Russia-Ukraine War: A Look at the Main Developments

An anonymous image description for the category 'International': A map showing the boundaries of Russia, Ukraine, and other neighboring countries, with a red line to indicate the current border dispute between them.

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 377th day, we take a look at the main developments. On April 13th, nine people were killed in a new wave of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine. This attack was particularly powerful, with Russia using rare hypersonic weapons to launch the strikes. The United Nations has warned that urgent action is needed to protect the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, located in Ukraine, after it suffered power outages due to the strikes.

In addition to the missile strikes, a large number of Russian troops have been situated just a short drive from Ukraine's southern border. They are guarding a vast Soviet-era ammunition depot in Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also ordered a blockade of the sprawling steel plant in Mariupol, and two of his top generals and a Ukrainian minister have met to discuss the situation.

The United States and other Western countries have been trying to de-escalate the conflict. A first-ever oral history of how top U.S. and Western officials saw the warning signs of a European land war has been released, detailing their frantic attempts to stop the conflict. However, these efforts have yet to bear any fruit.

Meanwhile, Russia's Wagner Group of mercenaries has taken full control of the eastern part of the town of Bakhmut. The group's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has declared the area to be under his control. This has raised fears that the war between Russia and Ukraine could escalate further in the coming months.

Amidst all this tension, the world has watched with bated breath as the crisis in Ukraine has deepened. With the situation becoming increasingly volatile, it is uncertain what will unfold in the coming days. It is clear, however, that the war between Russia and Ukraine has already taken a heavy toll on both countries, and that urgent action must be taken in order to prevent further escalation of the conflict.