Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of an “act of terrorism” after an attack on a Ukrainian passenger train killed at least five people.
"In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be regarded in the same way – purely as an act of terrorism," Zelensky said.
The war-time president said there was no "military justification" in Russia’s targeting civilians. He added that there were 18 people in the carriage that was hit and over 200 on the train in total.
The attack was in contrast to US president Donald Trump’s remarks just a few hours earlier when he said “very good things” were happening in efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, as US-brokered peace talks are set to continue this Sunday.
His comments follow trilateral discussions in Abu Dhabi over the weekend, which Zelensky said were "constructive".
A source familiar with internal discussions told Reuters on Tuesday that the US has told Ukraine that it must sign on to a peace deal with Russia if it wants to get US security guarantees.
Key Points
- Zelensky accuses Putin of 'act of terrorism' after train attack
- Russian attacks kill five on train in northeast and three in Odesa
- Russia claims it seized 500sqkm land from Ukraine
- Nato boss warns Ukraine facing 'harshest winter' in over a decade
- US wants Ukraine to cede territory before confirming security guarantees, say reports
Zelensky accuses Putin of 'act of terrorism' after train attack
03:43 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of an “act of terrorism” after an attack by Moscow on a Ukrainian passenger train killed at least five people.
"In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be regarded in the same way – purely as an act of terrorism," Zelensky said.
The war-time president said there was no "military justification" in Russia’s targeting civilians. He added that there were 18 people in the carriage that was hit and over 200 on the train in total.
Photographs posted online showed at least two carriages in flames next to a snow-covered railbed.
"Our cause – and this is what should unite all normal people in the world – is to ensure the progress of protecting life. This is possible through pressure on Russia.” he said.
Today, Russia struck a passenger train in the Kharkiv region with attack drones. In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be regarded in the same way – purely as an act of terrorism. There would be no doubt about the classification, neither in Europe, nor in… pic.twitter.com/J7UqQV70QG
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 27, 2026
Russian attacks kill five on train in northeast and three in Odesa
03:22 , Arpan RaiA Russian drone strike on a passenger train in northeastern Ukraine killed five people, prosecutors said.
The attack set a train ablaze hours after Russian drones hammered the southern city of Odesa overnight, killing three people and wounding 25 as Moscow intensified its strikes aimed at pushing Kyiv to give up fighting.
In northeastern Kharkiv Region, prosecutors said fragments of five bodies had been found at the scene of the strike on the train by a village.
Photographs posted online showed at least two carriages in flames next to a snow-covered railbed.
The attack has been denounced as terrorism by president Volodymyr Zelensky as he called for intensified pressure on Moscow.
"In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be considered in exactly the same way – purely as terrorism," Zelensky said.
"Our cause – and this is what should unite all normal people in the world – is to ensure the progress of protecting life. This is possible through pressure on Russia.” he said.
US wants Ukraine to cede territory before confirming security guarantees, say reports
03:01 , Arpan RaiUS officials have suggested that they are more amenable to backing Kyiv if the Donbas region is surrendered to Ukraine, according to the Financial Times.
More weapons were offered to Ukraine in peacetime if it agreed to withdraw forces from the eastern region, two sources told the publication.
Ukrainian and European officials suggested that the moves were an attempt to strongarm the country into ceding the entirety of the territory.
Russia currently controls 90 per cent of the Donbas region, while Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev said that the surrender of the area is the only “path to peace”.
Ukraine has said it will not give up any territory that Russia has failed to take by force.
Watch: NATO warns Ukraine faces 'harshest winter' as Russia targets energy grid
02:00 , Harriette BoucherSpecial dispatch: I was caught in a Russian attack last night – this is Ukraine’s brutal reality as talks grind on
01:00 , Harriette BoucherIn the early hours of Tuesday morning I was at the receiving end of one of the deadly Russian mass drone attacks that regularly terrorise Ukrainian cities.
Much of my hotel near the centre of the Black Sea port city of Odesa was wrecked when Shahed drones hit close by, setting buildings opposite ablaze and blowing out walls, shattering windows and collapsing ceilings where I was staying.
I had slept through the sirens warning of an approaching attack and was wrenched out of my slumber by the first enormous explosion which blew out windows in my room in the Hotel Alarus at around 2.20am.
I was caught in a Russian attack last night – this is Ukraine’s brutal reality
Russia’s desperate recruitment drive as Putin frees prisoners and lures foreigners to war
00:00 , Alex CroftFor 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.
Read the full report:
Russia’s war recruitment drive as Putin frees prisoners and lures foreigners
Slovakia to file lawsuit against EU ban on Russian gas imports
Tuesday 27 January 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftSlovakia will file a lawsuit challenging the European Union’s ban on Russian gas imports, after the policy won final approval on Monday.
European countries agreed to completely ban the imports by late 2027, but Slovakia and Hungary both voted against. Russian gas imports make up 90 percent of Hungary’s imports in the sector.
Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, is reported to have confirmed the news of the lawsuit, according to news website Dennik N.
