More than 1.8 million soldiers from Russia and Ukraine have been killed, wounded, or gone missing during nearly four years of war, according to a report by the U.S.-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The report, published on January 28, 2026, found that Russian forces suffered significantly higher losses, with about 1.2 million affected, including over 325,000 killed and several thousand still missing. CSIS noted that no major military power has faced such heavy losses in any conflict since World War II.

Ukraine has also endured severe casualties, with more than 600,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing between February 2022 and December 2025. The report estimated Ukrainian military deaths between 100,000 and 140,000 during that period. CSIS warned that if the war continues, total casualties could reach around two million by spring 2026.

The conflict began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine following long-standing tensions over Crimea and Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO.

After a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi, Russia and Ukraine agreed on Saturday to hold a second round of direct peace talks next week, scheduled for February 1 under U.S. mediation. A U.S. official described bringing all parties to the same table as a major step forward, noting significant progress in identifying key issues for a final decision. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the discussions constructive and important.

The talks mark the first direct participation of both nations in discussions under U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to end nearly four years of war. Their previous meeting in Istanbul last summer had been limited to a prisoner exchange agreement. However, tensions flared again on the second day of the Abu Dhabi meeting when Russia launched extensive drone and missile attacks, leaving millions without power in freezing conditions.

Kyiv authorities labeled the assault a “night of Russian terror,” accusing Moscow of trying to undermine the peace process. Despite the ongoing conflict, ordinary residents of Kyiv remain uncertain about a swift resolution.

British Prince Harry has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his comments on NATO allies’ involvement in the Afghanistan war. Trump, in a Fox News interview, claimed that NATO countries stayed somewhat behind the front lines during the conflict and questioned whether the alliance would stand by the United States if needed. His remarks drew widespread condemnation across the United Kingdom’s political spectrum.

Speaking while paying tribute to NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan, Prince Harry urged people to speak about their sacrifices with truth and honor. The Duke of Sussex, who served twice in Afghanistan, recalled losing friends and forming lifelong bonds during his service. He noted that 457 British soldiers and many other NATO troops were killed in the war.

Harry emphasized that NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time in 2001, obligating member nations to stand with the United States for collective security. He said thousands of lives were changed forever and called for continued unity in diplomacy and peace.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about NATO troops in Afghanistan were offensive. Speaking to reporters in London, Starmer described Trump’s remarks downplaying NATO forces’ role as alarming and said the U.S. president should apologize. He added that if he had made such a mistake, he would have apologized himself.

Starmer reaffirmed the deep relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, emphasizing its importance for security and defense. Earlier on Friday, the British government had stated that Trump’s claim—that NATO troops avoided Afghanistan’s frontlines—was incorrect. Trump had said on Thursday that NATO soldiers stayed somewhat behind the frontlines during the war in Afghanistan.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United Kingdom joined the United States and other allies in Afghanistan under NATO’s collective defense clause. The conflict resulted in the deaths of 457 British soldiers.

According to data released by the UK Home Office, 901 migrants crossed the English Channel and entered the United Kingdom between January 14 and 21, 2026. The crossings took place in 14 small boats, as reported by Middle East Monitor. Earlier, on January 5, a small boat carrying 32 people reached the UK, marking the first such crossing of the new year. On the following Saturday, 317 migrants arrived in five small boats, the highest single-day total so far in 2026.

The report notes that in 2025, a total of 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats, about 5,000 more than in 2024. Despite measures taken by the UK government to curb illegal migration, the number of crossings continues to rise.

