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.
Russia cites ‘concern’ but does not condemn Hamas attack on Israel
Russia has labeled opposition figures such as Alexei Navalny as “terrorists” and, since invading its neighbor, the Kremlin routinely denounces defensive Ukrainian strikes as “terrorist attacks.”
But after Hamas militants carried out a brutal surprise attack in which hundreds of Israeli civilians were killed or kidnapped, Russia stopped short of condemning the Palestinian militant group, referring instead to what happened as “a spiral of violence” and pointing fingers at the West.
Russia’s carefully worded reaction reflected decades of nuanced — at times contradictory — diplomacy in which the Kremlin has sought strong ties with Israel while also supporting the Palestinian cause and courting groups such as Hamas that are committed to Israel’s destruction.
Read the full story here.
Russia has labeled opposition figures such as Alexei Navalny as “terrorists” and, since invading its neighbor, the Kremlin routinely denounces defensive Ukrainian strikes as “terrorist attacks.”
But after Hamas militants carried out a brutal surprise attack in which hundreds of Israeli civilians were killed or kidnapped, Russia stopped short of condemning the Palestinian militant group, referring instead to what happened as “a spiral of violence” and pointing fingers at the West.
Russia’s carefully worded reaction reflected decades of nuanced — at times contradictory — diplomacy in which the Kremlin has sought strong ties with Israel while also supporting the Palestinian cause and courting groups such as Hamas that are committed to Israel’s destruction.
Read the full story here.
White House considers adding Ukraine to Israel aid package
The White House is considering a move to attach Ukraine funding to a request for urgent aid to Israel, according to several people familiar with the deliberations, in the hopes that such a pairing would increase the chance that Congress would approve aid to Kyiv despite growing opposition from House Republicans.
No final decisions have been made on whether to link the requests, said two senior administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. One of the officials said such a move could make sense because it “jams the far right,” which is firmly opposed to more Ukraine aid but strongly supportive of aid to Israel.
Read the full story here.
The White House is considering a move to attach Ukraine funding to a request for urgent aid to Israel, according to several people familiar with the deliberations, in the hopes that such a pairing would increase the chance that Congress would approve aid to Kyiv despite growing opposition from House Republicans.
No final decisions have been made on whether to link the requests, said two senior administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. One of the officials said such a move could make sense because it “jams the far right,” which is firmly opposed to more Ukraine aid but strongly supportive of aid to Israel.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainians in the village of Hroza held funerals for those killed in a deadly Russian missile strike last week.
- The White House is considering attaching a request for Congress to approve additional funding for Ukraine to a separate request for urgent aid to Israel, The Washington Post reported.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin, making his first comments Tuesday on the war between Israel and Hamas, blamed Washington. “Many will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of U.S. policy,” he said.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Romania on Tuesday.
- Zelensky replaced the commander of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainians in the village of Hroza held funerals for those killed in a deadly Russian missile strike last week.
- The White House is considering attaching a request for Congress to approve additional funding for Ukraine to a separate request for urgent aid to Israel, The Washington Post reported.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin, making his first comments Tuesday on the war between Israel and Hamas, blamed Washington. “Many will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of U.S. policy,” he said.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Romania on Tuesday.
- Zelensky replaced the commander of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces.
More live updates here.
Zelensky visits NATO headquarters for allied meeting to support Ukraine
BRUSSELS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday to join a gathering of allies in support of his nation’s 20-month fight against Russian invaders — elevating the profile of the meeting as global attention has turned to the outbreak of a new war in Israel.
Zelensky, appearing in his trademark army colors, arrived at NATO headquarters just ahead of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a cadre of dozens of nations organized by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. It marked Zelensky’s first visit to NATO headquarters, though he has addressed the allies remotely from Kyiv before.
Follow today's live updates.
BRUSSELS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday to join a gathering of allies in support of his nation’s 20-month fight against Russian invaders — elevating the profile of the meeting as global attention has turned to the outbreak of a new war in Israel.
Zelensky, appearing in his trademark army colors, arrived at NATO headquarters just ahead of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a cadre of dozens of nations organized by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. It marked Zelensky’s first visit to NATO headquarters, though he has addressed the allies remotely from Kyiv before.
Follow today's live updates.
In Ukraine, Russia’s winter attacks on infrastructure have started
KYIV — After an initially balmy fall, temperatures are dropping in Ukraine — and Russia has already begun pummeling Ukraine’s energy system, in a reprise of its brutal attempt last autumn and winter to demoralize Ukrainians by plunging them into darkness and cold.
Last winter, there were “a lot of difficult nights” when Russian forces sent waves of missiles and drones in a bid to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, said Fox, one of three soldiers manning a German-made Gepard Flakpanzer mobile antiaircraft system at a position not far from Kyiv.
