Russia Launches Deadly Air Assaults as Ukraine Faces Rising Casualties and EU Imposes Oil Ban
February 13, 2026
Russia launched a massive air attack on Ukraine's cities on February 7, using 408 drones and 39 missiles. Kyiv’s defenses destroyed most of them but some hit key energy facilities, forcing a nuclear plant to shut down. Temperatures plunged to -20°C, worsening the crisis. Civilians suffered tragic losses, including a family killed by a drone strike in Bohodukhiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised changes in frontline defense tactics.
Ukraine targeted Russian missile preparation sites deep inside Russia, damaging important buildings. Fighting is intense, with Ukrainian casualties at 31,700 in January alone. Ukraine also disabled Russian Starlink satellite terminals, which the Russians had used for communication and drone control. Russia tries to replace them with domestic systems and offers bribes to Ukrainians to hand over terminals, but Ukraine warns of harsh penalties.
Peace talks have stalled despite some prisoner exchanges. Ukraine plans another round on February 17. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov refers to secret deals from past talks. Zelenskyy fears new deals may exclude Ukraine and Europe.
The European Commission proposed a full ban on Russian seaborne oil, aiming to cut off a third of Russia’s oil sales and pressure Moscow to seek peace. This includes banning maritime services and closing loopholes in sanctions on Russian banks, metals, and technology exports. India, a major Russian oil buyer, reportedly stopped buying Russian oil after mid-March under US pressure.
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Tags:
Russia-ukraine war
Air Assault
Energy infrastructure
Starlink
Eu sanctions
Russian Oil Ban
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