Slow counteroffensive darkens mood in Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine — This nation is worn out.
For nearly 18 months, Ukraine has stood against its Russian invaders — rallying support for its troops by embracing last year’s battlefield victories in the Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
Those wins carried beleaguered Ukrainians through a winter of airstrikes on civilian infrastructure and a brutal and symbolic battle for Bakhmut, the eastern city that fell to the Russians in May.
Throughout, Ukrainian officials and their western partners hyped up a coming counteroffensive — one that, buoyed by a flood of new weapons and training, they hoped would turn the tide of the war.
Read the full story here.
KYIV, Ukraine — This nation is worn out.
For nearly 18 months, Ukraine has stood against its Russian invaders — rallying support for its troops by embracing last year’s battlefield victories in the Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
Those wins carried beleaguered Ukrainians through a winter of airstrikes on civilian infrastructure and a brutal and symbolic battle for Bakhmut, the eastern city that fell to the Russians in May.
Throughout, Ukrainian officials and their western partners hyped up a coming counteroffensive — one that, buoyed by a flood of new weapons and training, they hoped would turn the tide of the war.
Read the full story here.
What is happening in Niger, and how could the coup there affect the region?
Russia and the Wagner mercenary group have “tried to take advantage” of instability in Niger, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Tuesday, two weeks into a bloodless military coup that ousted Niger’s U.S.-allied president.
Last month’s coup was Niger’s fifth since it gained independence from France in 1960. Washington — worried about the West’s waning influence in Africa and two U.S. military bases in Niger — has called for the restoration of democracy and paused security coordination and financial aid.
Alongside homegrown extremism, Russia and its Wagner mercenary group have been gaining a foothold by backing military leaders and developing security and business ties in some of these countries.
The Wagner Group — in turmoil since its founder and leader, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, accepted exile in Belarus after a mutiny and failed march on Moscow in June — has provided fighters for hire across Africa.
Read the full story here.
Russia and the Wagner mercenary group have “tried to take advantage” of instability in Niger, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Tuesday, two weeks into a bloodless military coup that ousted Niger’s U.S.-allied president.
Last month’s coup was Niger’s fifth since it gained independence from France in 1960. Washington — worried about the West’s waning influence in Africa and two U.S. military bases in Niger — has called for the restoration of democracy and paused security coordination and financial aid.
Alongside homegrown extremism, Russia and its Wagner mercenary group have been gaining a foothold by backing military leaders and developing security and business ties in some of these countries.
The Wagner Group — in turmoil since its founder and leader, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, accepted exile in Belarus after a mutiny and failed march on Moscow in June — has provided fighters for hire across Africa.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The co-founder of Russian technology giant Yandex called the war in Ukraine “barbaric,” a rare display of dissent among the Russian elite. He has lived in Tel Aviv since 2014.
- Russian officials said early Thursday that air defenses shot down two drones flying over Moscow, the latest in a spate of drone attacks apparently targeting the Russian capital.
- An unidentified buyer purchased dozens of German-made tanks from a Belgian dealer, to be refurbished and sent to Ukraine, The Post reported.
- Two months after Ukraine went on the attack, with little visible progress on the front, a bloody summer across the country and a slow counteroffensive are fraying the narrative of Ukrainians’ endless perseverance, Post journalists report from Ukraine.
- Russian forces are pressing their offensive operations in Kupyansk in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar and a spokesman for Russia’s Defense Ministry said separately.
More live updates here.
- The co-founder of Russian technology giant Yandex called the war in Ukraine “barbaric,” a rare display of dissent among the Russian elite. He has lived in Tel Aviv since 2014.
- Russian officials said early Thursday that air defenses shot down two drones flying over Moscow, the latest in a spate of drone attacks apparently targeting the Russian capital.
- An unidentified buyer purchased dozens of German-made tanks from a Belgian dealer, to be refurbished and sent to Ukraine, The Post reported.
- Two months after Ukraine went on the attack, with little visible progress on the front, a bloody summer across the country and a slow counteroffensive are fraying the narrative of Ukrainians’ endless perseverance, Post journalists report from Ukraine.
