Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- In a fiery speech marking the end of his European tour, President Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “dictator,” saying, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” The unscripted remark at the end of a 27-minute speech on Saturday reverberated around the world and sparked a terse response from the Kremlin.
- The White House later clarified that Biden wasn’t calling for a regime change — which would be a major reversal of U.S. policy — and meant only that Putin should not be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region.
- The Russian onslaught continued with two powerful rockets striking Lviv. The western Ukrainian city had been largely spared from attacks during the first month of the war, making it something of a haven for Western diplomats and others. Russian forces also entered Slavutych, a northern city of about 25,000 people that houses workers from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Read the full story here.
- In a fiery speech marking the end of his European tour, President Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “dictator,” saying, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” The unscripted remark at the end of a 27-minute speech on Saturday reverberated around the world and sparked a terse response from the Kremlin.
- The White House later clarified that Biden wasn’t calling for a regime change — which would be a major reversal of U.S. policy — and meant only that Putin should not be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region.
- The Russian onslaught continued with two powerful rockets striking Lviv. The western Ukrainian city had been largely spared from attacks during the first month of the war, making it something of a haven for Western diplomats and others. Russian forces also entered Slavutych, a northern city of about 25,000 people that houses workers from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Read the full story here.
Rockets strike Lviv, indicating Russia’s unrelenting barrage
Two powerful rockets struck the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday, injuring at least five and leaving an industrial facility where fuel is stored on fire, as Russia ramped up its offensive on a day when President Biden was delivering a forceful speech on democracy in neighboring Poland.
The attacks came as a surprise and were a clear indication of escalation by Russian troops in a city that had been largely spared intense bombardment during the month-long invasion. Although Russian advances have seemingly slowed, the day’s events again proved how the war is just a hair’s breadth away from engulfing NATO nations or global powers in a catastrophic nuclear scenario.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chief of the Russian Security Council, reiterated in an interview on state media on Saturday that Russia could use nuclear weapons if there was any kind of attack that threatened the nation’s existence.
Read the full story here.
Two powerful rockets struck the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday, injuring at least five and leaving an industrial facility where fuel is stored on fire, as Russia ramped up its offensive on a day when President Biden was delivering a forceful speech on democracy in neighboring Poland.
The attacks came as a surprise and were a clear indication of escalation by Russian troops in a city that had been largely spared intense bombardment during the month-long invasion. Although Russian advances have seemingly slowed, the day’s events again proved how the war is just a hair’s breadth away from engulfing NATO nations or global powers in a catastrophic nuclear scenario.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chief of the Russian Security Council, reiterated in an interview on state media on Saturday that Russia could use nuclear weapons if there was any kind of attack that threatened the nation’s existence.
Read the full story here.
Why Russian troops are using tree branches for camouflage in Ukraine
Russian troops in Ukraine have scrambled to avoid detection and attack by using tree branches and straw, even swaths of carpeting, to conceal tanks and other armored vehicles, in what analysts call a surprising lack of sophistication for such an advanced military and further evidence of how ill-prepared some commanders were for the sustained fight that has unfolded.
Camouflage, whether for personnel or equipment, is a fundamental part of warfighting, even as technological advances such as drones, satellite imagery and infrared scopes have made it harder to hide on modern battlefields. It works by distorting shapes and reducing heat signatures, in effect fooling the eye to create doubt and confusion.
Yet to some observers who’ve closely tracked the conflict in Ukraine, Russian forces, despite their military superiority, have exhibited a breathtaking degree of amateurism.
Read the full story here.
Russian troops in Ukraine have scrambled to avoid detection and attack by using tree branches and straw, even swaths of carpeting, to conceal tanks and other armored vehicles, in what analysts call a surprising lack of sophistication for such an advanced military and further evidence of how ill-prepared some commanders were for the sustained fight that has unfolded.
Camouflage, whether for personnel or equipment, is a fundamental part of warfighting, even as technological advances such as drones, satellite imagery and infrared scopes have made it harder to hide on modern battlefields. It works by distorting shapes and reducing heat signatures, in effect fooling the eye to create doubt and confusion.
Yet to some observers who’ve closely tracked the conflict in Ukraine, Russian forces, despite their military superiority, have exhibited a breathtaking degree of amateurism.
Read the full story here.
