A Turkish crude oil tanker carrying 27 crew members has been hit by drones about 14 miles off Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait, Turkish media reported.
All crew members are reported to be safe but the Sierra Leone-flagged vessel suffered severe damage following an explosion on the bridge of the ship.
The vessel had departed from Russia’s port of Novorossiysk carrying around 1 million barrels of crude oil.I
t comes as president Volodymyr Zelensky said the US was prepared to offer Ukraine high-level security guarantees as part of a peace deal – but only if Kyiv agrees to withdraw from the eastern region of Donbas.
In an interview with Reuters, Zelensky indicated that Washington’s proposal ties long-term protection for Ukraine directly to territorial concessions, a condition he suggested could undermine the country’s future security.
Washington already suggested ceding the Donbas, Ukraine’s industrial heartland, in its controversial 28-point plan presented to Kyiv and Moscow last year.
Russian strikes have killed two civilians in Kharkiv and damaged infrastructure, while Ukraine has reportedly carried out drone attacks inside Russia’s Belgorod region, killing two Russians.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe said that 15 of its citizens had been killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, the latest African country to report recruits dying on the frontlines.
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Kremlin ordered Moscow internet shutdown amid ‘security threats’ – report
Internet access in Moscow is reportedly beginning to stabilise after a three-week disruption, with independent Russian outlet The Bell reporting Wednesday that the blackout was
ordered by the government.
Citing sources in the local IT sector, the report said the Scientific and Technical Service Department of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) received instructions “from above” to shut down internet access in response to unspecified security threats.
According to the sources, the FSB provided internet providers with a map indicating areas of Moscow where access should be cut, while signalling that the decision was not theirs.
In early March, Russian authorities introduced a “whitelist” system allowing access only to selected websites during mobile internet outages. These included pro-government social media platforms, media outlets and official state websites.
Officials initially said the disruptions were part of testing the new system, but some have since linked them to unspecified security threats, The Bell reported. Similar outages have also been reported in St Petersburg.
The near month-long disruption marks the first time Moscow has faced such widespread internet restrictions since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has also stepped up pressure on messaging platforms. In the summer of 2025, its telecommunications regulator began blocking voice calls on Telegram, and officials are now reportedly moving towards a full ban on the app, which could come into force as early as April.
Sources cited by The Bell said the criteria for selecting affected areas in Moscow remain unclear. At least two appeared to correspond with locations where air defence systems are deployed, though other known sites were not included on the map.
Shweta Sharma26 March 2026 07:00
Turkish crude oil tanker hit by drone near Bosphorus strait, report says
The Turkish crude oil tanker Altura has been hit by a drone about 15 nautical miles (28km) off Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait, broadcaster NTV reported on Thursday, adding that all 27 crew members were safe.
The Sierra Leone-flagged vessel had departed from Russia’s port of Novorossiysk carrying around 1 million barrels of crude oil, according to ship-tracking data. It is under sanctions from the European Union and Britain.
NTV said there was an explosion on the bridge of the ship, which is owned by Turkish firm Besiktas, after it was struck in the Black Sea.
The engine room also took on water.
The vessel then requested assistance, and a Turkish coast guard ship, along with an emergency response vessel, was dispatched. There were no reported casualties.
The tanker, which is under European Union sanctions and listed as part of a “shadow fleet” on MarineTraffic, was reportedly struck by both a drone and an unmanned surface vessel.
Damage was reported to the upper section of the ship as well as the engine room.
Shweta Sharma26 March 2026 06:50
Romania says fragments of downed drone fell near border with Ukraine
Fragments of a drone downed by Ukrainian air defences fell on Romanian territory, the Romanian defence ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
“The drone fell just outside the village of Parches in the border county of Tulcea. No damage was recorded,” the ministry said.
It added that the drone had been destroyed by Ukrainian air defences during an overnight Russian attack on Ukraine.
Shweta Sharma26 March 2026 06:45
Zimbabwe says 15 citizens killed after fraudulent recruitment into Russia-Ukraine war
Zimbabwe has confirmed the deaths of 15 of its citizens who were recruited into the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as authorities issue warnings about widespread fraudulent schemes luring individuals from several African nations into the four-year-old war.
Information Minister Zhemu Soda announced in Harare that the government is intensifying diplomatic efforts to repatriate 66 other Zimbabweans who are still alive. He revealed that victims from Zimbabwe were enticed by "fraudulent" employment agencies offering "deceptive and lucrative job offers," primarily using "social media platforms as their primary hunting ground."
Soda detailed the "pattern" of these schemes: victims are promised attractive salaries and safe working conditions, only to have their travel documents confiscated and be "coerced into active combat." He added, "They receive little to no training and are placed in life-threatening situations. When they are injured, killed or captured, the recruiters vanish, leaving families in Zimbabwe with no information, no support and no one to hold accountable. In many cases, the promised remuneration is never paid."
Zimbabwe says 15 citizens killed after fraudulent recruitment into Russia-Ukraine war
The southern African nation, which maintains close ties with Russia, is now working to ensure the safe return of survivors and to repatriate the remains of those who perished, according to the ministerShweta Sharma26 March 2026 06:30
In pictures: Families demand answers for missing Ukrainian soldiers
Relatives and friends of Ukrainian servicemen gathered in Kyiv to draw attention to those still in captivity, missing in action, or killed in the war but whose bodies have not yet been returned.
Several family members held banners with pictures of their missing loved ones in Kyiv on Wednesday.
More than 90,000 Ukrainians are officially registered as missing due to the, Ukraine's commissioner for missing persons in February.
Shweta Sharma26 March 2026 06:00
Zelensky says Gulf countries showing 'strong interest' in Ukraine’s drones defence experties
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine has expertise in defending against drones, and Gulf states are showing a strong interest in taking Kyiv’s help.
