since the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, she stated: "I'm working on it, and we are in the process. I hope we have success very soon."
You can read more below:
Melania Trump in talks with Putin’s team over return of Ukrainian children
Ukraine denies involvement in attempted assassination of Russian general
Sunday 8 February 2026 17:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine has denied any involvement in the attempted assassination of Russian general Vladimir Alexeyev.
Russia has blamed Kyiv for the shooting, which left the general needing surgery, according to media reports in Moscow.
Speaking to reporters, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said: “We don’t know what happened with that particular general — maybe it was their own internal Russian infighting.”
Ukraine will launch drone production in Germany by mid-February, Zelensky says
Sunday 8 February 2026 16:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkraine is set to launch drone production in Germany by mid-February, president Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
In a post on X, he wrote: “Today, we are opening exports. Ten export centers across Europe will be operating as early as 2026 – in the Baltic and Nordic states. Ten representative offices will be active in 2026.
“By mid-February, we will already see the production of our drones in Germany.”
Today, we are opening exports. Ten export centers across Europe will be operating as early as 2026 – in the Baltic and Nordic states. Ten representative offices will be active in 2026. By mid-February, we will already see the production of our drones in Germany. I will receive… pic.twitter.com/u5JsmvVjQY
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 8, 2026
Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise peace deal and end war
Sunday 8 February 2026 16:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe United States has issued a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise a peace agreement, aiming to conclude the nearly four-year conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed.
It is understood that if the deadline is not met, the Trump administration is expected to intensify pressure on both parties to secure a resolution.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr Zelenskyy said: "The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule."
You can read more below:
Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise peace deal
Watch: Zelensky confirms of another overnight Russian attack amidst ongoing negotiations
Sunday 8 February 2026 15:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRecap: Putin and Zelensky must meet in person, Ukraine's foreign minister says
Sunday 8 February 2026 15:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneKyiv's foreign minister has said the Ukrainian and Russian leaders need to meet in person to hash out the hardest remaining issues in peace talks, and that only US president Donald Trump has the power to bring about an agreement.
Ukraine wants to accelerate the efforts to end the four-year-old war and capitalise on momentum in the US-brokered talks before the country’s attention turns to campaigning for its congressional mid-term elections in November, foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in an interview.
"Only Trump can stop the war," Mr Sybiha told Reuters in his office in Kyiv.
It has been reported that the US is pushing for a deal as early as March, but has accepted any agreement may come later due to hold-ups over the key issue of territory.
Russia energy sector is a legitimate target for Ukrainian strikes, says Zelensky
Sunday 8 February 2026 14:47 , Maira ButtUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia’s energy infrastructure is a legitimate target for strikes by Ukraine, in a statement on Sunday.
He argued that the sector contributes to sourcing funds for the production of weapons.
“We do not have to choose – whether we strike a military target or energy. He (Russian President Vladimir Putin) sells this energy. He sells oil. So is it energy, or is it a military target? Honestly, it's the same thing,” he wrote on X.
“We either build weapons and strike their weapons. Or we strike the source where their money is generated and multiplied. And that source is their energy sector...All of this is a legitimate target for us.”
UK ‘threatens to seize’ Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker in escalation of tensions
Sunday 8 February 2026 14:10 , Maira ButtThe United Kingdom has threatened to seize a Russia-linked oil tanker in an escalation of tensions between the two countries over shadow fleets.
Military options to capture a rogue ship had been identified in discussions involving Nato allies, British defence sources told The Guardian.
The news comes weeks after the UK supported a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.
British armed forces supported the capture of the Marinera, a vessel initially linked to Venezuela and previously known as Bella-1, as it travelled north and eastwards through the waters between Iceland and Scotland.
Ukraine urges acceleration of Trump-brokered peace talks
Sunday 8 February 2026 13:40 , Maira ButtUkraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has said that Ukrainian, Russian and American leaders must meet to discuss a deal for peace and only President Donald Trump can broker such an agreement.
“Only Trump can stop the war,” Sybiha told Reuters.
From a 20-point peace plan that has formed the basis of recent trilateral negotiations, only "a few" items remain outstanding, Sybiha said.
“The most sensitive and most difficult, to be dealt with at the leaders' level.”
He added: “My assessment is we have momentum, that's true. We need consolidation or mobilisation of these peace efforts, and we're ready to speed up.”
