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☆ Russia's Wagner boss heralds Bakhmut area advances, warns victory still distant
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 19 (Reuters) - The founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Thursday that his forces had taken the village of Klishchiivka, on the edge of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, but said that Ukrainian forces could not be forced from Bakhmut swiftly. Klishchiivka, which had a pre-war population of around 400 people, is located around 6 miles (9 kilometres) from the city of Bakhmut, where Wagner units have been locked have been locked in a months-long battle of attrition with Ukrainian forces. However, Prigozhin warned that Wagner would be unlikely to oust Ukrainian forces from Bakhmut soon: "Contrary to various opinions that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fleeing from Artemovsk [the Russian name for Bakhmut], this is not so. The Ukrainian army is working clearly and harmoniously. Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy FaulconbridgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ How one of the most gut-wrenching images of Russia's deadly air strikes on Ukraine almost didn't happen
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Viral photos showed devastating aftermath of Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian apartment block. A photos shows a woman in a bathroom after a Russian strike on an apartment building in Dnipro, Ukraine, on January 15, 2023. Ukraine said Russia hit the building with a Russian Kh-22 missile, known as an "aircraft carrier killer." Another photographer's photo shows emergency personnel working at the site where an apartment building was heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine on January 15, 2023. People stand next to the coffin during the funeral ceremony of Mykhailo Korenovskyi, Ukrainian boxing coach and a father of two, killed during the Russian missile attack in Dnipro, Ukraine, on January 17, 2023.

☆ Ukraine's top general outlines 'urgent needs' in talks with U.S. military chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Ukraine's top general said he had outlined the "urgent needs" of his armed forces on Tuesday at a first personal meeting with the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, in Poland. "I outlined the urgent needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the fulfilment of which will accelerate our Victory," General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi wrote in a statement on Telegram. The United States has been by far the biggest supplier of military assistance for Kyiv during the war. In his statement, Zaluzhnyi said he thanked Milley for "the unwavering support and assistance provided by the United States of America and allies to Ukraine". Reporting by Tom Balmforth and Max Hunder Editing by Jon Boyle and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The Russian missile that wiped out an apartment block was designed to sink aircraft carriers and can't be shot down by Ukraine, says its airforce
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

At least 23 people were killed in a Russian missile strike on an apartment block in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. The apartments were hit by a Russian Kh-22 missile which is called an "aircraft carrier killer," said Ukraine. The building was hit by a Russian Kh-22 missile, a Soviet-era anti-ship missile, which Ukraine has described as an "aircraft carrier killer." "This missile with a 950 kg (2,000-pound) warhead, which is called an 'aircraft carrier killer,' is designed to destroy aircraft carrier groups at sea. The Russian missile that Ukraine can't shoot downEmergency personnel work at the site where an apartment block was heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine January 15, 2023.

☆ UK indicates it will send battle tanks to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERSLONDON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak indicated on Saturday that Britain would send Ukraine some of its main battle tanks along with additional artillery support, drawing swift reproach from the Russian Embassy in London. Media reports have suggested Britain was in discussions with Ukraine to deliver the Challengers to help the country fight Moscow's forces. According to Sky News, about a dozen tanks would be supplied, the first time such Western weaponry had been pledged. BATTLE TANKThe Challenger 2 is a battle tank designed to attack other tanks, and has been in service with the British Army since 1994. "The prime minister and President Zelenskiy welcomed other international commitments in this vein, including Poland's offer to provide a company of Leopard tanks," Sunak's spokesperson said.

☆ Drone footage shows Ukrainian forces trapping fighters from Russia's Wagner Group in a lethal crossfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Drone footage shows the Ukrainian troops annihilating a unit of Wagner fighters in Soledar. The video shows soldiers — who the State Border Service of Ukraine identified as Wagner Group fighters — being monitored by a drone. The soldiers then come under fire from Ukrainian fighters using large-caliber machine guns, resulting in a number of injuries, according to the border force. In a Telegram post, the State Border Service of Ukraine described the events. "Although the enemy has concentrated its greatest forces in this direction, our troops – the Armed Forces of Ukraine, all defense and security forces – are defending the state."

