War narrows the many divides between east and west in Ukraine
With Moscow continuing to wage scorched-earth campaigns in the east and south, Ukrainians have abandoned their homes in droves. According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration, more than 6 million people are now displaced within Ukraine, in addition to the nearly 5 million who have fled the country entirely.
Along with them have gone businesses and workplaces. Many, like Oleksii Vakhrushev’s company and more than a dozen of its employees, have headed to areas in western Ukraine where fighting and missile attacks have been minimal. Their journey represents a massive and very fluid demographic shift taking place within the country — one that is altering it economically and possibly changing Ukrainians’ own perception of one another.
East and west are growing closer, Vakhrushev believes. “We teach them, and they teach us,” he explained.
Read the full story here.
With Moscow continuing to wage scorched-earth campaigns in the east and south, Ukrainians have abandoned their homes in droves. According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration, more than 6 million people are now displaced within Ukraine, in addition to the nearly 5 million who have fled the country entirely.
Along with them have gone businesses and workplaces. Many, like Oleksii Vakhrushev’s company and more than a dozen of its employees, have headed to areas in western Ukraine where fighting and missile attacks have been minimal. Their journey represents a massive and very fluid demographic shift taking place within the country — one that is altering it economically and possibly changing Ukrainians’ own perception of one another.
East and west are growing closer, Vakhrushev believes. “We teach them, and they teach us,” he explained.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- European Union member states on Tuesday agreed on a plan to reduce gas consumption amid looming shortages, as Ukraine urged Europe to “get rid of any dependence” on Moscow.
- Russia on Tuesday announced it would withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) project after 2024.
- Russia struck the region of Odessa early Tuesday, launching a “massive” missile attack that hit buildings on the coast, according to preliminary reports from regional officials.
- Brittney Griner appeared in court Tuesday and is set to testify this week in her Moscow trial on drug charges.
- Russia struck civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Kharkiv and its surrounding region Tuesday, officials there said.
More live updates here.
- European Union member states on Tuesday agreed on a plan to reduce gas consumption amid looming shortages, as Ukraine urged Europe to “get rid of any dependence” on Moscow.
- Russia on Tuesday announced it would withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) project after 2024.
- Russia struck the region of Odessa early Tuesday, launching a “massive” missile attack that hit buildings on the coast, according to preliminary reports from regional officials.
- Brittney Griner appeared in court Tuesday and is set to testify this week in her Moscow trial on drug charges.
- Russia struck civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Kharkiv and its surrounding region Tuesday, officials there said.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- As Kyiv prepares for shipments from three ports, a center to monitor grain exports opened in Istanbul under the deal to release millions of tons of grain cut off by a Russian naval blockade. The joint coordination center brings together Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations to resolve any violations of the agreement.
- Ukrainian forces struck the Antonivsky bridge in Kherson overnight, as they target a key supply link over the Dnipro river in a bid to wrest the southern region out of Russian hands. A Russian-backed official there said a HIMARS, a rocket launcher supplied by the United States, hit the structure, which is now pierced with holes but still standing.
- Air defense systems from Britain, antiaircraft weapons from Germany and ammunition from the United States have arrived in Ukraine. Six British Stormer HVM air defense systems made it to the front in Ukraine this week, the southern military command said.
More live updates here.
- As Kyiv prepares for shipments from three ports, a center to monitor grain exports opened in Istanbul under the deal to release millions of tons of grain cut off by a Russian naval blockade. The joint coordination center brings together Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations to resolve any violations of the agreement.
- Ukrainian forces struck the Antonivsky bridge in Kherson overnight, as they target a key supply link over the Dnipro river in a bid to wrest the southern region out of Russian hands. A Russian-backed official there said a HIMARS, a rocket launcher supplied by the United States, hit the structure, which is now pierced with holes but still standing.
- Air defense systems from Britain, antiaircraft weapons from Germany and ammunition from the United States have arrived in Ukraine. Six British Stormer HVM air defense systems made it to the front in Ukraine this week, the southern military command said.
