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☆ Attack on Russian warships at a Black Sea naval base shows Ukraine's big offensive is more than meets the eye and making Crimea 'untenable' for Moscow's forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementBlackSky imagery captured work being done at the Sevastopol Shipyard dry docks in Russian-occupied Crimea on September 12, 2023. His remarks were an apparent reference to increasing tensions around the Black Sea and Russia's threats to civilian merchant vessels after Moscow withdrew from the crucial Black Sea grain deal. Podolyak said attacks on the Black Sea fleet are a critical way to respond to Russian aggression in the region. AdvertisementAdvertisementView of a damaged Russian ship following a Ukrainian missile attack on Sevastopol, Crimea September 13, 2023 in this social media image. Ukraine has also been taking aim at ships operating in the Black Sea, stepping up the pressure further.

Persons: Ben Hodges, —, Mykhailo Podolyak, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Podolyak, Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev, Razvozhaev, Mikhail Razvozhaev, Hodges Organizations: Wednesday, US Army, Service, REUTERS, REUTERS Ukrainian, Armed Forces, Kyiv, AP, Russian General Staff, Telegram, Army Tactical Missile, ЧКОГПУ Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Crimea, Sevastopol, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Crimean, Kyiv, US Army Europe, Ukrainian, Moscow, Sevastopol’s, Sevastopol Shipyard, Russia's, . Washington

YAHIDNE, Ukraine — Ukraine's military is making "very tangible progress" in its counteroffensive against Russian forces, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC News on Thursday. He also placed the blame for a lack of peace talks at the door of the Kremlin. Ukrainians "knew this was going to be a hard fight but especially over the last couple of weeks, we are seeing very tangible progress," Blinken said in an interview. He said that he had heard a very detailed report from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who recently visited the front lines, and his military advisers. "I think we are seeing real forward movement," Blinken added.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Ukraine —, Ukraine's, Blinken, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: State Border Guard, Security and, Russian, NBC, Kyiv, Kremlin Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv Oblast, YAHIDNE, Ukraine's, Yahidne, Russian

Here are the meanings of the least-found words that were used in (mostly) recent Times articles. 1. pellicle — a thin skin or film:Chestnuts, a holiday favorite, don’t make it easy for us to cook them at home. The pellicle, its sticky inner skin, clings to the nut and can give it a bitter taste. This is achieved less by rethinking motivations than by burrowing into the language, far richer than I imagined. — The Best Coffee Break Is an Affogato (Aug. 11, 2021)The list of the week’s easiest words:

Persons: pellicle, chyme, Jimmy, yecch, ’, Brunie, McDermott, ‘, ”, Forest Simmons, Michael Starbird, Su, dotard, Seana McKenna, Ben Carlson, cortado, Maillard, enby, Taylor Mason, Asia Kate Dillon, —, clayey, bombe Organizations: Charter, Education, Andersen, Russian Locations: New York, Ontario, Copenhagen, Morningside Heights, Manhattan

☆ Exploding drone boats aren't hard to beat, but Russia's weak defenses are letting Ukraine blow up its ships
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ukraine's recent waterborne drone attacks have shed light on weaknesses in Russian defenses. Prior to the hits on Olenegorsky Gornyak and Sig, previous naval drone attacks have terrorized Russian ships in the Black Sea. United 24/Ukrainian government'Too many to take out'With the drone attacks showing no sign of stopping, the questions become how Russia will respond. And if Russia does ramp up its defenses, it's likely that Ukraine will scale up the number of its drone boats. Operating a group of drone boats, Clark added, is more difficult given water conditions, weather, and the potential to ram into unintended targets.

