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What to know about the suspected Russian spy ship seen near Hawaii
A Russian vessel, suspected to be a spy ship, has been operating near Hawaii in recent weeks, the Coast Guard said this week. The agency is monitoring the ship using “surface and air assets,” it added.
The presence of foreign-flagged military ships in the U.S. exclusive economic zone is neither illegal nor unusual, the Coast Guard said Wednesday. The zone extends 200 nautical miles, or 230 miles, from U.S. territorial waters, which are the maritime areas extending 12 nautical miles from a country’s beaches.
But the presence of the suspected intelligence-gathering vessel attracted the attention of U.S. defense officials due to the Kremlin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, as well as Moscow’s previous naval encroachments near U.S. coastlines. Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary, said it was “precarious timing” for the vessel to be there.
Read the full story here.
A Russian vessel, suspected to be a spy ship, has been operating near Hawaii in recent weeks, the Coast Guard said this week. The agency is monitoring the ship using “surface and air assets,” it added.
The presence of foreign-flagged military ships in the U.S. exclusive economic zone is neither illegal nor unusual, the Coast Guard said Wednesday. The zone extends 200 nautical miles, or 230 miles, from U.S. territorial waters, which are the maritime areas extending 12 nautical miles from a country’s beaches.
But the presence of the suspected intelligence-gathering vessel attracted the attention of U.S. defense officials due to the Kremlin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, as well as Moscow’s previous naval encroachments near U.S. coastlines. Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary, said it was “precarious timing” for the vessel to be there.
Read the full story here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine:
—Ukrainian officials aired their frustration after a key meeting of Western allies failed to come up with a deal to supply Kyiv with the battle tanks it says are a crucial part of its bid to take on entrenched Russian forces.
Germany, which has been under increasing pressure to provide its Leopard 2 tanks, has said it will consider the request if the United States agrees to send its tanks as well.
—The United States will designate Russia’s Wagner Group a “transnational criminal organization,” the White House said.
—Air defense systems have been deployed in multiple locations in and around Moscow, with Russia apparently fearful that Ukraine could launch an attack on the Russian capital.
More coverage here.
—Ukrainian officials aired their frustration after a key meeting of Western allies failed to come up with a deal to supply Kyiv with the battle tanks it says are a crucial part of its bid to take on entrenched Russian forces.
Germany, which has been under increasing pressure to provide its Leopard 2 tanks, has said it will consider the request if the United States agrees to send its tanks as well.
—The United States will designate Russia’s Wagner Group a “transnational criminal organization,” the White House said.
—Air defense systems have been deployed in multiple locations in and around Moscow, with Russia apparently fearful that Ukraine could launch an attack on the Russian capital.
More coverage here.
Air defenses deployed in Moscow, signaling fear of strikes on capital
The Kremlin on Friday declined to comment on the recent installation of air defense systems in multiple locations in and around Moscow, as Russia seeks to close gaps in its defenses, apparently fearful that Ukraine could launch an audacious and humiliating attack on the Russian capital.
Russia has deployed Pantsir-S1 air defense systems atop two government buildings in Moscow, including the Ministry of Defense on Frunzenskaya Embankment, and a district education ministry building on Teterinsky Lane, according to independent Russian-language media.
Photographs of the air defense system were published on social media.
More air defense systems were installed at several other sites in or near Moscow, including Odintsovo district, about six miles from President Vladimir Putin’s residence at Novo-Ogaryovo outside the capital, according to the Russian media outlet Sirena, which posted video and still images.
Read the full story here.
The Kremlin on Friday declined to comment on the recent installation of air defense systems in multiple locations in and around Moscow, as Russia seeks to close gaps in its defenses, apparently fearful that Ukraine could launch an audacious and humiliating attack on the Russian capital.
Russia has deployed Pantsir-S1 air defense systems atop two government buildings in Moscow, including the Ministry of Defense on Frunzenskaya Embankment, and a district education ministry building on Teterinsky Lane, according to independent Russian-language media.
Photographs of the air defense system were published on social media.
