Overview
- President Vladimir Putin offered to admit Ukrainian and foreign journalists into the encircled zones with a temporary halt in fighting to allow on‑the‑ground reporting.
- Air‑raid alerts covered nearly all regions of Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Digital Transformation’s official map.
- Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova alleged Kyiv is preparing dam breaches near Volchansk to slow Russian advances, invoking the Kakhovka precedent.
- U.S. President Donald Trump said he ordered immediate nuclear weapons tests, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this does not signal a new arms race and noted no detailed U.S.–Russia disarmament talks are underway.
- A Donetsk civic official and other commentators voiced doubt that international media will travel to the encircled areas despite Russia’s invitation.