Russia reports striking transportation facilities, Ukraine claims repelling attacks
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Multiple oil tankers have been struck in an attack by drones while unloading crude oil at a terminal on Russia’s coast, according to sources.

It is not yet clear who is behind the strikes on Tuesday, with the Ukrainian military and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which operates the terminal, declining to comment on the strikes.

The Greek-managed oil tankers included Delta Harmony, which is managed by Greece’s Delta tankers and was expected to load oil from Tengizchevroil, and Matilda, managed by Greece’s Thenamaris and was expected to load oil from Karachaganak.

It was later reported that the Delta Supreme was also hit near Russian Black Sea’s CPC terminal, raising the total number to three.

The strikes come after at least four people were killed in Russia’s most intense aerial bombardment of Ukraine so far this year, with major strikes targeting Kyiv and Kharkiv overnight.

Russia fired at least 293 drones and 18 missiles overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force, the most so far in 2026.

Trump is the only person who can stop Putin’s war in Ukraine, Polish president says

Poland’s president Karol Nawrocki says Donald Trump is the only world leader capable of stopping Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Nawrocki said Putin could not be trusted and added that Russia was actively testing Poland and Nato.

Recalling a wave of drone incursions last September, he called it “an extraordinary situation”, and added that “until that time, no Nato member state had experienced a drone attack on that scale”.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer hosts Polish president Karol Nawrocki at 10 Downing Street, on 13January 2026 in London, England. President Nawrocki’s agenda for his two-day visit to the UK includes bilateral talks with PM Starmer, a meeting with members of the Polish community living in Britain, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Polish Air Force Memorial near RAF Northolt

UK prime minister Keir Starmer hosts Polish president Karol Nawrocki at 10 Downing Street, on 13January 2026 in London, England. President Nawrocki’s agenda for his two-day visit to the UK includes bilateral talks with PM Starmer, a meeting with members of the Polish community living in Britain, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Polish Air Force Memorial near RAF Northolt (Getty)

He said that Trump was the only person who could “solve this problem”.

He said Poland had been in a state of hybrid war with Russia since 2021, involving drones and disinformation, warning that “we are living in dangerous times”.

Maroosha Muzaffar14 January 2026 07:33

2025 was the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians, UN says

The United Nations has confirmed that more than 2,500 Ukrainian civilians were killed during Russian attacks in 2025.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said that the recorded civilian casualties in Ukraine last year were 31 per cent higher than in 2024 and 70 per cent higher than in 2023.

“This rise was driven not only by intensified hostilities along the frontline, but also by the expanded use of long-range weapons, which exposed civilians across the country to heightened risk,” Danielle Bell, who heads the UN monitoring mission in Ukraine, told CNN.

Firefighters work at the site of a logistics hub of a private delivery company hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 13 January 2026

Firefighters work at the site of a logistics hub of a private delivery company hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 13 January 2026 (REUTERS)

One of the deadliest strikes hit Ternopil on 19 November, killing at least 38 civilians, including eight children, with 10 families losing two or more members.

Overall, the UN says more than 14,900 civilians have been killed since February 2022, warning that the “actual figures are likely higher”.

Maroosha Muzaffar14 January 2026 07:10

Kyiv citizens battle harsh winter as Russian attacks against energy infrastructure continue

Russia’s sustained attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have left hundreds of thousands of civilians in prolonged blackouts during extreme winter cold.

In Kyiv, residents are enduring severely limited electricity and heating, with power sometimes available for only brief periods.

On Monday, Kateryna Serzhan, 36, who lives in Kyiv with her husband and 5-year-old daughter, said that they had electricity for an hour and a half only.

A man rides a bicycle along an unlit street during a power outage in Kyiv, on 13 January 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A man rides a bicycle along an unlit street during a power outage in Kyiv, on 13 January 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images)

“At 10pm, the lights came on for 15 minutes and haven’t been on since. The battery-powered heaters barely provide any heat,” she was quoted as saying by CNN.

“We were prepared for the winter to be difficult, but this time, in addition to the power cuts caused by shelling, there has been a severe cold snap.”

She added: “It’s cold at home. Both my child and I are wearing thermal underwear. I didn’t think conditions like this would exist in the 21st century.”

Maroosha Muzaffar14 January 2026 06:45

Ukraine’s missile interception rate falls sharply – report

Ukraine’s missile interception rate fell sharply in early 2026 as Russia intensified its sustained campaign against the country’s energy infrastructure, The Kyiv Independent reported.

According to data compiled by Dragon Capital, Ukraine shot down 26 of 73 Russian missiles launched in the first two weeks of January – an interception rate of 36 per cent, well below the 60 per cent monthly average recorded since October 2022.

During a major overnight attack on 12-13 January, Ukrainian forces intercepted just two of 18 ballistic missiles.

Russia has paired missile strikes with large-scale drone attacks. In the same two-week period, 1,852 drones were launched at Ukraine, with air defences intercepting 83 per cent of them.

