Kyiv says it is preparing to carry out more long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure as winter approaches

Athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to compete as neutral athletes in qualification events for next year's Winter Olympics after FIS vote.

Hi, this is Kollen Post, reporting from Kyiv on day 1,335 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story: Ukrainian intelligence warns of a Russian winter campaign before any peace deal concludes.

Russian luge athletes were given hope Friday of competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics after sport’s highest court ruled against a blanket ban on the country’s athletes because of the war on Ukraine. The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s judgment — requiring the International Luge Federation (FIL) to start assessing Russian athletes for approved neutral (AIN) status — could yet lead to skiing’s governing body having to do the same ahead of the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Games in February.

Russia fired one of its largest drone and missile assaults against Ukraine overnight, killing three people, including a 7-year-old girl, and cutting power to thousands as winter approaches,

That’s because the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, also known as FIS, has decided not to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in qualifying events ahead of the Olympics that begin next February.

The council of skiing’s main governing body, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), has voted to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in its Olympic qualifying events ahead of the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled against a blanket ban on Russian athletes, requesting the International Luge Federation to evaluate them for neutral status after the Ukraine conflict. The ruling could impact other sports organizations as they prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

In previous sieges during the almost four years since Russia launched its all-out invasion of its neighbor, Ukraine has pulled out of some places to avoid losing troops. Ukrainian forces are desperately short-handed against Russia’s bigger army.

As the lights went out in her hometown, 40-year-old Zinaida Kot could not help but think about her next dialysis treatment for kidney disease. Without electricity, the machine that keeps her alive stops working.