Russia lost more than 1,700 troops this week on Tuesday, suffering its deadliest day of war against Ukraine in a sign that Moscow’s planned offensive has been foiled.
Ukraine’s general staff said it had killed or wounded 1,710 Russian troops on 17 March and destroyed 29 artillery systems as well as 230 vehicles and fuel tankers. The Russian forces have recorded losses between 700 to 900 troops per day on average in recent months, according to the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine said its unmanned systems force, which oversees drone strikes, was responsible for killing or wounding 900 Russian soldiers in a day and a half, after Moscow’s forces attempted to surge forward on the Zaporizhzhia front.
This comes as peace talks between Washington, Moscow and Kyiv are on a “situational pause, for obvious reasons” the Kremlin has said, as war in Iran continues.
Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters: "This is a situational pause, for obvious reasons," in response to a front page story in Izvestia about the halt in talks which suggested the war could push Kyiv towards compromise.
Key Points
- Russia loses 1,700 troops in deadliest day of war this year
- Kremlin says Ukraine peace talks on 'situational pause' as Iran war wages on
- Kremlin decries Ukrainian drone attacks on energy infrastructure
- EU leaders fail to convince Hungary's Orban to lift block on Ukraine loan
- Russia offers to curb Iran support if US halts Ukraine aid - report
- Czech authorities probe suspected arson at a drone technology company
US removes sanctions on Russian citizens
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe US Treasury Department has removed two Russian citizens from its sanctions.
Russian citizens Yurii Korzhavin and Lidiya Korzhavina have been removed from the US sanctions list, the Treasury Department said in an update yesterday.
The move comes as the Trump administration temporarily eased curbs on Russian oil transit and purchases to ease supply pressures, after the US-Israeli war with Iran drove a surge in global crude prices.
Russia offers to curb Iran support if US halts Ukraine aid - report
06:25 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia has reportedly offered to stop intelligence-sharing with Iran if the US agreed to do the same with Ukraine.
Moscow has stepped up intelligence sharing and military coordination with Tehran since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began three weeks ago, including reportedly supplying coordinates of American military assets in the region.
Washington, however, rejected the quid pro quo last week, two people familiar with the matter, told the Financial Times.
Ukrainian drones target Moscow
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarNearly 30 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Russian capital and the surrounding region overnight, Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin said.
Throughout the latter part of yesterday and during the early hours of today, swarms of Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow, the mayor said, adding that the artillery units were intercepted by Russia's defence units.
Emergency services responded to the crash sites, and no casualties were reported, he said.
Czech authorities probe suspected arson at a drone technology company
05:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarCzech authorities said Friday they were investigating a fire at a warehouse of a company that makes drone technology as a suspected arson linked to terrorism.
The fire broke out in an industrial zone in the city of Pardubice, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Prague, causing no injuries, police said.
LPP Holding confirmed a fire in one of its buildings. It said it was cooperating with the investigation and declined further comment.
More here.
Czech authorities probe suspected arson at a drone technology company
French navy boards a tanker suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe French navy on Friday intercepted and boarded a tanker in the Mediterranean Sea that President Emmanuel Macron said is linked to Russia’s sanctioned shadow fleet shipping oil in violation of international sanctions over Moscow's war on Ukraine.
According to the French maritime authorities for the Mediterranean, the tanker Deyna is suspected of operating under a false flag designation. The interception took place in the Western Mediterranean and was carried out in cooperation with allies, including the United Kingdom, which monitored the ship, the authorities said.
“This operation aimed to verify the nationality of the vessel,” which was flying the flag of Mozambique and was coming from the Russian port of Murmansk, the maritime authorities said in a statement. The documents found onboard “confirmed doubts about the validity of the flag,” they said.
More here.
French navy boards a tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet
Patriarch Filaret, who fought for an independent Ukrainian Orthodox church, dies
04:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPatriarch Filaret of Kyiv — who worked for decades to establish an independent Ukrainian Orthodox church that was free from Moscow's religious authority, a schism that foreshadowed the Russia-Ukraine war — died Friday. He was 97.
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine announced his death, citing the “exacerbation of chronic diseases.”
Filaret had a more limited role in recent years as the cultural and religious divide between Ukraine and Russia widened into full-scale warfare. But his legacy includes a long and partially successful effort to gain recognition of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox jurisdiction.
“The person and numerous good deeds of the late Patriarch Filaret rightfully occupy a special place in the modern history of both the local Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Ukraine as a whole,” said Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv, who leads the OCU.
Ukraine begins compulsory evacuation for children in Donbas
03:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUkraine has begun the compulsory evacuation of children from the city of Sloviansk, in a sign that the security situation is deteriorating in one of the country's main remaining strongholds in the Donbas area.
"I signed an order for the compulsory evacuation of children from certain areas of Sloviansk that are most vulnerable to enemy strikes," Governor Vadym Filashkin wrote on Telegram
.Russian forces have been slowly advancing to the north and east of Sloviansk, and are about 20 km (12 miles) from the edge of the city at various points of the front line of Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Sloviansk is one of several towns and cities which remain under Ukrainian control in an urban "fortress belt" in the eastern region of Donetsk, which comprises part of the Donbas. Russia sees control of the entire Donbas, known for its coal mines and heavy industry, as its key military goal.
Ukraine deploys targets to intercept Middle East units
03:00 , Alex CroftUkraine has deployed interceptor units to protect critical and civil infrastructure in five Middle Eastern countries, Ukraine's security council secretary Rustem Umerov said after a visit to the region.
