In Ukraine

Ukraine's naval forces have confirmed the destruction of a ferry carrying tank wagons in the Russian port of Kavkaz on the Kerch Strait. The attack resulted in injuries to 13 crew members, with four hospitalized and one person still missing. The fire, which spread over approximately 500 square meters, has been contained.

The Monastery of the Caves, also known as Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of the holiest sites of Eastern Orthodox Christians, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Ukraine's parliament voted Tuesday to ban the Russian-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), a move Kiev says strengthens its independence as the country severs ties with institutions it considers aligned with Moscow.

The Bulgarian Patriarch has joined an initiative by church leaders who support the Moscow Patriarchate's stance on the non-recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Alongside Patriarch Daniil, the Antiochian Patriarch John and Georgian Patriarch Ilia also participated.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has enacted a law banning religious organizations affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church, effectively mandating that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) cease all activities within the country.

Ukrainian servicemen operate a Soviet-made T-72 tank in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 12, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin ordered his army on Monday to "dislodge" Ukrainian troops who have entered Russian territory as authorities said over 120,000 people had been evacuated away from the fighting.

Ukraine is prepared for good-faith peace talks with Russia if Moscow is willing, though no such indication has come from Moscow, stated Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Guangzhou.

On the second day of the pivotal NATO summit in Washington, the Alliance's member countries announced an increase in military aid to Ukraine. The summit's agenda includes discussions on the organization's future and the defense capabilities of its allies, particularly in light of the upcoming US elections in November, which could see the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has asserted that the question is not if, but when Ukraine will join NATO, indicating that the timeline will depend on battlefield developments and the achievement of a sustainable and just peace.

Russia warned the United States on Friday its reconnaissance drone flights over the Black Sea raised the risk of "direct confrontation" between Moscow and NATO, days after the Kremlin blamed Washington for a deadly missile strike on Crimea.

The Biden administration is planning to suspend all current orders for Patriot air defense systems and missiles, redirecting these supplies to Ukraine until its defense requirements are fully met, as reported by the Financial Times. This significant decision could be formally announced today.