A week before the beginning of the third year of the war, Ukrainian troops withdrew from Avdiivka in a long line on the eastern front. World leaders are pointing the finger at Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. “What happened to Navalny is yet another proof of his brutality,” said the head of the White House, Joe Biden.

All information about the war in Ukraine – day 724 – LIVE on HotNews.ro:

09:20The governors of several Russian regions, including Belgorod, Kaluga, Bryansk and Voronezh regions, said that several drones were shot down on the night of Friday to Saturday, reports The Kyiv Independent.

The Governor of the Belgorod Region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported in Telegram that two drones had been shot down over the region. The governor of the Kaluga region of Russia, Vladyslav Sapsa, also reported that the Air Defense Forces shot down four drones.

The governor of the Bryansk region Oleksandr Bogomaz said that five drones were shot down over the region.

The governor of the Voronezh region, Oleksandr Gusev, said that air defense shot down three drones.

There is no information yet on possible casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure.

The information could not be independently confirmed. Ukrainian officials have not yet made any statements.

08:18The Russian police took repressive measures against people who gathered to commemorate the death of opposition leader Oleksiy Navalny. According to Sky News and News.ro, the human rights group says at least 100 people have been arrested.

08:00 The Ukrainian army withdrew from the city of Avdiyivka, a city in the east, where the situation has worsened significantly in recent days, said Ukrainian General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of troops in the area, AFP and Agerpres reported.

A brief retelling of the last events of the war:

• Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who exposed widespread corruption in Vladimir Putin’s entourage and was a fierce critic of the Kremlin, has died in prison, Reuters reported on Friday from his prison. In December, 47-year-old Navalny was transferred to the “Polar Wolf” colony, which is considered one of the harshest in Russia, where most of the prisoners were convicted of murder or particularly serious crimes.
• Russia “throws all its reserves” into the battle for the conquest of Avdiivka Avdiivka
• During the battles near Avdiyivka, the 3rd Airborne Assault Brigade of Ukraine actually “destroyed” the Russian 74th and 114th brigades, the losses of the Russians are estimated at 4,200 soldiers killed and wounded, according to the report of the unit.
• Ukraine leaves part of Avdiivka, but says that there is no strategic benefit for Russia
• Russia likely spent $211 billion on equipping, deploying and maintaining its troops for operations in Ukraine
• List of opponents of Putin who died under suspicious circumstances
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that the security agreement he signed on Friday with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron is ambitious and very significant, Reuters reports.
• Swedish minister confirms readiness to send planes to Ukraine after completion of NATO’s offer

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