- Russia 1-3 – There were no confirmed advances by Russian forces in any sectors.
- Ukraine 1 – Ukraine captured the last high ground overlooking Klishchiivka on Tuesday in a bait and switch operation that left many Russian soldiers dead. Ukrainian troops had feigned a retreat and then ambushed the Russian forces that chased after them. Ukrainian troops have now entered Klishchiivka in the southwest suburbs placing the town in contest once again.
- Ukraine 2 – Ukrainian forces liberated Staromaiorske on Thursday. This was significant as it was the first city liberated behind Russia’s heavily mined defenses.
- Ukraine 3 – Ukraine may have started their main counteroffensive thrust on Wednesday with fresh troops and new tanks by breaking through Russian defenses with mechanized forces near Robotyne, reaching within 1.5 miles of the city. But if they did, it was immediately halted after Russian counterattacks inflicted heavy casualties on troops and equipment and pushed them back, but not all the way. The following day Ukrainian forces stopped the assault as evidence that they were licking their wounds.
- Ukraine 4 – No confirmed advances.
Russia continues its missile and drone attacks throughout Ukraine. Ukraine shot down 36 of 49 missiles on Wednesday evening. Missiles did extensive damage to the port city of Odesa hitting a grain cargo terminal. Missiles also struck the Starokostiantyniv Airfield close to where Marina was born and her family lives.
The United States announced another $400 million military aid package for Ukraine on Tuesday which will consist primarily of ammunition for artillery and air defense systems. The US has also begun presenting evidence of Russian war crimes to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Norway gave another $25 million of ammunition and tank spare parts on Thursday. The World Bank also made a $1.5 billion loan to Ukraine after it was guaranteed by Japan.
Former US Marine Trevor Reed, who had been released in 2022 from Russia in a prisoner swap, was injured fighting Russia as a mercenary in the Ukrainian army on Tuesday and airlifted to Germany for unspecified treatment. He had been arrested in Russia in 2019 after assaulting an officer after getting drunk. He was sentenced to a nine-year prison term.
Ukrainian parliament member Yury Aristov resigned after a criminal investigation was opened charging him with falsifying the purpose of his trip outside of Ukraine. Government officials may only leave Ukraine if on official business and must return immediately after such business is concluded. Aristov had taken a trip to Lithuania to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He was then granted sick leave for a medical examination which never took place. Instead, he spent a week at a luxurious hotel in the Maldives.
President Volodymyr Zelensky requested the first meeting of the new Ukraine-NATO Council which was created at the last NATO summit in Vilnius. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the transportation of Ukrainian grain now that Russia has not extended the Black Sea Grain Deal. Ukraine has vowed to continue shipping grain and will ask for NATO countries to escort their ships. Russia has threatened to fire upon any such convoys if they are created.
Invitations went out from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Russia and Belarus were notably absent from such invitations. The IOC has left it open for athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the Olympics as neutrals not representing their county. Guatemala was also not invited because of their interference with the independence of the National Olympic Committee there.
Moldova has ordered 45 of the 70 Russian embassy diplomats and staff to leave the country. Moldova is concerned that Russia has plans on overthrowing their country as they attempted to do with Ukraine and noted the 28 antennas on the Russian embassy are being used to spy on Moldova.
Italy’s parliament unanimously voted to declare Russia’s 1932-1933 Holodomor an act of genocide against Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainians had died of starvation due to the planned famine imposed by the Russian Soviet Republic.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu traveled to North Korea to request military assistance in their war against Ukraine.
Vitaly Tabachnikov, commander of Russian Space Forces, was killed in Ukraine on Wednesday when a helicopter in which he was transporting was shot down.
Ukrainian fencer Olha Kharlan defeated Russian Anna Smirnova at the International Fencing Federation World Championships. But she was then disqualified when she refused to shake Smirnova’s hand after the bout. The International Olympic Committee reacted by automatically qualifying Kharlan to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Russia hosted the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg on Thursday. 49 African countries sent delegates to the Summit to discuss the grain agreement between Russian and Ukraine.
Japan extended its sanctions against Russia to include the export of electric vehicles. The EU also extended their sanctions to include Russian media companies which are publishing false propaganda.