"russia"

The UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution aimed at safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after Russia and China vetoed the proposal. Bahrain, backed by Gulf allies, had introduced a toned-down draft calling for defensive coordination, but Pakistan and Colombia abstained.

A Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed in annexed Crimea, killing six crew and 23 passengers. Officials cited a technical malfunction as the likely cause. Investigations and search operations are underway, with authorities probing potential flight regulation violations

A projectile reportedly struck the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, operated with Russian assistance, amid Tehran’s ongoing war with Israel and the US. No radiation leak or casualties were reported, but regional safety concerns and geopolitical tensions have intensified

Russia launched missiles and drone strikes on Kyiv and Odesa regions, killing one person and rescuing eight others, including a child. Attacks damaged buildings, caused fires, and targeted energy infrastructure, worsening civilian hardship amid winter in Ukraine

Ukrainian drones struck an industrial site in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, reportedly targeting the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a major missile factory. Eleven people were injured, three hospitalised. Videos show smoke and structural damage; Ukrainian authorities have not commented.

Russia launched overnight missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, hitting Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odesa. Zelenskyy said Russia is “hesitating” on US-brokered peace talks. The strikes injured civilians and damaged infrastructure, leaving thousands without heating.

Estonia’s intelligence chief says Russia has no intention of ending the Ukraine war and is stalling talks with the US. While Washington claims progress, experts question whether President Putin genuinely wants peace or believes he can still win.

Thirteen Russian and seven Belarusian athletes will compete as neutral individuals at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after IOC invitations. Barred from national symbols, they passed neutrality checks, with Russian figure skaters emerging as the strongest medal contenders

Russia is recruiting both locals and foreigners, including prisoners, through contracts offering high pay, benefits, and citizenship to fight in Ukraine, avoiding a full mobilization. Many are misled, coerced, or trafficked, highlighting rising costs and human rights concerns

Russian drone attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv killed one person and wounded 31 as Ukraine, Russia, and U.S. officials met in Abu Dhabi for peace talks. Zelenskyy says a deal is “nearly ready,” but territorial disputes remain unresolved.

A Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire at an oil depot in Russia’s Volgograd region. The attack follows Russia’s overnight barrage on Ukraine with missiles and drones. Both sides targeted energy infrastructure amid escalating tensions in the nearly four-year-old conflict.

Notorious CIA mole Aldrich Ames, whose espionage for the Soviet Union and Russia caused one of the gravest intelligence breaches in US history, has died at 84 in a Maryland prison, where he was serving a life sentence without parole

Ukraine’s allies convened in Paris to discuss post-ceasefire security and military support amid uncertainty due to the US focus on Venezuela. Talks aim to strengthen Ukraine’s defense, monitor a ceasefire, deploy multinational forces, and ensure long-term deterrence against Russia

The United States launched a major military operation in Venezuela early Saturday, with President Donald Trump claiming President Nicolás Maduro had been captured. The move triggered sharp reactions from Venezuela, Colombia, Russia and the US State Department, raising fears of regional escalation.

Moscow announced Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile has entered active service, with deployments in Belarus, as Ukraine peace talks stall. Vladimir Putin framed the move as strength, warning NATO and claiming battlefield advances amid fragile, uncertain negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow

Kyiv’s proposed peace plan for the Ukraine crisis differs from the Moscow-Washington framework. Russian officials cite deadlines and interference as obstacles, while Zelensky seeks a referendum on a 20-point plan. Trump will meet Zelensky in Florida to discuss the proposal

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced a near-future meeting with former US President Trump to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Talks continue amid Russian demands and Ukrainian counteroffers, while both sides conduct military strikes, including attacks on Russian refineries and drone assaults

Russian Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov was killed when an explosive device detonated under his car in southern Moscow. Investigators are exploring multiple leads, including the possibility that Ukrainian intelligence orchestrated the attack, according to the Russian Investigative Committee 

NATO intelligence warns Russia may be developing an anti-satellite “zone-effect” weapon targeting Starlink satellites with orbiting pellets. Experts say it could cause uncontrollable space debris, endanger other satellites, and serve more as a psychological deterrent than a deployable system

A Russian missile strike on Odesa’s port killed eight people and injured 27. Ukraine later said it hit a Russian warship, oil platform, and radar system with drones, expanding attacks beyond the front lines.