Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved budget plans to raise military spending to record levels by 2025, with 32.5% of the budget allocated for national defense. This increase comes as Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, draining resources on both sides. Russia’s forces, while bigger and better equipped, have been pushing Ukrainian troops backward in eastern areas.
New European Council President Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited Kyiv in a show of support for Ukraine, amid doubts about the new U.S. administration’s stance under Donald Trump. In Ukraine, three people died in a drone strike in Kherson, and the number of wounded from a missile strike in Dnipro rose to 24, with four deaths.
Ukrainian officials reported that Moscow sent 78 drones into Ukraine, with 32 destroyed and 45 lost, likely due to electronic jamming. In retaliation, a child was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian border.
Overall, the escalation of military actions between Russia and Ukraine continues to intensify, with casualties and drone attacks occurring on both sides. The European Union and United States remain engaged in providing support to Ukraine as the conflict shows no signs of immediate resolution.
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