Russian forces have sharply escalated their offensive in eastern Ukraine, with Kyiv’s military reporting 261 combat engagements in a single day, the highest recorded this year. The main attacks are concentrated near Pokrovsk, a vital logistics hub, as Moscow’s troops advance in the region. Ukrainian officials confirmed a temporary decline in engagements to 117 on Sunday but noted that heavy fighting continues, with Russian forces capturing the village of Berezivka while pushing toward key supply routes.

As NATO officials warn of intensified Russian assaults, Ukraine has stepped up its drone strikes deep into Russian territory, aiming to weaken Moscow’s position. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy highlighted a “good result” in recent battles, with Kyiv reclaiming the village of Pishchane, south of Pokrovsk. Meanwhile, U.S. and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia, though Kyiv has not been invited, sparking concerns over President Donald Trump’s direct engagement with Moscow without consulting European allies.

In response to shifting dynamics, France will host a European summit on Monday to discuss security and counter Trump’s unilateral approach. Zelenskiy reported a surge in Russian strikes, with over 1,220 aerial bombs, 850 drones, and 40 missiles hitting Ukraine last week. Despite ongoing challenges, Kyiv remains committed to strengthening its defenses and coordinating with Western partners to strategize against Russian advances.

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Moscow has yet to receive a “good offer” to initiate peace talks on Ukraine, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated on Monday. His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Washington was making progress in negotiations aimed at ending the nearly three-year conflict. Galuzin emphasized the need for practical steps that recognize Russia’s legitimate interests and address the root causes of the crisis.

Despite Trump’s assertions of ongoing conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remained cautious, neither confirming nor denying the claims. Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to meet with Putin at an appropriate time to negotiate peace. He also revealed plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy this week to further discussions on ending the war.

The conflict, set to mark its third anniversary on February 24, remains a pivotal issue. Moscow views it as critical to Russia’s survival, while Kyiv and Western allies see it as an unjust territorial invasion. Zelenskiy reiterated Ukraine’s refusal to cede any land and stressed NATO integration as a top priority while offering rare earth minerals in exchange for U.S. financial support.

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The Ukrainian military announced a targeted strike on a fuel storage depot in Engels, a city in Russia’s Saratov region, approximately 600 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The overnight attack ignited a blaze at the depot, which supplied a critical air base used by Russian planes to launch missiles into Ukraine. Ukraine’s General Staff stated that the strike significantly disrupted Russian strategic aviation, hampering their ability to target Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.

Russian officials confirmed a major drone attack in the area, with Saratov Governor Roman Busargin reporting fire damage at an industrial site in Engels caused by falling debris. No injuries were reported, but authorities responded by restricting flights at airports in Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Kazan, and Nizhnekamsk. The incident reflects escalating tensions as Ukraine expands its reach into Russian territory using domestically developed long-range weapons.

Ukrainian presidential advisor Alexander Kamyshin attributed the attack to Ukraine’s indigenous arsenal, emphasizing the effectiveness of locally produced capabilities with the hashtag #MadeInUkraine. Last year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Kyiv’s development of weapons with a range of up to 700 kilometers, with recent strikes proving their ability to hit targets over 1,000 kilometers away. This marks a shift in Ukraine’s strategy amid restrictions on the use of Western-supplied long-range weapons.

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Ukraine has launched a surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, aiming to reclaim ground after months of setbacks. Reports emerged early Sunday from Russian military bloggers, later confirmed by officials in Kyiv and Moscow. Ukrainian forces reportedly attacked multiple fronts near Sudzha, with the country’s Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak describing the situation as “good news” for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have repelled two assaults and inflicted heavy losses on Ukrainian troops, including North Korean soldiers aiding Moscow.

This escalation follows Ukraine’s initial incursion into Kursk last August, during which Kyiv seized significant territory before losing over 40% due to sustained Russian counterattacks. The latest offensive seeks to regain momentum amid concerns that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may push for a peace deal, potentially pressuring Ukraine into unfavorable compromises. Analysts have cautioned against premature conclusions about the attack’s significance, as both sides have engaged in disinformation campaigns.

As Ukraine braces for potential changes in U.S. support, its leadership is focused on negotiating from a position of strength. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has maintained strong rhetoric, highlighting Russian losses, including North Korean troops, in the ongoing battles. Western analysts suggest that while the offensive’s outcome remains uncertain, it underscores Ukraine’s determination to challenge Moscow and resist territorial concessions.

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In a brutal escalation nearly three years into the war, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy system and cities on Christmas Day, using over 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than 100 drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the assault as “inhuman,” citing deliberate strikes on critical energy facilities in freezing temperatures. The attacks killed one person in the Dnipropetrovsk region, injured six in Kharkiv, and left 500,000 people in Kharkiv without heating. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly intercepted 59 missiles and 54 drones overnight and into Wednesday morning.

Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the strikes, claiming they targeted energy facilities supporting Ukraine’s military-industrial complex. However, Ukrainian officials called for international support, with DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, describing the incident as state-sponsored terrorism. U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the “outrageous” attack and pledged to expedite further military aid to Ukraine, while U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink decried the attack as “Russia weaponizing winter.”

Meanwhile, a missile crossed into Moldova’s airspace during the assault, drawing condemnation from Moldovan President Maia Sandu. The timing of the attack—during Ukraine’s newly adopted December 25 Christmas celebration—marks a symbolic move away from the Russian Julian calendar tradition and underscores Russia’s intensified winter campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure.

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