Defending Ukraine’s ‘highway of life’ — the last road out of Bakhmut
KOSTYANTYNIVKA, Ukraine — Russia has committed hordes of soldiers and mercenaries to capturing Bakhmut. Those fighters have pushed Ukrainian troops to the city’s western edge and, like an alligator’s maw, are closing in from the south and north, aiming to encircle and annihilate them.
The maneuver has cut off virtually all roads — except Highway T0504, a two-lane hardball that connects to Bakhmut’s southwestern edge and is so vital that troops have branded it “the highway of life.”
“It’s the only road left in which we can evacuate the wounded, evacuate the dead,” said Maj. Oleksandr Pantsernyi, the commander of the 24th Separate Assault Battalion, one of the units responsible for defending the corridor. Just as important is the road’s role in sustaining the fight, he said, by enabling the movement of ammunition, water and fresh troops east.
Read the full story here.
KOSTYANTYNIVKA, Ukraine — Russia has committed hordes of soldiers and mercenaries to capturing Bakhmut. Those fighters have pushed Ukrainian troops to the city’s western edge and, like an alligator’s maw, are closing in from the south and north, aiming to encircle and annihilate them.
The maneuver has cut off virtually all roads — except Highway T0504, a two-lane hardball that connects to Bakhmut’s southwestern edge and is so vital that troops have branded it “the highway of life.”
“It’s the only road left in which we can evacuate the wounded, evacuate the dead,” said Maj. Oleksandr Pantsernyi, the commander of the 24th Separate Assault Battalion, one of the units responsible for defending the corridor. Just as important is the road’s role in sustaining the fight, he said, by enabling the movement of ammunition, water and fresh troops east.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces are continuing to inflict heavy losses on attacking Russian fighters in the besieged front-line city of Bakhmut, where Kremlin-backed mercenaries concede the fight is growing more difficult as they approach the city center, bombarded by artillery and tank fire.
- Ukraine killed “more than 1,100” Russian fighters in Bakhmut in the past week, Zelensky said in his nightly address, while 1,500 others were put out of action because of the severity of their injuries.
- The head of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group described the situation in Bakhmut as “very difficult.”
- A captured Ukrainian soldier summarily executed on video by Russian forces was awarded the title of “Hero of Ukraine” by Zelensky.
- Russian shelling in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv destroyed residential buildings and killed a man and woman in their 40s, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said Monday on Telegram.
More live updates here.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces are continuing to inflict heavy losses on attacking Russian fighters in the besieged front-line city of Bakhmut, where Kremlin-backed mercenaries concede the fight is growing more difficult as they approach the city center, bombarded by artillery and tank fire.
- Ukraine killed “more than 1,100” Russian fighters in Bakhmut in the past week, Zelensky said in his nightly address, while 1,500 others were put out of action because of the severity of their injuries.
- The head of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group described the situation in Bakhmut as “very difficult.”
- A captured Ukrainian soldier summarily executed on video by Russian forces was awarded the title of “Hero of Ukraine” by Zelensky.
- Russian shelling in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv destroyed residential buildings and killed a man and woman in their 40s, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said Monday on Telegram.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Russia agreed to extend the Black Sea grain deal, which aims to prevent a global food crisis by letting Ukraine export vital food sources from its southern coast, “but only for 60 days,” according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.
- Almost all roads out of Bakhmut have been cut off by Russian troops and fierce fighting. Just one viable road out of the city remains, Highway T0504, also known as the “highway of life.”
- Russia’s military leadership could be letting the Wagner Group bear the brunt of casualties in the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city to weaken Prigozhin’s political influence within Russia, according to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S. think tank.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Telegram that its forces killed more than 220 Ukrainian service members in the eastern Donetsk region in the past day and destroyed several combat vehicles and a long-range artillery piece.
More live updates here.
- Russia agreed to extend the Black Sea grain deal, which aims to prevent a global food crisis by letting Ukraine export vital food sources from its southern coast, “but only for 60 days,” according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.
- Almost all roads out of Bakhmut have been cut off by Russian troops and fierce fighting. Just one viable road out of the city remains, Highway T0504, also known as the “highway of life.”
- Russia’s military leadership could be letting the Wagner Group bear the brunt of casualties in the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city to weaken Prigozhin’s political influence within Russia, according to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S. think tank.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Telegram that its forces killed more than 220 Ukrainian service members in the eastern Donetsk region in the past day and destroyed several combat vehicles and a long-range artillery piece.
More live updates here.
