Kherson residents celebrate liberation and describe trauma of occupation
KHERSON, Ukraine — After more than eight months of occupation, this weary city pulsed with joy.
Scores of people flooded to Kherson’s central square on Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the last Russian soldiers fled, surrendering this regional capital in a stunning setback to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war goals. A boombox blared techno music. Couples kissed and strangers hugged. Young men stood on top of cars, waving Ukrainian flags.
“We are so happy, despite all our struggles,” said Olga Malakh, 56, who was near tears as she stood in the central square. “We have lived through so much, but we will rebuild.”
Read the full story here.
KHERSON, Ukraine — After more than eight months of occupation, this weary city pulsed with joy.
Scores of people flooded to Kherson’s central square on Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the last Russian soldiers fled, surrendering this regional capital in a stunning setback to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war goals. A boombox blared techno music. Couples kissed and strangers hugged. Young men stood on top of cars, waving Ukrainian flags.
“We are so happy, despite all our struggles,” said Olga Malakh, 56, who was near tears as she stood in the central square. “We have lived through so much, but we will rebuild.”
Read the full story here.
Loss of Kherson city shatters Putin’s war goals in Ukraine
RIGA, Latvia — Ukrainian forces raising their flag in central Kherson city on Friday cemented Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most consequential political and military defeat in his ill-fated, 8½-month-old war.
Kherson was the sole Ukrainian regional capital that Russian forces had managed to capture since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, and relinquishing the city to Kyiv shattered the illusion of control Putin tried to create by staging referendums and illegally declaring Kherson and three other regions — Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia — to be annexed and absorbed into Russia.
Although Russian forces still control the broader Kherson region, which forms part of Putin’s coveted “land bridge” from mainland Russia to illegally annexed Crimea, forfeiting the capital city is a stunning blow after repeated, blustery declarations by pro-Kremlin figures that Russia would stay in Kherson “forever.”
Read the full story here.
RIGA, Latvia — Ukrainian forces raising their flag in central Kherson city on Friday cemented Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most consequential political and military defeat in his ill-fated, 8½-month-old war.
Kherson was the sole Ukrainian regional capital that Russian forces had managed to capture since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, and relinquishing the city to Kyiv shattered the illusion of control Putin tried to create by staging referendums and illegally declaring Kherson and three other regions — Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia — to be annexed and absorbed into Russia.
Although Russian forces still control the broader Kherson region, which forms part of Putin’s coveted “land bridge” from mainland Russia to illegally annexed Crimea, forfeiting the capital city is a stunning blow after repeated, blustery declarations by pro-Kremlin figures that Russia would stay in Kherson “forever.”
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- A triumphant President Volodymyr Zelensky visited this southern city recaptured just days ago by his country’s troops, saying in a speech in the central square that the victory marked the “beginning of the end of the war.”
- Zelensky described Kherson’s liberation as a turning point, pledging to drive Russia out of Ukraine entirely.
- Russian news outlet Komersant first reported that Burns was meeting in Ankara with Sergei Naryshikin, the director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR.
- Ukrainian prosecutors have documented more than 400 war crimes allegedly committed by Russian troops, Zelensky said Sunday, adding that bodies of civilians and soldiers were being found.
- Ukraine is working to restore essential infrastructure in Kherson such as communications, internet, television, electricity and running water, Zelensky said.
More live updates here.
- A triumphant President Volodymyr Zelensky visited this southern city recaptured just days ago by his country’s troops, saying in a speech in the central square that the victory marked the “beginning of the end of the war.”
- Zelensky described Kherson’s liberation as a turning point, pledging to drive Russia out of Ukraine entirely.
- Russian news outlet Komersant first reported that Burns was meeting in Ankara with Sergei Naryshikin, the director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR.
- Ukrainian prosecutors have documented more than 400 war crimes allegedly committed by Russian troops, Zelensky said Sunday, adding that bodies of civilians and soldiers were being found.
