Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says he will not present a “bad deal” to end the war for a referendum, and that his country will only hold elections once firm security guarantees and a ceasefire are in place.
Zelensky was speaking ahead of Friday's Munich Security Conference, where there is a chance he will meet US secretary of state Marco Rubio.
Zelensky said Ukraine was ready for both presidential elections and a referendum on any peace agreement with Russia, but set clear conditions for when that could happen.
“The tactic we chose is for the Americans not to think that we want to continue the war,” Zelensky told The Atlantic. “That’s why we started supporting their proposals in any format that speeds things along.
“I don’t think we should put a bad deal up for a referendum,” he added.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to Sir Keir Starmer and John Healey for a “new and timely air defence package” worth £500m on the eve of Friday's conference.
The European leaders gathering in Germany are hoping for clarity around US president Donald Trump’s inconsistent geopolitical policies and threats that have caused concern for transatlantic relations and the post-World War II international order.
Key Points
- Zelensky rules out referendum on 'bad deal'
- Zelensky accuses Olympics of playing into Moscow’s hands after athlete disqualified
- Putin’s forces knock out power in Ukrainian cities as thousands without heat
- Zelensky slams ‘utterly stupid idea’ he would announce elections on anniversary of Putin’s invasion
- Ukrainian drone strike causes fire at refinery in Russia's Arctic Komi region, governor says
- European parliament clears €90bn loan for cash-strapped Ukraine
Pictures show Ukrainians struggle without electricity and water
04:15 , Shweta SharmaAround 3,500 apartment buildings in Kyiv were without heating on Thursday after Russia’s latest wave of attacks disrupted energy supplies across the capital, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
According to Klitschko, nearly 2,600 high-rise buildings lost heating overnight following the strike, adding to 1,100 residential blocks already cut off due to previous attacks.
Russia pounds Ukraine with drones and ballistic missiles
04:00 , Shweta SharmaRussia battered Ukraine’s energy system again into Thursday morning leaving tens of thousands in the capital Kyiv and the cities of Dnipro and Odesa without heat, power and water, officials said.
Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles, one cruise missile and 219 drones overnight on Thursday. Air defences downed or neutralised 16 missiles and 197 drones, it said.
Two people were hurt in the attack on Kyiv, which also hit a residential building, an official said.
In the industrial southeastern city of Dnipro, a combined missile and drone strike wounded four people, including a baby boy and a four-year-old girl, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Telegram.
Four people injured in Odesa as Russia hits energy facilities
03:30 , Shweta SharmaFour people were injured in an overnight Russian attack that struck energy facilities and other critical infrastructure in Odesa, Kyiv Independent reported, citing regional officials.
Governor Oleh Kiper said Russian forces launched a large-scale drone assault on the region.
“The enemy continues to massively attack the Odesa region with strike drones. Despite the active work of air defence forces, direct hits and falling drone debris were recorded,” he said.
One of the injured was hospitalised in serious condition. Residential buildings, industrial sites, energy facilities and port infrastructure were damaged in the strikes, officials said.
The attack also disrupted electricity, heating and water supplies. Restoration work is ongoing.
The assault followed another wave of strikes a day earlier, when Russian forces targeted Odesa and other major cities including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv with drones and missiles aimed at Ukraine’s energy sector. Power generation facilities and substations were hit in Kyiv, Odesa and Dnipro.
Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s critical infrastructure through the autumn and winter months, leaving thousands without electricity and heating during freezing temperatures.
Recap: Russia fully blocks WhatsApp in major crackdown
03:00 , Bryony GoochRussia has moved to "fully block" Meta-owned WhatsApp, according to a company spokesperson, as Moscow intensifies its efforts to promote domestic platforms and tighten its grip on the nation's internet.
This action comes amid a deepening dispute with foreign technology providers, which escalated following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Authorities in Moscow are actively promoting a state-backed alternative messaging service named 'MAX'. Critics have voiced concerns that this app could be utilised for user tracking, although these allegations have been dismissed as false by state media.
"Due to Meta's unwillingness to comply with Russian law, such a decision was indeed made and implemented," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, proposing that Russians switch to MAX, Russia's state-owned messenger.
"MAX is an accessible alternative, a developing messenger, a national messenger, and it is available on the market for citizens as an alternative," said Peskov.
Zelensky rules out referendum on 'bad deal'
02:59 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv would not put a “bad deal” to a referendum and would only hold a vote once firm security guarantees and a ceasefire were in place.
In an interview published by The Atlantic, Zelensky said Ukraine was ready for both presidential elections and a referendum on any peace agreement, but set clear conditions for when that could happen.
“The tactic we chose is for the Americans not to think that we want to continue the war,” Zelensky said. “That’s why we started supporting their proposals in any format that speeds things along.”
He added that Ukraine was “not afraid of anything”.
“Are we ready for elections? We’re ready. Are we ready for a referendum? We’re ready,” he said.
Zelensky said he had rejected a proposal, reported this week by the Financial Times, to announce elections and a referendum on February 24 – the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
He said a ceasefire and proposed US security guarantees against a future invasion had not yet been finalised.
“No one is clinging to power,” Zelensky was quoted as saying. “I am ready for elections. But for that we need security, guarantees of security, a ceasefire.”
He added: “I don’t think we should put a bad deal up for a referendum.”
Zelensky has said in recent weeks that a document outlining security guarantees for Ukraine is almost ready to be signed.
But in his latest remarks, he acknowledged that key details remain unresolved, including whether the United States would be willing to shoot down incoming missiles over Ukraine if Russia were to violate any peace agreement.
“This hasn’t been fixed yet,” Zelensky said. “We have raised it, and we will continue to raise these questions. We need all of this to be written out.”
Zelensky slams idea he would announce elections on war anniversary
02:00 , Bryony Gooch
Zelensky slams ‘utterly stupid idea’ he would announce elections on war anniversary
Watch: UK pledges more than £500 million in missiles and defence support for Ukraine
01:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRubio to meet Zelensky in Munich
00:00 , Bryony GoochUS secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Thursday he would have a chance to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at this week's Munich Security Conference. Rubio made the comment to reporters before his departure from Washington to the conference.
Kremlin says it expects next round of peace talks on Ukraine to happen soon
Thursday 12 February 2026 23:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe Kremlin said on Thursday that it expected the next round of peace talks on Ukraine to happen soon and that there was already an understanding about their timing and location.
