"Putin's Presidential Run and Russian Morale: Updates on Ukraine War"

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly decided to run in the March 2024 presidential election, potentially extending his rule until 2030. Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defense released a video showing a successful test launch of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile from its newest submarine. In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that a Russian strike on an awards ceremony, which resulted in the deaths of 19 Ukrainian soldiers, was a tragedy that "could have been avoided." Additionally, Finland reported damage to a Russian telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea, adding to a series of incidents affecting the region's subsea infrastructure. Ukrainian defense minister signed a plan to replace conscription with intensive military training for citizens of draft age.