"Work is also underway to expand coverage areas," Mr Umerov wrote on X.
Kremlin tightens security for senior military officials following assassinations
01:29 , Alex CroftRussia's security services are set to bolster protection for senior military figures following a spate of series of assassinations and attempted killings, which Moscow attributes to Ukraine.
The announcement from the head of the FSB security service comes after Lieutenant-General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of the GRU military intelligence, was shot three times in his Moscow apartment building on 6 February.
Ukraine has denied any involvement in the incident.
State media quoted FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov confirming Alexeyev's recovery and stating that security for such high-ranking officials would "of course" be tightened.
Read the full report here:
Russia tightens security for military figures following assassinations
Russia loses 1,700 troops in Ukraine on deadliest day of the year so far
00:00 , Alex CroftArpan Rai reports:
Russia reportedly experienced its deadliest day of the year in the war against Ukraine on 17 March, with military officials claiming over 1,700 troops lost.
Ukraine's general staff stated that 1,710 Russian troops were killed or wounded, alongside the destruction of 29 artillery systems and 230 vehicles and fuel tankers.
This significant increase in casualties, compared to Russia's recent average of 700-900 daily losses, could indicate Moscow's planned spring offensive.
Ukraine's unmanned systems force, which oversees drone strikes, claimed responsibility for killing or wounding 900 Russian soldiers in a day and a half.
These losses occurred as Russian forces attempted to advance on the Zaporizhzhia front using infantry, motorcycles, and horses under the cover of fog.
Germany eases restrictions for arms exports to Ukraine
Friday 20 March 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftGermany has simplified the export of certain air and naval defence equipment to Ukraine and the Gulf states to ensure deliveries arrive rapidly, the economy ministry has said.
"Iran's indiscriminate attacks on the Gulf states have resulted in an urgent need for military equipment, particularly for air defence," said Economy Minister Katherina Reiche.
"With the new, temporary licence, we are adapting our arms export control procedures for the export of urgently needed arms to these countries to meet these new requirements," she added.
As well as Ukraine, the new general export licence, valid for six months, applies to exports to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
Under the new regulation, exporters are permitted to export goods without first having to submit an individual application to the BAFA office for export control, said the ministry.
Cuba readies for first Russian oil shipment of the year as energy crisis deepens
Friday 20 March 2026 22:02 , Alex CroftCuba is preparing to receive its first shipment of Russian oil this year, just days after the government announced it was operating on natural gas, solar power and thermoelectric plants as severe power outages continue to hit an island whose power grid is crumbling.
The Russian-flagged Anatoly Kolodkin is some 3,000 nautical miles from Cuba in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to reach the island in 10 days, Jorge Piñón, an expert at the University of Texas Energy Institute, told The Associated Press.
If so, that would mark the first time any oil shipment from any country reaches Cuba in the past three months given a U.S. energy blockade.
Read more here:
Cuba readies for first Russian oil shipment of the year as energy crisis deepens
In pictures: Ukrainian troops undergo drone training
Friday 20 March 2026 21:00 , Alex Croft
Putin preparing for new push to capture Donetsk, experts say
Friday 20 March 2026 20:02 , Alex CroftPutin preparing for new push to capture Donetsk, experts say
The Russian military appears to be readying for a renewed push to claim the part of the eastern Donetsk region that remains under Ukraine's control, as well as possible offensives in several other sectors.
Analysts have observed that Moscow has been building up reserves and its operations are expected to gain tempo as the spring warmth dries the terrain.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has noted that Russian troops have stepped up artillery barrage and drone attacks, seeking to weaken Ukrainian defenses before ground attacks.
Ukraine has sought to derail the Kremlin's plans by launching counterattacks in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, where Russian forces have sought to carve out bridgeheads with an aim to advance toward the regional capitals, which are key industrial hubs.
The ISW said in a recent battlefield assessment that Ukraine's successful retaliation in the Dnipropetrovsk region will likely continue to force Russia to "choose between defending against the Ukrainian counterattacks and allocating manpower and materiel for offensive operations elsewhere" on the front, possibly spoiling the anticipated Russian offensive.
It also noted that Ukrainian forces have stepped up their midrange strikes against Russian logistics, military equipment and manpower to try to derail the expected offensive
Russian war bloggers warn that Moscow would need to bolster its forces drastically to conduct any major offensive, something that raises challenges for the Kremlin.
After the widely unpopular "partial mobilization" of 300,000 reservists early in the war that prompted hundreds of thousands to flee the country to avoid being drafted, the Russian military has changed tactics, relying on volunteers and recruiting foreign fighters attracted by reasonably high wages and other benefits.
Putin said Russia has about 700,000 troops fighting in Ukraine, about the same number that Ukraine reportedly has.
US intelligence chief claims Russia has upper hand
Friday 20 March 2026 19:02 , Alex CroftUS Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday that Russia had "maintained the upper hand in its war against Ukraine."
"US-led negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are ongoing. Until such an agreement is met, Moscow is likely to continue fighting a war of attrition with the aim of degrading Kyiv’s ability and will to resist," Gabbard said.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has said he is open to discussing peace. He portrays the war as a watershed moment in relations with the West, which he says humiliated Russia after the Soviet Union fell in 1991 by enlarging Nato and encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence.
