This week, fighting has raged across the frontlines. Russia has also launched a number of missile and drone strikes at targets across Ukraine. A drone attack on an apartment block in Odesa over the weekend killed 12, including five children. On Wednesday, Russia launched a missile strike at Odesa when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were visiting the port. A missile landed several hundred meters from a convoy carrying Zelenskyi. A Russian missile strike on Borova, in Kharkiv region killed one person and injured seven others, including three children. Russia has been consistently dropping glide bombs on civilian areas.
Ukraine sank the Russian patrol ship Sergei Kotov in the Black Sea. The mission was conducted by Ukraine’s defense intelligence in cooperation with the Ukrainian navy. Ukrainian troops maintain positions on the Kherson axis. NATO has started a major drill in Finland, Norway and Sweden.
There were several positive economic developments this week. Britain is prepared to loan Ukraine all frozen Russian central bank assets in the UK. Belgium is ready to use interest made on immobilized Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense spending. Ukraine’s allies have lined up nearly all the funding required for a Czech-led initiative to purchase hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds.
The International Criminal Court is investigating Russia’s strikes at Ukraine’s energy grid and has issued first arrest warrants.
Zelenskyi nominates Gen. Zaluzhnyi as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Thursday appointed General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi to become Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has sent a formal request asking the British government to approve Zaluzhnyi.
Ukraine’s ambassadorship to Britain had been vacant since July 2023, when Zelenskyi removed Vadym Prystaiko. Prystaiko served as ambassador to the UK since July 2020.