A drone attack struck a nuclear reactor at the Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine under Russian control, causing a serious incident with the potential to compromise the reactor's containment system. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the attack and warned of the increased risk of a major nuclear accident. Russia's nuclear power corporation Rosatom blamed Ukraine's military for the strikes, while Ukraine denied involvement and accused Russia. This incident marks the first attack of its kind since November 2022, amidst ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Ukraine attacked the dome above a shutdown reactor at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, following a full-scale invasion by Russian forces in 2022. The attack, carried out with an unknown weapon, resulted in three people being wounded in a drone strike near the plant's canteen. Despite this, radiation levels were reported as normal with no serious damage. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has urged both Ukraine and Russia to avoid actions that threaten nuclear safety at the largest nuclear plant in Europe, stating that reactors at the facility are in various states of shutdown for maintenance and repairs.
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu warned French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu against deploying troops to Ukraine in a phone call, stating it would create problems for France. France denied Russia's claim of discussing potential Ukraine talks. Additionally, Russian drones hit residences in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, killing five people, including three rescue workers. The strikes led to casualties and injuries in various locations within the city.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has become the center of an ongoing nuclear safety crisis, described by Ukraine as an act of nuclear terrorism by Russia.The plant, which is the largest of its kind in Europe, has seen destruction of its infrastructure via shelling, damage to its power lines, amounting to what Ukrainian authorities call the largest situation of its kind in history. A potential disaster may exceed the scale of previous disasters at nuclear power plants.According to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), "The situation in Ukraine is unprecedented. It is the first time a military conflict has occurred amid the facilities of a large, established nuclear power" program. Nuclear safety expert Attila Aszódi said that an event similar in type and scale to the Chernobyl disaster is technically and physically not possible in the Zaporizhzhia plant, while calling for urgent steps to ensure the safety of the plant. The Bellona Foundation called the crisis "something the world nuclear energy community never thought it would see — and thus never prepared for."
Russian attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, have killed at least four people and injured 12. The strikes targeted residential buildings, cutting off power to around 350,000 residents. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as despicable and cynical. Three rescue workers were among the casualties, with 11 of 20 drones used in the strikes being shot down by Ukrainian forces. Kharkiv, located near the Russian border, has been frequently targeted during the ongoing conflict that started in February 2022.
A drone attacked a military unit in Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria near the Ukraine border, causing damage to a radar station. This incident is part of provocations to maintain attention on the region, amid accusations of Russian hybrid warfare by Moldova and tensions with Ukraine.
Russia is targeting Ukraine's energy sector with increased intensity and precision, using advanced tactics that demonstrate improved intelligence capabilities. This campaign aims to destroy Ukraine's power generation capacity, as evidenced by recent missile attacks on DTEK's power plant. The situation signals a concerning escalation in the conflict between the two nations.
At least eight people have been killed and 12 more wounded in missile strikes on Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv, with Russia firing 32 Iranian-made Shahed drones and six missiles overnight. Ukrainian air defence forces shot down three cruise missiles and 28 drones. Ukrainian sources claim retaliatory strikes were conducted inside Russia against military targets. The Russian military has not commented on the strikes but reported Ukraine firing Vampire rockets at Russia, all shot down over the border region of Belgorod.
Russia fired five missiles at Ukraine's southern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least four people and injuring 20. Ukrainian drones attacked the Morozovsk airbase in Russia, destroying six warplanes and injuring 20. Russian forces claimed control of the settlement of Vodyane. Pro-Russia separatists in Moldova reported an explosive drone hitting a military base. Additionally, a Russian governor was stabbed in Murmansk, and elevated radiation levels were detected in Khabarovsk. Japan announced new sanctions against Russia, banning exports of 164 goods.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed that Russia utilized North Korean Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles in attacks on Ukraine, resulting in at least 24 civilian deaths and over 100 injuries. The missiles were deployed in December in Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv, and in February in Donetsk and Kharkiv. The SBU is investigating the incidents and tracing the supply routes of these weapons. Additionally, Conflict Armament Research confirmed the use of North Korean missiles by Russia. The situation highlights concerns over North Korea's involvement in international conflicts and the complexity of tracking weapon components from multiple countries.
