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European Union

Ukraine's EU Candidacy Vote Looms as Russian Shelling Continues

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the European Union's two-day summit begins in Brussels on Thursday, Ukraine's deputy prime minister, Olha Stefanishyna, expressed "100%" confidence that Ukraine would be accepted as an EU candidate. Just a day before the summit, Russian forces pounded Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, and the eastern Donbas region, causing "catastrophic destruction" and killing at least one person. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken with 11 EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and is expected to make more calls on Thursday to garner support for Ukraine's candidacy. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to shell Ukrainian cities, with Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synehubov describing the shelling as "unabated."

Key Takeaways:

  • Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna expressed confidence that Ukraine would be accepted as an EU candidate, with the vote potentially coming as soon as Thursday.
  • Russian forces pounded Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, and the eastern Donbas region, causing "catastrophic destruction" and killing at least one person.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken with 11 EU leaders and is expected to make more calls on Thursday to garner support for Ukraine's candidacy.
  • Ukrainian troops are preparing for a potential escalation in Russian attacks this week, with Zelenskyy warning that Russia is likely to intensify its hostile activity.
  • Microsoft reported that Russian intelligence agencies have conducted multiple efforts to hack the computer networks of Ukraine's allies, targeting 128 organizations in 42 countries outside Ukraine.
  • Ukrainian entities have been attacked by Russian state-backed hacking groups since the conflict began four months ago, with nearly two-thirds of the cyberespionage targets involving NATO members.

Statistics:

  • 100%: Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna's confidence in Ukraine's acceptance as an EU candidate.
  • 128: Number of organizations in 42 countries outside Ukraine targeted by Russian state-backed hacking groups.
  • 42: Number of countries outside Ukraine targeted by Russian state-backed hacking groups.
  • 2/3: Proportion of cyberespionage targets involving NATO members.
  • 4 months: Duration of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, during which Ukrainian entities have been attacked by Russian state-backed hacking groups.

Sources:

  • Voice of America (VOA) release
  • The Associated Press
  • Reuters report
  • Microsoft report
  • Ukrainian Presidential Office statement
  • Ukrainian Defense Ministry statement
  • Donetsk People's Republic Telegram channel

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