Russia strikes residential building, gas pipeline in Odesa, explosions heard in Kyiv, amid Russian missile, drone attack

"Russian forces carried out a series of attacks overnight on Feb. 8-9, targeting various cities

with reported missile and drone attacks.
The southern city of Odesa was subject to large-scale drone attack, which local officials reporting damage to "residential infrastructure" in the city.
Ukraine's Air Force reported Russian drones approaching Odesa around 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 9. Public broadcaster Suspilne reported multiple explosions heard in Odesa amid the drone threat.
Odesa City Military Administration head Serhiy Lysak said that a fire broke out on the roof of a multi-story building, adding that a gas pipeline was damaged in the attack. Car fires were also reported in the city.
At least one person was killed as a result of the Russian drone strike on Odesa, Lysak added.
Earlier in the night, Russian forces also targeted Kyiv in an apparent ballistic missile attack.

The Feb. 7 attack came ahead of another cold snap in Kyiv, with temperatures expected to drop to –19 degrees Celsius (–2 degrees Fahrenheit) in the coming days, further straining the energy system." KI

Satellites spot 115 ft 'monster' waves in Pacific danger zone

"Satellites have confirmed what mariners long suspected but could never fully prove: the open Pacific can spawn waves as tall as a ten‑story building, marching across entire ocean basins. The latest measurements of 115 foot crests in a volatile North Pacific corridor turn a once anecdotal “rogue wave” legend into a precisely mapped hazard zone for ships, coastlines, and critical infrastructure.

Those towering walls of water did not just batter one storm center and fade. They radiated outward, circling the globe and feeding powerful swells that later hammered places like Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast, underscoring how a single extreme event in the mid‑ocean can shape surf, flooding risk, and coastal safety thousands of miles away.
For the first time, a network of orbiting instruments has tracked a North Pacific mega‑storm in real time as it generated waves up to 115 feet high in deep water. Using radar altimeters and other sensors, Satellites Spot the storm’s most violent seas in the central Pacific, capturing individual crests that rival the height of city office blocks.
Forecasts for the U.S. mainland show how that plays out on the ground, with Waves as tall as 10 feet expected to pound west‑facing beaches in San Diego County starting Friday. Local officials warn that the incoming swell will generate dangerous rip currents along the entire San Diego County coastline, a reminder that even “moderate” surf heights can be deadly when combined with long‑period energy from a distant storm." msn

5.7 Earthquake - 52 km northwest of San Pedro Pochutla, Estado de Oaxaca, Mexico

"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit 52 km (33 mi) away from San Pedro Pochutla, Estado
de Oaxaca, Mexico, in the early afternoon MEXat 3.42 pm local time (America/Mexico City GMT -6). The quake had a very shallow depth of 18.8 km (12 mi) and was felt over a large region. 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

123 clashes on front

"Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian troops have been involved in 123 clashes.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, Russian troops attempted three offensives and carried out 21 shelling attacks on settlements and Ukrainian positions.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy attacked six times near Vovchansk, Starytsia, Prylipka, and toward Fyholivka. One clash is ongoing.

In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces attempted to advance toward Kupiansk, Podoly, Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Novoosynove, Nova Kruhliakivka, and Novoplatonivka. A total of 13 clashes occurred in this sector, three of which are ongoing.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian troops repelled 15 enemy attacks near Drobysheve, Serednie, Zarichne, and toward Druzheliubivka, Stavky, Shyikivka, and Lyman. Six clashes continue.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russians attempted to advance on Ukrainian positions near Orihovo-Vasylivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 22 attacks near Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, and toward Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Mykolaipillia, Stepanivka, and Sofiivka. Three attacks are ongoing.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces made 39 attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions near Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Muravka, and toward Toretske, Kucherov Yar, Bilytske, Shevchenko, Novooleksandrivka, Serhiivka, Novopidhorodnie, Novopavlivka, and Ivanivka. Ukrainian forces repelled 31 attacks.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked four times near Tovste, Piddubne, and toward Ivanivka. Kolomiitsi suffered a precision airstrike with guided bombs. One clash is ongoing.
In the Huliaipole sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled five enemy attacks near Solodke, Rivnopillia, and Dorozhnianka. Additionally, Russian aviation struck Zelena Dibrova, Barvinivka, Nizhenka, Liubytske, Vozdvyzhivka, and Kopani. Four clashes continue.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions three times near Kamianske." Ukrin

