Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 696

Here are the main updates as the war progresses into its 696th day:

In a recent attack, Ukraine targeted an oil depot in western Russia, causing four oil reservoirs with a total capacity of 6,000 cubic meters to catch fire.

Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked a gunpowder mill in Russia’s Tambov, according to local media.

Russian shelling in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region resulted in the death of a 57-year-old woman, and another individual was killed by a land mine, as confirmed by the Ukrainian president’s office.

Due to the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes, the city of Belgorod near the Ukrainian border canceled its traditional Orthodox Epiphany festivities.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that landmines once again surround the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which is now under Russian control, after they had been previously removed by the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

In response to Ukraine’s pleas for support in its war against Russia, the European Union has announced plans to drastically increase ammunition production and to impose a new round of sanctions on Russia next month to mark the second anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.

Finland’s Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, stated that they do not perceive an immediate military threat from Russia and assured that Finland is well prepared for any potential challenges.

Ukraine has urged Western nations to prevent Russia from sourcing key parts for its weapons production.

The Kremlin has declared that there is no possibility of reviving the Black Sea grain deal and that alternative shipping routes for Ukrainian grain pose significant risks.

Russia’s lower house of parliament intends to ask France’s National Assembly for clarification on the alleged involvement of French mercenaries fighting on Ukraine’s side. France has denied these allegations, considering them a plot of “disinformation.”

In recent court cases in Siberia and Saint Petersburg, a truck driver received a 19-year prison sentence for shooting a military enlistment officer, while prosecutors demanded a 28-year sentence for a woman charged in the bombing of a cafe that resulted in the death of a prominent military blogger. These cases highlight the tensions in Russian society regarding the ongoing war.