The war has been ongoing for 712 days, and here are the latest updates as of Monday, February 5, 2024.
In Lysychansk, a Russian-occupied city, a restaurant and bakery were hit by shelling, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 people, including a child. Ukraine did not comment on the incident, and Russia accused Ukraine of the attack. Ukrainian officials noted that only about 10% of the city’s pre-war population remains. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian soldiers on the front line in Robotyne, Zaporizhia, where he met troops and awarded medals. Ivan Federov, who was abducted by Russian soldiers in 2022, was named the new head of the Zaporizhia regional state administration during Zelenskyy’s visit.
President Zelenskyy also mentioned the possibility of a “reset” to replace senior officials. A bilateral deal between US senators could potentially unlock $60 billion in new aid for Ukraine, which President Joe Biden strongly supports. In addition, Turkey’s Foreign Minister announced discussions on a new mechanism to allow Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea when Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Turkey.
On the diplomatic front, police in Moscow detained 20 journalists at a rally where the wives of Russian soldiers in Ukraine called for their husbands to be returned home. Also, Serbian actor Milos Bikovic was dropped from the cast of The White Lotus after facing criticism for his ties to Russia.
Regarding weapons, South Korea expressed concern about Russia’s increasing military cooperation with North Korea, as they believe North Korea is sending weapons to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.