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☆ Middle East Crisis Global Leaders Press Iran and Israel to Avoid Escalation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

“When rockets fly in Israel, the whole world writes about it,” said Amil Nasirov, a 29-year-old singer. “And it’s like some devaluation of Ukrainian lives.”Ukraine has begged since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 for more tools to close its sky to Russian missiles. Ukrainian officials noted the role that fighter jets played in defending Israel as a sign of their importance in air defense. “That would be a danger of escalation.”The United States remains the chief supplier of the munitions for Ukraine’s best air defense systems. In the intervening months, Ukraine’s air defenses have been critically depleted, while Russia has greater success in using air power to advance on the front line, attack Ukraine’s energy grid and inflict more casualties against civilians.

Persons: Sergiy, “, ”, Amil Nasirov, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Mr, Zelensky, David Cameron, Cameron, Britain’s, Liubov Sholudko Organizations: United Nations, Patriot, NATO, Britain’s LBC, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Israel, United States, Britain, France, Iran, Washington, Russian, Moscow, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Germany, Europe

☆ Ukraine's military chief warns of 'significantly' worsening battlefield situation in the east
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine's military chief on Saturday warned that the battlefield situation in the industrial east has "significantly worsened in recent days," as warming weather allowed Russian forces to launch a fresh push along several stretches of the more 1,000 km-long (620-mile) front line. It has increasingly used satellite-guided gliding bombs — which allow planes to drop them from a safe distance — to pummel Ukrainian forces beset by a shortage of troops and ammunition. Starting last month, Moscow renewed its assault on Ukrainian energy facilities. At least 10 of the strikes damaged energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. In the winter of 2022-2023, Russia took aim at Ukraine's power grid in an effort to deny civilians light and heating and chip away at the country's appetite for war.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyy, Vladimir Putin, Syrskyy, Bakhmut, Bohdanivka, Olaf Scholz, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin, Dmytro Kuleba, Oleh Syniehubov Organizations: Power Plant, Russian Defense Ministry, Saturday, Ukraine's, Ukraine's Defense, German Defense Ministry, Patriot, Foreign, Energy, Kremlin, Kyiv Locations: Kharkiv, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine, Moscow, Donetsk, Lyman, Pervomaiske, Pokrovsk, Bakhmut, Russia, Congress, Germany, Russian, Berlin, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Ukraine's, Lviv, Kupiansk

☆ The US Army isn't ready to attack across rivers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Yet if the US Army went to war tomorrow, it would lack the equipment, doctrine and experience to launch an attack across a defended river, according to one Army engineer. "The Army has not conducted such an operation since World War II," wrote Maj. Aditya Iyer, an Army engineer, in an essay for the Association of the United States Army. "The current wet-gap crossing doctrine, organization, materiel and leadership are ineffective for division-level wet-gap crossing operations independent from the corps," Iyer warned. "In contrast, the Ukrainian forces had accurate intelligence that showed the Russian troops massing along the river," Iyer said. Related storiesIndeed, the Army was unprepared for river crossings at the start of World War II.

Persons: —, Aditya Iyer, Iyer, Napoleon, Kevin Larson, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, US Army, Army, Association of, United States Army, Business, 74th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, Union Army, US 36th Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry, Company, 92nd Engineer Battalion, US, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Fredericksburg, Italy, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia, China, Eastern Europe, Forbes

☆ Situation on eastern front has 'significantly worsened' in recent days, Ukraine's army chief warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine's top military general warned Saturday that the battlefield situation in the east of the country, which continues to be the epicenter of the fiercest fighting in Ukraine, has deteriorated sharply. "The situation on the eastern front has significantly worsened in recent days," Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, said on Telegram. Syrskyi said warm, dry weather had facilitated Russian forces' attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Lyman and Bakhmut areas of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, with Russian "assault groups supported by armored vehicles," including dozens of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. "Despite significant losses, the enemy is increasing efforts by deploying new units with armored vehicles, occasionally achieving tactical success," Syrsyki said. Nonetheless, Russian forces have made some notable advances in Luhansk and Donetsk in recent months, aided by their advantage in terms of manpower and supplies of artillery shells.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Syrsyki Organizations: Russian Federation, NBC News, Lyman Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russia

☆ Pro-Russian troops appear to use motorcycles to outwit drones and assault Ukrainian positions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Pro-Russian separatist soldiers appear to have attacked Ukrainian positions on motorcycles. Russian forces have had to explore increasingly inventive ways to outwit Ukrainian drone strikes. AdvertisementPro-Russian soldiers with a separatist militia have released footage on social media appearing to show them attacking Ukrainian positions on fast motorcycles. The maneuver appears to have been conducted by militia forces from the Zarya Battalion in the Luhansk region. It highlights Russian forces' adaptation to the continued challenges and threats posed by Ukrainian first-person view (FPV) attack drones.

