United News of Bangladesh

Russian drones targeted apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in southern Ukraine’s Odesa overnight, injuring six people, including a toddler and two other children, officials said Wednesday. Oleh Kiper, head of the regional military administration, said four apartment buildings were damaged in the attacks. Power company DTEK reported significant damage to two of its facilities and noted that 10 electricity substations in Odesa region had been damaged in December alone. Russia has intensified long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities this year, increasingly targeting energy infrastructure to disrupt heat and water supplies during winter. From January to November, over 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and more than 11,000 injured, a 26% rise compared to the same period in 2024, according to the United Nations. Kiper described the Odesa strikes as “further evidence of the enemy’s terror tactics, which deliberately target civilian infrastructure.” Moscow has claimed that Ukraine attempted to attack Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence with 91 long-range drones late Sunday and early Monday, a claim denied by Ukrainian officials. Maj. Gen. Alexander Romanenkov of the Russian air force said the drones launched from Sumy and Chernihiv regions, but independent verification was not possible. The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed the Russian allegations as a “deliberate distraction” from peace talks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Romania and Croatia have joined a NATO-backed fund to buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine, bringing the total contributions to $4.3 billion since August. Ukraine’s air force reported that 127 Russian drones were fired overnight, with 101 intercepted, while Russia said 86 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russian territory, the Black Sea, and annexed Crimea. An oil refinery in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region caught fire from a Ukrainian drone strike but was quickly extinguished, local authorities said.

Turkish authorities continued nationwide operations against suspected Islamic State members Wednesday, detaining 125 people in coordinated raids across 25 provinces. The raids follow a week of large-scale operations aimed at preventing attacks during Christmas and New Year festivities. Last Monday, suspected IS militants opened fire on police in Yalova province, killing six suspects and three officers, while wounding eight other officers and a night guard. Authorities said all militants were Turkish citizens. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the operations, conducted by police and gendarmerie forces, included major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, and Yalova. He vowed that those targeting Turkey’s unity and values would face the full power of the state. Turkey has carried out similar anti-IS sweeps in previous years amid a global resurgence of the group, including recent attacks in Australia and strikes on U.S. forces in Syria. U.S. Central Command said nearly 25 IS operatives were killed or captured in Syria this month, while Syrian forces recently captured a local IS leader and killed a senior commander near Damascus.

Bulgaria becomes the 21st country to adopt the euro on New Year’s Day, marking a milestone in its European Union integration, even as many citizens express concern over potential price increases and economic instability. Supporters view the switch from the lev as a major achievement since the country’s 1989 transition from a Soviet-style economy to democracy and free markets. They hope euro adoption will attract investors and strengthen ties with wealthier Western European nations. Yet public confidence remains low. Inflation has rebounded to 3.7%, and surveys indicate about half of Bulgarians oppose joining the euro. Political instability has compounded worries: the government resigned after less than a year amid anti-corruption protests, leaving Bulgaria without a full budget and ahead of its eighth election in five years. Some citizens, like 64-year-old Nevelin Petrov, welcome the euro as a step toward long-term prosperity, while others, such as Sofia pedicure salon owner Darina Vitova, caution that rising prices and low incomes may make daily life harder despite the convenience of a shared currency with EU neighbors. Economists note that immediate economic changes may be modest, since the lev has been pegged to the euro since 1999. Analysts also say euro adoption could strengthen Bulgaria’s European integration and reduce Russian influence, while offering a signal to investors about the country’s commitment to EU standards, though political uncertainty may temper that effect. Dual use of the lev and euro will continue throughout January, but all change will be given in euros.

Trains were running again Wednesday in both directions through the Channel Tunnel between continental Europe and the United Kingdom but problems remained after a day of travel chaos caused by power malfunctions. Eurotunnel, the tunnel operator, said the 50-kilometer (32-mile) undersea link was back to “full capacity” following overnight repairs to the electrical fault. The company did not provide details on the cause of the outage. Eurostar, which operates passenger trains through the tunnel, warned travelers of ongoing “knock-on impacts” from Tuesday’s disruption. Its website reported delays on routes between London and Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, along with early-morning cancellations. Another related power incident on the U.K. side Tuesday affected passengers aboard three trains. An overhead cable fell on a Eurostar train from London to Paris, and moving the stranded train proved “very complex,” Eurostar said. Passenger Ghislain Planque described an 11-hour journey that should have taken 90 minutes, saying travelers endured darkness, no heating, no air-conditioning, and no way to charge phones during the ordeal.

