United News of Bangladesh

Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that crashed in northwest Turkey, just days after another drone was shot down after entering the country’s airspace from the Black Sea, local media reported Friday. Residents in Kocaeli province discovered the damaged drone in a field, prompting official inquiries into its wreckage. The origin of the UAV remains unclear, though some reports suggest it may be Russian-made. Turkish officials have not yet provided comments on the incident. Earlier this week, Turkish F-16 jets intercepted and destroyed what officials described as an “out of control” drone after it violated Turkish airspace. The defense ministry said the drone was taken down in a safe location to protect civilians and air traffic. Following the incident, Turkey warned both Russia and Ukraine to exercise caution over Black Sea security amid escalating regional tensions. The ministry added that the downed drone likely broke into fragments, making identification and technical analysis challenging, with investigations ongoing.    

Families of Ukrainian soldiers who died by suicide during the war face stigma and lack of recognition, raising concerns about the mental health of troops on the front lines. Kateryna, mother of 25-year-old Orest, said her son died in Donetsk in 2023 from a “self-inflicted wound,” according to official reports. She doubts the claim and said the army had deemed him fit for service despite poor eyesight. Orest was sent to the front as a communications specialist and became increasingly withdrawn before his death. Ukraine officially mourns more than 45,000 soldiers killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, but there is no formal record of suicide among soldiers. Officials call such deaths isolated, yet families and human rights groups believe the numbers could be in the hundreds. Many families say soldiers who die by suicide are denied military honors, compensation, or public recognition. Kateryna said, “Some died the right way, and others died the wrong way. The state took my son, sent him to war, and brought me back a body in a bag.” Mariyana, whose husband Anatoliy died by suicide after being wounded at Bakhmut, said officials refused him a military burial. She described feeling abandoned by the state and criticized the stigma from others in the community. Viktoria from Lviv also lost her husband Andriy, a reconnaissance unit driver, to suicide in 2023. She said official investigations were inconsistent, and she continues to fight for the truth about his death. Oksana Borkun, who runs a support group for widows of soldiers who died by suicide, said about 200 families are part of the network. She and military chaplain Father Borys Kutovyi argue that these soldiers should be recognized as heroes, noting the psychological vulnerability of many recruited troops. Ukraine’s Commissioner for Veterans’ Rights, Olha Reshetylova, said she receives reports of up to four military suicides each month. She acknowledged the system needs reform and urged the government to provide truth and recognition to bereaved families. The ongoing crisis highlights the hidden mental health toll of war and the need for broader support for soldiers and their families.   With inputs from BBC

European Union leaders have agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion (£79 billion; $105 billion) loan, while failing to reach a decision on using frozen Russian assets worth €210 billion. The deal comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin told the BBC that Western leaders are “making Russia the enemy.” He made the comments during his year-end press conference. Most of Moscow’s frozen assets are held in Belgium, which has refused to release the money without guarantees it would be protected if Russia takes legal action. The EU loan covers about two-thirds of the €135 billion Kyiv is estimated to need over the next two years. During his annual news conference, Putin blamed Ukraine for starting the war and claimed Kyiv refuses to resolve the conflict peacefully. He also defended Russia’s political system and criticized “fake news” in the West. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Warsaw on Thursday and met Polish President Karol Nawrocki. He said the trip marked a “new and meaningful stage” in relations between the countries and highlighted the importance of cooperation to defend freedom in Europe. Meanwhile, the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, said Russian claims of rapid advances in eastern Ukraine are “nonsense.” He added that Ukrainian forces continue to fight hard and inflict heavy losses on Russian troops. The EU loan has drawn mixed reactions in Ukraine. Some citizens welcomed the financial support, while others expressed concern about corruption and doubts that the funds would reach the military or civilians. Kyiv’s Security Service also claimed its forces struck a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker in the Mediterranean Sea using a drone, targeting vessels used to bypass Western sanctions on Russian oil. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic are exempt from paying for the EU loan. Their leaders said their countries would not bear the cost of financing Ukraine’s war.   With inputs from BBC

