If you just joined us, here are the latest developments in the Russian war in Ukraine so far on Friday.
Ukraine claims Russians are withdrawing from their positions in Zaporizhzhia: The Ukrainian army claims that some Russian troops are withdrawing from their positions in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia and that the Russians are preparing to evacuate “the personnel of the occupation administrations”.
DailyExpertNews cannot confirm the General Staff’s claims.
A Ukrainian leader claims that a census is underway in parts of the same region: The Ukrainian mayor-in-exile of the city of Melitopol claims Russia has begun conducting a census of parts of occupied territory in Zaporizhzhia in preparation for “evacuation”.
The Kremlin warns that Washington’s refusal to accept annexed regions as part of Russia complicates potential talks between Putin and Biden: Washington’s failure to recognize annexed Ukrainian regions as part of Russia would complicate any talks between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. The illegal annexations followed mock references in the four regions.
Biden and Macron have different views on dealing with Putin: US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron showed a united front Thursday in addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine, but offered differing answers about their willingness to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Biden told reporters at a joint White House press conference with Macron that he “has no immediate plans” to contact Putin, but added that he is willing to talk to the Russian leader if he seeks a way to end the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Macron said once Ukraine sets terms for a peace deal, he is ready to talk to Putin, telling ABC’s “Good Morning America” earlier Thursday that he plans to speak with the Russian president in the coming days.
Russia told the US about Brittney Griner’s transfer to the penal colony weeks after she was moved: The Russian government formally notified the US embassy last week of the transfer of Brittney Griner to a remote penal colony, weeks after the wrongfully detained WNBA star was moved, the Biden administration said. Separately, the Kremlin said on Thursday that details of prisoner swaps with the United States will not be made public and that Moscow has no plans to enter into talks with the Biden administration before the end of the year, according to Russian state media.
New law would ban religious groups in Ukraine associated with Russia Ukraine’s parliament will vote on a new law banning the operation of religious organizations “affiliated to centers of influence” in Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday, in an effort to prevent an “opportunity to manipulate Ukrainians.”
Between 10,000 and 13,000 Ukrainian troops killed, Zelensky adviser says: According to Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, between 10,000 and 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in the war in Ukraine. But this figure is much lower than the estimates suggested by the United States.
Electricity supply is restored in Kherson: The southern Ukrainian city was without power on Thursday due to Russian shelling, a local official said.
Russians advance in Bakhmut: Videos on social media indicate that Russian forces in the areas around Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region are suffering heavy casualties, even as they take some territory, especially south of the city.
