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☆ Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Constant Méheut | Josh Holder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s EastTwo years of territorial changes in the Donbas Russia gained more territory in October than any month since July 2022 150 sq. miles Amount of territory Russia gained 100 50 0 Ukraine has made only marginal gains this year 50 Amount of territory Ukraine gained 100 Jan. April July Oct. Jan. April July Oct. 2023 2024 Amount of territory Ukraine gained Amount of territory Russia gained 100 50 0 50 100 150 sq. Amount of territory Ukraine gained Amount of territory Russia gained 100 50 0 50 100 150 sq. In August, Ukraine’s defensive lines buckled, and Russia rapidly advanced 10 miles toward Pokrovsk and closed in on Selydove from the west and north. In just the past week, Russia advanced roughly six miles north of Vuhledar — an unusually swift pace compared with previous gains.

Persons: Russia’s Swift, Jan, Vuhledar, Pasi, ”, Russia Vuhledar, Selydove Kurakhove, Marinka, Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Paroinen, Vincent Tourret, Tourret, “, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, Chasiv Yar, Russia “, Serhii Kuzan, Chasiv, ” Mr Organizations: Ukraine, New York Times, Institute for, American, The New York Times, Bird Group, Railways, Russia, French Foundation for Strategic Research, Russian, National Security and Defense Council, Ukraine’s Security, Cooperation Center, Territory, LUHANSK, Kramatorsk, Selydove Avdiivka, Sloviansk, Vuhledar, Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Locations: Ukraine’s East, Donbas Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Donbas, Selydove, Pokrovsk, Finland, RUSSIAN, Russia Selydove, Russia Vuhledar Russia, Russian, Luhansk, Donetsk, Ukraine Ukraine, Chasiv Yar DONETSK, Selydove Avdiivka Donetsk, Azov Ukraine, Sloviansk LUHANSK, Azov, Vuhledar, Kursk, Ukrainian

☆ From convict to combatant, Ukraine enlists prisoners to fight Russian forces
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Sebastian Shukla | Frederik Pleitgen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Still, morale may be Ukraine’s only hope in Pokrovsk as Russian forces zero in on the town. Russian forces are only 8 kilometers (5 miles) away, according to a map dated September 10 from DeepState, a group that monitors the progress of Russian forces in Ukraine that has links to Ukraine’s security services. Pokrovsk is coming under increasingly heavy bombardment by Russian forces as they advance as close as 8km to the town. CNNPokrovsk is a vital supply town for eastern Ukrainian forces fighting back the tides of Russian soldiers. It could result in a withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Chasiv Yar and the line of contact moving closer to the much larger cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

Persons: Vitaly, Vitaly mumbles, …, ”, He’s, Vladimir Putin’s, he’d, Oleksandr, ” Oleksandr, they’d, CNN Pokrovsk, Putin, Chasiv Yar Organizations: CNN, 59th Brigade, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Infantry, Convicts Locations: Ukraine, Pokrovsk, Russian, Kursk, DeepState, Donetsk, Kramatorsk

☆ Ukraine’s president signs law banning Russia-linked religious groups
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Daria Tarasova Markina | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

President Volodymr Zelensky signed into law a bill banning religious groups with ties to Russia Saturday, Ukraine’s Independence Day. The bill’s main target is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) which has historically been linked to the Russian Orthodox Church, also known as the Moscow Patriarchate. The law passed Ukraine’s parliament on August 20, with 265 lawmakers voting for and 29 voting against. But with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine’s Orthodox churches split. In particular, 63% believe that Ukrainian Orthodox Church should be completely banned in Ukraine.

Persons: Volodymr Zelensky, Mykyta, ” Poturaiev, Bartholomew I of Constantinople, Ukraine’s, Epiphanius, ”, Metropolitan Clement, –, ” Kosta Gak Organizations: CNN, Russia, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church, Russian, Church, Ukraine’s, Service, Ethnic, Ukraine’s Security Service of Ukraine, of Ukraine, Moscow Patriarchate, Ukraine, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Facebook, God Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Moscow, Crimea, Kyiv, Ukraine’s Kyiv, Russian

☆ Mali severs diplomatic relations with Ukraine for providing intelligence to rebels
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-04 | by ( Anneclaire Stapleton | Mitch Mccluskey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Mali has severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine after the country supplied intelligence to Malian rebels involved in an ambush against Wagner Group forces in July. Known for ad hoc cooperation, they appear to have collaborated to trap the Russian convoy. A Tuareg militant group spokesman said some Malian troops and Russian fighters had also been captured during the battle. According to some unofficial Russian Telegram channels, as many as 80 Russians were killed. Previous reporting contributed by CNN’s Tim Lister, Avery Schmitz and Darya Tarasova.