Persons: Sutton, Gornyak, haven't, they're, Bryan Clark, Ulf Mauder, Clark, Shaposhnikov, Peter the, KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV Organizations: Service, Sig, US Navy, Hudson Institute, Russia's, Getty, intel Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russian, Russia, Novorossiysk, Ukraine, Sevastopol, Ukrainian, US, Persian, Israel, Peter the Great, Japan, Vladivostok, AFP, Crimea

☆ How — and when — Ukraine's war with Russia could end
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Wojciech Grzedzinski | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesThe war between Russia and Ukraine entered a new phase this summer when Kyiv launched its much-anticipated counteroffensive, and there were hopes Ukraine would regain the upper hand. "By the end of this year, both sides will think they still have more to gain by fighting. "Literally, they're [the Ukrainian forces] just running into the first line of defenses now, but that's a 30 kilometer deep belt of minefields and trenches and counter attacks. Meanwhile, any prospect of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine look slim despite efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table. "One outcome is that this war is fought out because Ukraine gets the help to do it.

Persons: King Danylo, Wojciech Grzedzinski, It's, Richard Barrons, isn't, Barrons, Nick Reynolds, they've, you've, Jamie Shea, Shea, John Kirby Organizations: Mechanized Brigade, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Kyiv, Russian, Military, Joint Forces Command, CNBC, Ukrainian, Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Battalion, Territorial Defense, Ukrainian Air Force, NATO, Ukraine, U.S . National Security Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast, Donetsk, Bakhmut, Berdyansk, Azov, London, Russian, Crimea, United States, Vilnius, Lithuania, China, India, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Greece, Cyprus, North, South Korea

☆ Russia watches as Saudi Arabia leads Ukraine peace talks with U.S., world allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

High-precision weapons were aimed at private houses, a historic building and a high-rise building," said Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. WASHINGTON — Ukraine welcomed Saudi Arabia's decision to host multinational talks this week on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposed peace plan, a move that could set up future negotiations with Russia. The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that the United States, several European countries and Brazil were invited to the talks. Read more: Saudi energy minister says latest Riyadh-Moscow oil cuts showed unity with RussiaLast year, Saudi Arabia helped broker a prisoner exchange involving more than 200 people between Kyiv and Moscow. "Is it possible to reach a peace settlement now with the participation of the Kyiv regime and in the context of its current stance?

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy . WASHINGTON —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy, Yermak, Read, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov Organizations: Saudi, Kyiv, Street, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Mykolaiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy . WASHINGTON, Volodymyr Zelenskyy . WASHINGTON — Ukraine, Jeddah, Ukraine, West, East, North, United States, Brazil, Riyadh, Moscow, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Kyiv, Russian

☆ Opinion: Sending cluster bombs to Ukraine is a very bad idea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Opinion Michael Bociurkiw | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Michael Bociurkiw CNNOn Friday, after months of debate, US President Joe Biden announced that, as part of a new $800 million military aid package, the administration will be sending controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine. “No to cluster bombs and yes to the legitimate defense of Ukraine, which we understand should not be carried out with cluster bombs,” said Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles. Discord among US allies over cluster munitions might have been avoided altogether, had western capitals moved more swiftly to provide Ukraine with lethal weaponry. To keep the Ukrainians from running out and being defeated, we must send them cluster munitions. Cluster munitions could bring Kyiv a temporary battlefield advantage.

Persons: Michael Bociurkiw, Joe Biden, “, ”, Margarita Robles, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Emannuel Macron, Andre Luis Alves, ” Biden, William Taylor, Jake Sullivan, Vladimir Putin —, Erin Burnett, Zelensky Organizations: Atlantic Council, Organization for Security, Cooperation, CNN, Ukraine CNN —, Michael Bociurkiw CNN, Spain’s, NATO, Tactical Missile Systems, British Storm Shadow, Defense Department, Cluster Munitions, Human Rights Watch, United States Fund, UNICEF, “, Sunday, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Twitter Locations: Odesa, Europe, Kyiv, Ukraine, Canada, Spain, New Zealand, Germany, Margarita Robles . New Zealand, Lithuania, Vilnius, Russia, France, United States, Asia, Geneva, AVDIIVKA, UKRAINE, Avdiivka, Vladimir Putin — Ukraine, Odessa

☆ Opinion: Biden made the right call on cluster munitions for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Opinion Adam Kinzinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Cluster munitions scatter “bomblets” across large areas, which can endanger noncombatants, and these unexploded bombs, called duds, can pose a risk to civilians for decades. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the Russians have been using cluster munitions with a dud rate as high as 40%. But one nation, and one nation only, gets to determine whether to use cluster munitions on its land — Ukraine. Ukrainians deserve everything we can give them — yes, especially cluster munitions — to save their families. President Joe Biden made the right call on cluster munitions for Ukraine and he should be commended for this difficult but necessary decision.