The data highlights the ongoing challenge for UK authorities in managing irregular migration across the Channel, as numbers show an upward trend despite enforcement efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to participate in trilateral talks with the United States and Russia aimed at ending the ongoing war. The meeting will take place in the United Arab Emirates. Zelensky made the announcement after meeting US President Donald Trump in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, according to BBC reports. Trump said his meeting with Zelensky was excellent and confirmed that US Ambassador Steve Witkoff had traveled to Moscow to discuss the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky stated that the unresolved issue of land in eastern Ukraine remains the main obstacle to peace. Under a US proposal, Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region could become a demilitarized and free economic zone in exchange for security guarantees for Kyiv. Ukraine has offered to withdraw troops up to 40 kilometers from about 25 percent of the Donetsk region it controls, provided Russia takes similar steps. However, Russia’s reported desire to control the entire Donbas region remains a major challenge.

Zelensky emphasized that US involvement is essential to ensure Ukraine’s security after any peace agreement. He added that any deal would require approval from both the US Congress and Ukraine’s parliament.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. President Donald Trump 'will not change' following their one-hour meeting. Zelensky described the meeting as good and very important, thanking Trump for taking the time to speak. After the meeting, held in Davos, Zelensky addressed world leaders, noting that America’s position is changing but no one is certain how. He questioned how Europe would keep pace with such rapid changes.

Zelensky criticized European leaders for avoiding decisive action on Ukraine, saying some leaders, though European, are not acting in Europe’s interest. He added that some powerful leaders still seek direction from others and question how long they must remain firm. According to Zelensky, no great power can function this way, and Europe must learn to defend itself.

He warned that the current challenges facing the continent pose serious threats to the European way of life, emphasizing the need for unity and self-reliance among European nations.

The United Kingdom’s House of Lords voted on Wednesday in favor of banning social media use for children under 16. The amendment, introduced by Conservative lawmaker John Nash and supported by members of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, passed with 261 votes to 150. The decision increases pressure on the government to adopt stricter measures similar to those implemented in Australia. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said earlier that he would not rule out any options for child protection but prefers to await the outcome of an ongoing consultation process before legislating.

The proposal will now move to the Labour-controlled House of Commons, where over 60 Labour MPs have urged the prime minister to support the ban. Public sentiment appears strongly in favor, with a December YouGov poll showing 74 percent of Britons supporting such restrictions. Actor Hugh Grant and other public figures have also called on the government to back the measure, arguing that parents alone cannot shield children from social media’s harmful effects.

Some child protection groups, however, warned that a blanket ban could create a false sense of security among parents and society. The Online Safety Act already mandates strict age verification for harmful online content.

The United Kingdom has initiated formal discussions and a public consultation process to consider a complete ban on social media use for individuals under sixteen. The move, announced by Technology Minister Liz Kendall in the House of Commons, aims to safeguard children’s mental health and online safety. The consultation will run for three months, gathering opinions from parents, youth, and civil society representatives.

As part of the initiative, several measures are under consideration. These include making British schools ‘phone-free’ by default, empowering the education inspection body Ofsted to monitor compliance with phone-use policies, and requiring technology companies to remove addictive features or algorithms from their platforms. The proposal has gained attention following advocacy by Esther Gher, mother of teenager Briana Gher, who recently died by suicide.

The report notes that Australia became the first country to implement a similar ban in December 2025, providing a precedent for the UK’s current deliberations.

At least two people were killed and several others injured in overnight Russian drone attacks across multiple regions of Ukraine, according to local authorities. The strikes, which targeted power plants, have severely damaged the country’s energy infrastructure. In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered emergency electricity imports to stabilize the situation as Moscow launched another large-scale assault.

Zelensky stated on social media that more than 200 drones were used to attack the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa. He accused Russia of deliberately targeting Ukraine’s power generation and supply systems to pressure the country during harsh winter conditions. On Saturday, additional strikes in Kharkiv and Sumy damaged critical infrastructure, raising concerns about disruptions to electricity and heating services.

Ukrainian officials warned that the ongoing attacks are worsening living conditions for civilians during the winter. Citing CNN, the report noted that Russia’s continued focus on energy infrastructure is adding a new dimension to the conflict.

