As the war enters its 809th day, these are the main developments.

Ukraine's military leader, Oleksandr Syrskii, expressed that his troops are currently encountering a challenging situation in the northeastern Kharkiv region, prompting thousands of individuals to flee their residences due to the advancement of Russian forces.

The General Staff of Ukraine reported intense fighting near Vovchansk, a town situated approximately 4km (2.5 miles) from the border and 45km (28 miles) from Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine and the capital of the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian military mentioned that Russia had mobilized "significant forces" for their assault on the town, disregarding their own casualties, resulting in the deaths of at least 100 soldiers.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that defensive confrontations were ongoing along extensive sections of the border close to Kharkiv, with equally intense fighting occurring in certain areas of the Donetsk region further to the east. Zelenskyy highlighted that within the past 24 hours, there had been 30 armed clashes in the Pokrovsk sector, northwest of the Russian-controlled town of Avdiivka, as well as skirmishes in regions such as Lyman, Kupiansk, and Kramatorsk.

Ukrainian prosecutors confirmed that at least four civilians lost their lives in the Kharkiv region following the commencement of Russia's ground offensive on Friday. The conflict has led to the evacuation of around 6,000 individuals.

Moreover, a tragic incident occurred in the Russian border town of Belgorod, where at least 13 individuals were reported dead and 20 injured due to the collapse of an apartment building. Russia claimed that the building was hit by debris from a Soviet-era missile launched by Ukraine, which was subsequently intercepted by air defense systems.

Politics and diplomacy

The Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to replace Sergei Shoigu as defense minister in a cabinet reshuffle, with Andrei Belousov, a former deputy prime minister specializing in economics, set to take his place.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda seems poised to win a second term in office following Sunday's election, which focused heavily on security concerns regarding Russia in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba embarked on a visit to Serbia, marking the first high-level Ukrainian delegation to do so since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion.