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
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
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Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
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