Persons: —, Forbes, Robotyne Organizations: Luhansk People's, Service, Zarya Battalion, Forbes, CNN, Business Locations: Russian, Luhansk, Luhansk People's Republic, Ukrainian, Donetsk Oblast

☆ Russia's firing new, long-range Kh-69 cruise missiles, war experts say, piling on the misery for Ukraine's dwindling air defense
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russian forces have deployed a new cruise missile, the Institute for the Study of War said. AdvertisementRussian Forces are deploying a new, long-range cruise missile, known as the Kh-69, as it steps up attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. A Ukrainian war monitor account, which tracks Russian aviation activity, claimed that three Kh-69s were fired at Ukraine overnight on February 7-8. Kh-69 on display Mike1979 Russia/Wikimedia CommonsAccording to The War Zone, the Kh-69 was developed by Raduga, part of Russia's Tactical Missile Corporation. Russian forces can launch the missiles from Su-34 and Su-35 tactical aircraft rather than solely from strategic bombers.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine Valentyn Ogirenko, ISW, Yevlash Organizations: Institute for, Service, Russian Forces, Washington DC, Employees, Ukraine's Air Force, Institute for Strategic Studies, European, Raduga, Russia's Tactical Missile Corporation Locations: Kyiv, Russia's, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ Tell Us: Has Elon Musk’s Behavior Affected How You View Tesla?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Jack Ewing | More About Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Withholding Starlink satellite internet service from Ukraine to prevent a drone attack on Russian forces. Elon Musk’s behavior and public statements have clearly offended many people, especially left-leaning consumers who are the most likely to buy an electric vehicle. As a business reporter who covers Tesla, the company that Mr. Musk is chief executive of, I’m exploring to what extent his public persona is damaging the company’s brand and hurting sales. Or, as Mr. Musk has insisted, do people choose the best car regardless of what the chief executive says and does? If you own a Tesla, are thinking of buying one or have thought about buying one but ultimately chose another brand, I’d like to hear from you.

Persons: Elon, Tesla, Musk Organizations: Biden Locations: Ukraine

CNN —The largest power-generating plant in Ukraine’s Kyiv region was reportedly destroyed in a Russian missile attack on Thursday as Moscow steps up its attacks on infrastructure. There were no casualties, and the attack has not resulted in power cuts in Ukraine’s capital region Kyiv or other regions supplied by Trypilska TPP. The plant was the largest supplier of electricity to the regions of Kyiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr, the Centrenergo statement said. The attack on the Trypilska plant follows a recent Russian attack that destroyed the company’s plant in the Kharkiv region, Zmiivska TPP, on March 22, according to the Centrenergo statement. The total designed capacity of the three power plants was 7690 MW, according to the company’s website.

Persons: Centrenergo, Trypilska TPP, since, TPP, Andriy Gota, Svitlana Vlasova, Caitlin Danaher Organizations: CNN, Supervisory, of Centrenergo Locations: Ukraine’s Kyiv, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine’s, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Europe, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Andriy, London

☆ Top US general in Europe says Russia has in many ways 'grown back' its military strength to what it was before it invaded Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Advertisement"They still have as many tanks functioning inside Ukraine as they introduced at the beginning of the war," Cavoli said. The size of Russia's army has exceeded the size it was when it had first invaded Ukraine in 2022. Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli addresses a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. AdvertisementThe war in Ukraine has left certain elements of the Russian military untouched, and the Russians maintain certain key advantages in industrial, war materiel, and manpower. To stave off Russian forces while waiting for much-needed ammunition and aid, Ukraine has resorted to primarily using drones in combat, but these are no substitute for what Ukraine really needs.

