Fighting and Weapons:
- Ukraine’s Missile Strike: Ukraine reportedly launched 12 British Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia’s Kursk region, marking the latest use of Western weapons permitted for strikes on Russian soil. Pro-Russian Telegram channels confirmed the attack.
- Command Post Hit: The Ukrainian military confirmed the successful strike of a Russian command post in Gubkin, located in Russia’s Belgorod region, approximately 168 km (105 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
- Russian Advances: Russian forces have taken control of the settlement of Illinka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, as reported by Russia’s Ministry of Defence.
- Psychological Warfare: Russia has been accused of staging a massive information-psychological attack, impersonating Ukrainian intelligence to spread a fake warning about an impending large-scale airstrike. Kyiv pointed out the grammatical errors in the message, suggesting it was part of Russian disinformation efforts.
- US Embassy Reopens: The United States has reopened its embassy in Kyiv, which had been shut down on Wednesday due to fears of a significant air attack.
International Responses:
- NATO and Russian Threats: Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, warned that Russia would punish any NATO countries assisting Ukraine with long-range strikes into Russian territory.
- Turkish Opposition: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey opposed the US’s approval for Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia, stating it would escalate the conflict.
- French Reaction to Nuclear Rhetoric: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot dismissed as mere “rhetoric” Russian President Putin’s threats of lowering Russia’s nuclear strike threshold, asserting that France would not be intimidated.
- F-16 Deliveries: The Netherlands has delivered the final two of 18 F-16 fighter jets to Romania, where Ukrainian pilots and ground crews are being trained to operate the aircraft, according to the Dutch Defence Ministry.
- US Military Aid: The Pentagon announced a new round of $275 million in military aid to Ukraine, including ammunition for the HIMARS rocket system. The US also moved to forgive $4.7 billion in loans to Ukraine, though Congress may still block the decision.
North Korea in Ukraine:
- Troops and Arms: Nearly 11,000 North Korean troops have reportedly been deployed to Kursk as part of Russia’s airborne and marine units. North Korea has also reportedly shipped self-propelled howitzers and multiple rocket launchers to aid Russia in the conflict, according to South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun.
- North Korea-Russia Cooperation: North Korea and Russia have signed a new cooperation protocol following meetings in Pyongyang that focused on trade, science, and technology, according to North Korean state media.
Diplomatic Developments:
- Moldova Support: The UK and Romania have reaffirmed their support for Moldova, offering assistance to mitigate the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Britain signed a new security and defence partnership with the former Soviet republic.
- Baltic Sea Incident: Russia dismissed accusations that it was responsible for damaging two fibre-optic data cables in the Baltic Sea, which affected telecommunications between Finland and Germany, and Sweden and Lithuania.
- Gazprom’s Actions: Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg criticized Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled gas producer, after it cut off gas supplies to Austria, pointing out the weak rule of law in Russia.
Russian Domestic Affairs:
- Doctors Protest: A group of Russian doctors has appealed to President Putin for the release of a Moscow paediatrician, who was jailed after making comments opposing the war in Ukraine, calling her imprisonment “shameful.”
- German Citizen Detained: Russia has detained a German citizen on suspicion of smuggling explosives and terrorism after he allegedly caused an explosion at a gas distribution station in Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave on the Baltic Sea.
These developments highlight the ongoing military confrontations, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and continued international diplomacy related to the war, marking another significant chapter in the conflict’s long and volatile timeline.
