Russian forces

Russian surveillance technology was reportedly used by Western law enforcement agencies, according to reporting by POLITICO. The same technology deployed by European police forces was allegedly being developed in Russia and sold to Russian security services, raising concerns that European agencies relied on surveillance tools with direct links to Russian state clients. The report has prompted questions about vetting of police technology procurement in Europe.

South Korea has reacted angrily after Ukraine declined to hand over two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russian forces. Seoul, which views the men as its citizens under its constitution, wants them transferred for debriefing and possible resettlement, while Kyiv has resisted, saying it will decide their fate under its own laws. The dispute has strained relations between the two capitals and drawn attention to North Korea's growing role in Russia's war.

Claims are circulating that Russian soldiers forced Ukrainian civilians through a gas pipeline to use them as human shields, in what would amount to another war crime. A video reportedly showing the incident is being shared alongside condemnation of Russian tactics against civilians in occupied areas of Ukraine.

Russian forces struck central Kyiv again, damaging another hospital in the Ukrainian capital, according to Ukrainska Pravda, which published photos of the aftermath. The report describes the attack as targeting medical infrastructure, and the story is being shared widely with calls for international accountability, referencing bodies such as the UN, ICC and OSCE.