Trumps says 'very good things' happening in efforts to end war
Tuesday 27 January 2026 22:44 , Harriette BoucherJust days after trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, President Donald Trump told reporters that “very good things are happening on Ukraine and Russia.”
His comments come as Kyiv and Moscow negotiators are set to meet again this Sunday, as US-brokered peace talks continue.
US officials said progress had been made towards an agreement, as envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner came away from the talks feeling optimistic that a deal could be reached soon.
Firefighters battle blaze after Russian shelling hits Kherson building
Tuesday 27 January 2026 22:02 , Alex CroftPutin's envoy says Ukraine's withdrawal from Donbas is the 'path to peace'
Tuesday 27 January 2026 21:01 , Alex CroftPresident Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev has said that Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Donbas region is the solution to the conflict raging between Russia and Ukraine.
Dmitriev, who has been part of high-stakes negotiations being held between the US, Russia and Ukraine, said on Tuesday: “Donbas withdrawal is the path to peace for Ukraine,” in a statement on X/Twitter.
Russia currently controls 90 per cent of the region and Putin has insisted on Ukraine surrendering the rest of it or Russia will take the region by force.
Russian ally accuses Ukraine of election meddling
Tuesday 27 January 2026 20:15 , Alex CroftPrime minister Viktor Orban said Hungary would summon Ukraine's ambassador over what he claimed were attempts to interfere in a Hungarian parliamentary election due on 12 April.
Orban has intensified his anti-Ukraine campaign in the past weeks, and has sought to associate Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar with Kyiv and the EU executive in Brussels as the campaign heats up.
In a campaign primarily targeting rural voters, Orban has portrayed Ukraine as unworthy of financial support, framing the April vote as a choice between war and peace and echoing his past anti-migrant campaigns.
Orban, who has kept close ties with Moscow, has repeatedly refused to support European Union aid for Ukraine, and has launched a "national petition" asking voters to sign up to say they do not want to help pay for the war."
Last week, Ukrainian leaders and even the president himself made grossly insulting and threatening statements against Hungary ... Our national security services have ... concluded this is a coordinated attempt to interfere in Hungarian elections," Orban said in a video.
Philippines investigating claims its national died fighting for Russia
Tuesday 27 January 2026 19:30 , Alex CroftAuthorities in the Philippines said they were verifying reports of a Filipino national said to have died on the front lines fighting for Russia.
Ukraine’s military intelligence yesterday claimed that a Filipino national, identified as John Patrick, was killed fighting for Russian forces in the Donetsk region.
The man had served in Russia’s 9th Battalion, 283rd Regiment, 144th Motorized Rifle Division in the 20th Combined Arms Army of the Russian military, Ukraine claimed.
Trump is a bigger threat to Nato than Putin, says alliance’s former commander
Tuesday 27 January 2026 18:45 , Daniel KeaneThe American leader imperilled the future of the alliance with repeated threats to seize Greenland and attacks on European allies. General Richard Shirreff tells Maira Butt that the US President has turned the international order into a ‘dead duck’.
Trump is a bigger threat to Nato than Putin, says alliance’s former commander
US wants Ukraine to cede territory before confirming security guarantees, say reports
Tuesday 27 January 2026 17:45 , Maira ButtUS officials have suggested that they are more amenable to backing Kyiv if the Donbas region is surrendered to Ukraine, according to the Financial Times.
More weapons were offered to Ukraine in peacetime if it agreed to withdraw forces from the eastern region, two sources told the publication.
Ukrainian and European officials suggested that the moves were an attempt to strongarm the country into ceding the entirety of the territory.
Russia currently controls 90 per cent of the Donbas region, while Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev said that the surrender of the area is the only “path to peace”.
Watch: Nato warns Ukraine faces 'harshest winter' as Russia targets energy grid
Tuesday 27 January 2026 16:45 , Maira ButtRussian drones injure Ukrainian children and a pregnant woman as Zelenskyy urges swifter diplomacy
Tuesday 27 January 2026 16:15 , Maira ButtA heavy Russian drone bombardment of Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa injured 23 people, including two children and a pregnant woman, officials said Tuesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for U.S. efforts to end Russia's almost 4-year-old invasion of his country to move faster.
The Odesa attack involved more than 50 drones, some of them models recently upgraded by Russia to improve their range and strike power, according to Ukrainian authorities. The drones targeted the power grid, which Russia has repeatedly bombarded during the coldest winter in years, and also hit five apartment blocks, officials said.
Russian drones injure Ukrainian children and a pregnant woman as Zelenskyy urges swifter diplomacy
Norway approves $2bn artillery plan to boost deterrence against Russia in the Arctic
Tuesday 27 January 2026 15:45 , Maira ButtNorway’s parliament has approved a $2bn procurement plan for long-range artillery to boost the country’s defences against Russia in the Arctic as the two countries share a border.
“These are weapons that can reach far behind enemy lines... this is decisive in modern warfare,” Peter Froelich, the defence policy spokesperson for the opposition Conservatives, told parliament on Tuesday.
It is the latest development in a pattern of European countries increasing their defence spending amid political and economic uncertainty.
