Russia’s Gains in Eastern Ukraine and Alleged Violations of International Law: A Closer Look

Yesterday, Russia announced control of a town near the city of Turtsk in eastern Ukraine and shot down a MiG-29 fighter belonging to the Ukrainian Air Force. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that units of the Central Group of Troops liberated the town of Shumi near Toretsk, a major dam on the frontlines. This victory for Russia could lead them to Kostyantynivka and then Kramatorsk, important areas in the region.

Residents of Turetsk have reported increased bombing operations by Russia, prompting authorities to urge evacuation. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian village bordering Ukraine resulted in the deaths of five people, including two children. In a separate incident, three people were injured by shrapnel as a result of a missile attack on the city of Sevastopol in Crimea. Missiles targeting the city were repelled, but the injured individuals were hospitalized.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that two Ukrainian Roman Catholic priests who had been held in a Moscow-occupied city were returned to Kiev with the help of the Vatican. On the Russian side, a Ukrainian Orthodox clergy official and two priests were exchanged. The exchange of prisoners comes amidst ongoing conflicts and tensions between Russia and Ukraine.