The Ukrainian Defense Forces have foiled a russian strategic offensive operation that the enemy was preparing for March. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The russians began preparing a major offensive operation at the end of last year. In turn, the Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted their own counteroffensive actions to prevent a large-scale russian offensive. As a result, the intensity of the Russian attacks was not at all as intense as their command had promised the russian political leadership.

According to the Ukrainian leader, now russia actually does not want to stop the war against Ukraine and conduct peace talks.

The invaders are stealing Ukrainian children

The UN International Commission has recognized the forced displacement and deportation of Ukrainian children by russia as crimes against humanity. The russians' unwillingness to return young Ukrainians to their homeland is a war crime. This is stated in a report presented to the UN Human Rights Council.

The international commission has recorded at least 1,205 cases of russian deportation of Ukrainian children from the occupied Ukrainian territories. More than 80% of the children are still under the control of the occupiers. They were placed with russian families or in children's shelters in various russian regions. Many parents and close relatives do not even know where their children are and whether they will ever be able to return home, UN investigators note.

Commenting on the situation, children's rights advocates emphasize that this is not just about the physical deportation of a child from the occupied territory. This is an attempt to tear Ukrainian children away from their family, from their native language and identity, and, ultimately, from Ukraine itself.

The report of the UN international commission emphasizes that russia is pursuing a coordinated state policy for which officials at various levels are responsible, in particular russian ruler putin. It is worth recalling that in 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Russian ruler Putin on charges of illegally deporting Ukrainian children.

Ukraine defeated NATO during naval exercises

Ukrainian soldiers once again proved their high skills at international military exercises. At the NATO naval exercises REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 2025, which took place in Portugal, Ukrainian sailors won all five combat scenarios. This is reported by the German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ukraine/nato-manoever-vor-portugal-ukraine-versenkt-alliierte-fregatte-accg-200633625.html

NATO forces tested the protection of ports and convoys. The Ukrainian team used Magura V7 naval drones in various modifications: from reconnaissance to strike. During a simulated attack on a convoy, Ukrainian naval drones struck so many NATO frigates that in a real battle, it would have sunk. Moreover, even five minutes after the simulated defeat, the NATO ship’s crew continued to ask in the chat about the start of the attack, since they did not notice the approach of Ukrainian drones at all. As noted in the publication, NATO representatives called Ukraine’s participation a historic moment that forced the Alliance to reconsider its tactics of defense against drones. The results of the maneuvers showed that NATO troops are not sufficiently prepared for the threats of modern warfare at sea.

Magura naval drones have been repeatedly used against russian targets in the Black Sea and have inflicted significant losses on the enemy, not only at sea but also in the air. This is the world’s first naval unmanned platform to destroy an aircraft, helicopter, and warships.

And at the international cybersecurity exercises Defence Cyber Marvel 2026, which took place in Singapore, the Ukrainian Armed Forces team took second place. 36 teams – over 2,500 representatives from 29 countries – took part in these exercises. The participants practiced scenarios that simulated attacks on military control systems and segments of critical infrastructure. The Ukrainian side acted taking into account the practical experience of countering real russian cyberattacks. The practices developed by the cybersecurity units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed high applied value. Ukrainian soldiers consistently show a high level of training, demonstrate courage and skill in defending the homeland. They call on foreign volunteers to join their ranks and are ready to share with them the most modern military experience.