Persons: Abdoulaye Maiga, Andriy Yusov, Nusrat al, JNIM, ”, CNN’s Tim Lister, Avery Schmitz, Darya Organizations: CNN —, Wagner Group, Russian Federation and, Ukraine’s Security, Russian, Russian Telegram, Kremlin Locations: CNN — Mali, Ukraine, Republic of Mali, Mali, Russian Federation and Ukraine, Islam, Africa

A Tuareg militant group spokesman said some Malian troops and Russian fighters had also been captured during the battle. According to some unofficial Russian Telegram channels, as many as 80 Russians were killed. The commander – call-sign Rusich – said on Telegram he was trying to convey a message to the Russian Defense Ministry. And in Syria five years ago, a disastrous attack by Russian mercenaries on an oil refinery led to dozens of casualties. One of them was an IED attack on a Russian vehicle in the same region of Mali as the latest devastating assault.

Persons: Nusrat al, JNIM, ”, Andriy Yusov, Yusov, Wagner, Wagner “, –, Sergei Shevchenko, Nikita Fedyanin, “, Korotkov, Africa Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Yunus, Bek, Yevkurov, al Organizations: CNN, Russian, Russian Telegram, Kremlin, Kyiv, Ukraine’s Security, Russian Defense Ministry, Corps, Grey, Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian Federation, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central African, Wagner PMC, Deputy, SITE Intelligence Group Locations: Mali, Algerian, Islam, Africa, Malian, Russian, London, Syria, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Bakhmut, Ukraine, Niger, Burkina Faso, Moscow, Togo

☆ Russian lawmakers seek to punish troops using smartphones on Ukraine battlefields
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Christian Edwards | Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russia’s lower house of parliament has proposed punishing Russian soldiers caught using smartphones while fighting in Ukraine, state media TASS reported, amid growing concerns that electronic devices can reveal troops’ location on the battlefield. According to a draft law supported by the State Duma Committee on Defense, carrying internet-connected cell phones whose data can identify Russian troops or the location of forces will be classified as a “gross disciplinary offense” punishable by up to 10 days of arrest. Both Russian and Ukrainian militaries have reportedly used enemy cell phones to identify targets during the war, scraping data from photos and messages to track coordinates and launch attacks. Although the Kremlin has acknowledged the risks posed by soldiers carrying cell phones, Russian military bloggers have criticized the draft law, claiming it shows the Duma’s lack of understanding of the nature of modern warfare. Russian soldiers are already banned from publicly distributing information that could reveal the identity or location of military personnel.

Persons: United Kingdom –, Elon, ”, let’s Organizations: CNN, TASS, State, Defense, Ukraine’s Security, Russia’s Defense Ministry, Kremlin, Veteran Records, Duma, Federation Council Locations: Ukraine, United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ukrainian, Makiivka

☆ The West finally allowed Ukraine to strike back at Russia — and it seems to be working
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The newly granted permission by the United States and other allies to use Western weapons to strike inside Russia has had a huge impact, Bankir said. While Kyiv hasn’t managed to reclaim large swathes of territory, it has successfully averted what could have been a disaster: The occupation of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city. “(Russia) knew that Ukraine did not have the capacity to strike these targets on the Russian territory,” Melnyk said. While Ukraine was previously able to strike targets inside Russia using Ukraine-made drones, ATACMS make these strikes far more efficient. However, Ukraine can still use the F-16 to deny Russia control over the skies – and push away Russian aircraft delivering bombs.

