When Russia bombs a building full of people, this is the aftermath
DNIPRO, Ukraine — Two hours after a Russian missile slammed into a Ukrainian apartment complex on Saturday, shocking the city that has served as a relatively safe haven for the war’s displaced, rescue workers digging through rubble spotted a sudden movement from above.
On the eighth floor, they could see the arm of a bloodied elderly woman, so buried in debris she could barely move, waving a piece of red fabric. Below her, dozens of apartments had collapsed, swallowing residents into some 30 feet of rubble.
From inside the damaged building, she was somehow alive — and calling for help.
Russia’s blatant attack on civilians here — the worst to strike this city since Russia invaded Ukraine last February — came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed his most senior military officer, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, as the new overseer of his relentless war in Ukraine.
Read the full story here.
DNIPRO, Ukraine — Two hours after a Russian missile slammed into a Ukrainian apartment complex on Saturday, shocking the city that has served as a relatively safe haven for the war’s displaced, rescue workers digging through rubble spotted a sudden movement from above.
On the eighth floor, they could see the arm of a bloodied elderly woman, so buried in debris she could barely move, waving a piece of red fabric. Below her, dozens of apartments had collapsed, swallowing residents into some 30 feet of rubble.
From inside the damaged building, she was somehow alive — and calling for help.
Russia’s blatant attack on civilians here — the worst to strike this city since Russia invaded Ukraine last February — came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed his most senior military officer, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, as the new overseer of his relentless war in Ukraine.
Read the full story here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine.
- The death toll of Saturday’s strike in Dnipro has risen to 35, regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko said Monday on Telegram, adding that the search-and-rescue operation had been going on for 40 hours and would continue.
- The commander of Ukraine’s Air Force, Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, said in a statement that Russia fired five long-range Kh-22 missiles at Ukraine on Saturday. Ukraine doesn’t have the ability to shoot down such missiles, he said. The Post couldn’t immediately verify the type of missile used in the attacks.
- Russia has ramped up its assault around the Bakhmut area in recent days, as it seeks to capture a city many military analysts view as having relatively little strategic significance to the broader battlefield, but which has become a potent political symbol on both sides, The Post reports. Seizing the city would give the Kremlin its first victory since the summer.
More live updates here.
- The death toll of Saturday’s strike in Dnipro has risen to 35, regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko said Monday on Telegram, adding that the search-and-rescue operation had been going on for 40 hours and would continue.
- The commander of Ukraine’s Air Force, Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, said in a statement that Russia fired five long-range Kh-22 missiles at Ukraine on Saturday. Ukraine doesn’t have the ability to shoot down such missiles, he said. The Post couldn’t immediately verify the type of missile used in the attacks.
- Russia has ramped up its assault around the Bakhmut area in recent days, as it seeks to capture a city many military analysts view as having relatively little strategic significance to the broader battlefield, but which has become a potent political symbol on both sides, The Post reports. Seizing the city would give the Kremlin its first victory since the summer.
More live updates here.
As Dnipro deaths mount, survivors plead for anti-missile defense
DNIPRO, Ukraine — Anger and grief consumed this central Ukrainian city Sunday as rescue workers continued to dig for survivors in the wreckage of an apartment block that collapsed when a Russian missile struck it the day before, killing at least 30 people and wounding dozens of others, including children.
The brazen, midday attack on civilians in their homes has renewed urgent calls for Ukraine’s allies to immediately provide the country with upgraded air defenses that can help repel the missiles used in the attack, which officials here said their current system cannot detect. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said the death toll from the attack had risen to at least 30, added Sunday that another 30 residents were unaccounted for.
Read the full story here.
DNIPRO, Ukraine — Anger and grief consumed this central Ukrainian city Sunday as rescue workers continued to dig for survivors in the wreckage of an apartment block that collapsed when a Russian missile struck it the day before, killing at least 30 people and wounding dozens of others, including children.
The brazen, midday attack on civilians in their homes has renewed urgent calls for Ukraine’s allies to immediately provide the country with upgraded air defenses that can help repel the missiles used in the attack, which officials here said their current system cannot detect. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said the death toll from the attack had risen to at least 30, added Sunday that another 30 residents were unaccounted for.
Read the full story here.
Terrifying images of the aftermath of the strike on Dnipro
DNIPRO, Ukraine — Dozens of people were killed Saturday and dozens of others wounded when a Russian missile struck a nine-floor apartment complex in central Ukraine. The timing, on a weekend afternoon, meant many people were at home at the time of the strike. Their apartments collapsed into a heap of rubble, burying many of them underneath.