Ukraine short of skilled troops and munitions as losses, pessimism grow
DNIPROPETROVSK REGION, Ukraine — The quality of Ukraine’s military force, once considered a substantial advantage over Russia, has been degraded by a year of casualties that have taken many of the most experienced fighters off the battlefield, leading some Ukrainian officials to question Kyiv’s readiness to mount a much-anticipated spring offensive.
U.S. and European officials have estimated that as many as 120,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of Russia’s invasion early last year, compared with about 200,000 on the Russian side, which has a much larger military and roughly triple the population from which to draw conscripts. Ukraine keeps its running casualty numbers secret, even from its staunchest Western supporters.
Read the full story here.
DNIPROPETROVSK REGION, Ukraine — The quality of Ukraine’s military force, once considered a substantial advantage over Russia, has been degraded by a year of casualties that have taken many of the most experienced fighters off the battlefield, leading some Ukrainian officials to question Kyiv’s readiness to mount a much-anticipated spring offensive.
U.S. and European officials have estimated that as many as 120,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of Russia’s invasion early last year, compared with about 200,000 on the Russian side, which has a much larger military and roughly triple the population from which to draw conscripts. Ukraine keeps its running casualty numbers secret, even from its staunchest Western supporters.
Read the full story here.
Russian jets force down U.S. drone over Black Sea, military says
A pair of Russian fighter jets intercepted and forced down an American surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, U.S. officials said, with one Russian jet colliding with the propeller of the unmanned aircraft after both Russian warplanes dumped fuel on it.
The incident prompted Air Force drone pilots to bring down the MQ-9 Reaper in international waters in what U.S. officials said has become a “pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots” while interacting with American and allied aircraft in international airspace. The actions, U.S. military officials said in a statement, “could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation” between the two countries.
Read the full story here.
A pair of Russian fighter jets intercepted and forced down an American surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, U.S. officials said, with one Russian jet colliding with the propeller of the unmanned aircraft after both Russian warplanes dumped fuel on it.
The incident prompted Air Force drone pilots to bring down the MQ-9 Reaper in international waters in what U.S. officials said has become a “pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots” while interacting with American and allied aircraft in international airspace. The actions, U.S. military officials said in a statement, “could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation” between the two countries.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- A Russian jet collided with the propeller of the U.S. drone over the Black Sea, forcing it down, the U.S. air force said Tuesday.
- At least two people died in separate strikes in Ukraine’s east and northeast Tuesday morning, according to officials.
- Russia agreed to extend the Black Sea grain deal that aims to prevent a global food crisis by letting Ukraine export vital food sources from its southern coast, “but only for 60 days,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said.
- Russia does not recognize the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction, Peskov said, according to the state-owned Tass news agency.
- An ongoing ammunition shortage among Russian artillery units has probably worsened in recent weeks, the British Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
- Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks in towns around Bakhmut, Ukraine’s military said Tuesday.
More live updates here.
- A Russian jet collided with the propeller of the U.S. drone over the Black Sea, forcing it down, the U.S. air force said Tuesday.
- At least two people died in separate strikes in Ukraine’s east and northeast Tuesday morning, according to officials.
- Russia agreed to extend the Black Sea grain deal that aims to prevent a global food crisis by letting Ukraine export vital food sources from its southern coast, “but only for 60 days,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said.
- Russia does not recognize the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction, Peskov said, according to the state-owned Tass news agency.
- An ongoing ammunition shortage among Russian artillery units has probably worsened in recent weeks, the British Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
- Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks in towns around Bakhmut, Ukraine’s military said Tuesday.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine.
- The U.S. State Department summoned Moscow’s envoy in Washington after a Russian plane collided with a U.S. surveillance drone, forcing it to crash over the Black Sea, according to American officials. Russia denied responsibility. President Biden was briefed and the Pentagon said it was working to declassify video showing the incident.
- The MQ-9 drone was conducting an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission when it encountered Russian aircraft in the Black Sea region, the Pentagon's press secretary said. Read more about the Reaper drone here.
- Hungary further delayed NATO ratification for Sweden and Finland. The ruling Fidesz party confirmed the postponement of the process to Reuters after an opposition lawmaker said Fidesz was delaying a parliamentary session that was set for next week.
More live updates here.
- The U.S. State Department summoned Moscow’s envoy in Washington after a Russian plane collided with a U.S. surveillance drone, forcing it to crash over the Black Sea, according to American officials. Russia denied responsibility. President Biden was briefed and the Pentagon said it was working to declassify video showing the incident.
- The MQ-9 drone was conducting an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission when it encountered Russian aircraft in the Black Sea region, the Pentagon's press secretary said. Read more about the Reaper drone here.