U.S. official: Putin feels misled by Russian military on Ukraine issues
U.S. intelligence believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin feels misled by the Russian military, a U.S. official said in a statement Wednesday, describing “persistent tension” between Putin and the Russian Defense Ministry’s leadership.
“Putin didn’t even know his military was using and losing conscripts in Ukraine, showing a clear breakdown in the flow of accurate information to the Russian President,” the U.S. official said in the statement, speaking on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the Biden administration.
“We believe that Putin is being misinformed by his advisers about how badly the Russian military is performing and how the Russian economy is being crippled by sanctions, because his senior advisers are too afraid to tell him the truth,” the U.S. official added.
Read the full story here.
U.S. intelligence believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin feels misled by the Russian military, a U.S. official said in a statement Wednesday, describing “persistent tension” between Putin and the Russian Defense Ministry’s leadership.
“Putin didn’t even know his military was using and losing conscripts in Ukraine, showing a clear breakdown in the flow of accurate information to the Russian President,” the U.S. official said in the statement, speaking on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the Biden administration.
“We believe that Putin is being misinformed by his advisers about how badly the Russian military is performing and how the Russian economy is being crippled by sanctions, because his senior advisers are too afraid to tell him the truth,” the U.S. official added.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in China in their first face-to-face meeting since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two discussed the situation in Ukraine, and a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman later stressed there were “no limits” to Sino-Russian cooperation, state media outlets reported.
- Ukraine has accused Russia of forcibly relocating thousands of residents from Mariupol. One Ukrainian woman told The Post she and her family were transferred to what the Russians called a “filtration camp” before being sent to Russia.
- A NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts landed in Kazakhstan Wednesday after undocking from the International Space Station and flying back to Earth in a historic mission that came amid persistent questions about whether the partnership in space between the U.S. and Russia can endure.
More live updates here.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in China in their first face-to-face meeting since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two discussed the situation in Ukraine, and a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman later stressed there were “no limits” to Sino-Russian cooperation, state media outlets reported.
- Ukraine has accused Russia of forcibly relocating thousands of residents from Mariupol. One Ukrainian woman told The Post she and her family were transferred to what the Russians called a “filtration camp” before being sent to Russia.
- A NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts landed in Kazakhstan Wednesday after undocking from the International Space Station and flying back to Earth in a historic mission that came amid persistent questions about whether the partnership in space between the U.S. and Russia can endure.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- The movement of some Russian troops away from Kyiv shouldn't be seen as a de-escalation, the Pentagon said Wednesday. The repositioning more likely points to an intention to refit and resupply troops and possibly deploy them elsewhere, it said.
- As Russian airstrikes continued to batter cities, President Zelensky said Wednesday night in a video address that the war was nearing “a turning point,” as Ukraine braces for fresh assaults in the eastern Donbas region.
- Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are set to resume talks online Friday, head Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said in a Telegram post, adding that he hopes to see Zelensky and President Putin meet if diplomatic efforts progress.
- Top U.N. human rights official Michelle Bachelet said Wednesday that Russia may have committed war crimes in Ukraine, in her strongest condemnation of the conflict.
More live updates here.
- The movement of some Russian troops away from Kyiv shouldn't be seen as a de-escalation, the Pentagon said Wednesday. The repositioning more likely points to an intention to refit and resupply troops and possibly deploy them elsewhere, it said.
- As Russian airstrikes continued to batter cities, President Zelensky said Wednesday night in a video address that the war was nearing “a turning point,” as Ukraine braces for fresh assaults in the eastern Donbas region.
- Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are set to resume talks online Friday, head Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said in a Telegram post, adding that he hopes to see Zelensky and President Putin meet if diplomatic efforts progress.
- Top U.N. human rights official Michelle Bachelet said Wednesday that Russia may have committed war crimes in Ukraine, in her strongest condemnation of the conflict.
More live updates here.
Here is the status of Ukrainian cities under attack.
Kyiv: Less than 20 percent of Russian forces near Kyiv have started to move away to other areas, including northern Ukraine and Belarus, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday. U.S. defense officials believe Russia aims to move those soldiers to other parts of Ukraine, rather than returning them home, a sign that Russians have not de-escalated efforts.
Chernihiv: Small groups of Russian troops near the northern city have also begun heading north, Kirby said, following Ukrainian reports of strikes targeting the city, the latest in near-constant attacks that have cut power and decimated resources. Russian forces “spent the whole night striking Chernihiv,” the regional governor said Wednesday.