Gabbard is seen as a strong believer of Russia’s propaganda and has always backed Moscow in any conflict it is engaged in.
Ukrainian and European leaders say Russia cannot be allowed to achieve its aims after what they cast as an imperial-style land grab and that Moscow could next attack a Nato member state if it wins. Moscow denies this.
Watch: Ukraine advances in 'kill zone' areas as forces strike Russian drone unit in Donetsk
Friday 20 March 2026 18:00 , Alex CroftRussia says no part of country safe from Ukraine’s long-range attacks
Friday 20 March 2026 17:01 , Alex CroftTop Russian leaders have been informed that no part of its country is now safe from Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes that threaten far-off regions in Russia.
Sergei Shoigu, former defence minister and secretary of Russia’s security council told a council meeting on Tuesday that long-range attacks now threaten the Ural region, situated more than 1,500km (930 miles) from the country’s border.
Shoigu said Ukraine’s development of drones has advanced to a level that “no Russian region can feel safe” and the Ural region is already “in the immediate danger zone”.
He added that Ukraine’s aerial strikes on Russian infrastructure surged nearly fourfold in 2025, with more than 23,000 attacks recorded.
“The pace of weapons systems development, primarily that of unmanned drone systems, and the sophistication of the methods used to deploy them are such that no region of Russia can feel safe,” Shoigu told officials in the city of Yekaterinburg.
EU leaders blast Viktor Orbán over a Ukraine loan veto
Friday 20 March 2026 16:31 , Alex CroftEuropean Union leaders on Thursday lashed out at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accusing him of hijacking critical aid for Ukraine and undermining EU decision-making in an effort to win an election at home.
In a rare public tirade against a member of their ranks, leaders insisted that Orbán must respect the 27-nation bloc’s decision in December to fund Ukraine’s armed forces and war-ravaged economy for the next two years. Orbán himself had previously approved what is seen as a critical lifeline for war-ravaged Ukraine.
“He’s using Ukraine as a weapon in his election campaigning, and it’s not good. We had a deal, and I think that he betrayed us,” Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters as the leaders gathered for a summit in Brussels.
Read the full report:
EU leaders blast Viktor Orbán over a Ukraine loan veto, accusing him of playing election games
EU will find ways to get loan to Ukraine, von der Leyen says
Friday 20 March 2026 16:00 , Alex CroftThe EU will find ways to pay out the promised €90bn (£77bn) loan to Ukraine despite Hungary's ongoing resistance, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.
"We will deliver one way or the other," von der Leyen told reporters after a summit in Brussels, where EU leaders failed to convince Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban to lift his blockade on the vital EU loan to Ukraine.
EU leaders condemned the "unacceptable" resistance by Hungary during their meeting, EU Council president Antonio Costa said.
"A deal is a deal, we need to honour our word. And no one can blackmail the European Council," Costa said.
Orban's veto 'act of serious disloyalty', says Germany's Merz
Friday 20 March 2026 15:29 , Alex CroftGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz said the European Commission had been asked by leaders to find ways to pay out the loan, and called Viktor Orban's veto an unprecedented "act of serious disloyalty".
"This will leave its mark," he said. "This is a serious violation of the principle of loyalty of the member states amongst each other, and it damages the standing of the European Union."
Kremlin decries Ukrainian drone attacks on energy infrastructure
Friday 20 March 2026 15:01 , Alex CroftRussia has said Ukraine’s drone attacks on energy sites in southern Krasnodar region connected to the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines which carry natural gas to Turkey via the Black Sea will affect the already volatile market.
Gazprom said at least 26 Ukrainian drones targeted three compressor stations between Tuesday and Thursday.
Gazprom said the compressor stations “ensure” the flow of natural gas through the two pipelines, which are the only remaining routes for Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe.
“As global energy markets are feeling unease… such irresponsible and thoughtless actions by the Kyiv regime can further destabilize the situation in the region and the entire world,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Zelensky sends a delegation to US to seek resumption of Russia-Ukraine talks
Friday 20 March 2026 14:33 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he sent an official delegation to the United States in a bid to move forward suspended negotiations on ending Russia's invasion of his country.
It comes as a senior Kremlin official indicated Friday that a new round of US-brokered talks between Moscow and Kyiv will likely take place soon.
The trilateral talks, which have yet to produce any breakthrough on key issues, have been on ice while the Iran war has dominated international attention.
Mr Zelensky is keen to restore momentum to the negotiations and said late Thursday that he had sent representatives to the U.S. for a meeting expected Saturday. The White House did not confirm any meeting.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia won’t be present at those talks. He said the time and venue for a new trilateral meeting haven’t been agreed yet.
“The pause is temporary, we hope it’s temporary regarding the continuation of the trilateral format,” he said.
France seizes Deyna vessel, Macron announces
Friday 20 March 2026 14:01 , Alex CroftFrench president Emmanuel Macron has announced that the French Navy on Friday seized the Deyna vessel, a member of the Russian shadow fleet.
Local officials told Reuters that the French Navy boarded the Mozambique-flagged oil tanker in the Western Mediterranean after the vessel, sailing from the Russian port of Murmansk, was suspected of flying a false flag.
The operation was carried out with British allies, the French Mediterranean prefecture said.
"These ships, which circumvent international sanctions and violate the law of the sea, are war profiteers. They seek to reap profits and finance Russia's war effort," Mr Macron wrote.