- Hungary further delayed NATO ratification for Sweden and Finland. The ruling Fidesz party confirmed the postponement of the process to Reuters after an opposition lawmaker said Fidesz was delaying a parliamentary session that was set for next week.
More live updates here.
What is the MQ-9 Reaper, the drone that U.S. says was hit
A Russian fighter jet collided with a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, forcing it to crash into international waters, according to the U.S. military. Air Force personnel remotely operating the drone, called the MQ-9 Reaper, brought it down after Russian Su-27s dumped fuel on the aircraft and one collided with the Reaper’s propeller, American officials say.
Russia has denied responsibility, saying its aircraft did not come into contact with the American drone.
The incident is believed to be the first direct U.S.-Russia clash since the war in Ukraine began last year.
Here’s what to know about the drone known as the Reaper.
A Russian fighter jet collided with a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, forcing it to crash into international waters, according to the U.S. military. Air Force personnel remotely operating the drone, called the MQ-9 Reaper, brought it down after Russian Su-27s dumped fuel on the aircraft and one collided with the Reaper’s propeller, American officials say.
Russia has denied responsibility, saying its aircraft did not come into contact with the American drone.
The incident is believed to be the first direct U.S.-Russia clash since the war in Ukraine began last year.
Here’s what to know about the drone known as the Reaper.
A railroad fan photographed Putin’s armored train. Now he lives in exile.
For Mikhail Korotkov, a lifelong “trainspotter,” one unusual train on Russia’s railways became an obsession — like stalking a rare, shy beast.
Korotkov, 31, spent years tracking and photographing President Vladimir Putin’s special hush-hush, deluxe armored train. He was the first enthusiast to post an image of the train — sleek sliver with red-and-gray detailing, often pulled by multiple boxy locomotives — online in 2018. “Mere mortals do not travel on such a train,” Korotkov wrote.
Finding and photographing the train was both terrifying and exhilarating. To Korotkov, it was like a creepy “ghost train,” with a secret timetable, no identifying locomotive numbers and its windows always screened. At least one of the rail cars has an unusual dome on top — believed to house special communications equipment.
Read the full story here.
For Mikhail Korotkov, a lifelong “trainspotter,” one unusual train on Russia’s railways became an obsession — like stalking a rare, shy beast.
Korotkov, 31, spent years tracking and photographing President Vladimir Putin’s special hush-hush, deluxe armored train. He was the first enthusiast to post an image of the train — sleek sliver with red-and-gray detailing, often pulled by multiple boxy locomotives — online in 2018. “Mere mortals do not travel on such a train,” Korotkov wrote.
Finding and photographing the train was both terrifying and exhilarating. To Korotkov, it was like a creepy “ghost train,” with a secret timetable, no identifying locomotive numbers and its windows always screened. At least one of the rail cars has an unusual dome on top — believed to house special communications equipment.
Read the full story here.
Russia will seek to recover downed U.S. drone, Kremlin says
Moscow said Wednesday that it will try to retrieve the wreckage of a U.S. surveillance drone that crashed into the Black Sea after a collision with a Russian jet fighter.
“I don’t know if we can get them or not,” Kremlin Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said of the drone fragments, “but it has to be done, and we’ll surely engage in it. I hope for success, of course.”
Patrushev said that the presence of the MQ-9 Reaper drone in part of Russia’s self-declared Black Sea exclusion zone on Tuesday was “proof” that the United States military is “directly participating” in the Ukraine War. U.S. officials, while arming and providing intelligence for the Ukrainian war effort, have repeatedly rejected Russian charges of direct U.S. involvement.
Read the full story here.
Moscow said Wednesday that it will try to retrieve the wreckage of a U.S. surveillance drone that crashed into the Black Sea after a collision with a Russian jet fighter.
“I don’t know if we can get them or not,” Kremlin Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said of the drone fragments, “but it has to be done, and we’ll surely engage in it. I hope for success, of course.”
Patrushev said that the presence of the MQ-9 Reaper drone in part of Russia’s self-declared Black Sea exclusion zone on Tuesday was “proof” that the United States military is “directly participating” in the Ukraine War. U.S. officials, while arming and providing intelligence for the Ukrainian war effort, have repeatedly rejected Russian charges of direct U.S. involvement.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke by phone Wednesday amid mounting tensions over the loss of a U.S. surveillance drone, which U.S. military officials said was forced down by Russian jet fighters over the Black Sea on Tuesday.
- Russian forces are maintaining their pressure on the city of Bakhmut, where “constant positional battles continue,” according to Ukraine’s military.
- Ukraine’s army will continue defending Bakhmut, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address after meeting with his top military leaders.