Irpin: The mayor of Irpin said hundreds of civilians had died before the town was taken back from Russians this week. While the Ukrainian military said it now controls most of the city, U.S. officials have not confirmed that.
More live updates here.
Kyiv: Less than 20 percent of Russian forces near Kyiv have started to move away to other areas, including northern Ukraine and Belarus, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday. U.S. defense officials believe Russia aims to move those soldiers to other parts of Ukraine, rather than returning them home, a sign that Russians have not de-escalated efforts.
Chernihiv: Small groups of Russian troops near the northern city have also begun heading north, Kirby said, following Ukrainian reports of strikes targeting the city, the latest in near-constant attacks that have cut power and decimated resources. Russian forces “spent the whole night striking Chernihiv,” the regional governor said Wednesday.
Irpin: The mayor of Irpin said hundreds of civilians had died before the town was taken back from Russians this week. While the Ukrainian military said it now controls most of the city, U.S. officials have not confirmed that.
More live updates here.
Russian soldiers in Ukraine sabotaged own equipment, U.K. says
Russian soldiers short on morale and weapons have refused orders, sabotaged their own equipment and shot down one of their own aircraft, Britain’s spy chief said Thursday, painting a picture of chaos on Russia’s front lines as the war in Ukraine enters its second month.
The efforts are evidence of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s miscalculation when he decided to invade Ukraine, Jeremy Fleming, head of Britain’s signals intelligence agency, said in a speech Thursday at Australian National University. U.S. and British officials have said Putin, more isolated than ever, was misinformed by his aides, further stoking tensions.
“It’s clear he misjudged the resistance of the Ukrainian people,” Fleming said. “He underestimated the strength of the coalition his actions would galvanize. He underplayed the economic consequences of the sanctions regime. He overestimated the abilities of his military to secure a rapid victory.”
Read the full story here.
Russian soldiers short on morale and weapons have refused orders, sabotaged their own equipment and shot down one of their own aircraft, Britain’s spy chief said Thursday, painting a picture of chaos on Russia’s front lines as the war in Ukraine enters its second month.
The efforts are evidence of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s miscalculation when he decided to invade Ukraine, Jeremy Fleming, head of Britain’s signals intelligence agency, said in a speech Thursday at Australian National University. U.S. and British officials have said Putin, more isolated than ever, was misinformed by his aides, further stoking tensions.
“It’s clear he misjudged the resistance of the Ukrainian people,” Fleming said. “He underestimated the strength of the coalition his actions would galvanize. He underplayed the economic consequences of the sanctions regime. He overestimated the abilities of his military to secure a rapid victory.”
Read the full story here.
Voices from the siege of Mariupol
Even amid the barbarity of Russia’s month-long assault on Ukraine, nowhere has suffered such a cruel fate as Mariupol, the coastal port city that President Vladimir Putin appears set on capturing at any cost.
Once a thriving community on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol is now described by the local city council as “the ashes of a dead land." It reports 5,000 have been killed, although such figures are impossible to verify. After a brutal three-week siege, the battle moved into the city streets, where Ukrainian forces now fight house-to-house with Russian and separatist forces present in every neighborhood.
With communications from the city blocked, those who escape bring with them stories of hunger, fear and survival. Some tremble with emotion as they arrive to safety in Zaporizhzhia, 140 miles to the northwest.
The Washington Post interviewed more than 50 people who escaped the horrors of the city.
Here are some of their stories.
Even amid the barbarity of Russia’s month-long assault on Ukraine, nowhere has suffered such a cruel fate as Mariupol, the coastal port city that President Vladimir Putin appears set on capturing at any cost.
Once a thriving community on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol is now described by the local city council as “the ashes of a dead land." It reports 5,000 have been killed, although such figures are impossible to verify. After a brutal three-week siege, the battle moved into the city streets, where Ukrainian forces now fight house-to-house with Russian and separatist forces present in every neighborhood.
With communications from the city blocked, those who escape bring with them stories of hunger, fear and survival. Some tremble with emotion as they arrive to safety in Zaporizhzhia, 140 miles to the northwest.
The Washington Post interviewed more than 50 people who escaped the horrors of the city.
Here are some of their stories.