Persons: Adam Kinzinger, Kinzinger, Biden, Brig, Patrick Ryder, ’, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Republican, Air National Guard, Adam Kinzinger CNN, NATO, Pentagon, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Illinois, Ukraine, United States, Russia, Russian

☆ Russia says it's snagged the intact parts of a Storm Shadow missile, and can now study the British-made munition that's been devastating its operations in Ukraine from long range
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia said on Thursday that it's obtained intact parts of a downed Storm Shadow missile. "The Storm Shadow missile, shot down by Russian forces in the Zaporizhzhia region, was brought to Moscow for study," Russian state news agency TASS reported. Describing the missile as a "trophy," TASS wrote that Russian authorities had already received the Storm Shadow parts and are inspecting them. Rogozin said Ukraine shelled the area around the downed missile and sent troops to block Russian forces from securing the Storm Shadow parts, per TASS. "The two-day operation to evacuate the captured Storm Shadow has been successfully completed," read a caption for the Telegram post.

Persons: it's, —, Dmitry Rogozin, Rogozin, Storm Shadow, Ukraine —, Ben Wallace, Ursula von der Leyen, Elliot Napier Organizations: Storm Shadow, Service, Russia, Storm, TASS, Telegram, intel, UK Ministry of Defense, Russia's Ministry of Defense, European Commission, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense Locations: Russia, Russian, Zaporizhzhia, Moscow, British, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ Wagner boss Prigozhin claims he and his forces are entering Russia, vowing to 'destroy anyone' that gets in their way
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed he and his troops were marching on Russia. Still, there is no confirmed video evidence that Prigozhin and his troops are heading toward the city of Rostov in columns. "There's more we don't know than we do know," Ryan told Insider. But whether or not Rostov's apparent lockdown is proof of an impending Prigozhin coup remains to be seen, Ryan said. As chaos mounts, Russian civilians and officials attempted to refocus attention on the country's ongoing war effort in Ukraine, posting Telegram messages encouraging Russian troops to remember the real "enemy" — Ukraine.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, —, Prigozhin, Russia's, aren't, Wagner, Sergey Surovikin, Prigozhin's, Mick Ryan, Ryan, overreacting, we'll Organizations: Wagner, Service, Group, Associated, Tass, Southern Military District Locations: Russia, Russian, Rostov, Ukraine

☆ Russians are reminding troops the enemy is Ukraine amid fears of a Wagner coup attempt against the defense ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has prompted fears of an impending coup in Russia. Russian civilians and officials are imploring troops to keep their focus on Ukraine amid the panic. "Everyone who holds a weapon at the line of contact, remember: your enemy is across from you," a message shared repeatedly states. Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin. Press service of "Concord"/Handout via REUTERSThe Russian defense ministry, meanwhile, also attempted to refocus attention on the fight in Ukraine in a Friday Telegram post.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, —, Russia's, Putin, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Staff Valery Gerasimov, Samuel Bendett, Simon Miles, Miles, Sergey Surovikin, Bendett Organizations: Service, Ukraine —, Russian, Staff, Federal Security Service, Center for Naval Analyses, Press, Armed Forces, Russian Federation, [ Armed Forces, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, gunpoint, Concord, Soviet

At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, President Biden told the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, that he could not have American precision missile systems. It all raises the question: Are there any conventional weapons in the American or NATO arsenals that the president would not, eventually, provide to Ukraine? Washington’s pattern of saying no before saying yes has repeated itself enough times over the past 15 months that Ukrainian officials say they now know to ignore the first answer and keep pressing. And after China’s leader, Xi Jinping, explicitly warned late last year against threatening the use of nuclear weapons, Mr. Putin has quieted down. Some experts warn that Mr. Putin hasn’t dropped his nuclear threats; just delayed them.

