标签： Europe

German federal prosecutors have apprehended a Lebanese national identified as “Mohammad S” at Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport, alleging his involvement in a Hamas-orchestrated conspiracy to attack Jewish and Israeli institutions across Europe. The suspect was intercepted upon arrival from Beirut on Friday evening.

According to official statements, Mohammad S played an operational role in the terrorist network by facilitating weapons procurement, specifically securing 300 rounds of ammunition in August 2025. His arrest connects directly to a broader counterterrorism operation that previously resulted in the detention of three Hamas operatives in October, including alleged co-conspirator “Abed Al G”.

The earlier arrests occurred during a weapons transfer operation in Berlin, involving two German nationals and one Lebanese individual. Concurrent police raids in Leipzig and Oberhausen uncovered additional evidence of the terrorist network’s activities. This development follows another November apprehension of a Hamas suspect near the German-Czech border.

Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom, Israel and numerous other nations, has seen its operational capabilities diminished by Israeli military actions in Gaza following its October 2023 attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and resulted in over 250 hostages. Subsequent hostilities have reportedly claimed over 70,000 Palestinian lives according to Gaza’s Hamas-controlled health ministry.

Mohammad S now awaits a federal judicial review to determine pretrial detention arrangements as Germany continues its intensified security measures against international terrorist threats.

Ukraine is enduring its most severe winter in modern history as Russia systematically targets centralized heating infrastructure, leaving approximately one million residents without heat during temperatures plunging below -15°C. The capital city of Kyiv has become the primary focus of these attacks, with the January 24th bombardment marking the third major assault on heating systems in just over two weeks.

According to Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, nearly 6,000 apartment buildings lost heating capabilities following the latest overnight attack. This strategic targeting exploits Ukraine’s Soviet-era dependency on communal heating systems where water is heated at centralized plants before being distributed to residential radiators. The scale of these facilities means single attacks can affect thousands of households simultaneously.

Urban residents describe increasingly desperate conditions. “Living in Kyiv is a bit of a gamble these days,” explained local resident Rita. “If you have heating and gas, there’s no electricity and water. If you have electricity and water, there’s no heating. Coming home is like playing a guessing game every day.” Many report sleeping in multiple clothing layers and hats to combat the freezing temperatures.

Energy expert Yuriy Korolchuk reveals that approximately 11 million Ukrainian households relied on centralized heating before Russia’s 2022 invasion, compared to just seven million with autonomous systems. This infrastructure legacy stems from Soviet mass housing initiatives that produced ubiquitous prefabricated concrete apartment blocks known as ‘panelki’ and ‘khrushchevki’.

The vulnerability of these systems represents a new tactical approach in Russia’s campaign. Korolchuk notes that “during previous winters, there were no such strikes against the heating system. They happened only occasionally, and they didn’t directly target heating plants.” He suggests these attacks may constitute negotiation pressure tactics.

Ukrainian authorities have established warming tents for displaced residents, while the government plans long-term solutions including mandatory individual heating points for apartment complexes. However, reversing decades of Soviet urban planning remains a formidable challenge that will require significant time and resources to implement effectively.

Amid ongoing trilateral peace discussions in Abu Dhabi, Russia escalated its military offensive against Ukraine with coordinated drone and missile strikes overnight, resulting in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. The assault claimed at least one life and left 23 individuals wounded across multiple Ukrainian cities.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported through Telegram that the capital sustained a ‘massive enemy attack’ resulting in one fatality and four injuries, with three victims requiring hospitalization. The strikes targeted critical energy infrastructure, leaving approximately 6,000 buildings without heating amid sub-zero temperatures. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russian forces specifically targeted energy systems, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Simultaneously, Kharkiv endured sustained bombardment that injured 19 civilians, with a maternity hospital and displacement hostel among the damaged civilian structures. Mayor Ihor Terekhov described the early morning assault as particularly severe.

These developments occurred as diplomatic delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States convened for their first trilateral talks since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. While a BBC source indicated some procedural progress had been achieved, the fundamental dispute regarding territorial sovereignty remains unresolved. Russia currently occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including significant portions of the Donbas region, and continues to demand formal cession of these captured lands—a condition Ukraine has consistently rejected.

The timing of these military strikes during active peace negotiations underscores the complex dynamics between battlefield actions and diplomatic processes in the ongoing conflict.

As international diplomats convened for critical peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi, Russian forces launched renewed aerial assaults across Ukraine overnight Friday into Saturday. The attacks resulted in significant civilian casualties, with at least one fatality and 23 individuals wounded across multiple cities.

In the capital Kyiv, drone strikes killed one person and left four injured, according to official statements from Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko. The northeastern city of Kharkiv suffered even greater damage, with Mayor Ihor Terekhov reporting 19 civilians wounded in similar attacks.

These developments occurred simultaneously with the second day of trilateral talks involving senior officials from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in the United Arab Emirates. This meeting represents the first known instance of Trump administration envoys engaging directly with both warring parties as part of Washington’s intensified diplomatic initiative to resolve the nearly four-year conflict.

The UAE Foreign Ministry characterized the discussions as part of ongoing efforts “to facilitate dialogue and explore political resolutions to the crisis.” White House officials described initial sessions as productive, despite the challenging context of continued violence.

The diplomatic engagement occurs amid conflicting signals from leadership on both sides. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested during the World Economic Forum in Davos that a potential peace agreement was “nearly ready,” while the Kremlin maintains that any settlement must include Ukrainian withdrawal from territories Russia has illegally annexed—a condition Kyiv has consistently rejected.

The negotiations gain additional significance following revelations that Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in marathon overnight discussions with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner just hours before the Abu Dhabi talks commenced.