More air defense systems were installed at several other sites in or near Moscow, including Odintsovo district, about six miles from President Vladimir Putin’s residence at Novo-Ogaryovo outside the capital, according to the Russian media outlet Sirena, which posted video and still images.
Read the full story here.
Inside the urgent push to arm Ukraine for a spring offensive
Late last fall, as Pentagon officials were patting themselves on the back over a series of U.S.-supported Ukrainian battlefield victories, two abrupt changes took place in the war with Russia. Moscow began launching waves of missile and drone attacks on civilians and infrastructure across the country. And on the front lines, Russian forces radically stepped up their assault on the small eastern city of Bakhmut, while reinforcing their defensive lines in the south.
Those actions forced Ukraine’s Western partners into a dramatic reassessment of the progress of the war and the direction it is likely to take this coming spring. As a result, the United States and its partners decided in just the last few weeks to embark on a far more aggressive phase of support, agreeing to supply a level of assistance they had long denied Kyiv.
Read the full story here.
Late last fall, as Pentagon officials were patting themselves on the back over a series of U.S.-supported Ukrainian battlefield victories, two abrupt changes took place in the war with Russia. Moscow began launching waves of missile and drone attacks on civilians and infrastructure across the country. And on the front lines, Russian forces radically stepped up their assault on the small eastern city of Bakhmut, while reinforcing their defensive lines in the south.
Those actions forced Ukraine’s Western partners into a dramatic reassessment of the progress of the war and the direction it is likely to take this coming spring. As a result, the United States and its partners decided in just the last few weeks to embark on a far more aggressive phase of support, agreeing to supply a level of assistance they had long denied Kyiv.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Germany faced continued pressure after a key meeting of Western allies did not come up with a deal to supply Ukraine with battle tanks.
- Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau criticized the pace of discussions, tweeting on Friday that “Ukrainian blood” was the “price of hesitation” over the delivery of tanks. Poland has said it is ready to send its German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but under deals with purchasers, Germany has a say over any transfer.
- The U.S. will designate Russia’s Wagner Group a “transnational criminal organization,” the White House said Friday.
- Satellite images shared by the White House appear to show Russian rail cars entering North Korea to collect weapons to supply to the Wagner Group.
- Zelensky joined mourners in Kyiv at a memorial for Ukraine’s Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky and other top ministry officials who were killed in a helicopter crash just outside Kyiv this week.
More live updates here.
- Germany faced continued pressure after a key meeting of Western allies did not come up with a deal to supply Ukraine with battle tanks.
- Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau criticized the pace of discussions, tweeting on Friday that “Ukrainian blood” was the “price of hesitation” over the delivery of tanks. Poland has said it is ready to send its German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but under deals with purchasers, Germany has a say over any transfer.
- The U.S. will designate Russia’s Wagner Group a “transnational criminal organization,” the White House said Friday.
- Satellite images shared by the White House appear to show Russian rail cars entering North Korea to collect weapons to supply to the Wagner Group.
- Zelensky joined mourners in Kyiv at a memorial for Ukraine’s Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky and other top ministry officials who were killed in a helicopter crash just outside Kyiv this week.
More live updates here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine:
— The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have made advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region and continued offensive operations around the city of Bakhmut in Donbas.
— Berlin needs to provide Leopard tanks to Ukraine immediately, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania said in a joint appeal on Saturday.
— German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will travel to Ukraine soon, he said in an interview with the German newspaper Bild, probably within the next month.
Read more updates here.
— The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have made advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region and continued offensive operations around the city of Bakhmut in Donbas.
— Berlin needs to provide Leopard tanks to Ukraine immediately, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania said in a joint appeal on Saturday.
— German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will travel to Ukraine soon, he said in an interview with the German newspaper Bild, probably within the next month.
Read more updates here.
In Dnipro missile strike: Nine floors of random death and destruction
DNIPRO, Ukraine — For the better part of three days, the relatives of the missing stood watch outside, in freezing cold, hoping for miracles.
With each hour, chances of the best-case scenario — that their loved ones would be recovered alive — faded. At the very least, they yearned for certainty about the fates of those trapped in the rubble of the nine-floor apartment building decimated by a Russian missile on Saturday.