☆ Zelensky Lands in Japan for G7 Summit, Seeking Military Aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( David E. Sanger | Natalia Yermak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, President Biden told the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, that he could not have American precision missile systems. Washington’s pattern of saying no before saying yes has repeated itself enough times over the past 15 months that Ukrainian officials say they now know to ignore the first answer and keep pressing. White House officials insist this reflects not indecision, but changing circumstances — and changing assumptions about the risks involved. And after China’s leader, Xi Jinping, explicitly warned late last year against threatening the use of nuclear weapons, Mr. Putin has quieted down. Some experts warn that Mr. Putin hasn’t dropped his nuclear threats; just delayed them.

At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, President Biden told the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, that he could not have American precision missile systems. Washington’s pattern of saying no before saying yes has repeated itself enough times over the past 15 months that Ukrainian officials say they now know to ignore the first answer and keep pressing. But White House officials say the shifting positions reflect not indecision, but changing circumstances — and changing assumptions about the risks involved. And after China’s leader, Xi Jinping, explicitly warned late last year against threatening the use of nuclear weapons, Mr. Putin has quieted down. Some experts warn that Mr. Putin hasn’t dropped his nuclear threats; just delayed them.

☆ International pressure on Biden to give Ukraine F-16 fighter jets appears to be working
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

International pressure on Biden to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets appears to working. Not only will the US authorize use of the US-made F-16s in Ukraine, it'll help train pilots and possibly send fighter jets from its own stockpiles. It also suggests that international pressure — Ukraine's pleas for the jets as well as NATO's desire to send them — on Biden has worked. News on the authorization of F-16 fighter jets came in a flurry. Politico reported that move opens the doors for Western allies to send Ukraine the jets, although the timeline and details are still murky.

☆ Zelenskyy has been banned from speaking at the Eurovision Song Contest because broadcasters fear he would politicize the event
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Major European broadcasters have blocked Zelenskyy from speaking at Eurovision this weekend. A spokesperson for Zelenskyy denied that he had asked to speak at the event, AP reported. "The Eurovision Song Contest is an international entertainment show and governed by strict rules and principles which have been established since its creation. "We believe that this is the best way to reflect and celebrate Ukraine's Eurovision Song Contest win and show we are united by music during these hard times," the broadcasting union said, according to AP. Both the Oscars in March and the Toronto Film Festival in September denied Zelenskyy's requests to speak.

☆ Ukraine says it offered to return 3,000 dead Russian soldiers for burial, but Russia refused because it wouldn't admit the death toll
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia refused to acknowledge more than a handful had died, per Ukraine's defense minister. Reflecting on what he called "the cynicism of the Russians," Reznikov said that Ukraine had counted around 3,000 Russians killed, per translations provided by the filmmaker. The idea of sunflowers — Ukraine's national flower — being fertilized by the bodies of Russian soldiers is a common symbol of resistance in Ukraine. But Maurer said officials were too scared to tell anyone above the defense minister, according to Reznikov's recollection. Anastasia Vlasova/Getty ImagesInsider could not independently confirm the numbers of Russian dead at that time.

☆ Victory Day analysis: Putin tried to project strength, but Moscow parade revealed only his isolation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —For Russian President Vladimir Putin, this year’s Victory Day parade in Red Square was a chance to continue his war on history. It has become a pawn to their cruel and selfish plans.”Despite the pomp of the parade, Putin cuts an increasingly isolated figure. In Russia, Putin and his regime have destroyed these values. A lone Soviet-era T-34 tank leads the procession in Moscow in contrast to the large array of military hardware on display on previous Victory Day parades. “Victory Day is the victory of our grandfathers,” he said.

☆ Dozens of POWs freed as Ukraine marks Orthodox Easter
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Ukrainian prisoners of war pose for a picture after a swap, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an unknown location, Ukraine. "The lives of our people are the highest value for us," Yermak said, adding that Kyiv's goal was to bring back all remaining POWs. At Easter, which from time immemorial has been a family holiday for Ukrainians, a day of warmth, hope and great unity. Others in the line echoed Zaluzhnyy's words about a wartime Easter being a symbol of hope. Despite the shared Orthodox holiday, Russian shelling and missile attacks continued to sow destruction in Ukraine, according to social media statements from Ukrainian regional officials.

