**Ukraine Denies Russian Claims of Captured Pilot**
The Ukrainian Air Force has denied claims by Russian state media that a Ukrainian pilot surrendered to Russian forces in Kursk Oblast. The Air Force said the information was false and that all Ukrainian pilots are continuing to perform their duties.
Russian news agency TASS had claimed that Ukrainian pilot Volodymyr Popovich had surrendered, but the Air Force did not provide further details or confirm whether Popovich was an active pilot at the time of his alleged capture.
**Ukraine’s Military Situation**
Russia has escalated its aerial assault on Ukraine, launching over 280 guided bombs, nearly 370 attack drones, and more than 80 missiles in the past week. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 10 drones from Crimea and six S-300/S-400 missiles from Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, targeting the Kursk and Sumy oblasts.
**International Reactions**
The United States has officially classified an American schoolteacher jailed in Russia on drug charges as wrongfully detained. The U.S. government has also condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s apology over a deadly Azerbaijan Airline crash as insufficient.
Ukraine’s accession to NATO remains on the agenda but is not a top priority for diplomatic efforts, according to Ukraine’s new permanent representative to the U.N.
**Other Developments**
Azerbaijan will change its rules for temporary stays of Russian citizens after Russia announces stricter rules for foreigners. The European Union has blocked several major Russian news outlets’ Telegram channels across several countries.
Russian forces suffered over 1,730 casualties just over the past day, according to Ukrainian authorities.