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☆ Zelenskyy aide resigns after suggesting Ukraine air defense caused a Russian missile to hit an apartment building, killing 44
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Ukrainian official resigned after suggesting Russia did not target a Dnipro apartment block with a missile. Oleksiy Arestovych said Ukraine shot down the Russian missile that hit the block, killing 44. There was an international outcry after a massive Russian KH-22 missile slammed into the residential block on Saturday. Russian missiles have repeatedly struck residential buildings throughout the war. Contrary to Arestovych's statement, Ukraine's air force said that the country doesn't have the capability to shoot down the type of missile Russia used on Saturday, which has been dubbed an "aircraft carrier killer."

☆ GOP Rep. looking into Biden's mishandling of classified docs said he won't do the same for Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The new GOP oversight chair is looking into Biden's mishandling of classified documents. Speaking to CNN, he said: "We just want equal treatment here, with respect to how both former President Trump and current President Biden are being treated with the document issue." Comer asked why Trump's Mar-a-Lago home was searched by the FBI and why Biden's home wasn't, saying: "it's not fair." Asked if seeking more information of Trump would be a priority, Comer said: "That will not be a priority." Indicating the clip, Jake Tapper asked him: "Do you only care about classified documents being mishandled when Democrats do the mishandling?"

☆ Russia's top military brass and an infamous mercenary leader are feuding over who gets credit for taking back a Ukrainian town
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Russian army and mercenary organization Wagner Group have both claimed credit for taking a Ukrainian town. Russia has relied on Wagner mercenaries to augment its fighting force as thousands of troops have died in the war. Infamous mercenary organization Wagner Group is feuding with the Russian military over who should get the praise for seizing control of Soledar, a town in eastern Ukraine. Reuters reported that a spokesperson for Ukraine's eastern military denies that Soledar has fallen to Russian forces. If confirmed, the seizure of Soledar would be Russia's biggest advancement in the war since July, according to Reuters.

☆ Russia's defense manufacturing sector is using convict labor to meet war-time demands: UK intel
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia announced it's using the forced labor of convicts to manufacture weaponry. The UK MOD said that manufacturers are likely under intense pressure to keep the army supplied. Russia, which reintroduced forced prison labor in 2017, has a prison population of around 400,000, as well as a system accused of perpetuating "extreme brutality and corruption," the UK MOD said. It is likely under "intense pressure" to produce more, the UK MOD said. The UK MOD report follows several signals that Russia, like Ukraine, is grappling with difficulties in keeping its front line supplied with a wide range of munitions.

☆ Notorious Russian arms dealer freed in Brittney Griner exchange awkwardly backs out of pledge to fight in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Freed arms dealer Viktor Bout appeared to reverse his position on whether he'd fight in Ukraine. After being freed in exchange for Brittney Griner last December, Bout said he'd "readily volunteer." It was a strong about-face from comments Bout made to Russian state TV only a month ago. Bout was freed from US jail on December 9, in exchange for WNBA star Brittney Griner, in a high-profile prisoner swap engineered by the Biden administration. Bout attracted the nickname of "The Merchant of Death" over his prominent arms dealing operation in the 1990s, as Insider previously reported.

☆ Trump calls on FBI to raid Biden over classified files, misleadingly comparing the situation to documents found at Mar-a-Lago
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The discovery of classified documents in a former Biden office set Trump on a Truth Social tear. The former president called for the FBI to raid Biden's home, as they did his Mar-a-Lago resort. The case appears to bear limited parallels to the one that sparked the FBI's raid on Trump's home. In Biden's case, per Sauber's statement, the documents were turned over as soon as they were located. GOP lawmakers also jumped on the bandwagon, with suggestions that the situation was equivalent to or worse than the case against Trump.

☆ Russia is trying to label as extremist maps that question its territorial claims over parts of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Maps that don't respect Russia's claimed "territorial integrity" are to be labeled extremist material. Lawmakers objected to maps that don't show occupied Crimea as part of Russia. An amendment to anti-extremism legislation would include as extremist "cartographic and other documents and images that dispute the territorial integrity of Russia," according to Reuters. Russia has claimed Crimea as Russian territory since its troops seized the land from Ukraine in 2014 — a claim rejected not only by Ukraine but by almost 100 UN member states. Independent Russian outlet Meduza, in editorial remarks, said the amendment will likely apply to the regions of Ukraine occupied by Russia since its 2022 invasion.

☆ Steve Bannon calls Bolsonaro protesters who stormed Brazil's Congress 'freedom fighters'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Steve Bannon hyped the protesters who stormed Brazil's Congress, calling them "freedom fighters." The former Trump advisor has long stoked unsubstantiated rumors of election fraud in Brazil. Bannon has seized on the issue in the same way he did with Trump's own election fraud claims. Lately Bannon, a former Trump advisor, has also amped unevidenced claims of election fraud in Brazil. A review by Brazil's military late last year found no credible evidence of widespread election fraud, according to The New York Times.

