Brittney Griner may go to a Russian penal colony. Here’s what you need to know.
WNBA star Brittney Griner received a harsh 9½-year prison sentence Thursday in her trial on drug charges in Moscow, close to the maximum term possible.
The basketball star’s attorneys plan to appeal, as the Biden administration urges Moscow to accept a deal to free Griner and former security consultant Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia. Washington has declined to say whether the two could be released in exchange for imprisoned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
If diplomatic efforts or the appeal fail, Griner could be sent to a penal colony, a Russian prison facility known for brutal conditions.
Read the full story here.
WNBA star Brittney Griner received a harsh 9½-year prison sentence Thursday in her trial on drug charges in Moscow, close to the maximum term possible.
The basketball star’s attorneys plan to appeal, as the Biden administration urges Moscow to accept a deal to free Griner and former security consultant Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia. Washington has declined to say whether the two could be released in exchange for imprisoned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
If diplomatic efforts or the appeal fail, Griner could be sent to a penal colony, a Russian prison facility known for brutal conditions.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- Three ships laden with grain left Ukraine’s Black Sea ports Friday — a sign of incremental progress in the wake of a deal between Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations to restore grain shipments amid a global food crisis.
- In Moscow, WNBA superstar Brittney Griner’s lawyers pledged to appeal a 9½-year prison sentence, as U.S. officials urge Moscow to accept an offer to free Griner.
- Putin met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the Russian resort city of Sochi on Friday, their second meeting in 2½ weeks.
- In a joint statement, the leaders said they had agreed to increase the volume of trade between their countries, and reaffirmed the Ukraine grain deal.
- Russia’s war in Ukraine has damaged or destroyed nearly 200 temples and prayer houses of different denominations, along with hundreds of educational institutions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a nightly address.
More live updates here.
- Three ships laden with grain left Ukraine’s Black Sea ports Friday — a sign of incremental progress in the wake of a deal between Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations to restore grain shipments amid a global food crisis.
- In Moscow, WNBA superstar Brittney Griner’s lawyers pledged to appeal a 9½-year prison sentence, as U.S. officials urge Moscow to accept an offer to free Griner.
- Putin met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the Russian resort city of Sochi on Friday, their second meeting in 2½ weeks.
- In a joint statement, the leaders said they had agreed to increase the volume of trade between their countries, and reaffirmed the Ukraine grain deal.
- Russia’s war in Ukraine has damaged or destroyed nearly 200 temples and prayer houses of different denominations, along with hundreds of educational institutions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a nightly address.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Russia and Ukraine are accusing each other of shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, located in southeast Ukraine. It was seized by Russian forces in March and its closeness to front line fighting is triggering international fears of a nuclear crisis.
- The deal to lift a Russian blockade on millions of tons of Ukrainian grain appears to be working. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 60,000 tons of corn are on board a vessel en route to consumers in Turkey, Britain and Ireland, and will ease a food crisis in parts of Africa and Asia.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the Russian resort city of Sochi on Friday, their second meeting in 2½ weeks. In a joint statement, the leaders said they had agreed to increase the volume of trade between their countries. Turkey, a NATO member, also agreed to switch part of its payments for Russian gas to rubles.
More live updates here.
- Russia and Ukraine are accusing each other of shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, located in southeast Ukraine. It was seized by Russian forces in March and its closeness to front line fighting is triggering international fears of a nuclear crisis.
- The deal to lift a Russian blockade on millions of tons of Ukrainian grain appears to be working. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 60,000 tons of corn are on board a vessel en route to consumers in Turkey, Britain and Ireland, and will ease a food crisis in parts of Africa and Asia.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the Russian resort city of Sochi on Friday, their second meeting in 2½ weeks. In a joint statement, the leaders said they had agreed to increase the volume of trade between their countries. Turkey, a NATO member, also agreed to switch part of its payments for Russian gas to rubles.
More live updates here.
