Blinken, Lavrov discussed potential prisoner exchange for Griner, others
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by telephone about a U.S. proposal to secure the release of two American prisoners, but neither side reported progress in what Blinken called “a frank and direct conversation.”
The top U.S. diplomat also said he warned the Kremlin during the conversation not to proceed with its plans to annex additional territory in Ukraine.
“I’m not going to characterize [Lavrov’s] response” to what the Biden administration has called a “substantial offer” in exchange for the release of basketball star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan from a Russian prison, Blinken said at a news conference with his visiting Japanese counterpart. “And I can’t give you an assessment of whether I think things are any more or less likely.”
Read the full story here.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by telephone about a U.S. proposal to secure the release of two American prisoners, but neither side reported progress in what Blinken called “a frank and direct conversation.”
The top U.S. diplomat also said he warned the Kremlin during the conversation not to proceed with its plans to annex additional territory in Ukraine.
“I’m not going to characterize [Lavrov’s] response” to what the Biden administration has called a “substantial offer” in exchange for the release of basketball star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan from a Russian prison, Blinken said at a news conference with his visiting Japanese counterpart. “And I can’t give you an assessment of whether I think things are any more or less likely.”
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of the “mass murder” of Ukrainian prisoners of war in an occupied area of the eastern Donetsk region. Zelensky said his diplomats have sent data about the attack on a prison in Olenivka to the U.N. and reiterated calls for Russia to be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to accept a U.S. proposal for the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan in a call on Friday. There is speculation that the U.S. is seeking to swap Whelan and Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois.
- Grain shipments from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea could restart very soon. Ukraine says it is ready to resume exporting grain as part of a U.N.-brokered deal. More than 20 million tons of grain have been stuck in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of the “mass murder” of Ukrainian prisoners of war in an occupied area of the eastern Donetsk region. Zelensky said his diplomats have sent data about the attack on a prison in Olenivka to the U.N. and reiterated calls for Russia to be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to accept a U.S. proposal for the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan in a call on Friday. There is speculation that the U.S. is seeking to swap Whelan and Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois.
- Grain shipments from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea could restart very soon. Ukraine says it is ready to resume exporting grain as part of a U.N.-brokered deal. More than 20 million tons of grain have been stuck in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February.
More live updates here.
Analysis: Africa is being pushed to take sides in the Ukraine war
When French President Emmanuel Macron visited Cameroon this week, he called out an entire continent for “hypocrisy.” Europe had decisively identified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a war, he said during a news conference with Cameroonian President Paul Biya on Tuesday, but much of Africa had not.
“I have seen too much hypocrisy, particularly on the African continent,” Macron continued, “and — I’m saying this very calmly — with some not calling it a war when it is one and saying they don’t know who started it because they have diplomatic pressures.”
The French leader’s remarks, which came on the second day of a three-nation tour of Africa, showed a sharp contrast with those from another current visitor to the continent: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Read the full story here.
When French President Emmanuel Macron visited Cameroon this week, he called out an entire continent for “hypocrisy.” Europe had decisively identified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a war, he said during a news conference with Cameroonian President Paul Biya on Tuesday, but much of Africa had not.
“I have seen too much hypocrisy, particularly on the African continent,” Macron continued, “and — I’m saying this very calmly — with some not calling it a war when it is one and saying they don’t know who started it because they have diplomatic pressures.”
The French leader’s remarks, which came on the second day of a three-nation tour of Africa, showed a sharp contrast with those from another current visitor to the continent: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Read the full story here.
Russia wants Viktor Bout back, badly. The question is: Why?
At the U.S. penitentiary in Marion, Ill., in a special unit so restrictive that it has the nickname “Little Guantánamo,” a broad-chested, mustachioed man nicknamed the “merchant of death,” who speaks at least six languages, is serving a 25-year term after building a gun-smuggling empire that spanned the globe.
His name is Viktor Bout. And his native Russia wants him home, badly. The big question: Why?
Bout, 55, is the most notorious arms dealer of his time, accused of profiting off weapons that fueled conflict in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Read the full story here.
