Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- As Ukraine mobilizes fighters for a spring counterattack and a commander warns that Russia is reinforcing its Bakhmut front line, leaked U.S. intelligence documents indicate Kyiv is facing a shortfall of Western ammunition and air defense weapons.
- Ukraine and Russia swapped prisoners Monday, each side sending about 100 home, as they have periodically throughout the war.
- The U.S. Defense Department is still assessing the validity of the leaked documents that have triggered a Justice Department investigation, Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.
- The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces said Russia is bringing in special forces and airborne assault units to reinforce its assault on the eastern city of Bakhmut.
- Russian air defense forces are practicing border protection in the northwest after Finland’s accession to NATO and Sweden’s membership bid, a commander of Russian air defense forces said in comments published Monday.
More live updates here.
- As Ukraine mobilizes fighters for a spring counterattack and a commander warns that Russia is reinforcing its Bakhmut front line, leaked U.S. intelligence documents indicate Kyiv is facing a shortfall of Western ammunition and air defense weapons.
- Ukraine and Russia swapped prisoners Monday, each side sending about 100 home, as they have periodically throughout the war.
- The U.S. Defense Department is still assessing the validity of the leaked documents that have triggered a Justice Department investigation, Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.
- The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces said Russia is bringing in special forces and airborne assault units to reinforce its assault on the eastern city of Bakhmut.
- Russian air defense forces are practicing border protection in the northwest after Finland’s accession to NATO and Sweden’s membership bid, a commander of Russian air defense forces said in comments published Monday.
More live updates here.
Exclusive: Egypt secretly planned to supply rockets to Russia, leaked U.S. document says
President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi of Egypt, one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East and a major recipient of U.S. aid, recently ordered subordinates to produce up to 40,000 rockets to be covertly shipped to Russia, according to a leaked U.S. intelligence document.
A portion of a top secret document, dated Feb. 17, summarizes purported conversations between Sisi and senior Egyptian military officials and also references plans to supply Russia with artillery rounds and gunpowder. In the document, Sisi instructs the officials to keep the production and shipment of the rockets secret “to avoid problems with the West.”
The Washington Post obtained the document from a trove of images of classified files posted in February and March on Discord, a chat app popular with gamers. The document has not been previously reported.
Read the full story here.
President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi of Egypt, one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East and a major recipient of U.S. aid, recently ordered subordinates to produce up to 40,000 rockets to be covertly shipped to Russia, according to a leaked U.S. intelligence document.
A portion of a top secret document, dated Feb. 17, summarizes purported conversations between Sisi and senior Egyptian military officials and also references plans to supply Russia with artillery rounds and gunpowder. In the document, Sisi instructs the officials to keep the production and shipment of the rockets secret “to avoid problems with the West.”
The Washington Post obtained the document from a trove of images of classified files posted in February and March on Discord, a chat app popular with gamers. The document has not been previously reported.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The scope of a trove of Pentagon documents leaked online continues to be uncovered, with dozens of apparently highly classified military and intelligence documents emerging.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken has officially declared that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was “wrongfully detained” by Russia.
- Leaked intelligence documents suggest that the president of Egypt has asked his government to produce up to 40,000 rockets and quietly ship them to Russia.
- Russian spies purportedly claimed to have persuaded the United Arab Emirates, a major security partner of the United States, to work against U.S. and British intelligence, the Associated Press reported.
- Moscow has ordered military preparations in response to the NATO accession of Finland, which was formerly military nonaligned.
More live updates here.
- The scope of a trove of Pentagon documents leaked online continues to be uncovered, with dozens of apparently highly classified military and intelligence documents emerging.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken has officially declared that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was “wrongfully detained” by Russia.
- Leaked intelligence documents suggest that the president of Egypt has asked his government to produce up to 40,000 rockets and quietly ship them to Russia.
- Russian spies purportedly claimed to have persuaded the United Arab Emirates, a major security partner of the United States, to work against U.S. and British intelligence, the Associated Press reported.
- Moscow has ordered military preparations in response to the NATO accession of Finland, which was formerly military nonaligned.
More live updates here.
Vladimir Kara-Murza condemns Russian treason case
RIGA, Latvia — Prominent Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, facing up to 25 years in prison on treason charges for criticizing Russia’s war against Ukraine, told a Moscow court on Monday that his trial had turned the clock back to the 1930s during the height of the Stalinist political repressions.
If the court accepts the prosecutor’s request for the maximum 25-year term, it would be the harshest punishment to date of a politician or activist for criticizing Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Kara-Murza, who is an opinions contributor for The Washington Post, spoke during a hearing on Monday ahead of a verdict that is expected on April 17. He described the charges as “unfounded, illegal and politically motivated” in comments on Facebook. His lawyers said the trial, which began last month, had been rushed, with it handled much more swiftly than usual treason cases.
