Russia
🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russia and Ukraine agree to return nine children to their families in a humanitarian exchange facilitated by Qatar. This marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to reunite families amid the conflict.
🇷🇺 A Russian court sentenced a defence lawyer, known for representing critics of the Ukraine war, to seven years in prison for spreading false information about the army and inciting hatred.
🇷🇺 Russia’s air travel demand rises as wartime wages increase, with citizens traveling to domestic destinations and “friendly” countries despite Western sanctions. However, a shortage of planes is holding back the growth of air travel.
🇺🇦 Explosions reported in Odesa, Kropyvnytskyi, Kharkiv, Rivne, and Lutsk as Russia launches cruise missile attacks across Ukraine. Multiple cities affected by the strikes early Thursday morning.
🇷🇺 Russia’s Defence Ministry reports that its forces have taken control of the settlement of Nova Illinka, located near the town of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
🇺🇸 US intelligence assesses that the risk of a nuclear attack remains unlikely, despite Putin’s warnings. The decision to allow Ukraine to use American weapons deeper into Russia has not heightened this risk, according to five informed sources.
🇷🇺 Russia warns that cutting U.S. aid to Ukraine would be a “death sentence” for its military. The deputy U.N. ambassador claims Ukraine is attempting to escalate tensions with NATO against Russia.
🇺🇸 President Trump appoints retired Lt. General Keith Kellogg as special envoy for the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
🇩🇪 German intel chief warns that Russia’s hybrid attacks on Western targets heighten the risk of NATO invoking Article 5 mutual defence clause.
🇷🇺 Russia expels one correspondent and one cameraman from Germany’s ARD in response to Germany’s actions against journalists from Russia’s Channel One.
🇷🇺 Russia warns the US against a ‘spiral of escalation’ but vows to keep communication open. It will continue to inform Washington about missile test launches to prevent ‘dangerous mistakes’.
🇰🇷 South Koreans largely oppose supplying arms to Ukraine, according to recent polls, despite international appeals from Kyiv and allies amid reports of North Korean troops aiding Russia.
🇷🇺 Russia continues efforts to deploy its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, part of its strategic nuclear arsenal, on combat duty, according to state news agency TASS.
🇺🇦 A Russian drone attack on Kyiv has wounded three people, with two requiring hospitalization, according to officials.
🇷🇺 President Putin to visit Kazakhstan this week to discuss energy ties amid ongoing trade tensions. Kazakhstan exports most of its oil through Russia.
🇺🇦 A Ukrainian delegation led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov is in South Korea this week seeking weapons aid for Kyiv in its ongoing war with Russia.
🇺🇦 Russian shelling in Sumy has killed two civilians, President Zelenskiy reports. The attack occurred in northeastern Ukraine on Tuesday.
🇷🇺 A new Russian missile fired at Dnipro carried multiple warheads but lacked explosives, resulting in limited damage, according to two senior Ukrainian government sources.
🇺🇦 NATO reaffirms support for Ukraine amid rising tensions following Russia’s launch of an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile. Talks with Ukrainian officials emphasized commitment to Ukraine’s security.
🇪🇺 EU envoys to discuss a 15th sanctions package against Russia, focusing on tankers transporting Russian oil and Chinese firms supplying drones to Moscow.