Three sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters that US officials have proposed a trilateral meeting on Monday and Tuesday in Miami.
“We have a certain understanding (of the details), and we will keep you informed,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“We expect the next (third) round of talks to take place soon.”
Russia attacks another Ukraine's thermal power plant, says company DTEK
Thursday 12 February 2026 22:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkraine's major private energy company DTEK said on Thursday that Russia attacked its thermal power plant overnight, causing significant damage to the plant's equipment.
"This is the eleventh massive attack on the company's thermal power plants since October 2025," DTEK said on the Telegram messenger, giving no more details.
Ukrainian speed skater told to cover up ‘war propaganda’ message as new Olympic helmet row erupts
Thursday 12 February 2026 21:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkrainian short track speed skater Oleh Handei has revealed he was instructed to cover an inspirational message on his helmet at the Olympics, after officials deemed it linked to the ongoing war with Russia.
Handei's disclosure follows the ejection of his compatriot, skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, from competition over his "helmet of remembrance" which depicted athletes killed since Russia's invasion, despite a personal appeal from the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to wear it.
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Ukrainian speed skater told to cover up ‘war propaganda’ message on helmet
Kremlin says it won’t stop fighting until Kyiv gives in as first day of peace talks end in Abu Dhabi
Thursday 12 February 2026 20:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia has warned Ukraine that it will not stop fighting until Kyiv makes what the Kremlin considers the right “decisions” to end the conflict as the first day of peace talks between the parties ended on Wednesday.
Two-day trilateral meetings took place in Abu Dhabi and are set to continue on Thursday as US-brokered negotiations desperately seek to end the nearly four-year conflict.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner led the US delegation while Ukraine was represented by Rustem Umerov and Russia by military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov.
Kremlin says it won’t stop fighting until Kyiv gives in as first day of talks end
Is this the moment Europe pulls away from Trump to see off Russia’s war against Ukraine?
Thursday 12 February 2026 19:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainEuropeans need to wean themselves off the US security system, and in Munich, Trump’s team will give them good reason to, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Europe and the liberal democracies of the West face a reckoning this week in Munich: will they be willing, or able, to pull away from a hostile US and forge the capacity to see off Russia’s war against Europe?
Is this when Europe pulls away from Trump to see off Russia’s war against Ukraine?
Freezing on the front line: The Ukrainians struggling to survive in -26C cold with scarce food and no power
Thursday 12 February 2026 18:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAs the fourth anniversary of Putin’s invasion nears and peace talks show little signs of progress, Ukrainians tell Alex Croft about the grim reality on the ground:
As three-way peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US stall, freezing Ukrainians say they are struggling to feed their families while Putin’s relentless assault continues.
Russian forces began the year by ramping up their strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, plunging large swathes of the country into darkness.
Ukraine is suffering its coldest winter in more than a decade, and without power, many of its people have been unable to cook meals while temperatures plummet as low as -26C.
Freezing on front line: The Ukrainians struggling to survive Putin’s war in -26C cold
Germany to deliver 5 more interceptor missiles to Ukraine, defence minister says
Thursday 12 February 2026 17:47 , Maryam Zakir-HussainGermany will deliver five additional PAC-3 missile interceptors to Ukraine if other countries donate a total of 30, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday.
PAC-3, or Patriot Advanced Capability-3, is among the main weapons the West has supplied to Ukraine as it fights Russia's invasion.
"We all know it is about saving lives," Pistorius said.
"It's a matter of days and not a matter of weeks or months.”
Zelensky accuses Olympics of playing into Moscow’s hands after athlete disqualified
Thursday 12 February 2026 17:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainVolodymyr Zelensky has responded with outrage after a Ukrainian athlete was disqualified for wearing a helmet with the faces of killed Ukrainian athletes.
The Ukrainian president wrote a scathing post on social media which criticised the International Olympics Committee, accusing them of failing to adhere to “the principle of Olympism, which are founded on fairness and the support of peace”.
He wrote: “Sport shouldn’t mean amnesia, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors.”
Sport shouldn’t mean amnesia, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors. Unfortunately, the decision of the International Olympic Committee to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise. This is certainly… pic.twitter.com/gGXizj5C5m
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 12, 2026
Over 220,000 people in Russia's Belgorod region without electricity after attack, governor says
Thursday 12 February 2026 16:23 , Maryam Zakir-HussainMore than 220,000 people in Russia's Belgorod region have been left without electricity after a Ukrainian attack caused an accident at a substation, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Thursday.
"Emergency crews are working. Restoration will take at least 4 hours," Gladkov wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Kremlin memo outlines potential US-Russia economic pact under Trump, Bloomberg News reports
Thursday 12 February 2026 15:56 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia has outlined potential areas for economic cooperation with the Trump administration, including a possible return to using the US dollar in bilateral dealings, Bloomberg News reported, citing an internal Kremlin memo.
The senior-level document, dated this year, sets out seven areas where Russian and US economic objectives align after any Ukraine war settlement, the report said.
These include cooperation on promoting fossil fuels over renewable energy, as well as collaborative ventures in natural gas, offshore petroleum and strategic minerals that could benefit American firms, it said.
Putin's children's commissioner says six kids to reunite with families in Russia and Ukraine, thanks Melania Trump
Thursday 12 February 2026 15:44 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia's presidential commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, said on Thursday that six more children were being reunited with their families in Russia and Ukraine and credited US First Lady Melania Trump.
One child would return to Russia and five children would be reunited with their families in Ukraine, she added.
The US First Lady wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin last August about the plight of Ukrainian children separated from their families by the war.
Ukraine accuses Russia of abducting thousands of children, which Moscow denies.
In photos: Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Winter Olympics over banned helmet tribute
Thursday 12 February 2026 15:10 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych is out of the Milan Cortina Games after he refused to stop wearing a banned tribute helmet.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
In photos: Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Winter Olympics over banned helmet tribute
Ukrainian disqualified from Winter Olympics after wearing banned war tribute helmet
Thursday 12 February 2026 14:52 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe International Olympic Committee (IOC) has disqualified Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing in this afternoon’s skeleton heats after he followed up on his vow to wear a banned helmet in tribute to Ukrainian athletes who have died during the war with Russia.
Heraskevych, 27, said he would rather sacrifice his dream of a medal at the Winter Olympics than “betray” his fallen compatriots killed since Russia’s invasion four years ago. Heraskevych’s helmet features images of Ukrainian athletes killed during the war.
