On the 631st day of the war, the situation in Ukraine continues to be tense with significant developments. Russian forces acknowledged that Ukrainian troops crossed the Dnipro River to Russian-occupied parts of southern Kherson. This led to a response from Russia, with assets being deployed to the area. In addition, two people were killed and at least three others were injured after four Russian missiles hit the town of Selydove, northwest of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported that two rescue workers were killed and seven people injured amid Russian shelling in the Zaporizhia region.
The war has taken a toll on the Ukrainian military, with nearly 25,000 soldiers confirmed dead since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. However, the exact number of casualties is being kept secret by Kyiv, with officials citing concerns of harm to the war effort if the figure is disclosed.
On the political and diplomatic front, the European Union is proposing a ban on imports of diamonds and liquid petroleum gas from Russia, along with tightening implementation of a price cap on Russian oil. Russia’s foreign ministry has condemned the sanctions, calling them part of a “hybrid war” being waged against the country. Hungary, which has close ties to Moscow, is calling for a reflection and strategic discussion on the EU’s policy towards Ukraine before further support is provided.
In the legal sphere, 26-year-old Darya Trepova, a Russian woman accused of killing military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, is on trial for “terrorism.” Tatarsky, a supporter of the Russian invasion, was killed in April after Trepova presented him with a bust of himself that then exploded, injuring over 50 people. Meanwhile, the wife of opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was jailed for 25 years for treason and spreading “false information” about Russia’s war in Ukraine, fears for his life in the Siberian penal colony where he is being held.
In terms of weapons, Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport reported a significant increase in interest overseas for its Lancet drone. However, they stated that the weapon would not be exported due to the high demand for it within the Russian armed forces. This comes as Russia continues to deploy the drones on the battlefield in Ukraine, highlighting the ongoing military operations.