Orban 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 09:58
Watch: Zelensky confirms of another overnight Russian attack amidst ongoing negotiationsZelensky confirms of another overnight Russian attack amidst ongoing negotiations
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 09:30
Ukraine 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 09:00
Russia 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 08:30
Zelensky reveals US deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise peace deal and end war
The United States has issued a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to finalise a peace agreement, aiming to conclude the nearly four-year conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed.
Should this deadline not be met, the Trump administration is expected to intensify pressure on both parties to secure a resolution.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, in comments embargoed until Saturday morning, Mr Zelenskyy stated: “The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 08:00
UK ‘threatens to seize’ Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker
The United Kingdom has threatened to seize a Russia-linked oil tanker in an escalation of tensions between the two countries over shadow fleets.
Military options to capture a rogue ship had been identified in discussions involving Nato allies, British defence sources told The Guardian.
The news comes weeks after the UK supported a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 07:30
Russia says man suspected of shooting top general has been detained
Russia’s Federal Security Service said this morning that the man suspected of shooting senior Russian military intelligence officer Vladimir Alexeyev in Moscow has been detained in Dubai and extradited to Russia.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 07:20
Ukraine faces acute power crisis amid a freezing winter
A car drives on a street during a power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by night’s Russian missile and drone attacks, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich (REUTERS)
A car drives on a street during a power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by night’s Russian missile and drone attacks, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 7, 2026 (REUTERS)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 06:30
Ukraine businesses struggle to cope
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.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 06:28
Ukrainian missilies strike Russian energy facilities
Ukraine struck Russia’s Bryansk Oblast with Neptune missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, targeting energy infrastructure, governor Alexander Bogomaz said.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked our region using long-range Neptune missiles and HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems,” Bogomaz said.
“As a result of the attack, power supply was disrupted in seven municipalities. Special and emergency teams are working to restore power supply.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 February 2026 06:00