- Russian forces are pressing their offensive operations in Kupyansk in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar and a spokesman for Russia’s Defense Ministry said separately.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Officials in Kyiv said fragments of a missile hit a children’s hospital on Friday. The Kyiv military administration said air defense systems were working, and there were no initial reports of casualties.
- In Moscow, Russian officials said they intercepted yet another drone targeting the capital on Friday.
- The military administration of Ukraine’s Kupiansk ordered an evacuation of civilians from the area in the northeast Kharkiv region. Authorities have said thousands of civilians would need to leave towns and villages near the combat zone around Kupiansk, where Ukrainian and Russian officials separately reported a raging battle.
- Ukrainian forces have recaptured the heights over Bakhmut and are encircling Russian troops in the city, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told the Guardian. Maliar said progress was being made in outflanking enemy forces after months of deadly battle. The Post could not immediately verify the claims.
More live updates here.
- Officials in Kyiv said fragments of a missile hit a children’s hospital on Friday. The Kyiv military administration said air defense systems were working, and there were no initial reports of casualties.
- In Moscow, Russian officials said they intercepted yet another drone targeting the capital on Friday.
- The military administration of Ukraine’s Kupiansk ordered an evacuation of civilians from the area in the northeast Kharkiv region. Authorities have said thousands of civilians would need to leave towns and villages near the combat zone around Kupiansk, where Ukrainian and Russian officials separately reported a raging battle.
- Ukrainian forces have recaptured the heights over Bakhmut and are encircling Russian troops in the city, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told the Guardian. Maliar said progress was being made in outflanking enemy forces after months of deadly battle. The Post could not immediately verify the claims.
More live updates here.
Yandex co-founder calls war ‘barbaric,’ signaling dismay in Russian elite
A co-founder of Yandex, Russia’s biggest tech company, has become the second major Russian businessman under Western sanctions to publicly denounce President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, even as other Russian billionaires remain silent.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is barbaric, and I am categorically against it,” Arkady Volozh said in a statement on Thursday. “I am horrified about the fate of people in Ukraine, where like many I have friends and relatives, and every day bombs are hitting their homes.”
Volozh’s decision to openly condemn the war comes amid complex wrangling with the Kremlin over restructuring Yandex, known to many as Russia’s Google. Some Moscow business executives believe the government may seek a partial nationalization of the company as the environment becomes increasingly hostile for foreign investors.
Read the full story here.
A co-founder of Yandex, Russia’s biggest tech company, has become the second major Russian businessman under Western sanctions to publicly denounce President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, even as other Russian billionaires remain silent.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is barbaric, and I am categorically against it,” Arkady Volozh said in a statement on Thursday. “I am horrified about the fate of people in Ukraine, where like many I have friends and relatives, and every day bombs are hitting their homes.”
Volozh’s decision to openly condemn the war comes amid complex wrangling with the Kremlin over restructuring Yandex, known to many as Russia’s Google. Some Moscow business executives believe the government may seek a partial nationalization of the company as the environment becomes increasingly hostile for foreign investors.
Read the full story here.
Russian opera star sues the Met for alleged ousting over Ukraine war
Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, one of opera’s biggest stars, sued the Metropolitan Opera and its general manager Friday, alleging discrimination when the company dropped her after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, includes claims of national origin discrimination, breach of contract and defamation. Netrebko is asking for at least $360,000 in damages, citing lost performance and rehearsal fees.
The Met severed its relationship with Netrebko in March 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the previous month. Netrebko had made several statements opposing the war and violence at the time of her ouster, but did not agree to Gelb’s request that she specifically condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to her suit.
Read the full story here.
Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, one of opera’s biggest stars, sued the Metropolitan Opera and its general manager Friday, alleging discrimination when the company dropped her after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, includes claims of national origin discrimination, breach of contract and defamation. Netrebko is asking for at least $360,000 in damages, citing lost performance and rehearsal fees.
The Met severed its relationship with Netrebko in March 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the previous month. Netrebko had made several statements opposing the war and violence at the time of her ouster, but did not agree to Gelb’s request that she specifically condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to her suit.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed all the heads of regional military recruitment centers on Friday as part of what he called a crackdown on corruption, and said “the system should be run by people who know exactly what war is.”
