In a secret delivery of American weapons, Ukraine received long-range ATACMS missiles that were used to strike Russian positions in occupied areas of Ukraine. The missile attack targeted airfields in Berdiansk and Luhansk, destroying Russian helicopters and a munitions depot. The delivery of these missiles was seen as a strong message of support from the US and provided a much-needed boost to Ukraine’s counteroffensive efforts. Fierce fighting has been taking place in Avdiivka, where Ukraine claims to have inflicted significant losses on Russian forces attempting to encircle the city. The Ukrainian military reported that more Russian personnel and tanks were destroyed in a single day than at any other point in the war, although these claims have not been independently verified. Meanwhile, Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a bill aimed at eliminating Russian influence on religion, a move seen as a response to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The delivery of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine has bolstered its counteroffensive efforts against Russian forces occupying parts of its territory. The missiles were used to target key Russian positions and destroy helicopters and ammunition depots. With a range of 100 miles, they are expected to disrupt Russian positioning and limit their operational capacity. The delivery of these weapons was seen as a sign of strong support from the US. Meanwhile, fierce fighting has been taking place in Avdiivka, where Ukraine claims to have caused significant losses to Russian forces attempting to encircle the city. While these claims have not been independently verified, videos shared by unofficial Ukrainian military accounts show intense fighting and destroyed hardware. Ukraine’s latest cross-river operation into the Russian-occupied Kherson region has also garnered attention, with reports suggesting that Ukrainian troops have crossed the Dnipro River. However, official details of the operation are scarce, and Ukraine has not commented on these reports. Finally, Ukrainian lawmakers have passed a bill seeking to eliminate Russian influence on religion in Ukraine. The proposed law aims to prevent religious organizations that are governed by a center located in a country carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine from operating in the country. While the bill does not specifically name the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, it is widely seen as targeting it, as Kyiv considers the church to be an extension of Moscow’s influence.