A Russian cruise missile strike in Ukraine's Lviv region left one dead, destroyed a building, and caused a fire. Thousands in Odesa region lost power after a downed Russian drone sparked a blaze. Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure led to significant damage in various regions. Russia escalate attacks, with 80% of Ukraine's largest private energy firm, DTEK's generating capacity lost. France commits hundreds of armoured carriers to aid Ukraine. Russian forces maintain advantage over Ukraine in munitions and personnel. Paris mayor bans Russian and Belarusian athletes from Olympics in response to conflict. European countries urged to increase defence investments by Polish prime minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeals to international allies for more air defence systems, particularly US-made Patriot missiles, to strengthen Ukraine's air defence capabilities in the face of increased Russian airstrikes on Kharkiv. Zelensky warns of running out of air defence missiles due to continuous Russian attacks and emphasizes the need for additional ammunition for defense and counter-offensive actions. Recent Russian attacks in Kharkiv have resulted in casualties and significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, highlighting the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
On day 772 of Russian attacks in Ukraine, at least eight people were killed in eastern Ukraine, including civilians targeted by Moscow. Despite shortages, President Zelenskiy stated Ukrainian forces are holding their positions. NATO allies are seeking air defence systems to protect Ukraine. A man was jailed for life for aiding a Russian missile strike on a pizzeria. Finland extended its border closure with Russia, and France condemned Russia's threatening tone. Zelenskiy criticized Western hesitation in providing military aid, calling for more air defence systems to protect Ukrainian cities.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy implores the U.S. to approve more military funding, warning that without it, Ukraine will "lose the war" against Russia, potentially leading to attacks on other states. Republicans in Congress have delayed further military payments to Ukraine, seeking spending cuts and border policy changes alongside aid. Russia continues missile and drone attacks in Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties. Recent attacks in Ukraine have claimed lives, including three in Gulyaipole and one in Kupiansk. Russia claims to have destroyed Ukrainian drones and reports civilian casualties on its side.
The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, visited Russia to discuss nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which faces the risk of a potential nuclear catastrophe. The plant's reactors have been shut down, but it still requires power and qualified staff for safety operations. Grossi met with Russian officials in Sochi and is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The plant has faced challenges with staffing and power supply since Russia's takeover in 2022.
Russian investigators have uncovered additional evidence linking Ukraine to the deadly concert hall attack in Moscow, including photos of Ukrainian flags on a suspect's phone. Despite Islamic militants claiming responsibility, Russian officials blame Ukraine and its Western partners. The suspects sent images of the concert hall to a handler on the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities have detained at least 14 individuals involved in the attack, with allegations of abuse and torture. The Investigative Committee claims a link between the attack and special military operations in Ukraine, investigating Ukrainian special services and international Islamist terrorist organizations. The U.S. Embassy had issued a warning about a potential attack in Moscow prior to the incident.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia and the surrounding region became the target of repeated Russian shelling and bombing (including cruise missiles, S-300 missiles and Shahed-136 kamikaze drones) as part of the southern Ukraine offensive from 27 February 2022 onwards. Thirty to forty percent of the infrastructure in the city has been destroyed.
MOSCOW The March 22 attack on a concert venue near Moscow is likely to have extensive and far-reaching impacts on the country, experts warn. The Crocus City Hall attack, Russia's deadliest attack in two decades, risks escalating already existing tensions in Russian society, leading to more state and law enforcement repression and an increase in anti-migrant violence and xenophobia. And as Russia enters its third year of its war in Ukraine, the attack claimed by Islamic State (IS) jihadists but blamed by Russian authorities on Kyiv and its allies could worsen relations with the West or lead to an escalation in the war. Top Russian officials have accused Ukraine and its Western allies of being partly responsible for the attack despite the fact that IS has claimed responsibility and Kyiv strongly denies any involvement. The U.
Russia fired cruise and ballistic missiles at a broad area of Ukraine, hitting multiple regions including the capital Kyiv, the southern Zaporizhzhia region, and Lviv in western Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force intercepted 13 of the 26 missiles fired. The Russian missiles used in the attack included Iskander ballistic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles, guided aviation missiles, and adapted S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. The attack caused injuries and damage to public infrastructure and residential buildings in various cities. Neighboring Poland has launched procedures to ensure the safety of its airspace in response to the long-range attacks.