- In Kyiv, officials said fragments of a missile hit a children’s hospital after the sound of explosions rang out in the capital on Friday.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday’s drone crashed in a forest in the Moscow region after being intercepted by electronic warfare systems.
- A top United Nations official in Ukraine was “appalled” by a Russian strike on a hotel in Zaporizhzhia.
- Kyiv will probably go another year without F-16 fighter jets, The Post reports.
- Ukrainian forces have recaptured the heights over Bakhmut as they fight to encircle Russian troops in the eastern city, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told the Guardian.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed all the heads of regional military recruitment centers on Friday as part of what he called a crackdown on corruption, and said “the system should be run by people who know exactly what war is.”
- In Kyiv, officials said fragments of a missile hit a children’s hospital after the sound of explosions rang out in the capital on Friday.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday’s drone crashed in a forest in the Moscow region after being intercepted by electronic warfare systems.
- A top United Nations official in Ukraine was “appalled” by a Russian strike on a hotel in Zaporizhzhia.
- Kyiv will probably go another year without F-16 fighter jets, The Post reports.
- Ukrainian forces have recaptured the heights over Bakhmut as they fight to encircle Russian troops in the eastern city, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told the Guardian.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Earlier this month, Zelensky condemned the “revolting” practices at military recruitment centers that were uncovered during an audit, Reuters reported. He said Friday that there are 112 criminal proceedings against officials of the territorial recruitment centers.
- Zelensky’s mass dismissal is a part of larger efforts to root out corruption, particularly in the military.
- The new round of U.S. sanctions includes Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven, two Russian billionaires behind Alfa Group.
- Security is “increasingly distant” for Moscow residents, who can expect “an increase in daily attacks,” Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence, said in an interview with the Kyiv Post published Friday.
- Russia launched hypersonic missile attacks on Friday that killed an eight-year-old boy in Ivano-Frankivsk, in western Ukraine, and injured others, regional Gov. Svitlana Onyshchuk and the Ukrainian Air Force wrote on Telegram.
More live updates here.
- Earlier this month, Zelensky condemned the “revolting” practices at military recruitment centers that were uncovered during an audit, Reuters reported. He said Friday that there are 112 criminal proceedings against officials of the territorial recruitment centers.
- Zelensky’s mass dismissal is a part of larger efforts to root out corruption, particularly in the military.
- The new round of U.S. sanctions includes Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven, two Russian billionaires behind Alfa Group.
- Security is “increasingly distant” for Moscow residents, who can expect “an increase in daily attacks,” Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence, said in an interview with the Kyiv Post published Friday.
- Russia launched hypersonic missile attacks on Friday that killed an eight-year-old boy in Ivano-Frankivsk, in western Ukraine, and injured others, regional Gov. Svitlana Onyshchuk and the Ukrainian Air Force wrote on Telegram.
More live updates here.
Zelensky fires military recruitment center chiefs after corruption probe
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired the heads of all of his country’s regional military recruitment centers Friday, a sweeping move he said was aimed at combating corruption and ensuring that the recruitment system is “run by people who know exactly what war is.”
Zelensky announced the blanket dismissal after a meeting of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, which he heads. He cited instances of “illicit enrichment,” laundering “illegally obtained funds” and “illegal transportation of persons liable for military service across the border.”
“Some took cash, some took cryptocurrency — that’s the only difference,” Zelensky said in a statement published on the official presidential website. “The cynicism is the same everywhere.” Zelensky did not specify the total number of regional recruitment heads.
Read the full story here.
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired the heads of all of his country’s regional military recruitment centers Friday, a sweeping move he said was aimed at combating corruption and ensuring that the recruitment system is “run by people who know exactly what war is.”
Zelensky announced the blanket dismissal after a meeting of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, which he heads. He cited instances of “illicit enrichment,” laundering “illegally obtained funds” and “illegal transportation of persons liable for military service across the border.”
“Some took cash, some took cryptocurrency — that’s the only difference,” Zelensky said in a statement published on the official presidential website. “The cynicism is the same everywhere.” Zelensky did not specify the total number of regional recruitment heads.