Ukraine deploys targets to intercept Middle East units
Friday 20 March 2026 13:28 , Alex CroftUkraine has deployed interceptor units to protect critical and civil infrastructure in five Middle Eastern countries, Ukraine's security council secretary Rustem Umerov said after a visit to the region.
"Work is also underway to expand coverage areas," Mr Umerov wrote on X.
Report to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr @ZelenskyyUa, on the work of Ukrainian teams in the Gulf region.
— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) March 20, 2026
Over the past week, I visited the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan. I held meetings with leadership of those countries and relevant institutions.… pic.twitter.com/PWlfTG0She
Kremlin tightens security for senior military officials following assassinations
Friday 20 March 2026 13:01 , Alex CroftRussia's security services are set to bolster protection for senior military figures following a spate of series of assassinations and attempted killings, which Moscow attributes to Ukraine.
The announcement from the head of the FSB security service comes after Lieutenant-General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of the GRU military intelligence, was shot three times in his Moscow apartment building on 6 February.
Ukraine has denied any involvement in the incident.
State media quoted FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov confirming Alexeyev's recovery and stating that security for such high-ranking officials would "of course" be tightened.
Read the full report here:
Russia tightens security for military figures following assassinations
Ukraine counting on EU to unblock €90bn package, Zelensky says
Friday 20 March 2026 12:29 , Alex CroftA 90 billion-euro aid package from the European Union that is currently blocked by Hungary is critical for Kyiv as it faces a "very difficult" situation while fighting Russia, president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.
In comments to the European Council, he added that Ukraine was working productively with the EU on restoring the Druzhba oil pipeline damaged by Russia, and that he has received signals from the US that peace talks with Russia may resume soon.
Russia loses 1,700 troops in Ukraine on deadliest day of the year so far
Friday 20 March 2026 11:59 , Alex CroftArpan Rai reports:
Russia reportedly experienced its deadliest day of the year in the war against Ukraine on 17 March, with military officials claiming over 1,700 troops lost.
Ukraine's general staff stated that 1,710 Russian troops were killed or wounded, alongside the destruction of 29 artillery systems and 230 vehicles and fuel tankers.
This significant increase in casualties, compared to Russia's recent average of 700-900 daily losses, could indicate Moscow's planned spring offensive.
Ukraine's unmanned systems force, which oversees drone strikes, claimed responsibility for killing or wounding 900 Russian soldiers in a day and a half.
These losses occurred as Russian forces attempted to advance on the Zaporizhzhia front using infantry, motorcycles, and horses under the cover of fog.
Watch: Kremlin says Ukraine peace talks on 'situational pause'
Friday 20 March 2026 11:27 , Alex CroftGermany eases restrictions for arms exports to Ukraine
Friday 20 March 2026 10:56 , Alex CroftGermany has simplified the export of certain air and naval defence equipment to Ukraine and the Gulf states to ensure deliveries arrive rapidly, the economy ministry has said.
"Iran's indiscriminate attacks on the Gulf states have resulted in an urgent need for military equipment, particularly for air defence," said Economy Minister Katherina Reiche.
"With the new, temporary licence, we are adapting our arms export control procedures for the export of urgently needed arms to these countries to meet these new requirements," she added.
As well as Ukraine, the new general export licence, valid for six months, applies to exports to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
Under the new regulation, exporters are permitted to export goods without first having to submit an individual application to the BAFA office for export control, said the ministry.
Russia loses 1,700 troops in deadliest day of war this year
Friday 20 March 2026 10:25 , Arpan RaiRussia lost more than 1,700 troops this week on Tuesday, suffering its deadliest day of war against Ukraine, military officials said.
Ukraine’s general staff said it had killed or wounded 1,710 Russian troops on March 17 and destroyed 29 artillery systems as well as 230 vehicles and fuel tankers.
Russia’s average daily losses have been recorded between 700 to 900 troops per day in recent months, in data shared by the Ukrainian military.
The increased death and injured toll among Russian forces could indicate Moscow’s planned spring offensive to capture more territory of Ukraine.
Ukraine said its unmanned systems force, which oversees drone strikes, was responsible for killing or wounding 900 Russian soldiers in a day and a half, after Moscow’s forces attempted to surge forward on the Zaporizhzhia front.
The Russian troops were attempting to move in using infantry, motorcycles and horses under cover of fog before being wiped out, said Robert Brovdi, head of the Ukrainian drone unit “Magyar’s Birds”.
Putin preparing for new push to capture Donetsk, experts say
Friday 20 March 2026 09:55 , Arpan RaiThe Russian military appears to be readying for a renewed push to claim the part of the eastern Donetsk region that remains under Ukraine's control, as well as possible offensives in several other sectors.
Analysts have observed that Moscow has been building up reserves and its operations are expected to gain tempo as the spring warmth dries the terrain.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has noted that Russian troops have stepped up artillery barrage and drone attacks, seeking to weaken Ukrainian defenses before ground attacks.
Ukraine has sought to derail the Kremlin's plans by launching counterattacks in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, where Russian forces have sought to carve out bridgeheads with an aim to advance toward the regional capitals, which are key industrial hubs.
The ISW said in a recent battlefield assessment that Ukraine's successful retaliation in the Dnipropetrovsk region will likely continue to force Russia to "choose between defending against the Ukrainian counterattacks and allocating manpower and materiel for offensive operations elsewhere" on the front, possibly spoiling the anticipated Russian offensive.