- Ukraine is working to restore essential infrastructure in Kherson such as communications, internet, television, electricity and running water, Zelensky said.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- In his G-20 address, Zelensky demanded the full withdrawal of Russian forces from all of Ukraine as a necessary condition for any “real” end to hostilities.
- U.S. prisoners in Russia were a point of discussion when the CIA director, William J. Burns, met with Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, on Monday in Turkey.
- The Pentagon said Monday that the Army awarded over half a billion dollars’ worth of contracts to Lockheed Martin to produce Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, known as GMLRS, to replenish the U.S. arsenal. The surface-to-surface missile system has been a centerpiece of the advanced military assistance that the U.S. has been giving to Ukraine.
- Russia unsuccessfully tried to seize territory in the northeastern part of the Kharkiv region and “intensified offensive operations” in the eastern Donetsk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
More live updates here.
- In his G-20 address, Zelensky demanded the full withdrawal of Russian forces from all of Ukraine as a necessary condition for any “real” end to hostilities.
- U.S. prisoners in Russia were a point of discussion when the CIA director, William J. Burns, met with Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, on Monday in Turkey.
- The Pentagon said Monday that the Army awarded over half a billion dollars’ worth of contracts to Lockheed Martin to produce Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, known as GMLRS, to replenish the U.S. arsenal. The surface-to-surface missile system has been a centerpiece of the advanced military assistance that the U.S. has been giving to Ukraine.
- Russia unsuccessfully tried to seize territory in the northeastern part of the Kharkiv region and “intensified offensive operations” in the eastern Donetsk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
More live updates here.
Fighting-age men in Russia are still hiding in fear of being sent to war
Although Russian President Vladimir Putin and his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, proclaimed the completion of their mobilization of 300,000 new soldiers, many fighting-age Russian men remain in hiding — still fearful of being seized by military recruiters and sent to fight, and die, in a failing war.
While records of border crossings to neighboring countries documented more than 300,000 who left Russia in the weeks after the start of mobilization, there is no data on the number of men who hid inside the country, but the number is also believed to be in the thousands.
The Post interviewed six men who have spent recent weeks hiding in rented apartments and country houses. Some were interviewed by phone, others agreed to be visited by a photographer in their places of hiding. Although they come from different backgrounds, they expressed an identical goal: to avoid killing, or being killed, in Ukraine.
Read the full story here.
Although Russian President Vladimir Putin and his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, proclaimed the completion of their mobilization of 300,000 new soldiers, many fighting-age Russian men remain in hiding — still fearful of being seized by military recruiters and sent to fight, and die, in a failing war.
While records of border crossings to neighboring countries documented more than 300,000 who left Russia in the weeks after the start of mobilization, there is no data on the number of men who hid inside the country, but the number is also believed to be in the thousands.
The Post interviewed six men who have spent recent weeks hiding in rented apartments and country houses. Some were interviewed by phone, others agreed to be visited by a photographer in their places of hiding. Although they come from different backgrounds, they expressed an identical goal: to avoid killing, or being killed, in Ukraine.
Read the full story here.
Strikes hit residential blocks in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv mayor says
Ukrainian officials accused Russia of launching a fresh volley of strikes against targets across the country, including in the capital Kyiv, where Mayor Vladimir Klitschko reported two residential buildings were hit. Footage posted to Telegram by an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed what appeared to be a building engulfed in flames.
This is a developing news story and the latest updates can be found here.
Ukrainian officials accused Russia of launching a fresh volley of strikes against targets across the country, including in the capital Kyiv, where Mayor Vladimir Klitschko reported two residential buildings were hit. Footage posted to Telegram by an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed what appeared to be a building engulfed in flames.
This is a developing news story and the latest updates can be found here.
Russia hammers Ukraine with missile strikes after Zelensky calls for peace
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for peace in a speech to Group of 20 leaders on Tuesday by firing volleys of missiles into cities across Ukraine, hitting residential areas far from the front lines in one of the biggest strikes yet on the country.
