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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said a Russian bomb destroyed the school building “even though dozens of civilians were there”. The school is located in a part of Kursk held by Ukrainian forces.
On the war front, Russia has marked its most senior casualty in the Ukraine war – a deputy governor of a region killed fighting in Ukraine.
Sergey Efremov, the deputy governor of Russia’s eastern region of Primorsky Krai, was killed after he returned to the Russian frontline from a battle with Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. He was reportedly travelling in a car blown up by a landmine along with another Russian army officer.
It comes as Mr Zelensky said Nato membership for Ukraine would be a “great victory” for US president Donald Trump.
The Ukrainian president said joining the alliance would be the “cheapest” way of guaranteeing Kyiv’s security while also strengthening Mr Trump geopolitically.
What happened to the North Korean troops fighting Ukraine on the frontline?
North Korean troops have been pulled back from the frontline amid devastating losses, according to Ukrainian and American officials.
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Holly Evans3 February 2025 07:00
EU leaders to huddle on defence against Russia and handling Trump today
European Union leaders gather today to discuss how to bolster the continent’s defences against Russia and how to handle US president Donald Trump after his decision to impose tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China.
At a royal palace-turned-conference centre in Brussels, the leaders of the EU’s 27 nations will also lunch with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte and dine with British prime minister Keir Starmer.
Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council of EU leaders, has billed the one-day gathering as a “retreat” devoted to defence policy rather than a formal summit, aiming for an open discussion without any official declaration or decisions.
The first session focuses on geopolitics and relations with the United States, meaning Trump’s sweeping weekend move on tariffs is certain to come up – particularly as EU officials fear they may soon face similar measures.
Starmer praises ‘real progress’ in UK’s ties with Germany as he hosts Scholz
The two leaders met at the Prime Minister’s country residence ahead of his visit to Belgium on Monday, where he will meet with EU chiefs in an effort to “reset” relations with the block.
Ukraine and the Middle East were among the topics of conversation as Mr Scholz met with Sir Keir at the Buckinghamshire country house, a No 10 spokesperson said.
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Holly Evans3 February 2025 06:00
Photos: Life in Donetsk under the shadow of Russian invasion
Arpan Rai3 February 2025 05:48
Russia and Ukraine trade blame over attack on boarding school
Competing claims emerged over a deadly attack on a boarding school in Sudzha, a city in Russia’s Kursk region that has been under Ukrainian control for five months, with Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of carrying out the strike.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said Saturday night that four people were killed and a further four seriously wounded in the strike, with 84 people rescued by Ukrainian servicemen from the rubble of the building.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that Moscow had bombed the boarding school where civilians were sheltering and preparing to evacuate.
Arpan Rai3 February 2025 05:36
Ukrainian men charged over killing of army draft officer
Ukrainian prosecutors charged two men yesterday over the killing of an army draft officer in the central Poltava region, leading a top general to call for swift punishment as he warned of growing disrespect towards members of the military.
One of the suspects, who was being driven to a military training centre on Friday with other conscripts, called an acquaintance who then arrived at the scene and shot dead one of the accompanying officers, the prosecutor general’s office said.
The two men fled but were arrested a few hours later, the office said in a statement, adding that police had seized a hunting rifle, ammunition and two cases of hand grenades from the alleged shooter.
One suspect was charged with obstructing the military and murder, and the other with aiding and abetting military obstruction.
Arpan Rai3 February 2025 05:31
The defenders of Kyiv using World War Two-style machine guns on farm trailers
The crack and the ear-splitting blast – two in a row, then a third – rattle windows and set off car alarms. But, in a city under constant bombardment, a smoker in a doorway tips a little ash and takes another drag.
A hotel receptionist, pooled in lamplight, doesn’t look up from her papers.
While the citizens of Kyiv won’t move for these, the sound of lawnmower engines in the sky will prompt an immediate race to cellars and shelters.
Sam Kiley reports from Kyiv region:
Arpan Rai3 February 2025 05:16
Russian energy facilities, oil refinery hit in Ukraine attack
Ukraine’s overnight drone attacks targeted fuel and energy facilities in Russia, sparking fires at a Volgograd oil refinery and disrupting flights at several airports, Russian officials said this morning.
“The air defence forces of the defence ministry repelled a massive attack by aircraft-type drones on the territory of the Volgograd region,” governor Andrei Bocharov said in a statement.
Falling drone debris sparked several fires at an oil refinery, the statement said. Mr Bocharov did not say which refinery was on fire but said the blazes had been contained.
Baza, a Russian news Telegram channel that is close to Russia’s security services, said that a series of explosions were heard in the area around a refinery operated by Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil.
In Astrakhan, the drone attack sparked a fire, the region’s governor said, without disclosing what was ablaze.
“Ukrainian armed forces attempted a drone attack on objects located in the region, including fuel and energy facilities,” Igor Babushkin, the governor, said on Telegram.
“There were no casualties.” Baza said that Ukraine attacked a gas processing plant near Astrakhan.
Arpan Rai3 February 2025 05:09
Russia says it downs 70 Ukrainian drones overnight
Russia’s air defence units intercepted and destroyed 70 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian defence ministry said this morning.
In the earlier hours, a swarm of Ukrainian drones had forced suspension of operations at several Russian airports.
Arpan Rai3 February 2025 04:22