Russian troops have been accused of carrying out daily illegal chemical attacks on the Ukrainian front line by using drones to drop tear gas and other banned chemicals, leading Ukrainian troops to panic and flee their positions, increasing their vulnerability to Russian forces. Ukraine has reported 626 gas-related attacks by Russia since the war began, with soldiers now required to carry ex-Soviet gas masks that are not very effective. The use of chemical weapons has significantly impacted the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
This timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine covers the period from 1 December 2023 to the present day.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that started in 2014. The invasion became the largest attack on a European country since World War II. It is estimated to have caused tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties and hundreds of thousands of military casualties. By June 2022, Russian troops occupied about 20% of Ukrainian territory. From a population of 41 million in January 2022, about 8 million Ukrainians had been internally displaced and more than 8.2 million had fled the country by April 2023, creating Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. Extensive environmental damage caused by the war, widely described as an ecocide, contributed to food crises worldwide.Before the invasion, Russian troops massed near Ukraine's borders as Russian officials denied any plans to attack. Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" to support the Russian-backed breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, whose paramilitary forces had been fighting Ukraine in the Donbas conflict since 2014. Putin espoused irredentist views challenging Ukraine's right to exist, and falsely claimed that Ukraine was governed by neo-Nazis persecuting the Russian minority. He said his goal was to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine. Russian air strikes and a ground invasion were launched at a northern front from Belarus towards Kyiv, a southern front from Crimea, and an eastern front from the Donbas and towards Kharkiv. Ukraine enacted martial law, ordered a general mobilization and severed diplomatic relations with Russia.Russian troops retreated from the northern front by April 2022 after encountering logistical challenges and stiff Ukrainian resistance. On the southern and southeastern fronts, Russia captured Kherson in March and Mariupol in May after a destructive siege. Russia launched a renewed offensive in the Donbas and continued to bomb military and civilian targets far from the front line, including the energy grid through the winter. In late 2022, Ukraine launched successful counteroffensives in the south and east. Soon after, Russia announced the illegal annexation of four partly occupied regions. In November, Ukraine retook parts of Kherson Oblast, including the city of Kherson itself. In June 2023, Ukraine launched another counteroffensive in the southeast.The invasion was met with international condemnation. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the invasion and demanding a full Russian withdrawal in March 2022. The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to suspend military operations and the Council of Europe expelled Russia. Many countries imposed sanctions on Russia and its ally Belarus, and provided humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. The Baltic states all declared Russia a terrorist state. Protests occurred around the world, along with mass arrests of anti-war protesters in Russia, which also enacted a law enabling greater media censorship. Over 1,000 companies closed their operations in Russia and Belarus as a result of the invasion. The International Criminal Court (ICC) opened investigations into possible crimes against humanity, war crimes, abduction of children, and genocide. The court issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023, alleging responsibility for the unlawful deportation of children.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station (Ukrainian: Запорізька атомна електростанція, romanized: Zaporiz'ka atomna elektrostantsiia) in southeastern Ukraine is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and among the 10 largest in the world. It has been under Russian control since 2022. It was built by the Soviet Union near the city of Enerhodar, on the southern shore of the Kakhovka Reservoir on the Dnieper river. It is operated by Energoatom, who operate Ukraine's other three nuclear power stations.The plant has six VVER-1000 pressurized light water nuclear reactors (PWR), each fuelled with 235U (LEU) and generating 950 MWe, for a total power output of 5,700 MWe. The first five were successively brought online between 1985 and 1989, and the sixth was added in 1995. In 2020, the plant generated nearly half of the country's electricity derived from nuclear power, and more than a fifth of total electricity generated in Ukraine. The Zaporizhzhia thermal power station is nearby.On 4 March 2022, the nuclear and thermal power stations were both captured by Russian forces during the Battle of Enerhodar of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. As of 12 March 2022 the plant was controlled by the Russian company Rosatom. Since its capture, the plant does not generate power and is mostly shut down.
Russia reported defeating a Ukrainian special forces landing attempt on the Tendra Spit sandbar, killing up to 25 Ukrainian personnel, while Ukrainian forces resist Russian advances in eastern and southeastern Ukraine by shooting down 11 Russian warplanes. Ukrainian troops are fighting to defend towns and villages in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, facing challenges due to a shortage of reservists and artillery shells. The U.S. emergency national security funds for Ukraine are still delayed amid a political dispute in Washington.
