As the war in Ukraine reaches its 869th day, significant developments continue to unfold:
Fighting:
- Russian attacks in eastern Donetsk have resulted in six deaths and 13 injuries, according to regional prosecutors.
- In the Kharkiv region, three civilians were injured by a mine near the Russian border. Regional authorities are conducting mine clearances in other border areas.
- Ukraine’s security service reported nearly 300 civilian deaths due to Russian mines and is compiling evidence for the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted a Russian claim that Kyiv plans to attack its own power dams to frame Russia, calling it an intimidation tactic.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemned a missile strike on Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, attributing the attack to Russia, which denies targeting civilians.
- Ukraine urged the IAEA to address the attack on the hospital, which received agency support for cancer diagnostics and treatment. Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Andriy Kostin, called on the ICC to prosecute Russia over the incident.
Diplomacy:
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that Russia remains open to discussions about reviving the Black Sea grain deal.
- Russia accused Australia of “anti-Russian paranoia” following espionage charges against a Russian-born Australian couple. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed Russia’s criticism, calling Moscow’s espionage accusations baseless.
- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov held a second discussion in just over two weeks, focusing on reducing tensions and preventing security threats, according to the Pentagon and Russia’s Ministry of Defence.
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow has no plans to attack NATO, accusing the alliance of heightening tensions.
- Russia accused South Korea of blackmail over potential weapons supplies to Ukraine.
- China announced joint military drills with Russia along its southern coast following NATO’s warning about growing China-Russia ties.
Politics:
- A Russian-installed court in Ukraine’s Donetsk region sentenced an OSCE official to 14 years in prison on charges of spying, as stated by Russia’s prosecutor general.
Source: AJ News
