International
Ukraine announces the destruction of a Russian ship in the Black Sea and the loss of most of its crew
The Ukrainian Armed Forces announced today the destruction of a Russian Army amphibious assault ship in the Black Sea, near the coast of the Crimean peninsula, occupied by Russia since 2014.
In a statement published on its social networks, the Ukrainian General Staff reported on the joint action with military intelligence units (GUR) that resulted in the destruction of the Russian amphibious assault ship “Caesar Kunikov”.
According to the statement, the destruction occurred in territorial waters legally belonging to Ukraine, near Alupka, in southern Crimea. The operation was confirmed by Ukrainian military intelligence, which stated that a Ukrainian Magura naval drone was responsible for the sinking.
In another statement, the GUR added that the Russian ship was loaded with weapons and had crew on board, most of whom did not survive. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the ship had been parked near a special mooring wall for ten days, where it was loaded with weapons and military equipment.
GUR spokesman Andri Yusov confirmed that “most of the crew of the ‘Caesar Kunikov’ died. The ship sank and cannot be recovered.”
The ship, one of the newest in the Russian fleet, had the capacity to carry 87 crew members, although no details were provided about the number of troops on board at the time of the attack.
Ukraine reinforces its use of drones
Hours before the Ukrainian announcement, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on its Telegram channel about the downing of nine Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, six of which were shot down over the Black Sea.
These drone or missile attacks by the Ukrainian Army against the Russian rear have become common, especially in the border regions and the Crimean peninsula.
Drones have become Ukraine’s bet to counter Russia’s military superiority, both on land and at sea. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered the creation of a special drone force within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, highlighting its effectiveness in different areas.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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