Here is the latest update on Saturday, December 28:
Conflict:
- A plot by Ukrainian intelligence to assassinate a senior Russian officer and a war blogger was foiled by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), according to reports.
- Reports suggest that Ukrainian forces have inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean soldiers sent by Russia to fight in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the North Korean troops were facing significant losses due to futile attacks.
- Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced the capture of two villages in eastern Ukraine and claimed to have shot down British-made Storm Shadow missiles.
- A North Korean soldier fighting for Russia died in Ukrainian custody from severe injuries, as reported by South Korea.
- Ukrainian air defence successfully intercepted 13 out of 24 Russian drones during an overnight attack, preventing any damage.
Deals and Diplomacy:
- The US administration under President Joe Biden pledged to provide additional military aid to Ukraine, including air defence systems. The announcement of the aid package is expected in the coming days.
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed readiness to host peace talks with Ukraine in Slovakia, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s openness to the proposal.
- Ukraine received its first shipment of liquefied natural gas from the US, marking a significant step towards enhancing energy security as a major gas transit deal with Russia comes to an end.
Protest and Punishment:
- 26-year-old singer Eduard Sharlot, who burned his passport in protest against Russia’s actions in Ukraine, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison by a Russian court. He was convicted of insulting religious sentiments and rehabilitating Nazism through online videos.