Special dispatch: I was caught in a Russian attack last night – this is Ukraine’s brutal reality as talks grind on
Tuesday 27 January 2026 15:15 , Maira ButtIn the early hours of Tuesday morning I was at the receiving end of one of the deadly Russian mass drone attacks that regularly terrorise Ukrainian cities.
Much of my hotel near the centre of the Black Sea port city of Odesa was wrecked when Shahed drones hit close by, setting buildings opposite ablaze and blowing out walls, shattering windows and collapsing ceilings where I was staying.
I had slept through the sirens warning of an approaching attack and was wrenched out of my slumber by the first enormous explosion which blew out windows in my room in the Hotel Alarus at around 2.20am.
I was caught in a Russian attack last night - this is Ukraine’s brutal reality
Zelensky says Russian strikes 'eroding diplomacy' as two killed in Odesa overnight
Tuesday 27 January 2026 14:45 , Maira ButtAt least two people have been reported killed in the Black Sea hub of Odesa in Ukraine after Russian strikes overnight.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that more than 50 drones were launched at Odesa in a “brutal” attack on the city.
Officials said that at least 23 people had been wounded in the onslaught.
Trilateral talks brokered by the US are set to continue this weekend, but Zelensky hit out at Russia for continuing the attacks amid the diplomatic efforts.
“Every such Russian strike erodes the diplomacy that is still ongoing and undermines the efforts of partners who are helping to end this war,” he wrote on X/Twitter.
Russia carries out 15th deliberate attack on Naftogaz infrastructure since start of 2026, says company
Tuesday 27 January 2026 14:20 , Maira ButtRussia has continued to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with another attack on state oil and gas firm Naftogaz, according to a statement by the company on Tuesday.
It said that a Russian strike had targeted one of its facilities in the western region of the country, marking the 15th deliberate attack on its infrastructure since the start of 2026.
Ukraine should join EU by 2027, says Zelensky
Tuesday 27 January 2026 13:52 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that Ukraine should join the EU as part of its post-war security guarantees in the event of a peace deal.
“That is why we are speaking about a concrete date – 2027 – and we count on partners' support for our position,” he wrote on X/Twitter on Tuesday after holding a phone call with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker.
Russian military chief visits troops in Ukraine
Tuesday 27 January 2026 13:15 , Maira ButtRussia’s army chief of staff visited troops fighting in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, according to Moscow’s defence ministry.
Valery Gerasimov visited the soldiers to “inspect the progress of combat missions”.
The visit comes as Russian officials including Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, insist that the surrender of Ukraine’s Donbas region is the “path to peace”.
In pictures: Aftermath of Russian strike in Odesa, Ukraine
Tuesday 27 January 2026 12:45 , Maira ButtRescue workers clear the rubble of a residential building hit by Russian strikes in Odesa, Ukraine.
Over 80 per cent of battlefield hits against Russia carried out by drones, says Zelensky
Tuesday 27 January 2026 12:15 , Maira ButtAt least 80 per cent of ever successful battlefield hit against Russia was carried out by drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office has confirmed.
In 2025, Ukrainian troops struck nearly 820,000 targets with drones, a statement said, with the “overwhelming majority” of those manufactured locally.
“Each of these strikes is recorded, which helps not only with hit verification but also with the operation of the bonus-based system for assessing military performance,” the statement continued.
China calls for closer ties with Russia over defence
Tuesday 27 January 2026 11:40 , Maira ButtChina’s defence minister has said he is willing to enhance strategic coordination with Moscow to jointly improve their capacity to respond to risks and challenges, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
“China is willing to work with Russia to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic coordination, enrich the substance of cooperation, and improve exchange mechanisms,” defence minister for China, Dong Jung said in a video call with Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov.
Russian strikes leave 80 per cent of Kharkiv without power
Tuesday 27 January 2026 11:15 , Maira ButtHundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been left without power in Kharkiv after Russian strikes caused serious damage to the region’s energy system.
Two people were injured in the attacks, and a school, nursery and apartment buildings were also hit.
“Our energy system came under attack and there was quite serious damage,” Kharkiv's regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said in a video posted on Telegram on Tuesday.
“All crews are at work to eliminate all the negative consequences quickly. About 80 per cent of the city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv region are without electricity.”
The city is Ukraine’s second-largest and temperatures have plummeted to -14C in one of the country’s coldest winters on record.
Last week, over 800,000 people in the country’s capital Kyiv were left without power.
Slovakia to file lawsuit against EU ban on Russian gas imports
Tuesday 27 January 2026 10:50 , Maira ButtSlovakia will file a lawsuit challenging the European Union’s ban on Russian gas imports, after the policy won final approval on Monday.
European countries agreed to completely ban the imports by late 2027, but Slovakia and Hungary both voted against. Russian gas imports make up 90 percent of Hungary’s imports in the sector.
Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, is reported to have confirmed the news of the lawsuit, according to news website Dennik N.
Russian attack damages energy facility in Ukraine
Tuesday 27 January 2026 10:22 , Maira ButtA Russian attack has damaged an energy facility in the southern city of Odesa in Ukraine, the country’s major Black Sea port.