☆ Ukraine resumes exporting electricity to Europe after Russia fails to destroy its power grid
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Exports stopped in October after Russia attacked Ukraine's power grids, a move some said amounted to war crimes. Russia ramped up infrastructure attacks in September, when waves of missiles and exploding drones destroyed about half of Ukraine's energy system. Ukraine needs funding to repair damaged generation and transmission lines, and revenue from electricity exports would be one way to do that. The first country to receive Ukraine's energy exports will be Moldova, he said. Engineers sped up the process to link Ukraine to the continental grid, allowing it to decouple its power system from Russia.

☆ Russian jamming may have hamstrung a US-made bomb kit being used in Ukraine, leaked documents say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Leaked Pentagon documents highlighted concerns about the Joint Direct Attack Munition weapon. The American-made bomb kit used by Ukraine may have been hamstrung by Russian jammers. One document in particular highlights concerns about US-made bomb kits which have been sent to Ukraine in recent months. One factor is the bomb fuses aren't arming at their release, which Ukraine's air force has worked to fix. Photo by Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesThe Pentagon documents first became public last week and circulated through social media platforms like Discord, Twitter, and Telegram.

☆ New Hampshire GOP Gov. Chris Sununu, a potential 2024 presidential contender, says some Republicans have 'lost their moral compass' on foreign policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sununu in a Washington Post op-ed criticized some in the GOP over their foreign policy stances. Opposing Ukraine aid "because President Biden supports it is not a viable foreign policy," he wrote. "Simply opposing aid to Ukraine because President Biden supports it is not a viable foreign policy," he continued to say. Sununu proceeded to take another swipe at Trump in seeking to shift the party's foreign policy in a more Reaganesque direction. "Some in the Republican Party have lost their moral compass on foreign policy, as evidenced by former president Donald Trump, who once called Putin's invasion 'genius' and 'savvy,'" the governor wrote.

☆ Russia tried to claim months ago it destroyed American-made armored vehicles that the US didn't even offer Ukraine until last week
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

However, the US only announced last week that it plans to send the armored vehicles to Ukraine. The problem is that the US only offered the vehicles to Kyiv last week, and they haven't even arrived yet. Konashenkov's false claims also appear in a September 4, 2022 report that was published to the Russian defense ministry's official Telegram page. "During the day of hostilities in this direction, the enemy lost 11 tanks, 17 infantry fighting vehicles, including four US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 10 other armored combat vehicles, 5 pickup trucks with heavy machine guns and more than 150 military personnel," the defense ministry said. The US only announced last week that it would send Bradleys to Kyiv, along with NATO allies Germany and France, which are expected to deliver Marder infantry fighting vehicles and AMX-10 RC armored fighting vehicles.

☆ Ukraine aims for a peace summit by the end of February, foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s foreign minister on Monday said that his government is aiming to have a peace summit by the end of February, preferably at the United Nations with Secretary-General António Guterres as a possible mediator, around the anniversary of Russia’s war. But Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told The Associated Press that Russia could only be invited to such a summit if the country faced a war crimes tribunal first. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during an interview in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday. “Every war ends as a result of the actions taken on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.”Kuleba said the Ukrainian government would like to have a peace summit by the end of February. So we would welcome his active participation.”The foreign minister again downplayed comments by Russian authorities that they are ready for talks.

☆ Ukraine says will look into video allegedly showing its soldiers shooting Russians
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“HRMMU is aware of the video and is looking into it,” it said in a statement to The Associated Press. “We have received credible allegations of summary executions of persons hors de combat, and several cases of torture and ill-treatment, reportedly committed by members of the Ukrainian armed forces,” Bogner said. Ukrainian forces often wear bits of yellow, blue or green to identify themselves on the battlefields. At least two other armed men wearing glimpses of yellow also appear to be watching the apparent surrender. Ukrainian forces claimed to have regained control of the front-line village earlier this month.

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