☆ Ukraine says it's now a de facto member of NATO — further underlining a crucial error in Putin's invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine has become a "de facto" NATO member since Russia's invasion, its defence minister said. Russia used the potential of NATO expanding to Ukraine as an pretense for its invasion. But this appears to have backfired, instead bringing it closer to the Western military alliance. Oleksii Reznikov told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Friday that NATO's support for Ukraine meant "Ukraine as a country, and the armed forces of Ukraine, became [a] member of NATO." Putin partly justified his invasion of Ukraine by saying that he was worried NATO was expanding towards Russia's borders, including into Ukraine.

☆ Russia says Belarus may enter Ukraine conflict if 'invaded'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 13 (Reuters) - A Russian foreign ministry official said on Friday that Belarus may enter the conflict in Ukraine if Kyiv decides to "invade" either country. Russia used Belarus as a springboard to invade Ukraine in February 2022, and since October has deployed troops in Belarus for joint military drills. In an interview with state media, foreign ministry official Aleksey Polishchuk said that Russia's joint drills with Belarus were designed to prevent escalation, but warned that Belarus may join the Ukraine conflict if it or Russia were invaded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that his country must "be ready" at its border with Belarus, but that he so far only saw "powerful statements" coming from his neighbour. "We understand that apart from powerful statements, we do not see anything powerful there, but nevertheless we must be ready both at the border and in the regions," he said.

☆ Russian prisoners sent to the front lines in Ukraine have been publicly executed for not charging into enemy fire, captured inmates say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Captured members of a Russian mercenary group say disobedient troops and deserters are being publicly executed in Ukraine. The infamous Wagner Group has recruited prisoners to fight on the front lines. One captured former inmate described many of the recruited prisoners as "completely insane." The Russian military has suffered staggering losses since Moscow launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine last February. In an effort to address worsening manpower issues, the Wagner Group has fought alongside the Russian military and has recruited Russian prisoners in the process.

☆ Ukraine says a team of military surgeons removed an unexploded grenade from inside the body of a Ukrainian soldier
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A Ukrainian surgeon successfully removed a live grenade from inside a soldier's chest. The Armed Forces of Ukraine tweeted that the grenade could have detonated "at any moment." The surgery went well and the wounded soldier has been sent to recovery, Ukraine's military said. Two sappers were on hand to handle the live grenade after it was removed from the soldier's chest, according to Ukraine's armed forces. The Armed Forces of Ukraine tweeted that "everything went well — the wounded man has already been sent for rehabilitation and recovery."

A total of 50 rockets fell in the Kherson region, including on military targets. Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP - Getty ImagesThe Kremlin dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-point so-called peace plan, saying proposals to end the conflict must take into account what it claims are “today’s realities” of four Ukrainian regions having joined Russia. In September Russia annexed the four regions of Ukraine after the occupied areas held sham votes, which were denounced by Kyiv and the West. We are entering the next year and must retain a common understanding of our national goals,” the statement read. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army.”Zelenskyy has said his country will never relinquish land.

☆ Ukraine Defends Bakhmut Against Russian Assaults as Zelensky Heads to U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( James Marson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LVIV, Ukraine—The Ukrainian military said it had repelled a fresh wave of Russian assaults around the eastern city of Bakhmut following a visit there on Tuesday by President Volodymyr Zelensky , who is due to visit the U.S. on Wednesday. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its regular morning report that Russian troops had assaulted Bakhmut and other towns and villages in the eastern Donetsk region, including with artillery and tanks, but without success. The Russian Defense Ministry said its military had seized some territory in Donetsk, without giving details, Russian state-run news agency TASS reported.

