Stories related to violent conflicts, diplomatic tensions, and conflict prevention, mediation and resolution.
On January 23, the Council of the European Union (EU) agreed to establish a civilian monitoring mission in Armenia’s border areas in order to “ensure an environment conducive to normalization efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan”. The deployment of the mission has caused mixed reactions in the two countries and frustrated Russia, writes Vasif Huseynov in this op-ed for commonspace.eu.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have shot down almost 500 Iranian drones since September, the spokesman of the Ukrainian Air Force announced on Tuesday (3 January).
Speaking during a television interview, Yurii Ihnat added that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had also destroyed all 84 drones launched by Russia during the massive drone attack over the New Year holidays.
Ukraine has announced on Monday (19 December) that it is increasing defenses along its northern border with Belarus amid concern that Russia may be preparing a second assault on Kyiv.
In conversation with BBC Ukraine, Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin said: "We are building up our defence lines all across the border with Russia and with Belarus." An increase in Russian military hardware and personnel in Belarus has been noted over the past few weeks.
Russian soldiers re-deployed to Belarus in October 2022 will soon start holding tactical military exercises there, Russian news agency Interfax reported, based on information from the Russian Ministry of Defence.
It is not yet clear when and where in the country the exercises will take place. According to authorities, nine thousand Russian troops were reportedly moved to Belarus in October. Russian President Vladimir Putin is travelling to Minsk on Monday (19 December) to meet his counterpart Belarusian President Vladimir Lukashenko.