Read the full story here.
F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots faces delays and uncertainty
KYIV — A first group of six Ukrainian pilots is not expected to complete training on the U.S.-made F-16 before next summer, senior Ukrainian government and military officials said, following a series of delays by Western partners in implementing an instruction program for the sophisticated fighter jet.
The timeline reflects the disconnect between Ukraine’s supporters, who envision F-16s as a key tool in the country’s long-term defense, and Kyiv, which has desperately requested that the jets reach the battle space as soon as possible, viewing them as critical for the current fight against occupying Russian forces.
President Biden, after denying Ukrainian appeals for the F-16 for more than a year, reversed course in May and said he backed the idea of training Ukrainian pilots on the jets, and supported the transfer of the planes by other countries. Denmark and the Netherlands volunteered to lead a training effort.
Read the full story here.
KYIV — A first group of six Ukrainian pilots is not expected to complete training on the U.S.-made F-16 before next summer, senior Ukrainian government and military officials said, following a series of delays by Western partners in implementing an instruction program for the sophisticated fighter jet.
The timeline reflects the disconnect between Ukraine’s supporters, who envision F-16s as a key tool in the country’s long-term defense, and Kyiv, which has desperately requested that the jets reach the battle space as soon as possible, viewing them as critical for the current fight against occupying Russian forces.
President Biden, after denying Ukrainian appeals for the F-16 for more than a year, reversed course in May and said he backed the idea of training Ukrainian pilots on the jets, and supported the transfer of the planes by other countries. Denmark and the Netherlands volunteered to lead a training effort.
Read the full story here.
Ukraine’s elite forces rely on technology to strike behind enemy lines
ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine — Some of Ukraine’s most elite special forces are now operating slightly back from the front line — with virtual-reality glasses that give a drone’s-eye view.
Last year, there were opportunities to creep into Russian-occupied territory at night to take out enemy targets. Now, with vast minefields and other fortified Russian defenses stalling Ukraine’s sweeping counteroffensive, an uncrewed aerial vehicle armed with explosives does that during daylight instead.
A three-man team last month manually directed a drone to hit a cluster of antennas affixed to a tower in Polohy, a town occupied by Russian troops in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. The Russians were using the electronic warfare system to spoil the work of Ukraine’s satellite-guided rockets.
Read the full story here.
ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine — Some of Ukraine’s most elite special forces are now operating slightly back from the front line — with virtual-reality glasses that give a drone’s-eye view.
Last year, there were opportunities to creep into Russian-occupied territory at night to take out enemy targets. Now, with vast minefields and other fortified Russian defenses stalling Ukraine’s sweeping counteroffensive, an uncrewed aerial vehicle armed with explosives does that during daylight instead.
A three-man team last month manually directed a drone to hit a cluster of antennas affixed to a tower in Polohy, a town occupied by Russian troops in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. The Russians were using the electronic warfare system to spoil the work of Ukraine’s satellite-guided rockets.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Russian air defenses shot down at least two missiles fired at the Crimean Bridge and thwarted an attempted drone attack in the same region overnight, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Saturday.
- The Russian-appointed head of Crimea said there was no major damage and no casualties in the bridge incident. He said that three missiles were thwarted, although Russia’s Defense Ministry reported downing two.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said that air defenses shot down 14 drones over Crimea overnight and that electronic warfare systems blocked the rest.
- Ukraine has started registering vessels to pass through temporary corridors in the Black Sea, Interfax Ukraine reported Saturday, citing Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk.
More live updates here.
- Russian air defenses shot down at least two missiles fired at the Crimean Bridge and thwarted an attempted drone attack in the same region overnight, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Saturday.
- The Russian-appointed head of Crimea said there was no major damage and no casualties in the bridge incident. He said that three missiles were thwarted, although Russia’s Defense Ministry reported downing two.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said that air defenses shot down 14 drones over Crimea overnight and that electronic warfare systems blocked the rest.
- Ukraine has started registering vessels to pass through temporary corridors in the Black Sea, Interfax Ukraine reported Saturday, citing Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk.
More live updates here.