The day began with reports of Ukrainian drone attacks on Saratov, causing two fatalities and infrastructure damage, alongside Russian retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities.
The focus shifted to the ongoing debate within the EU regarding the seizure of frozen Russian assets, with several member states reportedly opposing the move, a continuation of the previous day's events. Russia responded with threats of imminent countermeasures.
The main development of the day, however, was the release of 123 political prisoners in Belarus, including prominent opposition figures like Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka, following a visit by a Trump envoy. This move was reported as part of a deal to lift US sanctions on Belarus' fertilizer industry, involving an exchange of prisoners.