Ukraine’s new Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told parliament that nearly 200,000 soldiers have left their posts without authorization, describing the situation as a severe manpower crisis. Speaking before his confirmation vote on Wednesday, Fedorov said around two million Ukrainians are currently wanted for evading military duties. He noted that the army has been under immense pressure for years while defending the country against a much stronger enemy.

According to Fedorov, the front-line situation remains dire, with Ukrainian forces struggling to hold key positions despite shortages of personnel and weapons. CNN reported that rumors of low morale and desertions had circulated for some time, but Fedorov’s remarks marked the first official acknowledgment of the scale of the problem. Ukrainian law requires all men aged 18 to 60 to register for military service, while those aged 25 to 60 are subject to mandatory mobilization.

After meeting Fedorov, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country’s mobilization process needs major reform. Fedorov, 34, emphasized that technological advancement, including drones and robotics, is now vital to offset manpower shortages.

Twenty-three members of the British Parliament from multiple political parties have called for the United States to be expelled from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to a BBC report cited in the source, the MPs argue that Washington’s recent military operations violate international law and undermine the sovereignty of other nations. The demand follows a U.S. raid in Caracas that reportedly led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as well as subsequent threats by President Donald Trump toward several countries.

The MPs, representing the Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green Party, and Plaid Cymru, signed a joint proposal urging FIFA and other global sports bodies to bar the U.S. from major tournaments. They stated that events like the World Cup or Olympics should not become tools for powerful states to disregard international law. The controversy comes shortly after Trump received a “Peace Award” from FIFA for his role in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine.

The call adds political tension ahead of the 2026 World Cup, for which the United States is one of the host nations alongside Mexico and Canada.

Russia carried out airstrikes on Kyiv and its outskirts on Friday, killing at least three people and injuring thirteen, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Residential buildings were damaged, and a doctor was killed in a second drone strike on one of the buildings. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the doctor is included in the official casualty list.

Regional Governor Mykola Kalashnyk urged residents to remain in shelters until air raid sirens stop. Ukraine’s Air Force warned that the presence of Russian bombers in the sky means the entire country remains under missile threat. In the western city of Lviv, a ballistic missile struck infrastructure sites just before midnight. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said the military is determining whether a nuclear-capable missile was used, though radiation levels remain within normal limits.

The attack followed a warning from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on Thursday, which had cautioned of possible severe airstrikes in the coming days.

Britain and France have agreed to send troops to Ukraine following a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, as part of a 20-point peace plan mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement came after the 'Coalition of the Willing' summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where leaders from 27 nations gathered to strengthen post-war security guarantees for Ukraine. The declaration was signed by Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Starmer stated that Britain and France would establish military bases across Ukraine after the ceasefire, though their forces are unlikely to engage directly with Russian troops if hostilities resume. Macron said the plan includes a multinational European force led by the United States and a ceasefire monitoring mechanism involving European participation. Italy and Poland declined to send troops, while Germany indicated possible contributions to a joint force.

The initiative marks a significant step in post-war planning for Ukraine, though Moscow’s acceptance of the arrangement remains uncertain.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has decided to appoint Kyrylo Budanov, head of the military intelligence agency, as the new chief of the presidential office. The move follows the resignation of Zelensky’s previous top aide in November after a corruption scandal. According to AFP from Kyiv, Zelensky announced on social media that he met Budanov and offered him the position, with the formal appointment process now underway, confirmed by presidential adviser Dmytro Litvin.

Budanov, 39, is a well-known and influential figure in Ukraine, credited with leading several daring operations against Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. His nomination comes at a critical stage of the nearly four-year-long war. Zelensky recently stated that a U.S.-mediated peace proposal is about 90 percent ready and emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine’s defense and security capabilities while advancing diplomatic talks.

If confirmed, Budanov will replace Andriy Yermak, who resigned after his home was raided as part of a corruption investigation. Yermak, once a close ally of Zelensky, had faced criticism in Kyiv for allegedly consolidating excessive power and controlling access to the president.