First Lady's influence and child returns

Day 1,457.

Today, amid reports that Russian forces’ loss of Starlink is reducing the intensity of drone attacks along the frontline, we examine claims that Russian commanders are charging soldiers up to £30,000 to avoid deployment to the most dangerous sectors. We then bring you the latest from the first meeting of Donald Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace”, and finally hear the view from Belarus as Putin seeks to place more nuclear missiles there.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Rozina Sabur (National Security Editor). @RozinaSaburon X.

With thanks to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

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CONTENT REFERENCED:

US presses NATO for major reset, ending mission in Iraq (The Telegraph):

https://www.politico.eu/article/us-presses-nato-reset-cut-foreign-missions-allies-peacekeeping-iraq-kosovo/

Russian commanders demand £30k to spare soldiers from front line (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/19/russian-commanders-demand-30k-spare-soldiers-front-line/

Over 1,000 Kenyans enlisted to fight in Russia-Ukraine war, report says (BBC):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8w266769go

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