Putin Grants Citizenship to War Crimes Suspect; Zelenskiy Discusses Defense with Polish President; Navalny in Solitary Confinement; Tragic Fire in Azerbaijani Clinic; Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine

In a series of significant developments, Russian President Putin has granted citizenship to a war crimes suspect, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has discussed defense cooperation with Poland, Kremlin critic Navalny has been placed in solitary confinement, a tragic fire has occurred in an Azerbaijani clinic, and a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Ukraine due to the ongoing war.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted citizenship to 44 foreign nationals, including Ratko Samac, a former officer of the Yugoslav army who is wanted in Bosnia-Herzegovina for war crimes he allegedly committed in 1993.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has discussed further defense cooperation and Ukraine’s air-defense needs in a phone call with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
• Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny says he was immediately placed in a punitive solitary confinement cell after finishing a quarantine term at the so-called Polar Wolf prison in Russia's Arctic region where he was transferred last month.
• Four babies have died in a late-night blaze at a perinatal clinic in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, according to the country's Emergencies Ministry.
• More than 14.6 million Ukrainians inside the country -- roughly 40 percent of the total population -- will require humanitarian assistance this year as the war triggered by Russia's unprovoked invasion continues to cause death and destruction, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said.

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