More live updates here.
5 countries hit hard by the grain crisis in Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement Friday in Istanbul to restart Ukrainian grain shipments to buyers across the world and help Russia export grain and fertilizers — a deal hailed as a major diplomatic breakthrough after months of mounting concerns that the war in Ukraine would continue to worsen the mounting global food crisis.
Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports and the ripple effects of Western sanctions on Moscow have driven up global food prices, raised fears of looming grain shortages and exacerbated concerns about rising hunger around the world.
Ukraine and Russia produce about a third of the wheat traded in global markets, and about a quarter of the world’s barley, according to the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute.
Read the full story here.
Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement Friday in Istanbul to restart Ukrainian grain shipments to buyers across the world and help Russia export grain and fertilizers — a deal hailed as a major diplomatic breakthrough after months of mounting concerns that the war in Ukraine would continue to worsen the mounting global food crisis.
Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports and the ripple effects of Western sanctions on Moscow have driven up global food prices, raised fears of looming grain shortages and exacerbated concerns about rising hunger around the world.
Ukraine and Russia produce about a third of the wheat traded in global markets, and about a quarter of the world’s barley, according to the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute.
Read the full story here.
U.S. offers deal to Russia to free Brittney Griner as she testifies in Moscow
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States has made a “substantial proposal” to Russia to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and jailed American Paul Whelan. The announcement came hours after Griner faced the most crucial moment yet in her Moscow trial on drug charges, giving evidence to a judge in a bid for leniency.
She faces 10 years in prison in a case that has further strained U.S.-Russian relations, already badly damaged by the war in Ukraine. Blinken added that he would speak to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a significant break from his past strategy of avoiding contact with senior Russian officials and seeking maximum isolation of Moscow.
Griner began her testimony Wednesday by describing her arrest at a Moscow airport in February after customs officials found two cannabis vape cartridges in her baggage.
Read the full story here.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States has made a “substantial proposal” to Russia to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and jailed American Paul Whelan. The announcement came hours after Griner faced the most crucial moment yet in her Moscow trial on drug charges, giving evidence to a judge in a bid for leniency.
She faces 10 years in prison in a case that has further strained U.S.-Russian relations, already badly damaged by the war in Ukraine. Blinken added that he would speak to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a significant break from his past strategy of avoiding contact with senior Russian officials and seeking maximum isolation of Moscow.
Griner began her testimony Wednesday by describing her arrest at a Moscow airport in February after customs officials found two cannabis vape cartridges in her baggage.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- WNBA star Brittney Griner took the stand in her Moscow trial on drug charges, as Ukraine restarts operations at three Black Sea ports under a deal designed to ease the global food crisis by exporting stockpiled Ukrainian grain.
- The Kremlin blamed cuts to Russian gas supplies to Europe on E.U. sanctions.
- Ukraine’s parliament approved a new prosecutor general. Andriy Kostin will become the country’s top prosecutor after winning support from 299 members of the 450-seat legislature.
- Ukrainian forces struck the Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson overnight, as they target a key supply link over the Dnieper River in a bid to wrest the southern region out of Russian hands.
- Air defense systems from Britain, antiaircraft weapons from Germany and ammunition from the United States have arrived in Ukraine.
More live updates here.
- WNBA star Brittney Griner took the stand in her Moscow trial on drug charges, as Ukraine restarts operations at three Black Sea ports under a deal designed to ease the global food crisis by exporting stockpiled Ukrainian grain.
- The Kremlin blamed cuts to Russian gas supplies to Europe on E.U. sanctions.
- Ukraine’s parliament approved a new prosecutor general. Andriy Kostin will become the country’s top prosecutor after winning support from 299 members of the 450-seat legislature.
- Ukrainian forces struck the Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson overnight, as they target a key supply link over the Dnieper River in a bid to wrest the southern region out of Russian hands.
- Air defense systems from Britain, antiaircraft weapons from Germany and ammunition from the United States have arrived in Ukraine.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Blinken’s announcement Wednesday about a prisoner-swap proposal furthered speculation that it may involve Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois for conspiring to kill U.S. nationals and selling weapons to terrorists.