As war grinds on, old Ukrainian political divisions are reemerging
CHERNIHIV, Ukraine — There has been an unofficial agreement among Ukraine’s raucous and highly competitive politicians since Russia invaded: Put aside old differences and form a unified front against Moscow.
It’s been a remarkable shift in a country plagued by political infighting, corruption and Russian influence since it declared independence from the dissolving Soviet Union in 1991.
But now, as the war grinds on and billions of dollars in international aid pours in, cracks and prewar tensions are beginning to emerge between the central government and local leaders.
Read the full story here.
CHERNIHIV, Ukraine — There has been an unofficial agreement among Ukraine’s raucous and highly competitive politicians since Russia invaded: Put aside old differences and form a unified front against Moscow.
It’s been a remarkable shift in a country plagued by political infighting, corruption and Russian influence since it declared independence from the dissolving Soviet Union in 1991.
But now, as the war grinds on and billions of dollars in international aid pours in, cracks and prewar tensions are beginning to emerge between the central government and local leaders.
Read the full story here.
India turns to Russian fertilizer, showing challenge of isolating Moscow
India has dramatically increased its imports of fertilizer from Russia in recent months, demonstrating the difficulties the United States and its allies face in isolating Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine.
From April to June, India imported 7.74 million tons of Russian fertilizer, a figure representing about two-thirds of all its fertilizer imports from Russia last year, making the country India’s top supplier, according to information provided in Parliament by the minister of chemicals and fertilizers.
These shipments come on top of record imports of discounted Russian oil. Although Persian Gulf countries remain India’s top suppliers of crude oil, India in July bought about 1 million barrels a day from Russia, a sharp increase since the beginning of the year. Government data shows that India spent $3.7 billion on Russian oil between January and May, up more than 350 percent from the same period last year.
Read the full story here.
India has dramatically increased its imports of fertilizer from Russia in recent months, demonstrating the difficulties the United States and its allies face in isolating Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine.
From April to June, India imported 7.74 million tons of Russian fertilizer, a figure representing about two-thirds of all its fertilizer imports from Russia last year, making the country India’s top supplier, according to information provided in Parliament by the minister of chemicals and fertilizers.
These shipments come on top of record imports of discounted Russian oil. Although Persian Gulf countries remain India’s top suppliers of crude oil, India in July bought about 1 million barrels a day from Russia, a sharp increase since the beginning of the year. Government data shows that India spent $3.7 billion on Russian oil between January and May, up more than 350 percent from the same period last year.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Russia and Ukraine are accusing each other of shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, located in southeast Ukraine. It was seized by Russian forces in March and its closeness to front line fighting is triggering international fears of a nuclear crisis.
- The deal to lift a Russian blockade on millions of tons of Ukrainian grain appears to be working. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 60,000 tons of corn are on board a vessel en route to consumers.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the Russian resort city of Sochi on Friday, their second meeting in 2½ weeks.
More updates here.
- Russia and Ukraine are accusing each other of shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, located in southeast Ukraine. It was seized by Russian forces in March and its closeness to front line fighting is triggering international fears of a nuclear crisis.
- The deal to lift a Russian blockade on millions of tons of Ukrainian grain appears to be working. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 60,000 tons of corn are on board a vessel en route to consumers.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the Russian resort city of Sochi on Friday, their second meeting in 2½ weeks.
More updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Four ships carrying almost 170,000 tonnes of grain headed out Sunday under the deal to ease the global food crisis, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said. The first foreign-flagged ship arrived in Ukraine to be loaded with grain since Russia’s invasion, he said a day earlier.
- Ukraine’s largest and most profitable port will join those restarting operations following months of blockades, Mustafa Nayyem, deputy infrastructure minister said on Facebook. The Pivdennyi port will work Odessa and Chornomorsk ports to export three million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products within a month, Nayyem said.
- The United Nations is warning of a potential “nuclear disaster” after heavy shelling struck Europe’s largest atomic power plant. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant highlights the potential for “catastrophic consequences.”
More live updates here.
