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☆ A year after Russia’s invasion: How Ukraine endured
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +21 min

REUTERS/Valentyn OgirenkoIn the early hours of Feb. 24, 2022, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers entered Ukraine. By seizing the city of three million people, and capturing or killing Zelenskiy, Russia’s hope appeared to be that Ukraine would quickly surrender. By March 23, Russia’s advance had captured regions of Ukraine along the Belarus border but Ukraine’s forces had begun reclaiming territory near Kyiv. Satellite imagery of Russia’s military convoy near Invankiv, Ukraine, Feb. 28, 2022. The two sit on a bed, with a radio and teddy bears nearby., image Ukrainian civilians have endured The will of the people of Ukraine continues to be that they remain free.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy: Russia hit by "extraordinarily significant" losses in east
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 19 (Reuters) - Ukraine's military is inflicting "extraordinarily significant" losses on Russian forces near the town of Vuhledar in the eastern Donbas region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday. We are breaking down the invaders and inflicting extraordinarily significant losses on Russia," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. Zelenskiy outlined the state of defense in other sectors after what he described as an "extended" meeting of the military command. "Of course, military issues and intelligence details are not something you can share with everyone," Zelenskiy said. Reporting by Ron Popeski and Nick Starkov; editing by Diane Craft and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ France's Macron, Ukraine's Zelenskiy discuss wartime plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed strategies on Sunday, including what the Ukrainian leader described as joint decisions ahead of this week's anniversary of Russia's invasion of his country. The two leaders spoke by telephone as Western leaders pledged at a conference in Munich to strengthen their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's latest military attacks. "...We also discussed important decisions that we are planning for this week - for our year of resistance." Macron also reaffirmed to Zelenskiy his support for a 10-point peace proposal laid out by Zelenskiy, during their phone call. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Ron Popeski, Editing by Angus MacSwan and Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Of at least 36 missiles that Russia fired about 16 were shot down, the air force said, a lower rate than normal. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris are among many top officials attending the Munich Security Conference. As Russian troops massed on Ukraine's borders, Western leaders in Munich urged President Vladimir Putin not to invade and warned of dire consequences if he did. Russian leaders will be notable by their absence at the conference, which runs until Sunday, but senior Ukrainian officials are expected to address it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address his priority was to hold off Russian attacks and get ready for an eventual Ukrainian counter-offensive.

☆ Overnight protests rock Tehran, other Iranian cities, videos show
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Videos on Friday showed demonstrations in several neighbourhoods in Tehran as well as in the cities of Karaj, Isfahan, Qazvin, Rasht, Arak, Mashhad, Sanandaj, Qorveh, and Izeh in Khuzestan province. Reuters was able to confirm three of the videos on the protests in Zahedan and one of those in Tehran. Other videos showed large protests on Friday in Zahedan, capital of southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province, home to Iran's Baluchi minority. [1/5] People take part in a protest in Zahedan, Iran in this screen grab taken from a social media video released February 17, 2023 and obtained by Reuters. In recent weeks Iranian media have reported closures of several businesses, restaurants and cafes for failure to observe the hijab rules.

☆ A year into war, Ukraine's Zelenskiy defies Putin against the odds
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/4] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sings the national anthem during his visit in Kherson, Ukraine November 14, 2022. Nor does Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched his "special military operation" in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 and appears to be preparing for a long war. They underestimated his leadership qualities," said Volodymyr Fesenko, a Kyiv-based analyst who said Putin misjudged Zelenskiy. "(Putin) prepared a special operation not a full-fledged war ... because he thought Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian army were weak and that they would not be able to put up lengthy resistance. Anton Grushetsky, deputy director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, put public trust in Zelenskiy at 70% to 80%.

☆ John Legend on His New Baby and How He Writes a Hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Lane Florsheim | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

By his own account, John Legend isn’t living a rock star life right now. Last month, he and his wife, model and chef Chrissy Teigen, welcomed a new baby, Esti Maxine Stephens, so he’s been going to bed and waking up earlier than usual. After bringing Esti home last month, Ms. Teigen posted an Instagram of the couple’s two older children, Luna, 6, and Miles, 4, holding their newborn sister. Was Mr. Legend really shedding “nightly tears of joy,” as his wife wrote in her caption? “It was making me emotional the first two nights we were home because I just felt the love expand in the house, and I felt the excitement,” the 44-year-old musician said.

☆ A manager of 95 Phoenix Airbnbs is stunned that half his homes are empty over Super Bowl weekend. Is it the latest Airbnbust?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Phoenix Airbnb hosts were expecting to be fully booked over Super Bowl weekend. Take a prime three-bedroom two-bathroom home that Kenworthy manages in Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix that actively prepped for a wave of Super Bowl visitors. The Super Bowl is being held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThere are even signs of a recent surge in listings in response to the Super Bowl hype. While Phoenix will continue to be a popular vacation spot, Harvey predicts the Super Bowl disappointment will motivate some owners to sell their short-term-rental properties.

