Russia has become China’s largest oil supplier

According to Chinese customs data, Russia surpassed Saudi Arabia to become China's largest oil supplier in 2023. Russian crude oil shipments to China reached 107.02 million metric tons, equivalent to 2.14 million barrels per day.

The drop in the price of Russian crude, influenced by Western sanctions and a price cap imposed by Western nations in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has made it more attractive to Chinese buyers. Chinese refiners reportedly navigate Western sanctions by utilizing intermediaries for shipping and insuring Russian oil. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently imposed sanctions on Hennesea Holdings Limited for violating the $60 per barrel price cap on Russian crude. The G7 countries have committed to enforcing this measure, targeting entities involved in exceeding the price cap.

Russian forces shelled Donetsk Oblast

Russian forces shelled Donetsk Oblast 12 times over the past day, causing two injuries and damaging 33 private homes and an administrative building in Novohrodivka. Governor Vadym Filashkin reported on Telegram that the attacks also targeted Krasnohorivka and Yelyzavetivka in the same region. Additionally, Russian attacks caused damage to homes and infrastructure in Kramatorsk and Bakhmut districts, leading to the evacuation of 214 people, including 46 children, from the front line. Since the occupation of parts of Donetsk by Russia in 2014, areas near the front lines have been heavily affected, resulting in significant depopulation.

Russians attacked Huliaipole: Houses destroyed, resident wounded

As a result of the attack on the city of Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a local resident, was wounded, and residential buildings were destroyed.