On the 1,033rd day of the Russia-Ukraine war, troops advance towards Pokrovsk, while Pope Francis calls for a ceasefire amid escalating violence. Moldova faces divisions over EU ties as Putin vows retaliation for drone strikes.

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Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,033. As of today, Russian troops are making significant advances towards Pokrovsk, a city linked to Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych, known for "" Amid this military escalation, Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire during his Christmas prayers, condemning the ongoing violence that has led to attacks on civilian areas including schools and hospitals in both Ukraine and Gaza. Ukrainian forces have also targeted a Russian oil terminal for the second time this month, disrupting crucial supply lines for Moscow's military operations. In a separate diplomatic context, Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister Dumitru Alaiba addressed internal divisions regarding EU membership and the encroaching influence of Russia. Concurrently, Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed severe retaliation following a drone attack in Kazan that reportedly caused damage to civilian areas far from the front lines. In conjunction with these developments, Biden's hostage envoy Roger Carstens expressed astonishment at the number of prisons run by the Assad regime in Syria, complicating efforts to locate missing American journalist Austin Tice.