- Russia is sustaining its offensive in eastern Ukraine but may otherwise be “unable to sustain a similar offensive operational tempo” elsewhere, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
- Ukraine’s effort to recapture Kherson, in the south, is gathering momentum, according to the U.K. defense ministry. Ukraine bombed a key bridge early Wednesday for the third time in 10 days to stymie Russia there, ISW said, and the bridge is probably unusable. Ukraine’s defense ministry said the strikes on the bridge “create an impossible dilemma for Russian occupiers” there. “Retreat or be annihilated,” it said.
More live updates here.
- Blinken’s announcement Wednesday about a prisoner-swap proposal furthered speculation that it may involve Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois for conspiring to kill U.S. nationals and selling weapons to terrorists.
- Russia is sustaining its offensive in eastern Ukraine but may otherwise be “unable to sustain a similar offensive operational tempo” elsewhere, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
- Ukraine’s effort to recapture Kherson, in the south, is gathering momentum, according to the U.K. defense ministry. Ukraine bombed a key bridge early Wednesday for the third time in 10 days to stymie Russia there, ISW said, and the bridge is probably unusable. Ukraine’s defense ministry said the strikes on the bridge “create an impossible dilemma for Russian occupiers” there. “Retreat or be annihilated,” it said.
More live updates here.
Russia: No deal yet on releasing Americans Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan
Russia said Thursday that no concrete agreement had been reached in U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange negotiations, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a “substantial proposal” had been made to Moscow to free jailed U.S. nationals WNBA star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan.
“There are no agreements yet which are finalized,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
On Wednesday Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposal had been made to the Kremlin “weeks ago” for the release of Griner and Wheelan, although he did not specify its terms or if there had been any response. "Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal,” he added.
Read the full story here.
Russia said Thursday that no concrete agreement had been reached in U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange negotiations, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a “substantial proposal” had been made to Moscow to free jailed U.S. nationals WNBA star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan.
“There are no agreements yet which are finalized,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
On Wednesday Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposal had been made to the Kremlin “weeks ago” for the release of Griner and Wheelan, although he did not specify its terms or if there had been any response. "Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal,” he added.
Read the full story here.
As they wait for weapons, Ukrainians hold the line with Soviet artillery
ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine — Ali Pirbudagov’s weapons are parked under the cover of trees and camouflage nets. They’re all older than he is, dating back to a time when Ukraine and Russia fought together in the Red Army. Now, Pirbudagov has to use them against Russian troops attacking with more-modern equipment.
“This particular one is from 1987,” said the 34-year-old Pirbudagov as he rubbed the hood of a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer. “There are older ones. This is actually one of the ‘newer’ pieces.”
While Western countries have started sending better weapons to Ukraine, they can be slow to arrive, leaving some units, like Pirbudagov’s 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, to fight with Soviet-era leftovers. They require a lot of repair, he said, and parts that aren’t easy to find.
Read the full story here.
ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine — Ali Pirbudagov’s weapons are parked under the cover of trees and camouflage nets. They’re all older than he is, dating back to a time when Ukraine and Russia fought together in the Red Army. Now, Pirbudagov has to use them against Russian troops attacking with more-modern equipment.
“This particular one is from 1987,” said the 34-year-old Pirbudagov as he rubbed the hood of a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer. “There are older ones. This is actually one of the ‘newer’ pieces.”
While Western countries have started sending better weapons to Ukraine, they can be slow to arrive, leaving some units, like Pirbudagov’s 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, to fight with Soviet-era leftovers. They require a lot of repair, he said, and parts that aren’t easy to find.
Read the full story here.
Ukraine could be turning the tide of war again as Russian advances stall
Russian advances in Ukraine have slowed almost to a standstill as newly delivered Western weapons help Ukrainian forces reclaim much of the advantage they had lost in recent months, opening a window of opportunity to turn the tide of the war in their favor again.