‘Butcher of Mariupol’ earned reputation for brutality in Syria
Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev long ago earned notoriety for exceptional brutality as a key commander of Russian forces in Syria, where much of the northern city of Aleppo was obliterated in a Russian-Syrian bombing campaign during the country’s civil war.
Now the three-star general, reputed to be one of President Vladimir Putin’s favorites, has a new nickname: the Butcher of Mariupol.
Ukrainian and Western officials have identified him as the architect of a devastating siege of the southern Ukrainian port city that, according to its mayor, has killed thousands of civilians and destroyed many of its buildings.
Read the full story here.
Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev long ago earned notoriety for exceptional brutality as a key commander of Russian forces in Syria, where much of the northern city of Aleppo was obliterated in a Russian-Syrian bombing campaign during the country’s civil war.
Now the three-star general, reputed to be one of President Vladimir Putin’s favorites, has a new nickname: the Butcher of Mariupol.
Ukrainian and Western officials have identified him as the architect of a devastating siege of the southern Ukrainian port city that, according to its mayor, has killed thousands of civilians and destroyed many of its buildings.
Read the full story here.
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Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- Biden on Thursday speculated that Putin has fired or put under house arrest some of his advisers and could be “self-isolated” as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed doubt Thursday about Russia’s claim that it is withdrawing from the area around Kyiv, saying Moscow has lied about its intentions before and appears to be repositioning troops for fresh attacks.
- The death toll has risen to 20 in Tuesday’s Russian missile strike on the regional government headquarters in the southern city of Mykolaiv, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said. New strikes were reported in Mariupol and Chernihiv.
- Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are set to resume talks online Friday, head Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said in an overnight Telegram post. He added that he hopes to see Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet if diplomatic efforts progress.
More live updates here.
- Biden on Thursday speculated that Putin has fired or put under house arrest some of his advisers and could be “self-isolated” as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed doubt Thursday about Russia’s claim that it is withdrawing from the area around Kyiv, saying Moscow has lied about its intentions before and appears to be repositioning troops for fresh attacks.
- The death toll has risen to 20 in Tuesday’s Russian missile strike on the regional government headquarters in the southern city of Mykolaiv, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said. New strikes were reported in Mariupol and Chernihiv.
- Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are set to resume talks online Friday, head Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said in an overnight Telegram post. He added that he hopes to see Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet if diplomatic efforts progress.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday it was ready to lead a “safe passage operation” in Mariupol, and the Kremlin on Thursday declared a humanitarian cease-fire there, but civilians in the devastated port city are struggling to flee unrelenting Russian artillery fire and airstrikes.
- Ukraine and Russia are set to resume peace talks online Friday after limited progress in Istanbul earlier in the week. On the battlefield, the Kremlin appeared to be pulling forces out of the Chernobyl nuclear plant and moving some units away from the Kyiv area, but Western officials remain skeptical of Russia’s pledge to reduce military operations in northern Ukraine.
- European leaders rejected President Putin’s demand that “unfriendly countries” pay for natural gas in rubles, an apparent bid to help stabilize the Russian currency amid sanctions.
- The European Union will hold a virtual summit with Chinese leaders on Friday.
More live updates here.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday it was ready to lead a “safe passage operation” in Mariupol, and the Kremlin on Thursday declared a humanitarian cease-fire there, but civilians in the devastated port city are struggling to flee unrelenting Russian artillery fire and airstrikes.
- Ukraine and Russia are set to resume peace talks online Friday after limited progress in Istanbul earlier in the week. On the battlefield, the Kremlin appeared to be pulling forces out of the Chernobyl nuclear plant and moving some units away from the Kyiv area, but Western officials remain skeptical of Russia’s pledge to reduce military operations in northern Ukraine.
- European leaders rejected President Putin’s demand that “unfriendly countries” pay for natural gas in rubles, an apparent bid to help stabilize the Russian currency amid sanctions.
- The European Union will hold a virtual summit with Chinese leaders on Friday.
More live updates here.
A Belarusian battalion fights in Ukraine ‘for both countries’ freedom’
or more than a decade, Pavel Kulazhanka has sought to overthrow the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko in his native Belarus.
First, it was simple street protests. Then, sabotaging train lines and bombing military outposts. Eventually, he had to flee — and landed in New York City, where he became a mixed martial arts fighter.
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But he thinks the best shot yet at toppling Lukashenko — and Russian President Vladimir Putin, without whose support many in Belarus think Lukashenko would quickly fall — has come with the war in Ukraine.