“We already see that not only ‘shaheds’ are being used in the region, but there is also growing evidence of the use of FPV drones,” he said on X, referring to First-Person View drones, which provide a real-time, live video feed from an on-board camera.
“This is modern warfare, and everyone must be prepared for it. Ukraine has this expertise, and in exchange for our support we need help in areas where we face greater challenges.
“This includes protection against ballistic threats and financial resources for defence. Ukraine offers a mutually beneficial partnership: we can strengthen those who can strengthen us.
“The situation in the world now is such that only coordinated and joint actions can guarantee real results and genuine security. We are being blocked in Europe, and as long as this risk remains, we must seek out additional opportunities to strengthen ourselves.
“The Middle East and the Gulf are the right direction and serious opportunities to make Ukraine stronger.”
Shweta Sharma26 March 2026 05:55
G7 allies warn against unfavourable deal for Ukraine amid stalled peace talks
Foreign ministers from the world's leading Western democracies meet in France this week against the backdrop of wars in Iran and Ukraine, and mounting unease over an increasingly unpredictable US foreign policy.
The G7 foreign ministers are expected to push back against any attempt to force Ukraine into an unfavourable peace deal.
The talks come as negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine have stalled, raising concerns in Europe that the United States could pressure Kyiv into concessions as it seeks a quick diplomatic breakthrough.
European officials said they would stress to US secretary of state Marco Rubio that any agreement must not undermine Ukraine’s security, calling instead for tougher sanctions on Moscow and sustained military support for Kyiv.
They are also expected to focus on preparing Ukraine for another winter of war, including protecting its energy infrastructure from continued Russian strikes.
The meeting, which Ukraine’s foreign minister is attending, comes against the backdrop of growing unease among allies over Washington’s shifting foreign policy and its handling of both Ukraine and the Middle East conflict.
The two-day gathering at the restored 12th-century Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, about 40km (25 miles) southwest of Paris, brings together ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and the EU.
“We will reiterate firm support for Kyiv and for US mediation efforts, stressing the need to maintain strong pressure on Moscow through sanctions,” an Italian diplomatic source said.
Shweta Sharma26 March 2026 05:45
Zelensky warns Russia betting US will ‘walk away’ from Ukraine talks
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia is counting on the United States losing interest in Ukraine if peace talks drag on, warning there is a real risk Washington could disengage.
Speaking in Kyiv, Zelensky said Moscow was betting that stalled negotiations would lead the US to “walk away”, as a fourth round of trilateral talks scheduled for this month was postponed due to the Iran conflict.
He also questioned whether Russia would be willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands more troops to seize the remaining parts of Donbas it does not control – around 6,000 square kilometres.
Zelensky reiterated that a face-to-face summit with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin was the “only way” to resolve key disputes over territory and security guarantees and secure a peace deal.
He played down past tensions with Trump, saying the US president was approaching the war pragmatically and wanted a swift end to the conflict.
“I am not a box of chocolates or a car, to be liked or disliked,” Zelensky said. “He probably wants the war to end quickly. We also want that.”
The Ukrainian leader also thanked the Trump administration for continuing supplies of Patriot air defence systems despite growing demand due to the conflict in the Gulf, though he said deliveries remain insufficient.
Ukraine has previously warned that shipments of the US-made systems – crucial for intercepting Russian ballistic missiles – could be affected by shifting global priorities.
Zelensky added that Kyiv is stepping up domestic production of long-range missiles and drones, enabling it to strike targets deep inside Russia in response to continued bombardment.
Shweta Sharma26 March 2026 05:30
US links Ukraine security guarantees to Donbas concession, Zelensky says
The US is prepared to offer Ukraine high-level security guarantees as part of a peace deal – but only if Kyiv agrees to withdraw from the eastern region of Donbas, president Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
In an interview with Reuters, Zelensky indicated that Washington’s proposal ties long-term protection for Ukraine directly to territorial concessions, a condition he suggested could undermine the country’s future security.
“The Americans are prepared to finalise these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbas,” he said.
Russia has long insisted that full control of Donbas is a core war aim, raising the stakes for any negotiated settlement.
Zelensky warned that giving up the region would weaken Ukraine’s defensive position and risk emboldening Russia, arguing that control of eastern territories is central to both Ukraine’s security and that of Europe.
“I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees,” he said.
Key questions around the proposed guarantees remain unresolved, including who would fund Ukraine’s military deterrence and how allies would respond in the event of renewed Russian aggression.
Shweta Sharma26 March 2026 04:16
Russia sought to blackmail US using intelligence to Iran, Zelensky says
Russia sought to blackmail the United States by offering to stop sharing military intelligence with Iran if, in return, Washington would cut off Ukraine from its intelligence data, president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday.
Zelensky, who said on Monday that Ukraine's military intelligence has "irrefutable" evidence that Russia is continuing to provide intelligence to Iran, told Reuters he had seen the data but provided no further details.
Speaking at his presidential compound in Kyiv, Zelensky said that some Iranian drones — used to attack US military assets and its allies during the war in the Middle East — contained Russian components.
“I have reports from our intelligence services showing that Russia is doing this and saying: ‘We will not pass on intelligence to Iran if America stops passing intelligence to Ukraine.’ Isn’t that blackmail? Absolutely,” Zelensky said.
He did not specify whom Russia was addressing in the reported remarks. Russia has denied assisting Iran in its month-old conflict with the United States and Israel – a denial that Washington said earlier this month it had also received directly from Moscow during discussions on the issue.
Zelensky added that he hopes Ukraine can secure long-term agreements with some Gulf countries to fund the production of Ukrainian drone interceptors or supply much-needed air defence missiles.
Shweta Sharma26 March 2026 04:00NewerOlder