Ukrainian journalist missing in Russian-occupied territory
Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian freelance journalist, has been missing since she went on a reporting trip to Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine two months ago, raising concerns among family, colleagues and advocates that Russia could be holding her captive.
Roshchyna was last heard from on Aug. 3, according to the International Women’s Media Foundation, which said in a statement that it was “extremely concerned for her safety.”
Elisa Lees Muñoz, the IWMF’s executive director, said in a phone interview that Roshchyna’s colleagues — other journalists covering the war — have expressed growing concern about the disappearance.
“That they went public with this is really indicative of their desperation,” she said, as drawing attention to such a case can sometimes be “considered a provocation” by the missing person’s captors.
Read the full story here.
Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian freelance journalist, has been missing since she went on a reporting trip to Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine two months ago, raising concerns among family, colleagues and advocates that Russia could be holding her captive.
Roshchyna was last heard from on Aug. 3, according to the International Women’s Media Foundation, which said in a statement that it was “extremely concerned for her safety.”
Elisa Lees Muñoz, the IWMF’s executive director, said in a phone interview that Roshchyna’s colleagues — other journalists covering the war — have expressed growing concern about the disappearance.
“That they went public with this is really indicative of their desperation,” she said, as drawing attention to such a case can sometimes be “considered a provocation” by the missing person’s captors.
Read the full story here.
Putin says grenade fragments found in bodies of Wagner leaders killed in plane crash
Fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of Wagner group mercenary leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders — who were killed in a plane crash in August, two months after staging a short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin — according to the results of a Russian investigation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in remarks Thursday.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- At least 49 civilians were killed in Russian strikes in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv on Thursday, local officials said.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived Thursday in Granada, Spain, to attend the European Political Community summit along with European leaders.
- Britain said it gathered intelligence suggesting Russia may be using sea mines to disrupt civilian shipping in the Black Sea to deter the export of Ukrainian grain.
More live updates here.
Fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of Wagner group mercenary leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders — who were killed in a plane crash in August, two months after staging a short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin — according to the results of a Russian investigation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in remarks Thursday.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- At least 49 civilians were killed in Russian strikes in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv on Thursday, local officials said.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived Thursday in Granada, Spain, to attend the European Political Community summit along with European leaders.
- Britain said it gathered intelligence suggesting Russia may be using sea mines to disrupt civilian shipping in the Black Sea to deter the export of Ukrainian grain.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the Russian attack on the village of Hroza that killed 51 people as proof that Russia was “absolute evil.” The attack, which struck a grocery store and a cafe, was one of the war’s deadliest missile strikes.
- In Washington, President Biden is preparing a “major speech” on Ukraine, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. The remarks come after Biden acknowledged concern that disarray in Congress could impede future U.S. aid to Ukraine.
- Hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his deputies, who died in a plane crash in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
- Slovakia’s outgoing government will not provide additional weapons to Ukraine, said Ludovit Odor, the country’s prime minister.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the Russian attack on the village of Hroza that killed 51 people as proof that Russia was “absolute evil.” The attack, which struck a grocery store and a cafe, was one of the war’s deadliest missile strikes.
- In Washington, President Biden is preparing a “major speech” on Ukraine, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. The remarks come after Biden acknowledged concern that disarray in Congress could impede future U.S. aid to Ukraine.
- Hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his deputies, who died in a plane crash in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
- Slovakia’s outgoing government will not provide additional weapons to Ukraine, said Ludovit Odor, the country’s prime minister.
More live updates here.
Grenade fragments found in bodies of Wagner crash victims, Putin says
Hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of rogue Wagner boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin and two top deputies who were killed in a plane crash in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. The wreckage showed no “external impact” on the aircraft, he said, in an apparent denial that the Kremlin had ordered the outspoken mercenary leader shot down.