He is one of hundreds of Belarusians who have joined the fight here, inspired by their neighbor’s battlefield successes and determined to carry that momentum back into Belarus to end Lukashenko’s 28-year rule.
Read the full story here.
or more than a decade, Pavel Kulazhanka has sought to overthrow the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko in his native Belarus.
First, it was simple street protests. Then, sabotaging train lines and bombing military outposts. Eventually, he had to flee — and landed in New York City, where he became a mixed martial arts fighter.
Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine.
But he thinks the best shot yet at toppling Lukashenko — and Russian President Vladimir Putin, without whose support many in Belarus think Lukashenko would quickly fall — has come with the war in Ukraine.
He is one of hundreds of Belarusians who have joined the fight here, inspired by their neighbor’s battlefield successes and determined to carry that momentum back into Belarus to end Lukashenko’s 28-year rule.
Read the full story here.
Why Russia’s military is bogged down by logistics in Ukraine
Ambushed convoys and broken-down tanks. Generals killed close to the front. Long-expired rations. Frostbite.
Russia’s military was built for quick, overwhelming firepower, experts say, but its weakness is logistics. And on the roads of Ukraine a month after the first invasion, that weakness is showing.
Many analysts say the Russians assumed they would quickly capture the capital city of Kyiv and force President Volodymyr Zelensky out of power. Whatever the strategy, that outcome did not happen, and Russia has been plagued by an inability to keep supplies flowing to troops in a longer ground war.
After weeks of little success except in southeastern Ukraine, despite relentless shelling and thousands of military and civilian casualties, Moscow said during peace negotiations on Tuesday that it would “drastically reduce” military activity in the northern part of the country, near Kyiv and Chernihiv.
Read the full story here.
Ambushed convoys and broken-down tanks. Generals killed close to the front. Long-expired rations. Frostbite.
Russia’s military was built for quick, overwhelming firepower, experts say, but its weakness is logistics. And on the roads of Ukraine a month after the first invasion, that weakness is showing.
Many analysts say the Russians assumed they would quickly capture the capital city of Kyiv and force President Volodymyr Zelensky out of power. Whatever the strategy, that outcome did not happen, and Russia has been plagued by an inability to keep supplies flowing to troops in a longer ground war.
After weeks of little success except in southeastern Ukraine, despite relentless shelling and thousands of military and civilian casualties, Moscow said during peace negotiations on Tuesday that it would “drastically reduce” military activity in the northern part of the country, near Kyiv and Chernihiv.
Read the full story here.
Russian troops have withdrawn from Chernobyl, Ukraine agency says
No Russian troops were near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant site early Friday, Ukraine’s State Agency on Exclusion Zone Management said, following reports a day earlier that the site has been handed back to Ukrainian personnel.
“At the present moment there are no outsiders at the Chernobyl NPP site,” the agency said in a Facebook post, referring to Russian troops and using a Ukrainian spelling for the defunct nuclear facility.
Ukraine’s state-owned atomic energy firm, Energoatom, said in a statement on Telegram that all technological equipment at the plant and systems for monitoring radiation were “working normally” on Friday.
The Chernobyl plant, the scene of a major 1986 disaster, was among the first strategic facilities seized by Russian troops at the start of their invasion of Ukraine in February. Its capture sparked international alarm and raised fears of a nuclear accident in Europe.
Read the full story here.
No Russian troops were near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant site early Friday, Ukraine’s State Agency on Exclusion Zone Management said, following reports a day earlier that the site has been handed back to Ukrainian personnel.
“At the present moment there are no outsiders at the Chernobyl NPP site,” the agency said in a Facebook post, referring to Russian troops and using a Ukrainian spelling for the defunct nuclear facility.
Ukraine’s state-owned atomic energy firm, Energoatom, said in a statement on Telegram that all technological equipment at the plant and systems for monitoring radiation were “working normally” on Friday.
The Chernobyl plant, the scene of a major 1986 disaster, was among the first strategic facilities seized by Russian troops at the start of their invasion of Ukraine in February. Its capture sparked international alarm and raised fears of a nuclear accident in Europe.
Read the full story here.
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Russia accuses Ukraine of helicopter strike on Belgorod fuel depot
Russia accused Ukraine on Friday of escalating their war by carrying out a helicopter attack against a fuel depot in the Russian city of Belgorod in what appeared to be Ukraine’s first airstrike on Russian soil since the invasion began.
