Russia-Ukraine War: Key Points on Day 1,223
Fighting and Military Developments
- Luhansk Fully Under Russian Control: Leonid Pasechnik, the Russian-installed governor of occupied Luhansk, claimed that Russian forces now fully control the region. If confirmed, this would mark Luhansk as the first Ukrainian region entirely captured by Russia since the conflict began over three years ago. Luhansk is one of four regions Russia claims to have annexed.
- Dnipropetrovsk Village Captured: Russian official media, as well military blogger announced that a village was taken located in central Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, marking the first victory in the region.
- Attack on Donetsk: Moscow-appointed officials said Ukrainian forces shelled Donetsk, killing at least one person, damaging buildings, and setting a market ablaze.
- Lithium Site Taken in Donetsk: Russian forces reportedly seized one of Ukraine’s key lithium deposits near Shevchenko village, according to Deep State Map founder Roman Pohorilyi, as cited by The Kyiv Independent.
- Drone Attacks and Civilian Casualties: Ukraine’s Air Force detected 107 Russian Shahed and decoy drones in a single night, following the most intense aerial assault since 2022. The incident occurred in Kharkiv, Russian strikes killed two civilians and injured 8 more, which included a 6-year-old child.
- Oil Tanker Explosion Near Libya: Bloomberg reported an explosion on an oil tanker near Libya, the latest in a series of mysterious incidents involving vessels that had previously docked at Russian ports.
Political and Diplomatic Developments
- Kremlin Questions U.S. Sanctions: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged the U.S. to consider if further sanctions would aid peace efforts. His comments followed news that a top Republican senator received former President Trump’s backing to advance a sanctions bill against Moscow.
- U.S. Response: American envoy Keith Kellogg labeled Peskov’s remarks “Orwellian,” adding that Russia continues to delay peace talks while attacking civilian targets.
- Germany Criticizes Putin: German Foreign Affairs Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking in Kyiv, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of faking interest in peace talks. He said Germany aims to support Ukraine until it can negotiate from a stronger position.
- Media Restrictions: In response to recent EU sanctions, Russia’s foreign ministry announced restrictions on 15 EU media outlets as part of reciprocal measures.
- North Korean Soldiers’ Repatriation: North Korean state TV aired footage of leader Kim Jong Un draping coffins with the national flag—believed to be of North Korean soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
- Norway Boosts NATO Defense: Norway will deploy F-35 fighter jets to Poland to defend its airspace and protect logistics hubs essential for Ukrainian aid. The move comes after Poland scrambled jets due to Russian strikes near its border.
Economic Updates
IMF Support for Ukraine: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced a $500 million disbursement to Ukraine, following a routine review of its ongoing $15.5 billion, four-year support package.