The strike was especially shocking because Dnipro has been a relative safe haven for Ukrainians fleeing front-line towns elsewhere. In the hours after the attack, hundreds of people gathered at the scene — some to watch from afar and others to help dig people and pets out. Civilians turned up with hot food and drinks for the rescue teams, who were working in freezing temperatures under falling snow.
See all the images here.
DNIPRO, Ukraine — Dozens of people were killed Saturday and dozens of others wounded when a Russian missile struck a nine-floor apartment complex in central Ukraine. The timing, on a weekend afternoon, meant many people were at home at the time of the strike. Their apartments collapsed into a heap of rubble, burying many of them underneath.
The strike was especially shocking because Dnipro has been a relative safe haven for Ukrainians fleeing front-line towns elsewhere. In the hours after the attack, hundreds of people gathered at the scene — some to watch from afar and others to help dig people and pets out. Civilians turned up with hot food and drinks for the rescue teams, who were working in freezing temperatures under falling snow.
See all the images here.
Former Russian president says Japanese leader should disembowel himself
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and a senior security official in President Vladimir Putin’s administration, said Saturday that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida should perform a ritualistic suicide by disembowelment to repent for what Medvedev called servitude to the United States.
Medvedev’s remarks were in response to a joint statement Friday by President Biden and Kishida, in which the leaders said that “any use of a nuclear weapon by Russia in Ukraine would be an act of hostility against humanity and unjustifiable in any way.”
Russian military leaders have discussed the potential use of a tactical nuclear weapon should their invasion of Ukraine face more setbacks.
Read the full story here.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and a senior security official in President Vladimir Putin’s administration, said Saturday that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida should perform a ritualistic suicide by disembowelment to repent for what Medvedev called servitude to the United States.
Medvedev’s remarks were in response to a joint statement Friday by President Biden and Kishida, in which the leaders said that “any use of a nuclear weapon by Russia in Ukraine would be an act of hostility against humanity and unjustifiable in any way.”
Russian military leaders have discussed the potential use of a tactical nuclear weapon should their invasion of Ukraine face more setbacks.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The U.K. will send self-propelled guns artillery rounds, armored vehicles and other equipment to make sure Ukraine “seizes its upper hand” in the next phase of the conflict, Defense Minister Ben Wallace said in an address at the House of Commons.
- Rescue workers in Dnipro made significant progress overnight. On Monday afternoon, they were removing mounds of rubble from the blast site, and smoke was no longer rising in the air, Washington Post reporters observed. The death toll has risen to 40, Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov told The Post, and dozens of people were missing.
- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with officials from roughly 50 nations on Thursday in Germany. “We are focused on doing everything we can to help make sure that the Ukrainians have the capabilities that they need to be successful in their efforts to defend their sovereign territory,” Austin said last week.
More live updates here.
- The U.K. will send self-propelled guns artillery rounds, armored vehicles and other equipment to make sure Ukraine “seizes its upper hand” in the next phase of the conflict, Defense Minister Ben Wallace said in an address at the House of Commons.
- Rescue workers in Dnipro made significant progress overnight. On Monday afternoon, they were removing mounds of rubble from the blast site, and smoke was no longer rising in the air, Washington Post reporters observed. The death toll has risen to 40, Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov told The Post, and dozens of people were missing.
- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with officials from roughly 50 nations on Thursday in Germany. “We are focused on doing everything we can to help make sure that the Ukrainians have the capabilities that they need to be successful in their efforts to defend their sovereign territory,” Austin said last week.
More live updates here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine.
- NATO defense chiefs are gathering in Brussels on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will join members of the Ukraine Contact Group — a body of about 50 nations that meets to discuss Kyiv’s needs. Ukraine’s calls for more military aid are likely to dominate the agenda.
- Authorities do not expect to find many more survivors in the wreckage of a Dnipro apartment building that was hit by a Russian missile on Saturday and killed at least 40. As of Monday, 39 were still missing.
- A joint military exercise involving Russia and Belarus kicked off Monday, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said. It is expected to last until Feb. 1.
- Arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has warned that German tanks requested by Ukraine won’t be battle-ready until 2024. “Even if the decision to send our Leopard tanks to Kyiv came tomorrow, the delivery would take until the start of next year,” the chief executive said.
More live updates here.