Russian troops have made no significant territorial gains since the Ukrainian retreat on July 2 from the eastern city of Lysychansk under withering artillery fire. The retreat gave Russia full control over Luhansk, one of the two oblasts, or regions, that make up the broader eastern Donbas area, and it marked Russia’s only meaningful strategic success since its retreat from territory around Kyiv in April.
The lack of progress may be explained at least in part by the “operational pause” declared by Russia’s Defense Ministry after the seizure of Lysychansk.
Read the full story here.
Russian advances in Ukraine have slowed almost to a standstill as newly delivered Western weapons help Ukrainian forces reclaim much of the advantage they had lost in recent months, opening a window of opportunity to turn the tide of the war in their favor again.
Russian troops have made no significant territorial gains since the Ukrainian retreat on July 2 from the eastern city of Lysychansk under withering artillery fire. The retreat gave Russia full control over Luhansk, one of the two oblasts, or regions, that make up the broader eastern Donbas area, and it marked Russia’s only meaningful strategic success since its retreat from territory around Kyiv in April.
The lack of progress may be explained at least in part by the “operational pause” declared by Russia’s Defense Ministry after the seizure of Lysychansk.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- Russia’s interests must be taken into account in prisoner exchange negotiations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday, adding that “a concrete result has not yet been achieved.”
- Russia is continuing attacks in eastern Ukraine but may be “unable to sustain a similar offensive operational tempo” elsewhere in the country, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank.
- Russia struck an area north of Kyiv early Thursday, according to Oleksiy Kuleba, the regional governor.
- Ukraine’s second-largest power plant has been captured, in one of Moscow’s first significant gains in weeks.
- Ukrainian forces’ efforts to recapture Kherson, in the south, are gathering momentum, according to the British Defense Ministry.
More live updates here.
- Russia’s interests must be taken into account in prisoner exchange negotiations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday, adding that “a concrete result has not yet been achieved.”
- Russia is continuing attacks in eastern Ukraine but may be “unable to sustain a similar offensive operational tempo” elsewhere in the country, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank.
- Russia struck an area north of Kyiv early Thursday, according to Oleksiy Kuleba, the regional governor.
- Ukraine’s second-largest power plant has been captured, in one of Moscow’s first significant gains in weeks.
- Ukrainian forces’ efforts to recapture Kherson, in the south, are gathering momentum, according to the British Defense Ministry.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The first grain shipments from Ukraine’s ports could take place as early as Friday following a landmark deal between Kyiv and Moscow.
- Russia is likely using mercenaries from the Wagner Group on the front line like normal army units, due to major shortages of combat infantry, Britain’s defense ministry said in its Friday update.
- The family of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout have expressed hopes he will be released in a possible prisoner swap. There is intense speculation that Bout, currently serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois, could be part of a prisoner swap with WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
- Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv was hit by Russian shelling overnight, local officials reported. City mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a post on social media that a two-story building and a university had been hit.
More live updates here.
- The first grain shipments from Ukraine’s ports could take place as early as Friday following a landmark deal between Kyiv and Moscow.
- Russia is likely using mercenaries from the Wagner Group on the front line like normal army units, due to major shortages of combat infantry, Britain’s defense ministry said in its Friday update.
- The family of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout have expressed hopes he will be released in a possible prisoner swap. There is intense speculation that Bout, currently serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois, could be part of a prisoner swap with WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
- Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv was hit by Russian shelling overnight, local officials reported. City mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a post on social media that a two-story building and a university had been hit.
More live updates here.
Ukraine and Russia trade blame for strike reportedly killing Mariupol prisoners
Ukraine and Russia traded accusations on Friday over the shelling of a prison in the eastern Donetsk region that allegedly killed and wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war, including those captured after the fall of the port city of Mariupol in May.
A spokesman for the Russian-backed breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said a Ukrainian strike using U.S.-supplied HIMARS — High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems — had hit a prison in the town of Olenivka, killing at least 53 Ukrainian troops and wounding about 75.
