Because the warfare enters its 674th day, these are the primary developments.
Right here is the scenario on Friday, December 29, 2023.
Combating
- Ukraine’s basic prosecutor stated two fishermen had been killed after Russia shelled a village on the banks of the Dnipro river alongside southern Ukraine’s entrance line. 5 individuals had been additionally injured within the assault.
- Ukraine’s southern army command stated a Panama-flagged bulk provider that was heading to one of many nation’s River Danube ports to load grain hit a Russian mine in the Black Sea inflicting it to lose velocity and management and beginning a hearth. Two members of the 18-strong crew had been injured, and considered one of them, an Egyptian, was taken to hospital. The captain deliberately ran the ship aground to cease it from sinking and Ukraine will use tugs to take it into port.
- Ukraine’s air pressure stated air defence methods shot down seven out of eight Shahed drones launched by Moscow throughout the night time in a single day, the nation’s air pressure stated on Thursday. The drones got here down in three central and southern areas, the air pressure added.
- Odesa regional governor, Oleh Kiper, stated a hearth broke out at a multistorey constructing within the Black Sea port metropolis that was hit by a downed drone. Kiper stated details about casualties was being verified and urged residents to remain in shelters amid an ongoing drone assault.
- The Russian Defence Ministry stated it thwarted a Ukrainian drone assault over Crimea, which Russia seized and annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Politics and diplomacy
- The USA proposed that the Group of Seven (G7) international locations discover methods to grab $300bn in frozen Russian property, in response to Britain’s Monetary Instances. Washington, backed by the UK, Japan and Canada, has proposed that choices be prepared for G7 leaders to think about at a possible assembly round February 24, the report stated.
- A Moscow court docket jailed two males for participating in a poetry recital vital of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Poet Artyom Kamardin, 33, was sentenced to seven years for reciting the poem, whereas Yegor Shtovba, 23, bought 5 and a half years for attending the anti-mobilisation protest. Supporters shouted “Disgrace!” after the sentences had been introduced and a few individuals had been later detained by police, in response to the AFP information company.
- Belarus’s President Alexander Lukashenko attended a government-organised occasion for a brand new group of kids introduced from Russia-occupied areas of Ukraine, amid worldwide outrage over his nation’s involvement in Moscow’s forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Officers didn’t say what number of Ukrainian youngsters had been within the newest group.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he mentioned Ukraine’s peace formulation in a name with Pope Francis, noting that greater than 80 international locations had been “already concerned” within the course of. Zelenskyy has stated the framework will subsequent be mentioned in Davos, Switzerland. The formulation requires Russia to withdraw all its troops from Ukrainian territory, together with areas it has been occupying since 2014, earlier than talks can start.
- Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of employees, stated he had a “productive telephone name” with Hungarian Overseas Minister Peter Szijjarto to debate a gathering between Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Viktor Orban within the “close to future”. Earlier this month, all European Union states besides Hungary agreed to start out accession talks with Ukraine, and Budapest blocked a brand new EU price range offering support to Ukraine.