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Orgo-Life the new way to the future Advertising by AdpathwayRussia reported “serious damage” in the border town of Belgorod after Ukrainian missiles pounded energy facilities, disrupting electricity, water and heating.
The attack on Belgorod, 40km from the Ukrainian border, and the surrounding district was the second in five days to cause serious damage.
"Serious damage has been caused to energy infrastructure facilities. As a result, there have been power outages, water supply disruptions, and heating failures," governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials.
The International Monetary Fund, meanwhile, approved an $8.1bn, four-year loan for Ukraine, of which $1.5bn would be disbursed immediately to plug widening funding gaps.
Volodymyr Zelensky said the next round of US-brokered trilateral peace talks between Russia and Ukraine would likely take place in Abu Dhabi in early March, after the post-war reconstruction talks concluded in Geneva.
“Everything will have to be finalised. Everything that has been achieved for real security guarantees and preparing a meeting at the leaders' level," Zelensky said in his nightly video address, referring to the forthcoming meeting.
Top Ukrainian negotiator wants next talks to be 'as substantive as possible'
Top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said participants in talks with US negotiators in Geneva spoke to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and were working to make the next three-sided meeting on a settlement "as substantive as possible."
In a Telegram post, Umerov said that after discussions with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, they held a group discussion with Zelensky to review the outcomes of the meeting and discuss future actions.
Umerov said negotiators were working on finalising economic and security issues to "make the next trilateral meeting involving the US and Russia as substantive as possible."
Alex Croft27 February 2026 10:17
Over 90,000 Ukrianians missing since war began
More than 90,000 Ukrainians have been officially registered as missing since the start of Russia’s invasion, the country’s commissioner for missing persons said.
The figure was reported by Ukrainska Pravda, citing Commissioner for Missing Persons Artur Dobroserdov, as authorities continued efforts to trace thousands of soldiers and civilians whose whereabouts were unknown amid ongoing fighting and restricted access to Russian-occupied territories.
Ukraine marked the fourth anniversary of the war this week.
Alex Croft27 February 2026 09:55
Croatia can deliver oil to Hungary and Slovakia after Druzhba pipeline damage
Croatia can deliver oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via its Adria pipeline to replace disruptions to the Druzhba pipeline, prime minister Andrej Plenkovic said.
Supply via Druzhba to Hungary and Slovakia, the only EU countries still importing Russian oil, was halted on January 27 due to damage which Ukraine blamed on a Russian drone strike.
Plenkovic said Croatia is in talks with the two countries and the European Commission on the plan.
The European Commission said on Wednesday that Croatia is assessing whether it can lawfully import seaborne Russian crude oil to supply to Hungary and Slovakia through its Adria pipeline, which serves as an alternative route.
"Croatia is here as a neighbour, partner and friend to ensure the energy security and smooth functioning of the economies of both Hungary and Slovakia," Plenkovic was quoted as saying by local state Hina news agency on Thursday.
Alex Croft27 February 2026 09:35
Man killed and wife injured in drone attack on Kharkiv region
A man has been killed and his wife injured after Russian forces struck a house during a drone attack on a residential area of the Kupiansk district in the Kharkiv region.
Russian forces launched two drones at the village of Pidserednie, killing a 64-year-old man and injuring his wife, emergency services said.
A pre-trial investigation has been opened into the commission of a war crime that resulted in a person’s death, following procedural guidance of the local prosecutor’s office.
Alex Croft27 February 2026 09:12
Analysis | We’re experts on the Ukraine war. Here’s what we think will happen next
Four years ago, on February 24 2022, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that his forces had begun a full-scale invasion of Ukraine – the reasons for which we have explored here. Within minutes, explosions were heard in major Ukrainian cities as Russian troops flooded across the border.
Russian forces made swift gains, capturing key areas near the capital of Kyiv. But the offensive soon stalled and, by December, Russia had been forced to withdraw its forces and consolidate in the east where the war has ground on ever since.
We asked Stefan Wolff, Tetyana Malyarenko, Scott Lucas and Mark Webber, four regular contributors to the Conversation UK’s coverage of Ukraine, for their take on the most surprising development of the war so far and its likely trajectory from here.