Read more here:
Ukrainian disqualified from Winter Olympics over war tribute helmet
Zelensky slams ‘utterly stupid idea’ he would announce elections on anniversary of Putin’s invasion
Thursday 12 February 2026 14:05 , Maryam Zakir-HussainVolodymyr Zelensky has slammed the“utterly stupid idea” he would announce a spring election and a referendum on a peace deal on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Reports citing Ukrainian and European officials claimed the president intended to announce the plans on 24 February, after the Trump administration issued a June deadline for a finalised peace agreement.
But, without ruling out an announcement at some point, Ukraine’s leader has pushed back on the date itself.
Alex Croft has more here:
Zelensky slams ‘utterly stupid idea’ he would announce elections on war anniversary
Is this the moment Europe pulls away from Trump to see off Russia’s war against Ukraine?
Thursday 12 February 2026 13:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainEuropeans need to wean themselves off America’s security system, and in Munich, Trump’s team will give them a good reason to, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Is this when Europe pulls away from Trump to see off Russia’s war against Ukraine?
Russian drone strike kills Ukrainian father and three children
Thursday 12 February 2026 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA Russian drone strike has tragically claimed the lives of a father and his three young children in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, seriously wounding their 35-week pregnant mother, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The drone strike completely destroyed the brick house, setting it ablaze and trapping the family under the rubble, according to the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office.
The 34-year-old father and his three children – twin boys aged two and their one-year-old sister – were killed. Rescue workers pulled the mother alive from the debris, though she sustained blast injuries, a traumatic brain injury, burns, and hearing loss.
Russian drone strike kills Ukrainian father and three children
Ukrainian arms producers receive first wartime export licences, Kyiv says
Thursday 12 February 2026 12:41 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkrainian arms producers have received the first wartime licences to export their goods abroad, the secretary of Kyiv's national security and defence council said on Thursday.
Kyiv recently took the politically sensitive decision to export weapons while it fights a war against Russia as it seeks funds to expand its domestic defence industry and tries to use its innovative weapons as diplomatic leverage to strengthen its alliances.
In a statement on social media, Rustem Umerov did not specify how many enterprises had received a license but said Ukraine's annual production capacity in the sector exceeds $55 billion. Umerov said the interdepartmental government commission which approves arms exports had already held its first meeting in eights months.
Since it was attacked by Russia in February 2022, Ukraine's defence sector has boomed, and now comprises more than 1000 companies, most of them new private sector enterprises.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said recently Ukraine has 450 drone producers; small and cheap Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are now responsible for a majority of strikes on battlefield targets.
"In the areas of UAVs, electronic warfare and reconnaissance, our capabilities already exceed the volume of domestic procurement," Umerov wrote. "Coordinated exports allow us to attract investment, scale up production and launch new technologies for the Ukrainian army."
Zelensky says Moscow 'hesitating' about another round of US peace talks
Thursday 12 February 2026 11:42 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow was "hesitating" about another round of US-brokered talks on stopping the fighting.
Washington has proposed further negotiations next week between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Miami or Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, which was the location of the last meeting, Mr Zelensky said late on Wednesday.
Ukraine "immediately confirmed" it would attend, he said. "So far, as I understand it, Russia is hesitating," Mr Zelensky told reporters in a messaging app interview late Wednesday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that another round of talks was expected "soon" but gave no further details.
American officials made no comment on the possibility of further talks as part of a yearlong peace effort by the Trump administration. Mr Zelensky said last week that the United States has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach a deal.
But with Russia's invasion of its neighbour marking its fourth anniversary later this month, disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv over key issues have held up a comprehensive settlement.
Ukraine foreign minister says attacks on energy grid 'a blow to peace efforts'
Thursday 12 February 2026 10:38 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack as undermining peace push led by US president Donald Trump to end the four-year war.
“No one can close eyes to Russian terror. It is happening right now in the middle of Europe. Despite the Olympic Truce and US-led peace efforts.”
Overnight, Russia brutally attacked Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) February 12, 2026
Hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles targeted energy system, depriving people of power, heating, and water. Civilians were injured, including a toddler and a 4-year-old child.
No one can close eyes to Russian… pic.twitter.com/0JjIv2MCYC
Kremlin says it expects next round of peace talks on Ukraine to happen soon
Thursday 12 February 2026 10:25 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe Kremlin said on Thursday that it expected the next round of peace talks on Ukraine to happen soon and that there was already an understanding about their timing and location.
Three sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters that US officials have proposed a trilateral meeting on Monday and Tuesday in Miami.
“We have a certain understanding (of the details), and we will keep you informed,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“We expect the next (third) round of talks to take place soon.”
Putin’s forces knock out power in Ukrainian cities as thousands without heat
Thursday 12 February 2026 09:52 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia pounded Ukraine with drones and ballistic missiles overnight on Thursday, further battering its energy system and leaving tens of thousands in the capital Kyiv and the cities of Dnipro and Odesa without heat, power and water, officials said.
In Kyiv alone, around 3,500 apartment buildings were without heating on Thursday after the latest attack knocked out supplies to nearly 2,600 high-rises, on top of the 1,100 already affected by previous strikes, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
More than 100,000 families were without electricity, according to private energy firm DTEK, which said one of its thermal power plants had been targeted but did not disclose the location.
Two people were hurt in the attack on Kyiv, which also hit a residential building, Klitschko said.
In Odesa, nearly 300,000 people were left without water as the attack disrupted power supplies, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.
He added that close to 200 buildings in the strategic Black Sea port were left without heating.
Ukrainian drone strike causes fire at refinery in Russia's Arctic Komi region, governor says
Thursday 12 February 2026 09:31 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe head of Russia's northern Komi Republic, Rostislav Goldshtein, said on Thursday that a Ukrainian drone attack had caused a fire at an oil refinery.
No one was injured, he said on Telegram.
Watch: Deadly Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia intensify as Zelensky nears peace deal decision
Thursday 12 February 2026 09:20 , Arpan RaiRussia attacks another Ukraine's thermal power plant, says company DTEK
Thursday 12 February 2026 08:59 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUkraine's major private energy company DTEK said on Thursday that Russia attacked its thermal power plant overnight, causing significant damage to the plant's equipment.
"This is the eleventh massive attack on the company's thermal power plants since October 2025," DTEK said on the Telegram messenger, giving no more details.