Persons: —, Chris Cavoli, Cavoli, They've, Kurt Campbell's, General Christopher Cavoli, Virginia Mayo Cavoli Organizations: Service, US European Command, Armed, Business, Allied, NATO, AP, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Brussels, Virginia, London, Kharkiv

☆ Ukrainian forces were 'crushing' in Avdiivka until Russian artillery started outfiring them roughly 20 times over, American volunteer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The veteran, who goes by the call sign Jackie, has been in Ukraine since 2022 and has served as a trainer of Ukrainian troops. He said that in the weeks before Ukrainian forces had to withdraw from the town, Ukraine was "crushing the enemy in Avdiivka." In their first week in Avdiivka, his men were able to cut many of Russia's routes into the fight. A snowy field with traces of artillery and recently destroyed Russian heavy equipment on the outskirts of Avdiivka, Ukraine, in January 2024. His men also kept a corridor open for Ukrainian troops to retreat.

Persons: couldn't, —, Jackie, Russia's, Alexander Ermochenko, Libkos, Ukraine's, Vlada, Zelenskyy Organizations: Ukraine, Service, Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade, REUTERS, Khorne, Washington Post Locations: Russia, Avdiivka, Ukraine, Ukraine's, Russian, Soviet, America

☆ Zelensky says he will listen to Trump’s ideas to end war ‘with pleasure’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would listen to former US President Donald Trump’s ideas to end the war in Ukraine with “pleasure” but trod carefully around the issue during an interview at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece. I haven’t heard that directly from Trump,” Zelensky told CNN’s Senior Correspondent Fred Pleitgen via video link from Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky is pictured speaking from Ukraine during an interview with CNN’s Fred Pleitgen, who is at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky inspects new fortifications for Ukrainian servicemen near the Russian border in the Kharkiv region on Tuesday. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout/Reuters“I’d like to underscore that no Western weapons were used to attack in such a way.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump’s, ” Zelensky, CNN’s, Fred Pleitgen, “, Zelensky, Trump, Ukraine “, ”, The Trump, “ There’s, he’s, CNN’s Fred Pleitgen, Pleitgen, Vladimir Putin’s, Putin’s, Reuters “, Oleksandr Prokudin, Ukrenergo Organizations: CNN, Delphi, Republican, German, Wednesday, Trump, Russia, West, Presidential Press Service, Reuters, Ukraine’s Defense Forces of Locations: Ukraine, Greece, Ukrainian, Russia, Trump, Delphi, Zelensky, “, Kharkiv, Western, Russian, Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv

☆ All the deadly drones Ukraine is building to fight Russia can't make up for the weapons it really needs but doesn't have, Zelenskyy says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jake Epstein | Paul Ronzheimer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine has built up a formidable arsenal of drones capable of attacking Russian forces everywhere. But these systems are no alternative to the other weapons Kyiv needs, President Zelenskyy said Tuesday. Ukraine needs air defenses, missiles, and artillery, he told Axel Springer media outlets. That said, Kyiv's drone program does not make up for the weapons that the country really needs but doesn't have in its arsenal. Advertisement"If we don't have air-defense systems and the appropriate long-range weapons to match Putin, he will destroy our country," Zelenskyy said Tuesday.

Persons: Zelenskyy, Axel Springer, —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Libkos Mykhailo Fedorov, Dmytro Kuleba, Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: Service, AP, NATO, Ukrainian, INA FASSBENDER, Patriots Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Kharkiv, Moscow, Kyiv, Bakhmut, Ukrainian, Brussels, Poland, Washington

☆ There's a thriving Russian black market for Elon Musk's Starlink terminals, with the tech being sent far beyond Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Starlink terminals are being widely used by Russian forces in Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementThe Journal also reported that a similar black market is also thriving in Sudan, even though the terminals' use is not authorized there. AdvertisementIn early February, Musk pushed back on claims from Ukrainian military intelligence that the terminals were being systematically used by Russian forces in Ukraine. House Democrats have also pressured Musk to take action, saying Russian military use of the tech is "potentially in violation of US sanctions and export controls." Musk has long sought to limit Starlink's military use, stipulating in the technology's terms of service that it is intended for civilians only.

