Russian soldiers attempted to break through Ukraine’s border from the Kursk region, but the operation ended in disaster. The Russian troops, using two infantry fighting vehicles, tried to enter the Sumy region but were met with a well-prepared Ukrainian defence. Fighters from Ukraine’s 78th Airborne Assault Brigade had planted mines on the roads leading to the border, and as the Russian convoy advanced, one of the vehicles exploded upon impact. The remaining troops, realising their blunder, abandoned their vehicles and fled. The entire engagement lasted only a few minutes.
Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Russian media, in its usual fashion, painted the event as a successful operation on Ukrainian soil. Russian state-controlled publications claimed that their forces had entered the Sumy region, a lie repeated by Vladimir Putin himself. However, images and videos published on Ukrainian and Russian Telegram channels exposed the reality—Russia’s so-called offensive lasted just long enough for its soldiers to turn and run.
In another example of Russian misfortune, a cargo ship loaded with 3,000 tonnes of corn began sinking in the Sea of Azov near the port of Oaf. The vessel, named Pavo Grabovski, was en route from Russia’s Rostov region to Turkey when it suffered critical damage. Rather than issue a distress signal, the crew merely requested permission to dock for emergency repairs. However, due to low water levels, the ship risks running aground, forcing Russia to deploy icebreakers to assist.
Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson issued a stark warning about the war’s impact on future generations. Speaking after a high-level European summit, Kristersson stated that the war’s outcome would determine security across Europe for decades. He stressed the importance of equipping Ukraine to negotiate from a position of strength and rejected any premature ceasefire that would allow Russia to regroup and continue its aggression. The summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, reinforced Europe’s commitment to Ukraine and focused on increasing military support.
Russia’s aviation sector suffered another setback when a Vans RV7 light aircraft crashed and exploded in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The crash killed both the instructor pilot and a cadet on board. Authorities have launched an investigation, with preliminary reports pointing to either technical failure or pilot error as the cause.