The Ukrainian daring the Winter Olympics to disqualify him over war tribute helmet
Thursday 12 February 2026 08:45 , Arpan RaiUkrainian racer Vladyslav Heraskevych says he is prepared to be kicked out of the Winter Olympics for wearing a banned helmet featuring images of athletes killed during the Russian war – insisting he will not betray those who have lost their lives.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reiterated the skeleton helmet contravenes rule 50 the Olympic Charter and made a last-gasp plea for him to take it off on Wednesday morning or rules “will be enforced.”
But the 27-year-old hit back and slammed the IOC for comparing the war to other conflicts around the world, as a major row erupted.
The Ukrainian daring the Winter Olympics to disqualify him over war tribute helmet
Another 2,600 Kyiv buildings without heat after major Russian attack
Thursday 12 February 2026 08:30 , Arpan RaiNearly 2,600 more apartment buildings were left without heating in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv following a Russian attack overnight, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Klitschko said the buildings were located both on the left and right bank of the Dnipro River, in four city districts.
More than 1,100 apartment buildings remained without heating as a result of the previous attacks, he added.
In photos: Rusian attacks set ablaze Ukrainian houses in several cities
Thursday 12 February 2026 08:12 , Arpan Rai
Russia attacks another thermal power plant in Ukraine, knocking out power for thousands
Thursday 12 February 2026 08:05 , Arpan RaiRussian forces have attacked a thermal power plant in Ukraine overnight, causing significant damage to the plant's equipment, Ukraine’s major private energy company DTEK said this morning.
"This is the eleventh massive attack on the company's thermal power plants since October 2025," DTEK said on its Telegram channel but did not share more details on the location of the attack.
Nearly 300,000 people were left without electricity and water supply in Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa after a Russian attack, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.
He added that nearly 200 buildings in the city were left without heating while 10,000 consumers were also without heating in the southeastern city of Dnipro.
Kyiv comes under 'massive' attack from Russian missiles
Thursday 12 February 2026 07:50 , Arpan RaiThe Ukrainian capital Kyiv came under a "massive" attack from Russian missiles in the early hours todaay, with various buildings hit in the assault, officials said.
"A mass attack on the capital is still underway," mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
Klitschko said there had been hits on both residential and non-residential buildings on both sides of the Dnipro River bisecting the city.
Fragments had fallen near two residential buildings in one district, but no fire had broken out and no casualties were reported.
Emergency medical teams had been dispatched.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital's military administration, said at least one hit had been recorded in an eastern suburb.
The southeastern city of Dnipro also came under attack, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Telegram. Some private homes and cars sustained damage, but there were no indications of any casualties.
Air raid alerts remained in effect in both Kyiv and Dnipro well after midnight.
Russia attacks Ukraine with 24 ballistic missiles and 219 drones overnight
Thursday 12 February 2026 07:48 , Arpan RaiRussia launched 24 ballistic missiles, one cruise missile and 219 drones in overnight attacks against Ukraine, the country’s air force said this morning.
Air defence units shot down or neutralised 16 missiles and 197 drones, the Ukraine Air Force said in a post on Telegram.
It added that the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odesa were the main targets of the strike.
WhatsApp says Russia tried to fully block services
Thursday 12 February 2026 07:40 , Arpan RaiRussia has attempted to block Meta's WhatsApp for all users in the country, a company spokesperson said, as Moscow pushes people to use its own home-grown platforms and seeks greater control over the online space.
WhatsApp said the block was part of Russia's efforts to drive users to a "state-owned surveillance app."
"We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected," the company said.
Russia has clashed with foreign tech providers since Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, enacting strict rules around online commentary regarding the war and opposing platforms' efforts to keep users' messages private.
Russian authorities are instead pushing a state-backed rival app called "MAX", which critics claim could be used to track users.
Zelensky says Ukraine needs 'specific date' for entry into EU
Thursday 12 February 2026 07:29 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has sought a “specific date” from the European Union to formally join the bloc.
"Ukraine will do everything to be technically ready for accession by 2027," Zelensky told journalists when asked about the reported partial membership.
"We will at least accomplish the main steps. Second, I want a specific date. I am absolutely confident that if in the agreement... there is no date, then Russia will do everything to block the process."
Earlier, a European Commission spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent that the EU considers Ukraine's accession efforts part of the ongoing peace process, but possible entry dates are not yet speculated.
Zelensky said he would not sign a peace agreement with the US, Russia, and Europe if the agreement did not include a specific date for Ukraine's EU accession.
“This... is about security guarantees, security guarantees for Ukraine," he said.
"These are specific details, with a specific date. And my signature today, on the 20-point plan, the plan to end the war, guarantees Ukrainians that there will be a specific date for our accession,” he said.
It is important that Ukraine will do everything to be technically ready for EU accession by 2027. At least the main steps we will accomplish.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 11, 2026
I want a specific date. If in the agreement, under which America, Russia – specifically Putin – I as President of Ukraine, and Europe…
Zelensky calls for more US pressure on Russia to end war by summer
Thursday 12 February 2026 07:15 , Arpan RaiPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the US needs to apply more pressure on Russia in order to end the war by summer.
The Ukrainian leader had previously said that intelligence had revealed that US officials aimed to seal a peace deal by June.
“It depends not only on Ukraine, but also on America, which must exert pressure – excuse me for saying so, but there is no other way – it must exert pressure on Russia,” he said on Wednesday.
Putin's troops lose Starlink access and territory in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainians advance
Thursday 12 February 2026 07:05 , Arpan RaiA senior Nato official has confirmed Ukraine’s gains in the southern Zaporizhzhia region after Russian forces lost access to Starlink.
Last week, Starlink internet terminals used by Russian troops in Ukraine were deactivated, dealing what one official said was a big setback for Moscow that had disrupted assault operations.
Russian forces have made unauthorised use of thousands of satellite-based Starlink internet connections for secure communications after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv says.
“Taking that link away has put the Russians in somewhat of a command and control predicament,” the official told reporters ahead of a meeting of Nato defence ministers.
“Whatever alternative Russia comes up with is probably not going to be quite as effective.”
Shortly after the loss of access to Starlink, Ukraine’s armed forces confirmed they have regained the village of Kosivtseve in Zaporizhzhia.