At the U.S. penitentiary in Marion, Ill., in a special unit so restrictive that it has the nickname “Little Guantánamo,” a broad-chested, mustachioed man nicknamed the “merchant of death,” who speaks at least six languages, is serving a 25-year term after building a gun-smuggling empire that spanned the globe.
His name is Viktor Bout. And his native Russia wants him home, badly. The big question: Why?
Bout, 55, is the most notorious arms dealer of his time, accused of profiting off weapons that fueled conflict in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk on Saturday called for mandatory evacuation in Donetsk due to a lack of gas supply, according to Ukrainian state-owned broadcaster Ukrinform. In winter, she said, residents in the occupied region would find themselves with no heat due to the damaged gas pipelines.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday it had requested access to a prison in eastern Ukraine where more than 50 Ukrainian POWs are reported to have been killed. Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of attacking the facility in Olenivka, in a Russian occupied sector of the Donetsk region.
- Ukrainian and E.U. officials have condemned Russia after a graphic series of videos appeared on pro-Russian telegram channels. The videos showed a group of men, one whom was seen wearing pro-Russian symbols, castrate and execute a prisoner dressed in military fatigues with Ukrainian military insignia.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk on Saturday called for mandatory evacuation in Donetsk due to a lack of gas supply, according to Ukrainian state-owned broadcaster Ukrinform. In winter, she said, residents in the occupied region would find themselves with no heat due to the damaged gas pipelines.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday it had requested access to a prison in eastern Ukraine where more than 50 Ukrainian POWs are reported to have been killed. Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of attacking the facility in Olenivka, in a Russian occupied sector of the Donetsk region.
- Ukrainian and E.U. officials have condemned Russia after a graphic series of videos appeared on pro-Russian telegram channels. The videos showed a group of men, one whom was seen wearing pro-Russian symbols, castrate and execute a prisoner dressed in military fatigues with Ukrainian military insignia.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a mandatory evacuation order for civilians still living in the eastern region of Donetsk. “There are hundreds of thousands of people, tens of thousands of children … many people refuse to leave … but it really needs to be done,” he said in his nightly address.
- Russia says it has invited representatives of the United Nations and the Red Cross to investigate the deaths of Ukrainian prisoners of war at a detention center in Olenivka in a Russian-occupied sector of Donetsk. Kyiv insists Russia was behind the deaths while Russian-backed separatists allege more than 50 prisoners of war were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack.
- Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies showed damaged sections of the center. In before and after shots, Maxar said the pictures showed “one part of a building within the prison compound can be seen with extensive damage on today’s imagery.”
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a mandatory evacuation order for civilians still living in the eastern region of Donetsk. “There are hundreds of thousands of people, tens of thousands of children … many people refuse to leave … but it really needs to be done,” he said in his nightly address.
- Russia says it has invited representatives of the United Nations and the Red Cross to investigate the deaths of Ukrainian prisoners of war at a detention center in Olenivka in a Russian-occupied sector of Donetsk. Kyiv insists Russia was behind the deaths while Russian-backed separatists allege more than 50 prisoners of war were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack.
- Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies showed damaged sections of the center. In before and after shots, Maxar said the pictures showed “one part of a building within the prison compound can be seen with extensive damage on today’s imagery.”
More live updates here.
‘Horrific’ video apparently showing castration of Ukrainian fighter condemned
ODESSA — Amnesty International and the European Union have backed Kyiv in calling for an investigation into footage circulating online that appears to show pro-Russian forces castrating and executing a captive Ukrainian fighter.
Ukrainian officials pledged to identify the perpetrators after a series of gruesome videos recently surfaced on pro-Russian Telegram channels showing a group of men, one of them seen wearing pro-Russian symbols, castrating and executing a prisoner dressed in military fatigues with Ukrainian military insignia.
“This horrific assault is yet another apparent example of complete disregard for human life and dignity in Ukraine committed by Russian forces,” Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said Friday.
Read the full story here.
ODESSA — Amnesty International and the European Union have backed Kyiv in calling for an investigation into footage circulating online that appears to show pro-Russian forces castrating and executing a captive Ukrainian fighter.
Ukrainian officials pledged to identify the perpetrators after a series of gruesome videos recently surfaced on pro-Russian Telegram channels showing a group of men, one of them seen wearing pro-Russian symbols, castrating and executing a prisoner dressed in military fatigues with Ukrainian military insignia.