“The damage is extensive and repair work will take a long time to restore the equipment to working order," DTEK, a major power company in the country said on Facebook.
"Our teams began emergency restoration work after receiving permission from rescue workers and the military. Specialists are inspecting the equipment, clearing debris, and then beginning repairs."
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian shelling hits Kherson building
Tuesday 27 January 2026 09:42 , Maira ButUkraine to receive 85 million euros through EBRD for gas
Tuesday 27 January 2026 09:05 , Maira ButtThe European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide Ukraine with 85 million euros (£73m) for additional gas volumes, Ukraine’s energy minister said on Tuesday.
In a statement on X/Twitter, Denys Shmyhal said that the funds would be provided through EBRD instruments and added that securing the relevant grant from one of the European countries was nearly complete.
Russia’s desperate recruitment drive as Putin frees prisoners and lures foreigners to war
Tuesday 27 January 2026 08:40 , Maira ButtFor 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.
Russia’s war recruitment drive as Putin frees prisoners and lures foreigners
Russia attacks infrastructure facility in Ukraine, says regional governor
Tuesday 27 January 2026 08:15 , Maira ButtRussia has attacked an infrastructure facility in the region of Lviv, in western Ukraine, according to the area’s governor.
Regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi said no one had been hurt in the attack and that all the relevant services were working at the scene of the incident, in a post on Telegram on Tuesday.
He did not specify the type of infrastructure that was targeted. The countries have attacked each other’s energy infrastructure throughout the war.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure have been so persistent, President Volodymyr Zelensky was forced to declare a state of emergency in the sector earlier this month.
Putin's envoy says Ukraine's withdrawal from Donbas is the 'path to peace'
Tuesday 27 January 2026 07:50 , Maira ButtPresident Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev has said that Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Donbas region is the solution to the conflict raging between Russia and Ukraine.
Dmitriev, who has been part of high-stakes negotiations being held between the US, Russia and Ukraine, said on Tuesday: “Donbas withdrawal is the path to peace for Ukraine,” in a statement on X/Twitter.
Russia currently controls 90 per cent of the region and Putin has insisted on Ukraine surrendering the rest of it or Russia will take the region by force.
Russia offers cash bonuses, frees prisoners and lures foreigners to replenish its troops in Ukraine
Tuesday 27 January 2026 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFor 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.
As Russia seeks to replenish its forces in nearly four years of war — and avoid an unpopular nationwide mobilization — it's pulling out all the stops to find new troops to send into the battlefield.
Some come from abroad to fight in what has become a bloody war of attrition. After signing a mutual defense treaty with Moscow in 2024, North Korea sent thousands of soldiers to help Russia defend its Kursk region from a Ukrainian incursion.
More here.
Russia offers cash bonuses, frees prisoners and lures foreigners to replenish its troops in Ukraine
Philippines investigating claims its national died fighting for Russia
Tuesday 27 January 2026 07:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAuthorities in the Philippines said they were verifying reports of a Filipino national said to have died on the front lines fighting for Russia.
Ukraine’s military intelligence yesterday claimed that a Filipino national, identified as John Patrick, was killed fighting for Russian forces in the Donetsk region.
The man had served in Russia’s 9th Battalion, 283rd Regiment, 144th Motorized Rifle Division in the 20th Combined Arms Army of the Russian military, Ukraine claimed.
Moscow says peace talks with Ukraine held in 'constructive spirit'
Tuesday 27 January 2026 07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Kremlin said US-brokered trilateral talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators held in the Middle East had been held in a “constructive spirit” but there was still “significant work ahead"
.“It would be a mistake to expect any significant results from the initial contacts... But the very fact that these contacts have begun in a constructive spirit can be viewed positively. However, there is significant work ahead,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday.
Negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv faced each other for the firs time since the onset of the invasion in 20222 to talk about a peace plan being pushed by US president Donald Trump.
“I wouldn’t say there was any friendliness there, it’s hardly possible at this stage,” Peskov said.
“But if you’re trying to achieve something through negotiations, you need to speak constructively,” he added.
The next round of trilateral talks is expected to take place on 1 February.
US forcing Ukraine to cede Donbas - report
Tuesday 27 January 2026 06:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Donald Trump administration has signalled to Ukraine that US security guarantees would depend on Kyiv first agreeing to a peace deal likely requiring it to cede the Donbas to Russia, the Financial Times reported.
Washington has also indicated it could offer Ukraine more weapons to strengthen its peacetime army if Kyiv agreed to withdraw forces from the parts of the eastern region it controls, the newspaper said.
Russian ally accuses Ukraine of election meddling
Tuesday 27 January 2026 06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPrime minister Viktor Orban said Hungary would summon Ukraine's ambassador over what he claimed were attempts to interfere in a Hungarian parliamentary election due on 12 April.
Orban has intensified his anti-Ukraine campaign in the past weeks, and has sought to associate Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar with Kyiv and the EU executive in Brussels as the campaign heats up.
In a campaign primarily targeting rural voters, Orban has portrayed Ukraine as unworthy of financial support, framing the April vote as a choice between war and peace and echoing his past anti-migrant campaigns.