- Russian forces launched a fresh strike against the northeastern city of Kharkiv, the region’s governor, Oleh Synyehubov, said Wednesday morning on Telegram.
- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in Moscow for talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, according to his official Telegram account.
More live updates here.
- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke by phone Wednesday amid mounting tensions over the loss of a U.S. surveillance drone, which U.S. military officials said was forced down by Russian jet fighters over the Black Sea on Tuesday.
- Russian forces are maintaining their pressure on the city of Bakhmut, where “constant positional battles continue,” according to Ukraine’s military.
- Ukraine’s army will continue defending Bakhmut, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address after meeting with his top military leaders.
- Russian forces launched a fresh strike against the northeastern city of Kharkiv, the region’s governor, Oleh Synyehubov, said Wednesday morning on Telegram.
- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in Moscow for talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, according to his official Telegram account.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The United States is investigating the downing of a U.S. surveillance MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea after a run-in with Russian warplanes, while the Kremlin said it would try to retrieve the wreckage.
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke to their counterparts in Russia, in what was the first contact between the two militaries in months.
- The U.S. is rejecting Moscow’s claim of a self-declared exclusion zone over extended parts of the Black Sea. Austin said the U.S. military would “continue to fly and operate wherever international law allows.”
- The International Monetary Fund made “very good progress” on aid discussions with Ukrainian officials this week in Poland, the agency said Wednesday.
- U.S. officials lauded Ukraine for holding on to Bakhmut in eastern Donetsk, where Russia has focused its war efforts in recent weeks.
More live updates here.
- The United States is investigating the downing of a U.S. surveillance MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea after a run-in with Russian warplanes, while the Kremlin said it would try to retrieve the wreckage.
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke to their counterparts in Russia, in what was the first contact between the two militaries in months.
- The U.S. is rejecting Moscow’s claim of a self-declared exclusion zone over extended parts of the Black Sea. Austin said the U.S. military would “continue to fly and operate wherever international law allows.”
- The International Monetary Fund made “very good progress” on aid discussions with Ukrainian officials this week in Poland, the agency said Wednesday.
- U.S. officials lauded Ukraine for holding on to Bakhmut in eastern Donetsk, where Russia has focused its war efforts in recent weeks.
More live updates here.
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U.S. releases video of Russian jets intercepting MQ-9 Reaper drone
The U.S. military’s European Command published footage early Thursday appearing to show the moment two Russian fighter jets intercepted a U.S. drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday. The edited Air Force footage, which has not been independently verified by The Washington Post, shows an aircraft approaching the drone and releasing a cloud of gas or liquid beside it. U.S. officials said two Russian Su-27 jets dumped fuel on the drone and struck its propeller, causing it to crash.
Russia is attempting to retrieve the remnants of the U.S. surveillance drone in the Black Sea amid reports that Moscow’s ships approached the site of the crash early Thursday — approximately 56 nautical miles southwest of Crimea’s southern tip.
Read the full story here.
The U.S. military’s European Command published footage early Thursday appearing to show the moment two Russian fighter jets intercepted a U.S. drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday. The edited Air Force footage, which has not been independently verified by The Washington Post, shows an aircraft approaching the drone and releasing a cloud of gas or liquid beside it. U.S. officials said two Russian Su-27 jets dumped fuel on the drone and struck its propeller, causing it to crash.
Russia is attempting to retrieve the remnants of the U.S. surveillance drone in the Black Sea amid reports that Moscow’s ships approached the site of the crash early Thursday — approximately 56 nautical miles southwest of Crimea’s southern tip.
Read the full story here.
Poland says it will send Ukraine MiG-29 fighter jets
Poland plans to give Ukraine Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets, becoming the first NATO country to provide long-sought warplanes since the Russian invasion began last year, Polish President Andrzej Duda said at a news conference Thursday. The first four are set to arrive in the coming days. Western governments had thus far declined to send fighter jets out of concern over escalating tensions between NATO and Russia.
The U.S. military’s European Command published footage early Thursday appearing to show the moment two Russian fighter jets intercepted a U.S. drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday. The edited Air Force footage, which has not been independently verified by The Washington Post, shows an aircraft releasing what appears to be fuel beside the drone, before U.S. officials said the jet struck its propeller and it crashed.
More live updates here.
Poland plans to give Ukraine Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets, becoming the first NATO country to provide long-sought warplanes since the Russian invasion began last year, Polish President Andrzej Duda said at a news conference Thursday. The first four are set to arrive in the coming days. Western governments had thus far declined to send fighter jets out of concern over escalating tensions between NATO and Russia.
