German federal prosecutors arrested five men on Monday, February 2, 2026, for allegedly violating EU sanctions. The suspects are accused of exporting over €30 million in industrial goods, including mechanical and technical components, to at least 24 Russian arms manufacturers since February 2022, using a sophisticated network of shell companies.
The UK Foreign Office summoned Russian Ambassador Andrey Kelin on February 2, 2026, to revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat. This move is a direct reciprocal response to Russia's expulsion of a British diplomat last month over unsubstantiated spying allegations. The UK condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified decision' and 'baseless accusations'.
A Diamond DA40 training aircraft crashed in Russia's Orenburg region on February 2, 2026, killing an instructor and two cadets from the St. Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation. An investigation is underway.
A Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Belgorod region overnight on February 2, 2026, resulted in the deaths of two civilians and the destruction of 22 drones over the region. The strike hit a residential building in Stary Oskol, as confirmed by Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov and Russia's Defense Ministry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that trilateral peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States have been rescheduled to take place on February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi. The discussions aim to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict, with previous talks having been postponed to align participants' schedules.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, lauded former US President Donald Trump as an effective leader pursuing peace, while simultaneously questioning Trump's August 2025 assertions about repositioning US nuclear submarines near Russian territory. Medvedev stated that Moscow had found no evidence of such deployments.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on February 1, 2026, reaffirming Moscow's unwavering support for Beijing's 'one-China' principle regarding Taiwan. Shoigu stated Russia views Taiwan as an inseparable part of China and opposes any form of independence for the island.
Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced on February 1, 2026, that initial measures taken by SpaceX to prevent the Russian Federation from using Starlink satellite internet for attack drones are yielding 'real results.' This development follows reports of Russia integrating Starlink terminals into its drones to extend their operational range and bypass Ukrainian electronic warfare systems. Ukraine plans to implement a system requiring registration for all Starlink terminals to ensure only authorized devices function within the country.
The Russian Federation faces increasing financial strain in 2026 as it continues to fund its war in Ukraine. Projections for the budget deficit vary, with official targets at 1.6% of GDP, though some analysts anticipate a higher figure. Significant portions of the federal budget are allocated to defense and security, while the government explores tax hikes and increased borrowing to cover expenditures.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko extended congratulations to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on his 17th enthronement anniversary. Lukashenko highlighted the Patriarch's spiritual leadership and underscored the crucial importance of genuine unity between Belarusians and Russians in the face of global challenges.
Satellite imagery confirms Russia is reactivating a long-abandoned military garrison in Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, to house the newly formed 44th Army Corps. This development, approximately 160-175 kilometers from the Finnish border, follows Finland's 2023 NATO accession and signals a significant military infrastructure expansion in the region.
The New START Treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation, is set to expire on February 5, 2026. Without a new agreement, it marks the first time since the early 1970s that there will be no legally binding limits on US and Russian strategic nuclear forces, potentially leading to an unconstrained arms race.
Satellite imagery from January 31, 2026, reveals Russia has deployed at least nine Iskander short-range missile launch sites near the Ukrainian border and in occupied Crimea, capable of striking deep into Ukrainian territory. Both ballistic and cruise missile variants are present.
The United Russia party announced in January 2026 its intention to establish a party-controlled network of international election observers for the upcoming 2026 Duma elections. This initiative aims to replace traditional monitoring organizations, which the party has deemed 'provocative,' with bilateral party-to-party arrangements.
Russian courts removed over 10,000 records of lawsuits seeking to declare soldiers missing or dead in January 2026, following a larger deletion of 70,000 cases in December 2025. This move across 50 regions hinders independent casualty tracking amid ongoing conflict.
The head of a mental health facility in Prokopyevsk, Kemerovo Region, Russia, has been placed on temporary leave following the deaths of nine patients due to a viral infection outbreak, likely influenza A. Sixty-two other patients were hospitalized, prompting a regional investigation and inspections across all 13 mental health hospitals in the area.
The Kremlin has again invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Moscow for peace talks, assuring his security. Zelenskyy rejected the offer, calling a meeting in Moscow 'impossible' and instead invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kyiv. This comes amid ongoing U.S.-led diplomatic efforts and recent trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a temporary one-week halt on attacks against Ukraine's power grid, specifically targeting Kyiv and other cities, due to extreme cold weather. The Kremlin has partially confirmed Trump's request but not explicitly Putin's agreement, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism but welcomed the initiative.
Russia significantly increased its gold exports to China in 2025, reaching 25.3 metric tons valued at $3.29 billion, a ninefold rise from 2024. This surge coincided with a sharp drop in Russia's National Wealth Fund gold holdings to 160.2 tons by January 1, 2026, the lowest in years, according to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.
The European Union has officially added the Russian Federation to its list of high-risk third countries for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, effective January 29, 2026. This move by the European Commission aims to increase the costs and slow down transactions with Russian banks due to strategic deficiencies in its financial crime frameworks.