The Russo-Ukrainian War is an ongoing international conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2014. Following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported pro-Russian separatists fighting the Ukrainian military in the Donbas war. The first eight years of conflict also included naval incidents, cyberwarfare, and heightened political tensions. In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and began occupying more of the country.In early 2014, the Euromaidan protests led to the Revolution of Dignity and the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Shortly after, pro-Russian unrest erupted in eastern and southern Ukraine, while unmarked Russian troops occupied Crimea. Russia soon annexed Crimea after a highly disputed referendum. In April 2014, Russian-backed militants seized towns in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and proclaimed the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) as independent states, starting the Donbas war. The separatists received considerable but covert support from Russia, and Ukrainian attempts to fully retake separatist-held areas failed. Although Russia denied involvement, Russian troops took part in the fighting. In February 2015, Russia and Ukraine signed the Minsk II agreements to end the conflict, but they were never fully implemented in the years that followed. The Donbas war settled into a violent but static conflict between Ukraine and the Russian and separatist forces, with many brief ceasefires but no lasting peace and few changes in territorial control.Beginning in 2021, Russia built up a large military presence near its border with Ukraine, including within neighbouring Belarus. Russian officials repeatedly denied plans to attack Ukraine. Russian president Vladimir Putin expressed irredentist views and denied Ukraine's right to exist. He criticized the enlargement of NATO and demanded that Ukraine be barred from ever joining the military alliance. Russia recognized the DPR and LPR as independent states. On 24 February 2022, Putin announced a "special military operation" to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, claiming Russia had no plans to occupy the country. The Russian invasion that followed was internationally condemned; many countries imposed sanctions against Russia and increased existing sanctions. In the face of fierce resistance, Russia abandoned an attempt to take Kyiv in early April. From August, Ukrainian forces began recapturing territories in the north-east and south. In late September, Russia declared the annexation of four partially-occupied regions, which was internationally condemned. Russia spent the winter conducting inconclusive offensives in the Donbas. In spring 2023, Russia dug into positions ahead of another Ukrainian counteroffensive, which failed to gain significant ground. The war has resulted in a refugee crisis and tens of thousands of deaths.
NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary with a commitment to supporting Ukraine, amidst Russian troops' advancements. Ukraine faces ammunition shortages and lowered the military conscription age. Allies like Estonia are urging for more military equipment for Ukraine's defense. NATO plans to enhance military support for Ukraine amid ongoing attacks. NATO's founding treaty was signed on April 4, 1949, in Washington, with a larger celebration scheduled for a leaders' meeting in July. US Secretary of State commended the courage of military personnel in upholding NATO's defense commitment.
Russian missiles strike Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Vinnytsia, as well as Ukraines largest dam, the DniproHES in Zaporizhzhia, with no immediate casualties reported. Belgorod in Russia also hit, with one woman killed and many wounded in a Ukrainian attack.
Former Massachusetts city councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota, who fled the country to evade child pornography charges, has been identified in Russian propaganda videos supporting the war in Ukraine, where he claims to have joined Russia's military operation in Avdiivka. He reportedly signed a contract with Russia's Defense Ministry for service in Siberia, receiving payments for his involvement. Puello-Mota is wanted in the United States for child pornography charges but is believed to have fled to Russia. Russian authorities have not commented on his reported recruitment into the military.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that Ukraine will eventually join NATO, with strong support from member countries. The potential membership is a response to Russia's aggression towards Ukraine. Meanwhile, Sweden recently joined NATO, and the alliance is considering providing more military assistance to Ukraine to counter Moscow's actions. Critics argue that NATO expansion may have provoked Russia in the past. The upcoming NATO summit in Washington, DC, will address these issues amidst discussions of additional American aid for Ukraine.
Early voting for Russia's presidential election has commenced in remote regions of the country, including parts of occupied Ukraine, with special provisions for residents in hard-to-reach areas like reindeer herders and lighthouse keepers. The extended voting period from March 15 to 17 has raised concerns about voter fraud. Vladimir Putin is anticipated to secure his fifth term. The disputed territories controlled by Russia include Crimea and parts of Ukraine's Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Independent news outlet, The Moscow Times, faces government repression labeled as a foreign agent.