“This horrific assault is yet another apparent example of complete disregard for human life and dignity in Ukraine committed by Russian forces,” Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said Friday.
Read the full story here.
Nuclear threat higher now than in Cold War, British official warns
Britain’s national security adviser has warned that a breakdown in dialogue among rival powers is raising the risk of nuclear war, with fewer safeguards now than during the Cold War.
Western nations had a greater “understanding of the Soviet doctrine and capabilities — and vice versa” at the time because they kept more negotiation channels open, Stephen Lovegrove said at an event in Washington on Wednesday.
“This gave us both a higher level of confidence that we would not miscalculate our way into nuclear war,” he said. “Today, we do not have the same foundations with others who may threaten us in the future — particularly with China.”
As such, he said, Britain strongly supports President Biden’s talking with Beijing.
Read the full story here.
Britain’s national security adviser has warned that a breakdown in dialogue among rival powers is raising the risk of nuclear war, with fewer safeguards now than during the Cold War.
Western nations had a greater “understanding of the Soviet doctrine and capabilities — and vice versa” at the time because they kept more negotiation channels open, Stephen Lovegrove said at an event in Washington on Wednesday.
“This gave us both a higher level of confidence that we would not miscalculate our way into nuclear war,” he said. “Today, we do not have the same foundations with others who may threaten us in the future — particularly with China.”
As such, he said, Britain strongly supports President Biden’s talking with Beijing.
Read the full story here.
His city occupied, a Ukrainian mayor fights to save his community
NOVOMOSKOVSK, Ukraine — Mykola Khanatov is a mayor without a city.
He remembers the last time he saw his hometown of Popasna, in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region. It was Orthodox Easter and the Russians were at the gates. He was inside his fourth-story apartment when a torrent of shells landed nearby.
The 41-year-old took off down the stairs, squeezing through the bars of a locked security door to reach the basement.
There, he huddled with his neighbors for the better part of an hour. After weeks of intense bombardment, residents had learned the rhythm of the Russian firing teams — a pause in the shelling meant he had a 10-minute head start before the soldiers reloaded.
Read the full story here.
NOVOMOSKOVSK, Ukraine — Mykola Khanatov is a mayor without a city.
He remembers the last time he saw his hometown of Popasna, in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region. It was Orthodox Easter and the Russians were at the gates. He was inside his fourth-story apartment when a torrent of shells landed nearby.
The 41-year-old took off down the stairs, squeezing through the bars of a locked security door to reach the basement.
There, he huddled with his neighbors for the better part of an hour. After weeks of intense bombardment, residents had learned the rhythm of the Russian firing teams — a pause in the shelling meant he had a 10-minute head start before the soldiers reloaded.
Read the full story here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine:
- Putin said Zircon hypersonic missiles “have no equivalent in the world” and could evade any defense. Russia said earlier this year it had used a type of hypersonic missile — which fly at five times the speed of sound — against Ukraine. The development of the Zircon missile has been underway for years.
- The attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet headquarters, in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, sent a defiant message on Russia’s Navy Day. The attack forced the cancellation of celebrations of Navy Day in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 where the Black Sea Fleet is headquartered.
- One of Ukraine’s richest businessmen and his wife were killed in overnight attacks on the southern city of Mykolaiv, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said. Oleksiy Vadatursky owned the Nibulon agricultural company.
More live updates here.
- Putin said Zircon hypersonic missiles “have no equivalent in the world” and could evade any defense. Russia said earlier this year it had used a type of hypersonic missile — which fly at five times the speed of sound — against Ukraine. The development of the Zircon missile has been underway for years.
- The attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet headquarters, in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, sent a defiant message on Russia’s Navy Day. The attack forced the cancellation of celebrations of Navy Day in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 where the Black Sea Fleet is headquartered.
- One of Ukraine’s richest businessmen and his wife were killed in overnight attacks on the southern city of Mykolaiv, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said. Oleksiy Vadatursky owned the Nibulon agricultural company.
More live updates here.
First ship carrying grain leaves Odessa in deal to ease global food crisis
ODESSA, Ukraine — The first ship carrying grain departed a Ukrainian port under a United Nations-brokered deal to ease a global food crisis sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The departure of the cargo vessel loaded with corn from Odessa on Monday came despite fears the deal, inked in late July, would fall apart after a recent Russian attack on the port.
