Timeline

What happened: Day 1,312 of the war. President Zelensky reportedly requested Tomahawk missiles from the US. Russian spy ship Yantar observed near European subsea cables. Zaporizhzhia NPP has been without external power for over three days.
What's happening now: Ongoing Russian drone activity testing NATO. Heightened concerns over European infrastructure security. Declining purchases of Russian crude oil due to sanctions.
What's next: Potential US decision on Tomahawk missile supply. Increased monitoring of Russian naval activity near critical infrastructure. Continued impact of sanctions on Russian economy and war financing. Potential safety assessments and emergency measures for Zaporizhzhia NPP.

Different Perspectives

Ukraine: Seeks advanced weaponry like Tomahawks to achieve a strategic advantage and push for peace negotiations. Emphasizes the critical threat posed by Russian actions to infrastructure and nuclear safety.
Russia: Continues to deny responsibility for airspace violations and frames accusations as 'hysteria'. Its actions with the Yantar suggest a strategic interest in subsea infrastructure.
US & NATO: Heightened alert over Russian provocations, including airspace incursions and potential threats to infrastructure. Weighing requests for advanced weaponry against escalation risks.
Europe: Facing direct threats to critical infrastructure with the Yantar's activity, increasing calls for enhanced maritime surveillance and defense cooperation. Concerned about energy security and economic stability.
Belarus (Lukashenko): Urges negotiations, warning Ukraine could lose its entire territory if dialogue is not pursued.
Hungary (Szijjarto): Reacted strongly to Zelensky's statements, suggesting they are irrational.

What You Need to Know

Ukraine is requesting Tomahawk missiles from the US to enhance its long-range strike capabilities.
A Russian spy ship, Yantar, is near European subsea cables, raising serious security concerns.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has experienced a critical, prolonged loss of external power.
Sanctions continue to affect Russian oil exports, though Russia still finances the war through energy revenues.
Russia is using drones to test NATO's responses and intimidate neighbors.

Regional Perspective

For Ukraine, the request for Tomahawk missiles is a critical step towards achieving battlefield parity and potentially forcing Russia to the negotiating table. For Europe, the Yantar's proximity to subsea cables represents an immediate and tangible threat to its economic lifeline and digital sovereignty, necessitating a robust response in maritime surveillance and defense. The Zaporizhzhia incident is a stark reminder of the nuclear risks inherent in the conflict, with direct implications for regional safety and environmental security.