Ukrainian sea drones struck and disabled the Dashan, a tanker involved in Russian oil exports, as it sailed through Ukraine's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, a Ukrainian official said. The attack is the third sea drone strike in two weeks on vessels belonging to Russia's 'shadow fleet' of unregulated ships used to fund the war. The Dashan, under EU and British sanctions and sailing without a known flag registry, suffered critical damage to its stern after powerful explosions, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Leaders of the 'coalition of the willing' group of nations are set to hold a video call on Thursday as US peace efforts continue chaotically. President Donald Trump said he discussed Ukraine with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German leader Friedrich Merz, noting 'little disputes' and that the US would decide on attending a European meeting depending on responses. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed with parliament the legal issues around holding elections under martial law, emphasising that pressure on the issue is unwelcome.
A study by the Small Arms Survey and the Ukrainian Center for Security Studies found no proof of large-scale illicit diversion of Western arms to criminal groups, contrary to Russian allegations. It noted that Ukraine's authorities have shown commitment to addressing firearms seizures, and that Russian forces are driving illicit arms flows by establishing caches and abandoning weapons. Meanwhile, the United Nations Population Fund warned that maternal mortality in Ukraine rose by approximately 37% from 2023 to 2024 due to the war endangering pregnant women.
The US House of Representatives passed a $900bn defence policy bill including $400m for each of the next two years to manufacture weapons for Ukraine. The bill, which needs Senate approval, includes provisions to maintain US support against Russian aggression despite President Trump's capricious stance.