Russia's Belgorod Oblast faces blackouts, heating shortages

"Blackouts and heating outages were reported in the Russian city of Belgorod on Feb. 7 after

alleged attacks on a local thermal power plant and electrical substation.
The news marks the third time this week that widespread power outages have been reported in Belgorod Oblast.
Residents reported that the Belgorod electrical substation and the city's Luch thermal power plant were attacked the morning of Feb. 7, according to local Telegram channels. Power outages were then reported in mutliple districts of Belgorod and surrounding areas." KI

Cuba Ready To Negotiate With Trump, But Urges Dialing Down Of Pressure

"Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has offered to enter negotiations with Washington, but has made clear that this must happen "without pressure" - at a moment the Trump

administration is seeking to economically strangle Cuba - even going so far as to openly tout the desire to see regime change.
"Cuba is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States," the Cuban leader announced He made clear this can be a "dialogue on any topic... but without pressure or precondition."
President Trump has been seeking to end oil imports to Cuba, and after the Maduro overthrow, this has become a real possibility, given that the United States can now demand that the interim government in Caracas end its oil exports to Havana. Venezuela has always been Cuba's number one supplier." ZH

Suicide Bomb Rocks Pakistan's Capital, Over 30 Dead & 169 Wounded

"At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured when a suicide bomber struck a Shia mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad during Friday prayers, Pakistani officials said, in one of the capital’s deadliest attacks in over a decade.

The blast happened in the Khadija al-Kubra Imambargah mosque in the outskirts of Islamabad, with police saying the attacker had been stopped at the mosque gate before opening fire and setting off explosives among worshipers.
No group claimed responsibility yet; however, conflict monitor ACLED said the attack "bears the hallmarks of the Islamic State," while officials noted that Shia communities, a minority in Pakistan, have repeatedly been targeted in sectarian violence by extremist groups, including the Islamic State and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan." ZH

5.0 Earthquake - Off the Coast of Central America

"The closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Muisne, a town with 13,000 inhabitants in Ecuador, in 532 km (331 mi) distance southeast of the epicenter. People likely experienced very weak shaking there. In the capital of Ecuador, Quito, 723 km (449 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake could not be felt.

The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking." VD

US Retains Right To 'Militarily Secure' Chagos Air Base, Trump Says

"U.S. President Donald Trump said on he retained the right to “militarily secure” the U.S.–

UK Diego Garcia air base in the Chagos Islands, if future arrangements threatened American access.
Trump has criticized the UK’s decision to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it an “act of total weakness” last month. Under the agreement, signed in October 2025, the Diego Garcia military base would remain under UK control for at least 99 years, ensuring continued access for U.S. forces." ZeroHedge

5.1 Earthquake - Balleny Islands Region

"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean 523 km (325 mi)

from Antarctica in the morning. 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

241 frontline clashes

"241 combat engagements took place, with the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, nine clashes occurred today; the enemy carried out 63 artillery strikes on the Ukrainian troops’ positions and settlements, including seven with multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 15 times near Zelene, Starytsia, Chuhunivka, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and toward Hryhorivka. Three clashes are ongoing.