Read more here:
Alex Croft27 February 2026 08:50
Local ceasefire established around Zaporizhzhia power plant for repais
A local ceasefire has been established near the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine to enable repairs to power lines, Russian news agencies reported on Friday, citing the head of Russia's state nuclear corporation.
The plant has been under Russian control since shortly after its full-scale invasion began in 2022.
It currently does not produce electricity and relies on external power to keep cool its nuclear material.
Alex Croft27 February 2026 08:29
Ukrainian intelligence 'uncovers major embezzlement' of funds for energy restorations
Ukraine’s security service (SBU), national police and prosecutor’s office say they have uncovered the embezzlement of more than 50 million UAH (£859k) allocated for emergency restoration work.
Investigators found the heads of two contracting companies were behind the “scheme”, artificially inflating the cost of services, building materials and technical equipment intended for the restoration of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
The contractors purchased materials from controlled companies, at a cost 30 per cent higher than the market price, the SBU said on Friday.
An investigation is ongoing. The perpetrators face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property, the SBU said.
James Reynolds27 February 2026 08:10
Russia hits port infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa, deputy PM says
Russia carried out overnight strikes on port infrastructure in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, sparking fires and damaging equipment, warehouses and food storage containers, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on Friday.
“The enemy continues to attack maritime logistics,” Kuleba wrote on Telegram. Despite the strikes, he said the Ukrainian maritime corridor remains operational and has handled more than 176 million tonnes of cargo, including over 150 million tonnes of grain.
Shweta Sharma27 February 2026 08:00
Russia strikes port infrastructure in Odesa: Ukraine
Russia struck port infrastructure overnight in Odesa, causing fires and damaging equipment, warehouses, and food containers, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on Friday.
"The enemy continues to attack maritime logistics," Kuleba said on the Telegram messaging app.
"Despite it, the Ukrainian maritime corridor is operational, handling over 176 million tonnes of cargo, including over 150 million tonnes of grains."
James Reynolds27 February 2026 07:31
Recap of everything that has happened so far
If you are just joining us, here is everything you need to know.
- Russia says 220 Ukrainian drones downed: Moscow’s defence ministry said its air defences shot down 220 Ukrainian drones over a nine-hour period, including several headed towards the capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said dozens were intercepted as they approached the city.
- Missile strike hits Belgorod: Ukrainian missiles struck Belgorod, about 40 km from the border, damaging energy infrastructure and disrupting electricity, water and heating supplies, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
- Russian overnight strikes on Ukraine: Russia launched missiles and drones targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, injuring around 20 people and damaging residential buildings. Energy infrastructure was again affected, with hundreds of homes left without heating in the south.
- 90,000 Ukrainians officially missing: Ukraine’s commissioner for missing persons said more than 90,000 people have been registered as missing since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, as the country marked the fourth anniversary of the war.
- Flamingo missile deep strikes: Ukraine has stepped up reported use of its domestically produced FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles. The General Staff said the weapon was used in a strike on Russia’s Votkinsk missile plant, roughly 1,400 km from Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed the missile has a range of up to 3,000 km and that mass production is due to begin in winter 2025–2026.
- IMF approves $8.1bn loan for Ukraine: The International Monetary Fund approved a four-year, $8.1 billion programme, with $1.5 billion released immediately, as part of a broader $136.5 billion international support framework to stabilise Ukraine’s economy during the war.
- Peace talks may move to Abu Dhabi: President Zelensky said the next round of U.S.-brokered trilateral talks involving Russia and Ukraine could take place in Abu Dhabi in early March, adding there was growing readiness for talks at leadership level.
- South Africans killed fighting for Russia: At least two South Africans have died fighting for Russian forces, according to Pretoria. Fifteen others who were allegedly misled into joining mercenary units have been repatriated.
- Kenyan court charges recruitment suspect: A Kenyan court charged a recruitment company director with attempting to traffic 25 people to fight for Russia. Authorities say some recruits were rescued before departure, while others who travelled returned injured.
Shweta Sharma27 February 2026 07:30
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