Russian strikes 'increasingly brutal' without 'global response', says Zelensky
Sunday 8 February 2026 13:15 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russian strikes are becoming “more frequent and increasingly brutal” even as peace talks remain ongoing.
“Russia launched more than 2,000 attack drones, 1,200 guided aerial bombs, and 116 missiles of various types at our cities and villages in just this past week,” he wrote in a post on X/Twitter on Sunday.
“Almost every day, they strike energy facilities, logistics infrastructure, and residential buildings. And this is happening even as diplomatic efforts for peace are ongoing.”
He added: “The world must not turn a blind eye to Russian attacks. When there is no global response, the strikes become more frequent and increasingly brutal.”
Putin thanks UAE leader for help in detaining suspect
Sunday 8 February 2026 12:50 , Maira ButtPresident Vladimir Putin has thanked his UAE counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his help with the detention of a man suspected of shooting a Russian military intelligence officer.
The conversation took place during a phone call on Saturday evening, Russian agencies reported, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
A Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of the “assassination attempt” of Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia's vast GRU military intelligence service.
At least four killed and 31 injured in Russian attacks over past day, say Ukraine authorities
Sunday 8 February 2026 12:20 , Maira ButtFour people have been killed and 31 injured in Russian attacks over the past day, Ukraine’s Air Force said on Sunday.
It said Russia had launched 101 drones from Kursk, Orel, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Shatalovo overnight.
Of those, 69 were intercepted while another 32 drones struck 13 locations, according to the reports.
Suspect in 'assassination attempt' on top Putin general flown to Moscow
Sunday 8 February 2026 11:49 , Maira ButtA suspect accused of being involved in the alleged assassination attempt of a top Russian general has been detained in Dubai and is being extradited to Russia, according to the country’s security agency.
Russian investigators said the man in his 60s was tasked by Ukrainian intelligence to carry out the shooting but Kyiv has denied involvement.
Masked FSB officers were seen escorting a blindfolded man from a small jet in Russia in the dark on Russian state media.
The FSB said it had identified two accomplices, also Russian citizens. One was detained in Moscow while another escaped to Ukraine.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev – an official previously linked to the Salisbury poisonings – was shot several times outside an apartment building - and is currently recovering in hospital.
Russia offers United States £9tn cooperation deal over Ukraine, says Zelensky
Sunday 8 February 2026 11:24 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that intelligence ha suggested that Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev proposed US-Russian co-operation deals worth as much as $12 trillion (£9tn) during negotiations.
He said that such agreements between Moscow and Washington must not violate Ukraine’s constitution, on Saturday.
“Intelligence showed me the so-called ‘Dmitriev package’ that he presented in the US – it amounts to around $12tn (£9tn),” Mr Zelensky said.
Ukraine businesses struggle to cope as Russian attacks bring power cuts and uncertainty
Sunday 8 February 2026 11:04 , Maira ButtIt is pre-dawn in the historic Podil district of the Ukraine capital, Kyiv, and warm light from the Spelta bakery-bistro’s window pierces the darkness outside. On a wooden surface dusted with flour, the baker Oleksandr Kutsenko skilfully divides and shapes soft, damp pieces of dough. As he shoves the first loaves into the oven, a sweet, delicate aroma of fresh bread fills the space.
Seconds later the lights go out, the ovens switch off and darkness envelops the room. Kutsenko, 31, steps outside into the freezing night, switches on a large rectangular generator and the power kicks back in. It’s a pattern that will be repeated many times as the business struggles to keep working through the power outages caused by Russia’s bombing campaign on Ukraine's energy grid.
“It’s now more than impossible to imagine a Ukrainian business operating without a generator,” said Olha Hrynchuk, the co-founder and head baker of Spelta.
Ukraine businesses struggle to cope as Russian attacks bring power cuts and uncertainty
Russia says it has captured two settlements in eastern Ukraine
Sunday 8 February 2026 10:35 , Maira ButtRussian forces have captured two settlements in eastern Ukraine, its defence ministry reported on Sunday.
The settlements of Hlushkivka in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region and Sydorivka in Sumy region are reported to have been seized, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing the ministry.
Orban declares Ukraine an 'enemy' state
Sunday 8 February 2026 09:58 , Maira ButtHungarian prime minister Viktor Orban declared Ukraine an "enemy" of Hungary at an anti-war rally.
