Belgian forces seized a suspected Russian shadow fleet vessel in the North Sea with the help of the French navy on Sunday.
Defence minister Theo Francken shared a video of the operation and said the oil tanker was thought to be sailing with a “false flag and false documents”.
The vessel, named Ethera, which was on the US, EU and UK sanctions list, was subsequently escorted to the port of Zeebrugge.
“Without his shadow fleet Putin can’t wage war against innocent Ukrainians. So we take these vessels out. One by one. Till his war of aggression stops,” Francken said.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky praised Belgian and French forces for the “decisive decision”, adding that “Russia operates like a mafia organisation, and the response must match that reality".
Emmanuel Macron said the seizure, which was assisted by French navy helicopters, was a “major blow” to Russia’s fleet.
“Europeans are determined to cut off the sources of funding for Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine by enforcing sanctions,” the French president said.
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Ukrainian drones hit major oil terminal in southern Russia's Novorossiysk
A major Russian oil terminal has been set ablaze after coming under attack from Ukrainian drones, local reports said.
The drones targeted the southern Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, reported Telegram news channel Astra.
Sheskharis oil terminal in the Port of Novorossiysk has been attacked, reported the Kyiv Independent, citing an analysis of eyewitness footage conducted by the outlet.
The site is Russia’s prominent oil export terminal that serves as the endpoint for pipelines run by Russia's state-run Transneft, the world's largest oil pipeline company.
Novorossiysk mayor Andrey Kravchenko said at least four residential buildings were reported damaged in the attack but he did not mention the oil terminal.
"At the moment, damage is known to have occurred to two more apartment buildings and five houses. Fires broke out at two addresses and are being extinguished. According to preliminary information, there are no casualties," Kravchenko said.
The attack has left three people injured, the Krasnodar Krai operational headquarters said.
Watch: Zelensky calls Ukrainian air defence skills 'irreplaceable' amid Europe’s growing role in Iran conflict
Russia condemns US-Israel strikes on Iran as 'unprovoked act of armed aggression'
Russia has condemned the US-Israeli strikes on Iran as “a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state,” demanding an immediate halt to the military campaign and a return to diplomacy.
In a statement posted to Telegram, the Russian foreign ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of “hiding behind” concerns about Iran’s nuclear program while actually pursuing regime change.
It warned the attacks risked triggering a “humanitarian, economic and possibly radiological catastrophe” in the region and accused the US and Israel of “plunging the Middle East into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation.”
Russian Foreign Ministry condemns US-Israel strikes on Iran as 'unprovoked act of armed aggression'
Russia has condemned U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and urged an immediate stop to the campaign and a return to diplomacyArpan Rai2 March 2026 04:27
Watch: Zelensky calls Ukrainian air defence skills 'irreplaceable' amid Europe’s growing role in Iran conflict
Zelensky says changes in Iran must be used properly
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the changes in Iran brought about by US and Israeli strikes to be "used properly" to benefit the country's people who had withstood violence from their authorities.
It is important that this chance for change for Iran be used properly, he said.
Zelensky, speaking in his nightly video address, said Iran's authorities had killed "tens of thousands of its own citizens just in recent months”.
“The Iranian people have long effectively been alone against violence – against the Iranian regime. This regime, which has killed tens of thousands of its own citizens just in recent months, which has always fueled and organised wars in the region, which provided Russia with ‘shaheds’ and the technology for their production – this regime has brought this attitude upon itself,” he said.
He added: “I thank everyone who is trying to prevent the war from expanding and who is defending against strikes from Iran. And I also thank everyone who tells Russia – now, based on the experience of the Iranian regime – that justice does come.“
Next three-way peace talks depend on security situation and diplomacy, says Zelensky
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the time and place of the next round of peace talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine would depend on the security situation in the Middle East and the level of "real diplomatic possibilities".
Zelensky said he would issue fresh directives to Ukraine's negotiating team at the talks, without detailing what they were.
On Thursday, he had said the next round of talks would probably take place in Abu Dhabi in early March.
However, the UAE has since been caught up in hostilities after the US and Israel launched aerial attacks on Iran.
Belgian defence minister shares footage of Russian shadow fleet vessel capture
Belgium’s defence minister has shared a video of its forces boarding a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker on Sunday.
The armed forces had seized the vessel, which was suspected of sailing with a “false flag and false documents”, said defence minister Theo Francken.
Dubbed the “Operation Blue Intruder”, he said the mission showed “courage, precision, and determination.”
Francken said: “Without his shadow fleet Putin can’t wage war against innocent Ukranians. So we take these vessels out. One by one. Till his war of agrgession stops.”
Ukraine to help shoot down Iranian drones in Gulf, says Starmer
Prime minister Keir Starmer said Ukraine’s expertise against Russian use of Kamikaze Shahed drones will be used in the Middle East conflict as Ukrainian experts will now provide guidance on intercepting Iranian drones.
“We are not joining these strikes, but we will continue with our defensive actions in the region,” Starmer said on Sunday night.
“And we will also bring experts from Ukraine, together with our own experts, to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones attacking them,” he said.
Russia has lost 1.26M troops since war started, Ukrainian defence ministry says
Russia has suffered an estimated 1,266,770 troop casualties since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to the figures released on Sunday.
The Ukrainian ministry of defence said the number includes 870 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
It has also lost 11,709 tanks, 24,108 armoured tanker vehicles, and 80,510 vehicle and fuel tanks, it said.
Ukraine’s defence ministry has not revealed its own losses, but CSIS estimated that Ukraine has seen 500,000 to 600,000 military casualties, including up to 140,000 deaths.
Ukrainians made it through winter, says Zelensky
Russia hit Ukraine with more than 14,670 guided aerial bombs, 738 missiles, and nearly 19,000 attack drones over winter, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
In the last week of February alone, it used more than 1,720 attack drones, nearly 1,300 guided aerial bombs, and over 100 missiles to attack Ukraine.
Ukrainian civilians have faced their toughest winter yet as Moscow repeatedly target’s the country’s energy system, leaving hundreds of thousands without power for long periods.
“But despite everything, Ukrainians made it through this difficult winter, when Russia did not even try to seek justification for its bestial strikes on civilian critical infrastructure,” the Ukrainian president said.
“Evil must be confronted in every part of the world. When the United States and other partners show enough determination, even the bloodiest dictators ultimately pay for their crimes. I thank everyone who helps Ukraine defend itself and save lives.”
Arpan Rai2 March 2026 02:50NewerOlder