Burglars made off with property worth tens of millions of euros after breaking into a bank vault in western Germany during the holiday period, authorities said. Police said the thieves targeted safety deposit boxes at a Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, affecting around 2,700 customers. According to police spokesperson Thomas Nowaczyk, investigators estimate the total value of the stolen items at between 10 million and 90 million euros ($11.7 million to $105.7 million). German news agency dpa described the incident as potentially one of the largest bank heists in the country’s history. The bank remained closed on Tuesday as tensions rose, with about 200 customers reportedly gathering at the branch demanding access. The crime came to light early Monday morning after a fire alarm alerted police and firefighters shortly before 4 a.m. Responders discovered a hole in the wall and found the vault heavily looted. Investigators believe the suspects used a powerful drill to penetrate the vault through the basement. Witnesses told police they had seen several individuals carrying large bags in a nearby parking garage over the weekend. Security footage from the garage reportedly shows masked suspects inside a stolen vehicle in the early hours of Monday. Gelsenkirchen is located about 192 kilometers northwest of Frankfurt. Source: AP 

Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has officially entered active service in Belarus, the Russian Defense Ministry announced Tuesday, as U.S.-led efforts to broker a resolution to the nearly four-year war in Ukraine reach a critical stage. A ministry video showed mobile intermediate-range ballistic missile vehicles conducting forest maneuvers as part of combat training. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko earlier confirmed the arrival of up to 10 Oreshnik systems in the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin had said the missiles would enter combat duty before year-end, warning that Moscow would pursue further gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies rejected Russia’s peace demands. The announcement coincides with high-profile U.S.-mediated diplomacy. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida over the weekend, describing Kyiv and Moscow as “closer than ever” to a deal, though major disputes remain over troop withdrawals and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Putin previously tested a conventional Oreshnik strike in Ukraine in November 2024. He claims the missile’s multiple warheads reach speeds of up to Mach 10 and are virtually unstoppable, with conventional strikes potentially as devastating as nuclear ones. Moscow has warned the West that the missiles could target nations assisting Ukraine with long-range attacks on Russia. Belarusian authorities said the Oreshnik has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles). Russian media highlighted it could reach a Polish air base in 11 minutes and NATO headquarters in Brussels in 17. The missile’s payload—nuclear or conventional—cannot be verified before impact. The deployment underscores Belarus’ growing military and political dependence on Russia. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya criticized the move, while the country’s history of hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons and the 2024 revised Russian nuclear doctrine further extend Moscow’s influence. Source: AP 

European and Canadian leaders met virtually Tuesday to discuss U.S.-led efforts to end the nearly four-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine, amid rising tensions over Russian claims, denied by Kyiv, of a drone attack on a residence used by President Vladimir Putin. The talks included European heads of state, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European institution leaders. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that while “peace is on the horizon,” it is not guaranteed. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that transparency is required from all parties, including Russia. The meeting followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s hosting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort on Sunday, during which Trump said Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever” to a peace agreement. The Russian allegations involved a reported attack by Ukraine on a lakeside residence in Novgorod’s Dolgie Borody area, 400 kilometers northwest of Moscow. Kyiv called the claims false, and Kremlin officials accused Ukraine of attempting to undermine U.S. peace efforts. Observers warn the accusations could disrupt negotiations. According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Moscow has sought to prolong talks to continue its military campaign, avoid pressure from the U.S., and extract concessions on bilateral relations.