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday expressed confidence that Moscow’s military objectives in Ukraine would be achieved, nearly four years after he ordered troops into the neighbouring country. Speaking at his annual year-end news conference, Putin said Russian forces were advancing along the front line, with progress varying across sectors. “Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors,” he said, asserting that Moscow has “fully seized strategic initiative” and will make further gains by year-end. Putin reaffirmed that Russia is open to a peaceful settlement addressing what he called the “root causes” of the conflict, though his conditions include recognition of Russian control over territories captured in four eastern regions, the Crimean Peninsula, and parts of eastern Ukraine still under Kyiv’s control — demands rejected by Ukraine. He also reiterated that Ukraine must abandon its NATO ambitions, limit the size of its army, and grant official status to the Russian language. Putin warned that any NATO troop deployment in Ukraine would be considered a “legitimate target.” Observers noted the conference was closely watched for remarks on Ukraine and the peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin used the event, a mix of news briefing and nationwide call-in show, to consolidate domestic support and outline Russia’s positions on global and regional issues. Source: AP 

Western officials say Russia is waging a widespread campaign of sabotage across Europe, aiming to disrupt support for Ukraine, expose security weaknesses, and sow divisions among EU nations. In November, a train carrying nearly 500 passengers in eastern Poland was forced to stop after a broken overhead line shattered windows, while explosives detonated under a freight train on the same line. Poland blamed Russian intelligence and deployed 10,000 troops to protect critical infrastructure. These incidents are part of at least 145 documented sabotage acts since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to an Associated Press database and European officials. While most attacks have caused limited damage, ranging from vandalism to cyberattacks and warehouse fires, they consume significant resources from security services across Europe, officials say. European intelligence agencies report that the hybrid campaign costs Russia very little, often relying on foreigners with criminal backgrounds as proxies, while forcing EU nations to cooperate extensively on investigations. “It’s a 24/7 operation between all the services to stop it,” said a senior European intelligence official on condition of anonymity. Incidents have targeted countries bordering Russia, including Poland and Estonia, as well as Latvia, the U.K., Germany, and France. Officials note a temporary lull in late 2024, likely to align with the start of President Donald Trump’s new administration, but attacks have since resumed at full intensity. Many plots involve cross-border perpetrators, straining multiple authorities. For instance, a Moldovan man set fire to a Ukrainian restaurant in Estonia and fled through Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland before being caught in Italy. Russian intelligence frequently recruits individuals with criminal records, including former prisoners, to carry out operations, reducing risk to Russian operatives. Even foiled plots drain European resources while testing defenses. Last year, a Ukrainian recruited by Russian intelligence in Lithuania planted explosives inside drone components, which authorities later intercepted. Despite the pressure, Moscow’s campaign has prompted greater cooperation among European nations. Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have formed joint investigative teams, while U.K. police receive specialized training to detect state-backed attacks. Officials caution that Russia continues experimenting with new tactics. In Belarus, smuggling networks have repeatedly sent hundreds of weather balloons carrying cigarettes into Lithuania and Poland, temporarily shutting down airports—a hybrid tactic authorities warn could evolve into more dangerous threats.  

