"President Trump is all over the place - his intentions ever more difficult to interpret - at amoment the media has highlighted Iraq war levels of military build-up in the Middle East with an eye on potential attack on Iran.
"Now we may have to take it a step further, or we may not," Trump added later. Then he set somewhat of a timeline, "You’re going to be finding out over the next, probably, 10 days."
At this moment the Trump-assembled armada threatening Iran includes two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of jets, and advanced air defenses. Over 150 US military cargo flights have delivered weapons to the Middle East this month, with a surge of aircraft still headed to the region." ZeroHedge
"A 28-year-old Brazilian recruit died after a brutal punishment handed out in a unit that regularly used discipline practices described as "torture" by those who both witnessed and suffered them, a Kyiv Independent investigation can reveal.
The man, Bruno Gabriel Leal da Silva, died overnight Dec. 28-29, 2025, according to former fellow fighters who spoke to the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation.The unit in question is a Brazilian-led formation called Advanced Company, led by the Brazilian Leanderson Paulino who is accused by several of those serving under him of overseeing — and in some cases taking part in — the abuse of his subordinates.
"It was a battalion that tortured people. Abuse there was normal," one former soldier said.
Witnesses and victims interviewed by the Kyiv Independent described torture including burnings, beatings, waterboarding, and even sexual assault with wooden objects.
Advanced operates under Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) as an approximately 150-200-strong unit within Revanche, commanded by Bohdan Khodakovskyi, part of HUR's International Legion led by Maj. Vadym Popyk.
Ukrainian officials have acknowledged Leal da Silva's death and say they are investigating. Prosecutors said police have opened a pre-trial investigation after his body was found on the territory of a military unit in Kyiv, while the military ombudsman said her office has ordered an inspection of Advanced." KI
"Vladimir Zelensky has said he would refuse to discuss the historical issues underpinning the Ukraine conflict during any potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.During an interview with Piers Morgan on Wednesday, Zelensky said he did not want to hear about Putin’s rationale. “With respect to history, I don’t want to lose time on these issues,” he said. “It’s not even interesting for me why he began this war. I don’t want to speak about it because I don’t have the time,” Zelensky added.
The Ukrainian leader then went on a profanity-laden tirade, saying: “I don’t need to waste time on historic issues, reasons why he began [the war], all the bulls**t he is raising with the Americans, et cetera. To end this war and to [find a] diplomatic way, I don’t need all this historical s**t, really.” Ukrin
"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred in the Celebes Sea near the coast of Sulawesi
Tengah, Indonesia, in the morning at 8.26 am local time (GMT +8). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.
The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
"237 combat encounters between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders were recorded.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, two clashes occurred. The enemy carried out 139 artillery strikes, including 11 from MLRS. The Russian army also carried out two airstrikes using five guided bombs.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy attempted four times to break through defensive lines in the areas of Vilcha, Fyholivka, Zelene, and Zarubynka.
In the Kupiansk sector, the invaders attacked twice near Kurylivka.In the Lyman sector, the Russian army attacked eight times, trying to penetrate defenses near Tverdokhlibove, Ridkodub, Drobysheve, Stavky, and Zarichne.
In the Sloviansk sector, the Defense Forces stopped eight attempts by the invaders to advance toward Rai-Oleksandrivka, Zakitne, Riznykivka, Platonivka, and Pazene.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy attacked seven times near Bondarne, Fedorivka, and Chasiv Yar.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the Russians carried out 22 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Berestok, Stepanivka, Rusyn Yar, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Sofiivka, Novopavlivka, and Illinivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Defense Forces stopped 42 assault actions by the Russian army near Zatyshok, Rodynske, Shevchenko, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Novopavlivka, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Novopidhorodne, Bilytske, and Dachne.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked 10 times, attempting to advance toward Ivanivka, Ternove, Danylivka, Vyshneve, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Sosnivka, and Zlahoda.
In the Huliaipole sector, 49 Russian attacks occurred in the areas of Huliaipole and toward Dobropillia, Pryluky, Zaliznychne, Staroukrainka, Hirke, Sviatopetrivka, and Verkhnia Tersa.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian troops attacked four times toward Mala Tokmachka, Stepove, Mali Shcherbaky, and Prymorske." Ukrin
"Winter has exposed many foundational frailties in Ukraine's air defenses. Relentless Russian attacks utilising Shahed-type attack drones have left millions of Ukrainians in the dark and cold. The role of interceptor pilots like Vladyslav is more important than ever.
Interceptor drones are first-person view (FPV) drones guided by a pilot that hunt enemy drones, either exploding next to them, or crashing into them.
Yet, despite massive Ukrainian and foreign investment into such interceptors, which promised to take the place of dwindling stockpiles of anti-air missiles, Vladyslav's job keeps getting harder.
The first tip he has for any new pilot: Don't work against the wind." KI
"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the Banda Sea near Pulau Molu island, Indonesia at 02:15 GMT. The quake had a shallow depth of 62 km (38 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
"160 clashes between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded.