Read the full story here.
RIGA, Latvia — Prominent Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, facing up to 25 years in prison on treason charges for criticizing Russia’s war against Ukraine, told a Moscow court on Monday that his trial had turned the clock back to the 1930s during the height of the Stalinist political repressions.
If the court accepts the prosecutor’s request for the maximum 25-year term, it would be the harshest punishment to date of a politician or activist for criticizing Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Kara-Murza, who is an opinions contributor for The Washington Post, spoke during a hearing on Monday ahead of a verdict that is expected on April 17. He described the charges as “unfounded, illegal and politically motivated” in comments on Facebook. His lawyers said the trial, which began last month, had been rushed, with it handled much more swiftly than usual treason cases.
Read the full story here.
Exclusive: U.S. doubts Ukraine counteroffensive will yield big gains, leaked document says
Ukraine’s challenges in massing troops, ammunition and equipment could cause its military to fall “well short” of Kyiv’s original goals for an anticipated counteroffensive aimed at retaking Russian-occupied areas this spring, according to U.S. intelligence assessments contained in a growing leak of classified documents revealing Washington’s misgivings about the state of the war.
Labeled “top secret,” the bleak assessment from early February warns of significant “force generation and sustainment shortfalls,” and the likelihood that such an operation will result in only “modest territorial gains.” It’s a marked departure from the Biden administration’s public statements about the vitality of Ukraine’s military and is likely to embolden critics who feel the United States and NATO should do more to push for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
Read the full story here.
Ukraine’s challenges in massing troops, ammunition and equipment could cause its military to fall “well short” of Kyiv’s original goals for an anticipated counteroffensive aimed at retaking Russian-occupied areas this spring, according to U.S. intelligence assessments contained in a growing leak of classified documents revealing Washington’s misgivings about the state of the war.
Labeled “top secret,” the bleak assessment from early February warns of significant “force generation and sustainment shortfalls,” and the likelihood that such an operation will result in only “modest territorial gains.” It’s a marked departure from the Biden administration’s public statements about the vitality of Ukraine’s military and is likely to embolden critics who feel the United States and NATO should do more to push for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
Read the full story here.
Russia moves to tighten conscription law, pressing more men to fight
RIGA, Latvia — When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization in the fall to commandeer reinforcements for the war against Ukraine, thousands of men fled the country or went into hiding. But tough new measures approved by Russia’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday will make it almost impossible for Russians to dodge conscription in the future.
The law provides for electronic military summonses with bans on draftees leaving the country, making it possible to quietly sweep up thousands more men to fight — even as the Kremlin is denying plans for a controversial new mobilization.
The State Duma, which is the lower chamber, approved the legislation with just one abstention. The upper house, the Federation Council, is expected to adopt it Wednesday, and send it on to Putin for his approval, which is widely expected.
Read the full story here.
RIGA, Latvia — When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization in the fall to commandeer reinforcements for the war against Ukraine, thousands of men fled the country or went into hiding. But tough new measures approved by Russia’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday will make it almost impossible for Russians to dodge conscription in the future.
The law provides for electronic military summonses with bans on draftees leaving the country, making it possible to quietly sweep up thousands more men to fight — even as the Kremlin is denying plans for a controversial new mobilization.
The State Duma, which is the lower chamber, approved the legislation with just one abstention. The upper house, the Federation Council, is expected to adopt it Wednesday, and send it on to Putin for his approval, which is widely expected.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- U.S. government agencies are working together to assess the fallout from a stunning leak of Pentagon documents that appeared to reveal, among other information, sensitive U.S. intelligence about the war in Ukraine.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Secretary of State Antony Blinken “vehemently rejected any attempts to cast doubt on Ukraine’s capacity to win on the battlefield” in a call Tuesday.
- When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization in the fall to commandeer reinforcements for the war, thousands of men fled Russia or went into hiding.
- Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who faces up to 25 years in prison on treason charges for criticizing his country’s military, described his trial as reminiscent of the Stalinist repression of the 1930s.
More live updates here.
- U.S. government agencies are working together to assess the fallout from a stunning leak of Pentagon documents that appeared to reveal, among other information, sensitive U.S. intelligence about the war in Ukraine.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Secretary of State Antony Blinken “vehemently rejected any attempts to cast doubt on Ukraine’s capacity to win on the battlefield” in a call Tuesday.
- When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization in the fall to commandeer reinforcements for the war, thousands of men fled Russia or went into hiding.
- Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who faces up to 25 years in prison on treason charges for criticizing his country’s military, described his trial as reminiscent of the Stalinist repression of the 1930s.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Top Biden administration officials have spoken publicly for the first time about the leak of a trove of sensitive Pentagon documents, including intelligence about the war in Ukraine.
- On Wednesday, the European Parliament will hold an inter-committee meeting with lawmakers from Kyiv regarding Ukraine’s potential accession to the E.U. — a process that usually takes years.