Desperate Russian soldiers forcing Ukrainians to register Starlink terminals, officials say
Thursday 12 February 2026 06:50 , Arpan RaiRussian troops are forcing Ukrainians to register for Starlink terminals for the Kremlin’s forces shortly after Elon Musk cut their access to his satellite internet network, officials in Kyiv said.
Ukraine’s coordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war issued the warning on Tuesday and said families of Ukrainian prisoners are being threatened by Russian forces to enroll for Starlink terminals.
"Looking for a way out of the difficult situation in which they found themselves, the occupiers turned their attention to the families of the prisoners," the body handling prisoners of war said.
"Cases of threats and demands to officially register Starlink terminals have been recorded," it added.
Nato chief warns Putin ‘trying to break Ukrainian people: 'They will not be broken'
Thursday 12 February 2026 06:34 , Arpan RaiRussian president Vladimir Putin is trying to break the resolve of Ukrainians and he will fail, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said.
In his address ahead of defence minister meeting, the Nato chief said he was in Kyiv last week and saw the impact of Russia’s “relentless attacks” first-hand.
“President Putin is trying to break the people of Ukraine, hoping to weaken their resolve. But Ukraine and the Ukrainian people have shown time and again that they will not be broken,” he said.
Rutte added that Ukraine “cannot sustain this fight or secure the peace alone,” and stressed the importance of allied support through Nato.
Russia remains silent as Ukraine gears up for new round of talks next week
Thursday 12 February 2026 06:19 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has confirmed Ukraine’s participation in the next round of peace talks and said it has accepted the US invitation.
"(T)he American side has proposed a meeting in America, in Miami, next week. And we immediately confirmed it," Zelensky said.
The talks, however, depend on Russia's agreement to participate, something that Ukraine and the US have not yet received.
"We were waiting for a response from the Russians. So far, as I understand it, Russia is hesitating," Zelensky said.
Earlier, Zelensky had told Bloomberg that negotiations will be hosted by the US and will take place on 17 and 18 February. He added later that a meeting could also take place in Abu Dhabi and Ukraine remains willing to be a part of talks in any location.
Ukraine's Heraskevych's race day today as he says he'll use banned helmet
Thursday 12 February 2026 06:02 , Arpan RaiThe Olympic men's skeleton race begins Thursday, and all eyes at the start will be on Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych.
Will he or won't he?
It's the biggest question in sliding at the Milan Cortina Games.
Heraskevych plans to wear his banned helmet — a tribute to Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed during the war with Russia — in the race, despite the International Olympic Committee saying it violates its rules on political statements and isn't appropriate for competition.
If Heraskevych races with the helmet, he risks sanctions that could go as far as disqualification from the Olympics. And that would put the IOC in a difficult spot, because kicking an athlete out of the Games for paying tribute to those killed in a war would draw tons of criticism.
Watch: Deadly Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia intensify as Zelensky nears peace deal decision
Thursday 12 February 2026 05:24 , Arpan RaiKyiv comes under 'massive' attack from Russian missiles
Thursday 12 February 2026 05:07 , Arpan RaiThe Ukrainian capital Kyiv came under a "massive" attack from Russian missiles in the early hours todaay, with various buildings hit in the assault, officials said.
"A mass attack on the capital is still underway," mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
Klitschko said there had been hits on both residential and non-residential buildings on both sides of the Dnipro River bisecting the city.
Fragments had fallen near two residential buildings in one district, but no fire had broken out and no casualties were reported.
Emergency medical teams had been dispatched.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital's military administration, said at least one hit had been recorded in an eastern suburb.
The southeastern city of Dnipro also came under attack, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Telegram. Some private homes and cars sustained damage, but there were no indications of any casualties.
Air raid alerts remained in effect in both Kyiv and Dnipro well after midnight.
WhatsApp says Russia tried to fully block services
Thursday 12 February 2026 05:00 , Arpan RaiRussia has attempted to block Meta's WhatsApp for all users in the country, a company spokesperson said, as Moscow pushes people to use its own home-grown platforms and seeks greater control over the online space.
WhatsApp said the block was part of Russia's efforts to drive users to a "state-owned surveillance app."
"We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected," the company said.
Russia has clashed with foreign tech providers since Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, enacting strict rules around online commentary regarding the war and opposing platforms' efforts to keep users' messages private.
Russian authorities are instead pushing a state-backed rival app called "MAX", which critics claim could be used to track users.
European parliament clears €90bn loan for cash-strapped Ukraine
Thursday 12 February 2026 04:38 , Arpan RaiThe EU parliament has approved a major loan worth €90bn (£78bn) for Ukraine yesterday, extending a financial lifeline to the war-hit nation.
Lawmakers voted by 458 to 140 in favor of the loan which will cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs for 2026 and 2027. The loan will be backed by the EU's common budget – after plans to tap frozen Russian central bank assets fell by the wayside.
"Support for Ukraine rests on a small number of countries and most if it comes from Europe," centrist lawmaker Nathalie Loiseau said. "It is our honour – and it's in our interest because our security is at stake," she said.
EU foreign policy chief says Ukraine war-time elections 'not a good solution'
Thursday 12 February 2026 04:28 , Arpan RaiEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said conducting elections for war-hit Ukraine is not a good idea as the conditions will make the democratic electoral process extremely difficult.
"Majority of European countries have in their constitution a provision that elections are not held during war," said Kallas. “And why? Because if you have elections, there is always fighting inside between different factions, and when you have outside attacks, literally, then you just can't hold elections because your adversary is outside, and you need to concentrate all the efforts to counter that.”
The top EU official added that Russia does not have an upper hand in the continuing war and is riddled with its own challenges.
"What is important is to know that Russia is not winning this war. The casualty rates are surging. Their economy is not doing well,” she said.
Zelensky says Ukraine needs 'specific date' for entry into EU
Thursday 12 February 2026 04:05 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has sought a “specific date” from the European Union to formally join the bloc.
"Ukraine will do everything to be technically ready for accession by 2027," Zelensky told journalists when asked about the reported partial membership.
"We will at least accomplish the main steps. Second, I want a specific date. I am absolutely confident that if in the agreement... there is no date, then Russia will do everything to block the process."
Earlier, a European Commission spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent that the EU considers Ukraine's accession efforts part of the ongoing peace process, but possible entry dates are not yet speculated.
Zelensky said he would not sign a peace agreement with the US, Russia, and Europe if the agreement did not include a specific date for Ukraine's EU accession.
“This... is about security guarantees, security guarantees for Ukraine," he said.
