DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Andrey Morozov: Pro-Kremlin military blogger dead days after reporting massive Russian losses in Avdiivka
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Vasco Cotovio | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A pro-Kremlin Russian military blogger, Andrey Morozov, has reportedly died just days after he reported that Russia had suffered massive losses during its assault on the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka. Morozov’s death comes after he reported that Russia was suffering massive losses during its assault of Avdiivka. CNN has seen evidence Russia suffered heavy casualties during the offensive on Avdiivka, but cannot verify the estimates published by Morozov. If he doesn’t remove it, we won’t provide supplies,” Morozov wrote. Pro-Russian military bloggers have enjoyed some freedom to criticize the Russian military and the way the Ministry of Defense was prosecuting the war in Ukraine.

Persons: Andrey Morozov, Mozorov, Maxim Pashkov, Morozov, “, ” Pashkov, ” Morozov, ”, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Igor Girkin Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Russian, Russian Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Defense Locations: Kremlin Russian, Russia, Avdiivka, Ukraine, Russian, Luhansk People’s Republic, Ukrainian, Luhansk, Moscow

☆ After recent gains, Russia signals it could try to seize Kyiv again — saying the 'regime must fall'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A senior Russian official has signaled that Russian forces could make another attempt to capture Kyiv, after a failed attempt to seize the Ukrainian capital early in the war. Deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, told Russian media agencies that Russia could "reach Kiev," using the Russian spelling of the city, saying it could happen later, if not now. Russia claims that the partially occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson are now a part of Russia, a claim roundly rejected by Ukraine and its allies. In his latest interview, Medvedev commented that "this regime must fall, it must be destroyed, it must not remain in this world." Kyiv was a "Russian city," he claimed, warning that in Ukrainian hands it was "a threat to the existence of the Russian Federation."

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Russian, Russian Security, RIA Novosti, Russian Federation Locations: Kyiv, Russian, Russia, Kiev, Moscow, Ukraine, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, United States of America

☆ Russian Forces Press On With Attacks in Southern Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Russian forces in recent days have launched multiple attacks around the southern Ukrainian village of Robotyne, military officials and experts said, targeting land hard-won by Ukraine in a rare success of its counteroffensive last summer. Open-source maps of the battlefield compiled by independent groups analyzing combat footage suggest that Russia has made marginal gains to the west and south of Robotyne. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based research group, said on Monday that Russian forces had advanced to the western outskirts of the village. “Pay attention to the village of Robotyne,” Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesman for Ukrainian forces fighting in the area, said on national television last week. “It seems that the Russians have set a goal of achieving some success there” and planned to try to seize the village, he said.

Persons: Dmytro Lykhovii Organizations: Ukraine, Ukrainian Army Locations: Ukrainian, Robotyne, Russia, Washington

☆ Ukraine can still win against Russia, but a few very important things need to happen this year, war experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Military experts say Ukraine can still win against Russia by prioritizing defense and seizing key opportunities. War watchers say that Ukraine can still win against Russia's invasion if it prioritizes defense, rebuilding combat capability, and hitting Russia where it is most vulnerable as the country enters its third year of war. If Ukraine consistently holds its own against Russia, Kofman noted, this would keep Russia in a weak position by letting attrition take its toll. "It was to put Ukraine in a position where it can attain decisive leverage to negotiate with Russia war termination, from a favorable position and then to attain a durable peace." Davis said that Ukraine needs to attempt to negotiate as soon as it can with Russia to end the war.

Persons: watcher's, Michael Kofman, Kofman, STRINGER, Emma Ashford, Henry L, Putin, Ashford, Daniel Davis, Davis, Avdiivka Organizations: Russia, Russia's, Carnegie Endowment, International, Getty, Stimson Center, Kurt & Company, Defense Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Novorossiysk, Europe, Bakhmut District