- NATO defense chiefs are gathering in Brussels on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will join members of the Ukraine Contact Group — a body of about 50 nations that meets to discuss Kyiv’s needs. Ukraine’s calls for more military aid are likely to dominate the agenda.
- Authorities do not expect to find many more survivors in the wreckage of a Dnipro apartment building that was hit by a Russian missile on Saturday and killed at least 40. As of Monday, 39 were still missing.
- A joint military exercise involving Russia and Belarus kicked off Monday, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said. It is expected to last until Feb. 1.
- Arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has warned that German tanks requested by Ukraine won’t be battle-ready until 2024. “Even if the decision to send our Leopard tanks to Kyiv came tomorrow, the delivery would take until the start of next year,” the chief executive said.
More live updates here.
U.S. begins expanded training of Ukrainian forces for large-scale combat
ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT OVER EUROPE — The U.S. military has launched an expanded, more sophisticated training program of Ukrainian forces that is focused on large-scale combat and meant to bolster Ukraine’s ability to take back territory from Russian forces, the Pentagon’s top general said Sunday.
Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on a flight from Washington to Europe that the training began Sunday at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany and will continue for five or six weeks. About 500 soldiers will go through the initial version of training, focused on what the military calls combined-arms warfare, in which tanks, artillery, combat vehicles and other weapons are layered to maximize the violence they inflict.
“We want the Ukrainians to have a capability to successfully defend their country,” Milley said.
Read the full story here.
ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT OVER EUROPE — The U.S. military has launched an expanded, more sophisticated training program of Ukrainian forces that is focused on large-scale combat and meant to bolster Ukraine’s ability to take back territory from Russian forces, the Pentagon’s top general said Sunday.
Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on a flight from Washington to Europe that the training began Sunday at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany and will continue for five or six weeks. About 500 soldiers will go through the initial version of training, focused on what the military calls combined-arms warfare, in which tanks, artillery, combat vehicles and other weapons are layered to maximize the violence they inflict.
“We want the Ukrainians to have a capability to successfully defend their country,” Milley said.
Read the full story here.
Bloody Bakhmut siege poses risks for Ukraine
Ukraine faces difficult choices about how much deeper its military should get drawn into a protracted fight over the besieged city of Bakhmut, as Kyiv prepares for a new counteroffensive elsewhere on the front that requires conserving weapons, ammunition and experienced fighters.
Russia has escalated its assault in the area in recent days, unleashing savage fighting that has underscored the high cost of the battle. Russian mercenaries and released convicts from the Wagner group pushed into the neighboring salt-mining town of Soledar and inched closer to Bakhmut, the capture of which has eluded them for months despite an advantage in firepower and the willingness to sacrifice troops.
“When we kill five out of 10 of their soldiers at once, they are replenished again to 10 over the course of several hours,” said Andriy Kryshchenko, a deputy battalion commander of a national guard unit posted to the south of the city.
Read the full story here.
Ukraine faces difficult choices about how much deeper its military should get drawn into a protracted fight over the besieged city of Bakhmut, as Kyiv prepares for a new counteroffensive elsewhere on the front that requires conserving weapons, ammunition and experienced fighters.
Russia has escalated its assault in the area in recent days, unleashing savage fighting that has underscored the high cost of the battle. Russian mercenaries and released convicts from the Wagner group pushed into the neighboring salt-mining town of Soledar and inched closer to Bakhmut, the capture of which has eluded them for months despite an advantage in firepower and the willingness to sacrifice troops.
“When we kill five out of 10 of their soldiers at once, they are replenished again to 10 over the course of several hours,” said Andriy Kryshchenko, a deputy battalion commander of a national guard unit posted to the south of the city.
Read the full story here.
Top U.S. general meets Ukrainian counterpart near edge of war zone
SOUTHEASTERN POLAND — The Pentagon’s top general met on Tuesday for the first time in person with his Ukrainian counterpart, traveling by vehicle from a base here in Poland to an undisclosed location near the countries’ border in what appeared to be a symbolic show of support as Washington intensifies its military assistance to Ukraine.
Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spent a couple of hours with Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, the top officer in Ukraine’s armed forces, said Col. David Butler, a U.S. military spokesman. The meeting was arranged after it became clear that Zaluzhny would not be able to attend a meeting Wednesday of senior NATO military officials in Brussels. Milley met the Ukrainian officer with a group that included five other Americans, an interpreter and security personnel. News of the meeting was withheld until it concluded, with officials citing safety precautions.
Read the full story here.