☆ Ukraine official says American citizen Suedi Murekezi released in Ukraine-Russia prisoner swap
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

American citizen Suedi Murekezi was reportedly freed after Ukraine and Russia conducted another prisoner exchange, said Andriy Yermak, the head of the President’s Office of Ukraine on Wednesday. Among those freed were 64 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he said, before noting that Murekezi was also freed. The U.S. Department of State confirmed that an American citizen was freed but declined to release further details "due to privacy considerations." Murekezi was reportedly arrested in June in the city of Kherson, which was occupied by Russian forces at the time, the Guardian reported. A Russian news agency said that Murekezi was detained on charges of "inciting ethnic hatred" for protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

☆ A Ukrainian fighter pilot who took a blood-covered selfie after ejecting has been named a Hero of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Maj. Vadym Voroshylov snapped a selfie after a night ejection from his MiG-29 Fulcrum. Voroshylov regularly posts photos and videos that provide a unique view of the air war in Ukraine. Recently, he snapped a selfie of his blood-covered face after ejecting over west-central Ukraine. Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. —Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 15, 2022However, the wreckage of one of the destroyed UAVs caught the MiG-29 cockpit.

☆ Partner of US veteran killed fighting for Ukraine says its army never told her and she found out from Facebook
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A US Army veteran was killed in July while volunteering to defend Ukraine from Russia's invasion. Bryan Young's partner, Maria Lipka, told Insider that she found out about his death on Facebook. His partner, Maria Lipka, told Insider that she only found out about Young's death from a message sent to her on Facebook. "No one, absolutely no one informed me," she told Insider. Lipka told Insider that Young said he needed to go to Ukraine to help fight off the Russian invasion because it was his duty to protect the free world.

Explosions at two Russian air bases Monday have focused attention on Ukraine's efforts to develop longer-range combat drones. The Russian Defense Ministry says the attacks were carried out by Ukrainian drones, which it claims were brought down by Russian air defenses. Imagery — both satellite and photographs — indicates some damage was done to Russian military planes at one base in Ryazan region. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has offered no official comment on the explosions, and the Ukrainian government has not acknowledged adding long-range attack drones to its arsenal. The two bases hit, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, are hundreds of miles inside Russian territory and beyond the reach of Ukraine's declared arsenal of drones.

☆ Russia has stopped using its Iranian suicide drones because they don't work in the cold, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has stopped using Iranian-made suicide drones due to cold weather, a Ukrainian official said. Russia started to use the Iranian drones in October, as part of a new playbook that targeted power distribution and other critical infrastructure from afar. A composite image showing an Iranian drone in the sky and the aftermath of a strike on Kyiv on October 17, 2022. And it reported that Iran and Russia had reached an agreement for Russia to start producing the drones itself. Multiple reports have also said that Iran has been training Russia on how to use the drones and other weapons.

CNN —Explosions at two Russian air bases Monday have focused attention on Ukraine’s efforts to develop longer-range combat drones. The Russian Defense Ministry says the attacks were carried out by Ukrainian drones, which it claims were brought down by Russian air defenses. Imagery – both satellite and photographs – indicates some damage was done to Russian military planes at one base in Ryazan region. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has offered no official comment on the explosions, and the Ukrainian government has not acknowledged adding long-range attack drones to its arsenal. The two bases hit, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, are hundreds of miles inside Russian territory and beyond the reach of Ukraine’s declared arsenal of drones.

☆ Satellite images show Russia is making a big gamble on how it plans to defend territory near Crimea from Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russian forces have set up defensive lines and positions in territory leading toward Crimea. Close-up view of Russian defensive positions in Novotroitsky, Ukraine, captured on November 15, 2022. Ukraine's tanks and tracked vehicles could cut through fields and bypass them or assault the Russian positions from their more vulnerable flanks. Beyond this, Barros said that in establishing these defensive lines, Russian forces are also limiting themselves in their ability to conduct offensive operations in the area. Since late summer, advancing Ukrainian forces have managed to liberate thousands of square miles of territory from under Russian occupation.