In the Kupiansk sector, the Russians attacked 12 times toward Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, Hlushkivka, Nova Kruhliakivka, Shiikivka, and Pishchane. Seven clashes are ongoing.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian troops repelled 18 attacks near Kopanky, Serednie, Novoselivka, Stavky, Drobysheve, and Zarichne. One clash is ongoing.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 enemy attacks near Platonivka, Yampil, Zakitne, and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka. One engagement is ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces attacked six times near Minkivka, Predtechyne, Vasiukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, and toward Pryvillia. One engagement is ongoing.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy launched 26 attacks near Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Kostiantynivka, and toward Ivanopillia, Berestok, Novopavlivka, Illinivka, and Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces conducted 37 attacks, attempting to advance near Vilne, Novyi Donbas, Rodynske, Kotlyne, Pokrovsk, Udachne, Molodetske, Filiia, and toward Serhiivka, Bilytske, Novooleksandrivka, Novopidhorodnie, and Novopavlivka. Two clashes are ongoing.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Ukrainian units repelled five attacks near Pryvillia, Oleksandrohrad, and toward Ivanivka. Airstrikes targeted Orly and Pokrovske.
In the Huliaipole sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 15 enemy attacks near Huliaipole and toward Sviatopetrivka, Dobropillia, Pryluky, Zelene, and Olenokostiantynivka. One clash is ongoing. The enemy carried out airstrikes, including near Novosoloshyne, Liubytske, Barvinivka, Shyroke, Dolynka, and Vozdvyzhivka.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions seven times near Mali Shcherbaky, Stepnohirsk, and toward Pavlivka, Prymorske, and Lukianivske.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the enemy launched two unsuccessful attacks." Ukrin

Ukraine hits 'important' Russian cruise missile fuel plant in Tver Oblast, drones spark 'massive fire'

"Ukrainian drones struck a Russian factory that manufactures fuel components for Kh-55 and

Kh-101 cruise missiles in Tver Oblast, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
The strike targeted the Redkino Experimental Plant, which produces components of Decilin-M rocket fuel, as well as fuel additives for diesel and aviation kerosene, the source said.
Russia routinely uses the missiles to attack Ukrainian cities, including during a mass strike on Feb. 7 that involved 21 Kh-101 missiles aimed at Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Drones operated by the SBU's Alpha special forces unit hit the facility, triggering a large fire." Ukrin

Two Arrests After Brand-New German Warships Allegedly Sabotaged in Dock

"A joint European police operation has led to the arrest of two men over the alleged sabotage of German warships by dockyard workers, which could have “led to significant damage to the ships” had it not been detected. Two men, a 37-year-old Romanian citizen and a 54-year-old Greek, were arrested on Tuesday in a joint operation between German, Romanian, Greek, and European Union police agencies. 

Their apartments were searched, and digital devices were recovered. German prosecutors say the men, who were both contractors employed at the Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, a subsidiary of the German defence giant Rheinmetall, where “several” warships were sabotaged last year.

 It is alleged the Romanian man, who was employed as a painter, had poured 20 kilograms (45lbs) of abrasive steel shot blasting media into the main engine of the brand-new German navy corvette Emden.
It is further alleged that other acts of sabotage include “punctured fresh water supply lines, removed fuel tank caps, and deactivated safety switches in the ship’s electronics”. At least one other ship is said to have been sabotaged, but exactly how remains unclear. While it was revealed last year that incidents had occurred at the naval shipyard, it was only after the arrests that it was confirmed that the government had concluded they were acts of sabotage. Remarkably, German newspaper Bild reports that at least one of the alleged saboteurs remained employed at the shipyard until this week and had access to the secure facility for over a year after the attempted sabotage was first discovered." 

MS

Starmer distances himself from former UK envoy linked to Epstein

"British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has scrambled to distance himself from former Labour

Party senior minister Peter Mandelson after newly released documents revealed his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer claimed he fell victim to “deceit” by a man he had himself appointed as ambassador to the US in 2024.
Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and quit his position in the House of Lords earlier this week after documents released by the US Department of Justice suggested he had received $75,000 from the late pedophile. He still denied any wrongdoing by claiming that he had no recollection of ever receiving the money." RT

Philippines: Tropical storm Basyang (Penha) makes landfall, slams Visayas, northern Mindanao, parts of Luzon

"Manila: Several regions in the country are expected to be impacted as tropical storm Basyang (Penha) has already made landfall.
Based on the latest forecast, Basyang will continue traversing Agusan del Norte before emerging over the Bohol Sea, based on Tropical Cyclone Bulletin #15 issued by weather bureau Pagasa as of 5am.
Location: The center is estimated in the vicinity of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte (9.4°N, 125.5°E).
Movement: West-northwestward at 25 km/h.
Intensity: Maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, with gusts up to 90 km/h." GulfNews