Orban said Ukraine was persistently lobbying Brussels to sever Hungary’s access to Russian energy, which he warned would drive up household utility bills across the country.
"Anyone who says such a thing is an enemy of Hungary, so Ukraine is our enemy," Orban said.
His comments followed the Council of the EU’s decision to approve a ban on Russian gas purchases from 2027 — a move Hungary and Slovakia have challenged at the European Court of Justice.
Watch: Zelensky confirms of another overnight Russian attack amidst ongoing negotiations
Sunday 8 February 2026 09:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine imposes sanctions on foreign suppliers of components for Russian missiles
Sunday 8 February 2026 09:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said this morning that he was imposing sanctions on some foreign manufacturers of components used in Russian drones and missiles deployed against Ukraine.
“Producing this weaponry would be impossible without critical foreign components, which the Russians continue to obtain by circumventing sanctions,” Zelensky said on X.
“We are introducing new sanctions precisely against such companies — component suppliers, as well as missile and drone manufacturers. I have signed the relevant decisions.”
Russia says man suspected of shooting top general has been detained in Dubai
Sunday 8 February 2026 08:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Sunday that the man suspected of shooting senior Russian military intelligence officer Vladimir Alexeyev in Moscow has been detained in Dubai and extradited to Russia.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, the deputy head of the GRU — Russia’s military intelligence agency — was shot several times in an apartment block in Moscow on Friday, investigators said. He later underwent surgery, according to Russian media reports.
The FSB said a Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba was arrested in Dubai on suspicion of carrying out the attack.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of being behind the attempted assassination, saying it was aimed at undermining peace talks. Ukraine denied any involvement.
Alexeyev’s superior, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, the head of the GRU, has been leading Russia’s delegation in talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on security-related aspects of a potential peace deal.
Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise peace deal and end war
Sunday 8 February 2026 08:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe United States has issued a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise a peace agreement, aiming to conclude the nearly four-year conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed.
Should this deadline not be met, the Trump administration is expected to intensify pressure on both parties to secure a resolution.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, in comments embargoed until Saturday morning, Mr Zelenskyy stated: "The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule."
UK ‘threatens to seize’ Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker
Sunday 8 February 2026 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe United Kingdom has threatened to seize a Russia-linked oil tanker in an escalation of tensions between the two countries over shadow fleets.
Military options to capture a rogue ship had been identified in discussions involving Nato allies, British defence sources told The Guardian.
The news comes weeks after the UK supported a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.
More here.
Russia says man suspected of shooting top general has been detained
Sunday 8 February 2026 07:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia’s Federal Security Service said this morning that the man suspected of shooting senior Russian military intelligence officer Vladimir Alexeyev in Moscow has been detained in Dubai and extradited to Russia.
Ukraine faces acute power crisis amid a freezing winter
Sunday 8 February 2026 06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukraine businesses struggle to cope
Sunday 8 February 2026 06:28 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIt is pre-dawn in the historic Podil district of the Ukraine capital, Kyiv, and warm light from the Spelta bakery-bistro’s window pierces the darkness outside. On a wooden surface dusted with flour, the baker Oleksandr Kutsenko skilfully divides and shapes soft, damp pieces of dough. As he shoves the first loaves into the oven, a sweet, delicate aroma of fresh bread fills the space.
Seconds later the lights go out, the ovens switch off and darkness envelops the room. Kutsenko, 31, steps outside into the freezing night, switches on a large rectangular generator and the power kicks back in. It’s a pattern that will be repeated many times as the business struggles to keep working through the power outages caused by Russia’s bombing campaign on Ukraine's energy grid.
“It’s now more than impossible to imagine a Ukrainian business operating without a generator,” said Olha Hrynchuk, the co-founder and head baker of Spelta.
More here.
Ukraine businesses struggle to cope as Russian attacks bring power cuts and uncertainty
Ukrainian missilies strike Russian energy facilities
Sunday 8 February 2026 06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine struck Russia's Bryansk Oblast with Neptune missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, targeting energy infrastructure, governor Alexander Bogomaz said.
"The Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked our region using long-range Neptune missiles and HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems," Bogomaz said.
"As a result of the attack, power supply was disrupted in seven municipalities. Special and emergency teams are working to restore power supply."