Millions of Ukrainians face a deadly winter — and it isn't just the risk of being hit by Russian bombs. “This winter will be life-threatening for millions of people in Ukraine,” according to Dr. Hans Henri Kluge, the United Nations health agency’s regional director for Europe. Average winter temperatures in Ukraine are around 27 degrees Fahrenheit, and are expected to reach minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the country in the coming months, the WHO said. Ukrainian officials say the wreckage of Shahed-136 drones — which are fitted with a warhead and fly directly into their target — have been found at the site of bomb attacks across the country. The city was recently retaken by Ukrainian forces following a Russian retreat.

☆ Russia accuses Ukraine of executing more than 10 POWs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 18 (Reuters) - Russia's defence ministry said on Friday that Ukraine had executed more than 10 Russian prisoners of war, accusing Kyiv of carrying out war crimes that Moscow said the West ignores. The ministry cited video circulating on Russian social media which it said showed the execution of Russian prisoners of war. "This brutal murder of Russian servicemen is neither the first, nor the only war crime," the defence ministry said. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of war crimes, claims that Russia has denied. The Russian defence ministry said the video showed "the deliberate and methodical murder of more than 10 immobilised Russian serviceman by degenerate Ukrainian soldiers."

☆ Russian administrators leave second city of Ukraine's Kherson region
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 15 (Reuters) - Civil servants working for the Russian-installed administration in Nova Kakhovka, the second-largest city in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, have left along with thousands of residents due to fighting, officials said on Tuesday. The city lies on the east bank of the Dnipro river, next to the huge Kakhovka dam, which both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling. "Indiscriminate fire from the left bank of the Dnipro has made life in the city unsafe ... Thousands of Nova Kakhovka residents responded to the call of the Kherson regional administration to protect their lives and left their homes. "Employees of the Military-Civilian Administration of Nova Kakhovka, state and municipal institutions also left the city and were relocated to safe places in the region." Since Russia's withdrawal from Kherson city and areas to the west of the Dnipro last week, attention has focused on Russian-controlled towns and settlements on the east bank.

Kherson, Ukraine CNN —For eight months, residents of the Ukrainian city of Kherson have been living under brutal Russian occupation. But on Friday, Ukrainian forces swept into the city and Russian troops retreated to the east. Another local resident named Andrew said he was so glad to see Ukrainian soldiers. The woman said it felt “amazing” to see Ukrainian troops in Kherson. He warned that many Russian troops “threw away their military uniforms, and are now hiding with civilian clothes on.”

☆ Videos show Ukrainians celebrating with troops and chanting 'Ukraine above all!' as Russian forces are driven out of Kherson
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Videos show Ukrainian citizens and troops celebrating in the streets following Russia's retreat in Kherson. "Kherson is Ukraine! On Friday morning, Ukrainian troops entered Kherson, a crucial city that fell to Russia in the early days of the war. Ukrainian troops entered Kherson Friday morning, a crucial city that fell to Russia in the early days of the war but is being retaken by the Ukrainian armed forces. In one video from Kherson, Ukrainians can be heard chanting "Glory to Ukraine!

☆ UK boosts support for Ukrainian troops through winter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/8] NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg observes Operation Interflex a UK led training programme for the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a visit to Lydd Camp in Kent, Britain. REUTERS/Chris RadburnSummary UK to send more cold-weather sleeping kits to UkraineAlso announces dispatch of more military equipmentNATO chief watches Ukrainian troops training in BritainLYDD, England, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Britain is stepping up its support for Ukrainian soldiers through the winter, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Reuters on Wednesday, following weeks of Ukrainian advances towards the southern city of Kherson. Wallace joined NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to observe the training of Ukrainian troops in the southeast English town of Lydd, as Britain announced the delivery of a further 12,000 extreme cold-weather sleeping kits for Ukraine. "So we're determined ... to give Ukrainian soldiers the best basic skills because we already know that the Russian military aren't doing that." Stoltenberg, who said other NATO allies were also providing support to Ukrainian troops through the winter months, also met Britain's new prime minister, Rishi Sunak, on Wednesday in London, where they discussed the Atlantic alliance's continued support for Ukrainian sovereignty.

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