“One time, they sent 20 drones together at a position,” said Fox, who is being identified only by call sign in keeping with Ukrainian military protocol. “But this winter will be a lot worse,” he said.
Fox appears to know what he is talking about.
Read the full story here.
KYIV — After an initially balmy fall, temperatures are dropping in Ukraine — and Russia has already begun pummeling Ukraine’s energy system, in a reprise of its brutal attempt last autumn and winter to demoralize Ukrainians by plunging them into darkness and cold.
Last winter, there were “a lot of difficult nights” when Russian forces sent waves of missiles and drones in a bid to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, said Fox, one of three soldiers manning a German-made Gepard Flakpanzer mobile antiaircraft system at a position not far from Kyiv.
“One time, they sent 20 drones together at a position,” said Fox, who is being identified only by call sign in keeping with Ukrainian military protocol. “But this winter will be a lot worse,” he said.
Fox appears to know what he is talking about.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia is preparing “again to use winter as a weapon for war,” adding in a tweet that the alliance is “committed to stepping up & sustaining our support for Ukraine.”
- Russia failed in its bid to rejoin the U.N. Human Rights Council. It lost out to Bulgaria and Albania, but did receive 83 votes in its favor from the General Assembly member nations.
- Russia launched an offensive toward the town of Avdiivka, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
- Ukraine’s state security service said it identified two Ukrainian “traitors” who gave intelligence to Russian forces to direct a missile attack on a funeral reception in the village of Hroza last week.
- Russia struck a school in the southern Ukrainian city of Nikopol, destroying a gymnasium and killing four people on Wednesday, Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram.
More live updates here.
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia is preparing “again to use winter as a weapon for war,” adding in a tweet that the alliance is “committed to stepping up & sustaining our support for Ukraine.”
- Russia failed in its bid to rejoin the U.N. Human Rights Council. It lost out to Bulgaria and Albania, but did receive 83 votes in its favor from the General Assembly member nations.
- Russia launched an offensive toward the town of Avdiivka, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
- Ukraine’s state security service said it identified two Ukrainian “traitors” who gave intelligence to Russian forces to direct a missile attack on a funeral reception in the village of Hroza last week.
- Russia struck a school in the southern Ukrainian city of Nikopol, destroying a gymnasium and killing four people on Wednesday, Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- In his first known international trip this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Thursday in Kyrgyzstan, where he will meet with leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan.
- Ukraine’s allies “won’t be distracted” by the crisis in Israel and the Gaza Strip, and will continue to focus on Kyiv’s war with Russia, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said early Thursday.
- A coalition co-led by the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands will aim to establish F-16 fighter jet capacity in Ukraine and, later, oversee a full-scale Ukrainian air force built.
- Three people, including a child, were killed in the Russian city of Belgorod when a Ukrainian drone was downed, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said Thursday.
More live updates here.
- In his first known international trip this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Thursday in Kyrgyzstan, where he will meet with leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan.
- Ukraine’s allies “won’t be distracted” by the crisis in Israel and the Gaza Strip, and will continue to focus on Kyiv’s war with Russia, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said early Thursday.
- A coalition co-led by the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands will aim to establish F-16 fighter jet capacity in Ukraine and, later, oversee a full-scale Ukrainian air force built.
- Three people, including a child, were killed in the Russian city of Belgorod when a Ukrainian drone was downed, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said Thursday.
More live updates here.
Russia mounts major attack on key city in eastern Ukraine
KYIV — Intense fighting raged around the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka for a third day, local officials said Thursday, after Russian forces launched a major attack on the city, mobilizing thousands of troops and columns of armored vehicles.
“The battles around the city do not abate; the shelling does not abate both on the positions and on the city itself,” the head of the local military administration, Vitaliy Barabash, said on Ukrainian television.
Barabash said that “two dozen missiles” hit the area Wednesday. “There are dead, wounded, people under the rubble,” he said.
Avdiivka, which sits in a geographically strategic pocket close to the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, has been a target of Moscow’s military aggression since 2014 — but so far the Kremlin’s forces have failed in repeated attempts to capture it.
Read the full story here.
KYIV — Intense fighting raged around the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka for a third day, local officials said Thursday, after Russian forces launched a major attack on the city, mobilizing thousands of troops and columns of armored vehicles.
“The battles around the city do not abate; the shelling does not abate both on the positions and on the city itself,” the head of the local military administration, Vitaliy Barabash, said on Ukrainian television.
Barabash said that “two dozen missiles” hit the area Wednesday. “There are dead, wounded, people under the rubble,” he said.
Avdiivka, which sits in a geographically strategic pocket close to the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, has been a target of Moscow’s military aggression since 2014 — but so far the Kremlin’s forces have failed in repeated attempts to capture it.
Read the full story here.