It also noted that Ukrainian forces have stepped up their midrange strikes against Russian logistics, military equipment and manpower to try to derail the expected offensive
Russian war bloggers warn that Moscow would need to bolster its forces drastically to conduct any major offensive, something that raises challenges for the Kremlin.
After the widely unpopular "partial mobilization" of 300,000 reservists early in the war that prompted hundreds of thousands to flee the country to avoid being drafted, the Russian military has changed tactics, relying on volunteers and recruiting foreign fighters attracted by reasonably high wages and other benefits.
Putin said Russia has about 700,000 troops fighting in Ukraine, about the same number that Ukraine reportedly has.
The war in Iran raises pressure on Ukraine while Russia prepares new offensives
Friday 20 March 2026 09:25 , Arpan RaiWith US-brokered Ukraine peace talks on hold due to the war in the Middle East, Russian president Vladimir Putin is expected to try to expand his military gains via new offensives against his southern neighbor that could put even more pressure on Kyiv.
Windfall revenues from surging global oil prices are filling Moscow's war coffers and US air defence assets are being drained quickly by Iranian attacks across the Gulf, raising concerns that little will be left available for Ukraine in the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Ukraine's European allies have promised to maintain their steadfast support, but bickering over a major €90bn (£77bn) European Union loan to cover Kyiv's military and economic needs for two years has reflected the mounting challenges.
As new signs of a rift emerge in Western alliances, Putin and his generals are pondering plans for the spring and summer campaign across more than the 1,200-kilometer (about 750-mile) front line.
Germany says Orban's veto is an 'act of serious disloyalty'
Friday 20 March 2026 08:55 , Arpan RaiGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz said the European Commission had been asked by leaders to find ways to pay out the loan, and called Viktor Orban's veto an unprecedented "act of serious disloyalty".
"This will leave its mark," he said. "This is a serious violation of the principle of loyalty of the member states amongst each other, and it damages the standing of the European Union."
US intelligence chief claims Russia has upper hand
Friday 20 March 2026 08:25 , Arpan RaiUS Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday that Russia had "maintained the upper hand in its war against Ukraine."
"US-led negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are ongoing. Until such an agreement is met, Moscow is likely to continue fighting a war of attrition with the aim of degrading Kyiv’s ability and will to resist," Gabbard said.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has said he is open to discussing peace. He portrays the war as a watershed moment in relations with the West, which he says humiliated Russia after the Soviet Union fell in 1991 by enlarging Nato and encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence.
Gabbard is seen as a strong believer of Russia’s propaganda and has always backed Moscow in any conflict it is engaged in.
Ukrainian and European leaders say Russia cannot be allowed to achieve its aims after what they cast as an imperial-style land grab and that Moscow could next attack a Nato member state if it wins. Moscow denies this.
Zelensky says Ukrainian negotiators heading to US for Saturday talks
Friday 20 March 2026 07:55 , Arpan RaiPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukrainian negotiators were headed to the United States for new talks this weekend on a resolution to the four-year-old war pitting Kyiv against Moscow.
"There has been a pause in the talks. It is time to end that and we will do everything so that the talks can be truly meaningful," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
"The Ukrainian team... is already on the way and we expect a meeting on Saturday in the United States”, he said.
EU will find ways to get loan to Ukraine, von der Leyen says
Friday 20 March 2026 07:25 , Arpan RaiThe EU will find ways to pay out the promised €90bn (£77bn) loan to Ukraine despite Hungary's ongoing resistance, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.
"We will deliver one way or the other," von der Leyen told reporters after a summit in Brussels, where EU leaders failed to convince Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban to lift his blockade on the vital EU loan to Ukraine.
EU leaders condemned the "unacceptable" resistance by Hungary during their meeting, EU Council president Antonio Costa said.
"A deal is a deal, we need to honour our word. And no one can blackmail the European Council," Costa said.
Zelensky tells EU leaders €90bn is 'critical' for Ukraine
Friday 20 March 2026 06:55 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said the European Union loan being halted by Hungary is “critical” for Ukraine and needed to protect lives.
“We value European support in protecting Ukraine from Russian strikes – especially when it comes to air defence and drone production. We should continue using every opportunity to find missiles for Patriot systems. That’s why the PURL program is helpful,” he said on X.
Referring to Hungary, Zelensky said: “We know – not everyone likes the idea of using part of the 90 billion to buy Patriot missiles through PURL if there are no other options. But if there really are no other options, this is necessary to defend against Russian ballistic attacks – it’s about saving lives.”
Hungary PM and Kremlin ally, Viktor Orban, has yet again clashed with Brussels and mainstream EU politicians but had not previously reneged on a deal agreed among EU leaders, diplomats say.
Many EU officials are particularly exasperated by Orban's veto as Hungary secured an opt-out from paying for the costs of the loan, along with the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
War-hit Kyiv faces a ballooning budget deficit and has no alternative financing options if the EU loan remains blocked.
Russia attacks two foreign-flagged ships in Ukraine's Odesa
Friday 20 March 2026 06:44 , Arpan RaiA Russian drone attack damaged two foreign-flagged commercial vessels in Ukraine's southern Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, said this morning.
Two civilian commercial ships under the flags of Palau and Barbados were moored and loaded with grains, Kiper said. Two people were wounded, and also a grain silo and administrative buildings were hit in the overnight attack, he said.
