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Overnight Russian strikes hit Ukrainian capital Kyiv

Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of exploiting a US proposal to briefly halt strikes in Ukraine to stockpile missiles, rather than support diplomacy.

Russia has resumed its attacks following a brief pause over the weekend requested by Donald Trump On Tuesday, it carried out its largest attack of the year so far, firing 450 drones and 71 missiles at Ukraine.

“It was a deliberate attack against energy infrastructure, involving a record number of ballistic missiles,” the Ukrainian president said.

“In fact, the Russian army exploited the US proposal to briefly halt strikes not to support diplomacy, but to stockpile missiles and wait until the coldest days of the year, when temperatures across large parts of Ukraine drop below -20°C (-4°F).”

As of Tuesday morning, emergency power cuts were in effect in the Ukrainian capital after Russian forces again targeted power plants and energy infrastructure.

It comes after Ukraine and its western allies agreed that Russian violations of a future ceasefire agreement would be met with a military response by Europe before any involvement by the US, according to a report in the Financial Times.

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Russian forces launched a massive overnight air attack on Ukraine from Monday into Tuesday.

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Russia bombards Ukraine with its biggest attack of the year so far

Alex Croft3 February 2026 18:01

Polish government employee charged with collaboration with foreign intelligence

We can now bring you news from Poland, where the defence ministry says one it its employees has been detained and charged for collaborating with a foreign intelligence service.

News website Onet had earlier reported that an employee of the defence ministry had been detained for collaborating with Russian intelligence.

We’ll bring you any further details as they come in.

Alex Croft3 February 2026 17:29

Sweden and Denmark to jointly supply Ukraine with £213 million worth of air defense

Sweden and Denmark will jointly procure and supply Ukraine with air defence systems worth 2.6 billion Swedish crowns (£213 million) to help it ward off Russian attacks, the countries' defence ministers said on Tuesday.

Sweden will fund 2.1 billion crowns of the purchase of Tridon air defence systems, developed by BAE Systems Bofors BAES.L, the Swedish arm of the defence material group. Denmark will contribute about 500 million crowns, Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said.

"This means that Ukraine can develop an air defence battalion if they so wish," he told a joint press conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, with his Danish counterpart Troels Lund Poulsen.

"The purchase doesn't just support Ukraine on the battlefield with more material, but also strengthens our production capacity in Sweden."

Alex Croft3 February 2026 17:01

Poland to investigate possible links between Epstein and Russia

Poland will launch an investigation into any potential Polish fallout from the actions of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and into possible Russian involvement in his actions, prime minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.

Mr Tusk spoke ahead of a visit to Kyiv, on the invitation of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Alex Croft3 February 2026 16:30

Air attack on energy infrastructure the biggest this year, says energy company

Russia's air attack on Ukraine's energy system overnight on Tuesday was the biggest since the start of 2026, Ukraine's leading private energy company said.

Power generation and distribution facilities came under attack, and thousands of people were left without electricity, DTEK said on the Telegram messaging app.

In the Kharkiv region, nearly 60 per cent of consumers were left without electricity after Russian air attack overnight, the regional governor said on Tuesday.

Alex Croft3 February 2026 15:59

Ukraine lambasts ‘infantile and irresponsible’ Gianni Infantino for trying to overturn Russia ban

Ukraine’s sports minister has branded Fifa president Gianni Infantino “infantile” and “irresponsible” for his desire to overturn Russia’s ban from world football.

Fifa’s ruling executive and European football’s governing body Uefa imposed a global ban on Russia at the start of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 when other European nations said they would refuse to play or host Russia’s matches.

Four years later, the Vladimir Putin shows no signs of backing down and the war is still raging but Infantino has signalled his intention to bring Russia back into the fold, saying the ban has been a failure.

“We have to (look at readmitting Russia). Definitely,” Infantino told Sky Sports. “This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred.

“Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help.”

Our sports live editor Luke Baker reports:

Ukraine lambasts ‘infantile’ Gianni Infantino for trying to overturn Russia ban

The Fifa president has expressed his desire to bring Russia back into the fold, ending their football exile that began in 2022 after the invasion of UkraineAlex Croft3 February 2026 15:27

Russia's northern fleet undiminished by war, warns senior UK Navy officer

General Gwyn Jenkins, the British Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, has said Russia's investment in its Northern Fleet remains undiminished, posing a threat to Western powers.

"Russian investment in their Northern Fleet, and in particular, in their subsurface capabilities, is undiminished," Gen Jenkins told a naval conference in Paris.

"So despite the horrendous cost in terms of national resource and blood to Russia, of their egregious invasion of Ukraine, they have continued to pump resource into their Northern Fleet and their subsurface capabilities," he added.

Alex Croft3 February 2026 14:59

Ukraine to adjust negotiations after Russia's record missile attack, Zelensky says

The work of Ukraine's negotiating team will be adjusted after Russia's overnight attack on Ukrainian energy facilities, which involved a record number of ballistic missiles, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.

"It was a deliberate attack against energy infrastructure, involving a record number of ballistic missiles," Mr Zelensky said.

"The Russian army exploited the US proposal to briefly halt strikes not to support diplomacy, but to stockpile missiles and wait until the coldest days of the year, when temperatures across large parts of Ukraine drop below -20°C (-4°F)."

The next round of peace talks with Russian and US officials is due to start on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.

Zelensky was speaking during a meeting of Nato chief Mark Rutte to Nato
Zelensky was speaking during a meeting of Nato chief Mark Rutte to Nato (AP)

Alex Croft3 February 2026 14:29

In pictures: Nato chief meets Zelensky in Kyiv

Rutte told Ukraine’s parliament a peace deal will require tough choices
Rutte told Ukraine’s parliament a peace deal will require tough choices (AP)
The pair attended a commemorative ceremony at the memorial of fallen Ukrainian soldiers at Independence Square in Kyiv
The pair attended a commemorative ceremony at the memorial of fallen Ukrainian soldiers at Independence Square in Kyiv (AP)
Rutte said the PURL weapons programme is supplying 90 per cent of Ukraine’s air defence
Rutte said the PURL weapons programme is supplying 90 per cent of Ukraine’s air defence (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service)
Rutte arrived hours after Kyiv was pounded by Russian air attack
Rutte arrived hours after Kyiv was pounded by Russian air attack (AP)

Alex Croft3 February 2026 14:04

Peace deal will require tough choices, says Rutte

Reaching a peace deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine will require tough choices, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said on Tuesday.

In an address to Ukraine's parliament during a visit to the capital Kyiv, Rutte, who was speaking through a translator, also said that the PURL weapons purchasing program is supplying 90 per cent of Ukraine's air defence missiles.

The programme is a Nato-coordinated initiative launched in July to fund and deliver US-made wreapons to Ukraine, specifically air defense systems, ammunition, and spare parts.

Alex Croft3 February 2026 13:41NewerOlder

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