The capital of Kyiv, Kharkiv in the east and Lviv in the west, were among at least six major cities reporting strikes after air raid sirens wailed around the country in the early afternoon, just hours after Zelensky, speaking by video link, presented a 10-point peace plan to G-20 leaders at a summit in Bali, Indonesia.
At least 85 missiles were fired at targets around the country, Ukrainian officials said, making Tuesday’s attack one of the most widespread of the nearly nine-month-old war.
Read the full story here.
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for peace in a speech to Group of 20 leaders on Tuesday by firing volleys of missiles into cities across Ukraine, hitting residential areas far from the front lines in one of the biggest strikes yet on the country.
The capital of Kyiv, Kharkiv in the east and Lviv in the west, were among at least six major cities reporting strikes after air raid sirens wailed around the country in the early afternoon, just hours after Zelensky, speaking by video link, presented a 10-point peace plan to G-20 leaders at a summit in Bali, Indonesia.
At least 85 missiles were fired at targets around the country, Ukrainian officials said, making Tuesday’s attack one of the most widespread of the nearly nine-month-old war.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- In addition to strikes in Kyiv, officials across Ukraine said their local air defenses had been engaged, that targets had been struck and warned residents to seek shelter from attacks.
- Russia fired more than 90 missiles toward Ukraine, and more than 70 were shot down, but at least 15 energy infrastructure targets were hit, Ukranian presidential adviser Kirill Timoshenko said on Telegram.
- At least one missile hit the town of Przewodow in Poland, just over the border from Ukraine, killing two people, a Polish official said, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive national security matter.
- Moldova, which relies on Ukraine for part of its energy supply, reported massive power outages Tuesday following the wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine.
- Ukranian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that the attacks during the G-20 gathering were a humiliation to countries that support dialogue with Russia.
More live updates here.
- In addition to strikes in Kyiv, officials across Ukraine said their local air defenses had been engaged, that targets had been struck and warned residents to seek shelter from attacks.
- Russia fired more than 90 missiles toward Ukraine, and more than 70 were shot down, but at least 15 energy infrastructure targets were hit, Ukranian presidential adviser Kirill Timoshenko said on Telegram.
- At least one missile hit the town of Przewodow in Poland, just over the border from Ukraine, killing two people, a Polish official said, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive national security matter.
- Moldova, which relies on Ukraine for part of its energy supply, reported massive power outages Tuesday following the wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine.
- Ukranian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that the attacks during the G-20 gathering were a humiliation to countries that support dialogue with Russia.
More live updates here.
Missile lands in Poland, according to Polish official, media reports
At least one missile hit the town of Przewodow in Poland, just over the border from Ukraine, killing two people, said a Polish official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive national security matter. The official did not say whether the missile had been fired by Russia. Even if inadvertent, a strike on the territory of a NATO ally could be a pivotal moment in the conflict. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called an emergency meeting of the country’s national defense and security council Tuesday night in response to the incident.
On Twitter, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he spoke with Polish President Andrzej Duda “about the explosion” and that he is “monitoring the situation and Allies are closely consulting. Important that all facts are established.”
In a statement, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it did not strike any targets in or near Poland.
More live updates here.
At least one missile hit the town of Przewodow in Poland, just over the border from Ukraine, killing two people, said a Polish official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive national security matter. The official did not say whether the missile had been fired by Russia. Even if inadvertent, a strike on the territory of a NATO ally could be a pivotal moment in the conflict. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called an emergency meeting of the country’s national defense and security council Tuesday night in response to the incident.
On Twitter, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he spoke with Polish President Andrzej Duda “about the explosion” and that he is “monitoring the situation and Allies are closely consulting. Important that all facts are established.”
In a statement, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it did not strike any targets in or near Poland.