Why the end of the New START treaty doesn’t necessarily mean another nuclear arms race
Sunday 8 February 2026 05:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA treaty that prevented the US and Russia from expanding their nuclear weapons arsenals expired on Thursday, dismantling a major guardrail against a renewed arms race between the rival powers.
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, commonly known as New START, required the two countries to restrict their nuclear warheads to 1,550 and missiles and bombers capable of delivering them to 700. These included weapons deployed and ready for use.
The US and Russia together hold nearly 85 per cent of the world’s strategic nuclear weapons and the expiration of the treaty, signed in 2010, threatens to launch the kind of unconstrained arms race that defined the Cold War. It may also prompt other nuclear and nuclear-adjacent nations to expand their arsenals at the very moment the world is engulfed in a series of escalating conflicts and trigger-point tensions.
More here.
Why the end of New START treaty doesn’t necessarily mean another nuclear arms race
Orban declares Ukraine as 'enemy' state
Sunday 8 February 2026 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarHungarian prime minister Viktor Orban declared Ukraine an "enemy" of Hungary at an anti-war rally.
Orban said Ukraine was persistently lobbying Brussels to sever Hungary’s access to Russian energy, which he warned would drive up household utility bills across the country.
"Anyone who says such a thing is an enemy of Hungary, so Ukraine is our enemy," Orban said.
His comments followed the Council of the EU’s decision to approve a ban on Russian gas purchases from 2027 — a move Hungary and Slovakia have challenged at the European Court of Justice.
Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia
Sunday 8 February 2026 04:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe United States has issued a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise a peace agreement, aiming to conclude the nearly four-year conflict, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed.
Should this deadline not be met, the Trump administration is expected to intensify pressure on both parties to secure a resolution.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, in comments embargoed until Saturday morning, Mr Zelensky stated: "The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule."
More here.
Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise peace deal
UK ‘threatens to seize’ Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker in escalation of tensions
Sunday 8 February 2026 04:00 , Maira ButtThe United Kingdom has threatened to seize a Russia-linked oil tanker in an escalation of tensions between the two countries over shadow fleets.
Military options to capture a rogue ship had been identified in discussions involving Nato allies, British defence sources told The Guardian.
The news comes weeks after the UK supported a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.
China takes big step towards developing ‘Starlink killer’ weapon with compact high-power microwave
Sunday 8 February 2026 03:00 , Maira ButtChinese scientists have developed a compact ultra-powerful energy generator, paving the way for next-generation weapons that could one day be turned on satellite swarms like SpaceX’s Starlink constellation.
High-power microwave weapons have gained traction in recent years as a low-cost alternative to missiles and guns due to their near-unlimited firing capacity.
Researchers in the US, Russia, and China in particular have all been investigating whether the technology could be developed into directed-energy weapons that can disrupt satellites.
Vishwam Sankaran reports:
China takes big step towards developing ‘Starlink killer’ weapon
US wants Russia-Ukraine peace deal secured by next month
Sunday 8 February 2026 02:00 , Maira ButtThe United States is aiming to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine as early as next month, according to new reports.
Ukrainian negotiators and US officials discussed the ambitious target during discussions in Abu Dhabi this week, three sources told Reuters.
However, the timeline is likely to be delayed as both sides disagree on the key issue of territory, the report continued.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that the Americans “want to do everything by June” in comments on Friday that were embargoed until Saturday morning.
“The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule,” he said.
“And they say that they want to do everything by June. And they will do everything to end the war. And they want a clear schedule of all events.”
Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine is preparing for 'next trilateral meetings' after Abu Dhabi talks
Sunday 8 February 2026 01:00 , Maira ButtRussian strikes have caused 'significant damage' to Ukraine's energy infrastructure, says Zelensky
Sunday 8 February 2026 00:01 , Maira ButtMoscow launched over 400 drones – many of them shaheds – and about 40 missiles, targeting Ukraine's power grid, generation facilities and distribution substations on Saturday, said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Unfortunately, energy facilities have suffered significant damage, which has affected the energy situation across practically the entire country, resulting in major power outages,” the Ukrainian leader wrote in a statement on X/Twitter on Saturday.
“The Russians deliberately targeted, among other things, energy facilities on which depends the operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. This puts at risk not only our security in Ukraine, but also the shared regional and European security.”