Orban, who has kept close ties with Moscow, has repeatedly refused to support European Union aid for Ukraine, and has launched a "national petition" asking voters to sign up to say they do not want to help pay for the war."
Last week, Ukrainian leaders and even the president himself made grossly insulting and threatening statements against Hungary ... Our national security services have ... concluded this is a coordinated attempt to interfere in Hungarian elections," Orban said in a video.
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian shelling hits Kherson building
Tuesday 27 January 2026 06:02 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFinland tackles undersea cable sabotage amid Russian threat
Tuesday 27 January 2026 06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFinland is set to establish a new maritime surveillance centre in the Gulf of Finland, a move aimed at protecting critical undersea infrastructure amidst heightened regional tensions.
The initiative, announced by Finland's Border Guard, will involve cooperation with other Baltic Sea states and the European Commission.
This development comes as the Baltic Sea region remains on high alert following a series of incidents involving power cables, telecommunications links, and gas pipelines since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
More here.
Watch: Nato chief warns Ukraine faces 'harshest winter' as Russia targets energy grid
Tuesday 27 January 2026 05:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia claims it seized 500sqkm land from Ukraine
Tuesday 27 January 2026 05:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian forces captured 17 settlements and took control of more than 500sqkm territory in Ukraine so far in January, Russia's top general, Valery Gerasimov, said this morning.
Gerasimov, chief of Russia's general staff, inspected the "West" group of Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, the defence ministry said.
There has been no immediate confirmation or denial from Ukraine.
Slovakia and Hungary to move court against EU's Russian gas import ban
Tuesday 27 January 2026 05:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarEU nations have given their final approval to ban Russian gas imports by late 2027, making their vow to cut ties with their former top supplier legally binding, nearly four years after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ministers from EU countries approved the law at a meeting in Brussels on Monday, although Slovakia and Hungary voted against and Bulgaria abstained.
Hungary said it would challenge the law at the European Court of Justice. Slovakia’s foreign ministry also announced it would appeal the decision at the EU Court.
The ban was designed to be approved by a reinforced majority of countries, allowing it to overcome opposition from Hungary and Slovakia, who remain heavily reliant on Russian energy imports and want to maintain close ties with Moscow.
Under the agreement, the EU will halt Russian liquefied natural gas imports by the end of 2026 and pipeline gas by 30 September 2027.
The law allows that deadline to shift to 1 November 2027, at the latest, if a country is struggling to fill its storage caverns with non-Russian gas ahead of winter.
Russia supplied more than 40 per cent of the EU's gas before 2022. That share dropped to around 13 per cent in 2025, according to the latest available EU data.
Breaking: Russia says it captured more Ukrainian territory
Tuesday 27 January 2026 05:17 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia claims its forces have captured two more settlements in eastern Ukraine, identifying them as Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi and Novopavlivka.
The defence ministry this morning added that Vladimir Putin's troops have captured 17 settlements in Ukraine since the beginning of January this year.
There has been no immediate confirmation or denial from Ukraine.
Nato boss says Putin would 'love' to see a new European security alliance
Tuesday 27 January 2026 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarNato chief Mark Rutte has dismissed calls by some leading European politicians for a separate European army, prompted by doubts over Donald Trump's commitment to the continent's security that were heightened by tensions over Greenland.
Rutte told advocates of a European force separate from the US-led Nato alliance to "keep dreaming", and said Russian president Vladimir Putin would "love" the idea as it would stretch Europe's armies and make them weaker.
Speaking to the European Parliament in Brussels, Rutte said European nations should continue to step up to take more responsibility for their own security, as Trump has demanded - but within the transatlantic alliance.
Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares and European Defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius have both raised the prospect of a European force in recent weeks.
"I think there will be a lot of duplication and I wish you luck if you want to do it, because you have to find the men and women in uniform - they'll be on top of what is happening already," Rutte said.
"It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So think again."
Nato boss warns Ukraine facing 'harshest winter' in over a decade
Tuesday 27 January 2026 04:31 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarNato secretary general Mark Rutte has warned that Ukraine is facing its “harshest winter” in over a decade as sustained Russian airstrikes disrupt its energy grid
“Russia is targeting civilian infrastructures and therefore leaving Ukrainians in the cold — without heat, without light and without water,” he said, urging the European parliament to be flexible on the use of EU funds.
Rutte says that the US-led peace talks were ongoing, adding that the aim should be to get to a peace deal or a long-term ceasefire. He said: “Let’s pray we have it as soon as possible,” and then make sure that Russia’s Vladimir Putin “never, never” attacks Ukraine again.
Russian drone attack kills civilian in Belgorod
Tuesday 27 January 2026 04:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAt least one civilian has been killed in a Russian drone attack in Shebekino, a city in Belgorod Oblast, local officials said.
The man, who was not named, died of his injuries at the scene before the ambulance arrived, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram yesterday.
He added: "On behalf of all residents of the Belgorod Region and myself, I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased."
In pics: Power outage across Kyiv
Tuesday 27 January 2026 04:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv causes mass power outages
Tuesday 27 January 2026 03:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian drones and missiles have hit Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, knocking out power to 80 per cent of the city and the surrounding region and striking apartment buildings, a school and a kindergarten, local officials said.