Ukrainian authorities, however, denied any involvement and in turn accused Russian forces of carrying out the attack, which they described as a war crime.
In posts on Telegram, DPR spokesman Daniil Bezsonov referred to the casualties as “prisoners of Azovstal” — the steel plant in Mariupol that finally fell to Russian forces after a long drawn-out siege.
Read the full story here.
Ukraine and Russia traded accusations on Friday over the shelling of a prison in the eastern Donetsk region that allegedly killed and wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war, including those captured after the fall of the port city of Mariupol in May.
A spokesman for the Russian-backed breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said a Ukrainian strike using U.S.-supplied HIMARS — High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems — had hit a prison in the town of Olenivka, killing at least 53 Ukrainian troops and wounding about 75.
Ukrainian authorities, however, denied any involvement and in turn accused Russian forces of carrying out the attack, which they described as a war crime.
In posts on Telegram, DPR spokesman Daniil Bezsonov referred to the casualties as “prisoners of Azovstal” — the steel plant in Mariupol that finally fell to Russian forces after a long drawn-out siege.
Read the full story here.
After Russian port strike, Ukraine grain deal hangs in the balance
ODESSA, Ukraine — Dmytro Podrezov’s booming logistics company once sent tens of thousands of tons of grain by ship each year from the port city of Odessa to customers around the world, but the war changed everything.
With the port now cut off by a Russian naval blockade, the commodity that accounted for at least a third of his company’s revenue is crammed into scarce rail cars and sent by lumbering trucks to meet an insatiable global demand.
Friday’s announcement of a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to export grain trapped in Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea offered Podrezov a moment of hope.
But less than 24 hours after the deal was finalized, two Russian missiles struck the port in Odessa.
“It’s as if the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing,” said Podrezov, who runs the logistics company Celeste Marine. “The Russians took the U.N. agreement and pissed on it.”
Read the full story here.
ODESSA, Ukraine — Dmytro Podrezov’s booming logistics company once sent tens of thousands of tons of grain by ship each year from the port city of Odessa to customers around the world, but the war changed everything.
With the port now cut off by a Russian naval blockade, the commodity that accounted for at least a third of his company’s revenue is crammed into scarce rail cars and sent by lumbering trucks to meet an insatiable global demand.
Friday’s announcement of a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to export grain trapped in Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea offered Podrezov a moment of hope.
But less than 24 hours after the deal was finalized, two Russian missiles struck the port in Odessa.
“It’s as if the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing,” said Podrezov, who runs the logistics company Celeste Marine. “The Russians took the U.N. agreement and pissed on it.”
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is being arranged and that it would “be interesting to listen to Blinken’s proposals on a prisoner swap.”
- The first grain shipments from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea are expected to begin by the end of the week following confirmation from the United Nations, Ukrainian authorities announced Friday.
- Ukraine and pro-Russian forces are accusing each other of killing Ukrainian prisoners of war in an occupied area of the eastern Donetsk region.
- Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, was hit by Russian shelling overnight, local officials reported.
- A district in the southern city of Mykolaiv has been shelled with cluster munitions, Mayor Oleksandr Syenkevych said in a post on Telegram on Friday.
- A missile attack on a flight academy in the central city of Kropyvnytskyi killed five people and wounded 26, city officials said in a Friday update.
More live updates here.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is being arranged and that it would “be interesting to listen to Blinken’s proposals on a prisoner swap.”
- The first grain shipments from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea are expected to begin by the end of the week following confirmation from the United Nations, Ukrainian authorities announced Friday.
- Ukraine and pro-Russian forces are accusing each other of killing Ukrainian prisoners of war in an occupied area of the eastern Donetsk region.
- Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, was hit by Russian shelling overnight, local officials reported.
- A district in the southern city of Mykolaiv has been shelled with cluster munitions, Mayor Oleksandr Syenkevych said in a post on Telegram on Friday.
- A missile attack on a flight academy in the central city of Kropyvnytskyi killed five people and wounded 26, city officials said in a Friday update.
More live updates here.