Ukraine-Russia war latest: Belgium releases video showing forces boarding Russian shadow fleet oil tanker – UK Times

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the changes in Iran brought about by US and Israeli strikes to be “used properly” to ⁠benefit the country’s people who had withstood violence from their authorities.

It is important that this chance for change for Iran be used properly, he said.

Zelensky, speaking in his nightly video address, said Iran’s authorities had killed “tens of ⁠thousands of its own citizens just in recent months”.

“The Iranian people have long effectively been alone against violence – against the Iranian regime. This regime, which has killed tens of thousands of its own citizens just in recent months, which has always fueled and organised wars in the region, which provided Russia with ‘shaheds’ and the technology for their production – this regime has brought this attitude upon itself,” he said.

He added: “I thank everyone who is trying to prevent the war from expanding and who is defending against strikes from Iran. And I also thank everyone who tells Russia – now, based on the experience of the Iranian regime – that justice does come.“

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the time and place of the next round of peace talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine would depend on the security situation in the Middle East and the level of “real diplomatic possibilities”.

Zelensky said he would issue fresh directives to Ukraine’s negotiating team at the talks, without detailing what they were.

On Thursday, he had said the next round of talks would probably take place in Abu Dhabi in early March.

However, the UAE has since been caught up in hostilities after the US and Israel launched aerial attacks on Iran.

Belgium’s defence minister has shared a video of its forces boarding a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker on Sunday.

The armed forces had seized the vessel, which was suspected of sailing with a “false flag and false documents”, said defence minister Theo Francken.

Dubbed the “Operation Blue Intruder”, he said the mission showed “courage, precision, and determination.”

Francken said: “Without his shadow fleet Putin can’t wage war against innocent Ukranians. So we take these vessels out. One by one. Till his war of agrgession stops.”

Prime minister Keir Starmer said Ukraine’s expertise against Russian use of Kamikaze Shahed drones will be used in the Middle East conflict as Ukrainian experts will now provide guidance on intercepting Iranian drones.

“We are not joining these strikes, but we will continue with our defensive actions in the region,” Starmer said on Sunday night.

“And we will also bring experts from Ukraine, together with our own experts, to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones attacking them,” he said.

Russia has suffered an estimated 1,266,770 troop casualties since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to the figures released on Sunday.

The Ukrainian ministry of defence said the number includes 870 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

It has also lost 11,709 tanks, 24,108 armoured tanker vehicles, and 80,510 vehicle and fuel tanks, it said.

Ukraine’s defence ministry has not revealed its own losses, but CSIS estimated that Ukraine has seen 500,000 to 600,000 military casualties, including up to 140,000 deaths.

Russia hit Ukraine with more than 14,670 guided aerial bombs, 738 missiles, and nearly 19,000 attack drones over winter, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

In the last week of February alone, it used more than 1,720 attack drones, nearly 1,300 guided aerial bombs, and over 100 missiles to attack Ukraine.

Ukrainian civilians have faced their toughest winter yet as Moscow repeatedly target’s the country’s energy system, leaving hundreds of thousands without power for long periods.

“But despite everything, Ukrainians made it through this difficult winter, when Russia did not even try to seek justification for its bestial strikes on civilian critical infrastructure,” the Ukrainian president said.

“Evil must be confronted in every part of the world. When the United States and other partners show enough determination, even the bloodiest dictators ultimately pay for their crimes. I thank everyone who helps Ukraine defend itself and save lives.”

Russia fired more missiles at Ukraine in February than in any other month for at least three years, according to new analysis.

Figures from AFP claimed that Russia hit Ukraine with 288 missiles in February, an increase of around 113 per cent compared to the 135 missiles launched in January, The Moscow Times reported.

The previous record was set in October 2025, when Russia launched 270 missiles at the country, according to Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed “Belgium’s decisive decision” in seizing an oil tanker belonging to the Russian shadow fleet.

Belgium’s defence minister Theo Francken said on Sunday its armed forces had seized the vessel, which was suspected of sailing with a “false flag and false documents”.

The Ukrainian president said the vessel had long been under US, EU, and UK sanctions.

He added: “It is also important to modernise European legislation so that tankers carrying Russian oil are not just stopped but seized, with their oil repurposed for Europe’s security.

“We must be resolute. Russia operates like a mafia organization, and the response must match that reality. If they reject the rules for the sake of war, the rules must foresee a clear and firm answer.”