Persons: CNN — Bankir, Bankir, “, ” Ivan, Kyiv hasn’t, Valentyn Ogirenko, Oleksiy Melnyk, ”, ” Melnyk, wasn’t, Melnyk, Konrad Muzyka, Rochan, –, Muzyka, it’s, ” Muzyka, Ukraine’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump, Maria Kostenko, Daria Tarasova, Markina Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Security, Artillery, 148th, Kyiv, 148th Separate Artillery Brigade, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, United Nations, Human Rights, Razumkov, Rochan Consulting, People, Reuters, US, NATO Locations: United States, Russia, Russian, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Izium, Balakliia, Moscow, Kharkiv –, Ukrainian, “, Belgorod, Voronezh, Krasnodar, Bryansk, Crimea, Washington , DC, –

☆ Ukraine Says It Foiled Another Russian Plot to Topple the Government
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Marc Santora | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine’s security service said on Monday that it had foiled yet another Russian plot to stir public unrest and then use the ensuing turmoil to topple the government, outlining a familiar tactic that Kyiv claims has been employed in string of coup attempts in recent years. Four people have been arrested and charged, according to the authorities. While offering little detail on how such an ambitious plan could have succeeded, officials said it was a reminder that more than two years after launching a full-scale invasion of the country, the Kremlin remained determined to bring down President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government by any means. On the battlefield, Russia continues to send tens of thousands of new soldiers to the front to replace those killed in the hopes of exhausting Ukraine’s military and Kyiv’s Western backers. At the same time, Russia’s relentless bombardment of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure is designed, in part, to throttle the economy and undermine the state’s ability to function.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky’s Organizations: Kremlin Locations: Ukrainian, Russia

☆ The Sticking Points That Kept Russia and Ukraine Apart
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Anton Troianovski | Michael Schwirtz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

The Sticking Points That Kept Russia and Ukraine ApartRussia and Ukraine failed to agree on a range of critical issues when they held peace talks in the spring of 2022. Russia’s Position Russia demanded that Ukraine never join NATO or other alliances; host foreign military bases or weapons; or conduct military exercises with other countries without its consent. Russia’s Position Russia agreed to much of Ukraine’s security guarantees proposal but with key exceptions. Russia’s Position Russia’s stance has also fluctuated. Russia’s Position But Russia’s definition of “denazification” shifted quickly after its initial invasion failed.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, —, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia’s, ” Organizations: The New York Times, NATO, European Union, Ukraine’s, Crimea ”, Ukraine, Mr, Russia’s, ” International, United Nations Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United States, France, China, guarantors, Belarus, Turkey, Territory, Crimea, Moscow, Ukrainian, Russian

Representatives from the warring nations held peace talks in the early weeks of the Russian invasion. It was the only time that Ukrainian and Russian officials are known to have engaged in direct peace talks. This includes the Crimean Peninsula, which Mr. Putin annexed in 2014 in a swift operation that he considers central to his legacy. At another point, Russia’s lead negotiator, Mr. Medinsky, interrupted a video conference by claiming that Mr. Putin was phoning him directly. There were signs that Mr. Putin was micromanaging not only the Russian invasion but also the peace talks.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, —, Putin’s, … ”, “, Oleksandr Chalyi, Mr, Vladimir Medinsky, Oleksii Reznikov, Vladimir Putin, Leonid Slutsky, Medinsky, ”, Aleksandr Fomin, Reznikov, Ukraine’s, … “, Sergey Ponomarev, Ukraine —, Andrzej Duda, Duda, Putin “, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Murat Cetin Muhurdar, Russia’s, Zelensky, …, ‘, ’, Daniel Berehulak, Davyd Arakhamia, ” “, Roman Abramovich, ” Mr, Arakhamia, Abramovich, micromanaging, Nanna Heitmann, France —, Laetitia Vancon, Kamala Harris, Volodymyr Zelensky, “ Putin, Marc Weller, Russia “, Weller Organizations: The New York Times, Ukraine, Kremlin, NATO, “, Russian Federation, ”, European Union, West, Ministry, Times, Europe’s, Russian, Moscow, Donetsk People's, Nazi, U.S, Ukrainian, Turkish Presidential Press Service, Agence France, The Times, Russia, New York Times, stoke, Cambridge Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Crimean, Switzerland, Ukrainian, Crimea, “ Ukraine, Republic of Crimea, Sevastopol, ”, … ” Russia, Russian, ” Russia, Istanbul, Geneva, Belarus, Western, Russia’s, Donetsk, Donetsk People's Republic, Luhansk People's Republic, Simferopol, Poland, Germany, France, European, Brussels, Turkish, Zelensky, “, Great Britain, China, United States, Turkey, Canada, Italy, Israel, Bucha, Washington, Swiss, Russians

