What's corroborated

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was holding confidential talks with the French president about European nuclear deterrence.

Marcin Przydacz, chief foreign policy aide to Polish President Karol Nawrocki, cast doubt on Poland joining France's nuclear deterrent programme and suggested seeking a nuclear sharing arrangement with the US.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the Russian strikes primarily targeted Kyiv Oblast and also affected Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, and Odesa Oblasts.

Russia advanced in Donetsk oblast in the fourth quarter of 2024, while Ukraine made gains near Kupiansk in Kharkiv oblast.

A Russian summer offensive near the eastern town of Pokrovsk did make rapid advances just north of the town and Russia has recently made advances in the town itself and to the east of nearby Kostyantynivka.

Ukraine requested the move as evidence grew that Starlink was enabling Russian forces to mount increasingly accurate attacks, including multiple instances of units being attached to drones, allowing operators to use real-time video links to guide drones on to targets.

The overwhelming majority of these casualties, which were verified by UN personnel, occurred in Ukraine.

None of these claims was verifiable; Russia has said its losses are less than Ukraine’s.

A series of fatal terrorist attacks within Russia since the war began have highlighted intelligence failures and a blame culture targeting Kyiv.

Russia remains a formidable, capable, and determined adversary with the world's largest and strongest nuclear arsenal.

Similar atrocities occurred in other Ukrainian locations like Mariupol, Izium, Borodyanka, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Up to 100 of 500 suspicious incidents in Europe this year can be attributed to Russian hybrid attacks, espionage, or influence operations.

Ninety percent of UK data comes from the sea and 60% of gas comes from Norway by one line, making the UK vulnerable.

Russia has denied committing massacres in Bucha, claiming deaths were staged by Ukraine.

Mobilization in Ukraine began immediately after the full-scale invasion.

Iranian state-sponsored actors have used cyber operations to enhance kinetic action throughout 2024 and 2025 amid geopolitical escalations with the US and Israel.

Between 24 February 2022 and 11 October 2024, Russian forces damaged 22 foreign civilian vessels in the Odesa region.

Within six months, Russia could wage a local war with a bordering country; within two years, a regional war in the Baltic Sea region; within five years, a large-scale attack on Europe if the U.S. does not get involved.

Russia maintains a strategic ambition to confront the West and is adapting its economy, industry, and armed forces for a prolonged war.

Sweden’s military intelligence warned that Russia could be capable of launching a new war against another country within approximately one year.

Russia's economy is on a war footing, producing around 150 tanks, 550 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 Lancet drones, and over 50 artillery pieces monthly.

Russia is already escalating its covert campaign against NATO societies.

Russia has grown its forces beyond pre-war levels of 600,000-700,000 personnel and aims to have a 1.5 million-strong military by 2026.

Up to 80% of sanctioned Western components likely reach Russia through China.

Russia is actively mobilising more resources despite extensive losses on the battlefield.

South Korean intelligence officials shared evidence with NATO officials on October 28 that North Korean units are operating in Kursk Oblast.

On September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes, intercepted by Italian F-35s.

On September 21, Germany scrambled two Eurofighters to intercept a Russian Ilyushin 20-M reconnaissance aircraft flying without a flight plan or radio contact in its Baltic Sea airspace.

During the preceding three and a half years of war in Ukraine, only three drones had strayed into Poland.

On September 10, two dozen Russian Geran-2 drones strayed into NATO airspace, testing Polish air defences.

Since 2022, Russian intelligence has been accused of sabotage and disinformation campaigns designed to disorient and divide.

Russia’s 'shadow fleet' was not mentioned in the EU summit conclusions.

A growing rift between European and United States intelligence services is leaving the continent unsupported.

Europe is unprepared to counteract a new chapter of Russian military and intelligence activities in the Baltic and North Seas.

The Associated Press estimated at least 10,300 new graves in and around Mariupol from March through December 2022 based on satellite images.

The war has resulted in a refugee crisis and hundreds of thousands of deaths.

In Mariupol, they are building houses on bones to prevent people from returning.

At least seven of Viktoriia Moreva's neighbours were killed when her apartment block was repeatedly bombed, and the building has since been demolished.

Freedom of movement is generally not restricted in areas under Ukrainian government control, and internal relocation away from conflict areas is likely possible.

In areas outside main conflict zones, a person is unlikely to face a real risk of serious harm from indiscriminate violence, but the situation remains fluid.

Eight regions (Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv) account for over 97% of conflict events and 89% of civilian deaths, all located in East, Southeast, and Northeast Ukraine.

The war is ongoing with the heaviest fighting in regions near the Ukraine-Russia border, including periodic missile strikes across Ukraine.

Tewkesbury Borough Council condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has no direct financial links with Russia.

In 2024, Ukraine's reception centres had a capacity of 421 places but were accommodating only 2 people at year-end.

There were 106 asylum applications in Ukraine in 2024, with 34 from Russia, 17 from Tajikistan, and eight from Belarus.

Russia has been trying to gain full control of the Donbas along with two more regions to the west—Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Some Ukrainian refugees complain of wage discrimination.

The employment rate for refugees across Europe is around 45%, with refugee unemployment at 14% compared to 5.1% among host country nationals.

Ukrainian refugees in Europe have access to job markets, healthcare, schools, and housing under temporary protection schemes.

Around 60% of Ukrainian refugees hope to return one day, and fewer than 10% wish to stay permanently in their host country.