The Russian defense ministry announced on Tuesday that they successfully stopped assaults from Ukrainian drones in the Black Sea and Crimean Peninsula.

The ministry reported that nine of the drones were destroyed by Russian air defenses, and eight more were intercepted using electronic methods.

The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, who was appointed by Russia, reported on Telegram that a person was injured by falling debris from a drone that was shot down.

In his daily video message on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that it would be “extremely irresponsible” to consider holding elections in Ukraine while the country is at war. He urged for unity in order to avoid unnecessary political debates.

The speaker stated that we must acknowledge the current situation as one of defense and battle, crucial for the fate of the state and its citizens. They also expressed their belief that holding elections would not be suitable during this time.

Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of addressing the military obstacles that Ukraine currently faces in its efforts to push back against Russian forces, who have been occupying almost 20% of its land for over 20 months since launching a large-scale invasion in February 2022.

The current martial law in Ukraine prohibits elections, but Zelenskyy was contemplating utilizing special measures to hold them, such as amending the law and receiving aid from foreign countries to cover the costs.

He has expressed his desire to seek re-election if a vote were to occur.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Foreign Minister, stated during the weekend that Zelenskyy was considering the advantages and disadvantages of conducting a poll during times of war.

Some individuals, such as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, have suggested that holding an election would serve as proof of Ukraine’s efforts to improve its democratic institutions.

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Olha Stefanishyna, informed Reuters on Monday that the country is seeking a favorable evaluation from the European Union on its advancements towards eventual membership in the EU.

According to Stefanishyna, Kyiv has successfully completed all necessary reforms. The upcoming report on Wednesday is anticipated to initiate discussions about Ukraine’s potential entry into the EU, beginning in December.

Stefanishyna stated that the evaluation would likely be favorable as we have consistently communicated with the European Commission, deliberating and reaching agreements on the measures we successfully executed.

Negotiations for EU membership can be lengthy, as applicants are required to fulfill strict legal and economic requirements before being admitted. With 27 current member states, the EU is not open to accepting a nation engaged in warfare.

Truck drivers from Poland, a member state of the European Union, staged a roadblock on Monday at three border crossings with Ukraine. They are protesting against the government’s lack of action in addressing the decline in their business due to competition from foreign companies, a result of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.

According to local officials, Polish truck drivers are unhappy that Ukrainian transportation companies do not have to obtain permits to cross the Polish border, a privilege that has been in effect since Russia’s complete takeover of Ukraine in February 2022.

The demands of the truckers include reviving limitations on the quantity of trucks registered in Ukraine that are allowed to enter Poland, as well as prohibiting transportation companies with funding from outside the European Union, and other requests.

Ukraine’s ambassador in Warsaw, Vasyl Zvarych, expressed his disappointment with the blockage of roads at the border crossings between Poland and Ukraine. He stated that this action is a painful betrayal to Ukraine, a country currently facing aggression from Russia.

The commander in chief of Ukraine announced on Monday that his major-ranked assistant was fatally injured in an explosion while opening a birthday present that had been rigged with explosives.

“General Valery Zaluzhnyi shared on the Telegram messaging app that Major Hennady Chastyakov, his assistant and dear friend, passed away on his birthday while celebrating with family. The cause of his death was a mysterious explosive device found in one of his gifts.”

According to the online news site Ukrainska Pravda, a security source reported that Chastyakov’s wife informed them that her husband had brought home a bottle of alcohol shaped like a grenade as a gift. When he opened it, the bottle exploded.

The explosion caused severe injuries to Chastyakov’s 13-year-old son.

On Monday, Ukraine initiated a criminal probe against military officers responsible for a ceremony honoring troops that was struck by a Russian missile, resulting in the death of 19 soldiers. This is one of the most fatal reported attacks by Ukrainian forces.

The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse provided some of the information for this story.

Source: voanews.com