Now on its 625th day, the war in Ukraine continues with intense attacks on the key eastern city of Avdiyivka, where Russian forces are trying to secure victory amid mounting political pressure. It is reported that the Ukrainian attack on the occupied city of Skadovsk, Kherson Region, hit the base of the Federal Intelligence Service of Russia, the FSB. Five people died during the terrorist attack on Thursday. Various Ukrainian sources claimed that high-ranking Russian officers were killed.

Highlights of the war in Ukraine, day 625, LIVETEXT:

07:51Russian troops are stepping up their attacks on the key eastern city of Avdiyivka, a senior Ukrainian officer said on Thursday, as the country’s General Staff said the army had repelled several Russian attacks on parts of the front.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyi called the Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in June “inspired”, but did not provide details.

Russian forces were concentrated in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions after their advance on Kyiv stalled in the early days of the February 2022 invasion.

From mid-October, they travel to the city of Avdiivka, known for its coking plant and its position as the gateway to the city of Donetsk, 20 km to the east.

Oleksandr Borodin, the press officer of the 3rd Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that the Russian troops launched heavy infantry strikes, trying to keep the equipment intact.

Borodin told Espreso TV that there are no dramatic statistics regarding the destruction of enemy equipment “because they use it much less, mainly at a distance.”

“But their movements are quite tight now. This is not just advancing infantry, but the parallel work of artillery, drones, aviation, the same aerial bombardment, etc.

According to Borodin, the Russian forces could not quickly replenish supplies, and the Ukrainian defense positions were reliable.

“It all started after the events in Israel,” he said. “Maybe they think now is the best time to move forward, but they’re not making any serious progress.”

A brief summary of recent events:

• Zelensky assures that he has a “plan” for a successful counteroffensive of the Ukrainian army next year
• Ukraine says that a “global peace summit” may take place next year.
• President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Thursday evening after the election of judges of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations that for the first time in the history of the United Nations “member states denied Russia the right to administer justice on their behalf at the International Court of Justice.”
• Latvia: ex-Minister of Internal Affairs convicted of spying for Russia
• Putin will resume the traditional final press conference, Dmytro Peskov reports
• The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Bohdan Aurescu, was elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, the highest tribunal of the United Nations. He defeated the Russian candidate
• Ukraine’s accession will bring a war to the European Union, which must be avoided, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary believes
• Hungary: Viktor Orbán’s party submits to parliament a law on protection against “foreign influence”, criticized as inspired by Russia

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Thursday’s events related to Russian aggression were broadcast LIVE on HotNews.ro