☆ A volunteer medic in Ukraine posted a 'skincare routine' video from the front lines after TikTok kept deleting his war posts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A frontline medic in Ukraine posted a "skincare" video to TikTok after his other posts were taken down. Brandon Mitchell made the skincare post in part to ridicule TikTok's moderation. But after TikTok took much of that material down, Mitchell made a post on Monday simply labeled: "Skincare routine." The hashtag #fakewar is often added to Ukraine content, while sexually suggestive content might be posted with the hashtag #fakebody. As for Mitchell, he says he's not planning to continue to take on the social media giant over his Ukraine war posts.

☆ Medvedev: Put Russian Hypersonic Missiles Close to Washington, DC
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's former president called for hypersonic missiles to be put close to Washington, DC. Dmitry Medvedev lashed out after US officials said the Ukraine war is not "worthy" of Russians. Hypersonic missiles are exceptionally fast, and can travel on an unpredictable flight path, making them harder to intercept with traditional air defense systems. The 405-mile-long Potomac River passes through Washington, D.C., the seat of the US federal government. On Wednesday, Russia announced that it was sending its Admiral Gorshkov warship, armed with Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, on a long-range voyage that would pass through the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea.

Locations: США, РФ

☆ Video shows Russian mercenary boss releasing convicts after they fought in Ukraine, warning them not to rape or take drugs now they're free
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Wagner Group's founder released 24 prisoners from mercenary service, Russian media reported. The mercenary army recruited numerous convicts to fight in Ukraine, with the promise of a pardon. Prigozhin is seen addressing the former convicts recruited to serve in his mercenary army, per the outlet. Wagner Group troops have been used in multiple operations in both the Middle East and Africa, as well as the 2022 Ukraine invasion. Alongside his initial recruitment promise to convicts, Prigozhin also issued a threat, per a translation by The Wall Street Journal's Yaroslav Trofimov: "If you serve six months, you are free.

☆ Incoming Democratic Congressman says he'll be sworn in on a first-edition Superman comic, underneath the US Constitution
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An incoming Democratic lawmaker says he'll be sworn in on a first-edition Superman comic. Robert Garcia said he'd also use his citizenship certificate and a photo of his late parents, under the Constitution. Garcia is an avid comic books fan, frequently tweeting about his preference for DC over Marvel. Congressman-elect Robert Garcia, of California's 42nd District, tweeted an image of items he plans to be sworn in on. Being sworn in on a comic book would not be Garcia's only significant first.

☆ Iranian-made drones cost as little as $20,000 to make, but up to $500,000 to shoot down, a growing concern in Ukraine, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's Iranian-made drones cost as little as $20,000, but can cost much more to shoot down. Ukraine launched multiple costly missiles over New Year to deal with Russia's drones, NYT reported. While the Shahed-136 drones being deployed by Russia cost as little as $20,000 to make, shooting one out of the sky can cost between $140,000-$500,000, the paper reported. "Shooting $4 million missiles at $250,000 Russian cruise missiles might be justified if those missiles would hit sensitive targets. Shooting a $4 million missile at a $50,000 Iranian Shahed-136 drone would probably not," they said.

☆ Outgoing Republican congressman says that if Trump is not prosecuted 'then I frankly fear for the future of this country'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Outgoing GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger said that he fears for the US if Trump is not prosecuted. "If this is not a crime, I don't know what is," Kinzinger said of the evidence he had reviewed. But after seeing the wealth of evidence the committee pulled together, he said: "I'm like, 'yeah, if this is not a crime, I don't know what is.' Kinzinger said he believed that the DOJ will prosecute Trump, and if it didn't there could be long-term repercussions. "If he is not guilty of a crime, then I frankly fear for the future of this country," he said.

☆ 9 hardline Republicans are withholding support for Kevin McCarthy's bid for Speaker of the House, demanding more concessions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin McCarthy's race to become House Speaker looks set to go down to the wire. Several hardline GOP lawmakers are making further demands before McCarthy can secure their votes. The House GOP then announced several concessions in a provisional rules package, per CNN. Among the issues being thrashed out is the procedure for ousting a House Speaker, something that some conservative hardliners want to make far easier. On Sunday's call, McCarthy agreed to set the threshold to five lawmakers, CNN reported.

☆ Did Putin really poop himself? How an influential Telegram account is spreading wild, unproven claims about the Kremlin's inner workings
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The Russian Telegram account General SVR is a source of many juicy tabloid stories about Putin. Experts on Russian media strongly doubt the account, and say it does more harm than good. They attributed them to a single, anonymous source: the mysterious Telegram account known as General SVR. Among those used to more rigorous documenting of Russia's secrets, General SVR prompts open derision. Soon after his questioning, the General SVR channel made a post denying any connection to Solovey.

