Ukraine-Russia War Update: Putin’s Troops Allegedly Use Gas Pipeline for Surprise Assault on Ukrainian Forces in Kursk

At the outset of Russia’s invasion, this collective of civilians emerged to defend their locales, armed only with shotguns inspired by the Shelby gang in the popular television series. However, after three years of relentless conflict, the group—termed ‘The Peaky Blinders’—has morphed into one of Kyiv’s most lethal drone units.

They engage in a perilous game of cat-and-mouse, deploying cost-effective, mass-produced drones to drop explosives on tanks and enemy positions while evading Russian counterattacks in the Donetsk forests, known for some of the fiercest clashes of the conflict.

My colleague Barney Davis shares this report:

An anti-war advocate facing prolonged imprisonment upon returning to Russia is battling to stay in the United States.

Valeriia Razheva, 23, co-founded the U.S. branch of the Feminist Anti-War Resistance (FAWR) following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The organization has been branded an “undesirable entity” by Moscow, under legislation that enables prosecutors to target foreign groups deemed threats to the foundational order, defense capability, or state security of Russia.

Those associated with such entities face lengthy prison terms if they fail to disband them.

My colleague Bryony Gooch reports:

German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz expressed a desire over the weekend to engage in discussions with France and Britain regarding the sharing of their nuclear arsenals, although he clarified that this would not replace the U.S. nuclear umbrella over Europe.

“The topic of sharing nuclear weapons is one we need to discuss… We must strengthen our position in nuclear deterrence,” he stated in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, just a day after confirming key aspects of a coalition agreement between his conservative party and the Social Democratic SPD party.

“Conversations should be held with both nations (France and Britain), always with the goal of enhancing the American nuclear shield, which we genuinely want to see preserved.”

Germany, due to its historical context from World War II, has committed to non-nuclear defense through various international agreements but is involved in NATO’s nuclear sharing initiatives.

During a summit in Brussels on Thursday, EU leaders endorsed plans to increase defense spending amidst concerns that Russia, eager from its campaign in Ukraine, may next target an EU nation, emphasizing that Europe can no longer count solely on U.S. support.

Merz’s firmer stance on security and immigration reflects a shifting political environment, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has surged to become the second-largest party in the nation.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to Saudi Arabia from March 10 to 12 for discussions with Ukrainian officials, as stated in a release from the U.S. Department of State.

Rubio will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, according to spokesperson Tammy Bruce’s statement.

Following this, Rubio is scheduled to go to Canada from March 12 to 14 for the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, as indicated in the announcement.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated on Sunday that the recent gains by Russian forces in the Kursk region had resulted in Kyiv’s troops being nearly encircled.

In a Telegram post regarding the conflict in Kursk, Medvedev noted: “The lid of the boiling pot is almost shut. The offensive is ongoing.”

Britain and other European nations need to prepare to take the reins of NATO if Donald Trump follows through on U.S. threats to exit the alliance.

This pressing advisory was delivered on Saturday by former Conservative defense secretary Sir Ben Wallace.

France intends to tap into interest from frozen Russian assets to finance an additional €195 million in arms for Ukraine, as stated by Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu in a newspaper interview.

Additionally, France intends to transfer some older armored fighting vehicles, including its AMX-10RC and personnel carriers, Lecornu disclosed to La Tribune weekend newspaper.

“Through interest accrued from seized Russian assets, we will allocate new funds amounting to €195 million,” Lecornu stated, noting the funds would be directed toward 155-mm artillery shells and glide bombs for Mirage 2000 fighter jets supplied to Ukraine.

The Group of Seven nations agreed last year to provide Ukraine with $50 billion through a series of bilateral loans accessible to Kyiv through windfall gains from $300 billion of frozen Russian state assets.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp expressed that the cessation of military aid and intelligence-sharing from the U.S. to Ukraine is “deeply concerning.”

In an interview with LBC on Sunday, Philp remarked: “It is troubling that this essential support for Ukraine has been interrupted, encompassing both military assistance and pivotal intelligence-sharing.”

“Over the last 48 hours, we’ve observed Russia intentionally targeting Ukrainian civilians, resulting in fatalities, so I am unclear on the rationale behind this decision, which raises significant concern for me.”

“Without a doubt, the United Kingdom should steadfastly support Ukraine during this challenging time, providing both military supplies and any intelligence we can offer.”

“They have been barbarically invaded by a dictator, Vladimir Putin, and it is our moral duty to assist them in defending themselves.”

“This is not merely a moral case; there is a broader strategic argument as well, as we cannot allow dictators such as Putin to believe they can easily invade other countries.”

A Ukrainian drone targeted an industrial site overnight in Russia’s Chuvashia region, near the Volga River, approximately 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the Ukrainian border, according to the regional governor’s announcement on Sunday.

The strike—among the most significant intrusions deep into Russia by a Ukrainian drone—resulted in no reported casualties, said Chuvashia Governor Oleg Nikolayev in a Telegram post.

Emergency services were dispatched to the Kombinat Burevestnik facility in the capital of the region, Cheboksary, according to Nikolayev. He did not provide additional details concerning the strike, and the degree of damage remains uncertain.

Unofficial Russian news channels reported that Ukrainian nighttime attacks on Ryazan and Lipetsk were directed at local oil refineries.

Ukrainian Lieutenant Andriy Kovalenko, who leads the Center for Countering Disinformation, an arm of the National Security and Defense Council, indicated, without confirming details or specifically attributing to Ukrainian drones, that attacks were underway at the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant in Lipetsk.

The specifics regarding the targets in the reported attacks could not be independently verified.

In a piece featured in The Independent, the Conservative peer argues that the threat posed by Trump’s administration has opened up opportunities for Keir Starmer to effect far-reaching repairs to the damages caused by Brexit, beyond the limited ambitions of his current discussions.

Read Lord Heseltine’s full article here: