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The commander of the Russian air force Sergey Surovikin and the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin have not been seen in public in days as questions swirl about the role Surovikin may have played in Prigozhin’s short-lived mutiny. The Russian air force commander Sergey Surovikin (left) and the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin APWhy is everyone talking about Surovikin? Prigozhin meanwhile, played the central role in the short-lived insurrection – it was he who ordered Wagner troops to take over two military bases and then march on Moscow. Putin assembled Russian security personnel in Moscow Tuesday, telling them they “virtually stopped a civil war” in responding to the insurrection. Prigozhin was last spotted leaving the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don Saturday, after abruptly calling off his troops’ march on Moscow.

Persons: Sergey Surovikin, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Surovikin, “ Surovikin, ”, Alexey Venediktov –, –, Sergey Markov, Surovikin’s, “, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Don Saturday, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Peskov, ” Peskov, Mikhail Gorbachev, , Joe Biden, Josep Borrell Organizations: CNN, Moscow Times, Russian Telegram, Baza, Yevgeny Prigozhin AP, New York Times, PMC Wagner, Russian Ministry of Defense, Kremlin, Street, Belarusian, General Staff, Defense, Ministry, Washington DC, Jamestown Foundation, Russian Aerospace Forces, Human Rights Watch, Union’s, Foreign Affairs Locations: Kremlin, Russian, Moscow, Rostov, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Minsk, St . Petersburg, Ukraine’s, Afghanistan, Syria, Idlib, ”, Brussels, Dagestan, Derbent

☆ Opinion: In Ukraine, the Russian military response to the counteroffensive shows how it’s improved – and how it hasn’t
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Opinion Sébastien Roblin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The beginning of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia seems not to have been a resounding success for Kyiv. But they don’t mean that all is lost for Ukraine – or even that Ukraine is now losing. Russia’s artillery ammunition, missile stockpiles and most-modern ground combat vehicles were gravely depleted, so 60-year-old tanks have been withdrawn from storage. It was while attempting to breach a path through one such fortified minefield that the 47th Brigade’s vehicles bogged down last week. Notably, a parallel drive toward Mariupol at the same time as the 47th’s failed attack last week has made fast gains, compelling Russian forces to withdraw from several settlements.

Persons: Sébastien Roblin, Bradley, ” Sebastien Roblin, Sebastien Roblin, Putin, Biden, —, Jens Stoltenberg, ” Organizations: Popular Mechanics, NBC, Forbes.com, Georgetown University, Peace Corps, CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine’s 47th Brigade, Ukraine, Red Army, 47th Brigade, NATO, Twitter, Facebook Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kursk, Kherson, Normandy, Berdyansk, Crimea

Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine CNN —In a deserted shell of a building, a Ukrainian drone pilot blocks off his surroundings and focuses solely on the controller in his hands. During the day, the drone unit spent hours scoping out possible night-time launch sites for their mission, as well as figuring out the exact coordinates of their target. Frederik Pleitgen/CNNThey hide their vehicles and proceed a few hundreds of meters on foot, while Ukrainian and Russian forces trade artillery salvos. A successful hitAs the Ukrainian drone approaches its Russian target, the mission enters its most critical phase. Still, the men say, their job is not done just yet, not while Russian forces continue to occupy Ukraine.

Persons: ‘, ’ ”, –, ” Bankir, “, Marat, Frederik Pleitgen, they’re, ”, Vladimir Sladkov, Vladimir Rogov, they’ll, Ukraine’s SBU, ” Marat, “ It’s, it’s Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, Security Service, country’s Patrol Police, CNN, Patrol Police, coy, Bradley, Russian, “ Team Locations: Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kherson, Russian, United States

☆ Podcast: Inside a liberated Ukrainian village and Trump’s not guilty plea
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters exclusively gained access to a newly-liberated village in southeastern Ukraine – the first independent confirmation that Ukraine is advancing in its counteroffensive. But elsewhere in Ukraine, there are fears about water levels needed to cool Europe’s largest nuclear plant. Plus, former President Donald Trump pleads not guilty to federal criminal charges. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. Further ReadingExclusive: Flag flies over newly liberated village, confirming Ukraine advancingTrump pleads not guilty in federal documents caseExplainer-Europe's biggest nuclear plant - at centre of a war zone and dam breachOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump Organizations: Apple, Google, Reuters, Ukraine –, Thomson Locations: Ukraine

CNN —Tennis player Elina Svitolina called her opponent, Russian Daria Kasatkina, a “brave one” following the Ukrainian’s upset win on Sunday. Last month, Kasatkina, Russia’s top-ranked female tennis player, also expressed her sympathy for Ukrainian tennis players who refuse to shake her hand after matches. She’s [a] really brave person to say it publicly, that not so many players did,” Svitolina said, after advancing to the quarterfinals of the French Open. “She’s a brave one.”Instead of a hand shake, Kasatkina gave her opponent a thumbs up at the net after losing match point. Russian and Belarusian players are currently still competing on the tours as neutral athletes without their flag or country displayed.

Persons: Elina Svitolina, Daria Kasatkina, Svitolina, “, ” Kasatkina, Kasatkina, ” Svitolina, Benoit Tessier, it’s, ” Sabalenka, Sabalenka, ” Organizations: CNN —, New York Times, Ukrainian, Svitolina, Reuters, – Locations: Belarusian, Ukraine, Ukraine – Belarus, Russia

☆ Thousands are living in RVs on Los Angeles’ streets. Leaders want to shrink the number, but the solution is elusive
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Nick Watt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Los Angeles CNN —Early one recent Friday morning, sanitation workers, homeless-outreach workers and LAPD officers arrived on a little street in the west of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, you are allowed to sleep in a vehicle on some streets. She was elected last year on a platform dripping with intent to handle the various homelessness issues plaguing Los Angeles. “We have not resolved the RV issue yet,” Mayor Karen Bass told The Los Angeles Times in March. And for now, for thousands of people, an RV’s roof over their heads is all they can afford in Los Angeles.

Persons: Anderson Cooper, Jasmine, ’ ”, LaTonya Smith, Traci Park, Joseph, ”, Smith, “ I’m, “ vanlords, “, ” Park’s, “ It’s, Dmitry Korikov, ” Korikov, Karen Bass, Bass, Joseph Center, ” Bass, RVs, ” Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, ” Smith Organizations: Los, Los Angeles CNN, LAPD, Catholic Church, Joseph Center, “, CNN, “ Staff, Angeles County, American National Standards Institute, Fire Protection Association, ” CNN, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Homeless Services Locations: Los Angeles, Jasmine, RVs, Los Angeles County, St, Angeles, City, California, Russia, Ukraine, Venice

☆ Opinion: The Russian official with a none-too-subtle message from the boss
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The world awoke Wednesday morning to the latest threat from Russia’s former president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev. He’s like the fictional figure who appears out of nowhere, stares ahead with a blank face and slowly runs his finger across his throat: a none-too-subtle message from the boss. Or is he speaking for the Russian president? Shortly before he died, he had called Russia’s war against Ukraine “a fascist invasion.” The cause of death remains unexplained. With the war in Ukraine – a pivotal moment in Russia’s history – Putin remains at the center of the mafia-like government he has built.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, James, “, –, Venance, Putin, Xi Jinping, ”, ” Medvedev, Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Vladimir Putin toasts, Sergei Surovikin, Kirill Kuryavtsev, Pyotr Kucherenko, Ukraine “, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Kara, Navalny, embarrassingly, Putin’s, couldn’t, Ukraine – Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Twitter, Russia’s Security, Russia, Foreign, Getty, London, Telegram, Kremlin, Ukraine, Facebook, Navalny’s, Corruption Foundation, YouTube Locations: United Kingdom, Moscow, Ukraine, ”, Russia, Russian, London, France, AFP, Crimea, Poland, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Syria, Cuba, Kara, West, Italy

☆ Western supplies of weapons to Ukraine could escalate the war to a 'new dimension', Russia's ambassador to the UK says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia will scale up its war if the west keeps supplying Ukraine with weapons, its ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin said Saturday. "This escalation will get a new dimension which we do not need and do not want," Kelin told the BBC. His warning came as a top Ukrainian official said the country was ready to launch a counter-offensive. Andrei Kelin told the BBC that Western military aide would prolong the 15-month conflict – and warned that the longer that dragged on, the more likely Russia was to scale up its attacks. Russia is 16 times bigger than Ukraine," Kelin added.

☆ Vinícius Jr.: Spanish soccer's inaction over racist abuse of Real Madrid star could prove costly for LaLiga
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Except, this week, nobody is talking about the ‘beautiful game’ after the shameful racist abuse of Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr. sent LaLiga into crisis management mode. Instead, it must pass investigations into incidents of racist abuse onto local prosecutors, who deal with them as legal cases. 10 when nine previous incidents of racist abuse seemingly were not enough to spark meaningful action? Vinícius Jr. points to a fan in the stand who allegedly racially abused him during Real Madrid's match at Valencia. Fort says CEOs called Sepp Blatter to ask him to step down as FIFA president.

☆ Ukraine's Zelensky and India's Modi meet in Japan for first face-to-face since Russia invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan Saturday, the first in-person meeting between the two since Russia’s invasion began. Modi – who has so far refused to condemn the invasion – said India would do “everything we can” to help end the war. For me, it is an issue of humanity.”For his part, Zelensky invited Modi to join Ukraine’s peace efforts to bring the war against Russia to an end. Winning support or understanding from leaders like Modi could be a key motivation also driving Zelensky to attend the G7, analysts have said. Zelensky’s peace plan, in contrast, calls for the restoration of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and the withdrawal of Russian troops.

☆ G7 leaders gather on China's doorstep to seek unified response to Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

‘Economic coercion’Another important theme of the summit will be economic security, including how to counter China’s economic pressure tactics. As the G7 summit gets underway, Chinese officials will be closely watching from Beijing and will not hide their displeasure, experts say. In the lead-up to the summit, Beijing has already berated a statement by G7 foreign ministers. Similarly, Beijing also lashed out at accusations of its “economic coercion,” claiming it is the “victim of US economic coercion” rather than a perpetrator. And while China is not invited to Hiroshima, it is hosting its own summit with Central Asia countries, experts noted.

☆ Putin wants China to think he can defeat Ukraine. But his expensive military gambit is yet to yield results
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Nic Robertson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Kremlin claimed it had hit one of the United States’ prestigious Patriot missile defense systems. The Kremlin claimed it had hit a US Patriot missile defense system. The White House rebuffed Moscow's claims that the attack hit a Patriot missile defense system. Ankara on the diplomatic fenceXi isn’t the only leader with skin in the Ukraine war that Putin appears to be trying to sway his way right now. There is no guarantee either that Xi cares about Putin’s missile salvo targeting Kyiv’s Patriot missile batteries either, but he will have been paying attention.

☆ 5 reasons G7 Summit 2023 in Hiroshima, Japan matters
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —This year’s G7 meeting in Japan holds special significance, not only for its location. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives at Hiroshima airport to attend the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on Thursday. Together with his wife Britta Ernst, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz boards an air force plane for his trip to Hiroshima and the G7 summit. The biggest challenge for the G7 leaders may be keeping that momentum going. Two of the biggest holders of that debt, Japan and Britain, will be at the table with Biden in Hiroshima.

The error – which lawmakers and congressional staffers were briefed on Thursday – triggered frustration from Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees. “The revelation of a three-billion-dollar accounting error discovered two months ago and only today shared with Congress is extremely problematic, to say the least. Now, due to this revelation, there is about $5.3 billion still available, far more than even the largest single package provided to Ukraine. But now that there is more funding available, congressional sources said they are less concerned about the immediate need for a new funding package for Ukraine. The accounting error occurred because when the US transferred weaponry to Ukraine, they counted the value of replacing the weapon instead of the value of actual weapon, defense officials explained.

☆ China-Central Asia Summit: Ukraine war weakens Russian influence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Xi will present visiting Central Asian leaders with “a series of proposals” on the long-term development of ties and sign agreements, Chinese officials said this week. It is “of great interest to Central Asia nowadays to cooperate with China as one of its important alternative markets,” he added. However, Khitakhunov said, Central Asian leaders would be just as keen to have discussions about trade, investment and joint projects with Western players like the European Union. Central Asian countries have also seen and cracked down on popular protests and unrest in recent years. Like China, Central Asia leaders have typically avoided condemning Russia in forums like the UN, for example abstaining on major General Assembly resolutions calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops.

☆ Black Sea grain deal: A crucial pact aimed at averting a global food crisis has been extended
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —A crucial deal aimed at averting a global food crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been extended for two months. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday an agreement has been reached with Russia and Ukraine to extend the Black Sea grain deal. Murat Kula/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesWhat is the Black Sea grain deal and why is it important? The Black Sea grain deal was first reached in July 2022. The Black Sea grain deal was an agreement made between Russia and Ukraine – however, it was not a direct agreement.

CNN —Former Energy Secretary Rick Perry on Sunday teased a possible 2024 presidential run while declining to support Donald Trump’s campaign, becoming the latest onetime Trump appointee to distance himself from the former president’s third White House bid. “It’s early in the process, I think, for any of us to sit back and say, ‘I’m for this person or that person,’” Perry said. Perry is the longest-serving Texas governor in history, assuming the role in 2000, when Gov. Other texts between Perry and Meadows discussing how to overturn the election, signed by the former governor, also found the light of day during the investigation. So again, there is a lot of misinformation out there, Jim, and that was one piece of it,” Perry said.

Notably, Trump refused to plant a flag in the sand on a potential federal abortion ban. Trump is vague on federal abortion banTrump repeatedly ducked questions about whether he would sign into law a federal abortion ban, as well as after how many weeks into a pregnancy abortion should be made illegal. He touted the Supreme Court’s decision last year to overturn Roe v. Wade’s federal abortion rights as “such a great victory” – and one made possible by his appointment of three conservative justices. But Trump also recognized splits within the GOP over whether to impose a federal abortion ban, and what the conditions of such a ban should be. “We now have a great negotiating ability, and I think we’re going to be able to get something done,” Trump said.

CNN —The boss of Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused a Russian brigade of abandoning its position in front-line Bakhmut, allowing Ukraine to seize territory. The flanks are already cracking and falling through.”“At the moment, within the city of Bakhmut, there is only Wagner PMC, there are no other units. PMC Wagner is not there,” he said. Bakhmut is the site of a months-long assault by Russian forces, including Wagner mercenaries, that has driven thousands from their homes and left the area devastated. Prigozhin also questioned the value of capturing Bakhmut, claiming that the city “has no strategic importance.”Separately, a prominent Russian military blogger, Anastasiya Kashevarova, has reported a complete lack of communication in the Bakhmut area between Wagner and the 72nd Brigade.

Russian servicemen rehearse on Sunday for the Victory Day parade, when Moscow will aim to display its military prowess. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty ImagesSeveral Russian regions have cut back on Victory Day celebrations, due to insufficient military weapons available for display. World leaders such as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan attended the military parade in previous years. ‘Evil has returned’Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday suggested moving Ukraine's Victory Day parade a day earlier so it does not align with Moscow's celebrations. Like Russia, Ukraine traditionally commemorates victory over the Nazis on May 9, but that date has become increasingly associated with a parade in Moscow.

☆ Putin faces a deluge of bad news as Wagner says it will withdraw from frontline and Kremlin comes under attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

And it will happen just after the May 9 Victory Day pomp and celebration, as, he insists, Wagner are patriots. But he has never said he will likely cripple one of Russia’s most symbolic frontlines by just walking away. Wagner forces would have to walk out of a battlefield which is – on the surface – for the most part controlled by Putin’s Ministry of Defense. Putin is absorbing a lot of bad vibes at the moment to seem that much in control. It is unlikely that any fissures at the heart of the Kremlin would be made public before they were acted upon.

☆ Opinion: Whatever happened in the skies over Putin’s fortress, one thing is certain
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. (The following day, the Kremlin also accused the US of involvement in the alleged attack, which the US denies). What exactly happened over the presumably heavily fortified Kremlin – a word that means fortress in Russian – the seat of government and home to the president? Russia’s credibility, particularly concerning its war against Ukraine, has been crushed by its persistent lies. In the Immortal Regiment parade, hundreds of thousands of Russians take to the streets, many holding up photographs of their relatives who served the nation in World War II, the Great Patriotic War, as it is known there.

☆ Analysis: Cross-border attacks as Russia and Ukraine seek to weaken each other ahead of expected offensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine is apparently striking at fuel depots in Russian-occupied areas and inside Russia itself – seemingly precise attacks but ones to which Kyiv is making no overt claim. Russia has been lashing out at what often seem to be civilian targets in Ukraine, either in rage or through ineptitude. Ukraine was quick to capitalize on that statement and sent senior officials to the area to claim Russia had already begun pulling back. And now, in Kherson, Ukrainian officials have ordered a 58-hour curfew from 8 p.m. on May 5, barring locals from leaving their houses. This comes amid a deluge of comments from Ukrainian officials that the weather - for the past fortnight alternating between rain and bold sunshine - has held them back.

☆ Pope says the Vatican is involved in a peace mission to end the war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Antonia Mortensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Vatican is part of a peace mission to end the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis said Sunday. “The mission is in the course now, but it is not yet public. When it is public, I will reveal it,” Francis told reporters. Francis also heard testimony from refugees – many from Ukraine – and appealed to the importance of charity during his Budapest visit. On Sunday, the pontiff also told reporters that he was feeling better after being hospitalized in late March with a respiratory infection.

☆ Ukraine could launch its offensive against Russia any moment now. Here's what's waiting
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The defenses continue for hundreds of miles across the meandering southern front – where Ukrainian forces are expected to concentrate their counter-offensive in the coming weeks. This area will be critical should Ukrainian forces try to advance towards the city of Melitopol and split Russian forces in the south. It’s unclear where the equipment went but likely that it was sent north to reinforce Russian defensive lines. Russian-appointed officials in Zaporizhzhia claim there is already a large build-up of Ukrainian forces in the area. Ukrainian officials do not disclose the movement of units.

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