A US veteran fighting in Ukraine, known as Jackie, highlighted how ammunition shortages in Ukraine have allowed Russia to dominate on the battlefield, particularly in terms of artillery firepower. Despite Ukraine's historical ability to outmaneuver Russia through better tactics and training, the lack of ammunition has shifted the advantage to Russia, making it harder for Ukraine to resist the invasion. However, Ukraine has still achieved some victories, albeit increasingly challenging. The veteran emphasized that Ukraine's infantry has traditionally outperformed Russia in direct combat, but the shortages have impacted their ability to suppress Russian artillery effectively.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is exploring the establishment of a $100 billion fund over five years to bolster long-term support for Ukraine, aiming to secure assistance amidst concerns about potential US policy changes. Stoltenberg emphasized the need for NATO to provide more consistent support and coordination for Ukraine's military needs. While the fund wouldn't sustain Ukraine's war effort indefinitely, it aims to offer crucial support. Concerns over a potential second term for Donald Trump raising doubts on US aid to Kyiv are prompting NATO's strategic planning for Ukraine's stability.
President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has announced the country's suspension of participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, signed in 1990 to limit military deployments in Europe. This move allows Belarus to expand its military capabilities, impacting the balance of power in the Euro-Atlantic region. Belarus' intention to become a more active military player is signaled by this decision, which comes after Russia's withdrawal from the treaty in 2023.
42-year-old Vyacheslav Ryabkov, an internally displaced person from Kozachi Laheri in the Kherson region of Ukraine, shows in Kolomyya on Feb. 13, 2024 the scars on his stomach caused by Russian soldiers who cut him with a knife. Russia has successfully imposed its passports on nearly the entire population of occupied Ukraine by making it impossible to survive without them, coercing hundreds of thousands of people into citizenship. (AP Photo/Vasilisa Stepanenko) Natalia Zhyvohliad, an internally displaced person from Nova Petrivka in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, poses with some of her children at the IDP shelter in Kyiv, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has raised concerns about an alliance of authoritarian powers comprising Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea aligning against Western democracies. Stoltenberg emphasized the need for Nato allies to reach a long-term funding agreement for Ukraine by July, while also urging increased support for Israel to protect civilians and aid workers in the Middle East conflict. He highlighted the growing alignment between these authoritarian powers and the strategic support they provide each other, calling for collective action with countries like Japan and South Korea to counter this alliance.
Over 30 leaders and delegations from around the world support using nuclear energy to achieve climate neutrality, emphasizing economic and security independence. The International Atomic Energy Agency stresses the importance of nuclear energy, with calls to increase global capacity. Leaders discuss the role of nuclear power in reducing fossil fuel use and enhancing energy security, despite environmental groups advocating for renewable energy sources like wind and solar. The meeting, held next to the Atomium in Brussels, aims to highlight nuclear energy's potential benefits while acknowledging past nuclear accidents like Chernobyl.
On 30 September 2022, Russia, amid an ongoing invasion of Ukraine, unilaterally declared its annexation of areas in and around four Ukrainian oblasts—Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. The boundaries of the areas to be annexed and their borders were not defined; Russian officials stated that they would be defined later. None of the oblasts were fully under Russian control at the time of the declaration, nor since. If limited to the areas then under Russian control (about 90,000 km2 or 15% of Ukraine's territory) the annexation would still be the largest in Europe since World War II.The annexation occurred after internationally unrecognized referendums held days prior, which were organized by Russian occupation authorities in territories where hostilities were ongoing and much of the population had fled. It occurred seven months after the start of the invasion and less than a month after the start of the Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive. The signing ceremony was held in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow in the presence of occupation authority heads Leonid Pasechnik, Denis Pushilin, Yevgeny Balitsky and Volodymyr Saldo, and Russian president Vladimir Putin.The annexation is unrecognized by the international community, with the exception of North Korea and Syria. Ukraine, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations all said that the referendums and the annexation had no legal basis or effect. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in response that Ukraine would apply to join NATO on an expedited basis. On 19 October Russia introduced martial law within the annexed and controlled areas, with legislation allowing for bans on public gatherings and other widespread restrictions on personal liberty.The Ukrainian Kherson and Kharkiv counteroffensives allowed Ukraine to recapture parts of its territory, including Kherson City on 11 November 2022.