☆ Anti-Ukraine rhetoric has saturated right-wing media. Now it is helping to deliver actual war victories to Putin
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Vladimir Putin’s information war in U.S. media paid off this weekend with a key victory halfway around the world. A CNN poll conducted last summer found that a staggering 71% of Republicans do not support additional aid to thwart Putin’s war on Ukraine. Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty ImagesMuch of the GOP’s softening toward Russia is owed to a near-total reversal in rhetoric from right-wing media personalities and outlets, prompted in large part by Donald Trump’s ascension to power in GOP politics. While the biggest players in right-wing media once fervently championed the foreign policy doctrines of the neo-conservatives, they now follow in the footsteps of Trump and vehemently reject the views once held by the George W. Bush administration. The rhetoric has had a considerable impact on the views of the party, which is now being reflected by its elected leaders.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Putin, Julian E, Barnes, Thomas Gibbons, Neff, Eric Schmitt, CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Mitt Romney, ”, Kostiantyn, Donald Trump’s, Trump, George W, Bush, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Matt Gertz, “ Tucker Carlson, ” “, ” Gertz Organizations: New York CNN, U.S . Congress, Eastern, Congress, GOP, Senate, Republican, Republican Party, CNN, Chemical Plant, Fox News, U.S, Ukraine, Republicans, Media Locations: New York, Washington, Ukraine, Avdiivka, Europe, Russia, Avdiivka district, Moscow, U.S

☆ Russia's air force took control of the skies before seizing victory in a front-line fight, and it could be 'devastating' for Ukraine if it continues, war experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Chris Panella | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

And if it continues or expands, a real possibility as Ukrainian air defenses are under significant stress, it could be "devastating," war experts said. Confirming its retreat from the area, Ukraine said it was saving troops from being fully surrounded by Russian troops. This activity appears to indicate the employment of a combined arms tactic involving having air forces support maneuver elements on the ground. Ukraine's air defenses have largely denied Russia air superiority, preventing its jets and aircraft from conducting significant air campaigns since the beginning of the war. Even "recurring temporary localized and limited Russian air superiority," ISW explained in a recent update, "would likely allow Russian forces to more aggressively pursue operational advances along the frontline."

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin's, George Barros, Barros, Vlada, hasn't, ISW, Kostiantyn, Avdiivka, it's, John Kirby, Kirby, It's, Putin Organizations: Service, Bakhmut, The Institute, Washington DC, Institute for, Armored Infantry, National Security, Chemical Plant, Ukraine Locations: Russian, Russia, Avdiivka, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Moscow, Ukraine, Washington, Avdiivka district, Luhansk, Lastochkino, MLRS

☆ Delays in Western aid to Ukraine have helped Russia launch offensives on 3 fronts at once, military experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementWestern delays in ammunition and aid to Ukraine have likely helped Russia launch offensive operations on at least three fronts, military experts said. These shortages, and the potential for no further aid being given by the US, have "likely encouraged Russian forces to exploit the situation" to launch offensive operations over the past few weeks, it said. AdvertisementIt warned that these attacks will "likely hinder Ukrainian forces from preparing personnel and materiel for renewed counteroffensive operations." The White House said this month that Ukraine could lose Avdiivka because of a lack of ammunition, despite Russia seeing larger losses there. Ukraine is busy trying to increase its domestic production of ammunition, but Russia, which is much larger and has more domestic resources, is also doing the same.

Persons: John Kirby, Avdiivka Organizations: Washington DC, White, National Security, BBC Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Ukraine's, Kupyansk, Avdiivka, Robotyne, Zaporizhia, Ukrainian

☆ On the War’s Anniversary, Ukrainians Are Fighting to Be Free - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Olena Stiazhkina | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It usually happens in the middle of the night or at dawn. The stupidest of the stupid is the question “How are you?” That question flies above Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson, Dnipro, gathering replies. Wrong: The war has not been two years but 10, from when Russian forces annexed Crimea and invaded the Donbas. In Ukrainian, the period of time equivalent to a year is defined by two words: “richnytsia” (anniversary) and “rokovyny” (commemoration). We are still fighting for “richnytsias,” for anniversaries and jubilees of our victory.

Persons: ”, Anya, rokovyny, Rokovyny, “ Locations: Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson, Dnipro, Crimea, ”, Ukraine, Bykivnia, Bucha

☆ After Retreat, Ukraine Digs in to Repel New Russian Attacks in East
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 Images"The Ukrainian military has established itself on new lines of defence and is successfully repelling attempts by the Russian invaders to develop an offensive," Brigadier-General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi wrote on Telegram messenger. The capture of Avdiivka pushes Ukrainian forces further from the Russian-held bastion city of Donetsk, an important logistics hub used by Moscow to support its operations across partially-occupied eastern Ukraine, a region known as the Donbas. Serhiy Zgurets, director of the Kyiv-based Defence Express consultancy, predicted Russian forces would try to "straighten out" the front line around Mariinka and launch a fresh push around the town of Vuhledar, which is held by Kyiv. Pavel Mogila, commander of an armoured unit in a Russian militia force fighting for Ukraine, said they helped evacuate forces from the city using three vehicles. Moscow unilaterally declared it had annexed the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in 2022 despite not fully controlling any of them.