Two people were injured, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said yesterday.
"Our energy system came under attack and there was quite serious damage. All crews are at work to eliminate all the negative consequences quickly," Syniehubov said.
"About 80 per cent of the city of Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region is without electricity," he added.
The constant threat of further air raids was complicating repair efforts, he said.
Russian drones strike high-rise in Zelensky's hometown
Tuesday 27 January 2026 03:06 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian drones yesterday struck a high-rise apartment building president Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown southeast of Kharkiv.
Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the city’s military administration, said the drone strike in Kryvyi Rih triggered a fire, but there were reports of casualties.
"Again, animals hit a high-rise building in the Ternivskyi district with a shaheed. Fire," he wrote on Telegram.
Zelensky says military issues were primary topic at trilateral talks
Tuesday 27 January 2026 03:00 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said military issues were the primary topic of discussion at trilateral talks with the US and Russia over the weekend, but that political issues were also discussed.
“The meetings covered a range of important issues – primarily military, essential to bringing the war to an end,” he wrote on X.
“Complex political matters that remain unresolved were also discussed. The key positions of all parties were analyzed.
"Preparations are now underway for new trilateral meetings this week," he added.
Kremlin says territory of fundamental importance to Russia
Tuesday 27 January 2026 01:29 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who has said that the territorial issue remains of fundamental importance to Russia in peace talks with the US and Ukraine.
State news agency RIA cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peksov as saying that Moscow positively assesses what he called "constructive talks" on Ukraine.
Peskov confirmed that the three-way talks would continue.
Ukraine peace talks continue this week – but Russia has one major demand
Tuesday 27 January 2026 00:30 , Alex CroftTrilateral peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US are expected to continue this week, following initial "constructive" discussions held in Abu Dhabi.
Here’s everything you need to know in The Independent’s five-point Bulletin:
Ukraine peace talks continue this week – but Russia has one major demand
Mass power outages after Russian attack on Kharkiv
Monday 26 January 2026 23:46 , Harriette BoucherRussian drones and missile strikes on Kharkiv have knocked out power to 80 per cent of the city and its surrounding region, as apartment buildings and a school and kindergarten were struck.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov posted on Telegram to say the at least two people had been injured in the strikes on Monday and confirmed that the majority of the city was without electricity.
He said: "Our energy system came under attack and there was quite serious damage. All crews are at work to eliminate all the negative consequences quickly.”
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said an "energy site" had been targeted as night-time temperatures dipped to -14 degrees Celsius.
UNESCO World Heritage site damaged in Russian assault
Monday 26 January 2026 23:30 , Alex CroftBuildings among the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were damaged during a Russian missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital, according to the reserve’s director general.
Maksym Ostapenko told Interfax Ukraine that the building had been damaged due to military action “for the first time since World War II”.
“Each time, Moscow has been behind this – as in 1918; as when, on orders from Moscow, the Dormition Cathedral was blown up in 1941; and now, again on orders from Moscow, Shahed drones and missiles are flying against Kyiv and causing damage, including now to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra,” Mr Ostapenko said.
The blast shattered some windows and doors, with fragments of plasterwork damaged in several places, he said.
Ukraine's energy minister welcomes EU's ban on Russia gas imports
Monday 26 January 2026 22:30 , Alex CroftUkraine's energy minister Denys Shmyhal welcomed the EU's 2027 ban on Russian gas imports, saying in a statement on Monday that independence from Russian energy "is, above all, about a safe and strong Europe."
He said that “penalties for violations range from EUR 2.5 million (£2.2m) for individuals to EUR 40 million (£34.7m) for companies. The regulation will enter into force in early February.
Ukraine drone attack kills one in Russia's Belgorod region, governor says
Monday 26 January 2026 22:04 , Bryony GoochA Ukrainian drone attack killed a resident of Russia's border region of Belgorod on Monday, the regional governor said. Vyacheslav Gladkov, writing on Telegram, said the drone hit a car near the border, killing a man before the arrival of an emergency crew. Ukrainian forces have frequently struck targets in Belgorod region since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour in February 2022.
This could not be independently verified.
France detains captain of suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker seized in Mediterranean
Monday 26 January 2026 21:31 , Alex CroftThe captain of a tanker intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea by the French navy on suspicion of shipping oil in violation of sanctions against Russia was reported Sunday as being held in custody for questioning.
The ship’s Indian captain was handed to judicial authorities following the diversion of the oil tanker, Grinch, and its arrival at anchorage in the Gulf of Fos-sur-Mer, French media reported, citing a statement by the Marseille prosecutor’s office.
The Ici Provence radio broadcaster reported that the crew, also of Indian nationality, was being kept on board. A preliminary investigation was opened on charges of failure to fly a flag.
Read more here:
France detains captain of suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker seized in Mediterranean
Talks with US and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi were constructive but major challenges remain, Kremlin says
Monday 26 January 2026 20:30 , Alex CroftNegotiations aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are yielding apparent signs of progress, but major challenges remain on the path to a final settlement, a senior Kremlin official said Monday.