The wail of a Ukrainian tug boat’s horn marked the departure of the Razoni, a Sierra Leonian-flagged bulk carrier that began the journey at 9:30 a.m. local, departing from the port. The ship was destined for Lebanon, according to Turkey’s Defense Ministry.
Read the full story.
ODESSA, Ukraine — The first ship carrying grain departed a Ukrainian port under a United Nations-brokered deal to ease a global food crisis sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The departure of the cargo vessel loaded with corn from Odessa on Monday came despite fears the deal, inked in late July, would fall apart after a recent Russian attack on the port.
The wail of a Ukrainian tug boat’s horn marked the departure of the Razoni, a Sierra Leonian-flagged bulk carrier that began the journey at 9:30 a.m. local, departing from the port. The ship was destined for Lebanon, according to Turkey’s Defense Ministry.
Read the full story.
Here's the latest from Ukraine:
- A ship carrying more than 26,000 metric tons of corn left the Ukrainian port of Odessa for the first time since Russia’s invasion under a deal to ease the global food crisis.
- The key Black Sea port of Mykolaiv was hit by “one of the most brutal shellings” since the war began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, as dozens of Russian rockets destroyed homes, schools and infrastructure.
- Finger-pointing continues over the attack on a detention center in Russian-occupied Donetsk that killed 50 Ukrainian prisoners.
- Russia is making slow progress in Donbas, probably a result of redirecting troops to southern Ukraine, Britain’s Defense Ministry said in its latest intelligence update Monday, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces were “probably adjusting” operations after failing to make a significant breakthrough in recent months.
More live updates here.
- A ship carrying more than 26,000 metric tons of corn left the Ukrainian port of Odessa for the first time since Russia’s invasion under a deal to ease the global food crisis.
- The key Black Sea port of Mykolaiv was hit by “one of the most brutal shellings” since the war began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, as dozens of Russian rockets destroyed homes, schools and infrastructure.
- Finger-pointing continues over the attack on a detention center in Russian-occupied Donetsk that killed 50 Ukrainian prisoners.
- Russia is making slow progress in Donbas, probably a result of redirecting troops to southern Ukraine, Britain’s Defense Ministry said in its latest intelligence update Monday, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces were “probably adjusting” operations after failing to make a significant breakthrough in recent months.
More live updates here.
Moscow move to shutter Jewish Agency alarms Russian Jews
Russia’s threat to shut down a prominent Jewish organization has stoked fears among Jews planning to leave the country because of its war against Ukraine, while deepening a rift between Russia and Israel.
A Moscow court held a preliminary hearing Thursday about the Justice Ministry’s application to abolish the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and scheduled the next hearing for Aug. 19.
The Kremlin denies any political motive, even as Moscow attacks statements by Israeli officials opposing its invasion of Ukraine. The agency, which was founded more than 90 years ago and is affiliated with Israel’s government, helps Jewish families emigrate to Israel, including organizing travel and paying airfare.
Read the full story here.
Russia’s threat to shut down a prominent Jewish organization has stoked fears among Jews planning to leave the country because of its war against Ukraine, while deepening a rift between Russia and Israel.
A Moscow court held a preliminary hearing Thursday about the Justice Ministry’s application to abolish the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and scheduled the next hearing for Aug. 19.
The Kremlin denies any political motive, even as Moscow attacks statements by Israeli officials opposing its invasion of Ukraine. The agency, which was founded more than 90 years ago and is affiliated with Israel’s government, helps Jewish families emigrate to Israel, including organizing travel and paying airfare.
Read the full story here.
Analysis: Russia’s war in Ukraine finds echoes in the Balkans
A couple months after launching Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried to justify his war by pointing to the Western Balkans. In a meeting with United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, Putin pointed to the legacy of the NATO intervention in the former Yugoslavia in 1999, a bombing campaign that hit targets across what was then combined Serbia and Montenegro in a bid to halt Serbia’s onslaught against ethnic Kosovar Albanians fighting for autonomy.
The brief war and subsequent peacekeeping operation led to the emergence of the independent nation of Kosovo.