Persons: Elon Musk's, —, Vladimir Putin's, Musk, Mikhailo Fedorov, Starlink, Musk's Organizations: Street Journal, Service, Elon, Elon Musk's SpaceX, Rapid Support Forces, SpaceX, eBay, Democrats Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Crimea, Russia's, Dubai, Chad, South Sudan, Russian, Starlink

☆ Russia 'knew where we were going to attack,' Zelenskyy says in reflection on why Ukraine's big counteroffensive stumbled
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Chris Panella | Paul Ronzheimer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Russia knew where Ukraine's big counteroffensive last year was going to attack, Zelenskyy said Tuesday. Ukraine has said its 2023 counteroffensive plans were leaked to Russia before the operation began. Along with Russia learning about Ukraine's plans ahead of time, Zelenskyy said some of the issues were Ukraine's fault. AdvertisementOne of Ukraine's sea drones, funded by the large-scale volunteer collection platform UNITED24. Ukraine's drones have also been upgraded over time, some carrying larger, more powerful warheads to do more damage.

Persons: Zelenskyy, —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelensky, Axel Springer, Ukraine's, Kyrylo Budanov, could've, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Ukraine couldn't, Ukraine Zelenskyy, That's, Vladimir Putin, It's Organizations: Service, CBC News, Anadolu Agency, Getty, NATO, Security Service, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Azov, Donetsk, Dnipro, Kyiv, Kerch, Crimea

☆ Russia is using chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops to create panic before it attacks: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia is using chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces, The Telegraph has reported. The report says Russia is using the weapons to create panic before launching attacks. AdvertisementRussia is launching daily attacks on Ukrainian positions using prohibited chemical weapons, The Telegraph has reported. The report, citing front-line Ukrainian troops, says Russian forces are using the weapons in a bid to create panic before launching attacks on Ukrainian positions. It says Russia is using drones to drop grenades filled with CS gas, a chemical agent whose use in war is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Persons: —, Marc, Michael Blum, Russia's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Ukrainian, Telegraph, Service, CS, Chemical, Convention, 810th Naval Infantry Brigade, Kyiv Post, Republicans Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Chasiv Yar, Donetsk, Ukraine, Russian, Kyiv

“This is a clear violation of the basic principles for protecting Europe’s largest (nuclear power plant). No nuclear power plant in the world is designed to withstand full-fledged fire from the armed forces. Damage to infrastructure facilities may affect the safe operation of the NPP,” the statement added, using an acronym for the nuclear power plant. Petro Kotin, head of Ukraine’s nuclear power operator Energoatom, said they were initially forced to work at “gunpoint” by invading Russian troops. Grossi points on a map of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, March 2022 Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images/FileBut fighting continued to rage around the plant in the summer of 2022, to the grave alarm of the IAEA.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, ” Grossi, Dmitry Peskov, Andriy Yusov, ” Yusov, “, Petro Kotin, Joe Klamar, Grossi, Volodomyr Zelensky Organizations: CNN, United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Europe’s, Zaporizhzhia NPP, NPP, Defense Intelligence, Ukrainska Pravda, Ukrayinska Pravda, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian, Getty, Kremlin Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia, ”, Ukrainian, Europe, Zaporizhzhia, AFP, Nova, ZNPP

☆ As Russia tests for weak spots, Ukraine is banking on enemy mistakes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Tim Lister | Victoria Butenko | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —It generated little attention: another Russian assault in eastern Ukraine, across barren, pock-marked fields, met by determined, nimble resistance. But these frequent mechanized ground attacks by the Russians are like sand-blasting – eroding Ukrainian defenses in multiple spots along the frontlines. Yusov told CNN that recruitment in Russia continues, for contract soldiers, prisoners and international mercenaries. The Ukrainians won’t acknowledge such attacks but Yusov told CNN cryptically that refineries are military targets and “damage there is quite natural. Matthew Schmidt told CNN: “Whatever NATO can get to Ukraine is enough to stabilize its position, not to change it meaningfully.