Now, not quite a week later, many face a painful realization: Some victims may never be found.
Read the full story here.
DNIPRO, Ukraine — For the better part of three days, the relatives of the missing stood watch outside, in freezing cold, hoping for miracles.
With each hour, chances of the best-case scenario — that their loved ones would be recovered alive — faded. At the very least, they yearned for certainty about the fates of those trapped in the rubble of the nine-floor apartment building decimated by a Russian missile on Saturday.
Now, not quite a week later, many face a painful realization: Some victims may never be found.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday expressed confidence Ukraine would win its war against Russia in 2023, as long as it continues to be “united and strong” and receives the military and financial support needed from key allies like the United States and European leaders.
- Former British prime minister Boris Johnson visited two war-torn cities outside of Kyiv: Bucha and Borodyanka. Johnson, who is popular among Ukrainians for the support he gave the country when he was in office, met with Zelensky at the Taras Shevchenko National University.
- Zelensky said Ukraine needs support to protect the nation’s energy infrastructure to avoid the blackout that Russia is aiming to cause with targeted attacks on power stations across the country.
- Zelensky joined mourners at a memorial in Kyiv for the 14 people killed in last week’s helicopter crash that killed Ukrainian Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky and 13 others people.
More live updates here.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday expressed confidence Ukraine would win its war against Russia in 2023, as long as it continues to be “united and strong” and receives the military and financial support needed from key allies like the United States and European leaders.
- Former British prime minister Boris Johnson visited two war-torn cities outside of Kyiv: Bucha and Borodyanka. Johnson, who is popular among Ukrainians for the support he gave the country when he was in office, met with Zelensky at the Taras Shevchenko National University.
- Zelensky said Ukraine needs support to protect the nation’s energy infrastructure to avoid the blackout that Russia is aiming to cause with targeted attacks on power stations across the country.
- Zelensky joined mourners at a memorial in Kyiv for the 14 people killed in last week’s helicopter crash that killed Ukrainian Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky and 13 others people.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Germany will decide “soon” on whether to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine or approve the export of German-made equipment by other countries, its defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said, as pressure mounts on Europe’s largest economy.
- About 180,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in the war, Norway’s army chief said in an interview with national television channel TV 2. The Washington Post could not independently verify the numbers.
- Russia’s newly appointed commander in Ukraine has prioritized troops’ day-to-day discipline, cracking down on soldiers’ shaving habits and non-regulation uniforms, Britain’s Defense Ministry said Monday. He is “increasingly seen as out of touch and focused on presentation over substance,” it said.
More live updates here.
- Germany will decide “soon” on whether to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine or approve the export of German-made equipment by other countries, its defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said, as pressure mounts on Europe’s largest economy.
- About 180,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in the war, Norway’s army chief said in an interview with national television channel TV 2. The Washington Post could not independently verify the numbers.
- Russia’s newly appointed commander in Ukraine has prioritized troops’ day-to-day discipline, cracking down on soldiers’ shaving habits and non-regulation uniforms, Britain’s Defense Ministry said Monday. He is “increasingly seen as out of touch and focused on presentation over substance,” it said.
More live updates here.
Germany won’t object to Poland sending Leopard tanks to Ukraine
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has indicated that Berlin would not block Warsaw from sending tanks to Ukraine, as pressure mounts on Europe’s largest economy to greenlight a delivery.
“If we were asked, we would not stand in the way,” she told France’s LCI TV on Sunday night.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Monday that Poland would ask Germany for that permission, according to the Associated Press.
Berlin has so far stalled on unlocking a package of German-made Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, saying it wants to proceed with caution amid fears it will be seen as a “participant” in the war.
Read the full story here.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has indicated that Berlin would not block Warsaw from sending tanks to Ukraine, as pressure mounts on Europe’s largest economy to greenlight a delivery.
“If we were asked, we would not stand in the way,” she told France’s LCI TV on Sunday night.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Monday that Poland would ask Germany for that permission, according to the Associated Press.
Berlin has so far stalled on unlocking a package of German-made Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, saying it wants to proceed with caution amid fears it will be seen as a “participant” in the war.
Read the full story here.