The Western alliance’s actions then, Putin suggested, were no different than what his forces sought to do now in attempting to guarantee the independence of two pro-Kremlin separatist entities in the eastern Ukrainian region known as Donbas.
Read the full analysis here.
A couple months after launching Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried to justify his war by pointing to the Western Balkans. In a meeting with United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, Putin pointed to the legacy of the NATO intervention in the former Yugoslavia in 1999, a bombing campaign that hit targets across what was then combined Serbia and Montenegro in a bid to halt Serbia’s onslaught against ethnic Kosovar Albanians fighting for autonomy.
The brief war and subsequent peacekeeping operation led to the emergence of the independent nation of Kosovo.
The Western alliance’s actions then, Putin suggested, were no different than what his forces sought to do now in attempting to guarantee the independence of two pro-Kremlin separatist entities in the eastern Ukrainian region known as Donbas.
Read the full analysis here.
Here is the lastest from Ukraine.
- A ship carrying grain left the Ukrainian port of Odessa for the first time since Russia’s invasion under a U.N.-backed deal meant to ease the global food crisis.
- The key Black Sea port of Mykolaiv was hit over the weekend by “one of the most brutal shellings” since the war began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after dozens of Russian rockets destroyed homes, schools and infrastructure.
- Finger-pointing continues over an attack on a detention center in Russian-occupied Donetsk that killed 50 Ukrainian prisoners.
- The European Commission on Monday announced that $1 billion in financial aid for Ukraine, out of a package totaling $9 billion, will be delivered by Tuesday.
More live updates here.
- A ship carrying grain left the Ukrainian port of Odessa for the first time since Russia’s invasion under a U.N.-backed deal meant to ease the global food crisis.
- The key Black Sea port of Mykolaiv was hit over the weekend by “one of the most brutal shellings” since the war began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after dozens of Russian rockets destroyed homes, schools and infrastructure.
- Finger-pointing continues over an attack on a detention center in Russian-occupied Donetsk that killed 50 Ukrainian prisoners.
- The European Commission on Monday announced that $1 billion in financial aid for Ukraine, out of a package totaling $9 billion, will be delivered by Tuesday.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Monday’s grain shipment was “the first positive signal that there is a chance to stop the spread of the food crisis in the world,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
- Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow court Tuesday for the first time since news broke of a possible Biden administration prisoner swap proposal to bring the WNBA player home. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that U.S. officials should not discuss potential prisoner swaps publicly.
- Canada announced a new round of sanctions on Russian officials. The measures target 43 military officials and 17 entities “that are complicit in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s senseless bloodshed,” including atrocities in Bucha, Ukraine, in March.
- Russian shelling hit a minibus carrying civilians near Dohove, Kherson, killing at least three, Ukraine’s military said Tuesday.
More live updates here.
- Monday’s grain shipment was “the first positive signal that there is a chance to stop the spread of the food crisis in the world,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
- Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow court Tuesday for the first time since news broke of a possible Biden administration prisoner swap proposal to bring the WNBA player home. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that U.S. officials should not discuss potential prisoner swaps publicly.
- Canada announced a new round of sanctions on Russian officials. The measures target 43 military officials and 17 entities “that are complicit in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s senseless bloodshed,” including atrocities in Bucha, Ukraine, in March.
- Russian shelling hit a minibus carrying civilians near Dohove, Kherson, killing at least three, Ukraine’s military said Tuesday.
More live updates here.
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A care center for Ukraine’s disabled deals with the trauma of occupation
BORODYANKA, Ukraine — Maryna Hanitska had no choice. She wrapped her patients’ fragile bodies in trash bags and buried them in a hastily dug mass grave in the frigid cold under threat of Russian fire. It will haunt her forever.
Hanitska, 44, is the director of Borodyanka’s psychoneurological hospital, a government-run center for men with schizophrenia, cerebral palsy, high-needs autism, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
For about 50 years, the facility near Kyiv has treated the complex needs of some of Ukraine’s most vulnerable. But there was no precedent for treating the trauma of Russian occupation.
Read the full story here.