Persons: Pavel Polityuk, Tom Balmforth, Avdiivka's, Republicans scupper, rearm, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Dmytro Lykhoviy, Avdiivka, Serhiy Zgurets, Zgurets, Chasiv Yar, Vladimir Putin, Maksym Zhoryn, Pavel Mogila, Taran, Oleh, Putin, Yuliia Dysa, Peter Graff Organizations: Tom Balmforth KYIV, Kremlin, U.S, Republicans, Ukrainian, Defence Express, Kyiv, Third Assault Brigade, 110th Brigade Locations: Avdiivka, Russia, Bakhmut, Mariinka, Kyiv, Russian, Donetsk, Moscow, Ukraine, Vuhledar, Chasiv, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russian forces cement hold on Avdiivka; Ukraine investigates alleged shooting of POWs in captured city
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russian forces are consolidating their hold on Avdiivka after capturing the city at the weekend. Russian troops say they have now taken full control of the Donetsk city's chemical and coke plant. Russian news agency Tass, citing Russia's Defense Ministry, stated that Russian forces had now "completely liberated the coke plant in Avdiivka, the flags of the Russian Federation have been hoisted on the buildings of the enterprise." Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday that some Ukrainian units were still entrenched at the plant, which used to be one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Ukrainian authorities said on Sunday that they've launched an investigation into the alleged shooting of unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war in Avdiivka and the village of Vesele.

Persons: they've Organizations: Russia's Defense Ministry, Russian Federation, Russia's Defense Locations: Donetsk, Russian, Avdiivka, Europe, Vesele, Russia

LONDON (AP) — The Associated Press won the best documentary prize at the British Academy Film Awards for Ukraine war documentary “20 Days in Mariupol,” produced with PBS’ “Frontline.”Filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov admitted the accolade made him feel conflicted. It’s a huge responsibility,” the Ukrainian journalist said after winning the trophy Sunday at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Chernov arrived in Mariupol one hour before Russia began its bombardment, along with photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and field producer Vasilisa Stepanenko. It is nominated in the best documentary category at the March 10 Academy Awards, the first-ever Oscar nomination for the 178-year-old AP. “Cities get occupied and destroyed and our work represents what is happening to Ukraine now,” Chernov said.

Persons: ”, Mstyslav Chernov, “, It’s, ” Chernov, Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka, Vasilisa Stepanenko, — unflinchingly, Stepanenko, Lori Hinnant, let’s, Derl McCrudden Organizations: Associated Press, British Academy, Ukraine, PBS, London’s Royal, Hall, AP, Russia, Hamas, International Federation of Journalists Locations: Mariupol, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia, Avdiivka, Israel

☆ Speaker Mike Johnson faces critical decision on Ukraine aid as international pressure grows to act
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Melanie Zanona | Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Speaker Mike Johnson is facing international criticism over his lack of swift action on Ukraine aid, which is ratcheting up pressure to make a critical decision that will not only have massive implications for his rookie speakership but also for Ukraine’s ongoing war effort against Russia. “If there is a Mike Johnson plan, there aren’t any House Republicans that are aware of its existence.”The pressure cooker Johnson is facing has exposed some frustration over how he has approached his speakership. At a time when House Republicans are looking to their leader to make a decisive choice, the speaker has instead elevated members to bring forward their own ideas without articulating his own preferences. “Ukraine is in desperate need of the US aid, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote on the floor of the United States Senate. “We’re looking at a number of options on our leadership team.”Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has repeatedly hammered Johnson over his inaction.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, –, Alexei Navalny, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, Sen, J.D, Vance, Johnson —, Warren Davidson, ” Davidson, Virginia Sen, Mark Warner, ”, Ben Cardin, “, ” Cardin, It’s, Brian Fitzpatrick, someone’s, Mitch McConnell, Vladimir Putin, ” Johnson, Steve Scalise, Trump, ” Scalise, Joe Biden, ” Biden, NATO … I’ve, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Putin “, Vladimir Putin’s, ” Schumer, it’s, There’s, Mike Turner, ” CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, Russia, Democratic, Congress, Global, Security, Republicans, Republican, NATO, GOP, Caucus, languishes, Senate Intelligence, United, United States Senate, Senate, NATO …, New, New York Democrat, House Intelligence, Ohio Republican, Press, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Warren Davidson of Ohio, “, Munich, United States, Russia, Pennsylvania, Baltic, Florida, New York, Washington