Belgium on Thursday demanded firm guarantees from its European Union partners that it would be shielded from Russian retaliation before supporting a major EU loan to Ukraine. At a high-stakes EU summit in Brussels, leaders of the 27-nation bloc are set to consider using tens of billions of euros from frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s military and economic needs over the next two years. Most of the assets—around 193 billion euros ($227 billion) as of September—are held by Brussels-based financial clearing house Euroclear, which Russia’s Central Bank recently sued. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever told parliament: “Give me a parachute and we’ll all jump together. If we have confidence in the parachute, that shouldn’t be a problem.” Belgium fears potential Russian retaliation and prefers borrowing on international markets, while seeking contributions from frozen assets in other EU countries and legal guarantees for Euroclear. European officials have warned of Russian attempts to disrupt and pressure the continent, with the Central Bank lawsuit intensifying scrutiny on Belgium ahead of the summit. The proposed “reparations loan” would provide Ukraine 90 billion euros ($106 billion), with countries such as the U.K., Canada, and Norway covering any shortfall. Russia’s claim to the assets remains, but the funds would remain frozen until the Kremlin ends the war and compensates for damages. De Wever said Belgium remains “a faithful ally” of Ukraine but is unconvinced by current EU safeguards. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgency, saying: “We will not leave the European Council without a solution for the funding of Ukraine for the next two years.” EU Council President António Costa pledged to continue negotiations until an agreement is reached. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of stark choices, stating: “Either money today or blood tomorrow,” while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged using frozen Russian assets, citing escalating Russian threats. Opposition exists within the bloc: Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, and Malta have raised objections, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticizing the plan as “a dead end” and warning that providing funds could escalate conflict.  

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that Moscow would seek to extend its territorial gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject the Kremlin’s demands in ongoing peace talks. Speaking at an annual meeting with senior military officers, Putin said Russia preferred to achieve its objectives through diplomacy but was prepared to pursue them by force if negotiations collapse. “If the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means,” he said. The comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies diplomatic efforts to end nearly four years of war following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Those efforts, however, have faced deep disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv over territory and security guarantees. Putin claimed Russian forces had seized and were holding the strategic initiative across the entire front line. He also warned that Moscow would move to expand a so-called “buffer security zone” along Russia’s border with Ukraine. “Our troops are different now. They are battle-hardened, and there is no other such army in the world,” Putin said, praising Russia’s growing military capabilities. He also highlighted the modernization of Russia’s nuclear arsenal, including the new nuclear-capable intermediate-range Oreshnik ballistic missile, which he said would officially enter combat duty this month. Russia tested a conventionally armed version of the missile in November 2024 against a Ukrainian factory, with Putin later claiming it was impossible to intercept. Ukraine and its Western allies have repeatedly described Russia’s actions as an unprovoked act of aggression and a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Putin’s remarks followed several rounds of talks this week involving Ukrainian, American and European officials on a U.S.-drafted peace proposal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after meeting U.S. envoys in Berlin that the document could be finalized within days before being presented to the Kremlin. Moscow is demanding international recognition of territories it occupies in four Ukrainian regions, along with Crimea, annexed illegally in 2014. It also insists Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations and rejects the deployment of NATO troops on Ukrainian soil. Zelenskyy has said Kyiv could consider dropping its NATO bid in exchange for strong Western security guarantees, but he has firmly rejected Russia’s territorial demands.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said proposals being negotiated with the United States to end Russia’s nearly four-year war against Ukraine could be finalized within days and then presented to Moscow. Speaking after talks with U.S. officials in Berlin on Monday, Zelenskyy said the draft peace plan was not perfect but workable, although major issues remain unresolved, including the future of Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces. U.S.-led diplomatic efforts appear to be gaining momentum, with American officials saying there is agreement with Ukraine and European partners on about 90 percent of the U.S.-authored peace framework. U.S. President Donald Trump said a peace settlement is closer than ever before. Zelenskyy said discussions in Berlin brought negotiators close to an agreement on strong security guarantees for Ukraine. A NATO country official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the proposal is based on Western support to keep Ukraine’s military strong. Under the plan, European countries would lead a multinational force to help secure Ukraine by land, sea and air, while the United States would head a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism with international participation, the official said. However, the focus is now shifting to Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin may oppose parts of the proposal, including postwar security guarantees for Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated on Tuesday that Russia wants a comprehensive peace deal rather than a temporary truce. He said Moscow would not accept solutions that merely give Ukraine time to regroup before continuing the war. Zelenskyy said the land issue remains a key obstacle. He stressed that Ukraine will not recognize Russian control over any part of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, which includes Luhansk and Donetsk. Russian forces do not fully control either region, although Trump has previously suggested Ukraine may have to concede territory. Zelenskyy said the United States is exploring compromise ideas, including the proposal of a free economic zone in the Donbas, but stressed that such a zone would not be under Russian control. Putin is seeking international recognition of Russian control over parts of four Ukrainian regions seized by his forces, as well as Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014. Zelenskyy warned that if Putin rejects diplomatic efforts, Ukraine will seek stronger Western pressure on Russia, including tougher sanctions and increased military assistance such as enhanced air defense systems and long-range weapons. He said Ukraine and the United States are preparing up to five documents related to the peace framework, with several focused on security arrangements. Zelenskyy described the Berlin talks as positive, saying they demonstrated unity among the United States, Europe and Ukraine.  

