Ukraine’s military said its troops had blocked a Russian advance around the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiyivka, captured by the enemy last month, but Moscow’s forces are regrouping in an area further south. Ukrainian military spokesman Dmytro Lykhovy acknowledged on national television that Russian troops partially control two more villages in the area, but added that their advance had been halted. “On this direction, the hottest direct assault of Russia, it was possible to stabilize the situation, the advance of the enemy was stopped,” he said. “The opponent is making great efforts, but is not advancing,” Lykhovy added.

All information about the war in Ukraine – day 741 – LIVE on HotNews.ro:

08:26 Russia launched 22 Shahed attack drones last night from the Balaclava region in Crimea, the Air Force of Ukraine reported in Telegram.

“Anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force and mobile fire groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were involved in repelling the air attack. As a result of hostilities, air defense destroyed 18 Shaheds (UAVs) in the Odesa region,” the source said.

06:54 Oleksandr De Croo announced the detention of dozens of Russian spies in Belgium

“In recent months, Belgium has expelled dozens of so-called Russian diplomats. On paper they are diplomats, but we know very well that they also carry out other activities in Belgium. Belgium has done this several times without talking about it. There is espionage activity, destabilizing activity, we know that it is happening in Belgium,” said Alexander De Croo.

01:03 VIDEO Zelensky: We understand what the enemy’s next plan is, we will counter it.

Ukraine’s president said Monday night that he had received a report from the head of the country’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, about “internationally sensitive areas” and “current Russian plans,” and vowed that it would be thwarted.

A brief retelling of the last events of the war:

• Dmytro Medvedev, vice president of Moscow’s Security Council, said in a belligerent speech Monday in front of a map of Ukraine divided between its neighbors, including Romania, that there would be no peace talks with Kyiv.
• Ukraine is pressuring the West to hand over frozen Russian assets and claims it has not received €16 billion levied by the EU.
• The Prime Minister of Poland criticizes Hungary and Slovakia for meeting with the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Donald Tusk on Monday did not approve of the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Hungary and Slovakia, Peter Szijjártó and Juraj Blanar, with their Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, during a diplomatic forum in the Turkish city of Antalya.
• Germany: Annalena Berbok disapproves of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s refusal to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine. On Monday, she called on the head of the government, of which she is a member, to “intensely consider” the supply of Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine.
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• France is increasing its military presence in Romania: troops and Rafale fighter jets at the Borc base. A detachment of the French Aerospace Forces, consisting of approximately 40 soldiers and three Rafale multi-role aircraft, arrived on Monday at the 86th Air Force Base “Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mochornice”.
• The executive director of the Russian Rostec concern, which produces Russia’s most advanced T-14 Armata tank, Serhii Tsemezov, assures that it has been adopted by the country’s Armed Forces, but it is not used in Ukraine because it is too expensive.
• IAEA Director Rafael Grossi expects to meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to discuss the dangerous situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant occupied by Russian troops.
• France has published a complete list of weapons it sent to Ukraine. France supplied Kyiv with air defense systems, salvo fire systems, artillery systems, armored vehicles, drones, trucks, small arms, warships, fuel and other equipment.

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• Monday’s most important information about Russia’s aggression was LIVE on HotNews.ro