President Biden has pledged to impose severe sanctions on Russia in response to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The sanctions are set to be announced this Friday. Despite growing calls for an international investigation into Navalny's death, Putin's spokesman has rejected the idea. Navalny's mother has made a direct plea to Putin, demanding the immediate release of her son's body for a proper burial.
Navalny died on February 16th in the IK3 polar wolf colony, and his mother has been denied access to his body for five days. Meanwhile, Putin has shown defiance in the face of accusations regarding Navalny's death, even promoting a Russian prison official linked to the case. Additionally, Russia has detained a US Russian citizen for sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine and a Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine was found dead in Spain.
Putin has hailed the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the city of Avdivka as a success and has vowed to continue Russian forces' advancement in the region. Ukrainian officials acknowledge the presence of significant Russian forces in Avdivka and express concerns about potential further Russian incursions into neighboring areas.
Reports indicate that Russia is applying pressure on Ukrainian-held territories, with intense fighting in villages like Drobotyne and Marinka. Ukrainian forces are facing challenges due to limited ammunition and Western aid shortages, raising fears of a tipping point in the conflict.