Russian military losses in the war against Ukraine have been rising at their fastest pace since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, according to an analysis by BBC News Russian, as diplomatic efforts led by the United States intensified this year. Over the past 10 months, the number of confirmed Russian deaths has grown sharply. BBC data show that about 40 percent more obituaries of Russian soldiers were published in 2025 compared with the previous year, coinciding with renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump’s administration to reach a peace deal. The BBC, working with independent outlet Mediazona and volunteers, has so far verified nearly 160,000 names of people killed while fighting on Russia’s side. The figures are based on official reports, media publications, social media posts, and newly identified graves and memorials. However, the real toll is believed to be far higher. Military experts consulted by the BBC estimate that confirmed deaths may represent only 45 to 65 percent of the actual number, suggesting total Russian fatalities could range between 243,000 and 352,000. The BBC noted that obituary data, while preliminary, offer insight into the changing intensity of the conflict. In 2025, daily obituary counts peaked during key moments of Russia-US diplomatic engagement, including direct talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and later discussions around a proposed peace framework. An average of more than 320 obituaries per day were recorded in October and November, about double the daily average in 2024, the analysis said. Observers say the Kremlin has sought to make territorial gains on the battlefield to strengthen its position in negotiations. A senior aide to President Putin recently said Russia’s “recent successes” had positively influenced talks with Washington. The data also show a growing share of casualties among so-called volunteers — civilians who signed military contracts after the invasion began. While only about 15 percent of Russian military deaths were volunteers a year ago, the figure has risen to roughly one in three in 2025. Local authorities across Russia have reportedly intensified recruitment drives, offering large financial incentives and targeting people facing debt or criminal charges, allowing Moscow to offset heavy losses without announcing a new mass mobilisation. Despite the rising death toll, Russian officials say recruitment continues to outpace losses. NATO, however, estimates that tens of thousands of Russian soldiers are being killed each month. Ukraine has also suffered heavy casualties in the war, with both sides continuing to pay a high human cost as fighting drags on and peace efforts remain uncertain.   With inputs from BBC

Ukraine on Monday denied Russia’s claim that it carried out a drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, calling the allegation false and aimed at justifying further attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia’s accusation was “typical Russian lies” and meant to give the Kremlin an excuse to continue its assault on Ukraine. He said Russia itself has previously targeted government buildings in Kyiv. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier claimed Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones overnight at Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region. He said all the drones were intercepted by Russian air defence systems and that there were no casualties or damage. Lavrov said Moscow would review its stance in peace negotiations, accusing Kyiv of engaging in what he called “state terrorism”. However, he said Russia does not plan to withdraw from talks with the United States. In a post on X, Zelensky urged the international community not to remain silent, saying Russia should not be allowed to undermine efforts toward a lasting peace. The Russian claim came after talks between the United States and Ukraine in Florida on Sunday, where President Donald Trump and Zelensky discussed a revised peace plan. Zelensky said Washington had offered Ukraine security guarantees for 15 years, while Trump said an agreement was nearly complete. Zelensky said territorial issues and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain unresolved, with little progress on the future of the Donbas region. The White House said on Monday that Trump had a positive call with Putin following the US-Ukraine talks. A Kremlin aide later said Putin raised the alleged drone attack during the call and warned of a strong response.   With inputs from BBC

Italian authorities on Saturday arrested nine individuals connected to three charitable organizations on suspicion of raising millions of euros for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, anti-terrorism prosecutors said. The suspects are accused of transferring around 7 million euros ($8.2 million) to “associations based in Gaza, the Palestinian territories, or Israel, owned, controlled, or linked to Hamas,” according to the prosecutors’ statement. Among those detained was Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, described as the “head of the Italian cell of the Hamas organization.” Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union. Italian prosecutors said the investigation, conducted in coordination with other EU countries, revealed that funds were sent through “triangulation operations” via bank transfers or foreign organizations to associations in Gaza that Israel has declared illegal due to their links to Hamas. Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi tweeted that the operation “exposed activities that, while presented as initiatives supporting the Palestinian population, concealed support for and involvement with terrorist organizations.” There was no immediate response from the suspects or the charitable organizations. In January 2025, the European Council extended restrictive measures against 12 individuals and three entities accused of financing Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Source: AP