"These are specific details, with a specific date. And my signature today, on the 20-point plan, the plan to end the war, guarantees Ukrainians that there will be a specific date for our accession,” he said.
'Utterly stupid' idea to call elections on 24 February, says Zelensky
Thursday 12 February 2026 03:55 , Arpan RaiUkrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has said it would be an “utterly stupid” idea to announce an election on 24 February, the date of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as reported by the Financial Times.
“24 February is a special date. Even if there were an intention or relevant steps toward bringing certain elections forward, I believe it would be an utterly stupid idea to use such a date to talk about politics,” he wrote in a post on Wednesday.
“This is a very serious date – four years of war. It’s a large number of people who have defended our state and given their lives. And it is since 24 February that our people have been defending their country every day.
“I could never do such a thing. Therefore, 24 February cannot be used to announce any elections – any elections at all. This is not about individuals. No elections can be announced on 24 February. As for announcing elections in general, I’ll repeat: first security, then politics.
“We can move toward elections when all the relevant security guarantees are in place. The issue of elections has been raised by various partners. Ukraine itself has never raised it. But of course, we are ready for elections. It’s very simple to do: establish a ceasefire – and there will be elections. Meaning, it is a matter of security.”
Nato chief warns Putin ‘trying to break Ukrainian people: 'They will not be broken'
Thursday 12 February 2026 03:39 , Arpan RaiRussian president Vladimir Putin is trying to break the resolve of Ukrainians and he will fail, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said.
In his address ahead of defence minister meeting, the Nato chief said he was in Kyiv last week and saw the impact of Russia’s “relentless attacks” first-hand.
“President Putin is trying to break the people of Ukraine, hoping to weaken their resolve. But Ukraine and the Ukrainian people have shown time and again that they will not be broken,” he said.
Rutte added that Ukraine “cannot sustain this fight or secure the peace alone,” and stressed the importance of allied support through Nato.
Desperate Russian soldiers forcing Ukrainians to register Starlink terminals, officials say
Thursday 12 February 2026 03:28 , Arpan RaiRussian troops are forcing Ukrainians to register for Starlink terminals for the Kremlin’s forces shortly after Elon Musk cut their access to his satellite internet network, officials in Kyiv said.
Ukraine’s coordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war issued the warning on Tuesday and said families of Ukrainian prisoners are being threatened by Russian forces to enroll for Starlink terminals.
"Looking for a way out of the difficult situation in which they found themselves, the occupiers turned their attention to the families of the prisoners," the body handling prisoners of war said.
"Cases of threats and demands to officially register Starlink terminals have been recorded," it added.
Putin's troops lose Starlink access and territory in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainians advance
Thursday 12 February 2026 03:12 , Arpan RaiA senior Nato official has confirmed Ukraine’s gains in the southern Zaporizhzhia region after Russian forces lost access to Starlink.
Last week, Starlink internet terminals used by Russian troops in Ukraine were deactivated, dealing what one official said was a big setback for Moscow that had disrupted assault operations.
Russian forces have made unauthorised use of thousands of satellite-based Starlink internet connections for secure communications after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv says.
“Taking that link away has put the Russians in somewhat of a command and control predicament,” the official told reporters ahead of a meeting of Nato defence ministers.
“Whatever alternative Russia comes up with is probably not going to be quite as effective.”
Shortly after the loss of access to Starlink, Ukraine’s armed forces confirmed they have regained the village of Kosivtseve in Zaporizhzhia.
Zelensky denies reports of February election announcement
Thursday 12 February 2026 03:04 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has denied that he is planning on announcing a presidential election and referendum on a peace deal with Russia on 24 February, as reported by the Financial Times.
Answering reporters' questions in a WhatsApp chat, he said elections could only be held if there was a ceasefire, and that Europe and the US should work in track with Moscow on negotiations.
Kyiv comes under 'massive' attack from Russian missiles
Thursday 12 February 2026 02:55 , Arpan RaiThe Ukrainian capital Kyiv came under a "massive" attack from Russian missiles in the early hours todaay, with various buildings hit in the assault, officials said.
"A mass attack on the capital is still underway," mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
Klitschko said there had been hits on both residential and non-residential buildings on both sides of the Dnipro River bisecting the city.
Fragments had fallen near two residential buildings in one district, but no fire had broken out and no casualties were reported.
Emergency medical teams had been dispatched.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital's military administration, said at least one hit had been recorded in an eastern suburb.
The southeastern city of Dnipro also came under attack, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Telegram. Some private homes and cars sustained damage, but there were no indications of any casualties.
Air raid alerts remained in effect in both Kyiv and Dnipro well after midnight.
Russian strikes kill four civilians, says regional governor
Thursday 12 February 2026 02:30 , Maira ButtRussian strikes have killed four civilians in various localities in Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Wednesday.
Mr Ganzha said the attacks occurred in three small localities near the town of Synelnykove, east of the regional centre of Dnipro.
In one attack, a man was killed and his wife wounded. In another, a couple and their 45-year-old son was killed and a man wounded. A woman was hurt in a third village.
Zelensky calls for more US pressure on Russia to end war by summer
Thursday 12 February 2026 01:30 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the US needs to apply more pressure on Russia in order to end the war by summer.
The Ukrainian leader had previously said that intelligence had revealed that US officials aimed to seal a peace deal by June.
“It depends not only on Ukraine, but also on America, which must exert pressure – excuse me for saying so, but there is no other way – it must exert pressure on Russia,” he said on Wednesday.
Russia attacked railway station in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, deputy PM says
Thursday 12 February 2026 00:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia attacked a railway station in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region early on Wednesday, damaging locomotives, rail, cars and infrastructure, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.
There was also another attack on railway depot in Konotop in the Sumy region, he said on the Telegram messaging app.
"This is another targeted attack on civilian logistics and critical infrastructure," Kuleba wrote.
Zelensky ‘planning Ukraine election and peace deal referendum in spring’ after US pressure
Wednesday 11 February 2026 23:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainVolodymyr Zelensky is planning to announce a spring election and a referendum on a peace deal to end the war with Russia, according to reports.
The Ukrainian president, under mounting pressure from the White House, is set to announce the election plans on 24 February, according to the Financial Times.
It comes after the United States issued a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise a peace agreement in a bid to end the four-year war.