Rescuers work at the site of a logistics hub of a private delivery company hit by Russian missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 13 January 2026

Rescuers work at the site of a logistics hub of a private delivery company hit by Russian missile strikes, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 13 January 2026 (Reuters)

Moscow’s assaults combine ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles alongside drones, with a focus on power plants, the energy grid, and heating systems.

Officials say missile defence is constrained by shortages of advanced interceptors, particularly US-made PAC-3 missiles used by Patriot batteries.

A Ukrainian Air Force officer said shortages are severe, warning that air defence radars are being disabled daily, the outlet reported.

Maroosha Muzaffar14 January 2026 06:20

Ukrainian drone attack triggers fires at an industrial facility in major Russian port city, officials say

A Ukrainian drone attack overnight triggered fires at an industrial facility in Rostov-on-Don, a major southern Russian port city, according to regional officials.

Authorities said four people were injured, including a four-year-old child, after debris from downed drones damaged several apartment buildings. All the injured were taken to the hospital.

There was no comment from Ukraine about the strike.

An employee refuels a power generator outside a shop during a scheduled power outage in the centre of Lviv, following Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 13 January 2026

An employee refuels a power generator outside a shop during a scheduled power outage in the centre of Lviv, following Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 13 January 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)

Rostov region governor Yuri Slyusar said two fires broke out at the industrial site; one was extinguished and the other contained by early Wednesday.

Officials did not identify the facility that was hit. The full extent of the damage remains unclear.

Maroosha Muzaffar14 January 2026 05:55

‘Massive’ overnight attack leaves thousands without power, Kyiv says

Russian forces carried out a “massive” overnight attack on infrastructure in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih on Wednesday, cutting electricity to around 45,000 subscribers, local officials said.

The strike, carried out by Russian Shahed drones, left about 700 buildings without heat, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defence Council, The Kyiv Independent reported.

He said the city’s water utility was forced to switch to emergency generators, warning that residents would experience lower-than-normal water pressure.

Vilkul said no casualties were reported, but the full extent of the damage was still being assessed as emergency crews worked to restore services.

The attack comes as Russia continues to target energy and infrastructure facilities across Ukraine.

Maroosha Muzaffar14 January 2026 05:28

Four injured in Ukrainian drone attack on Russian port city

At least four people were injured after a Ukrainian drone attack overnight caused two fires at an industrial facility in southern Russian port of Rostov-on-Don, officials said.

Yuri Slyusar, governor of Rostov region, said four people, including a four-year-old child, were injured when falling debris from downed drones damaged their apartments.

Rostov-on-Don is the Rostov region’s administrative centre.

All of the injured people were hospitalised, Slyusar said.

The official did not disclose the details of the industrial facility set ablaze in the attack. He added that one of the fires was extinguished by early morning.

Aleksandr Skryabin, the mayor of Rostov-on-Don, said temporary accommodation was arranged for the families from the damaged apartments.

The full-scale impact of the attack was not immediately known.

Arpan Rai14 January 2026 04:46

UK could use oil from shadow fleet to fund Ukraine war effort

The UK is assessing plans to use oil seized from Russia’s shadow fleet vessels to fund Ukraine’s war effort, a government source told The Times.

“There would be a double impact on Russia’s war machine — we wouldn’t just be depriving them of illicit war revenues but also finding a way to help fund Ukraine’s resistance,” the source told The Times.

It is one of a number of options being considered at a time when two vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet are on course to enter the Channel at lunchtime today. These two vessels, Spring Fortune and Range Vale, have been sanctioned by Britain.

The Times reported that British special forces were being readied in case the order is given to storm the shadow fleet vessels as part of a crackdown on the Russian economy.

Arpan Rai14 January 2026 04:32

Oil tankers hit in drone attack off Russian coast

Multiple oil tankers were reportedly struck by drones while unloading crude oil at a terminal on Russia’s coast on Tuesday.

The Greek-managed vessels, identified as Delta Harmony, Matilda, and Delta Supreme, were hit near the Russian Black Sea’s Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal.

The identity of those responsible for the drone attacks remains unclear, with both the Ukrainian military and the CPC declining to comment.

The incident follows Russia’s most intense aerial bombardment of Ukraine this year, which killed at least four people and targeted Kyiv and Kharkiv overnight.

Arpan Rai14 January 2026 04:22

Estonia bans more than 250 Russian soldiers who fought against Ukraine

Estonia has said it will ban 261 Russian combatants who fought in the war against Ukraine from entering the country.

The bans are unavoidable, Estonian interior minister Igor Taro said, adding that those who have committed atrocities in the name of Vladimir Putin have no place in a free and democratic world.

“There is no doubt that these are individuals with a hostile attitude toward Europe. They have combat experience and military training. They often also have a potential prior criminal background,” he said, justifying the ban.

“In addition, they have been psychologically traumatised. The threat posed by them is not just abstract. It includes both the possible conducting of tasks for Russian special services and participation in organised crime,” Taro said.

Arpan Rai14 January 2026 03:46

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