February 9, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

Iran appears to be modifying the attack drones that it’s providing to Russia so that the explosive warheads can inflict maximum damage on infrastructure targets inside Ukraine, according to a new investigative report obtained exclusively by CNN.

An unexploded warhead from an Iranian Shahed-131 drone found in the Southern Ukrainian region of Odesa in October 2022 was examined last month by the UK-based investigative organization Conflict Armament Research, along with the Ukrainian military. CAR provided its findings first to CNN.

The group’s analysts believe the warheads, which measure just under two-feet long, were hastily modified with poorly fitted layers of dozens of small metal fragments that on impact scatter across a large radius. In addition to the fragments, there are also 18 smaller “charges” around the circumference of the warhead that, when melted by the blast, can pierce armor and create a kind of “360-degree” explosive effect.

The accumulation of those elements essentially maximize the warhead’s ability to shred targets such as power stations, distribution grids, transmission lines and large, high-power transformers. They also make repair efforts substantially harder.

Warheads targeting battlefield assets such as tanks or artillery pieces might be designed differently, Spleeters explained, with a frontal shaped charge that is used for more concentrated targets. The warhead examined by CAR, though, has a radial shaped charge effect, which can result in a larger area of impact.

Some background: Iran has given Russia hundreds of drones to use in its war in Ukraine, many of which have targeted Ukraine’s power grid and energy facilities, leaving civilians without heat, electricity or running water during the freezing winter months. Last month, the Institute for the Study of War found that Russian forces had become increasingly reliant on the drones – so much so that their stockpile of the drones is already running low, just months after Iran began sending them.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday his country needs modern tanks, long-range missiles and modern fighter jets to protect its security, adding that Ukraine's security is also Europe's security. 

"We need artillery guns, ammunitions, modern tanks, the long-range missiles and modern fighter jets," Zelensky said during a speech at the European Council. "We have to enhance the dynamic of our cooperation" and act "faster than the aggressor." 

In the past "horrific" year, Zelensky said Europe made strong strong decisions despite doubts and discussions.

"This security cooperation has created a historic example for any aggressor," Zelensky said. "Our brave soldiers are fighting against the terror of Russia with your support."

Zelensky also said he'll have several bilateral meetings in Brussels to discuss the issue of providing fighter jets to Ukraine. 

"I'll have a number of bilaterals now and we are doing to raise the issue of the fighter jets and other aircraft," he said during a news conference, following a European Council meeting earlier Thursday. 

Zelensky said that the discussions he has had so far in the Belgian capital have been "quite concrete."

He added that during Thursday's meetings, "we were talking about security, we were talking about saving lives and stability, we were talking about the return of justice."

More on military support to Ukraine: On Wednesday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a news conference that the first battalion of Leopard 2 tanks delivered by Western allies could reach Ukraine by March or April of this year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made an emotional appeal for his country to become a member of the European Union during a visit to Brussels, emphasizing the shared values between Kyiv and the bloc.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin says that deliveries of Western fighter jets to Kyiv would only make the war more "painful" for Ukraine.

Here are the latest headlines:

There is an "excellent connection" between Ukrainian and French officials, who are working towards a shared goal of defeating Russia, according to a senior Ukrainian official.

Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted that the pair had held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron's political adviser Emmanuel Bonn and diplomatic adviser Isabelle Dumont.

Zelensky met with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Paris on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that "a free Europe cannot be imagined without free Ukraine," and thanked EU leaders for the "unwavering support" his country has received so far. 

"The unity of Europe is the fundamental way to security," Zelensky said during a speech at the European Council in Brussels. "A free Europe cannot be imagined without free Ukraine."

Zelensky said Ukraine and the European Union share the same values, but those values and regional security are threatened by Russian aggression. 

"We all are protecting Europe against the [Moscow] regime, which wants to destroy the freedom of Europe, which wants to be the authoritarian leader on our continent," he said. 

Zelensky also said he is grateful Ukraine has received EU candidate status as it aims to join the European Union and be a part of a united Europe. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has claimed that Germany provides the most aid to Ukraine of any European Union country. 

''Among the EU countries, we are the country that provides the most financial humanitarian and humanitarian aid, but also with the most concrete support when it comes to arms deliveries," Scholz told reporters as he arrived at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. 

The EU leader's meeting will be an occasion to "send this signal of unity, of solidarity once again and show that we will continue our support for Ukraine in defending its independence and integrity for as long as necessary," Scholz added.

On Wednesday night, Scholz met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss further military aid for Ukraine.

The meeting between the two leaders came after German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a news conference that the first battalion of Leopard 2 tanks delivered by Western allies could reach Ukraine by March or April of this year.

Later Thursday, Zelensky will attend the EU summit as a guest.

Earlier today, Zelensky addressed lawmakers at the European Parliament, where he was greeted with a standing ovation as he arrived on his first visit to Brussels since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin accused Washington of having a “hostile attitude” towards Russia saying it perceives Moscow as an “adversary” and provokes further escalation.

“The United States remains hostile towards our country, perceives us as an adversary, states the political will to further expand its involvement in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Peskov referred to US President Joe Biden’s address State of the Union address, in which he spoke of a need to protect the country from Chinese threats while simultaneously confronting Russia and supporting Ukraine.

Peskov accused Washington of refusing to “express readiness to recognize the legitimate concerns of the Russian Federation," and said that the speech "on the contrary, provokes further escalation."

On the battlefront: The Kremlin's comments come on the heels of reports that Russian shelling has increased in parts of the Kharkiv region recaptured by Ukrainian forces last September and other areas of northern Ukraine.

Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, said two civilians were killed in Dvorichna, a village east of the city of Kharkiv. Russian forces occupy positions on the east bank of the nearby Oskil River

CNN's Tim Lister and Denis Lapin in Kyiv contributed to this post.

Possible UK deliveries of fighter jets to Ukraine will not change the outcome of the war, but will only “escalate and prolong it and will make it more painful” for Ukraine, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

During a surprise visit to the UK on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a plea for more heavy weaponry, including fighter jets.

And British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that "nothing is off the table” when it comes to providing military equipment to Ukraine.

The development testifies to the “growing involvement of the UK, Germany, and France in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," said Peskov on Thursday.

“We can only express regret and state that such actions lead to escalation, prolong the conflict, and make this conflict more painful for Ukraine,” he added.

“Fundamentally, these actions of countries will not change the outcome of the conflict and will not change the trajectory that our country is following in terms of achieving its goals within the framework of the special military operation.”

Interestingly, Zelensky took a different approach during a speech to the EU Parliament on Thursday.

The Ukrainian President focused on the values that Ukraine shares with Europe, but didn’t specifically ask for more weapons as he did in London on Wednesday.

Russian forces have intensified their offensive efforts in the Luhansk region over the past week, with a slight increase in operations near Kupyansk and Lyman, according to the Ukrainian General Staff.

In its latest update published Thursday, the General Staff said 25 settlements had come under artillery fire and Russian forces had carried out several air strikes in the area.

Some analysts have suggested Russia may be starting a new offensive in the Luhansk region, while adding that the movement was not yet significant.

The Institute for the Study of War said Russian forces were “gradually beginning an offensive” in the area, noting Russian operations had “increased markedly over the past week.”

However it added that Ukrainian forces had been able to prevent Moscow’s armies from securing significant gains. 

CNN teams on the ground noted that the tempo of attacks had increased slightly in the past few days, but it was “nowhere near the energy that could be described as an offensive.” 

Kupyansk and Lyman were seized early in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on February 28 and May 27 last year respectively.

They were then re-taken by Ukrainian forces during a counter offensive in September 2022.