☆ I ask my Airbnb guests to do chores and pay a cleaning fee — here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As a host, we have the ability to set the price of our cleaning feeThe cleaning fee is an extra cost on top of the nightly rate to address the cleaning costs for the home. When we upped our cleaning fees, we doubled the number of cleaning professionalsThat helped with cleanliness, but then we lost bookings because of the high cleaning fees. When we reduced our cleaning fees to their original price, we upped our nightly ratesTo offset any unforeseen cleaning costs, we raised rates by $70 per night. We ask our guests to do 2 chores before they leaveThis helps keep costs down and maintain the excellent condition of the property for future guests. Courtesy of Michelle BursonSecond, we ask that guests take some measures to help out the cleaning professionals who come in after their departure, which also helps us keep our cleaning costs down.

One of the really interesting questions here – this will be fascinating – the core of linear TV is sports rights. When you look at the size and scope of the linear TV business, it's huge. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty ImagesByron Allen, Entertainment Studios founder and CEO: I think linear TV will exist for a very, very long time. Simmons: I believe Apple, out of nowhere, will start making their own awesome televisions that have Apple TV embedded in them. We are witnessing early stages of this dynamic with deals like "NFL Sunday Ticket" on YouTube and the MLS deal with Apple TV.

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Kyiv says it must use every day to ramp up defenses at the front, ahead of Russian offensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the area of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine continues to be a hot spot in the war, with the country now preparing for a Russian offensive aimed at seizing the entire eastern Donbas region. "There are already many reports that the occupiers want to do something symbolic in February. "We see this increased pressure in various areas of the front line, as well as pressure in the information field," the president added. In other news, a top Ukrainian lawmaker said Sunday that Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov was going to be replaced with the chief of Ukraine's military spy agency, Kyrylo Budanov. The government has not yet officially confirmed the move, however, and the official — David Arakhamia, head of President Zelenskyy's parliamentary bloc — said Monday that the changes would not take place this week.

☆ U.S.-China relations just got more fragile
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indefinitely postponed his visit to Beijing due to a Chinese surveillance balloon flying over the United States. Brown | AFP | Getty ImagesBEIJING — U.S.-China relations look increasingly fragile, analysts say, after a now-downed Chinese balloon forced U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to indefinitely postpone his trip to Beijing. "A key question is why the Biden administration decided to publicize this balloon but not previous [reported] ones," Wildau said. While discussion of the balloon — including memes — circulated on Chinese social media, China's official Chinese-language mouthpieces have been more muted so far. "That alone would mean the Chinese leadership would be more restrained and would not want to let this balloon situation blow out of proportion."

☆ Zelenskiy urges Olympic sponsors to keep Russia out of Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Nick Starkov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LVIV, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Ukraine has sent letters to companies that back the International Olympic Committee urging them to keep Russian athletes out of the Paris Olympic Games, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday. Zelenskiy has been spearheading a drive to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the games under a neutral flag. Zelenskiy has said their presence would normalise Russia's invasion of his country and make "terror" acceptable. "Ukraine has sent appropriate letters to the companies that provide the biggest support for the International Olympic Committee," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "These are large international companies who clearly have an interest in ensuring that their reputation and support is not used for war propaganda."

☆ Signs of Coming Russian Offensive on Multiple Fronts in Ukraine Mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Matthew Luxmoore | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

DNIPRO, Ukraine—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation in eastern Ukraine was “very difficult” as Russia pressed for territorial gains around the city of Bakhmut and prepared for an expected offensive in the coming weeks. “I thank all of our fighters who are withstanding severe pressure from the occupiers,” Mr. Zelensky said in his nightly address on Friday. He said he was doing everything to expedite the delivery of Western tanks promised by Ukraine’s European allies, which Kyiv hopes will help swing the balance in its favor and enable counter-offensives against Russian forces.

☆ Ukraine's situation at the front is getting tougher, Zelenskiy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Nick Starkov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LVIV, Ukraine Feb 4 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that the situation on the front lines in the east of the country was getting tougher and Russia was throwing more and more troops into battle. "I've often had to say the situation at the front is tough, and is getting tougher, and it's that time again. "It is very difficult now in Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Lyman and other directions," he continued. Lyman, which lies just to the north of Bakhmut, was liberated by Ukrainian forces in October. On Friday, Zelenskiy vowed that his forces will fight for Bakhmut "for as long as we can," but the situation there is becoming increasingly dire for Ukrainian forces.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy strips citizenship of several former politicians
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Nick Starkov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends an International Human Rights forum, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 9, 2022. LVIV, Ukraine, Feb 5 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revoked the citizenship of several former influential politicians on Saturday in the latest of steps to "cleanse" the country from pro-Russian influences. Zelenskiy would not list the names, but said they had dual Russian citizenship. According to Ukrainian state media, the list includes several top politicians from the office of Viktor Yanukovych, who served as Ukraine's pro-Russian president from 2010 until he was removed from office in 2014. Reporting by Nick Starkov, David Ljunggren and Lidia Kelly; Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Race to find survivors after deadly Kramatorsk attack; Russia preparing for offensive in Donbas
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Kyiv is preparing new reforms as it prepares for a summit with top EU officials at the end of the week. "We are preparing new reforms in Ukraine. "This week will be a week of European integration in every sense of the word," Zelenskyy said. Ukraine applied to join the 27-member political and economic bloc last year, just days after Russia invaded last February, and wants its application fast-tracked. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said earlier this week that Kyiv hopes it can join the EU within two years.

