As the Russia-Ukraine conflict persists into its 858th day, the situation remains tense with ongoing military engagements and diplomatic maneuvers shaping the landscape. In eastern Ukraine, recent incidents have underscored the humanitarian toll and strategic developments, while international reactions and regional dynamics continue to influence the trajectory of events. This report provides a comprehensive update on the latest key events, casualties, diplomatic efforts, and military strategies unfolding in the region.
Two women were killed and eight others injured in a Russian attack on the town of Ukrainsk in eastern Donetsk. The attack, which involved an Uragan multiple rocket launcher, damaged an administrative building and several homes. The town had a pre-war population of 13,000. Regional Governor Vadym Filashkin urged civilians to evacuate.
Evacuations in Toretsk:
Kyiv reported the evacuation of 700 residents from Toretsk, a mining town near the front line in Donetsk. About 5,000 people remain in the town, which originally had around 30,000 residents before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Dnipro Missile Attack:
A Russian ballistic missile attack on Dnipro injured seven people and damaged dozens of residential buildings, according to Serhiy Lysak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Casualties in Belgorod:
Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Belgorod region resulted in one person dead and nine injured, said regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The attacks also caused power cuts and water supply disruptions in border regions.
Territorial Advances:
Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed the capture of two more Ukrainian villages: Novopokrovske in eastern Donetsk and Stepova Novoselivka in northeastern Kharkiv.
Ukrainian Defense:
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian forces repelled 17 attacks in the Kupiansk sector near Kharkiv, including at Stepova Novoselivka. Fierce fighting continues near Synkivka and the Pokrovsk front, where 44 Russian assaults were repelled in the past 24 hours.
Politics and Diplomacy
Journalist Sentenced:
A Russian military court sentenced Ukrainian YouTube blogger and journalist Dmitry Gordon to 14 years in prison in absentia for calling for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Gordon has millions of social media followers.
Upcoming Book Release:
A posthumous book by Victoria Amelina, a Ukrainian author killed in a Russian missile strike a year ago, will be published next February on the war's third anniversary. "Looking at Women Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary" includes interviews with 11 women documenting war crimes and features a foreword by Margaret Atwood.
UN Ambassador Comments:
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia dismissed former US President Donald Trump's claim that he could settle the war between Moscow and Kyiv in a day if re-elected.
Orban’s Visit to Kyiv:
The UK’s Financial Times reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will visit Kyiv for the first time and meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Orban has criticized Western military aid to Ukraine. Hungary recently assumed the presidency of the European Union Council.
F-16 Fighter Jets:
The Netherlands announced that necessary permits had been approved for the delivery of the first batch of 24 promised F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Outgoing Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren did not specify the number of planes in the first delivery or the exact timing for security reasons.
