The Russian military operation in Ukraine enters its second year today, as bloody battles and street warfare continue between the two countries, with the Russian army attempting to exert control over Ukrainian territories, while Kyiv receives logistical and military support from the West in its confrontation with the Russian bear.
In the latest developments on the ground, the founder of the private military company "Wagner" announced that Russian forces have taken control of the village of Berkhivka, located 7 kilometers from Bakhmut in the Donetsk People's Republic. An advisor to the acting presidency in Donetsk stated that Ukrainian forces have not succeeded in halting the Russian advance, while the Russian Defense Ministry reported the deaths of more than 100 Ukrainian soldiers in the southern Donetsk axis.
On the anniversary of the war between Russia and Ukraine, China called for a comprehensive ceasefire and gradual efforts to de-escalate and resolve the situation, in order to prevent "the crisis from deteriorating further or spiraling out of control," according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry that emphasized, "nuclear weapons must not be used, and nuclear war cannot be waged."
The Chinese government published a 12-point proposal urging both Moscow and Kyiv to resume peace negotiations, demanding that civilian targets be avoided. Russian President Vladimir Putin has set objectives for the second year of the military operation and, following a series of speeches leading up to the anniversary, announced plans to deploy new intercontinental ballistic missiles of the Sarmat type this year.
Russia accused Ukraine of preparing for an "invasion" of Transnistria, the Moldovan breakaway region loyal to Moscow, which hosts a Russian military unit, pledging to "respond" if such action occurs. Transnistria is a small area that declared independence from Moldova in the 1990s following a brief war and is located on Ukraine's western border, having recently become a focal point of increasing tensions.
On the eve of the anniversary of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the difficult military situation on the eastern and southern fronts, stating that "the military situation in southern Ukraine is extremely dangerous, but Ukrainian forces are capable of repelling the invaders." He noted that Russian forces shelled the city of Kherson, leaving around 40,000 people without heating or power, adding that restoration efforts in Kherson will continue until heating is restored for the residents.