For much of the war, Ukraine has been constrained when it comes to using powerful Western weapons against Russia. Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty ImagesNortheast of Kharkiv, Russian forces continue to maintain a foothold in the town of Vovchansk. But “most of the city is under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces” Voloshyn told CNN. Further south along the eastern front line, Russians have made advances to the west of the city of Avdiivka which fell to Russian forces in February. Western weapons and a new push to draft more soldiers in to the Ukrainian military could give Ukraine the boost it needs.

Persons: Kyiv’s, Russia hasn’t, Defense Lloyd Austin, CNN’s Wolf, Valentyn Ogirenko, Yehor Cherniev, ”, Moscow’s, Kostiantyn, Nazar Voloshyn, Ukrainian Defense Forces ” Voloshyn, Yurii Fedorenko, HRMMU, Chasiv Yar, “ Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Security, US, ”, Defense, Ukrainian, National Security, Intelligence, HIMARS, Russian, Kharkiv –, Ukrainian Defense Forces, “, …, 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, UN, Rights, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Kherson, Moscow, Russia, Kharkiv, France, Germany, “, Russian, Hlyboke, Lyptsi, Ukrainian, Vovchansk, Chuhuiv Raion, Kharkiv Oblast, Donetsk, Luhansk, Chasiv, Avdiivka, Voloshyn

☆ Survivors say Russia is waging a war of sexual violence in occupied areas of Ukraine. Men are often the victims
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic and disturbing descriptions of sexual violence. Everywhere that Russian troops were located, we’re seeing cases of sexual violence and gender-based violence. But the real scale of sexual violence committed during the war may never come to light. Ukrainian officials say that it is difficult, but not impossible, to track down individual perpetrators of sexual violence crimes. Some survivors of sexual violence committed by the Bosnian Serb army during the Bosnian war in the early 1990s are only now coming forward.

Persons: Roman Shapovalenko, ”, —, Shapovalenko, ’, “, –, Chris McGrath, Anna Sosonska, Sosonska, ‘, ’ Roman Chernenko, Chernenko, …, ” Sosonska, Anna Mykytenko, ” Mykytenko, Mykytenko, Ukraine –, Vladimir Putin, Aleksey Smagin, Aleksandr Naumenko, Naumenko, – Oleksandr Chilengirov, Dmitry Laikov, Oleksii, ” Andrii, Andrii, Anna Voitenko, Putin, Russia’s, Maria Lvova, Oleksii Sivak, Sivak, ’ ”, ‘ we’re, ” Sivak Organizations: Kyiv CNN —, Russia’s Federal Security Service, Russian, CNN, Getty, United Nations Security, Ukraine’s, GRU, Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Interior Ministry, National Guard, Kyodo, Criminal Court, ICC, UN, Global Rights, European Union, Ministry of Defense, Luhansk People’s Republics, Rosgvardia, Ukrainian, FSB’s Department, Defense, Constitutional, Terrorism, International Court of Justice, Kremlin Locations: Kyiv, Ukrainian, Kherson, Russia, Ukraine, Snihurivka, Moscow, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Crimea, Olenivka, Mariupol, Russian, Geneva, Rome, United States, United Kingdom, Luhansk, Russia’s Rostov, Nova Kakhovka, ‘, Bosnian

☆ Ukraine Says It Foiled Russian Plot to Kill Zelensky
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Constant Méheut | More About Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine’s security services said on Tuesday that they had foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top military and political figures. Two Ukrainian colonels accused of participating in the plot have been arrested on suspicion of treason. According to the Ukrainian agency, the agents working at Russia’s direction were tasked with identifying people close to Mr. Zelensky’s security detail who could take him hostage and later kill him. It is not the first time that Ukraine has reported a potential assassination attempt aimed at its top leaders. Mr. Zelensky himself said in an interview with an Italian television channel earlier this year that his security services had told him of more than 10 such attempts.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, —, Vasyl Malyuk, Kyrylo Budanov, Zelensky Organizations: Russia’s Federal Security Service Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Italian