Why is a pipeline carrying oil to Russia blocking EU's Ukraine loan
Friday 20 March 2026 06:25 , Arpan RaiAt the heart of the hold-up of a loan from the EU to Ukraine is the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia. It was damaged by a Russian attack in January, according to Ukrainian and EU officials.
Ukraine says the pipeline will take a further six weeks to repair. Hungary says the pipeline is already functional and accuses Ukraine of withholding the oil supply.
Some leaders voiced hope that Hungary will change its stance after next month's election or after the pipeline is repaired.
But Merz said EU leaders had asked the European Commission, the bloc's executive, to examine whether there were ways to implement the loan without relying on Orban.
Orban said he had faced a "tough debate" at the summit but Hungary had stood its ground. "As long as Zelensky does not lift the oil blockade, they will not receive any money from Brussels," he posted on X.
Speaking to reporters after the summit, Orban said Hungary also wanted guarantees the oil supply would not be interrupted again.
That argument drew the ire of Costa, who said only Russia could ensure the pipeline would not be attacked in future.
"This is not the responsibility of Ukraine. This is not the responsibility of the European Union," he said. "And that's why it's completely unacceptable what Hungary is doing."
EU leaders fail to convince Hungary's Orban to lift block on Ukraine loan
Friday 20 March 2026 05:55 , Arpan RaiEuropean Union leaders failed to convince Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban on Thursday to lift his blockade on a vital 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) EU loan to Ukraine, officials said.
"They tried. They failed," one European official said of the efforts by other EU leaders to convince Orban at a summit in Brussels.
EU leaders agreed to the loan in December but Orban, who has cordial ties with Russia and has clashed with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, has blocked its implementation, citing a dispute over a war-damaged pipeline.
Orban's stance has angered other EU leaders as Kyiv could run short of money in weeks if it does not receive new funding and his U-turn has called into question the credibility of the European Council, the EU's highest decision-making body.
"It was intense, a lot of pressure on Orban that (EU summit) decisions are respected by all," another European official said after the leaders discussed the Ukraine loan.
A third European official, referring to Orban, said: "Discussion was tough and rough, but Viktor is still not budging." A fourth said: "Everyone is increasingly angry with Orban."
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential discussions between leaders.
Kremlin tightens security for senior military officials following assassinations
Friday 20 March 2026 05:25 , Arpan RaiRussia's security services are set to bolster protection for senior military figures following a spate of series of assassinations and attempted killings, which Moscow attributes to Ukraine.
The announcement from the head of the FSB security service comes after Lieutenant-General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of the GRU military intelligence, was shot three times in his Moscow apartment building on 6 February.
Ukraine has denied any involvement in the incident.
State media quoted FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov confirming Alexeyev's recovery and stating that security for such high-ranking officials would "of course" be tightened.
On Thursday, the Kremlin also condemned what it called an intensification of Ukrainian attacks on Gazprom gas compressor stations serving two major pipelines, saying such incidents threatened critical infrastructure and international energy routes.
Russia tightens security for military figures following assassinations
Kremlin decries Ukrainian drone attacks on energy infrastructure
Friday 20 March 2026 04:50 , Arpan RaiRussia has said Ukraine’s drone attacks on energy sites in southern Krasnodar region connected to the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines which carry natural gas to Turkey via the Black Sea will affect the already volatile market.
Gazprom said at least 26 Ukrainian drones targeted three compressor stations between Tuesday and Thursday.
Gazprom said the compressor stations “ensure” the flow of natural gas through the two pipelines, which are the only remaining routes for Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe.
“As global energy markets are feeling unease… such irresponsible and thoughtless actions by the Kyiv regime can further destabilize the situation in the region and the entire world,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Russia loses 1,700 troops in deadliest day of war this year
Friday 20 March 2026 04:29 , Arpan RaiRussia lost more than 1,700 troops this week on Tuesday, suffering its deadliest day of war against Ukraine, military officials said.
Ukraine’s general staff said it had killed or wounded 1,710 Russian troops on March 17 and destroyed 29 artillery systems as well as 230 vehicles and fuel tankers.
Russia’s average daily losses have been recorded between 700 to 900 troops per day in recent months, in data shared by the Ukrainian military.
The increased death and injured toll among Russian forces could indicate Moscow’s planned spring offensive to capture more territory of Ukraine.
Ukraine said its unmanned systems force, which oversees drone strikes, was responsible for killing or wounding 900 Russian soldiers in a day and a half, after Moscow’s forces attempted to surge forward on the Zaporizhzhia front.
The Russian troops were attempting to move in using infantry, motorcycles and horses under cover of fog before being wiped out, said Robert Brovdi, head of the Ukrainian drone unit “Magyar’s Birds”.
Orban's veto 'act of serious disloyalty', says Germany's Merz
Friday 20 March 2026 03:50 , Arpan RaiGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz said the European Commission had been asked by leaders to find ways to pay out the loan, and called Viktor Orban's veto an unprecedented "act of serious disloyalty".
"This will leave its mark," he said. "This is a serious violation of the principle of loyalty of the member states amongst each other, and it damages the standing of the European Union."
EU will find ways to get loan to Ukraine, von der Leyen says
Friday 20 March 2026 03:25 , Arpan RaiThe EU will find ways to pay out the promised €90bn (£77bn) loan to Ukraine despite Hungary's ongoing resistance, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.