Talks between envoys from Ukraine, Russia and the United States in recent days in Abu Dhabi were constructive and another round is planned for next week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
He reported no major breakthrough so far, however, and added: “The very fact that these contacts have begun in a constructive way can be assessed positively, but there is still serious work ahead.”
Read the full report:
Talks with US and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi were constructive but major challenges remain, Kremlin says
Recap: Russian forces injure two in attack on school and kindergarten in Kharkiv
Monday 26 January 2026 20:00 , Bryony GoochRussian forces on Monday launched a drone and missile attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, hitting apartment buildings, a school and a kindergarten and injuring at least two people, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.
Unofficial Telegram channels posted pictures showing the city, a frequent Russian target located 30 km (18 miles) from the Russian border, had been plunged into darkness.
In Kryvyi Rih, president Volodymyr Zelensky's home town to the southeast of Kharkiv, the head of the industrial city's military administration said Russian drones hit a high-rise apartment building.
Oleksandr Vilkul, writing on Telegram, said the impact had triggered a fire, but gave no immediate indication of any casualties.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports and there was no immediate reaction from Russian officials.
Trump not giving up on Ukraine peace process, White House says
Monday 26 January 2026 19:44 , Bryony GoochUS president Donald Trump is not giving up on the Ukraine peace process and remains deeply involved, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday, adding that she was not tracking any scheduled calls with Russian or Ukrainian leaders at this point.
Kremlin demands Ukraine cede Donbas region
Monday 26 January 2026 19:29 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin has insisted that Ukraine will cede all of the Donbas region, according to statements in Russian state media on Monday.
“It's no secret that this is our consistent position, the position of our president, that the territorial issue, which is part of the Anchorage formula, is of fundamental importance to the Russian side,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Peskov said trilaterial discussions between Russia, Ukraine and the US had been “constructive” but reiterated the importance of territory to a successful agreement.
The issue has been a key sticking point throughout discussions that have taken place over the last few weeks.
Drone debris sparks fire in Russia's Krasnodar region leaving one person injured
Monday 26 January 2026 18:40 , Alex CroftOne person was left injured and two enterprises caught on fire after drone fragments fell in the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Russia's Krasnodar region, the regional emergencies centre said on Monday.
It did not identify what enterprises were affected, but the city hosts a private refinery with a capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, which provides fuel for both domestic use and export.
Russia's defence ministry said air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed 40 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 34 in the Krasnodar region.
Hungary summons Ukraine's ambassador over alleged 'attempt to interfere in election'
Monday 26 January 2026 18:20 , Bryony GoochHungary's prime minister Viktor Orban said on Monday that Budapest would summon Ukraine's ambassador over what Orban says is attempts by Kyiv to interfere in a Hungarian parliamentary election due on 12 April.
The announcement by Orban in a Facebook video comes as he has intensified his anti-Ukrainian campaign in the past weeks, and has sought to associate Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar with Brussels and Ukraine.
Finland tackles undersea cable sabotage amid Russian threat
Monday 26 January 2026 17:54 , Alex CroftFinland is set to establish a new maritime surveillance centre in the Gulf of Finland, a move aimed at protecting critical undersea infrastructure amidst heightened regional tensions.
The initiative, announced by Finland's Border Guard, will involve cooperation with other Baltic Sea states and the European Commission.
This development comes as the Baltic Sea region remains on high alert following a series of incidents involving power cables, telecommunications links, and gas pipelines since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The most recent event occurred on New Year's Eve, when Finnish authorities intercepted a cargo vessel en route from Russia to Israel on suspicion of sabotaging an undersea telecoms cable.
Read the full report:
Zelensky calls for Ukrainian and Russian teams to meet before Sunday
Monday 26 January 2026 17:29 , Bryony GoochTalks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are expected to resume on Sunday, president Volodymyr Zelensky said, calling on allies not to weaken their pressure on Moscow.
In his evening address on Monday, Zelensky said the two sides had discussed steps to end the war and how that should be monitored during talks last weekend in Abu Dhabi. He added it would be good if those talks could resume even sooner than Sunday.
No link between Ukraine and Greenland discussions, Rutte says
Monday 26 January 2026 17:20 , Alex CroftThere is no link between talks on Ukraine and on Greenland, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has said.
The two issues remain totally separate, he added, about the issues which have both seen European countries at odds with the Trump administration.
Nato's Rutte urges EU to be flexible on how Ukraine can use loan
Monday 26 January 2026 16:47 , Alex CroftEuropean Union countries should show flexibility on how Ukraine can use the 90 billion euros (£78bn) EU loan to buy weapons and finance its budget, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said on Monday, adding EU should not impose "buy EU" at all cost.
"I would really strongly urge you to ensure flexibility in how these funds can be spent and not to be overly restrictive with ‘Buy EU’ caveats," he told members of the European Parliament.
"Europe is now building its defence industry and that is vital but it cannot, at the moment, provide nearly enough of what Ukraine needs to defend itself today and to deter tomorrow."
