Ukraine war briefing: Moldova declares emergency after Russian attack cuts key power line

Key Points:

• Moldova declared a 60-day state of emergency in its energy sector after a key power line from Romania was disconnected due to Russian strikes in Ukraine, with repairs expected to take up to seven days amid ongoing "demining operations."
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s large-scale drone and missile attacks, including strikes on cultural sites in Lviv, calling the assaults an indication that Russia intends to continue the war.
• Moscow launched one of the largest aerial bombardments of Ukraine since the invasion began, firing nearly 400 long-range drones and 23 cruise missiles overnight, followed by over 550 drones in a daytime attack, causing civilian casualties and damage to historic sites.
• North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed unwavering support for Russia in a letter to Vladimir Putin, highlighting close cooperation and confirming Pyongyang’s military and material aid to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
• Intelligence reports indicate North Korea has deployed thousands of troops and supplied weapons to Russia, receiving in return food and weapons technology, reflecting deepening ties between the two countries amid the ongoing conflict.