"Deadly Retaliation: Russia Strikes Back in Ukraine Conflict"

On day 698 of the Russia-Ukraine war, shelling in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Donetsk resulted in 27 deaths and 25 injuries, with both sides blaming each other. Russian forces claimed control of a village in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, while a fire broke out at a Russian port following alleged Ukrainian drone attacks. In diplomatic news, North Korea expressed readiness to welcome Russian President Putin, and Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with a Russian opponent at the Australian Open, emphasizing the ongoing conflict.