In the midst of the ongoing crisis with Ukraine, Russia takes over as chair of the UN Security Council.

Russia assumes rotating presidency of UN Security Council amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine
As part of a regular annual cycle, Russia has taken over the presidency of the U.N. Security Council. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the move, citing Russia’s ongoing airstrikes on Ukraine while it holds this influential position. Despite the objections raised by Ukraine, the United States has stated that there are no legal means available to challenge Russia’s status within the United Nations.
After American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who works for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested in Russia on charges of espionage, the Biden administration and media outlets worldwide have urged Moscow to release him. Both the White House and the Journal have vehemently denied the allegations against Gershkovich. As this situation continues to unfold, its impact on the global community remains a topic of ongoing concern.
In recent developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced Russia’s presidency of the Security Council, citing the institution’s failure and Russia’s responsibility for acts of terror. He called for a long-overdue reform of the council, emphasizing that Russia should be held accountable instead of presiding over it. Meanwhile, the White House has echoed similar concerns, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre asserting that Russia has no place in the U.N. Security Council. Despite this, she noted that there are currently no practical legal avenues to remove Russia from the organization.
According to Emma Tucker, the editor-in-chief of The Journal, the U.S. government is expediting the process of labeling Gershkovich as “unlawfully detained.” In an interview with Anderson Cooper on Saturday, Tucker revealed that the Biden administration is actively working towards this designation, which would hasten efforts to secure his release. Although President Biden has urged Russia to free Gershkovich, Tucker stated that there are currently no plans to implement measures such as expelling Russia’s ambassador to the United States, a suggestion made by The Journal’s editorial board.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia did not achieve its goal of capturing the Luhansk and Donetsk regions by the end of March. The think tank also reported that a Ukrainian counterattack will commence in the upcoming weeks.
Updates on the Battlefront
According to the British Defense Ministry, a considerable number of casualties incurred by Russian forces are due to non-combat deaths and injuries. These casualties amount to “up to 200,000,” consistent with previous estimates. British officials have identified several factors responsible for these casualties, including alcohol consumption, poor weapon handling, road accidents, and hypothermia, which are among the primary causes of casualties sustained by Russian forces outside of combat situations.
According to regional governor Oleh Synyehubov’s statement on Telegram, a village in the Kupiansk district was targeted by Russian shelling, resulting in the death of a 43-year-old civilian and the injury of a 46-year-old man. In addition, S-300 missiles damaged a farm building and a private home in the same district, as reported by Synyehubov.
Vitaliy Merinov, a world kickboxing champion who was volunteering as a Ukrainian soldier, has died from battle injuries sustained last week, according to a Facebook announcement by Ruslan Martsinkiv, mayor of the western city of Ivano Frankivsk. Merinov was receiving treatment in a hospital when he passed away. A petition circulating online is requesting that the four-time world kickboxing champion be recognized as a “Hero of Ukraine” posthumously.