Read more here:
Zelensky ‘planning Ukraine election and peace deal referendum in spring’
Freezing on the front line: The Ukrainians struggling to survive in -26C cold with scarce food and no power
Wednesday 11 February 2026 22:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAs three-way peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US stall, freezing Ukrainians say they are struggling to feed their families while Putin’s relentless assault continues.
Russian forces began the year by ramping up their strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, plunging large swathes of the country into darkness.
Ukraine is suffering its coldest winter in more than a decade, and without power, many of its people have been unable to cook meals while temperatures plummet as low as -26C.
Read more from Alex Croft here:
Freezing on front line: The Ukrainians struggling to survive Putin’s war in -26C cold
Russia turns to Asia to solve employment crisis worsened by war
Wednesday 11 February 2026 21:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA group of visibly weary Indian men, laden with sports bags, recently navigated passport control at a bustling Moscow airport.
Their journey, spanning over 2,700 miles and including a stop in Uzbekistan, brought them to Russia in search of employment.
"I have a contract for one year. In the rubbish disposal business. The money is good," stated Ajit, one of the new arrivals, speaking in English.
Russia turns to Asia to solve employment crisis worsened by war
Russian drone strike kills Ukrainian father and three children
Wednesday 11 February 2026 20:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA Russian drone strike has tragically claimed the lives of a father and his three young children in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, seriously wounding their 35-week pregnant mother, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The drone strike completely destroyed the brick house, setting it ablaze and trapping the family under the rubble, according to the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office.
The 34-year-old father and his three children – twin boys aged two and their one-year-old sister – were killed. Rescue workers pulled the mother alive from the debris, though she sustained blast injuries, a traumatic brain injury, burns, and hearing loss.
Russian drone strike kills Ukrainian father and three children
Zelensky insists on ceasefire before elections
Wednesday 11 February 2026 20:21 , Sam KileyMedia reports that Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky was planning to announce elections this month appear to be a response to US pressure and claims from the Kremlin and the White House that he does not have a democratic mandate.
He was elected by a landslide in 2019 and constitutionally cannot hold new elections while Ukraine is at war.
In voice notes, Mr Zelensky said: “We are ready to work with any schedules proposed by American colleagues. But if we raise the issue of a referendum — I have already said — there must be an understanding of a ceasefire, because structurally a referendum is like elections, meaning security is required.
“The same applies to elections: again, the American side and others who raise the issue — we are not against elections, but only under security conditions.
“Our American colleagues have heard this from us many times”.
February 24 is a special date. Even if there were an intention or relevant steps toward bringing certain elections forward, I believe it would be an utterly stupid idea to use such a date to talk about politics. This is a very serious date – four years of war. It’s a large number…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 11, 2026
Zelensky dismisses reports he will call election
Wednesday 11 February 2026 20:09 , Sam KileyUkraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed reports that he was planning to announce elections on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of his country on 24 February.
Speaking to reporters via WhatsApp messages, he said that such reports were news to him.
“I have said many times regarding elections: we will move to elections when there are all the appropriate security guarantees,” he said.
“I have always said that the issue of elections is raised by various partners. Ukraine itself has never raised it.
“But of course, we are ready for elections. I said it’s very simple to do: establish a ceasefire — there will be elections. This is a matter of security.
“Next: are they insisting on elections in the White House? You know that America has raised the issue of elections. Therefore I don’t want to go into details.
“Otherwise they threaten to withdraw their security guarantees. No, they are not threatening to withdraw security guarantees. By the way, they are not linking elections with security guarantees,” Mr Zelensky said.
Ukraine has been the target of sophisticated information operations and warfare from both Russia and lobbyists backing the Trump administration who have tried to both force elections and cause political schisms in Ukraine.
Wargame simulating Russian attack on Nato suggests Kremlin could ‘achieve goals’ within days
Wednesday 11 February 2026 19:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIn case you missed this-
A new wargame simulating a Russian incursion into Lithuania, carried out by ex-Nato and German officials, concluded that Moscow would “achieve most of its goals” within days.
The exercise envisaged a scenario where the Kremlin used bogus claims of a “humanitarian crisis” in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to seize the Lithuanian city of Marijampole to its east, a key conurbation through which the road linking Russia and Belarus runs.
Wargame simulates how Russia could take Nato country ‘within days’
Russia's curbs on Telegram prompt concern about impact on soldiers - part two
Wednesday 11 February 2026 19:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussian military commentators have frequently described Telegram as an important communications tool for frontline soldiers, though the Kremlin said it was sceptical about this.
"I don't think it's possible to imagine frontline communications being provided via Telegram or some other messaging service," its spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters.
He referred further questions to the Ministry of Defence, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the western Belgorod region which has frequently been struck by Ukrainian drones, said he was worried the latest moves could make it harder to deliver important safety announcements to residents.
"I'm concerned that the slowdown could impact the delivery of operational information to you if the situation worsens," he said, urging people to register with the state's rival MAX messaging system.
Critics say the authorities have clamped down on foreign-based platforms, also including Meta's WhatsApp and Apple's FaceTime, as a way of forcing people to adopt MAX, which they fear will be used by the authorities as a surveillance tool. State media have dismissed such concerns.
Telegram's Russian-born founder Pavel Durov said the app would remain committed to protecting free speech and user privacy "no matter the pressure".
Kremlin spokesman Peskov said the communications watchdog was simply doing its job.
"We can only express regret here; there's nothing good about this, but the law must be followed," he said.
Russian oil revenue plummets as sanctions target Putin’s cash cow
Wednesday 11 February 2026 18:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia's crucial oil and gas revenues, which have sustained its war against Ukraine, have suddenly dwindled to multi-year lows as the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion approaches.
This sharp decline is the result of new punitive measures from the US and the European Union, tariff pressure from US President Donald Trump against India, and a tightening crackdown on the fleet of sanctions-dodging tankers carrying Russian oil.
The resulting revenue drop is forcing President Vladimir Putin to borrow from Russian banks and raise taxes.
Russian oil revenue plummets as sanctions target Putin’s cash cow
Russia's curbs on Telegram prompt concern about impact on soldiers
Wednesday 11 February 2026 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia's curbs on the messaging app Telegram could affect battlefield communications as well as prevent soldiers from keeping in touch with their families, critics charged on Wednesday in an angry backlash against the latest restrictions.
The state communications watchdog, which began limiting voice and video calls via the app last August, said on Tuesday it would impose further curbs because of a lack of action by Telegram to counter criminal and terrorist activity.