- Four ships carrying almost 170,000 tonnes of grain headed out Sunday under the deal to ease the global food crisis, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said. The first foreign-flagged ship arrived in Ukraine to be loaded with grain since Russia’s invasion, he said a day earlier.
- Ukraine’s largest and most profitable port will join those restarting operations following months of blockades, Mustafa Nayyem, deputy infrastructure minister said on Facebook. The Pivdennyi port will work Odessa and Chornomorsk ports to export three million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products within a month, Nayyem said.
- The United Nations is warning of a potential “nuclear disaster” after heavy shelling struck Europe’s largest atomic power plant. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant highlights the potential for “catastrophic consequences.”
More live updates here.
U.N. watchdog warns of ‘nuclear disaster’ from shelling at Zaporizhzhia plant
The United Nations nuclear chief warned of a potential “nuclear disaster” after shelling of Europe’s largest atomic power plant, once again urging Russia and Ukraine to allow a mission of experts access to the facility to help secure it.
The shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine highlights the potential for “catastrophic consequences” from attacks on and near the facility, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a statement on Saturday.
“Military action jeopardizing the safety and security of the Zaporizhzya nuclear power plant is completely unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs,” Grossi’s statement said.
Read the full story here.
The United Nations nuclear chief warned of a potential “nuclear disaster” after shelling of Europe’s largest atomic power plant, once again urging Russia and Ukraine to allow a mission of experts access to the facility to help secure it.
The shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine highlights the potential for “catastrophic consequences” from attacks on and near the facility, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a statement on Saturday.
“Military action jeopardizing the safety and security of the Zaporizhzya nuclear power plant is completely unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs,” Grossi’s statement said.
Read the full story here.
It’s an artillery war, but Ukraine still kills tanks with Javelins
NEAR IZYUM, Ukraine — It turns out, some Ukrainian soldiers discovered, that Javelin cases make great beds. The U.S.-made antitank missiles are packed in large, black rectangular capsules — perfect for elevating a slim cot off the dirty, cold floors of front-line positions.
“Make sure you mention they’re empty,” said a soldier, showing off the makeshift beds. “The last thing we need is Americans thinking they’re sending us Javelins just so we can sleep on them.”
It’s the opposite, actually: The 93rd Mechanized Brigade had fired so many Javelins at Russian tanks that they needed something to do with the pile of empty cases.
Read the full story here.
NEAR IZYUM, Ukraine — It turns out, some Ukrainian soldiers discovered, that Javelin cases make great beds. The U.S.-made antitank missiles are packed in large, black rectangular capsules — perfect for elevating a slim cot off the dirty, cold floors of front-line positions.
“Make sure you mention they’re empty,” said a soldier, showing off the makeshift beds. “The last thing we need is Americans thinking they’re sending us Javelins just so we can sleep on them.”
It’s the opposite, actually: The 93rd Mechanized Brigade had fired so many Javelins at Russian tanks that they needed something to do with the pile of empty cases.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Zaporizhzhia Governor Oleksandr Starukh said Sunday that power unit No. 4 was disconnected from the grid after the overnight shelling attack due to “partial destruction” of the nuclear plant’s infrastructure.
- The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office said the Russian shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant injured one person in Marhanets, a town across the Dnieper River, and damaged 50 houses.
- Ukraine and Russia on Sunday again traded blame for the latest attack at the Zaporizhzhia plant, after shelling on Friday. Ukraine’s state nuclear power company, Energoatom, said Sunday that radiation-monitoring sensors were damaged and that at least one worker was injured.
More live updates here.
- Zaporizhzhia Governor Oleksandr Starukh said Sunday that power unit No. 4 was disconnected from the grid after the overnight shelling attack due to “partial destruction” of the nuclear plant’s infrastructure.
- The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office said the Russian shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant injured one person in Marhanets, a town across the Dnieper River, and damaged 50 houses.
- Ukraine and Russia on Sunday again traded blame for the latest attack at the Zaporizhzhia plant, after shelling on Friday. Ukraine’s state nuclear power company, Energoatom, said Sunday that radiation-monitoring sensors were damaged and that at least one worker was injured.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- U.N. Secretary General António Guterres called attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant “suicidal” and demanded Monday that inspectors be granted access to the facility.
