FIGHTING
At least three people were killed and 34 injured when Russia allegedly launched a guided bomb attack on an apartment block in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, located near the Russian border. In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, seven people were injured in another Russian strike, marking the latest in a series of recent attacks on the area.
Zaporizhzhia regional Governor Ivan Fedorov accused Russia of "hunting civilians" after a man was killed by a first-person-view (FPV) Russian drone in a village. Meanwhile, two people lost their lives in a Russian artillery strike on a residential area in Pokrovsk, according to Donetsk regional prosecutors. Another Russian guided bomb attack on two infrastructure sites in Kostiantynivka killed one person and injured two others, reported Donetsk regional Governor Vadym Filashkin via Telegram.
Russian war bloggers and state media reported that Russian forces have begun storming the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar, which had a pre-war population of over 14,000. Ukraine’s military stated that Russian troops launched eight attacks around the town and nearby villages, with four of the attacks being repelled.
In Ukraine's central Poltava region, a Russian strike damaged energy infrastructure, cutting power to 20 settlements. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 81 drones and four missiles in an overnight attack, with Ukrainian forces shooting down 66 drones, though they lost track of 13 in several regions.
On the Russian side, the Ministry of Defence stated that its air defense units destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones—six over the Belgorod region, six over Kursk, and one over Bryansk.
POLITICS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations Security Council, stating that Russia’s war against Ukraine could not be resolved through negotiations alone, and that Moscow must be compelled to make peace. He emphasized that Russia is the "sole aggressor" in the conflict and accused North Korea and Iran of being "de facto accomplices" by supplying Russia with weapons.
During the meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi clashed after Blinken accused China of providing Russia with technologies that are enabling its war efforts by helping "rebuild, restock, and ramp up its war machine." Wang dismissed the accusations, stating, "On the Ukraine issue, any attempt to shift blame onto China or to attack and smear China is irresponsible and will lead nowhere."
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, speaking at the UN General Assembly, advocated for a peace proposal developed by Brazil and China, which calls for de-escalation and renewed direct talks between Russia and Ukraine without demanding Russia withdraw its forces. Zelenskyy has already rejected this plan, calling it "destructive."
Ukraine’s Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko announced that the country will allocate 2.22 trillion hryvnia ($54 billion) to "national security and defense" in 2025, accounting for 26% of Ukraine’s GDP and 61% of the government’s total budget.
Russia, meanwhile, plans to increase its budget by 9%, bringing total spending to 41.5 trillion roubles ($446.2 billion) in 2025, with a continued focus on military needs, according to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.
Additionally, Russian lawmakers passed new measures allowing the military to recruit individuals currently on trial. Criminal proceedings would be suspended while they serve, and dropped entirely if they receive a state award or are discharged under normal circumstances, such as being wounded in combat, the State Duma stated.
WEAPONS
Ukrainian presidential adviser Vladyslav Vlasiuk revealed that approximately 60 percent of foreign components found in Russian weapons on the Ukrainian battlefield were delivered to Russia through China. He stated that China not only directly supplies Russia but also serves as a transit route for Western-made products. Key components used in surveillance systems, drones, and missiles have originated from countries such as the United States, the Netherlands, Japan, and Ireland.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
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