☆ 'It is urgent': European leaders appeal for greater support for Ukraine as Russia makes major gain
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's prime minister, speaks on day two of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized a waning sense of urgency among delegates at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday as Moscow's full-scale offensive nearly enters its third year. "The sense of urgency is simply not clear enough in our discussions," Frederiksen told a lunchtime session. Denmark has now donated its entire artillery to Ukraine, Frederiksen said, urging other countries to do the same as the war marks its second anniversary on Feb. 24. The policymakers were speaking at the 7th Munich Ukrainian Lunch, hosted on the sidelines of the MSC by the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum and Ukrainian non-profit the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

Persons: Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's, Frederiksen, Putin, Radosław Sikorski, Victor Pinchuk, Tobias Billström, Bakhmut, Nikolay Denkov, Denkov, Genya Savilov, Hillary Clinton, —, Niall Ferguson, Clinton, Petr Pavel, Kaja Kallas, Alexander De Croo, Bulgaria Nikolay Denkov Organizations: Munich, Bloomberg, Getty, Kyiv, MSC, Yalta European Strategy, Victor, Victor Pinchuk Foundation, Sweden's, Moscow, 47th Mechanized Brigade, Bradley, Afp, Former, U.S, CNBC Locations: Munich, Germany, MUNICH, Ukraine, Danish, Denmark, Poland, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Moscow, Russia, Europe, U.S, Donetsk, Western, Czech Republic, Republic of Estonia, Belgium, Bulgaria

Russian forces captured the longtime Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka before dawn on Saturday, Moscow’s first major battlefield gain since it took Bakhmut last May. Russia’s assault has split into five major lines of attack, spanning towns and cities across much of the front in eastern and southern Ukraine. AvdiivkaRussia captured a longtime Ukrainian stronghold. But for the better part of a decade it carved a bulge in the front line that undermined critical Russian logistical operations. It sits only a few miles from the city of Donetsk, which Russia has occupied since 2014.

Persons: Moscow’s Organizations: Avdiivka Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Avdiivka Russia, Donetsk, Russia

☆ Ukrainian troops pull out of key eastern town of Avdiivka, the 'gateway' to Donetsk
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewUkrainian troops have withdrawn from the war-torn eastern town of Avdiivka. Russian forces now appeared "to be focused on complicating or preventing a complete Ukrainian withdrawal," according to the think tank. The fall of the town marks one of the biggest changes in battle lines since Russia took Bakhmut in May 2023. AdvertisementBut Ukrainian forces battling for the town were facing severe ammunition shortages as talks in Congress over sending $60 billion in US aid stalled.

Persons: —, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Syrskyi, Mykola Bielieskov, Kostiantyn, Valery Zaluzhny, Zaluzhny, Mike Johnson Organizations: Service, Facebook, Armed Forces of, Business, National Institute for Strategic Studies, New York Times, for, Bakhmut Locations: Avdiivka, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukraine, Pokrovsk, Russia, Russian, Donetsk, Israel

☆ Zelensky pleads for help to plug ‘artificial’ weapons deficit amid signs of Russia seizing advantage
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Maria Kostenko | Manveena Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed partner nations for more military assistance to Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference in Germany Saturday, amid signs of the war turning in Russia’s favour. His plea came soon after Ukrainian forces announced their withdrawal from the key eastern town of Avdiivka. “It is essential to unblock the sky…Where there are air defense systems, Russia immediately withdrew because they were losing aircraft. Real world,” Zelensky said. Last year, Zelensky opened the Munich Security Conference with an impassioned video address pleading for faster weapons to repel Russian forces.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin, ” Zelensky, ”, Zelensky, Jose Colon, Donald Trump, “, Kamala Harris, ” Harris Organizations: CNN, Munich, Ukrainian, Republicans, Wednesday, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Russian Federation, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Avdiivka, Europe, Donetsk Oblast, Russia, Instagram ., Munich, United States