- The Russian-appointed administration of the Zaporizhzhia oblast, or region, moved ahead with steps to hold a referendum on joining Russia.
- Radiation levels at the damaged nuclear power plant remain in normal range, a Ukrainian official said Sunday, adding that the situation remains “tense.”
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that strikes on the plant pose enormous risks — and not just to Ukrainians.
- Zelensky slammed reports that Russia is preparing to hold a sham referendum in Luhansk, a Russian-held region in eastern Ukraine. “
More live updates here.
- U.N. Secretary General António Guterres called attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant “suicidal” and demanded Monday that inspectors be granted access to the facility.
- The Russian-appointed administration of the Zaporizhzhia oblast, or region, moved ahead with steps to hold a referendum on joining Russia.
- Radiation levels at the damaged nuclear power plant remain in normal range, a Ukrainian official said Sunday, adding that the situation remains “tense.”
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that strikes on the plant pose enormous risks — and not just to Ukrainians.
- Zelensky slammed reports that Russia is preparing to hold a sham referendum in Luhansk, a Russian-held region in eastern Ukraine. “
More live updates here.
Amnesty International’s Ukraine chief resigns after report criticizes Kyiv
The head of Amnesty International in Ukraine said she was quitting her job after the human-rights organization issued a report that criticized Ukraine’s military, sparking backlash among Ukrainian officials who said it was unfairly blaming the victim in Russia’s war.
Oksana Pokalchuk, who had led the organization’s efforts in Ukraine, said in a Facebook post announcing her resignation that it was “another loss that the war has cost me.”
She said that while she was proud of the work that Amnesty International did to highlight Russian war crimes, the report issued last week — which alleged that “Ukrainian fighting tactics endanger civilians” — became a point of conflict between the staff in the Ukrainian office and the larger organization.
Read the full story here.
The head of Amnesty International in Ukraine said she was quitting her job after the human-rights organization issued a report that criticized Ukraine’s military, sparking backlash among Ukrainian officials who said it was unfairly blaming the victim in Russia’s war.
Oksana Pokalchuk, who had led the organization’s efforts in Ukraine, said in a Facebook post announcing her resignation that it was “another loss that the war has cost me.”
She said that while she was proud of the work that Amnesty International did to highlight Russian war crimes, the report issued last week — which alleged that “Ukrainian fighting tactics endanger civilians” — became a point of conflict between the staff in the Ukrainian office and the larger organization.
Read the full story here.
Zelensky calls on West to ban all Russian travelers
The way to stop Russia from annexing any more of Ukraine’s territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday, is for Western countries to announce that they would ban all Russian citizens in response.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Washington Post, Zelensky said that “the most important sanctions are to close the borders — because the Russians are taking away someone else’s land.” He said Russians should “live in their own world until they change their philosophy.”
Russian leaders have signaled they could hold annexation votes in the occupied parts of Ukraine’s east and south — in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions — on Sept. 11, alongside regional elections already scheduled to take place. Russian officials say those votes would legitimize Russia’s claim to those areas, but critics say the votes would be a Russian-manipulated farce.
Read the full story here.
The way to stop Russia from annexing any more of Ukraine’s territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday, is for Western countries to announce that they would ban all Russian citizens in response.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Washington Post, Zelensky said that “the most important sanctions are to close the borders — because the Russians are taking away someone else’s land.” He said Russians should “live in their own world until they change their philosophy.”
Russian leaders have signaled they could hold annexation votes in the occupied parts of Ukraine’s east and south — in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions — on Sept. 11, alongside regional elections already scheduled to take place. Russian officials say those votes would legitimize Russia’s claim to those areas, but critics say the votes would be a Russian-manipulated farce.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- Power unit No. 4 was disconnected from the grid after Saturday’s shelling attack due to “partial destruction” of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant’s infrastructure, regional governor Oleksandr Starukh said Sunday.