More live updates here.
Two dead in Poland as Ukraine war spills into NATO territory
KYIV, Ukraine — The conflict in Ukraine spilled into NATO territory Tuesday when a missile that landed in a Polish village left two people dead, as Russia launched mass airstrikes across Ukraine in apparent retribution for its stinging loss of the strategic city of Kherson.
Full details of the incident, occurring in the Polish village of Przewodow, about five miles from the Ukrainian border, were not immediately clear. Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that a Russian-made missile fell in the village at 3:40 p.m., killing two Polish citizens. The incident prompted Poland to summon the Russian ambassador for an immediate explanation and convene the government’s committee for national security and defense affairs.
In a news conference, President Andrzej Duda said Poland did not have any conclusive evidence indicating who launched the missile. He said investigations were underway.
Read the full story here.
KYIV, Ukraine — The conflict in Ukraine spilled into NATO territory Tuesday when a missile that landed in a Polish village left two people dead, as Russia launched mass airstrikes across Ukraine in apparent retribution for its stinging loss of the strategic city of Kherson.
Full details of the incident, occurring in the Polish village of Przewodow, about five miles from the Ukrainian border, were not immediately clear. Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that a Russian-made missile fell in the village at 3:40 p.m., killing two Polish citizens. The incident prompted Poland to summon the Russian ambassador for an immediate explanation and convene the government’s committee for national security and defense affairs.
In a news conference, President Andrzej Duda said Poland did not have any conclusive evidence indicating who launched the missile. He said investigations were underway.
Read the full story here.
Blast in Poland likely caused by Ukrainian missile, NATO chief says
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that there is no evidence that the explosion in Poland Tuesday was caused by a deliberate Russian attack.
The remark, made following a meeting of NATO ambassadors in Brussels, came after Western leaders urged calm and tried to curtail speculation about the risk of direct hostilities between Russia and NATO.
“This is not Ukraine’s fault, Russia bears the ultimate responsibility,” Stoltenberg said at a press conference at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters. He said the blast was most likely due to a Ukrainian antiaircraft missile defending against a Russian cruise missile.
Polish President Andrzej Duda also said Wednesday that there was no indication that the missile blast was “an intentional attack.”
More live updates here.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that there is no evidence that the explosion in Poland Tuesday was caused by a deliberate Russian attack.
The remark, made following a meeting of NATO ambassadors in Brussels, came after Western leaders urged calm and tried to curtail speculation about the risk of direct hostilities between Russia and NATO.
“This is not Ukraine’s fault, Russia bears the ultimate responsibility,” Stoltenberg said at a press conference at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters. He said the blast was most likely due to a Ukrainian antiaircraft missile defending against a Russian cruise missile.
Polish President Andrzej Duda also said Wednesday that there was no indication that the missile blast was “an intentional attack.”
More live updates here.
Witnesses recount detentions, torture, disappearances in occupied Kherson
KHERSON, Ukraine — Few people paid attention to the drab concrete building, tucked away on a quiet residential street, that had long housed unruly youths behind a high wall and a spool of barbed wire. But after Russian soldiers swept into Kherson in early March, the anonymous building quickly became infamous.
Black sedans with tinted windows and missing license plates arrived at all hours, disgorging Ukrainian detainees with bags over their heads. Screams began to escape the three-story structure, piercing the once-calm neighborhood, residents said.
Sometimes, the gates would open, and a detainee would be dumped on the street, physically and mentally broken. Other captives were sent to a larger prison, or never seen again. “If there is a hell on Earth, it was here,” said Serhiy, 48, who lives across the street and whom The Washington Post is only identifying by first name to protect him from retribution.
Read the full story here.
KHERSON, Ukraine — Few people paid attention to the drab concrete building, tucked away on a quiet residential street, that had long housed unruly youths behind a high wall and a spool of barbed wire. But after Russian soldiers swept into Kherson in early March, the anonymous building quickly became infamous.
