594 Day of the Russia-Ukraine War
In Crimea, Ukrainian naval drones successfully sank two Russian landing boats, according to reports from Kyiv. Concurrently, Russian forces are reportedly attempting to encircle the town of Avdiivka. Ilia Yevlash, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern group of forces, provided an update on the ongoing counteroffensive, noting progress in areas like Andriivka and Bakhmut. He described “partial success” near Andriivka, emphasizing the gradual liberation of territory and the strengthening of positions. While gains have been made, Yevlash cautioned that it’s premature to claim specific objectives have been achieved.
In the Donetsk region, Ukrainian prosecutors reported that Russian forces shelled areas east of Donetsk, resulting in the death of one person. Additionally, the resilient town of Avdiivka, which has been resisting Russian advances for months, also faced shelling.
In the village of Hroza, Ukrainian residents mourned as they buried relatives and neighbors who were among the 50 people killed in a Russian missile attack on a cafe last week. This incident stands as one of the war’s deadliest attacks, leaving a profound impact on the community.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made changes in leadership, replacing General Ihor Tantsyura as the commander of Ukraine’s Territorial Defence Forces. The Territorial Defence Forces play crucial roles in protecting critical facilities, countering sabotage, handling enemy intelligence, and maintaining overall security. Major General Anatoliy Barhylevych has been appointed as the new commander, with no specific reason provided for these decisions.
In a legislative move, Ukraine’s parliament introduced a draft law that could enable a ban on activities of the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Kyiv has accused the church of undermining the country’s unity and collaborating with Russia. The bill will now undergo review by a parliamentary committee before being considered by the full parliament.
The United Nations human rights office has expressed “deep concern” regarding Moscow’s widespread distribution of Russian passports in the occupied Ukrainian territory under its control. Nada Al-Nashif, the UN deputy human rights chief, informed the Human Rights Council that residents who declined Russian citizenship were being denied access to essential public services, putting them at a higher risk of arbitrary detention.
In Moscow, top UN and Russian officials engaged in talks with the goal of facilitating “unimpeded access” to global markets for grain and fertilizer from both Russia and Ukraine. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remains committed to ensuring the unrestricted entry of food products and fertilizers from both nations, according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. It’s worth noting that Russia had previously withdrawn from a grain deal in July.
Russian lawmakers have been given a 10-day period to assess the best approach to revoke Moscow’s ratification of a significant treaty that bans nuclear tests. President Vladimir Putin hinted at the possibility of Russia resuming nuclear testing, and the country’s envoy to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) indicated that Moscow might withdraw its ratification from the agreement.
In response to these developments, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy emphasized that it is in Russia’s interests to exacerbate conflict in the Middle East to weaken global unity. During his nightly video address, Zelenskyy pointed out that Russian propagandists were expressing satisfaction with these developments, and he highlighted Iran’s open support for those attacking Israel, characterizing Iran as Moscow’s ally. Zelenskyy expressed concern that these events pose a more significant threat than the world currently perceives.
US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth has stated that additional funding approval from Congress would be required to ensure that the Pentagon’s plans for munitions production and acquisition can effectively meet the needs of both Ukraine and Israel.
Source : www.aljazeera.com