- The Russian shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant injured one person in Marhanets, a town across the Dnieper River, and damaged 50 houses, the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office said.
- Ukraine and Russia on Sunday traded blame for the latest attack at the plant.
- Energoatom said the Russian shelling was aimed at 174 containers of spent nuclear fuel stored in the open air at the Zaporizhzhia plant.
- Zelensky, seeking a united response from Europe and other allies, portrayed the strike on the plant as a threat to the continent.
More live updates here.
- Power unit No. 4 was disconnected from the grid after Saturday’s shelling attack due to “partial destruction” of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant’s infrastructure, regional governor Oleksandr Starukh said Sunday.
- The Russian shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant injured one person in Marhanets, a town across the Dnieper River, and damaged 50 houses, the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office said.
- Ukraine and Russia on Sunday traded blame for the latest attack at the plant.
- Energoatom said the Russian shelling was aimed at 174 containers of spent nuclear fuel stored in the open air at the Zaporizhzhia plant.
- Zelensky, seeking a united response from Europe and other allies, portrayed the strike on the plant as a threat to the continent.
More live updates here.
Accounting of bodies in Bucha nears completion
After months of meticulous, painful and at times gruesome investigation, officials in Bucha said Monday that they had reached what may be the closest they will get to a final accounting of victims of the murderous rampage by Russian troops that set off worldwide outrage over alleged atrocities: 458 bodies, of which 419 bore markings they had been shot, tortured or bludgeoned to death.
Mykhailyna Skoryk-Shkarivska, the town’s deputy mayor, recounted that grim tally at a news conference Monday, where she said the details of each case were now being investigated by prosecutors working to identify the perpetrators and ultimately try them for war crimes.
Of the victims, 39 appeared to have died of natural causes, Skoryk-Shkarivska said, but those may have been related to the war or to the Russians’ treatment of the civilian population during their month-long occupation, which ended with a hasty retreat in defeat on April 1.
Read the full story here.
After months of meticulous, painful and at times gruesome investigation, officials in Bucha said Monday that they had reached what may be the closest they will get to a final accounting of victims of the murderous rampage by Russian troops that set off worldwide outrage over alleged atrocities: 458 bodies, of which 419 bore markings they had been shot, tortured or bludgeoned to death.
Mykhailyna Skoryk-Shkarivska, the town’s deputy mayor, recounted that grim tally at a news conference Monday, where she said the details of each case were now being investigated by prosecutors working to identify the perpetrators and ultimately try them for war crimes.
Of the victims, 39 appeared to have died of natural causes, Skoryk-Shkarivska said, but those may have been related to the war or to the Russians’ treatment of the civilian population during their month-long occupation, which ended with a hasty retreat in defeat on April 1.
Read the full story here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine.
- Ukrainian troops are advancing towards the key city of Izyum, placing strain on Russian forces as Washington estimates that up to 80,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured during the full-scale war in Ukraine.
- President Zelensky is accusing Russia of “nuclear blackmail” following recent attacks on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant that the United Nations has warned could lead to catastrophic consequences.
- Russia’s assaults on the city of Bakhmut have been its most successful axis in the Donbas region in the past 30 days, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said, though it noted that Russian troops had only gained 10 kilometers during that timeframe.
- Two more grain ships sailed Tuesday under a deal brokered by the United Nations and facilitated by Turkey.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian troops are advancing towards the key city of Izyum, placing strain on Russian forces as Washington estimates that up to 80,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured during the full-scale war in Ukraine.
- President Zelensky is accusing Russia of “nuclear blackmail” following recent attacks on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant that the United Nations has warned could lead to catastrophic consequences.
- Russia’s assaults on the city of Bakhmut have been its most successful axis in the Donbas region in the past 30 days, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said, though it noted that Russian troops had only gained 10 kilometers during that timeframe.
- Two more grain ships sailed Tuesday under a deal brokered by the United Nations and facilitated by Turkey.
More live updates here.