CNN —Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it has discovered a mass corruption scheme in the purchase of weapons by the country’s military amounting to nearly $40 million (1.5 billion Ukrainian hryvnia). Ukraine’s Defense Ministry paid nearly all of the funds to arms supplier Lviv Arsenal, but the SBU said the ammunition was never received. We have no place for corrupt officials.” Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klymenkov said in a statement Saturday. Ukraine has been dogged by corruption scandals involving its defense ministry in recent years. In December, a senior Ukrainian defense ministry official was detained over allegations he had embezzled 1.5 billion hryvnia ($40 million) in a separate case involving an artillery shells contract.

Persons: SBU, Yurii Zbitnev, –, ”, Dmytro Klymenkov, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Oleksii Reznikov, Washington Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Security, Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, Lviv Arsenal, European Union, Ministry of Defence, Defense, Officials Locations: Balkans, Ukraine, Ukrainian, United States, Kyiv

CNN —Ukraine says it has intelligence suggesting only five bodies were delivered from the crash site of a Russian military transport plane to a nearby morgue, a Ukraine military intelligence official told CNN, casting doubt on Moscow’s claim that dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed in the explosion. Moscow says the plane was transporting Ukrainian prisoners of war, while Kyiv says it was carrying Russian missiles to be used in further strikes on Ukraine. Ukraine’s military command said it regarded Russian military aircraft approaching Belgorod as legitimate target, but did not confirm it had fired at the plane. Traffic officers block off a road near the crash site of the IL-76 plane outside the village of Yablonovo, Russia, January 24, 2024. Russia has not yet provided evidence that dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board the plane that crashed.

Persons: Andriy Yusov, ”, –, Yusov, Stringer, Dmytro Lubinets, Mykola Oleschuk, Reuters Lubinets, Cross, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin, “ Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Russian Aerospace Forces, Russian, Reuters, Ukraine, UN, International Committee, Ukraine’s Security Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, Russia’s Belgorod, Kyiv, Yablonovo, Russia, Belgorod, Belgorod city, Ukrainian, Kharkiv

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sent President Joe Biden a short-term spending bill on Thursday that would avert a looming partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies into March. House Republicans have fought bitterly over budget levels and policy since taking the majority at the start of 2023. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted by his caucus in October after striking an agreement with Democrats to extend current spending the first time. “We’re not going to get everything we want.”Most House Republicans have so far refrained from saying that Johnson’s job is in danger. In Thursday afternoon's vote, 107 House Republicans voted to keep federal agencies funded and 106 voted against the measure.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” Jean, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Chip Roy, ” Roy, Johnson, Rosa DeLauro, ” DeLauro, Kevin McCarthy, ” Johnson, “ We’re, Bob Good, McCarthy, Schumer, ” Good, ”, Andy Barr, Biden, Russia, Farnoush Amiri, Lisa Mascaro, Darlene Superville Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican, Caucus, White, Republicans, “, Rep, House Republicans, . Virginia, Kentucky, GOP, Democratic, Associated Press Locations: Texas, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Mexico

☆ The War in Gaza Is Giving Russia’s Putin What He Wants - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Hanna Notte | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Mr. Biden has vowed that the United States can support both Israel’s and Ukraine’s security needs, and is asking Congress for $105 billion in emergency funding to cover them. But Israel may eventually need weapons that are now running short in Ukraine, including armed drones and artillery rounds. Trapped in a war of attrition of its own making, Russia must be relishing the appearance of a new and demanding conflict for the United States, draining the strength of its adversaries. What’s more, the war in Gaza threatens to postpone — if not derail — the Biden administration’s efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Kremlin’s response to the war in Gaza, putting distance between itself and Washington’s unequivocal pro-Israel stance, is designed to exploit those feelings further.