- President Biden spoke with the family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia since March.
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov. Austin said Ukraine is working toward its anticipated spring offensive.
- The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group claims his forces now control about 80 percent of Bakhmut.
- The U.N. expects inspections to resume under the Black Sea grain deal on Wednesday, after “intensive discussions” supported by Turkey and the global body.
More live updates here.
- Top Biden administration officials have spoken publicly for the first time about the leak of a trove of sensitive Pentagon documents, including intelligence about the war in Ukraine.
- On Wednesday, the European Parliament will hold an inter-committee meeting with lawmakers from Kyiv regarding Ukraine’s potential accession to the E.U. — a process that usually takes years.
- President Biden spoke with the family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia since March.
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov. Austin said Ukraine is working toward its anticipated spring offensive.
- The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group claims his forces now control about 80 percent of Bakhmut.
- The U.N. expects inspections to resume under the Black Sea grain deal on Wednesday, after “intensive discussions” supported by Turkey and the global body.
More live updates here.
Russian court delays custody decision for girl who made antiwar drawing
As a Russian court on Thursday considered restricting the custody rights of a father whose 13-year-old daughter drew an antiwar picture in class, a young woman protested outside holding up a nearly identical picture. She was swiftly detained.
The custody hearing and the new arrest, which occurred in Yefremov, a town in the Tula region about 200 miles south of Moscow, highlighted how the case of the father, Alexei Moskalyov, and his daughter, Maria, has transfixed wartime Russia.
Moskalyov, 54, came under scrutiny of the authorities after Maria, then 12, drew the antiwar picture in her sixth-grade art class. He was arrested and prosecuted for antiwar posts on social media under tough new laws prohibiting criticism of the military.
Read the full story here.
As a Russian court on Thursday considered restricting the custody rights of a father whose 13-year-old daughter drew an antiwar picture in class, a young woman protested outside holding up a nearly identical picture. She was swiftly detained.
The custody hearing and the new arrest, which occurred in Yefremov, a town in the Tula region about 200 miles south of Moscow, highlighted how the case of the father, Alexei Moskalyov, and his daughter, Maria, has transfixed wartime Russia.
Moskalyov, 54, came under scrutiny of the authorities after Maria, then 12, drew the antiwar picture in her sixth-grade art class. He was arrested and prosecuted for antiwar posts on social media under tough new laws prohibiting criticism of the military.
Read the full story here.
As spring offensive nears, Ukraine is drafting reinforcements
KYIV, Ukraine — The men in uniform could show up almost anywhere, any time.
They knock on civilians’ front doors and randomly stop them on street corners, handing out draft papers that can turn lives upside down.
Ukraine needs more soldiers — and fast. Kyiv is preparing for an imminent assault on Russian occupying forces, and while Ukraine does not disclose its casualty counts, commanders in the field have described large losses. In February, a German official said Berlin believed at least 120,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed or wounded since the start of the invasion.
Read the full story here.
KYIV, Ukraine — The men in uniform could show up almost anywhere, any time.
They knock on civilians’ front doors and randomly stop them on street corners, handing out draft papers that can turn lives upside down.
Ukraine needs more soldiers — and fast. Kyiv is preparing for an imminent assault on Russian occupying forces, and while Ukraine does not disclose its casualty counts, commanders in the field have described large losses. In February, a German official said Berlin believed at least 120,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed or wounded since the start of the invasion.
Read the full story here.
Video of alleged beheading of Ukrainian soldier draws condemnation
KYIV, Ukraine — A video circulating on Russian-language Telegram channels that emerged this week appeared to show the beheading of a bound prisoner wearing symbols associated with the Ukrainian military. The video prompted horrified responses, including from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said the video needed to be verified and, potentially, investigated.
The gruesome scene captured in the one minute, 40-second video, which could not be independently verified by The Washington Post, shows a masked Russian speaking-soldier crouched over a man dressed in green fatigues wearing a yellow arm band worn by Ukrainian forces.
The man screams in pain as the masked soldier uses a knife to saw at the man’s neck, eventually decapitating the prisoner. A green passport shaped document marked with the Ukrainian trident is seen next to the headless man.
Read the full story here.
KYIV, Ukraine — A video circulating on Russian-language Telegram channels that emerged this week appeared to show the beheading of a bound prisoner wearing symbols associated with the Ukrainian military. The video prompted horrified responses, including from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said the video needed to be verified and, potentially, investigated.
The gruesome scene captured in the one minute, 40-second video, which could not be independently verified by The Washington Post, shows a masked Russian speaking-soldier crouched over a man dressed in green fatigues wearing a yellow arm band worn by Ukrainian forces.