Persons: Kateryna Stepanenko, Russia’s, ”, Narciso Contreras, Andriy Yusov, Kurt Campbell, Yusov, Matthew Schmidt, Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine “, –, Nazar Volosyn, “, Roman Pilipey, Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, Trump, what’s, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba, Andriі Kovalenko, Petr Pavel, Stepanenko, ” Stepanenko Organizations: CNN, Institute for, Russian, Anadolu, Getty, “, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, UK’s Defense Ministry, National Security Department, New Haven University, NATO, Ukrainian, Congress, National Security and Defense Council, European Union Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Tonenke, Donetsk, Washington, Karlivka, Russia, North Korea, Ukrainian, Chasiv Yar, Kyiv, AFP, Rostov, Czech, Europe

☆ An American sniper in Ukraine said GOP moves to block vital aid are making him rethink supporting the party
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

An American veteran in Ukraine said Republicans blocking support for Ukraine is making his party support falter. He said the lack of GOP support for Ukraine may stop him from voting for the party next time. AdvertisementAn American veteran in Ukraine said the Republican Party's moves to block further aid to the war-torn nation is shattering his longstanding loyalty to the party. Support Ukraine, help us win this war." "The way they're walking away from the threat of Russia, the way they're walking away from NATO, the way they're walking away from leaving our obligations, it's just shocking," Biden said.

Persons: —, Jonathan Poquette, Poquette, Rand Paul, I've, it's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Service, Republican, Chosen Company, Ukraine's 59th Motorized Brigade, US Army, Republican Party, Ukraine, Republicans, NATO Locations: American, Ukraine, Ukraine's, Kyiv, Kentucky, That's, Russia, Russian, Southern, North Korea, Iran

☆ It looks like Russia is trying to overrun Ukrainian defenses with mechanized assaults before mud and more weapons can wreck its plans, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementOn March 30, Ukrainian forces near Tonenke, west of Avdiivka, appeared to have won a bigger victory, fighting off a battalion-sized Russian mechanized assault. Related storiesThen, on April 3, geolocated footage cited by ISW showed Ukrainian forces a platoon-sized mechanized assault near Terry. Mud and the potential for more weaponsThere are a few different potential explanations for the sudden spike in mechanized assaults, war experts say. But these mechanized assaults could also be timed to make the most of Ukraine's current struggles, the think tank's analysts said. AdvertisementAs ISW analysts noted in their reporting on the March 30 defeat of a Russian mechanized assault, "Ukrainian forces may have had to expend a significant amount of material to defend against the Russian assault."

Persons: —, ISW, Jose Colon, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mike Johnson, Kurt Campbell Organizations: Service, Business, Institute for, Washington DC, 25th Airborne Brigade, Russian, Anadolu, Getty, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Washington, Lyman, Bakhmut, Ukrainian, Tonenke, Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Russia, Terry, Russian, House, Moscow

☆ Russia may be trying to get its air force in the fight by luring Ukraine into moving its air defences, war experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine has mostly been able to counter Russia's air force, blunting its ability to affect the war. AdvertisementRussia may be trying to lure Ukraine's air defense systems away from the front line so its air force can play a bigger role, war analysts said. It theorized that Russia was doing it to bait Ukraine into moving its air defense systems away from the front lines. Ukraine has largely held back Russia's air force despite having a much smaller and older air force itself. AdvertisementIf Ukraine doesn't have enough air defenses, Russia's air force could quickly make its power felt, the experts warned BI earlier this year.

Persons: —, Justin Bronk Organizations: Service, Russia, House Republicans, Ukraine, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Avdiivka, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Belarus starts military drills near EU borders; Russia targets energy infrastructure in drone strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) enter the hall during the plenary session of the Supreme Council of Russia and Belarus, at the Konstantin Palace on January 29, 2024, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Belarus began military drills on Tuesday in regions along its border with Ukraine, together with European Union nations Lithuania and Poland, the Russian ally's defense ministry said. Russia and Ukraine meanwhile continued to exchange drone strikes in recent days, with Russia on Monday night targeting energy facilities in raids on the Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovograd regions, Ukraine's Operational Command "South" said on Facebook. The head of Ukraine's national grid company said on Monday that while Russian drone attacks have significantly damaged the Ukrainian power system, a total collapse is unlikely. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks on Monday with military and government officials over Kyiv's drone production plans and a project to build an "integrated electronic warfare control system" to protect Ukrainian troops from Russian drone attacks.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Konstantin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Supreme, of, European Union, Command, Facebook Locations: of Russia, Belarus, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Russian, Gomel, Grodno, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovograd

☆ A stalemate in the Ukraine war could now be the best-case scenario, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Ukrainian soldiers of a mortar team in 24th brigade are seen at positions near Toretsk, Ukraine on March 26, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesBefore the two-year anniversary of Russia's war against Ukraine, defense experts widely predicted that the conflict would settle into a stalemate in 2024, leading neither side to make or lose a significant amount of territory. Russia's recent momentum — and ongoing worries over Ukraine's weaponry and ammunition shortages, as well as stalled U.S. military aid — are now prompting concerns that a stalemate might even be the "best-case scenario" that Kyiv can hope for this year. At worst, Ukraine could see Russian forces breaking through Ukraine's defensive positions along parts of the front line, one defense expert noted. Ukrainian servicemen of 24th brigade operate an 82mm mortar near the frontline in Toretsk as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Toretsk, Ukraine on March 27, 2024.

Persons: Ben Barry, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Barry, Vladimir Putin, confidants, Evgenia Novozhenina, Ian Bremmer, Ukraine's, Metin Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Land Warfare, Kremlin, Reuters Supply, Ukraine, Eurasia Group Locations: Toretsk, Ukraine, Moscow, Avdiivka, Russia, Russia’s, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russian, Iran, North Korea, Germany, U.S, Europe, Ukrainian, Izium, Kharkiv

☆ Russian assault piles pressure on fragile Ukrainian defensive line in the east
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The UK statement, which was shared on X, said: “Russian forces have maintained a gradual advance West of Avdiivka. Their apparent fall in just over a month after a prolonged and brutal Russian assault is indicative not only of Russian momentum, but also the fragility of Ukraine’s defensive lines. Ukraine’s military declined to comment on who is currently in control of Tonenke in response to a question from CNN. Troops CNN spoke to in frontline areas expressed concerns about the lack of Ukrainian defensive positions, personnel and munitions. The ISW said the Ukrainian forces appeared to have repelled the Russian mechanized assault, an apparent reference to the Umanske attack.

Persons: Kostiantyn, Donald Trump, Zelensky, ”, Yuriy Butusov, Butusov, Vlada, ISW, Chasiv Yar, Victoria Butenko, Svitlana Vlasova, Yulia Kesaieva Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, GOP, Washington, European Union, Ukraine’s, Staff, Russian, Troops CNN Locations: Russian, Avdiivka, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Washington, Kyiv, Umanske, Tonenke, Berdychi, US, Bakhmut

☆ Ukrainian forces low on just about everything they need shut down a large Russian mechanized assault in a telling front-line fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewUkrainian forces in a priority section of the front line near Avdiivka appear to have defeated a large Russian mechanized assault involving tanks and fighting vehicles over the weekend. Footage shared by Ukraine showed some of the assault, including Russian tanks being destroyed by anti-tank guided missiles, according to open-source intelligence accounts on social media. On Saturday, Russian forces attempted a sizeable armored assault west of Tonenke, Donetsk Oblast. AdvertisementAs Ukraine's forces fell back from Avdiivka, Russia pushed forward, exploiting weak or limited Ukrainian defenses for gains. The recent win may have come at a cost for Ukraine, ISW noted, saying that "Ukrainian forces may have had to expend a significant amount of material to defend against the Russian assault."

Persons: —, Avdiivka, ISW, Russia hasn't, Joe Biden, Vlada, Mike Johnson Organizations: Service, Business, Institute for, 6th Tank Regiment, 25th Airborne Brigade, 90th Tank Division, Armored Infantry, Fox News, Congress, Ukraine Locations: Avdiivka, Russian, Washington, Ukrainian, Tonenke, Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast, Russia, Avdiivka district, underprepared

☆ Ukraine says it downed two of three Russian drones overnight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Ukraine's air force shot down two out of three Russia-launched Shahed drones overnight, the Ukrainian military said on Monday. Separately, Ukraine's energy ministry said equipment at a power substation in the southern Zaporizhzhia region had been damaged following a drone attack. Monday night was relatively quiet for Ukraine following a series of attacks on the country's energy infrastructure that Russia stepped up more than a week ago. On March 22, Russian forces carried out the largest strike on grid infrastructure during the two-year-old war, causing major damage and resulting in massive power outages. Russia last week continued targeting Ukraine's thermal and hydro-power plants.

Organizations: General Staff, Facebook Locations: Russia, Ukraine

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