Black sedans with tinted windows and missing license plates arrived at all hours, disgorging Ukrainian detainees with bags over their heads. Screams began to escape the three-story structure, piercing the once-calm neighborhood, residents said.
Sometimes, the gates would open, and a detainee would be dumped on the street, physically and mentally broken. Other captives were sent to a larger prison, or never seen again. “If there is a hell on Earth, it was here,” said Serhiy, 48, who lives across the street and whom The Washington Post is only identifying by first name to protect him from retribution.
Read the full story here.
Why are NATO Articles 4 and 5 being discussed after the blast in Poland?
Two people were killed in explosions Tuesday in the Polish town of Przewodow, which borders Ukraine. The incident came amid a day of heavy Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory.
Because Poland is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a 30-member military alliance, a strike on the country could mark a pivotal moment in the Russia-Ukraine war — depending on what actually happened.
Despite the fact that authorities are still investigating the source and cause of the explosions, news of the incident quickly led to speculation about NATO’s Article 5, which states that “an armed attack against one or more of [the members] in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all” and that force can be used in response. There was also speculation that Poland might alternatively invoke Article 4 of NATO.
Read the full story here.
Two people were killed in explosions Tuesday in the Polish town of Przewodow, which borders Ukraine. The incident came amid a day of heavy Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory.
Because Poland is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a 30-member military alliance, a strike on the country could mark a pivotal moment in the Russia-Ukraine war — depending on what actually happened.
Despite the fact that authorities are still investigating the source and cause of the explosions, news of the incident quickly led to speculation about NATO’s Article 5, which states that “an armed attack against one or more of [the members] in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all” and that force can be used in response. There was also speculation that Poland might alternatively invoke Article 4 of NATO.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that the explosion in Poland on Tuesday that claimed two lives was probably caused by a Ukrainian missile defending against Russian strikes.
- The blast in Poland came as Russia bombarded Ukraine with about 90 missiles Tuesday, according to Zelensky.
- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Wednesday that the United Kingdom and its allies were working on establishing facts about the blast in Poland but noted: “None of this would be happening without the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
More live updates here.
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that the explosion in Poland on Tuesday that claimed two lives was probably caused by a Ukrainian missile defending against Russian strikes.
- The blast in Poland came as Russia bombarded Ukraine with about 90 missiles Tuesday, according to Zelensky.
- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Wednesday that the United Kingdom and its allies were working on establishing facts about the blast in Poland but noted: “None of this would be happening without the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Explosions were reported across Ukraine on Thursday, including in the capital, Kyiv, Odessa in the south, and the central city of Dnipro. At least two cruise missiles were shot down over Kyiv, regional officials said, while a Washington Post reporter heard a missile fly over an apartment block in the capital.
- The Black Sea grain initiative will be extended for 120 days, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations announced. The agreement provides safe passage of cargo ships to and from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports amid Russia’s invasion — which heavily disrupted operations and threatened to cause a global food crisis.
- President Biden disputed Ukraine’s account of the missile that hit Poland, killing two, on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Ukrainian specialists to join an international investigation into the incident, while stressing he has “no doubt” that the missile did not come from his country.
More live updates here.
- Explosions were reported across Ukraine on Thursday, including in the capital, Kyiv, Odessa in the south, and the central city of Dnipro. At least two cruise missiles were shot down over Kyiv, regional officials said, while a Washington Post reporter heard a missile fly over an apartment block in the capital.
- The Black Sea grain initiative will be extended for 120 days, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations announced. The agreement provides safe passage of cargo ships to and from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports amid Russia’s invasion — which heavily disrupted operations and threatened to cause a global food crisis.
- President Biden disputed Ukraine’s account of the missile that hit Poland, killing two, on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Ukrainian specialists to join an international investigation into the incident, while stressing he has “no doubt” that the missile did not come from his country.
More live updates here.