The Embraer business jet crashed near Russia’s Tver region north of Moscow on Aug. 23, killing all 10 people on board, including Prigozhin, Wagner battlefield commander Dmitry Utkin and logistics chief Valery Chekalov. The still-unexplained crash came exactly two months after Prigozhin led his fighters in a brief mutiny against Moscow. Western officials, independent observers and some in the Russian elite believe his death was ordered by Putin.
“I know, the question is probably hanging in the air, what happened to the … company’s management,” Putin said.
Read the full story here.
Hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of rogue Wagner boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin and two top deputies who were killed in a plane crash in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. The wreckage showed no “external impact” on the aircraft, he said, in an apparent denial that the Kremlin had ordered the outspoken mercenary leader shot down.
The Embraer business jet crashed near Russia’s Tver region north of Moscow on Aug. 23, killing all 10 people on board, including Prigozhin, Wagner battlefield commander Dmitry Utkin and logistics chief Valery Chekalov. The still-unexplained crash came exactly two months after Prigozhin led his fighters in a brief mutiny against Moscow. Western officials, independent observers and some in the Russian elite believe his death was ordered by Putin.
“I know, the question is probably hanging in the air, what happened to the … company’s management,” Putin said.
Read the full story here.
Russian missile attack in Kharkiv region overwhelmingly killed civilians
KHARKIV, Ukraine — A Russian missile strike that killed 52 people in an eastern Ukrainian village on Thursday appears to have overwhelmingly hit civilians — contradicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Moscow officials who claim Russian forces only attack military targets.
On Friday, the morgue in Kharkiv, the regional capital, looked like the scene of a massacre as dozens of employees sifted through the bodies. On Friday afternoon, they announced they had found the body of a boy, Ivan, believed to be 6 years old, who appears to be the only child killed in the attack.
Washington Post reporters on scene saw only one body wearing a military uniform.
Morgue workers said they had seen no evidence of multiple military personnel among the dead and that most victims appeared to be older but in many cases, they were difficult to identify because of the severity of the wounds.
Read the full story here.
KHARKIV, Ukraine — A Russian missile strike that killed 52 people in an eastern Ukrainian village on Thursday appears to have overwhelmingly hit civilians — contradicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Moscow officials who claim Russian forces only attack military targets.
On Friday, the morgue in Kharkiv, the regional capital, looked like the scene of a massacre as dozens of employees sifted through the bodies. On Friday afternoon, they announced they had found the body of a boy, Ivan, believed to be 6 years old, who appears to be the only child killed in the attack.
Washington Post reporters on scene saw only one body wearing a military uniform.
Morgue workers said they had seen no evidence of multiple military personnel among the dead and that most victims appeared to be older but in many cases, they were difficult to identify because of the severity of the wounds.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described a devastating Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian village of Hroza as proof of Russia’s “absolute evil.” He said Russian forces “couldn’t have been unaware of where they were striking.” The attack Thursday killed at least 52 people and was one of the war’s deadliest missile strikes.
- The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has identified 35 of those killed in the attack on Hroza, including 19 women, 15 men and an 8-year-old boy, a U.N. spokeswoman said Friday.
- A separate strike in the same region Friday killed a 10-year-old child and his grandmother, according to a local official.
- Russia has successfully tested an experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile, Putin said.
- Hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his deputies, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in remarks Thursday.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described a devastating Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian village of Hroza as proof of Russia’s “absolute evil.” He said Russian forces “couldn’t have been unaware of where they were striking.” The attack Thursday killed at least 52 people and was one of the war’s deadliest missile strikes.
- The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has identified 35 of those killed in the attack on Hroza, including 19 women, 15 men and an 8-year-old boy, a U.N. spokeswoman said Friday.
- A separate strike in the same region Friday killed a 10-year-old child and his grandmother, according to a local official.
- Russia has successfully tested an experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile, Putin said.
- Hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his deputies, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in remarks Thursday.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Post reporters at the scene witnessed the body of only one person wearing a uniform and morgue workers said they saw no evidence of multiple military personnel among the dead — despite Russia’s claims that it attacks only military targets.
