President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the US is seeking a resolution by June
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Your support makes all the difference.Read moreA man suspected of shooting a top military intelligence officer in Moscow has been detained, according to Russia’s security service.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev – an official previously linked to the Salisbury poisonings – was shot several times outside an apartment building in an alleged assassination attempt. He is currently recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said that a Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba was detained in Dubai and has been extradited to Russia, in a statement on Sunday.
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister accused Ukraine of the attack, which it has denied.
It comes as the US is aiming to get a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia over the line in March despite a lack of progress on territorial concessions, according to reports.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that the Americans “want to do everything by June” in comments released on Saturday.
But attacks continued as Russia launched more than 400 drones and about 40 missiles on Saturday in strikes on Ukraine's energy sector, targeting the power grid, generation facilities, and distribution substations, Zelensky said.
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Key Points
- Russia says man suspected of shooting top general has been detained
- Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia
- Ukraine faces acute power crisis amid a freezing winter
- Hungary's Orban declares Ukraine as 'enemy' state
Putin thanks UAE leader for help in detaining suspect
President Vladimir Putin has thanked his UAE counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his help with the detention of a man suspected of shooting a Russian military intelligence officer.
The conversation took place during a phone call on Saturday evening, Russian agencies reported, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
A Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of the “assassination attempt” of Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia's vast GRU military intelligence service.
(Sputnik)Maira Butt8 February 2026 12:50At least four killed and 31 injured in Russian attacks over past day, say Ukraine authorities
Four people have been killed and 31 injured in Russian attacks over the past day, Ukraine’s Air Force said on Sunday.
It said Russia had launched 101 drones from Kursk, Orel, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Shatalovo overnight.
Of those, 69 were intercepted while another 32 drones struck 13 locations, according to the reports.
Debris from a downed drone was reported at one location.
Maira Butt8 February 2026 12:20Suspect in 'assassination attempt' on top Putin general flown to Moscow
A suspect accused of being involved in the alleged assassination attempt of a top Russian general has been detained in Dubai and is being extradited to Russia, according to the country’s security agency.
Russian investigators said the man in his 60s was tasked by Ukrainian intelligence to carry out the shooting but Kyiv has denied involvement.
Masked FSB officers were seen escorting a blindfolded man from a small jet in Russia in the dark on Russian state media.
The FSB said it had identified two accomplices, also Russian citizens. One was detained in Moscow while another escaped to Ukraine.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev – an official previously linked to the Salisbury poisonings – was shot several times outside an apartment building - and is currently recovering in hospital.
Maira Butt8 February 2026 11:49Russia offers United States £9tn cooperation deal over Ukraine, says Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that intelligence ha suggested that Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev proposed US-Russian co-operation deals worth as much as $12 trillion (£9tn) during negotiations.
He said that such agreements between Moscow and Washington must not violate Ukraine’s constitution, on Saturday.
“Intelligence showed me the so-called ‘Dmitriev package’ that he presented in the US – it amounts to around $12tn (£9tn),” Mr Zelensky said.
Maira Butt8 February 2026 11:24Ukraine businesses struggle to cope as Russian attacks bring power cuts and uncertainty
It is pre-dawn in the historic Podil district of the Ukraine capital, Kyiv, and warm light from the Spelta bakery-bistro’s window pierces the darkness outside. On a wooden surface dusted with flour, the baker Oleksandr Kutsenko skilfully divides and shapes soft, damp pieces of dough. As he shoves the first loaves into the oven, a sweet, delicate aroma of fresh bread fills the space.
Seconds later the lights go out, the ovens switch off and darkness envelops the room. Kutsenko, 31, steps outside into the freezing night, switches on a large rectangular generator and the power kicks back in. It’s a pattern that will be repeated many times as the business struggles to keep working through the power outages caused by Russia’s bombing campaign on Ukraine's energy grid.
“It’s now more than impossible to imagine a Ukrainian business operating without a generator,” said Olha Hrynchuk, the co-founder and head baker of Spelta.

Ukraine businesses struggle to cope as Russian attacks bring power cuts and uncertainty
While businesses were prepared for electricity cuts due to Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, no one expected such a brutal winterMaira Butt8 February 2026 11:04Russia says it has captured two settlements in eastern Ukraine
Russian forces have captured two settlements in eastern Ukraine, its defence ministry reported on Sunday.
The settlements of Hlushkivka in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region and Sydorivka in Sumy region are reported to have been seized, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing the ministry.
Maira Butt8 February 2026 10:35Orban declares Ukraine an 'enemy' state
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban declared Ukraine an "enemy" of Hungary at an anti-war rally.
Orban said Ukraine was persistently lobbying Brussels to sever Hungary’s access to Russian energy, which he warned would drive up household utility bills across the country.
"Anyone who says such a thing is an enemy of Hungary, so Ukraine is our enemy," Orban said.
His comments followed the Council of the EU’s decision to approve a ban on Russian gas purchases from 2027 — a move Hungary and Slovakia have challenged at the European Court of Justice.
Maira Butt8 February 2026 09:58Watch: Zelensky confirms of another overnight Russian attack amidst ongoing negotiations
Zelensky confirms of another overnight Russian attack amidst ongoing negotiationsAlisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 09:30Ukraine imposes sanctions on foreign suppliers of components for Russian missiles
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said this morning that he was imposing sanctions on some foreign manufacturers of components used in Russian drones and missiles deployed against Ukraine.
“Producing this weaponry would be impossible without critical foreign components, which the Russians continue to obtain by circumventing sanctions,” Zelensky said on X.
“We are introducing new sanctions precisely against such companies — component suppliers, as well as missile and drone manufacturers. I have signed the relevant decisions.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 09:00Russia says man suspected of shooting top general has been detained in Dubai
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Sunday that the man suspected of shooting senior Russian military intelligence officer Vladimir Alexeyev in Moscow has been detained in Dubai and extradited to Russia.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, the deputy head of the GRU — Russia’s military intelligence agency — was shot several times in an apartment block in Moscow on Friday, investigators said. He later underwent surgery, according to Russian media reports.
The FSB said a Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba was arrested in Dubai on suspicion of carrying out the attack.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of being behind the attempted assassination, saying it was aimed at undermining peace talks. Ukraine denied any involvement.
Alexeyev’s superior, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, the head of the GRU, has been leading Russia’s delegation in talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on security-related aspects of a potential peace deal.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 08:30Newer1 / 5OlderMore about
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