Russia Detains Suspect in General Shooting as Zelensky Reveals US Peace Deadline
A man suspected of shooting a top Russian military intelligence officer in Moscow has been detained in Dubai and extradited to Russia, according to the Federal Security Service (FSB). Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev was shot multiple times at an apartment building in what authorities have labelled an assassination attempt. He is currently recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery. Ukraine has not commented on the attack.
US Pushes for Peace Deal by June
In a separate development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that the United States is aiming to broker a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia by June. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Zelensky stated that the Americans "want to do everything by June" and are expected to increase pressure on both parties to meet this deadline. This comes amid reports that the US is striving to finalise a deal in March, despite ongoing challenges related to territorial concessions.
Escalating Military Actions
Despite diplomatic efforts, military hostilities continue unabated. Zelensky reported that Russia launched over 400 drones and approximately 40 missiles on Saturday, targeting Ukraine's energy sector, including power grids, generation facilities, and distribution substations. These attacks have exacerbated an acute power crisis in Ukraine, particularly during a harsh winter, forcing businesses to rely heavily on generators to maintain operations.
UK Threatens to Seize Russia-Linked Tanker
In a significant escalation of tensions, the United Kingdom has threatened to seize a Russia-linked oil tanker as part of efforts to counter shadow fleets used to transport sanctioned oil. British defence sources informed The Guardian that military options to capture such vessels have been identified in discussions with NATO allies. This move follows recent UK support for a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.
Other Key Developments
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Energy Facilities: Ukraine has targeted Russia's Bryansk Oblast with Neptune missiles and HIMARS systems, disrupting power supply in seven municipalities, according to local governor Alexander Bogomaz.
Expiration of New START Treaty: The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) expired on Thursday, raising concerns about a potential nuclear arms race. The treaty had limited the US and Russia to 1,550 nuclear warheads and 700 delivery systems.
Orban Declares Ukraine an "Enemy": Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban labelled Ukraine an "enemy" of Hungary at an anti-war rally, citing Ukraine's efforts to cut Hungary's access to Russian energy.
China's Advance in Microwave Weapons: Chinese scientists have developed a compact high-power microwave generator, potentially paving the way for weapons capable of targeting satellite swarms like SpaceX's Starlink constellation.