- The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, deployed a field team to the site to speak to survivors and gather more information about the attack, spokeswoman Liz Throssell said in a statement.
- Zelensky warned in his nightly address that Russia “will once again try to destroy our energy system” this winter.
- Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said that Russia plans to revoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with the United States, in a post on social media Friday.
- Ukraine has reportedly advanced in Western Zaporizhzhia, the Washington-based think-tank Institute for the Study of War said in an analysis Friday.
More live updates here.
- Post reporters at the scene witnessed the body of only one person wearing a uniform and morgue workers said they saw no evidence of multiple military personnel among the dead — despite Russia’s claims that it attacks only military targets.
- The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, deployed a field team to the site to speak to survivors and gather more information about the attack, spokeswoman Liz Throssell said in a statement.
- Zelensky warned in his nightly address that Russia “will once again try to destroy our energy system” this winter.
- Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said that Russia plans to revoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with the United States, in a post on social media Friday.
- Ukraine has reportedly advanced in Western Zaporizhzhia, the Washington-based think-tank Institute for the Study of War said in an analysis Friday.
More live updates here.
Live updates: Netanyahu says Israel ‘at war’ after Hamas attack; air force kills nearly 200 in Gaza air strikes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “we are at war, and we will win it” Saturday after Hamas launched an assault and took captives following the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Militants infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip and launched more than 3,000 rockets, Israeli military leaders said.
The confrontation, which has killed at least 40 Israelis and injured at least 740, is one of the most serious in years.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned violence in Israel, calling it “horrible news.” Russia’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement expressing “most serious concern about the sharp aggravation of the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” Moscow called for a cease fire, adding there was “no solution” to be found by using force. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
More live updates here.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “we are at war, and we will win it” Saturday after Hamas launched an assault and took captives following the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Militants infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip and launched more than 3,000 rockets, Israeli military leaders said.
The confrontation, which has killed at least 40 Israelis and injured at least 740, is one of the most serious in years.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned violence in Israel, calling it “horrible news.” Russia’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement expressing “most serious concern about the sharp aggravation of the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” Moscow called for a cease fire, adding there was “no solution” to be found by using force. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Days after at least 52 people were killed by a missile strike in the Ukrainian village of Hroza, the country remains in mourning and reeling from the aftermath.
- Dozens of employees at a morgue in Kharkiv city sorted bodies, while workers cleared trees in the local cemetery to make way for the dead.
- Post reporters at the scene in Hroza, Kharkiv region, witnessed the body of only one person wearing a uniform and morgue workers said they saw no evidence of multiple military personnel among the dead — despite Russia’s claims that it attacks only military targets.
- The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, deployed a field team to the site to speak to survivors and gather more information about the Hroza attack, spokeswoman Liz Throssell said in a statement.
More live updates here.
- Days after at least 52 people were killed by a missile strike in the Ukrainian village of Hroza, the country remains in mourning and reeling from the aftermath.
- Dozens of employees at a morgue in Kharkiv city sorted bodies, while workers cleared trees in the local cemetery to make way for the dead.
- Post reporters at the scene in Hroza, Kharkiv region, witnessed the body of only one person wearing a uniform and morgue workers said they saw no evidence of multiple military personnel among the dead — despite Russia’s claims that it attacks only military targets.
- The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, deployed a field team to the site to speak to survivors and gather more information about the Hroza attack, spokeswoman Liz Throssell said in a statement.
More live updates here.
Ukraine battles to shape the narrative on its grueling counteroffensive
BRUSSELS — As Ukrainian forces press ahead with their closely-watched counteroffensive, another battle is underway: the fight to control the story and influence how the world sees the war.
After much hand-wringing about slow progress and grim assessments of Ukraine’s prospects through the summer, Ukrainian and Western officials in recent weeks have focused on reshaping the narrative to manage expectations and shore up support through the winter.