Ukrainian officials would not confirm or deny the attack, suggesting it could be a Russian error or even linked to Russian helicopter pilots who had refused to fly into Ukraine. Despite this apparent trolling, many military and intelligence analysts said it had been a Ukrainian attack.
If the attack is confirmed, it would mark an audacious and risky shift by Ukraine, with its forces shifting from a largely defensive posture to a direct airstrike on Russia at a time when the Russian military appears weakened.
Read the full story here.
Russia accused Ukraine on Friday of escalating their war by carrying out a helicopter attack against a fuel depot in the Russian city of Belgorod in what appeared to be Ukraine’s first airstrike on Russian soil since the invasion began.
Ukrainian officials would not confirm or deny the attack, suggesting it could be a Russian error or even linked to Russian helicopter pilots who had refused to fly into Ukraine. Despite this apparent trolling, many military and intelligence analysts said it had been a Ukrainian attack.
If the attack is confirmed, it would mark an audacious and risky shift by Ukraine, with its forces shifting from a largely defensive posture to a direct airstrike on Russia at a time when the Russian military appears weakened.
Read the full story here.
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Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- European Union leaders called on China to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine during a virtual summit Friday that was meant to focus on E.U.-China relations.
- Mykolaiv Gov. Vitaliy Kim on Friday said 28 people are confirmed dead and dozens more unaccounted for after a cruise missile struck Mykolaiv’s main government building early Tuesday.
- On the battlefield, the Kremlin appeared to be pulling forces out of the Chernobyl nuclear plant site and moving some units away from the Kyiv area.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian troop movements reflect the success of his country’s military. But conditions in southern Ukraine and in the eastern region of Donbas — which Russia seems determined to control — remain “extremely difficult,” he added.
More live updates here.
- European Union leaders called on China to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine during a virtual summit Friday that was meant to focus on E.U.-China relations.
- Mykolaiv Gov. Vitaliy Kim on Friday said 28 people are confirmed dead and dozens more unaccounted for after a cruise missile struck Mykolaiv’s main government building early Tuesday.
- On the battlefield, the Kremlin appeared to be pulling forces out of the Chernobyl nuclear plant site and moving some units away from the Kyiv area.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian troop movements reflect the success of his country’s military. But conditions in southern Ukraine and in the eastern region of Donbas — which Russia seems determined to control — remain “extremely difficult,” he added.
More live updates here.
Here is the status of Ukrainian cities under Russian attack as of April 1.
Kyiv region: Ukrainian officials said Friday they have retaken many communities around the capital as Russian forces withdraw. A spokesman for the Ukrainian defense ministry claimed nearly a dozen “settlements” returned to Ukrainian control.
Mariupol: The International Committee of the Red Cross said it was unable to reach Mariupol on Friday to deliver badly needed supplies and help evacuate civilians. Ukrainian leaders have said some 100,000 people may remain trapped in the southern port city.
Mykolaiv: Ukrainian forces have held onto the city and even made recent gains, pushing Russian artillery out of range of downtown Mykolaiv.
Donetsk region: A Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson said Russian cruise missiles “destroyed” a Ukrainian army headquarters building and “up to 40 personnel” in the eastern Donetsk region, according to Interfax, a Russian news agency.
More live updates here.
Kyiv region: Ukrainian officials said Friday they have retaken many communities around the capital as Russian forces withdraw. A spokesman for the Ukrainian defense ministry claimed nearly a dozen “settlements” returned to Ukrainian control.
Mariupol: The International Committee of the Red Cross said it was unable to reach Mariupol on Friday to deliver badly needed supplies and help evacuate civilians. Ukrainian leaders have said some 100,000 people may remain trapped in the southern port city.
Mykolaiv: Ukrainian forces have held onto the city and even made recent gains, pushing Russian artillery out of range of downtown Mykolaiv.
Donetsk region: A Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson said Russian cruise missiles “destroyed” a Ukrainian army headquarters building and “up to 40 personnel” in the eastern Donetsk region, according to Interfax, a Russian news agency.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The International Committee of the Red Cross will make another attempt Saturday to evacuate civilians from the war-torn port city of Mariupol after Friday’s efforts failed.