☆ Ukraine security forces smash prostitution ring run by migration officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security service said on Wednesday it had broken up a prostitution ring run by immigration officials, part of a drive to crush corrupt practices and meet Western standards on eliminating graft. The SBU said the ring had been headed by officials of the Migration Department of the national police, normally responsible for safeguarding the interests of displaced people. "These senior officials oversaw a broad 'protection' scheme for prostitution in Kyiv and in other regions," the SBU statement said. In a nightly video address, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the security services for their "quick reaction to these shameful developments". Russia's invasion prompted more than 7 million people to leave Ukraine, according to U.N. figures, though nearly half subsequently returned home.

☆ Ukraine war live updates: U.S. reportedly readying $2 billion aid package for Ukraine; Kyiv signals reforms ahead of EU summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine will host European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other top EU officials on Friday, with hopes high in Kyiv that its application to join the EU will continue to progress. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Kyiv is preparing new reforms as it prepares for a summit with top EU officials at the end of the week. Reforms that will change the social, legal and political reality in many ways, making it more human, transparent and effective. "This week will be a week of European integration in every sense of the word," Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said earlier this week that Kyiv hopes it can join the EU within two years.

☆ Ukraine’s Zelensky Urges Faster Weapons Deliveries Amid Russian Push
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Isabel Coles | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for speedier weapons deliveries from the West as Russian forces increase pressure on the country’s defenders. Russian forces have battered Ukrainian positions in the country’s east in recent weeks, pushing for a breakthrough before tanks pledged by Kyiv’s partners begin to arrive on the battlefield. In the eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian troops are coming under constant attack from Russian forces, Mr. Zelensky said in his nightly address, describing the situation as “very tough.”

☆ Ukraine calls for faster weapons supplies as Russia presses eastern offensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

We have to speed up events, speed up supplies and open up new weapons options for Ukraine." Three people were killed and six injured on Sunday by Russian strikes on Kherson that damaged a hospital and a school, the regional administration said. Russian troops had occupied Kherson shortly after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and held the city until Ukrainian forces recaptured it in November. Russia on Saturday accused the Ukrainian military of deliberately striking a hospital in a Russian-held area of eastern Ukraine, killing 14 people. Russia says it launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine to fend off a hostile West and "denazify" the country.

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Kyiv presses allies for faster weapons supplies; Germany rules out fighter jets for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bakhmut, Vuhledar and other areas in the Donetsk region are under constant Russian attacks. There are constant attempts to break through our defense," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Sunday. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed allies for faster weapons supplies as fighting in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region, continues to be intense. Bakhmut, Vuhledar and other areas in the Donetsk region are under constant Russian attacks. There are constant attempts to break through our defense," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Sunday.

☆ Ukraine Asks for Longer-Range Missiles as It Awaits Tank Deliveries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Matthew Luxmoore | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ukrainian paratroopers waited Saturday for transport in Chasiv Yar, to the west of the front-line city of Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine. KYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine called on its Western backers to supply longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian-held territory, as Russia claimed fresh advances in the monthslong battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut. In his nightly address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needed advanced weapons systems such as the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, to counteract Russian strikes that were killing Ukrainian civilians.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy attacks effort to allow Russia back at Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Jan 29 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that allowing Russia to compete at the 2024 Paris Games was tantamount to showing that "terror is somehow acceptable". "Attempts by the International Olympic Committee to bring Russian athletes back into the Olympic Games are attempts to tell the whole world that terror is somehow acceptable," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. He said Russia must not be allowed to "use (the Games) or any other sport event as propaganda for its aggression or its state chauvinism". Reporting by Ron Popeski and Nick Starkov, editing by Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Zelenskiy: Ukraine needs more weapons, faster
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 29 (Reuters) - Ukraine needs new weapons and faster deliveries to confront a "very tough" situation of constant attacks by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday. Bakhmut, Vuhledar and other sectors in Donetsk region -- there are constant Russian attacks. We have to speed up events, speed up supplies and open up new weapons options for Ukraine." In his latest remarks, Zelenskiy Ukraine's command was committed to ensuring that "our pressure is greater than the occupiers' capacity to attack" and that meant "maintaining the defence support from our partners". "Confronting this requires extraordinary resilience and a full awareness by our soldiers that in defending Donetsk region they are defending all of Ukraine."

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