Four months of brutal fighting and steep losses have not yielded the results that Kyiv and its Western backers hoped for. Despite some Ukrainian progress in breaking through dense Russian defenses, fears of a frozen conflict — and crumbling international support — loom.
Read the full story here.
BRUSSELS — As Ukrainian forces press ahead with their closely-watched counteroffensive, another battle is underway: the fight to control the story and influence how the world sees the war.
After much hand-wringing about slow progress and grim assessments of Ukraine’s prospects through the summer, Ukrainian and Western officials in recent weeks have focused on reshaping the narrative to manage expectations and shore up support through the winter.
Four months of brutal fighting and steep losses have not yielded the results that Kyiv and its Western backers hoped for. Despite some Ukrainian progress in breaking through dense Russian defenses, fears of a frozen conflict — and crumbling international support — loom.
Read the full story here.
As partners in Ukraine’s fight for survival, two generals forged a bond
KYIV — Shortly after Russia invaded, Ukraine’s top military officer addressed his country’s struggle for survival with Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Ukraine had only a handful of functional aircraft, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny said, and urgently needed Western help.
By the end of the conversation, Zaluzhny said, he felt “like I was talking to myself.” He cut off communication entirely with Milley for a week. Chats with his most important international counterpart had been happening every other day.
“Frankly speaking, due to my youth and stupidity, I admit that it was my mistake,” Zaluzhny, who is 50, said in an interview with The Washington Post. “It was actually a disaster.”
The moment was a setback in the crucial — and complicated — relationship between the two military commanders, who ultimately grew personally close as they worked together in Ukraine’s existential fight.
Read the full story here.
KYIV — Shortly after Russia invaded, Ukraine’s top military officer addressed his country’s struggle for survival with Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Ukraine had only a handful of functional aircraft, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny said, and urgently needed Western help.
By the end of the conversation, Zaluzhny said, he felt “like I was talking to myself.” He cut off communication entirely with Milley for a week. Chats with his most important international counterpart had been happening every other day.
“Frankly speaking, due to my youth and stupidity, I admit that it was my mistake,” Zaluzhny, who is 50, said in an interview with The Washington Post. “It was actually a disaster.”
The moment was a setback in the crucial — and complicated — relationship between the two military commanders, who ultimately grew personally close as they worked together in Ukraine’s existential fight.
Read the full story here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine.
- Days after at least 52 people were killed by a missile strike in the Ukrainian village of Hroza, the country remains in mourning and reeling from the aftermath. Dozens of employees at a morgue in Kharkiv city sorted bodies, while workers cleared trees in the local cemetery to make way for the dead.
- Many people in the village, which was formerly occupied by Russia, speculated to The Washington Post that they thought a Russia sympathizer among them may have tipped off Moscow’s military about the event. The Post could not verify the claims. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the strike proof of Russia’s “absolute evil.”
- An overnight attack on the port city of Odessa hit a boardinghouse, play area and port infrastructure, Ukraine’s southern command said.
More live updates here.
- Days after at least 52 people were killed by a missile strike in the Ukrainian village of Hroza, the country remains in mourning and reeling from the aftermath. Dozens of employees at a morgue in Kharkiv city sorted bodies, while workers cleared trees in the local cemetery to make way for the dead.
- Many people in the village, which was formerly occupied by Russia, speculated to The Washington Post that they thought a Russia sympathizer among them may have tipped off Moscow’s military about the event. The Post could not verify the claims. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the strike proof of Russia’s “absolute evil.”
- An overnight attack on the port city of Odessa hit a boardinghouse, play area and port infrastructure, Ukraine’s southern command said.
More live updates here.
Ukrainian village where missile killed 52 starts to bury its dead
HROZA, Ukraine — The husband and wife were placed in identical coffins, each covered in green velvet and then draped in blue and gold cloth.
As rain fell on the small crowd gathered in the cemetery, Mykola and Tetiana Androsovych were gently lowered into graves side-by-side, becoming the first victims of Thursday’s deadly missile strike on a funeral reception in northeastern Ukraine to be buried.
