In Kyiv, after an accident in the Ukrainian power system, water supply was restored, but 2,600 more homes were left without heat. Russians and Belarusians will be able to compete in taekwondo under their own flags. Jeffrey Epstein, convicted of sex crimes, allegedly had ties to Russian intelligence and organized crime. Anti-Ukrainian politician Grzegorz Braun held an event, the money from which the owner of the premises will transfer to Ukrainians. Russia wants to deploy 15,000 soldiers in Karelia — Suspilne has collected the main news for the morning of Sunday, February 1.
What's happening with utilities in Kyiv after the accident in the Ukrainian power system
Water supply has been restored throughout Kyiv after an emergency in the power system. However, 2,600 residential high-rise buildings are still without heating after this accident. This was announced by the city mayor Vitaliy Klitschko on the evening of January 31. Several hours earlier, water was supplied at reduced pressure in the Holosiivskyi, Pechersk, and Shevchenkivskyi districts, and 3,419 residential high-rise buildings were without heating, mainly on the right bank.
Context : The outages on January 31 were caused by a large-scale technological failure with the simultaneous shutdown of a 400 kV power transmission line between the power systems of Romania and Moldova, as well as a 750 kV line between western and central Ukraine. Nuclear power plant units were unloaded. In the evening, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that energy workers had restored power supply in all regions. . The regions are gradually returning to the planned power system operation schedules.
Russians and Belarusians will be able to fight in taekwondo under their own flags
On Saturday, January 31, the World Taekwondo Council held its first meeting in 2026, during which the status of Russian and Belarusian athletes was discussed. The Executive Council decided to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes of all age categories to compete under their own flag and anthem.
Context : This decision was made by the Taekwondo Federation in accordance with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee on easing sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian teams, in particular, the IOC allowed Russian and Belarusian juniors to participate in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar under their flags. However, the decision to ban international competitions on the territory of Russia and the ban on issuing accreditation to officials from aggressor countries remained unchanged.
Epstein allegedly had ties to Russian intelligence and organized crime
The new “Epstein files” – in particular, his correspondence – include 1,056 documents mentioning Russian President Putin and 9,629 documents mentioning Moscow. American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, convicted of sex crimes, allegedly collaborated with Russian intelligence to introduce famous people to girls and thus create compromising material on them. This is stated in the Daily Mail investigation, citing sources in intelligence and security forces.
Context: The US Department of Justice on Friday, January 30, published another batch of investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein, a financier accused of human trafficking and crimes against sexual freedom. It is about more than 3 million pages. The files available today include several well-known public figures, including current US President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and advisor to the Prime Minister of Slovakia Miroslav Lajčák. The latter resigned after the publication of the “Epstein files.”
Anti-Ukrainian politician in Poland held an event, the money from which will be donated to help Ukrainians
The party of far-right Polish politician Grzegorz Braun decided to hold an event in a local hotel in the small Polish town of Lochuw. The event took place on January 31 and was called the Congress of National Economic and Local Initiatives (KINGS). Participation in the congress was paid and ranged from 150 zlotys (1,830 UAH) for students to 5,000 zlotys (61,000 UAH). The hotel owner could not refuse Braun by law, but will transfer the money received from renting the premises to help Ukraine.
Context : During the presidential campaign in 2025, Grzegorz Braun repeatedly spoke out against supporting Ukraine, accepting Ukrainian refugees, called Ukrainians “Banderites”, etc. He also has anti-Semitic views: he extinguished the menorah in the Polish parliament. He supported the protests of Polish farmers who opened trucks on the border with Ukraine and threw out Ukrainian grain. He also promoted false information that Ukrainians in Poland receive only social assistance and do not work.
Russia wants to deploy 15,000 soldiers in Karelia
Satellite images show that Russia is reconstructing an old military base in Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Republic of Karelia, which borders Finland. The territory of the old garrison in the Rybka area near the TPP, which has been empty since the 2000s, has been cleared of thickets and trees have been cut down. Transport has been brought there. They plan to station the 44th army corps in Karelia, which is 15,000 soldiers.
Context : Presumably, according to military expert and Finnish intelligence veteran Marko Eklund, soldiers of the 44th Corps were recruited and trained to then be sent to war against Ukraine. Also, north of Karelia, in Kandalaksha, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, construction of a new military town is underway. Earlier it became known that at least 70 military exercises of the Russian army were recorded in the occupied Ukrainian Crimea during 2025.