Russian forces recently advanced in the southern Ukrainian Oskil bridgehead, recapturing previously lost positions.

They advanced in three main areas. In the west, Russian forces moved down the forests on either side of the railway tracks, capturing positions towards the southern end of Zahryzove.

In the central part of this sector, they recaptured the southern part of Kruhlyakivka, and moved into the northern houses of Zahryzove and also captured positions in a nearby treeline, and in the east, Russian forces marginally advanced down a separate treeline.

+ ~4.66km² in favour of Russia.

In Toretsk, Russian forces counterattacked, and knocked Ukrainian forces out of their positions in the Toretsk central coal mines.

Russian forces moved west, clearing out the positions which Ukrainian forces had fortified inside the mines, pushing any remnants back out to their positions in the residential area to the west, however, it's possible that all of this residential area is in the grey zone now.

+ ~0.34km² in favour of Russia.

Ukrainian forces conducted a counterattack on the eastern flank of Pokrovsk, spearheading a new attack.

They advanced uphill, down a treeline, taking up positions there. They then reached a trench stronghold, which was subsequently cleared by infantry. Ukrainian forces are now nearly at the top of the tactical heights, however as Russian forces maintain their positions nearby, it will be very difficult for Ukraine to hold onto these positions for long.

+ ~0.57km² in favour of Ukraine

2 Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers are redeploying from Olenya Air Base to Engels-2 Air Base to be equipped with Kh-101 cruise missiles.

Russian preparations for the next large-scale missile attack on Ukraine have begun.

I wish I was a little older and had the ability to visit Ukraine. I want to be able to go there, experience the cities, talk to the locals, learn more about the country, and most importantly, see what it is truly like for the average Ukrainian.

Sure, I have my contacts, which is great and more than most outside observers have, but it would be incredible to stay for a few days and get to know the place, truly feel what it is like, rather than seeing everything online, because there is a big difference between seeing things on video and actually being there to experience it.

Maybe I will visit what’s still considered Ukraine after the war - I think that would be one of my goals.

Praying for this war to end soon.

To elaborate further, considering I am so invested in this war and everything happening to do with it, I feel really inclined to visit Ukraine, almost as if it’s my duty due to how much I’ve covered it.

I truly think that visiting a place and physically talking to the people there is the best way to broaden your understand of said topic.

Who knows, maybe I should try doing it when I have some time off. I’ll keep it in mind for now.

Extensive Turkish airstrikes on Belave, Kurdish controlled northern Iraq.

Explosions in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk oblast. Iskander-M ballistic strike.

Another launch

Disappeared. Either hit an open area (unlikely), or was a false identification.

Yemen's Houthis released footage showing them shooting down an American MQ-9 reaper drone, making it the 15th of its type to be destroyed over Yemen since October 7, and the first since Trump came into office.

Israeli airstrike on the Damascus countryside, Syria.

Today, I had a short conversation with the European Union Ambassador to New Zealand, Lawrence Meredith, and asked him a couple of questions about the war in Ukraine.

He believes that there are three main factors that will determine the outcome of the war.

Firstly, the Russian economy is a major player, and the future of the war depends on if it can maintain the war effort. Secondly, Ukraine needs the ability to fight, and they have fought longer than anyone expected. And thirdly, there is Trump’s decisions on Ukraine in regard to arms supplies and future support.

Additionally, he believes that Trump’s recent statements make the situation very difficult for Ukraine, but that it is important to remember that EU member states (presumably plus the UK) have collectively supplied as much aid to Ukraine as the U.S.

“We aren’t in panic mode yet,” he told me, in regard to Trump’s recent statements and decisions.

The U.S. has officially designated the Houthis, officially known as Ansurallah, as a foreign terrorist organisation.

"The Houthis' activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade,” the department of state said in a statement.

They also cited their campaign against commercial and military vessels sailing in the waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea as another reason behind it.