Russia and Ukraine, agreed to a local truce at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to repair a key backup power line

On February 27, the International Atomic Energy Agency informed that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary, localized ceasefire around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to allow repairs to a critical backup power line,

The plant is Europe’s largest nuclear facility that was seized by Russian forces early in the full-scale invasion. Although its reactors are shut down, the site still requires steady external electricity to maintain cooling and safety systems. The truce covers work on a 330-kilovolt backup line and was brokered by the IAEA, according to the Russia-installed plant administration under state nuclear agency Rosatom. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said demining is underway to ensure safe access for repair crews.

Ukrainian officials have not publicly confirmed the arrangement. State nuclear operator Energoatom told reporters it could not verify the truce because it does not control the facility. The plant sits near the drained Kakhovka Reservoir, emptied after Russia destroyed the Kakhovka dam in 2023.

The limited ceasefire may represent a rare instance of cooperation in a war marked by repeated failed truce claims. Previous unilateral pauses announced by Moscow — including around major holidays and a promised halt to attacks on energy infrastructure following talks with U.S. President Donald Trump — quickly collapsed.

The IMF approved an US$8.1bn four-year funding program for Ukraine

Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund has approved a new four-year Extended Fund Facility program for Ukraine worth $8.1 billion.

Ukraine is expected to receive an initial tranche of about $1.5 billion in the coming weeks to help cover its budget deficit and maintain macroeconomic stability. According to Svyrydenko, the IMF program is part of a broader $136.5 billion financing framework aimed at closing Ukraine’s projected budget gap over the next four years and will require continued structural reforms.

She added that the IMF deal serves as a key anchor for additional international assistance, including a planned €90 billion loan from the European Union. The broader package also includes support from G7 countries and other financial institutions, along with a continued moratorium on servicing official debt and plans to complete debt restructuring once conditions stabilize.

The document on Ukraine's reconstruction was drafted during the Geneva talks

Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, said that Ukrainian and U.S. officials discussed post-war reconstruction during talks in Geneva.

According to Umerov, the discussions focused on economic recovery and long-term support mechanisms. Together with Economy Minister Oleksii Sobolev and U.S. partners, the delegation conducted a detailed review of a draft recovery document.

The sides agreed to continue refining the plan, particularly its reconstruction priorities and future investment framework.

Two Russians convicted for crimes during the occupation of Kharkiv Oblast

Two Russian soldiers have been convicted in absence for raping a Ukrainian woman during the occupation of Kharkiv Oblast in April 2022, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported.

Prosecutors said a Russian colonel, known by the alias “Vovk” (Wolf), and his subordinate, “Maloi” (Kid), carried out so-called “inspections” of civilian homes in the region. After the woman rejected an invitation to dine with them, the soldiers later returned to her house, where she and her family were sheltering in a basement.

According to investigators, the colonel forced the woman out of the shelter at gunpoint while her relatives were locked inside. The subordinate allegedly stood guard as the commander raped the woman, threatening to kill her.

The two men were identified as a commander of the 99th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of Russia’s 20th Combined Arms Army and a driver from the 752nd Motor Rifle Regiment. Both were convicted of cruel treatment of civilians and other violations of the laws and customs of war involving rape and coercion under Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

A Ukrainian court sentenced them to 12 years in prison. The sentence will take effect once they are detained. The men have been placed on the wanted list.

Russia attacks port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast

Russian forces struck port and port-adjacent infrastructure in Odesa Oblast overnight on February 26–27, Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery Oleksii Kuleba said.

The attack damaged infrastructure facilities, warehouses, production premises, and company equipment. Fires broke out at several sites, including food storage containers. Emergency crews extinguished the blazes. No casualties were reported, according to preliminary information.

Kuleba said Russia continues to target Ukraine’s maritime logistics. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 694 port infrastructure facilities and more than 150 civilian vessels have been damaged or destroyed.

Despite the attacks, Ukraine’s maritime corridor remains operational. More than 176 million tons of cargo have been transported through it, including over 150 million tons of grain, he added.