☆ The crack Ukrainian assault brigade sent to launch counterattacks around Avdiivka has a murky past
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewUkraine's 3rd Separate Assault Brigade has been deployed to support the withdrawal from the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk Oblast, announced on Saturday. "Despite the fact that the occupiers are suffering disproportionate losses, the situation in Avdiivka remains extremely difficult," said the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade's Telegram account. Footage from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. In 2023, Biletsky said there was "no split" between the Azov Brigade and the 3rd Assault Brigade," Ukrainska Pravda reported. I am grateful to everyone for their resilience," said the commander of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, on Telegram.

Persons: —, …, Naz, tim e, sid, s of, liv Organizations: Service, Brigade, Institute for, Business, Separate Assault Brigade, kr, Unt Locations: Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine shot down 3 Russian fighter jets in one morning, says air force chief
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Ukrainian airforce says it shot down three Russian fighter jets in one morning. The Commander of the of the Air Forces said two Su-34 and one Su-35 fighter jets were downed. AdvertisementUkraine says it shot down three Russian fighter jets in a single morning. On the morning of February 17th, Ukrainian Air Force pilots bravely engaged and destroyed three enemy aircrafts at once-two SU-34 fighter bombers and one SU-35 fighter. It is unclear how Ukrainian forces downed the three Russian fighter jets this morning.

Persons: Su, —, Mykola Oleshchuk, Forbes, Sinéad Baker Organizations: Ukrainian, Air Forces, Ukraine, Service, Air Forces of, Armed Forces of, Armed Forces, Ukrainian Air Force, Patriot, U.S . Army Security, Raytheon Locations: Ukraine, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian, United States, Russia

☆ The Russian advance into the ruins of the city of Avdiivka was a matter of time
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Analysis Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In December, US officials estimated that the Russian military has suffered more than 13,000 casualties along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis in just a few weeks. The Ukrainian military acknowledged in December that the concentration of Russian forces would ultimately prevail. And ISW warns that “Ukrainian forces may have to stabilize the frontline by counter-attacking in the area where Russian forces are trying to close the encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Avdiivka in order to conduct an orderly withdrawal.”Much of Avdiivka now lies in ruins. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via ReutersThere are already indications that not all Ukrainian units were able to escape an ever-tightening noose. The Ukrainians are adapting swiftly to a new stance of active defense that will continue to bleed Russian forces.

Persons: General Valery Zaluzhnyi, Maksym Zhoryn, Ukraine’s, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Nuzhnenko, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Zhorin, laud, Bakhmut, Volodymr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Avdiivka Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade, Institute for, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Reuters, Russian Defense, Munich Locations: Avdiivka, Donetsk, Radio Free Europe, Kharkiv, Mariinka, Russia, Europe

☆ At Least Three Dead in Russian Assaults on Ukraine Cities, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Russian forces shelled and fired missiles at a series of cities in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, killing at least three people and leaving others under the rubble of shattered buildings, Ukrainian officials said. Two cities close to the front line in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region -- Kramatorsk and Slovyansk -- came under fire. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesRussian shells on Saturday struck a school in the nearby town of Slovyansk, with rescuer teams searching for at least one person trapped underneath piles of debris. Further north in the town of Kupiansk, scene of heavy Russian attacks for months, one person was killed when a two-storey house was struck by Russian shells, the governor of Kharkiv region said. Reuters could not independently verify any of the reports, but they occurred in areas where Russian assaults are frequent.

Persons: Kramatorsk, Ron Popeski, Nick Starkov, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Ukraine's Donetsk, Kramatorsk, Slovyansk, Donetsk, Moscow, Kupiansk, Kharkiv, Russia