Russia to interrogate two suspects in connection with alleged assassination attempt of top Putin general
Saturday 7 February 2026 23:00 , Maira ButtRussia is set to question two suspects in connection with the attempted assassination of top Russian military intelligence official General Vladimir Alexeyev, according to reports by Russia’s Kommersant on Saturday.
The two individuals will “soon be interrogated”, it said, but did not confirm if the people had been detained. Russia has not officially commented on the reports.
Alexeyev regained consciousness on Saturday after undergoing a successful surgery but remains under medical supervision, Kommersant said.
Wargame simulating Russian attack on Nato suggests Kremlin could ‘achieve goals’ within days
Saturday 7 February 2026 22:00 , Maira ButtA new wargame simulating a Russian incursion into Lithuania, carried out by ex-Nato and German officials, concluded that Moscow would “achieve most of its goals” within days.
The exercise envisaged a scenario where the Kremlin used bogus claims of a “humanitarian crisis” in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to seize the Lithuanian city of Marijampole to its east, a key conurbation through which the road linking Russia and Belarus runs.
The scenario, which plays out in October 2026, suggests that an absence of US leadership and hesitancy from Nato countries could allow Moscow to gain total control over the Baltic within days, using an initial force of only 15,000 troops.
Alex Croft reports:
Wargame simulates how Russia could take Nato country ‘within days’
In pictures: Aftermath of a barrage of Russian strikes on Ukraine
Saturday 7 February 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtMoscow launched over 400 drones – many of them shaheds – and about 40 missiles, targeting Ukraine's power grid, generation facilities and distribution substations, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukrainian drones hit Russian missile fuel plant, says SBU
Saturday 7 February 2026 20:00 , Maira ButtUkraine’s drones struck a Russian plant that makes missile fuel, according to the country’s security agency in a statement on Saturday.
A huge fire is reported to have broken out at the plant in the Tver region of western Russia.
An official said that components for missile fuel for Russia's X-55 and X-101 cruise missiles and other elements for diesel and aviation fuel were produced there.
“Even a temporary shutdown complicates the production of rocket fuel and reduces the enemy's ability to maintain the intensity of shelling of our cities,” the official said.
'More progress needed' in trilateral peace talks, says Zelensky
Saturday 7 February 2026 19:15 , Maira ButtPresiden Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that Ukraine “needs results” as days of peace talks concluded in Abu Dhabi this week.
He said that the trilateral talks would be set to continue next week and issued an update on discussions so far.
“Our negotiating team delivered a report following meetings with the US and Russian sides,” he wrote in a post on X/Twitter on Saturday.
“They provided detailed updates on how the discussions unfolded and which particular points were most sensitive and which were constructive.
“Ukraine needs results, and one of the most important foundations for achieving lasting peace is effective security guarantees.
“Ukraine did not start this war; it is Russia that must bring it to an end. What matters is that our partners remain actively engaged, work for peace together and consider all realistic proposals.”
He thanked the US and said “more progress is needed”.
Russia and Ukraine still far apart on territory, says Zelensky
Saturday 7 February 2026 18:45 , Maira ButtTerritory remains a sticking point between Russia and Ukraine as US-brokered negotiations towards a peace deal continue.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US is proposing a free economic zone in the Donetsk region, but that neither Ukraine nor Russia like the idea.
Ukraine has said it will not withdraw from territory in the Donetsk region that it still holds.
In case you missed it: Top Russian general reportedly behind Salisbury poisonings shot in assassination bid in Moscow
Saturday 7 February 2026 18:15 , Maira ButtA top Russian military general, accused of being involved in the 2018 Salisbury poisonings, was shot outside his Moscow apartment in an alleged assassination attempt.
An unidentified gunman fired several shots at Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence arm, before fleeing the scene, the investigators said.
It is the latest in a series of assassination attempts Russia has blamed on Ukraine.
Mr Alexeyev, 64, has previously been recognised by president Vladimir Putin with a Hero of Russia award. His position meant he would have been closely involved in prosecuting Russia's war in Ukraine.
Top Russian general reportedly behind Salisbury poisonings shot in assassination bid
Why the end of the New START treaty doesn’t necessarily mean another nuclear arms race
Saturday 7 February 2026 17:45 , Maira ButtA treaty that prevented the US and Russia from expanding their nuclear weapons arsenals expired on Thursday, dismantling a major guardrail against a renewed arms race between the rival powers.
