Ukraine’s top commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskii, reported a strategic retreat of Kyiv’s troops to new positions west of three villages on the eastern front, citing deteriorating conditions along the front line. He highlighted particularly challenging areas near Russian-occupied Maryinka and northwest of Avdiivka, the latter captured by Russian forces in February. Syrskii also emphasized heightened Russian troop presence near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, prompting reinforcement of Ukrainian forces, particularly in critical directions.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the capture of Novobakhmutivka village in Donetsk region, located approximately 10km north of Avdiivka, by its troops.
Officials appointed by Moscow in occupied parts of eastern and southern Ukraine reported three fatalities due to Ukrainian shelling.
A drone attack attributed to Russia struck a hotel in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, resulting in a fire promptly extinguished, with no casualties reported. Russia claimed to have intercepted 17 Ukrainian drones over its border regions, causing no damage or casualties.
Politics and Diplomacy:
Russian journalists Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin were arrested on charges of “extremism,” allegedly for their affiliation with a group associated with the late Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny. Karelin, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen who collaborated with the Associated Press, has elicited concern from the news agency regarding his detention. Both individuals deny the allegations.
Weapons:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his call for increased international support in the form of air defense systems. Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency of receiving Patriot anti-missile systems during a conversation with Hakeem Jeffries, leader of the Democrats in the United States House of Representatives.
North Korea criticized the United States for allegedly supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine, as reported by the state-run KCNA. The accusation comes amidst ongoing concerns regarding Pyongyang’s arms trade activities and its own nuclear weapons program, subject to stringent United Nations sanctions.
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