The attack killed at least 52 people, around one-sixth the population of this village that holds no apparent strategic value in the war and is 30 miles from the front line city of Kupyansk. At least one of the dead was a young boy.
On Friday, emergency workers started clearing space from a wooded area beside the village’s cemetery to make room for all the newly dead. By Saturday, more than 20 empty graves sat waiting.
Read the full story here.
HROZA, Ukraine — The husband and wife were placed in identical coffins, each covered in green velvet and then draped in blue and gold cloth.
As rain fell on the small crowd gathered in the cemetery, Mykola and Tetiana Androsovych were gently lowered into graves side-by-side, becoming the first victims of Thursday’s deadly missile strike on a funeral reception in northeastern Ukraine to be buried.
The attack killed at least 52 people, around one-sixth the population of this village that holds no apparent strategic value in the war and is 30 miles from the front line city of Kupyansk. At least one of the dead was a young boy.
On Friday, emergency workers started clearing space from a wooded area beside the village’s cemetery to make room for all the newly dead. By Saturday, more than 20 empty graves sat waiting.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Days after at least 52 people were killed by a missile strike in the Ukrainian village of Hroza, the country remains in mourning and reeling from the aftermath.
- The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, deployed a field team to the site to speak to survivors and gather more information about the Hroza attack, spokeswoman Liz Throssell said in a statement.
- An overnight attack on the port city of Odessa hit a boardinghouse, play area and port infrastructure, Ukraine’s southern command said.
- The Netherlands will allocate about $108 million in a new support package for Ukraine, the Dutch government said Friday.
- Russia said it had foiled a Ukrainian drone attack in the Black Sea near Crimea overnight.
- Zelensky warned in his nightly address that Russia “will once again try to destroy our energy system” this winter.
More live updates here.
- Days after at least 52 people were killed by a missile strike in the Ukrainian village of Hroza, the country remains in mourning and reeling from the aftermath.
- The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, deployed a field team to the site to speak to survivors and gather more information about the Hroza attack, spokeswoman Liz Throssell said in a statement.
- An overnight attack on the port city of Odessa hit a boardinghouse, play area and port infrastructure, Ukraine’s southern command said.
- The Netherlands will allocate about $108 million in a new support package for Ukraine, the Dutch government said Friday.
- Russia said it had foiled a Ukrainian drone attack in the Black Sea near Crimea overnight.
- Zelensky warned in his nightly address that Russia “will once again try to destroy our energy system” this winter.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The White House is considering attaching a request for Congress to approve additional funding for Ukraine to a separate request asking for urgent aid to Israel, the Post reported, citing several people familiar with the deliberations. Follow our live updates on the Israel-Hamas war.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Romania Tuesday. Zelensky tweeted that he would be focusing on “developing aviation and other coalitions, strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, the Black Sea security architecture,” in meetings with his Romanian counterpart.
- Russia is seeking to rejoin the U.N. Human Rights Council, after being suspended last year, following its invasion of Ukraine. The vote to regain its seat will take place later Tuesday in the General Assembly as 193-members vote to elect 15 members to the council.
- Russia expressed concern after the Hamas attack against Israel, stopping short of condemning the violence, the Post reported.
More live updates here.
- The White House is considering attaching a request for Congress to approve additional funding for Ukraine to a separate request asking for urgent aid to Israel, the Post reported, citing several people familiar with the deliberations. Follow our live updates on the Israel-Hamas war.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Romania Tuesday. Zelensky tweeted that he would be focusing on “developing aviation and other coalitions, strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, the Black Sea security architecture,” in meetings with his Romanian counterpart.
- Russia is seeking to rejoin the U.N. Human Rights Council, after being suspended last year, following its invasion of Ukraine. The vote to regain its seat will take place later Tuesday in the General Assembly as 193-members vote to elect 15 members to the council.
- Russia expressed concern after the Hamas attack against Israel, stopping short of condemning the violence, the Post reported.
More live updates here.