SOUTHEASTERN POLAND — The Pentagon’s top general met on Tuesday for the first time in person with his Ukrainian counterpart, traveling by vehicle from a base here in Poland to an undisclosed location near the countries’ border in what appeared to be a symbolic show of support as Washington intensifies its military assistance to Ukraine.
Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spent a couple of hours with Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, the top officer in Ukraine’s armed forces, said Col. David Butler, a U.S. military spokesman. The meeting was arranged after it became clear that Zaluzhny would not be able to attend a meeting Wednesday of senior NATO military officials in Brussels. Milley met the Ukrainian officer with a group that included five other Americans, an interpreter and security personnel. News of the meeting was withheld until it concluded, with officials citing safety precautions.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine
- Authorities do not expect to find many more survivors in Dnipro. At least 44 people are dead, including four children, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported Tuesday, and 20 are missing.
- Training has begun for about 90 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a briefing Tuesday. The training will focus on the use of the Patriot air defense system and will last several months, he said.
- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Tuesday that the Netherlands plans to “join” efforts to train and arm Ukraine with Patriot defense systems, the Associated Press reported. In remarks ahead of a bilateral meeting with President Biden at the White House, Rutte said: “We have the intention to join what you are doing with Germany on the Patriot project.”
Move live updates here.
- Authorities do not expect to find many more survivors in Dnipro. At least 44 people are dead, including four children, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported Tuesday, and 20 are missing.
- Training has begun for about 90 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a briefing Tuesday. The training will focus on the use of the Patriot air defense system and will last several months, he said.
- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Tuesday that the Netherlands plans to “join” efforts to train and arm Ukraine with Patriot defense systems, the Associated Press reported. In remarks ahead of a bilateral meeting with President Biden at the White House, Rutte said: “We have the intention to join what you are doing with Germany on the Patriot project.”
Move live updates here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine.
- Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with his Ukrainian counterpart in Poland. It was the first face-to-face meeting between Milley and Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, the head of Ukraine’s armed forces. “They had a chance to get a sense of what the battlefield looks like,” John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, said Tuesday.
- The Dutch prime minister said Tuesday that the Netherlands planned to join efforts by the U.S. and Germany to arm Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems.
- Training has begun for about 90 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday. The training will focus on the use of the Patriot air defense system and will last several months.
- Kazakhstan has changed its entry rules for foreigners, in a move that is expected to make entering and staying in the country much harder for Russians fleeing military conscription and other repercussions of the war.
More live updates here.
- Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with his Ukrainian counterpart in Poland. It was the first face-to-face meeting between Milley and Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, the head of Ukraine’s armed forces. “They had a chance to get a sense of what the battlefield looks like,” John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, said Tuesday.
- The Dutch prime minister said Tuesday that the Netherlands planned to join efforts by the U.S. and Germany to arm Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems.
- Training has begun for about 90 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday. The training will focus on the use of the Patriot air defense system and will last several months.
- Kazakhstan has changed its entry rules for foreigners, in a move that is expected to make entering and staying in the country much harder for Russians fleeing military conscription and other repercussions of the war.
More live updates here.
Ukrainian interior minister killed in helicopter crash
At least 16 people were killed when the helicopter carrying Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky and aides crashed Wednesday morning near a kindergarten in Brovary, just outside Kyiv, Ukraine’s national police said. Children on the ground were also reported killed.
More live updates here.
At least 16 people were killed when the helicopter carrying Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky and aides crashed Wednesday morning near a kindergarten in Brovary, just outside Kyiv, Ukraine’s national police said. Children on the ground were also reported killed.
More live updates here.
Ukrainian interior minister, top officials killed in helicopter crash
Ukrainian Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky and other top ministry officials were killed Wednesday morning when their government helicopter crashed near a kindergarten just outside Kyiv, in what appeared to be an accident.
At least 18 people were killed, including three children, Ukrainian officials said, and at least 29 people were injured, including 15 children.
Nine people — six officials from the Interior Ministry and three crew members — were aboard the helicopter, which was operated by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The helicopter, an EC-225 Super Puma, is designed for long-range passenger flights.
Read the full story here.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky and other top ministry officials were killed Wednesday morning when their government helicopter crashed near a kindergarten just outside Kyiv, in what appeared to be an accident.
At least 18 people were killed, including three children, Ukrainian officials said, and at least 29 people were injured, including 15 children.
Nine people — six officials from the Interior Ministry and three crew members — were aboard the helicopter, which was operated by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The helicopter, an EC-225 Super Puma, is designed for long-range passenger flights.
Read the full story here.