☆ A man was given the death penalty after footage of him being roasted in jail by Comedy Central's Jeff Ross was used in his sentencing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Comedy Central roast is at the heart of a death row appeal heading to the US Supreme Court. 2015 footage of Jeff Ross roasting Texas jail inmates was used at a murder convict's sentencing. The inmate's lawyers say the footage shouldn't have been used and impacted the sentence. Comedian Jeff Ross talks to Conan O'Brien in 2015 about his Comedy Central roast of jail inmates. But Hall's lawyers say this still contravened his "no contact" order and was done without prior legal advice, ultimately arguing it violates Hall's Sixth Amendment rights.

☆ Russia's Wagner militia is openly and angrily feuding with its main military over the faltering invasion of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin backed up criticisms of Russia's top general, the Daily Beast reported. It's more evidence of a rift at the top of Russia's military elite as the Ukraine war drags on. In the video, a Wagner fighter addresses comments to the Chief of the General Staff of Russia's army, Valery Gerasimov: "You are a fucking motherfucker," he said, per the Beast's translation. Asked to comment on the video, Prigozhin confirmed that it was his soldiers speaking, and defended them, the Beast reported. It's only the latest evidence of simmering tensions among Russia's military elite as they struggle to make headway in Ukraine — where once a total conquest was considered achievable within two days.

☆ Striking video appears to show Ukrainian suicide drones destroying a column of Russian armored vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine shared footage it says shows several Russian armored vehicles being taken out. It appears to include footage from the view of "suicide" drones just before they hit the vehicles. The video, shared Tuesday, includes airborne footage that approaches the armored vehicles at speed before crashing into them and abruptly cutting out. That footage appears to be taken from the perspective of loitering munitions, otherwise known as suicide drones, as they are destroyed in the attack. Both the Ukrainian and Russian side have made extensive use of suicide drones, with Iran-made Shahed-136 drones powering much of Russia's bombardment of civilian areas and energy infrastructure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is famously secretive about his personal life, and has fought hard to prevent the media and the world from knowing much about his family. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, April 24, 2022. He has rarely publicly acknowledged his children, though media outlets have for years speculated and reported about the two daughters he had with his ex-wife. Further reports center around rumors that two extramarital affairs may have produced another two daughters. And in August, the US government sanctioned ex-gymnast Alina Kabaeva — with whom Putin is rumoured to have had two children.

☆ Zelenskyy comes to Washington, DC, with a long military wish list. But what could he ultimately get?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is in Washington to meet with President Biden and Congress. Zelenskyy brings with him a long military wish list, though it's unclear what he will go home with. He is set to ask for weapons that the US has long balked at providing, including Gray Eagle drones. But it's only one of the weapons Zelenskyy is expected to press for in his meetings with Biden and others. But the US has long balked at providing them, fearing that long-range weapons would be too provocative for Russian leaders.

☆ Zelenskyy comes to Washington DC with a long military wish list. But what could he ultimately get?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy is in Washington to meet with President Biden and Congress. Zelenskyy brings with him a long military wish list, though it is unclear what he will go home with. He is set to ask for weapons that the US has long balked at providing, including Gray Eagle drones. But it's only one of the weapons Zelenskyy is expected to press for in his meetings with Biden and others. But the US has long balked at providing them, fearing that long-range weapons would be too provocative for Russian leaders.

☆ Ukraine's Ministry of Defense reassures kids that Santa and his reindeer won't be shot down by Russian missiles
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian defenses will keep Santa safe from Russian missiles, Ukraine's MOD tweeted. He may be listening: the US is set to transfer its Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine. "But [Ukraine's] air defense guarantees a safe flight for him and his reindeer over our land." Air defense remains one of Ukraine's gravest concerns as Russia's invasion continues with no end in sight. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is set to send Ukraine the Patriot missile system, its most advanced air defense system, a senior administration official told The Washington Post on Tuesday.

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene attacks Lauren Boebert, calls her childish and mocks her struggle to get re-elected
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene ripped into Lauren Boebert on Monday, saying she acted "childishly." "I don't believe in this, just like I don't believe in Russian space lasers, Jewish space lasers and all of this." Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 19, 2022Boebert survived an extraordinarily tight race for Colorado's Third Congressional District in the midterms. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 19, 2022Boebert did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Boebert, Greene and Gaetz — who all sit to the far right of the Republican Party — have long been grouped together, but reports emerged in April of a rift between Greene and Boebert.

☆ Couples are proposing to each other by writing 'marry me' on Ukrainian artillery shells to be fired at Russians
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A US supporter of Ukraine proposed to his girlfriend with a message on a Ukrainian artillery shell. They used a Ukrainian service that offers customized notes on munitions in exchange for a donation. "When we first started dating, I made an offhand comment one night," 38-year-old Emily Knight told Insider. A few months later that's more or less what her partner David did, using a then-burgeoning Ukrainian service known as SignMyRocket that the couple had been browsing. Her mother, who was ready to foot the bill for a white wedding, has been told to send the equivalent cash to Ukraine, Emily said.

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