The European Union (EU) has extended its export ban to include firearms, as well as goods and technology related to the aviation and space industries, as part of its sanctions against Belarus.

This move follows the imposition of travel bans and asset freezes on 38 Belarus officials, including judges and prosecutors, who were accused of human rights violations and contributing to the repression of civil society.

The EU also froze the assets of Belneftekhim, a state oil and chemicals giant, citing its role in lessening the impact of Western sanctions through President Alexander Lukashenko's regime.

Additionally, three companies, Minsk Electrotechnical Plant Named After V.I. Kozlov, Byelorussian Steel Works, and Belorusneft, were sanctioned for their connections to the Lukashenko regime and their firing of employees who participated in peaceful post-election protests.

In a separate development, Ukraine's security service has issued a warning that Russia is planning a false flag attack on an oil refinery in Belarus in an attempt to draw Minsk into the war. This warning comes as a Ukrainian intelligence source claims that a Russian naval ship was damaged in a drone attack at a Black Sea port, which serves as a major hub for Moscow's exports.

While Russia's regional governor denies any damage, the Ukrainian source alleges that the warship sustained a serious breach, rendering it unable to carry out its combat missions. This attack marks the first on a major Russian commercial port since the war began.

Meanwhile, China has announced that it will send a senior official to Jeddah for peace talks on Ukraine, in a diplomatic coup for Kyiv, the West, and Saudi Arabia. The meeting, which excludes Russia, aims to find a peace deal for Ukraine and agrees on key principles for a future peace settlement to end Moscow's war. China's willingness to play a constructive role in promoting a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine highlights its commitment to international cooperation.