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, commonly known as New START, required the two countries to restrict their nuclear warheads to 1,550 and missiles and bombers capable of delivering them to 700. These included weapons deployed and ready for use.
The US and Russia together hold nearly 85 per cent of the world’s strategic nuclear weapons and the expiration of the treaty, signed in 2010, threatens to launch the kind of unconstrained arms race that defined the Cold War. It may also prompt other nuclear and nuclear-adjacent nations to expand their arsenals at the very moment the world is engulfed in a series of escalating conflicts and trigger-point tensions.
Why the end of New START treaty doesn’t necessarily mean another nuclear arms race
UK ‘threatens to seize’ Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker in escalation of tensions
Saturday 7 February 2026 17:15 , Maira ButtThe United Kingdom has threatened to seize a Russia-linked oil tanker in an escalation of tensions between the two countries over shadow fleets.
Military options to capture a rogue ship had been identified in discussions involving Nato allies, British defence sources told The Guardian.
The news comes weeks after the UK supported a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.
US lifts 25 per cent tariff on India after pledge to cut Russian oil purchases
Saturday 7 February 2026 16:45 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has ordered the removal of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods for Russian oil purchases after India “committed to stop directly or indirectly importing” Russian oil.
It comes after the American leader announced a deal on Monday to cut the tariffs from 18 per cent from 50 per cent in exchange for India halting the purchase of Russian oil and lowering barriers to trade.
The interim framework deepens economic ties between the two countries, reaffirms a commitment to negotiations toward a broader bilateral trade agreement, while further negotiations are need to complete the pact.
Watch: Ukrainian firefighters respond in aftermath of Russian strike on Kyiv as snow falls
Saturday 7 February 2026 16:14 , Maira ButtZelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise peace deal and end war
Saturday 7 February 2026 15:45 , Maira ButtThe United States has issued a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise a peace agreement, aiming to conclude the nearly four-year conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed.
Should this deadline not be met, the Trump administration is expected to intensify pressure on both parties to secure a resolution.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, in comments embargoed until Saturday morning, Mr Zelenskyy stated: "The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule."
Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise peace deal
Ukraine backs call for ceasefire during Winter Olympics
Saturday 7 February 2026 15:15 , Maira ButtUkraine has backed calls for a ceasefire during the Winter Olympics.
The idea was proposed by Pope Leo under what he said was the tradition of the Olympic truce. Ukraine responded to the suggestion and backed the proposal.
“We are interested in a ceasefire and if Russia once again rejects, it will once again confirm who is the obstacle for peace and who wants to continue this war,” Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha told Reuters.
Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine is preparing for 'next trilateral meetings' after Abu Dhabi talks
Saturday 7 February 2026 14:55 , Maira ButtUkraine hits Russian oil depots and drone sites, says military
Saturday 7 February 2026 14:35 , Maira ButtUkrainian troops struck an oil depot known as “Balashovo” in Russia's Saratov region, according the Ukrainian General Staff.
Several drone control centres in territories occupied by Russia were also hit, it said in a statement on Telegram on Saturday.
Russian strikes have caused 'significant damage' to Ukraine's energy infrastructure, says Zelensky
Saturday 7 February 2026 14:15 , Maira ButtOvernight Russian strikes have caused “significant damage” to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an update on Saturday.
Moscow launched over 400 drones – many of them shaheds – and about 40 missiles, targeting Ukraine's power grid, generation facilities and distribution substations, he said.
“Unfortunately, energy facilities have suffered significant damage, which has affected the energy situation across practically the entire country, resulting in major power outages,” the Ukrainian leader wrote in a statement on X/Twitter.
“The Russians deliberately targeted, among other things, energy facilities on which depends the operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. This puts at risk not only our security in Ukraine, but also the shared regional and European security.”
Russia captures village in eastern Ukraine
Saturday 7 February 2026 13:50 , Maira ButtRussian troops captured the village of Chuhunivka in the eastern Kharkiv region of Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said on Saturday, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
In the latest Russian attack, Moscow launched over 400 drones and about 40 missiles, targeting Ukraine's power grid, generation facilities and distribution substations, Zelensky said.
