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Ukraine says it foiled Russian plans to kill high officers
Kyiv stated Friday that 10 folks have been arrested in Ukraine and Moldova on suspicion of planning to assassinate senior Ukrainian political figures on Moscow’s orders, with payouts of as much as $100,000, AFP reported.
“As a part of the work of a joint investigative staff of Ukrainian and Moldovan legislation enforcement officers, an organised group has been uncovered that was getting ready contract killings of well-known Ukrainian residents and foreigners,” Ukrainian prosecutor normal Ruslan Kravchenko stated in an announcement.
Kravchenko stated legislation enforcement had carried out 20 searches throughout the nation and confiscated cash, weapons, explosives and communications with Russian handlers.
Seven folks have been arrested in Ukraine in the course of the raids and three extra – together with the organiser of the marketing campaign – have been apprehended in Moldova, the assertion stated.
Kyiv solely named one of many officers focused by the suspects, Andriy Yusov, who works on strategic communications for the Ukrainian navy and coordinates prisoner exchanges with Russia.
Key occasions
A struggle foretold: how the CIA and MI6 received maintain of Putin’s Ukraine plans and why no person believed them
Shaun Walker
Drawing on greater than 100 interviews with senior intelligence officers and different insiders in a number of nations, this unique account particulars how the US and Britain uncovered Vladimir Putin’s plans to invade, and why most of Europe – together with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy – dismissed them.
“It’s the story of a spectacular intelligence success, but in addition one among a number of intelligence failures. First, for the CIA and MI6, who received the invasion situation proper however did not precisely predict the result, assuming a swift Russian takeover was a foregone conclusion.
Extra profoundly, for European companies, who refused to consider a full-scale struggle in Europe was potential within the twenty first century. They remembered the doubtful intelligence case offered to justify the invasion of Iraq 20 years beforehand, and have been cautious of trusting the People on what appeared like a fantastical prediction.
Most crucially, the Ukrainian authorities was completely unprepared for the oncoming assault, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spending months dismissing more and more pressing American warnings as scaremongering, and quashing last-minute considerations amongst his personal navy and intelligence elite, who finally made restricted makes an attempt to organize behind his again.”
Because the fourth anniversary of the invasion approaches and the world enters a brand new interval of geopolitical uncertainty, Europe’s politicians and spy companies proceed to attract classes from the failures of 2022.
Zelenskyy warns North Korean troops in Russia be taught fashionable hybrid warfare
In the meantime, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a warning about 10,000 North Korean troopers working on the Russian territory, saying it’s “extraordinarily harmful” that they get educated in fashionable hybrid warfare.
“They’re studying on the territory of Russia now, as a result of we’re responding to Russia’s assaults. … What is going to they do with this information? On the very least, they are going to carry this information and expertise house to North Korea,” he stated in an interview with the Japanese outlet Kyodo Information.
Zelenskyy supplied additionally his tackle the state of peace negotiations, saying that Ukraine stays “prepared for actual compromises,” however “not … at the price of our independence and sovereignty.”
Ukraine says it foiled Russian plans to kill high officers
Kyiv stated Friday that 10 folks have been arrested in Ukraine and Moldova on suspicion of planning to assassinate senior Ukrainian political figures on Moscow’s orders, with payouts of as much as $100,000, AFP reported.
“As a part of the work of a joint investigative staff of Ukrainian and Moldovan legislation enforcement officers, an organised group has been uncovered that was getting ready contract killings of well-known Ukrainian residents and foreigners,” Ukrainian prosecutor normal Ruslan Kravchenko stated in an announcement.
Kravchenko stated legislation enforcement had carried out 20 searches throughout the nation and confiscated cash, weapons, explosives and communications with Russian handlers.
Seven folks have been arrested in Ukraine in the course of the raids and three extra – together with the organiser of the marketing campaign – have been apprehended in Moldova, the assertion stated.
Kyiv solely named one of many officers focused by the suspects, Andriy Yusov, who works on strategic communications for the Ukrainian navy and coordinates prisoner exchanges with Russia.
Poland leaves Ottawa Conference banning antipersonnel mines
In the meantime, Poland has formally left the Ottawa Conference, which bans the usage of antipersonnel mines, amid rising considerations about Russia’s aggressive posture.
The withdrawal means Poland will be capable of lay anti-personnel mines alongside its jap border within the area of 48 hours if a risk emerges, prime minister Donald Tusk stated yesterday.
However Poland says it is going to solely use mines in case of “sensible risk of Russian aggression,” AP famous.
Reuters famous that most of Russia’s European neighbours besides Norway transfer to go away the treaty as they need to be able to confront any potential risk from Russia.
Morning opening: How you can finish this struggle?

Jakub Krupa
Defence ministers of the E5 grouping – France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK – are assembly within the Polish metropolis of Kraków this morning.
They are going to be joined by their Ukrainian counterpart, Mykhailo Fedorov, the EU’s high diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and Nato’s deputy secretary normal Radmila Šekerinska.
Their assembly comes simply days earlier than the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian aggression on Ukraine, as allies search to coordinate on the subsequent steps.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy burdened final night time that Ukraine wished to maintain Europe concerned in any additional peace talks with Russia and the US “to make sure that Europe’s positions are taken under consideration.”
However as the negotiations present restricted progress, there are rising questions concerning the subsequent steps in makes an attempt to resolve the battle.
I’ll carry you all the important thing traces right here, in addition to different tales from throughout Europe.
It’s Friday, 20 February 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Stay.
Good morning.