☆ Putin is tightening his grip over what's left of the Wagner Group
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementThe military formation has been actively recruiting former Wagner Group mercenaries and soldiers who fought in Ukraine for combat operations in Africa. The Kremlin is likely using the Africa Corps to take over many of the functions of the Wagner Group, Parens added. Last week, in a video obtained by the Kyiv Post, Ukrainian special forces were shown interrogating captured Wagner mercenaries in Sudan. "Ukrainian special services have acquired considerable experience of waging non-linear warfare against the Russian side and especially against the Wagner Group," he said. The fate of the Wagner Group, it seems, still hangs in the balance.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, he's, Wagner, Prigozhin, Sergey Sukhankin, Raphael Parens, Parens, Sukhankin, Russia Alessandro Arduino Organizations: Kremlin, Jamestown Foundation, Wagner, Volunteer Corps, Africa Corps, Wagner Group, Fighters, Foreign, Research, Eurasia Program, Military Companies, Africa, Kyiv Post, Russia, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Africa, Ukraine, Western, Ukrainian, Sudan, Russian

Ukraine ordered the complete withdrawal from the ruined city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine before dawn on Saturday, surrendering a city that had been a military stronghold for the better part of a decade, in the face of withering Russian bombardment and relentless assault. “Based on the operational situation around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defense on more favorable lines,” Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s top military commander, said in a statement issued overnight. The fall of Avdiivka, a city that used to be home to some 30,000 people but is now a smoking ruin, is the first major gain Russian forces have achieved since May of last year. In recent weeks, Russian forces have been pressing the attack across nearly the entire length of the 600-mile long front.

Persons: Gen, Oleksandr Syrsky Organizations: Russian Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka

☆ Ukrainian troops withdraw from Avdiivka as ammunition shortage bites
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian troops withdrew from the devastated eastern town of Avdiivka, Kyiv's military chief said on Saturday, paving the way for Russia's biggest advance since it captured the city of Bakhmut last May. Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who took command of the Ukrainian military in a major shake-up last week, said Ukrainian forces had moved back to more secure positions outside the town, which had a pre-war population of 32,000. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised his troops for "exhausting" Russian forces in Avdiivka and said he agreed with the decision to withdraw in order to save lives. U.S. President Joe Biden warned earlier this week that Avdiivka could fall to Russian forces because of ammunition shortages following months of Republican congressional opposition to a new U.S. military aid package for Kyiv. The Russian defense ministry did not single out the battle for Avdiivka in a statement on Saturday, but said that Russian forces had "improved their positions" on the Donetsk front.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Syrskyi Organizations: Kyiv, Munich Security, Avdiivka Locations: Russian, Avdiivka, Ukraine, Russia, Donetsk Region, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, U.S, Donetsk

☆ Russian President Putin Congratulates Servicemen for Capture of Ukraine's Avdiivka
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated military units and their commander on Saturday on the capture of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, the Kremlin said. The Kremlin website said Putin was presented with a report on the capture of the city from Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Russian news agencies quoted a telegram that Putin sent to the commander of the "centre" group of forces in Ukraine, Colonel-General Andrei Mordvichev. Russian forces had been engaged in sustained attacks on Avdiivka since mid-October. It had been briefly held by pro-Russian groups in 2014 when they seized large chunks of eastern Ukraine, but later retaken by Ukrainian forces.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Andrei Mordvichev, Ron Popeski, Diane Craft Organizations: Reuters, Defence, Ukrainian, Moscow's, Russian Locations: Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Donetsk

☆ Zelenskyy ready to take Donald Trump to Ukraine's front line
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaks during the 2024 Munich Security Conference on February 17, 2024 in Munich, Germany. Johannes Simon | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesMUNICH, Germany — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was willing to take U.S. presidential hopeful Donald Trump, a long-time skeptic of Washington's support for Kyiv, to the war-battered front lines of Ukraine. "If Mr. Trump will come, I'm ready to go with him to the front lines," he added. The wartime president is also due to hold talks at the conference with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Czech President Petr Pavel, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, among others. The European Union earlier this month passed an additional funding bill of 50 billion euros ($54 billion) for Ukraine, overcoming longstanding opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Johannes Simon, Donald Trump, Zelenskyy, Trump, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Kamala Harris, Petr Pavel, Mette Frederiksen, Mark Rutte, Viktor Orban, Democratic Sen, Chris Coons Organizations: Conference, Getty, Kyiv, Munich Security, CNBC, Ukraine, U.S, Dutch, European, Hungarian, Democrat, Democratic Locations: Ukraine, Munich, Germany, MUNICH, Kyiv, Czech, Danish, Avdiivka, U.S, Russia

Search resuls for: "Russian Forces"

25 mentions found