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Wednesday told Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in rare telephone talks that France is ready to step up exchanges to battle "terrorism" after the deadly Moscow attack claimed by Islamic State. The pair also discussed the war in Ukraine, with Lecornu reaffirming French support for Ukraine's fight against Russia, the French defense ministry said. Such a high-level contact between a senior Russian official close to President Vladimir Putin and a top minister from a European power has been rare in the two years since Russia's invasion. The one-hour talks between Shoigu and Lecornu came as France steps up preparations to host the Olympic Games this year. The March 22 attack on a Moscow concert hall revived security fears for the Paris Games which begin on July 26.
Relations between Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) started in 1991 following Ukraine's independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ukraine first joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1994, later joining the Planning and Review Process in 1997 and the NATO-Ukraine Commission in 1998. Although Ukraine initially declared neutrality and non-alignment with military blocs after independence, it later signaled interest in eventual NATO membership. After Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatist forces in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Ukraine began actively pursuing NATO membership, formally declaring it a strategic policy objective in 2017.However, NATO membership prospects remain uncertain due to ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and concerns over meeting membership criteria. While public support for NATO membership has risen in Ukraine since 2014, the prospect continues to face opposition from Russia, which sees Ukraine's potential NATO accession as a security threat.A 2017 poll found that some 69% of Ukrainians wanted to join NATO, compared to 28% in 2012 when Yanukovych was in power. In February 2019, the Ukrainian parliament voted to amend the Constitution of Ukraine to state Ukraine's goal of NATO and European Union membership. At the June 2021 Brussels summit, NATO leaders reiterated the decision taken at the 2008 Bucharest summit that Ukraine would eventually become a NATO member with the MAP as an integral part of the process, and Ukraine's right to determine its future and foreign policy without outside interference. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also stressed that Russia will not be able to veto Ukraine's accession to NATO "as we will not return to the era of spheres of interest, when large countries decide what smaller ones should do." Before further actions on NATO membership were taken, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.Polls conducted between 2005 and 2013 found low support among Ukrainians for NATO membership. However, since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014, Ukrainian public support for NATO membership has risen greatly. Since June 2014, polls showed that about 50% of those asked supported Ukrainian NATO membership.On 30 September 2022, Ukraine formally applied to join NATO, following Russia's annexation of Southern and Eastern Ukraine.
Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Ukrainian: Запорізька область, romanized: Zaporizka oblast), commonly referred to as Zaporizhzhia (Запоріжжя), is an oblast (region) in south-east Ukraine. Its administrative centre is Zaporizhzhia. The oblast covers an area of 27,183 square kilometres (10,495 sq mi), and has a population of 1,638,462 (2022 estimate).This oblast is an important part of Ukraine's industry and agriculture. Most of the area of the oblast has been under Russian military occupation since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, including all of the coast, although the capital and the majority of the population remains under Ukrainian administration.On 30 September 2022, Russia declared it had annexed the Donetsk (Donetsk People's Republic), Luhansk (Luhansk People's Republic), Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, despite having failed to occupy all of these Ukrainian territories. However, the unofficial referendums and subsequent annexations are not internationally recognized.To the south, Zaporizhzhia Oblast covers roughly 150 kilometres (93 mi) of coastline of the Sea of Azov, as part of a coastal region known as Pryazovia, also including the coastal regions of Kherson Oblast and Donetsk Oblast, to the west and east, respectively.
