Accused ex-employees of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs for alleged partnership.
In a day marked by escalating tension and violence, Ukraine reported over 149 attacks by Russian forces, with 1275 combat drones and 61 attacks by Russian combat aircraft supporting the onslaught, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. The heaviest and most intense fighting was around the city of Pokrovsk.
Six Ukrainian drones were shot down near Moscow, as reported by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Meanwhile, Russian forces attacked a recruitment office in Ukraine for the second time in a few days, this time in Kremenchuk, with no reported casualties among soldiers and staff.
Elsewhere, several Russian airports had to cancel nearly 300 flights due to Ukrainian drone attacks. There has been another explosion on board a tanker in a Russian port, reportedly caused by a leak of ammonia. At least six civilians were killed and at least 22 more injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past day.
A car bombing in Odessa was reported, with a Russian agent suspected of being behind the attack arrested by Ukrainian authorities. In a separate incident, two former employees of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, one a former deputy chief of staff, are to be tried in absentia for collaboration and high treason. They are hiding in the occupied territory of Donetsk, where they have taken up positions in the "Donetsk People's Republic Police".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky threatened further strikes using long-range weapons against military targets deep inside Russia's territory. In response, the Russian military struck Ukraine again with drone attacks overnight, causing injuries and damage in several districts of Kharkiv.
Ukrainian soldiers raised the flag of their brigade in the village of Dachne in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to show they continue to withstand Moscow's attacks. Many civilians have been evacuated from dangerous areas in the Sumy region.
As the conflict continues, there are signs of a slowdown in Russia's economy, with production activity declining, consumer spending being constrained, and inflation remaining high. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, is hoping for more military support from Germany, particularly air defense systems and Taurus cruise missiles.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Europe must significantly strengthen its defense against a resurgent Russia. Ukraine will receive hundreds of thousands of drones this year for its defensive struggle against the Russian invasion. The hope remains for a new round of talks between Moscow and Washington, but no date has been set as of yet.
[1] It's important to note that the suspects remain at large in the occupied areas rather than in Ukrainian-controlled territory, which means they must stand trial in absentia.
- The policy of delivering justice in occupied areas necessitates trial in absentia, as observed in the case of the two former Ukrainian Ministry officials accused of high treason and collaboration.
- As the Ukrainian-Russian conflict unfolds, policy-and-legislation discussions have intensified in community forums, including those concerning employment policies, given the impact of war-and-conflicts on economic stability and general news.
