Day 405 of Russia-Ukraine War: List of Key Events

The war between Russia and Ukraine has entered its 405th day, with tensions escalating as key events take place on multiple fronts.

Below are the events:

1. The prime ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovakia have called on the European Union to maintain sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. They also urged allies to prevent any attempts to bypass the sanctions and create mechanisms to hold those responsible for aggression accountable.

2. Finland is set to join NATO, with the military alliance’s secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg announcing the move on Tuesday. Russia has responded by stating it will increase its military presence in its western and northwestern regions.

3. In a bid to strengthen ties, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is set to visit Warsaw this week at the invitation of Poland’s presidential office.

4. The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, is also expected to visit Moscow on Wednesday, according to Russia’s permanent representative to international organisations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov.

5. Meanwhile, the United States government is advocating for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been accused of spying after being arrested in Russia.

6. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the West of trying to drive a wedge between Russia and China, in an interview with the Argumenty i Fakty website.

7. The fighting in Ukraine continues, with a report by Save the Children revealing that at least 501 Ukrainian children have been killed in the war, but the actual number is likely much higher.

8. On a more positive note, Zelenskyy paid tribute to nearly 400 residents of a northern Ukrainian village who were held captive in a school basement for 27 days before being set free a year ago.

9. In a disturbing development, the chief of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has claimed that his troops have raised a Russian flag on the administrative building in the center of Bakhmut, despite Ukraine stating it still holds the town.

10. In the economy, a UN agency has estimated that Russia’s war on Ukraine has caused damage to the country’s heritage and cultural sites to the tune of $2.6 billion.

11. German arms firm Rheinmetall has announced that it will soon open a maintenance center in Romania for military equipment used in the Ukraine war.

12. In aid and sanctions, Ukraine received funding worth $2.7 billion as the first tranche of support under the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility program.

13. Finally, Poland and Slovakia have transferred some of their promised MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in a show of support.