The Russian army struck with precision-guided bombs in Kucherivka and Volfyne in the Sumy region; Pidgavrylivka, Havrylivka, Velykomykhailivka, Orly, and Fedorivske in the Dnipropetrovsk region; and Vozdvyzhivka, Lisne, Verkhni Tersy, Myrne, Charivne, Veselyanka, Liubymivka, Myrivka, Novoselivka, Liubitske, Dolynka, Kopani, and Omelnyk in the Zaporizhzhia region.Missile troops and artillery of the Defense Forces hit three areas of enemy personnel concentration, one artillery system, a UAV control point, and three other important targets of the Russian invaders.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out 99 shelling attacks, 12 of which were from MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the Russians launched four assaults on Ukrainian positions in the areas of Vovchanski Khutory, Prylipka, and toward Okhrimivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, three enemy attacks occurred yesterday. The Defense Forces repelled Russian assault actions toward Kurylivka and Novoosynove.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy attacked eight times, attempting to advance near Zarichne and toward Druzheliubivka and Stavky.
In the Sloviansk sector, the Defense Forces repelled 10 attempts by the invaders to advance in the areas of Yampil, Zakitne, Riznykivka, Platonivka, Dronivka, and Sviato-Pokrovske.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the Russians attempted to advance three times near Stupochky and toward Novodmytrivka.
In the Kostyantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 14 attacks in the areas of Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Rusyn Yar, and Sofiivka, and toward Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Novopavlivka, and Ivanopillia.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Defense Forces stopped 21 assault and offensive actions of the Russian army in the areas of Rodynske, Kotlyne, Filia, and toward Novooleksandrivka and Novopidhorodne.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked six times in the areas of Ternove, Rybne, and toward Danylivka and Tsehelne.
In the Huliaipole sector, the Russian army tried to advance 31 times in the areas of Dobropillia, Huliaipole, Solodke, Pryluky, Zelene, and toward Zaliznychne, Varvarivka, and Staroukrainka." Ukrin
"An avalanche derailed a passenger train near Goppenstein in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, injuring five of the 29 people on board." W
"Drone attacks targeted several regions of Russia overnight including the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, where a large-scale fire broke out following reported strikes, according to local authorities, Telegram channels, and monitoring groups.
The refinery, which supplies fuel to Russian troops, processes 6.42 million tons of oil annually, according to Ukraine's General Staff. Due to its proximity to Black Sea ports, its products are widely used to support Russian military logistics.
Pro-Russian Telegram channels with alleged ties to security services claimed that Krasnodar Krai had been under attack by Ukrainian drones since the evening. Local air defense systems shot down more than 20 drones over the region, though the Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify these claims." Ukrin
"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea near Utupua island, Solomon Islands, in the early morning at 6.23 am local time (GMT +11). The quake had a shallow depth of 40 km (25 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
"A very strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 96 km (60 mi) from Kamchatka, Russia, in the morning at 9.42 am local time (Asia/Kamchatka GMT +12). The quake had a shallow depth of 43 km (27 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD
"201 combat clashes were recorded between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders.
Russian aircraft struck areas near Velykomykhailivka, Malynivka, Vovche in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Samiilivka, Novoukrainka, Kopani, Hirke, Shyroke, Charivne, Myrne, Liubytske, Vozdvyzhivka, Rozivka, Nizhenka, Mykilske, Novoandriivka, Kushchove in the Zaporizhzhia region, as well as Olhivka and Vesele in the Kherson region.
Ukrainian Defense Forces aviation struck five areas where Russian personnel were concentrated.In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, seven clashes occurred. The enemy carried out 88 shelling attacks, including three using MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces attempted 11 times to break through defensive lines near Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and toward Hrafske, Vilcha, Sheviakivka, and Chuhunivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian troops launched six attacks toward Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, Nova Kruhliakivka, Novoosynove, and Bohuslavka.
In the Lyman sector, the invaders carried out 14 attacks, attempting to penetrate defenses toward Nadiia, Hlushchenkove, Oleksandrivka, Druzheliubivka, Tverdokhlibove, Drobysheve, Stavky, and Lyman.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled seven attempts to advance toward Rai-Oleksandrivka and near Platonivka and Dronivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy conducted five offensive actions near Minkivka, Vasiukivka, Bondarne, and Orikhovo-Vasylivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian troops carried out 16 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Kleban-Byk, Oleksandro-Kalynove, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, and toward Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 42 assault actions near Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, and toward Toretske, Novyi Donbas, Vilne, Shevchenko, Novooleksandrivka, Novopavlivka, Novopidhorodne, and Filiia.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched eight attacks toward Ivanivka, Oleksiivka, Verbove, Pryvillia, and Zlahoda.
In the Huliaipole sector, 37 Russian attacks took place toward Dobropillia, Pryluky, Zaliznychne, Huliaipole, Sviatopetrivka, Zelene, and Staroukrainka." Ukrin
"Russian officials reported a large-scale drone attack targeting multiple regions on Feb. 15, including Moscow, Bryansk, and Belgorod Oblasts.Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed that Russian air defenses shot down 13 drones heading toward the capital, with emergency services responding to debris at impact sites.
Temporary flight restrictions were introduced at Domodedovo airport but were later lifted, according to state media.
Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz said the region had been under sustained UAV attack since early morning, claiming that 120 drones were destroyed there. He later noted that strikes on energy infrastructure left five municipalities and parts of the city of Bryansk without heat and electricity." KI
"Former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko was detained while attempting to cross the border, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said on Feb. 15.
"Today, while crossing the border, NABU detectives detained a former energy minister as part of the Midas case," the bureau said.
Halushchenko is under investigation by NABU in connection with the broader Energoatom corruption case, considered the largest anti-corruption case during President Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency. Eight suspects have been formally charged." KI
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