"We will deliver one way or the other," von der Leyen told reporters after a summit in Brussels, where EU leaders failed to convince Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban to lift his blockade on the vital EU loan to Ukraine.
EU leaders condemned the "unacceptable" resistance by Hungary during their meeting, EU Council president Antonio Costa said.
"A deal is a deal, we need to honour our word. And no one can blackmail the European Council," Costa said.
Zelensky says Ukrainian negotiators heading to US for Saturday talks
Friday 20 March 2026 03:24 , Arpan RaiPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukrainian negotiators were headed to the United States for new talks this weekend on a resolution to the four-year-old war pitting Kyiv against Moscow.
"There has been a pause in the talks. It is time to end that and we will do everything so that the talks can be truly meaningful," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
"The Ukrainian team... is already on the way and we expect a meeting on Saturday in the United States”, he said.
Watch: Kremlin says Ukraine peace talks on 'pause' as Iran war wages on
Friday 20 March 2026 03:00 , Joe MiddletonUkraine counting on EU to unblock €90bn package, Zelensky says
Friday 20 March 2026 02:53 , Arpan RaiA 90 billion-euro aid package from the European Union that is currently blocked by Hungary is critical for Kyiv as it faces a "very difficult" situation while fighting Russia, president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.
In comments to the European Council, he added that Ukraine was working productively with the EU on restoring the Druzhba oil pipeline damaged by Russia, and that he has received signals from the US that peace talks with Russia may resume soon.
Estonia summons Russian diplomat after Russian jet violates Estonian airspace
Friday 20 March 2026 01:00 , Joe MiddletonEstonia has summoned the Russian charge d'affaires after a Russian fighter jet violated the Baltic country's airspace on March 18, Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said on Thursday.
The violation occurred near Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland, off Estonia's northern coast, where a Russian SU-30 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace and remained for around one minute, Estonia's foreign ministry said.
"The violation was responded to by a unit of the Italian Air Force, and there was no threat to Estonia's security," Tsahkna said.
Peace talks on a 'situational pause' says Peskov
Friday 20 March 2026 00:15 , Joe MiddletonThe Kremlin said on Thursday that trilateral peace talks on Ukraine with the United States were on a "situational pause".
Russia's Izvestia newspaper said the Iran war had temporarily halted negotiations between Moscow, Washington and Kyiv. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia hopes the pause will end and another round of negotiations can be held.
He added that the widening of the war in the Middle East was destabilising energy markets, with global consequences including for Russia.
Kremlin says it will try to assist Russian archaeologist facing extradition to Ukraine
Thursday 19 March 2026 23:12 , Joe MiddletonThe Kremlin said on Thursday that it would do everything possible to assist a Russian archaeologist who is facing extradition to Ukraine.
Alexander Butyagin is accused by Ukraine of involvement in unauthorised excavation and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it was obvious the Polish court harboured pro-Ukrainian sympathies.
EU leaders fail to convince Hungary's Orban to lift block on Ukraine loan
Thursday 19 March 2026 22:00 , Bryony GoochEuropean Union leaders failed to convince Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban on Thursday to lift his blockade on a vital 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) EU loan to Ukraine, officials said.
"They tried. They failed," one European official said of the efforts by other EU leaders to convince Orban at a summit in Brussels.
EU leaders agreed to the loan in December but Orban, who has cordial ties with Russia and has clashed with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, has blocked its implementation, citing a dispute over a war-damaged pipeline.
Orban's stance has angered other EU leaders as Kyiv could run short of money in weeks if it does not receive new funding and his U-turn has called into question the credibility of the European Council, the EU's highest decision-making body.
"It was intense, a lot of pressure on Orban that (EU summit) decisions are respected by all," another European official said after the leaders discussed the Ukraine loan.
A third European official, referring to Orban, said: "Discussion was tough and rough, but Viktor is still not budging." A fourth said: "Everyone is increasingly angry with Orban."
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential discussions between leaders.
Italy warns Russian tanker could explode in Mediterranean at any time
Thursday 19 March 2026 21:00 , Bryony Gooch
Italy warns abandoned Russian tanker could explode in Mediterranean at any time
Watch: Ukraine advances in 'kill zone' areas as forces strike Russian drone unit in Donetsk
Thursday 19 March 2026 20:00 , Bryony GoochIn pictures: Zelensky speaking from Kyiv to EU leaders via video link during a roundtable of the EU Summit
Thursday 19 March 2026 19:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russian blogger who denounced Putin ‘is in psychiatric facility’
Thursday 19 March 2026 18:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russian blogger who unexpectedly denounced Putin ‘put in psychiatric facility’
Ukraine counting on EU to unblock 90 billion euro package, Zelensky says
Thursday 19 March 2026 17:00 , Bryony GoochA 90 billion-euro aid package from the European Union that is currently blocked by Hungary is critical for Kyiv as it faces a "very difficult" situation while fighting Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.
In comments to the European Council, he added that Ukraine was working productively with the EU on restoring the Druzhba oil pipeline damaged by Russia, and that he has received signals from the US that peace talks with Russia may resume soon.
Ukraine faces missile shortage due to war in Iran, says Zelensky
Thursday 19 March 2026 16:30 , Bryony Gooch
Ukraine faces missile shortage due to war in Iran, says Zelensky
Ukraine could boost rapeseed plantings if Iran conflict drags on
Thursday 19 March 2026 16:00 , Bryony GoochUkraine could boost rapeseed plantings by a third to 1.5 million hectares if the conflict in Iran drags on, its deputy economy minister told Reuters on Thursday, as soaring global fuel prices lift demand for biodiesel feedstocks.
