6:25 a.m .: military exercises with Belarus aim to deter “potential adversaries”, according to Moscow
A Russian Foreign Ministry official said joint military exercises between Russia and its close ally Belarus were meant to deter "potential adversaries" tempted by "escalation and provocations".
Russia used Belarus as a springboard to invade Ukraine in February 2022, and the October deployment of a group of joint troops to Belarus raised fears in kyiv that Russia was preparing to launch a new offensive from its neighbor. from the north this year.
6:23 a.m .: Duma speaker proposes to confiscate property of Russians opposed to the war
A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to confiscate property and assets of Russians who discredit the country's armed forces and oppose the war in Ukraine.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the Russian Duma speaker, said current measures, such as fines for those who speak out against what Moscow calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine, are not tough enough.
3:25 a.m.: Ukrainian forces hold firm in Soledar, kyiv claims
Ukraine says its troops are holding out against pro-Russian forces in the eastern town of Soledar as more than 500 civilians, including children, are trapped there.
The ultra-nationalist Wagner militia, led by an ally of the Russian president, claims to have taken Soledar after intense fighting which it says has left the town littered with Ukrainian dead.
Moscow has not officially declared victory.
Ukraine acknowledged difficulties and said heavy fighting was still ongoing.
With AFP and Reuters
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