- Online peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv took place Friday, in the aftermath of a fuel depot fire in a Russian border city that the Kremlin blamed on a Ukrainian strike. Moscow called the alleged attack an “escalation” that might harm negotiations; Kyiv would not confirm or deny its role, though some military experts said it was probably responsible.
- The Pentagon on Friday announced a new $300 million security assistance package for Ukraine that will include drones, counter-drone systems and armored vehicles.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video posted early Saturday, threatened to punish Ukrainians who collaborated with Russian occupying forces. He also urged Russian families to keep their sons away from Moscow’s latest conscription draft.
More live updates here.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross will make another attempt Saturday to evacuate civilians from the war-torn port city of Mariupol after Friday’s efforts failed.
- Online peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv took place Friday, in the aftermath of a fuel depot fire in a Russian border city that the Kremlin blamed on a Ukrainian strike. Moscow called the alleged attack an “escalation” that might harm negotiations; Kyiv would not confirm or deny its role, though some military experts said it was probably responsible.
- The Pentagon on Friday announced a new $300 million security assistance package for Ukraine that will include drones, counter-drone systems and armored vehicles.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video posted early Saturday, threatened to punish Ukrainians who collaborated with Russian occupying forces. He also urged Russian families to keep their sons away from Moscow’s latest conscription draft.
More live updates here.
4,000 letters and four hours of sleep: Ukrainian leader wages digital war
Weeks after Russia invaded, Ukraine’s youngest cabinet minister launched a complaint to the Chinese drone company DJI, claiming that Russia’s military was using its popular technology to target missile attacks.
“@DJIGlobal are you sure you want to be a partner in these murders?” tweeted Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation. “Block your products that are helping russia to kill the Ukrainians!”
DJI has long attempted to keep an arms-length from geopolitics. But the company responded within hours, offering to attempt to block drone flights by installing a geofence throughout the country. With a single provocative tweet, Fedorov had notched another victory.
“Following these attacks, you would get a growing and a burning sense of injustice and a sense of just preservation of yourself, your nation and your freedom,” he said during an exclusive Zoom interview with The Washington Post.
Read the full story here.
Weeks after Russia invaded, Ukraine’s youngest cabinet minister launched a complaint to the Chinese drone company DJI, claiming that Russia’s military was using its popular technology to target missile attacks.
“@DJIGlobal are you sure you want to be a partner in these murders?” tweeted Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation. “Block your products that are helping russia to kill the Ukrainians!”
DJI has long attempted to keep an arms-length from geopolitics. But the company responded within hours, offering to attempt to block drone flights by installing a geofence throughout the country. With a single provocative tweet, Fedorov had notched another victory.
“Following these attacks, you would get a growing and a burning sense of injustice and a sense of just preservation of yourself, your nation and your freedom,” he said during an exclusive Zoom interview with The Washington Post.
Read the full story here.
As Russia drafts young men, some fear ending up on Ukraine’s front line
The Russian military began its spring draft Friday, aiming to sign up 134,500 conscripts and stoking fears among young men that they may end up on the front lines of the invasion of Ukraine.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has vowed that none of them will be used to reinforce Russian troops now fighting in Ukraine. “Please note that conscripts will not be deployed to any hot spots,” he said in televised remarks Tuesday.
But amid the significant losses suffered by Russian forces in their Ukrainian campaign, which appears to have lasted longer than the Kremlin anticipated, Shoigu’s assurances have not put all prospective conscripts and their families at ease.
All Russian men between 18 and 27 must serve one year in the military, and recruitment campaigns are usually held each spring and fall. Dodging the draft is punishable by heavy fines and sentences of up to two years in prison.
Read the full story here.
The Russian military began its spring draft Friday, aiming to sign up 134,500 conscripts and stoking fears among young men that they may end up on the front lines of the invasion of Ukraine.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has vowed that none of them will be used to reinforce Russian troops now fighting in Ukraine. “Please note that conscripts will not be deployed to any hot spots,” he said in televised remarks Tuesday.
But amid the significant losses suffered by Russian forces in their Ukrainian campaign, which appears to have lasted longer than the Kremlin anticipated, Shoigu’s assurances have not put all prospective conscripts and their families at ease.
All Russian men between 18 and 27 must serve one year in the military, and recruitment campaigns are usually held each spring and fall. Dodging the draft is punishable by heavy fines and sentences of up to two years in prison.
Read the full story here.