Some users have complained that the app has been noticeably slower this week.
In short video appeals, three men purporting to be members of a Russian anti-drone unit said Telegram was vital to their work and urged the watchdog not to interfere with it.
Sergei Mironov, leader of a pro-Kremlin parliamentary party, posted a link to the appeals and said soldiers' lives could be at stake.
"The guys are shedding blood there, they need normal communication, and besides Telegram, they often have nothing," he wrote. "Don't deprive them of what helps them fight the enemy and keep themselves alive."
Speaking separately to reporters, Mironov berated those responsible for impairing the app's performance as "idiots".
Telegram is a hugely popular channel for public and private communications in Russia and has long been the dominant platform for information - and disinformation - about the war in Ukraine.
Russia lacks equipment to safely restart Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Ukraine says
Wednesday 11 February 2026 17:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainEurope's largest nuclear power plant, seized by Russian forces in the early days of their invasion of Ukraine, can be restarted safely only if it is returned to Ukrainian control, the head of Ukraine's nuclear power operator said on Tuesday.
The six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant have been shut down since Russian forces captured the area. Moscow announced last year it was aiming to restart at least one reactor, and the plant's Russian-appointed boss said it could begin producing energy by 2027.
But Pavlo Kovtoniuk, boss of Ukrainian state nuclear firm Energoatom, said Russia lacks some equipment and spare parts to operate it, and risked a nuclear accident if it tries.
"Russia will not be able to launch the station. The main equipment and the control, protection and monitoring systems are all Ukrainian," Kovtoniuk said.
"This means that it's a Ukrainian project, and spare parts are manufactured at Ukrainian enterprises. Without spare parts and without the project, the station simply cannot be operated."
UK steps up troops in Norway to deter Putin
Wednesday 11 February 2026 16:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBritain is set to double its troop presence in Norway from 1,000 to 2,000 over the next three years to bolster High North defences against Russia.
Get the latest from this bulletin:
Russia says it will stick to limits of expired nuclear treaty if US does the same
Wednesday 11 February 2026 15:47 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia will keep observing the missile and warhead limits in the expired New START nuclear treaty with the United States as long as Washington continues to do the same, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
The 2010 treaty ran out on February 5, leaving the world's two biggest nuclear-armed powers with no binding constraints on their strategic arsenals for the first time in more than half a century.
U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to voluntarily abide by the New START limits for another year, saying he wanted a "new, improved and modernized" treaty rather than an extension of the old one.
"Our position is that this moratorium on our side that was declared by the president is still in place, but only as long as the United States doesn't exceed the said limits," Lavrov told the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament.
"We have reason to believe that the United States is in no hurry to deviate from these indicators, and for the foreseeable future these indicators will be observed," he said, without explaining the basis for that assumption.
Lavrov reiterated that Russia wanted to start "strategic dialogue" with the U.S., saying it was "long overdue".
Russian drone strike kills Ukrainian father and three children
Wednesday 11 February 2026 15:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA Russian drone strike has tragically claimed the lives of a father and his three young children in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, seriously wounding their 35-week pregnant mother, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The drone strike completely destroyed the brick house, setting it ablaze and trapping the family under the rubble, according to the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office.
The 34-year-old father and his three children – twin boys aged two and their one-year-old sister – were killed. Rescue workers pulled the mother alive from the debris, though she sustained blast injuries, a traumatic brain injury, burns, and hearing loss.
Russian drone strike kills Ukrainian father and three children
Air defences used against Russian missile attack on Ukraine's Lviv region, mayor says - update
Wednesday 11 February 2026 14:37 , Maryam Zakir-HussainLviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said: "Close to 1440 (local time) two enemy Kinzhal (missiles) were flying in the direction of Lviv. Air defence forces neutralised them. This is a titanic work," Sadovyi wrote on yhe Telegram messaging app.
He added that as of now there were no reports of any damage or people hurt, and that city services were surveying the territory.
Air defences used against Russian missile attack on Ukraine's Lviv region, mayor says
Wednesday 11 February 2026 14:15 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAir defences were used against a Russian missile attack on Lviv region, Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on Wednesday, as the air force warned of Russian missiles in the air.
Lviv is in western Ukraine, less than 60 kilometres from the Polish border.
The city is about 600km (370 miles) away from the nearest border with Russia, making attacks there, especially daytime ones, less common than other major Ukrainian cities.
Russia says it won't breach limits of expired nuclear treaty if US does the same
Wednesday 11 February 2026 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussia will keep observing the missile and warhead limits in the New START nuclear treaty with the United States, which expired last week, as long as Washington continues to do the same, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
The 2010 treaty ran out on February 5, leaving the world's two biggest nuclear-armed powers with binding constraints on their strategic nuclear arsenals for the first time in more than half a century.
US president Donald Trump declined a formal proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin to voluntarily abide by the New START limits for another year. Lavrov said Moscow would stick to the limits itself for now anyway.
"Our position is that this moratorium on our side that was declared by the president is still in place, but only as long as the United States doesn't exceed the said limits," Lavrov told parliament's lower house, the State Duma.
The treaty's expiry has spurred fears of a three-way arms race involving Russia, the U.S. and China, which has far fewer warheads than the other two countries but is arming rapidly.
Some analysts say, however, that Russia is keen to avoid the cost of such a contest at a time when its state budget is feeling the strain from its four-year-old war in Ukraine.
Czech ammunition scheme for Kyiv faces funding shortfalls - NATO official
Wednesday 11 February 2026 13:40 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA Czech initiative sourcing ammunition for Ukraine aims to secure shells worth five billion euros ($5.95 billion) globally but has only managed to raise 1.4 billion euros so far, a senior NATO military official said on Wednesday.
The programme, involving foreign donors including Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands alongside Czech defence officials and arms companies, seeks to acquire large-calibre ammunition for Ukraine to reduce its disadvantage on the battlefield against Russia.
In December, NATO's Ukraine mission, NSATU, projected the initiative would deliver 1.8 million artillery rounds in 2025, constituting 43% of all ammunition supplied to Kyiv, and roughly 70% of the legacy Soviet calibre ammunition.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted 16 billion euros worth of ammunition were available on the global market currently.
NATO is targeting a five-billion-euro expenditure focused predominantly on acquiring hundreds of thousands of artillery shells under the Czech scheme, the official said, adding that 1.4 billion euros had been committed by donors so far.