BORODYANKA, Ukraine — Maryna Hanitska had no choice. She wrapped her patients’ fragile bodies in trash bags and buried them in a hastily dug mass grave in the frigid cold under threat of Russian fire. It will haunt her forever.
Hanitska, 44, is the director of Borodyanka’s psychoneurological hospital, a government-run center for men with schizophrenia, cerebral palsy, high-needs autism, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
For about 50 years, the facility near Kyiv has treated the complex needs of some of Ukraine’s most vulnerable. But there was no precedent for treating the trauma of Russian occupation.
Read the full story here.
Brittney Griner back in Russian court amid hopes of a prisoner swap
WNBA star Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow court Tuesday for the first time since news broke that the Biden administration is proposing a prisoner exchange to bring her and another American prisoner, former Marine Paul Whelan, home.
The court questioned expert witnesses called by Griner’s legal team at Tuesday’s hearing.
The basketball player was escorted into a cramped court on the outskirts of Moscow by a team of masked SWAT police, underscoring how seriously Russian law enforcement views her case.
One of the experts, Dmitry Gladyshev, testified that checks for cannabis by a state expert on vape cartridges in Griner’s luggage did not meet legal requirements. The hearing adjourned until Thursday.
Read the full story here.
WNBA star Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow court Tuesday for the first time since news broke that the Biden administration is proposing a prisoner exchange to bring her and another American prisoner, former Marine Paul Whelan, home.
The court questioned expert witnesses called by Griner’s legal team at Tuesday’s hearing.
The basketball player was escorted into a cramped court on the outskirts of Moscow by a team of masked SWAT police, underscoring how seriously Russian law enforcement views her case.
One of the experts, Dmitry Gladyshev, testified that checks for cannabis by a state expert on vape cartridges in Griner’s luggage did not meet legal requirements. The hearing adjourned until Thursday.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- A Ukrainian woman walks amid the debris of a residential building following night shelling in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 2.
- The United States and Canada announced new rounds of sanctions on Russian individuals.
- Putin’s reported romantic partner, Alina Kabaeva, was added to the Treasury Department’s list of sanctioned Russian nationals.
- Russia’s Supreme Court designated the Ukrainian Azov Regiment as a terrorist group, Russian news agency TASS reported.
- Monday’s grain shipment was “the first positive signal that there is a chance to stop the spread of the food crisis in the world,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
- Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow court Tuesday for the first time since news broke of a possible Biden administration prisoner swap proposal to bring the WNBA player home.
More live updates here.
- A Ukrainian woman walks amid the debris of a residential building following night shelling in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 2.
- The United States and Canada announced new rounds of sanctions on Russian individuals.
- Putin’s reported romantic partner, Alina Kabaeva, was added to the Treasury Department’s list of sanctioned Russian nationals.
- Russia’s Supreme Court designated the Ukrainian Azov Regiment as a terrorist group, Russian news agency TASS reported.
- Monday’s grain shipment was “the first positive signal that there is a chance to stop the spread of the food crisis in the world,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
- Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow court Tuesday for the first time since news broke of a possible Biden administration prisoner swap proposal to bring the WNBA player home.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The Razoni cargo ship, carrying more than 26,000 metric tons of corn, has arrived in Turkish waters and will head to Lebanon after Wednesday’s inspection under the U.N.-brokered agreement with Moscow.
- The Senate will vote Wednesday to approve Sweden and Finland joining NATO, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced.
- The southern city of Mykolaiv came under renewed shelling overnight, according to its mayor, Oleksandr Senkevych.
- The war, now in its sixth month, has left more than 3.5 million Ukrainian homeless, as it destroyed 140,000 houses, apartments and residential buildings, the country’s defense ministry said.
More live updates here.
- The Razoni cargo ship, carrying more than 26,000 metric tons of corn, has arrived in Turkish waters and will head to Lebanon after Wednesday’s inspection under the U.N.-brokered agreement with Moscow.
- The Senate will vote Wednesday to approve Sweden and Finland joining NATO, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced.
- The southern city of Mykolaiv came under renewed shelling overnight, according to its mayor, Oleksandr Senkevych.
- The war, now in its sixth month, has left more than 3.5 million Ukrainian homeless, as it destroyed 140,000 houses, apartments and residential buildings, the country’s defense ministry said.
More live updates here.