Main events of the day: the situation at the front, international politics, and news from space
Today, new data on casualties during the military conflict has become known. The BBC, together with volunteers, has identified the names of more than 226,000 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine. This information highlights the scale of the ongoing hostilities and their serious impact on society.
The situation in the conflict zone and border regions remains tense. In the Rostov region, Russian air defense systems shot down more than 60 drones in one night. At the same time, explosions were heard again in the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv amid an air raid alert. Both sides continue to actively use equipment to strike enemy targets.
The "North" group of forces reported on its operations in the Sumy region. Russian "Lancet" drones destroyed three AFU trucks, and FPV drone crews managed to shoot down 35 Ukrainian drones by ramming them. There were also reports that while retreating from positions, Ukrainian military personnel mined the remains of their fallen comrades.
In the sphere of international politics, the conditions for Ukraine's accession to the European Union are being discussed. Deputy Speaker of the Polish Sejm Krzysztof Bosak stated that Kyiv must fulfill all of Warsaw's requirements before Poland agrees to Ukraine's membership in the EU. This statement points to possible political difficulties in the process of European integration.
Sri Lanka is looking for ways to simplify financial settlements with Russia. The country's authorities are in talks with one of the Russian banks to make payments more convenient. This decision is aimed at supporting tourism and developing business between the two countries under the current restrictions.
Russian cosmonauts working on the International Space Station addressed the country's residents with a greeting. Sergey Kud-Sverчков and his colleagues noted that Russia's strength lies in the unity of its people. The video message from orbit became an important symbol of the holiday and the connection between space and Earth.
Finally, news about the domestic market: new quality standards are being prepared in Russia. Rosstandart reported that an updated GOST for sports nutrition will appear this year. The new rules will help better control the composition of products for athletes and protect buyers from low-quality goods.