Ukraine troops near the frontline in the Donetsk region in the east of the country, October 30, 2024
Monday’s Coverage: Zelensky — “We Can Develop Europe’s Shared Defensive Capabilities”
UPDATE 0730 GMT:
President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine will soon complete the technical work needed to open negotiations for accession to the European Union.
Zelensky, who is seeking membership by 2027, called on the EU to agree a firm date. He said the commitment would provide an important guarantee of Urkaine’s future security.
Zelensky acknowledged, “We are ready, but not all leaders of the European Union are….I mean, not everyone is ready to give Ukraine this opportunity.”
UPDATE 0727 GMT:
At least eight civilians were murdered by Russian attacks across Ukraine on Monday, including a strike on a passenger train.
Five of the fatalities were in the Donetsk region in the east of the country.
UPDATE 0711 GMT:
Ukrainian drones shut down the Sheskharis oil terminal in southwest Russia on Monday.
Officials said the attack injured five people, damaged 20 buildings, and set a fuel terminal on fire. An official in Ukraine’s State security service SBU said six of seven loading facilities and Russian warships were struck.
Ukraine’s General Staff said the drones also struck a naval base and an S-400 surface-to-air missile defense system.
Sheskharis, located in the port of Novorossiysk, is Russia’s major oil outlet in the Black Sea with loading of 700,000 barrels per day of crude oil.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: Russia has struggled in its slowest advance on the Ukraine frontline in almost two years.
The invaders gained only 123 square km (48 square miles) in February, the lowest seizure of territory since April 2024.
Moscow’s grinding assault in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine was almost offset by Ukrainian advances in the Zaporizhzhia region in the south.
The defenders liberated several hundred square kilometers, including 61 square km on February 15 and more than 50 square km on February 21 and February 23.
Russia seized 0.8% of Ukraine last year, but still occupies less territory than it did in June 2022. The invaders currently hold between 19% and 20% of Ukraine.
Moscow’s troops have been hindered by last month’s cutoff of access to Starlink satellites. Elon Musk blocked unverified terminals at the request of Ukraine Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