Rosatom (Russian: Росатом, IPA: [rɐsˈatəm]), also known as Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation, the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Russian: Государственная корпорация по атомной энергии «Росатом», tr. Gosudarstvennaya korporatsiya po atomnoy energii "Rosatom"), or Rosatom State Corporation, is a Russian state corporation headquartered in Moscow that specializes in nuclear energy, nuclear non-energy goods and high-tech products. Established in 2007 and comprising more than 350 enterprises, including scientific research organizations, a nuclear weapons complex, and the world's only nuclear icebreaker fleet.The organization is the largest electricity generating company in Russia, producing 215.746 TWh of electricity, 20.28% of the country's total electricity production. The corporation ranks first in overseas nuclear power plant construction, responsible for 76% of global nuclear technology exports: 35 nuclear power plant units, at different stages of development, in 12 countries, as of December 2020. Rosatom also manufactures equipment, produces isotopes for nuclear medicine, carries out research, and conducts material studies. It also produces supercomputers and software as well as different nuclear and non-nuclear products. Rosatom plans to further develop renewable energy and wind power. Two nuclear power plants are being built in Russia at Kursk-2 NPP with plans announced for 2 more units at Kola NPP. Rosatom has a 38% world market share and in 2019 led in global uranium enrichment services (36%) and covers 16% of the global nuclear fuel market.The state corporation is authorized on behalf of the state to fulfill Russia's international obligations in the field of the use of nuclear energy and of non-proliferation of nuclear materials. Rosatom is also involved with large-scale projects such as ITER and FAIR.As of February 2021, the total portfolio orders of Rosatom reached $250 billion. According to the 2020 corporate report, its 10-year foreign order portfolio stood at $138.3 billion, while revenue reached $7.5 billion. The 10-year order portfolio for new products stood at ₽1,602.1 billion while revenue reached ₽261.1 billion.
The Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast began on 24 February 2022 when Russian forces invaded Ukraine and seized southern areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. On 26 February, the city of Berdiansk fell under Russian control, followed by Russian victory at Melitopol on 1 March. Russian forces besieged the city of Enerhodar, home of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, then captured it on 4 March. They did not take the oblast's capital city of Zaporizhzhia, however, which remained under Ukrainian government control.In May, the Russian government began offering Russian passports to the region's inhabitants. In July, it issued a decree that extended Russian 2022 war censorship laws to the oblast, and included deportation to Russia as a penalty. In September, occupation forces held largely disputed referendums in the occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Oblast to join the Russian Federation. On 27 September, Russian officials claimed that Zaporizhzhia Oblast's referendum passed with 93.11% of voters in favour of joining the Russian Federation. Russia signed an accession treaty with the Russian administration of the region on 30 September 2022. Russia annexed Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 30 September 2022, including parts of the oblast that it did not control at the time. The United Nations General Assembly demanded that Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw, and passed a resolution calling on countries not to recognise what it described as an "attempted illegal annexation".Initially called the "Zaporozhye military–civilian administration", the name of the Russian-installed occupation force changed after annexation to "Zaporozhe Oblast", the Russian equivalent. Melitopol serves as the Russian seat of administration because the Russians do not control Zaporizhzhia. In March 2023, Melitopol became the official capital of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast after the acting head of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Yevgeny Balitsky, signed a decree on moving the de jure capital to Melitopol until Zaporizhzhia is captured.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Beijing to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss the Ukrainian crisis, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, and bilateral cooperation within international organizations like the UN, BRICS, and G20. China, Russia's key ally, has proposed a peace plan for the conflict in Ukraine, which Kiev finds difficult to accept. Despite Western attempts to isolate Moscow, China remains a significant trade partner for Russia and supports a political settlement to end the fighting.
President Zelensky has signed a bill lowering Ukraine's military mobilisation age from 27 to 25 to bolster reserves in the face of heavy losses after two years of war with Russia. The move aims to call up more soldiers as volunteer numbers decrease, with Zelensky stating a need for 500,000 additional troops. Ukraine seeks to strengthen defensive fortifications in preparation for potential Russian offensives amidst challenges such as lack of air superiority and delays in Western aid deliveries. The bill signing comes amid warnings of Russia's possible spring or summer offensive plans.
House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to discuss concerns with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell pledges to oppose Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Rep. Eli Crane opposes funding Ukraine, advocating for peace talks instead. Johnson proposes the REPO for Ukrainians Act, involving liquidating seized Russian assets to aid Ukraine. These initiatives diverge from the Senate's $95 billion aid package. Sen. Lindsey Graham is involved in the discussions.
Former President Donald Trump has proposed ending the war in Ukraine by convincing Kyiv to give up Crimea and the Donbas border region to Russia, believing that both countries would be willing to save face and find a way out. Trump claims he could achieve this in 24 hours if re-elected and has encouraged Russia to attack NATO members not paying their dues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly stated he will not surrender any territory, rejecting the idea of ceding land to end the conflict.
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