US security agreement for Ukraine '100% ready' to be signed, says Zelensky
Monday 26 January 2026 16:15 , Alex CroftInvestment for Ukraine's Dobra lithium deposit could surpass £500m, says Kyiv
Monday 26 January 2026 15:43 , Alex CroftThe initial investment for the development of Ukraine's Dobra lithium deposit could amount to $700 million, (£511m) economy minister Oleksiy Sobolev told broadcaster Deutsche Welle in an interview cited on the ministry website.
"There is currently no agreement. Its draft will be developed and agreed upon by the parties within one year, in accordance with Ukrainian law,” Mr Sobolev added in the comments quoted on the ministry website.
“But we plan to conclude an agreement within a few months.”
Earlier this month, Ukraine awarded development rights for the deposit to a US-backed consortium, seeking to unlock one of the country’s largest lithium resources.
Zelensky says military issues were primary topic at trilateral talks
Monday 26 January 2026 15:12 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said military issues were the primary topic of discussion at trilateral talks with the US and Russia over the weekend, but that political issues were also discussed.
“The meetings covered a range of important issues – primarily military, essential to bringing the war to an end,” he wrote on X.
“Complex political matters that remain unresolved were also discussed. The key positions of all parties were analyzed.
"Preparations are now underway for new trilateral meetings this week," he added.
Our delegation’s report following talks in the UAE with the American and Russian sides. This was the first format of a trilateral dialogue on ending the war in a long time. The meetings covered a range of important issues – primarily military, essential to bringing the war to an… pic.twitter.com/O7tDoaRs0c
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 26, 2026
Ukraine's energy minister welcomes EU's ban on Russia gas imports
Monday 26 January 2026 14:03 , Alex CroftUkraine's energy minister Denys Shmyhal welcomed the EU's 2027 ban on Russian gas imports, saying in a statement on Monday that independence from Russian energy "is, above all, about a safe and strong Europe."
He said that “penalties for violations range from EUR 2.5 million (£2.2m) for individuals to EUR 40 million (£34.7m) for companies. The regulation will enter into force in early February.
🇪🇺 We welcome the EU Council’s decision to introduce a definitive phased ban on RU gas imports. A full ban on LNG will take effect in early 2027, followed by a ban on pipeline gas in autumn 2027. Penalties for violations range from EUR 2.5 million for individuals to EUR 40…
— Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) January 26, 2026
France detains captain of suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker seized in Mediterranean
Monday 26 January 2026 13:39 , Alex CroftThe captain of a tanker intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea by the French navy on suspicion of shipping oil in violation of sanctions against Russia was reported Sunday as being held in custody for questioning.
The ship’s Indian captain was handed to judicial authorities following the diversion of the oil tanker, Grinch, and its arrival at anchorage in the Gulf of Fos-sur-Mer, French media reported, citing a statement by the Marseille prosecutor’s office.
The Ici Provence radio broadcaster reported that the crew, also of Indian nationality, was being kept on board. A preliminary investigation was opened on charges of failure to fly a flag.
Read more here:
France detains captain of suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker seized in Mediterranean
In pictures: Ukraine receives hundreds of generators from Poland amid power cuts
Monday 26 January 2026 13:16 , Alex Croft
Kremlin says territory of fundamental importance to Russia
Monday 26 January 2026 13:05 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who has said that the territorial issue remains of fundamental importance to Russia in peace talks with the US and Ukraine.
State news agency RIA cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peksov as saying that Moscow positively assesses what he called "constructive talks" on Ukraine.
Peskov confirmed that the three-way talks would continue.
UNESCO World Heritage site damaged in Russian assault
Monday 26 January 2026 12:52 , Alex CroftBuildings among the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were damaged during a Russian missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital, according to the reserve’s director general.
Maksym Ostapenko told Interfax Ukraine that the building had been damaged due to military action “for the first time since World War II”.
“Each time, Moscow has been behind this – as in 1918; as when, on orders from Moscow, the Dormition Cathedral was blown up in 1941; and now, again on orders from Moscow, Shahed drones and missiles are flying against Kyiv and causing damage, including now to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra,” Mr Ostapenko said.
The blast shattered some windows and doors, with fragments of plasterwork damaged in several places, he said.
Kremlin demands Ukraine cede Donbas region
Monday 26 January 2026 12:49 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin has insisted that Ukraine will cede all of the Donbas region, according to statements in Russian state media on Monday.
“It's no secret that this is our consistent position, the position of our president, that the territorial issue, which is part of the Anchorage formula, is of fundamental importance to the Russian side,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Peskov said trilaterial discussions between Russia, Ukraine and the US had been “constructive” but reiterated the importance of territory to a successful agreement.
The issue has been a key sticking point throughout discussions that have taken place over the last few weeks.
Ukraine peace talks continue this week – but Russia has one major demand
Monday 26 January 2026 12:02 , Alex CroftTrilateral peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US are expected to continue this week, following initial "constructive" discussions held in Abu Dhabi.
Here’s everything you need to know in The Independent’s five-point Bulletin:
Ukraine peace talks continue this week – but Russia has one major demand
