Day 1,434.

Today, as Russia kills five civilians in a drone attack targeting a passenger train in Ukraine, we report on how a senior European diplomat has said the world must call this what it is: terrorism. As President Zelensky urges all “decent people of the world” not to remain silent in the face of Russian war crimes, we examine a new US assessment which concludes that Russia has suffered more military losses than any major power in any conflict since the Second World War. We also ask whether the North Sea and Baltic Sea are now effectively closed to Russia’s shadow fleet following coordinated action by 14 European countries. Plus, we speak to colleagues at The Telegraph about why EU leaders’ long-held ambitions to turn the European Union into a genuine geopolitical power may, at last, be taken seriously.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Lily Shanagher (Foreign Reporter). @LilyShanagher on X.

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.

James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.

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Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

The growing risks to maritime safety (UK Government):

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-growing-risks-to-maritime-safety/the-growing-risks-to-maritime-safety

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UN):

https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf

The plans to turn Europe into a new superpower (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/26/plans-turn-europe-new-superpower/

‘After Budapest and Minsk, Ukraine knows what empty guarantees look like’ (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/28/why-ukraine-cant-trust-another-ceasefire-with-putin/

Ukraine: We won’t accept meaningless security guarantees (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/27/ukraine-russia-security-guarantees-trump-nato/

EU-sanctioned oil tanker escorted to Morocco by Spanish rescue ship, merchant marine says (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-sanctioned-oil-tanker-escorted-morocco-by-spanish-rescue-ship-merchant-marine-2026-01-27/

Russia’s Grinding War in Ukraine (CSIS):

https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-grinding-war-ukraine

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The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

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Drones strike Ukrainian passenger train in ‘act of terrorism’ & Russia suffers more losses ‘than any major power since WW2’

Ukraine: The Latest

Drones strike Ukrainian passenger train in ‘act of terrorism’ & Russia suffers more losses ‘than any major power since WW2’