681 days after the start of the war, Ukraine wants to change the law on the mobilization of the armed forces after the military leadership asked for additional troops needed to resist the Russian invasion. The Russian city of Belgorod became the target of a new series of Ukrainian bombings on Thursday evening.

All information about the war in Ukraine – day 681 – LIVE on HotNews.ro:

07:30The Russian city of Belgorod became the target of a new series of Ukrainian bombings on Thursday evening, a few hours after schools in the region were ordered to extend their vacation due to the risk of new attacks, AFP and Agerpres inform.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said at least two people were injured in the latest attack, and Telegram channels broadcast images of damaged cars in the city.

“According to preliminary data, there are two victims. One man received a shrapnel wound in the forearm, the other received a shrapnel wound in the shin,” he said.

“Our air defense system operated over the city of Belgorod and its district. 10 aerial targets were shot down on the approach to the city,” Gladkov added.

Although the Kremlin tried to hide the reality of the war from its population for almost two years, the attack on the city of Belgorod on December 30 showed that Russian territory and the civilian population could be drawn into the conflict. This is the largest number of deaths in Russia since February 24, 2022, when the invasion of Ukraine began: 25 dead and about a hundred wounded in this city with a population of 335 thousand inhabitants, located 50 km from the border with Ukraine.

Belgorod was attacked a day after a massive bombing of Ukrainian cities killed 55 people, including at least 32 in Kyiv, the deadliest toll for the Ukrainian capital since the start of the war.

On Thursday, after the terrorist attacks of the previous days, the regional authorities of Belgorod were forced to extend the holidays in the schools of the municipality and neighboring settlements. Technical colleges and universities located in affected communities are advised to hold remote sessions and, if necessary, extend vacations.

A brief summary of recent events:

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in his address to Ukrainians on Thursday evening: Another top priority is new military aid packages for our fighters, which include artillery, especially 155 caliber, electronic warfare equipment, new drones and other necessary equipment.
• Germany handed Ukraine a Skynex air defense system, 10 Marder armored vehicles, ammunition for Leopard tanks and other aid from the latest delivery.
• Putin offers Russian citizenship to foreigners fighting for Moscow and their families. In December, he made it easier to obtain citizenship for Moldovans, Kazakhs and Belarusians.
• In Ukraine, 9,000 criminal cases have been opened for evading mobilization.
• ​The Republic of Moldova leaves the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS, but still has to pay a debt of $341,225.
• A committee of the Ukrainian parliament met on Thursday to discuss proposed changes, some of which are considered draconian, to the law on the mobilization of the Armed Forces.
• Estonia announced on Thursday that Russia would close a key road crossing point for two years, citing modernization work.
• 17 Ukrainian journalists imprisoned in the territories occupied by Russia have been added to the international list of persecuted journalists, whose release is demanded by the European Federation of Journalists.

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