Britain’s MI6 chief, Blaise Metreweli, has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of deliberately delaying peace negotiations over the war in Ukraine while testing the West with actions “just below the threshold of war.” Speaking publicly for the first time since taking the helm of Britain’s foreign intelligence service, Metreweli said Putin remains intent on subjugating Ukraine and harassing NATO members. She highlighted Russia’s use of hybrid tactics, including cyberattacks, drone incursions, arson, sabotage, disinformation, and “aggressive activities in our seas, above and below the waves.” “The export of chaos is a feature, not a bug,” she said, warning that Moscow’s destabilizing actions are likely to continue until Putin is forced to change course. Metreweli, the first woman to lead MI6, emphasized the growing importance of technology alongside human intelligence, noting that officers must be “as comfortable with lines of code as we are with human sources.” Her comments coincided with ongoing diplomatic efforts to end nearly four years of conflict, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting U.S. and European leaders. The MI6 chief urged vigilance against Russia’s “gray zone” tactics and stressed that Britain must sharpen its intelligence capabilities while upholding ethical standards. Metreweli’s warning reflects broader Western concerns about hybrid threats from Russia, Iran, and China, with British authorities recently imposing sanctions on Russian media and Chinese tech firms for cyber activities.

Anti-immigrant rhetoric and tougher migration policies are gaining momentum across Europe as immigration rises on the political agenda and right-wing parties increase their influence, according to an Associated Press report. In the U.K. and several European countries, overt hostility toward immigrants and ethnic minorities has become more visible. Tens of thousands marched in London this year chanting anti-immigrant slogans, while senior politicians made controversial remarks about race and called for deportations of long-term residents born abroad. Right-wing parties advocating mass deportations and portraying immigration as a threat to national identity are polling strongly, including Reform U.K., Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) and France’s National Rally. Analysts say rhetoric once confined to the political fringe is now central to mainstream debate. Experts link the growing polarization to economic stagnation since the 2008 financial crisis, the impact of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the amplifying role of social media. Immigration has increased over the past decade, driven partly by people fleeing wars in Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine, though asylum-seekers make up a small share of overall migration. Racist language and hate crimes are also rising. Police in England and Wales recorded more than 115,000 hate crimes in the year to March 2025, a 2% increase. Lawmakers and minority politicians report escalating online abuse and threats. Violent anti-immigrant protests have also occurred in Ireland, the Netherlands and the U.K., often targeting housing for asylum-seekers. Mainstream parties, while condemning racism, are adopting tougher migration stances. Britain’s Labour government has announced measures to make permanent settlement harder, while several European states are pushing to ease deportations and weaken migrant protections. Human rights advocates warn this risks normalizing increasingly extreme policies. Some centrist leaders have drawn criticism for echoing far-right language, fueling concerns that divisive rhetoric deepens social fractures. Analysts argue political leaders must consider how their words shape public attitudes, though many fear confrontational language is increasingly seen as electorally effective across Europe.