U.S. to brand Russia’s Wagner Group a ‘transnational criminal’ entity
The United States will designate Russia’s Wagner mercenary group a “transnational criminal organization,” the White House said Friday, an attempt to disrupt the cash and weapons flow of a private military outfit prosecuting President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine with an army of convicts and contractors.
The designation will come alongside additional U.S. sanctions against Wagner and its support network, spanning multiple continents, said John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council. The Treasury Department intends to formalize the penalties next week.
Speaking at a White House news briefing, Kirby said the designation would open up “additional avenues” for the United States to go after Wagner’s business activities around the world, and give other nations and institutions the firepower to follow suit.
Read the full story here.
The United States will designate Russia’s Wagner mercenary group a “transnational criminal organization,” the White House said Friday, an attempt to disrupt the cash and weapons flow of a private military outfit prosecuting President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine with an army of convicts and contractors.
The designation will come alongside additional U.S. sanctions against Wagner and its support network, spanning multiple continents, said John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council. The Treasury Department intends to formalize the penalties next week.
Speaking at a White House news briefing, Kirby said the designation would open up “additional avenues” for the United States to go after Wagner’s business activities around the world, and give other nations and institutions the firepower to follow suit.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Germany will decide “soon” on whether to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine or approve the export of German-made equipment by other countries, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, as pressure mounts on Europe’s largest economy.
- Charles McGonigal, the former head of the FBI’s counterintelligence division in the New York field office has been indicted on charges related to improper foreign ties, including allegedly violating U.S. sanctions on Russians by trying to get billionaire Oleg Deripaska — an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — removed from the sanctions list, the U.S. Justice Department announced Monday.
- Morocco has provided Ukraine with some 20 Soviet T-72B tanks, a make that Ukraine already uses widely, the United States confirmed Monday.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Sweden’s bid to join NATO into question Monday after protesters near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm reportedly burned a copy of the Quran.
More live updates here.
- Germany will decide “soon” on whether to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine or approve the export of German-made equipment by other countries, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, as pressure mounts on Europe’s largest economy.
- Charles McGonigal, the former head of the FBI’s counterintelligence division in the New York field office has been indicted on charges related to improper foreign ties, including allegedly violating U.S. sanctions on Russians by trying to get billionaire Oleg Deripaska — an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — removed from the sanctions list, the U.S. Justice Department announced Monday.
- Morocco has provided Ukraine with some 20 Soviet T-72B tanks, a make that Ukraine already uses widely, the United States confirmed Monday.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Sweden’s bid to join NATO into question Monday after protesters near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm reportedly burned a copy of the Quran.
More live updates here.
Here's the latest from Ukraine.
- Germany is under increasing pressure from Ukraine and some NATO allies, including Poland, to either send or sign off on transfers by other European countries of German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv. Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said over the weekend that the decision was not one to be made in haste.
- Ukraine’s military has liberated about 54 percent of the territory seized by Russia since the Feb. 24 invasion, according to British defense officials. Russia now controls about 18 percent of Ukraine, including the parts of the Donbas and Crimea regions that have effectively been under Russian control since 2014.
- Charles McGonigal, the FBI’s former top spy hunter in New York, was charged Monday with taking secret cash payments of more than $225,000 while overseeing highly sensitive cases, and breaking the law by trying to get Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska removed from a U.S. sanctions list.
More live updates here.
- Germany is under increasing pressure from Ukraine and some NATO allies, including Poland, to either send or sign off on transfers by other European countries of German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv. Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said over the weekend that the decision was not one to be made in haste.
- Ukraine’s military has liberated about 54 percent of the territory seized by Russia since the Feb. 24 invasion, according to British defense officials. Russia now controls about 18 percent of Ukraine, including the parts of the Donbas and Crimea regions that have effectively been under Russian control since 2014.
- Charles McGonigal, the FBI’s former top spy hunter in New York, was charged Monday with taking secret cash payments of more than $225,000 while overseeing highly sensitive cases, and breaking the law by trying to get Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska removed from a U.S. sanctions list.
More live updates here.