The U.S. military’s European Command published footage early Thursday appearing to show the moment two Russian fighter jets intercepted a U.S. drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday. The edited Air Force footage, which has not been independently verified by The Washington Post, shows an aircraft releasing what appears to be fuel beside the drone, before U.S. officials said the jet struck its propeller and it crashed.
More live updates here.
Fire engulfs Russian border service building in Rostov-on-Don near Ukraine
A building for the border patrol of Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, exploded in flames on Thursday in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, killing at least one person and injuring at least two, according to Russian media and local officials.
Videos posted to social media sites showed a large fire and plumes of thick, gray smoke emanating from the building. on Siverska Avenue, which runs along the Temernik River. Rostov-on-Don is located about 75 miles from the Ukrainian border.
The governor of the Rostov region, Vassily Golubev, writing on Telegram, said the fire had spread over 800 square meters — roughly 9,000 square feet — causing two walls to collapse. Residents of surrounding buildings were evacuated and at least one person was hospitalized with serious injuries, Golubev said.
Read the full story here.
A building for the border patrol of Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, exploded in flames on Thursday in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, killing at least one person and injuring at least two, according to Russian media and local officials.
Videos posted to social media sites showed a large fire and plumes of thick, gray smoke emanating from the building. on Siverska Avenue, which runs along the Temernik River. Rostov-on-Don is located about 75 miles from the Ukrainian border.
The governor of the Rostov region, Vassily Golubev, writing on Telegram, said the fire had spread over 800 square meters — roughly 9,000 square feet — causing two walls to collapse. Residents of surrounding buildings were evacuated and at least one person was hospitalized with serious injuries, Golubev said.
Read the full story here.
The daring front-line mission to evacuate reluctant Ukrainians
CHASIV YAR, Ukraine — Some of the most stubborn people left in Ukraine stood in the middle of Tovstoho Street, fuming over critical service outages. No gas. No water. No cell service. Electricity was spotty, and Russian artillery targeting Ukrainian positions in the town near the battle for Bakhmut produced a constant backdrop of whistles and thuds.
Many residents of Chasiv Yar had fled. This group had refused.
Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke and Yaroslav Susik, two volunteer evacuation coordinators, approached the roughly dozen townspeople on Monday afternoon to make an offer. The Russians were advancing, they said, adding that they could help the group safely escape. In fact, they were there to retrieve neighbors leaving within the hour, they said.
Andriy Dekhtyerov, 61, spoke up for the group. Their answer: No.
Read the full story here.
CHASIV YAR, Ukraine — Some of the most stubborn people left in Ukraine stood in the middle of Tovstoho Street, fuming over critical service outages. No gas. No water. No cell service. Electricity was spotty, and Russian artillery targeting Ukrainian positions in the town near the battle for Bakhmut produced a constant backdrop of whistles and thuds.
Many residents of Chasiv Yar had fled. This group had refused.
Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke and Yaroslav Susik, two volunteer evacuation coordinators, approached the roughly dozen townspeople on Monday afternoon to make an offer. The Russians were advancing, they said, adding that they could help the group safely escape. In fact, they were there to retrieve neighbors leaving within the hour, they said.
Andriy Dekhtyerov, 61, spoke up for the group. Their answer: No.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Poland plans to give Ukraine Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets, becoming the first NATO country to provide long-sought warplanes since the Russian invasion began last year, Polish President Andrzej Duda said.
- The U.S. military’s European Command published footage Thursday appearing to show the moment two Russian fighter jets intercepted a U.S. drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.
- U.S. officials lauded Ukraine for holding on to Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia has focused its war efforts in recent weeks.
- A U.N.-backed inquiry found evidence that Russian authorities have committed international human rights and humanitarian law violations in both Ukraine and Russia, many of which “amount to war crimes,” according to a newly released report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
- Russian forces shelled territories in the northeastern region of Sumy, the regional military administration said.
More live updates here.
- Poland plans to give Ukraine Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets, becoming the first NATO country to provide long-sought warplanes since the Russian invasion began last year, Polish President Andrzej Duda said.
- The U.S. military’s European Command published footage Thursday appearing to show the moment two Russian fighter jets intercepted a U.S. drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.
- U.S. officials lauded Ukraine for holding on to Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia has focused its war efforts in recent weeks.
- A U.N.-backed inquiry found evidence that Russian authorities have committed international human rights and humanitarian law violations in both Ukraine and Russia, many of which “amount to war crimes,” according to a newly released report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
- Russian forces shelled territories in the northeastern region of Sumy, the regional military administration said.
More live updates here.