Key Developments on the 1,038th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Situation on Saturday, December 28:
Fighting:
- Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) foiled a plot by Ukrainian intelligence services to kill a high-ranking Russian officer and a war blogger, as reported by Interfax news agency.
- Ukrainian forces have reportedly killed or wounded over 1,000 North Korean soldiers sent by Russia to fight, according to Ukraine and South Korea.
- Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed control over two eastern Ukrainian villages – Ivanivka and Zahryzove, according to RIA news agency.
- Russian forces allegedly downed four British-made Storm Shadow missiles in the past week, as cited by RIA.
- A North Korean soldier fighting for Russia died in Ukrainian captivity from severe wounds, as reported by South Korea’s spy agency.
- Ukrainian air defence successfully shot down 13 out of 24 Russian drones in an overnight attack, with no reported damage from the remaining 11 drones.
Deals and diplomacy:
- The US administration under President Joe Biden pledged fresh military aid to Ukraine, including air defence systems.
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed readiness to host peace talks with Ukraine in Slovakia, following a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- Ukraine received its first shipment of liquefied natural gas from the US, aiming to enhance energy security as a major gas transit deal with Russia concludes.
Dissent:
- Russian court sentenced Eduard Sharlot, a singer who burned his passport in protest against Russia’s Ukraine war, to five and a half years in prison on charges of insulting religious beliefs and rehabilitating Nazism.