After classmates snitch, Russia charges 19-year-old war critic as terrorist
RIGA, Latvia — Soon after the explosion on the Crimean Bridge in October, a 19-year-old Russian student, Olesya Krivtsova, posted an Instagram story criticizing Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Her fellow students at Northern Federal University took a screenshot of the story as well as of Krivtsova’s antiwar comments shared in a small chatroom on Telegram and reported her to the authorities.
Three months later, Russian officials deemed that sufficient to add Krivtsova to a list of terrorists and extremists, on par with the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and to charge her with discrediting the Russian army under laws adopted last March to stifle public criticism of the war.
The case of Krivtsova illustrates the depth of intolerance for dissent in wartime Russia, which is targeting not just organized political opposition movements, which have largely been dismantled, but seemingly harmless individuals.
Read the full story here.
RIGA, Latvia — Soon after the explosion on the Crimean Bridge in October, a 19-year-old Russian student, Olesya Krivtsova, posted an Instagram story criticizing Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Her fellow students at Northern Federal University took a screenshot of the story as well as of Krivtsova’s antiwar comments shared in a small chatroom on Telegram and reported her to the authorities.
Three months later, Russian officials deemed that sufficient to add Krivtsova to a list of terrorists and extremists, on par with the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and to charge her with discrediting the Russian army under laws adopted last March to stifle public criticism of the war.
The case of Krivtsova illustrates the depth of intolerance for dissent in wartime Russia, which is targeting not just organized political opposition movements, which have largely been dismantled, but seemingly harmless individuals.
Read the full story here.
Top Ukrainian officials ousted in anti-corruption sweep
KYIV, Ukraine — Several senior Ukrainian officials were swept out of their posts on Tuesday, including a close adviser of President Volodymyr Zelensky, in part over corruption allegations, as Kyiv moved swiftly to show zero tolerance for graft that could undermine the confidence of Western nations that have kept the country alive with vast shipments of donated weapons and billions in economic assistance.
The dismissals and resignations, of Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff Kyrylo Timoshenko, Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov and Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko, represented the biggest shake-up in the country’s leadership since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last February.
Other officials were removed outright from their positions, including several regional governors.
Read the full story here.
KYIV, Ukraine — Several senior Ukrainian officials were swept out of their posts on Tuesday, including a close adviser of President Volodymyr Zelensky, in part over corruption allegations, as Kyiv moved swiftly to show zero tolerance for graft that could undermine the confidence of Western nations that have kept the country alive with vast shipments of donated weapons and billions in economic assistance.
The dismissals and resignations, of Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff Kyrylo Timoshenko, Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov and Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko, represented the biggest shake-up in the country’s leadership since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last February.
Other officials were removed outright from their positions, including several regional governors.
Read the full story here.
Finland’s foreign minister signals country could join NATO without Sweden
Finland still hopes to join NATO alongside its neighbor Sweden but could be forced to reconsider if Stockholm’s application is stalled, the Finnish foreign minister said Tuesday.
“We have to be ready to reevaluate the situation. Has something happened that would in the long run prevent Sweden’s application from progressing?” the minister, Pekka Haavisto, told Finnish broadcaster YLE.
A day earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested that recent protests in Stockholm by an anti-Islam activist and another by pro-Kurdish groups could jeopardize Sweden’s bid, and NATO diplomats are becoming less confident that the two countries will be welcomed swiftly.
Finland and Sweden asked to join the 30-member military alliance in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, formally submitting their applications together last spring and generally moving in tandem.
Read the full story here.
Finland still hopes to join NATO alongside its neighbor Sweden but could be forced to reconsider if Stockholm’s application is stalled, the Finnish foreign minister said Tuesday.
“We have to be ready to reevaluate the situation. Has something happened that would in the long run prevent Sweden’s application from progressing?” the minister, Pekka Haavisto, told Finnish broadcaster YLE.
A day earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested that recent protests in Stockholm by an anti-Islam activist and another by pro-Kurdish groups could jeopardize Sweden’s bid, and NATO diplomats are becoming less confident that the two countries will be welcomed swiftly.
Finland and Sweden asked to join the 30-member military alliance in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, formally submitting their applications together last spring and generally moving in tandem.
Read the full story here.