Persons: Biden, What’s, —, David, Israel Organizations: Abraham Accords, Kremlin Locations: United States, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Saudi, Moscow, American, Iran, Europe

CNN —Ukraine has claimed it killed the commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, in one of Kyiv’s boldest attacks yet on the occupied peninsula of Crimea. The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces said in an update that Friday’s attack killed Viktor Sokolov along with 33 other officers. “After the hit of the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, 34 officers were killed, including the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” the Ukrainians said Monday, adding that more than 100 other Russian servicemen were wounded. Moscow has said that one serviceman is missing as a result of Ukraine’s attack on Sevastopol. Ukraine has increasingly been hitting strategic Russian targets in Crimea, the Black Sea region of southern Ukraine that has been occupied by Moscow since 2014.

Persons: Viktor Sokolov, “, Andrii Yusov, ”, Sokolov Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, Fleet, The, 744th Communications Center, Command, Black, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Special Operations Forces, Navy, Naval Academy, Northern Fleet, Ukraine’s Security Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Russian, Moscow, Sevastopol, Verkhniosadove, Russia, Ukrainian Crimea, ”, ” Russia, Saky

☆ Black Sea Fleet: Ukraine has Russian targets in Crimea in its sights. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The seizure earlier this month of oil platforms in the Black Sea by Ukrainian commandos has given them another jumping-off point and affected the Russian Black Sea fleet’s freedom of navigation. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has been involved in hundreds of cruise missile attacks against Ukraine and threatens merchant shipping using Ukrainian ports. This image taken from UGC video, uploaded to Telegram with a watermark, shows smoke rising from the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. The Black Sea Fleet is still a powerful element of Russia’s offensive capability, but becoming less so by the week. “The Black Sea Fleet is more than its naval assets, and the Ukrainian attacks on the Black Sea Fleet will likely achieve effects beyond the degradation of Russian naval capabilities,” concludes the ISW.

Persons: “, Joseph Richter, Andrii Yusov, It’s, it’s, ” Organizations: CNN, Crimea –, Ukraine’s Security, The, 744th Communications Center, Command, Black, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Ukrainian, Initiative, Ukrainian Neptune, UGC, Fleet, 810th Naval Infantry Brigade, Fleet’s, Army Corps Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Crimea, Saky, Sevastopol, Verkhniosadove, “, Russia, Ukrainian Crimea, ”, Crimean, Moscow, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, –, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Kherson Oblast

CNN —Ukraine’s Security Service says it has identified a Russian commander who is accused of giving orders to shoot civilians. “The Security Service has established the identity of another Russian occupier who is involved in mass murders of civilians during the occupation of Kyiv region. The SBU alleges Ovchinnikov “took direct part in the capture of the villages of Severynivka, Motyzhyn, and Kopyliv of the Bucha district,” and rode around the territory in armored vehicles “in order to intimidate local residents” accompanied by his subordinates. According to the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office, the Russian army committed thousands of war crimes in the Bucha district, and hundreds of people were killed in the town of Bucha alone before it was liberated in March 2022. CNN has reached out for comment on Ukrainian allegations to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Persons: Vadym Ovchinnikov, Ovchinnikov “, ”, Ovchinnikov, general’s Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Security Service, SBU, Security Service, Motorized Rifle Brigade, Arms Army, Eastern Military District of, Russian Federation, Kremlin, Russian Defense Ministry Locations: Russian, Bucha, Kyiv, Severynivka, ”, Uman, Cherkasy, Ukraine

☆ Russia Is Replicating Iranian Drones and Using Them to Attack Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( John Ismay | More About John Ismay | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Russia has begun making copies of attack drones it acquired from Iran last year and is using them in combat against Ukrainian forces despite sanctions imposed to cripple the country’s weapons production, according to a report issued Thursday by a weapons research group. The researchers traveled to Kyiv in late July and inspected the wreckage of two attack drones that were used in combat in southeastern Ukraine. Both appeared to be Iranian Shahed-136s, but they contained electronic modules that match components previously recovered from Russian surveillance drones, according to the report. The investigation was conducted by Conflict Armament Research, an independent group based in Britain that identifies and tracks weapons and ammunition used in wars. It is the group’s 10th published account of its work in Kyiv, where researchers have analyzed Russian military hardware collected on the battlefield by Ukraine’s security services.