Fuel prices have surged since US-Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February sparked conflict in the Middle East, raising concerns of further increases if the war persists.
Ukraine is a major European producer and exporter of rapeseed, bought largely by EU countries for cooking oil and biodiesel.
"If this situation drags on, then yes, farmers will expand their rapeseed acreage and could reach 1.5 million hectares in autumn and that is 400,000 hectares more than today," Taras Vysotskiy said.
"It is simply difficult to increase the area under cultivation by that much in a single year," he added.
In pictures: A resident walks near an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike in Odesa
Thursday 19 March 2026 15:30 , Bryony Gooch
Thousands in Moldova cut off from water after Russian strike
Thursday 19 March 2026 15:00 , Bryony Gooch
Thousands in Moldova cut off from water after Russian strike pollutes river
In pictures: Sean Penn speaks to Ukrainian officer of the National Guard 3rd Operational "Spartan" Brigade near the front line
Thursday 19 March 2026 14:30 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Russia has already made $10bn on Iran war, says Zelensky
Thursday 19 March 2026 14:00 , Bryony GoochKremlin says it will try to assist Russian archaeologist facing extradition to Ukraine
Thursday 19 March 2026 13:30 , Bryony GoochThe Kremlin said on Thursday that it would do everything possible to assist a Russian archaeologist who is facing extradition to Ukraine.
Alexander Butyagin is accused by Ukraine of involvement in unauthorised excavation and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it was obvious the Polish court harboured pro-Ukrainian sympathies.
Peace talks on a 'situational pause' says Peskov
Thursday 19 March 2026 13:00 , Bryony GoochThe Kremlin said on Thursday that trilateral peace talks on Ukraine with the United States were on a "situational pause".
Russia's Izvestia newspaper said the Iran war had temporarily halted negotiations between Moscow, Washington and Kyiv. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia hopes the pause will end and another round of negotiations can be held.
He added that the widening of the war in the Middle East was destabilising energy markets, with global consequences including for Russia.
Kremlin says increased Ukrainian attacks on gas infrastructure threaten energy routes
Thursday 19 March 2026 12:30 , Bryony GoochThe Kremlin on Thursday condemned what it called an intensification of Ukrainian attacks on Gazprom gas compressor stations, saying such incidents threatened critical infrastructure and international energy routes. Gazprom said such attacks had increased in frequency this week, but all of them had been repelled.
Watch: Ukraine advances in 'kill zone' areas as forces strike Russian drone unit in Donetsk
Thursday 19 March 2026 12:00 , Bryony GoochEstonia summons Russian diplomat after Russian jet violates Estonian airspace
Thursday 19 March 2026 11:30 , Bryony GoochEstonia has summoned the Russian charge d'affaires after a Russian fighter jet violated the Baltic country's airspace on March 18, Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said on Thursday.
The violation occurred near Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland, off Estonia's northern coast, where a Russian SU-30 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace and remained for around one minute, Estonia's foreign ministry said.
"The violation was responded to by a unit of the Italian Air Force, and there was no threat to Estonia's security," Tsahkna said.
Ukraine asks India to release citizens over alleged Myanmar drone activity
Thursday 19 March 2026 11:00 , Arpan RaiUkraine has formally urged India to release six of its citizens, who were arrested last week alongside one US national on allegations of illegally entering a restricted border state without permits and crossing into neighbouring Myanmar to train anti-junta ethnic groups in drone warfare.
Indian authorities arrested the six Ukrainians as well as the US citizen on the night of 13 March at three separate airports.
According to a court order issued on Monday, which remanded the seven in police custody until a hearing on 27 March, they are accused of illicitly travelling to India’s northeastern state of Mizoram.
From there, they allegedly crossed into Myanmar to provide drone warfare training to ethnic armed groups opposing the military junta, and illegally imported large consignments of drones from Europe into Myanmar via India.
Ukraine asks India to release citizens over alleged drone activity
Russia says no part of country safe from Ukraine’s long-range attacks
Thursday 19 March 2026 10:45 , Arpan RaiTop Russian leaders have been informed that no part of its country is now safe from Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes that threaten far-off regions in Russia.
Sergei Shoigu, former defence minister and secretary of Russia’s security council told a council meeting on Tuesday that long-range attacks now threaten the Ural region, situated more than 1,500km (930 miles) from the country’s border.
Shoigu said Ukraine’s development of drones has advanced to a level that “no Russian region can feel safe” and the Ural region is already “in the immediate danger zone”.
He added that Ukraine’s aerial strikes on Russian infrastructure surged nearly fourfold in 2025, with more than 23,000 attacks recorded.
“The pace of weapons systems development, primarily that of unmanned drone systems, and the sophistication of the methods used to deploy them are such that no region of Russia can feel safe,” Shoigu told officials in the city of Yekaterinburg.
Russia says Ukraine peace talks paused amid Iran war
Thursday 19 March 2026 10:15 , Arpan RaiPeace talks between the United States, Russia and Ukraine are on pause amid the Iran war, Izvestia reported this morning, citing Russian officials.
Izvestia said the Kremlin had confirmed the pause and believes that the Iran war could push Kyiv towards reaching a compromise.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev would continue working on investment and economic cooperation but that "the trilateral group is on pause".
