Every week we wrap up the must-reads from our coverage of the Ukraine war, from news and features to analysis, visual guides and opinion.
Zelenskiy visited London, Paris and Brussels
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, made a surprise visit to the UK on Wednesday – his first visit since the Russian invasion – as he sought to drum up support for additional western resources. Here is how he spent the day, as recounted by Kevin Rawlinson.
In an address to British parliamentarians in Westminster Hall, he made an emotive appeal for fighter jets, forcing Rishi Sunak – who was previously opposed to handing over UK jets – to order a defence ministry review into whether Zelenskiy’s request could be met.
It was a speech rich in emotion, humour and, as you might expect from an actor turned politician, not a small amount of drama. Here is a potted rundown of his half-hour speech from Peter Walker.
Zelenskiy has sensed the world’s attention is flagging, Patrick Wintour wrote after the visit. Standing in his fatigues next to the speakers of the Lords and Commons his message was simple: “Do not forget Ukraine or this war in Europe.”
Later on Wednesday, Zelenskiy travelled to Paris to meet with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, where he appealed for more heavy arms.
“The sooner Ukraine gets long-range heavy weaponry, the sooner our pilots get planes, the sooner this Russian aggression will end and we can return to peace in Europe,” the Ukrainian president said as he arrived at the Élysée Palace.
Macron was firm in his support of Zelenskiy, Angelique Chrisafis reported, saying France was determined to help Ukraine towards “victory, peace and Europe” as well as “the re-establishment of its legitimate rights”.
“Russia cannot and must not win,” Macron said. “The future of Europe” was at stake in Ukraine.
Finally, Zelenskiy attended an EU summit in Brussels where he urged European leaders to speed up weapons delivery and open EU membership talks with Ukraine this year.
Jennifer Rankin reported that Zelenskiy warned the EU’s 27 leaders that his intelligence services had intercepted a plan from Russia “to break the democracy of Moldova and establish control over” the country. His claim could not be independently verified.
Zelenskiy said it was unknown whether Moscow had “given an order to follow that plan” but it was “a very similar plan” to others tried in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Russia launched drone and missile attacks in south and east Ukraine
Russia launched a drone and missile attack on targets in the south and east of Ukraine on Thursday evening, according to officials and local residents who reported hearing loud explosions.
Air raid sirens sounded in much of the country, Luke Harding reported. Serhiy Lysak, the military administrator in the Dnipropetrovsk region, said Shahed drones were detected on their way to the area.
The overnight barrage came hours after the governor of the Luhansk region said that Russia had launched a major offensive in eastern Ukraine and was trying to break through defences near the town of Kreminna.
Ukraine said Russia was assembling troops for a possible offensive in Luhansk
Russian forces are attempting to tie down Ukrainian forces with fighting in the eastern Donbas region as Moscow assembles additional troops there for an expected offensive in the coming weeks, perhaps targeting the Luhansk region, Ukraine has said.
Moscow’s forces are located in the Donetsk region, which with neighbouring Luhansk region makes up the Donbas region, an industrial area bordering Russia, Peter Beaumont reported.
“The battles for the region are heating up,” said Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of Donetsk, in televised remarks. “The Russians are throwing new units into the battle and eradicating our towns and villages.”
Western governments believe Russia is planning a major assault on Ukraine, possibly to coincide with the anniversary of its full-scale invasion, Luke Harding reported. Its main goal is believed to be to capture the Donbas region.
Putin’s alleged ex-lover was targeted by the latest UK sanctions
One of the Russians targeted by UK sanctions on Wednesday was Vladimir Putin’s alleged former lover, Svetlana Krivonogikh, Luke Harding reported.
The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, announced a new round of sanctions against Kremlin-connected individuals and military entities to mark Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to London. They included a drone manufacturer, a helicopter parts firm, and an aviation software company.
But what appears to be the most pointed and personal measure concerned Krivonogikh, a Russian national who worked as a cleaner in the 1990s before meeting Putin in St Petersburg. The Russian investigative website Proekt claims Putin is the father of Krivonogikh’s daughter Luiza.
The secretive Ukrainian special forces taking the fight across the border
If the worst happens, Taras, 23, Vladyslav, 21, and their commander, Olexiy, 39, are well aware that the Ukrainian government will deny any knowledge of them. In western capitals, there is a collective shudder at the very thought of them.
Daniel Boffey spoke to members of the Bratstvo battalion, a volunteer group of Ukrainian special forces, taking the fight against Vladimir Putin beyond the frontlines of the war in Ukraine, past the occupied areas of their country – and deep into Russia.
Their work ranges from the kidnapping of senior Kremlin officials, to the destruction of key military infrastructure and the downing of enemy aircraft on Russian territory.
It might seem odd for a battalion such as theirs to allow their stories to be told in public. But that is to misunderstand their purpose. In everything they do, there is a single message they want to send. “It is very easy for us to cross the Russian border,” says Vladyslav, the youngest of the three, with a smile.
Ukraine’s grim winter – in maps
Ukraine has faced temperatures as low as -20C in recent months, at the same time as dealing with a humanitarian crisis caused by Russia strikes on key civilian infrastructure.
Humanitarian groups have warned that attacks in the coldest winter months can “devastate” civilian lives, limiting access to energy and water for vulnerable groups such as displaced and elderly people.
This interactive map made by Antonio Voce, Ashley Kirk, Isobel Koshiw and Lucy Swan shows the vast impact of Russia’s weaponisation of winter.