Organizations: Ukrainian, Armament Research Locations: Russia, Iran, Kyiv, Ukraine, Iranian, Britain

The Russian-backed leader of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, said on Telegram that “a fire occurred at a military training ground.” Askenov said residents of four surrounding villages – more than 2,000 people – were being evacuated. Smoke and flames billow over a military training ground following an explosion in the Kirovske district, Crimea, on July 19, 2023. Kyiv has not commented on Wednesday’s explosions at the Crimea training ground. Ukraine’s attack on the Crimea bridge dealt a logistical and symbolic blow to Moscow’s faltering military campaign. The $3.7 billion-dollar corridor, which is 12 miles long, is a critical artery for supplying the peninsula with both its daily needs and supplies for the Russian military, in addition to fuel and goods for civilians.

Persons: Sergey Aksyonov, ” Askenov, Vladimir Putin, Odesa, Volodymyr Zelensky, Hennadii Trukhanov, ”, Denis Pushilin Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Russian Grey Zone Telegram, Ukrainian, Shadow, Atesh, Ukrainian Air Force, Russian Defense Ministry, Monday, Russian, Presidential Press Service, Reuters Odesa, Facebook, Donetsk People’s, DPR, Ukraine’s Security Locations: Crimea, Stary Krym, Crimea’s Kirorvsky, Russian, Kirovske district, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Odesa, Iran, Moscow, Donetsk, Donetsk People’s Republic

The Kerch Strait Bridge that links the Crimean Peninsula to mainland Russia, in March. Russian officials blamed Ukraine for the attack on the Kerch Strait Bridge. Ukrainian officials offered no comment on the incident. Video and photographs verified by The Times showed damage to both sides of the road bridge, with the most significant being along a span of the bridge heading into Russia. The attack came as Ukrainian forces were engaged in an ambitious and grinding counteroffensive aimed at driving Russian forces from southern Ukraine.

Persons: Yusov, ”, Vladimir Rogov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Aksyonov, —, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Aksyonov, Mazaeva, Ivan Nechepurenko Organizations: The Times, Ministry, Transport, Russian Federation, Ukrainian, Crimean Locations: Kerch, Crimean, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, Crimea, Sevastopol, Belgorod

☆ Why the Crimean Bridge is so important to Vladimir Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Lauren Kent | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Also known as the Kerch Bridge, it holds personal value for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Here’s what you need to know:Why is the bridge so important to Russia? The Kerch Bridge is strategically important because it links Russia’s Krasnodar region with Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. Rail traffic across the Crimea bridge is continuing to operate on Monday, albeit with delays, according to video on social media, a Russian official and Russian state media. A widely circulating video, which appears to have been captured this morning from a train passing on the parallel rail bridge, shows significant damage to one of the bridge’s road spans.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Staff, ” Vladimir Konstantinov, Boris Rozhin, “, ” Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Marat Khusnullin, Ukraine Andrii Yusov, ”, ” Yusov Organizations: CNN, CNN Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukrainian military’s, State Council of, Novosti, TASS, Russian, Ukraine’s Security, Defense Intelligence Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Moscow, Kerch, Crimea, Russian, Kyiv, Krasnodar, Europe, Kherson, Republic of Crimea

☆ Analysis: Why Ukraine's plea for NATO membership is such a profound dilemma for the West
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The president said that the alliance needed to lay out a “rational path” for Ukraine’s membership but that it was still short of some requirements for joining, including over democratization. NATO membership would also boost Ukraine’s bid to cement a democracy that was vulnerable before the war and fulfill the desire of many of its people to join the West. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, last week introduced a resolution calling for a roadmap to Ukraine’s NATO membership as soon as it is practicable. “Guaranteeing Ukraine’s security would erode US security by increasingly the risk, obviously, of war with Russia,” he said. Even if Biden were to amend his position on accelerating NATO membership for Ukraine, he cannot ensure a successor would honor treaty obligations.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, ”, –, Putin, stiffen, Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, “, We’re, Michael McCaul, Ben Friedman, ” Friedman, Donald Trump, Zelensky Organizations: CNN, NATO, Ukrainian, ABC News, Kremlin, Warsaw, South Carolina Republican, Connecticut Democrat, Ukraine, GOP Rep, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Texas Republican, Defense, American, Soviet, Russia Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Lithuania, Eastern Europe, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Baltic, Latvia, Estonia, Soviet Union, Bucharest, Sens, Connecticut, Russian, United Kingdom, “ State, Western Europe, Israel, Taiwan, United States, Eastern

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