Intense scenes from Kyiv showing a drone striking its target. A massive attack continues on the city.

China has secured a maritime agreement with the Cook Islands, known as "The Memorandum of Understanding" (MoU).

This includes deepening practical cooperation in the field of blue economy, which involves "fostering innovation and sustainable growth drivers", as well as a number of measures to help create a stronger economic partnership in the future.

An Investment Cooperation Working Group will also be created under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Cook Islands, and the Ministry of Commerce of China.

The Cook Islands had not consulted New Zealand on this agreement. Although the Cook Islands is self-governing, it is still a realm country of New Zealand, meaning that it is a part of their constitution to consult with New Zealand on anything that impacts on security or defence.

While the agreement doesn't appear to touch on defence, there are some who believe that it will be a threat to New Zealand's security. Associate professor Anna Powles from Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies said that "the proposed infrastructure will support both China's fishing fleet and potentially China's coastguard fleet which has expanded its operations into the Pacific Ocean... This comes at a time when China has escalated military tensions in the Pacific region."

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters is currently in Saudi Arabia, but he will be travelling to China shortly, where he will be holding talks with senior Chinese leaders, including Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

Has anyone else noticed that the number of successful Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia has greatly decreased?

🇲🇲 - Anti-junta rebels ambushed 2 military vehicles carrying food and ammunition in the Pauk Khaung Township, Bago Region.

Rebels sources claimed 9 Tatmadaw soldiers were killed as a result.

Russian forces have captured the last stronghold in the village of Bilohorivka, Luhansk Oblast.

Ukrainian forces have held the defence of the now ruins of this village for over 2 years. While it's too early to announce the capture of Bilohorivka, it will likely occur in the coming days.

The Ukrainian 72nd mechanised brigade has reportedly arrived in the Pokrovsk direction, replacing the 153rd mechanised Brigade.

The 72nd brigade previously fought in and around Vuhledar, and saw some of its personnel surrounded last year. It was withdrawn from battle for replenishment, which lasted approximately 4 and a half months.

For the first time since the initial incursion, Ukrainian forces now control less than 400km² in Kursk Oblast, down from 1,200km² at its peak.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel is postponing the release of Palestinian prisoners until the next hostage release, due to the nature Hamas’ ceremonies at the hostage release points.

The ~600 prisoners who were released yesterday will be returned to their cells.

NASA FIRMS data shows that at least one Russian Geran-2 drone struck the “Glinsko-Rozbyshevskaya" oil depot. A large fire has broken out at the impact site, with multiple oil tanks being on fire.

Rare footage of an Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) FPV drone striking a Russian-Malian Army military base in Tessalit, Mali.

Russian forces are continuing their advance in the southwestern part of the Kursk salient, and have entered the village of Lebedevka.

Russian forces advanced from positions in northern Sverdlikvovo, through the fields, and into the eastern houses. They were able to take up positions in the southeastern part of the village. Fighting is now ongoing for the central part.

It is possible that Russian forces entered the northeastern houses, on the northern bank of the Loknya River, however for now, due to a lack of reliable information, I have placed it in the grey zone.

+ ~1.89km² in favour of Russia.

In the southeastern part of the Kursk salient, Russian forces continued to reverse Ukrainian progress from their latest "counteroffensive".

After securing a foothold in the western houses of Cherkasskaya Konopelka, Russian forces moved deeper into the village, reaching the central part. They then began moving along the Ulanok - Makhnovka road, and along the forest plantation in the low-lying ground, reaching the southeastern part of Cherkasskaya Konopelka.

Russian forces then quickly moved through the village, clearing it of a Ukrainian presence from two directions. Ukrainian forces were pushed to the treeline to the north.

+ ~2.59km² in favour of Russia.

Made some changes to how I make the maps. I decreased the size of the mini-map and topographic map, and removed the unnecessary part of the scale. Any more feedback is greatly appreciated.

Russian forces are continuing to expand their northern bridgehead on the western bank of the Oskil River, and have captured the village of Topoli, next to the international border.

Russian forces advanced from positions in the central part of Topoli, and expanded their zone of control to include the rest of the houses in the village.

As these positions are in the low-lying ground, and Ukrainian forces maintain control over the tactical heights, the bridgehead remains precarious. However, a lack of Ukrainian manpower in the area, combined with the fact that Russian forces have linked up the bridgehead to the international border, suggests that this bridgehead will only expand in the future.

+ ~1.59km² in favour of Russia.

P.S. I added the frontlines to the topographic map in the top-left corner.

Russian forces from the 76th separate reconnaissance battalion advanced in the Siversk direction and captured the last Ukrainian stronghold in the village of Bilohorivka.

This stronghold is in the form of a bunker, at the backfill of the chalk quarry known as the "White Mountain". Forces were concentrated in the industrial zone, and advanced around the northern end of the White Mountain, before storming the Ukrainian bunker, capturing it.

This was what held up the Ukrainian lines in and around Bilohorivka, and provided control over the nearby forests and quarry. This fortified junction also allowed Ukrainian forces to conduct maneuverable counterattacks by using hidden approaches to through treelines and forest plantations.

Now that Russia has captured it, the tactical situation in Bilohorivka has become much worse for Ukraine. It risks the encirclement of the remaining Ukrainian formations in the village and further complicates movement in and out of positions. This forces Ukraine to hold the line with heavy artillery and FPV drone strikes.

Now that the position has fallen, Russian forces will begin to move along the last street of the village and attempt to clear any remaining Ukrainian positions in the basements of the ruins. For now, this street remains in the grey zone.

There are also unconfirmed reports of Russian advanced in the forests and strongholds on the tactical heights south of Bilohorivka.

The imminent fall of Bilohorivka will significantly undermine the stability of Ukraine's Siversk defence, as Bilohorivka was the primary defensive node of the first line of defence. It will also open up the flanks, and weaken logistics, as Russian forces are now further forward, reaching new firing lines, allowing for the striking of rear positions, therefore reducing the speed of the delivery of ammunition and other key resources. This also disrupts rotations of AFU personnel.

Meanwhile, the frontline was corrected in favour of Ukraine in the southern part of the Serebryanske Forest around the Siversky Donets River. At some point, Ukrainian forces advanced to new positions in the forests northwest of Bilohorivka. The frontline was also adjusted on the southern bank of the river, with Ukrainian forces retaking certain positions in the low-lying ground east of Hryhorivka that were previously marked in the grey zone, reaching the border with Luhansk Oblast.

+ ~2.78km² in favour of Ukraine
+ ~0.48km² in favour of Russia