The man screams in pain as the masked soldier uses a knife to saw at the man’s neck, eventually decapitating the prisoner. A green passport shaped document marked with the Ukrainian trident is seen next to the headless man.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. government has spoken with its allies in recent days “to reassure them about our own commitment to safeguarding intelligence and … to our security partnerships.”
- Serbia is among more than two dozen European countries that have “provided or committed to provide lethal aid” to Ukraine, a leaked Pentagon document states.
- Russia has spent the past few weeks building up “extensive” defenses in the Zaporizhzhia region.
- The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group claims his forces now control about 80 percent of the embattled city of Bakhmut.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked India’s prime minister for humanitarian assistance, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said.
- Lawmakers from the European Union met virtually with lawmakers from Kyiv regarding Ukraine’s potential E.U. accession.
More live updates here.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. government has spoken with its allies in recent days “to reassure them about our own commitment to safeguarding intelligence and … to our security partnerships.”
- Serbia is among more than two dozen European countries that have “provided or committed to provide lethal aid” to Ukraine, a leaked Pentagon document states.
- Russia has spent the past few weeks building up “extensive” defenses in the Zaporizhzhia region.
- The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group claims his forces now control about 80 percent of the embattled city of Bakhmut.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked India’s prime minister for humanitarian assistance, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said.
- Lawmakers from the European Union met virtually with lawmakers from Kyiv regarding Ukraine’s potential E.U. accession.
More live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- The war in Ukraine is unlikely to end this year, and no peace talks between Kyiv and the Kremlin are expected in 2023, according to a sensitive U.S. government document that was part of a trove leaked online.
- Two U.S. citizens have died in Ukraine, the State Department said Wednesday, without disclosing their identities or the circumstances of their deaths. ABC News reported that they had been volunteers in the war.
- The suspected leaker of the documents worked on a military base, a member of the online group that first received hundreds of such documents told The Washington Post.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for international action after a gruesome video of an apparent beheading of a Ukrainian fighter was shared on Russian-language Telegram channels.
More live updates here.
- The war in Ukraine is unlikely to end this year, and no peace talks between Kyiv and the Kremlin are expected in 2023, according to a sensitive U.S. government document that was part of a trove leaked online.
- Two U.S. citizens have died in Ukraine, the State Department said Wednesday, without disclosing their identities or the circumstances of their deaths. ABC News reported that they had been volunteers in the war.
- The suspected leaker of the documents worked on a military base, a member of the online group that first received hundreds of such documents told The Washington Post.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for international action after a gruesome video of an apparent beheading of a Ukrainian fighter was shared on Russian-language Telegram channels.
More live updates here.
Exclusive: No Russia-Ukraine peace talks expected this year, U.S. leak shows
The grinding war between Ukraine and Russia is expected to bleed into 2024 with neither side securing victory yet both refusing to negotiate an end to the conflict, according to a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment that is among the highly sensitive U.S. government materials leaked online and obtained by The Washington Post.
The analysis concludes that, even if Ukraine recaptures “significant” amounts of territory and inflicts “unsustainable losses on Russian forces,” an outcome U.S. intelligence finds unlikely, the nation’s gains would not lead to peace talks.
“Negotiations to end the conflict are unlikely during 2023 in all considered scenarios,” says the document, which has not been disclosed previously.
Read the full story here.
The grinding war between Ukraine and Russia is expected to bleed into 2024 with neither side securing victory yet both refusing to negotiate an end to the conflict, according to a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment that is among the highly sensitive U.S. government materials leaked online and obtained by The Washington Post.
The analysis concludes that, even if Ukraine recaptures “significant” amounts of territory and inflicts “unsustainable losses on Russian forces,” an outcome U.S. intelligence finds unlikely, the nation’s gains would not lead to peace talks.
“Negotiations to end the conflict are unlikely during 2023 in all considered scenarios,” says the document, which has not been disclosed previously.
Read the full story here.
Serbia denies it sent weapons to Ukraine, as leaked document claims
The Serbian government on Wednesday rejected claims that it had sent weapons to Ukraine and doubled down on its policy of noninvolvement in the war, after a leaked U.S. intelligence document, the authenticity of which could not be verified, appeared to indicate that the Balkan country provided lethal aid to Kyiv.
“Serbia has not sent any weapons to Ukraine and all allegations published on that topic are false rumours,” Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said in a statement. “Someone obviously aims to drag Serbia into that conflict.”
Serbia is among just a few European countries that have not issued sanctions targeting Russia, with which it has close cultural and business ties, in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year. Belgrade has struggled to balance these policies with its long-standing ambition to become a member of the European Union.
Read the full story here.
The Serbian government on Wednesday rejected claims that it had sent weapons to Ukraine and doubled down on its policy of noninvolvement in the war, after a leaked U.S. intelligence document, the authenticity of which could not be verified, appeared to indicate that the Balkan country provided lethal aid to Kyiv.
“Serbia has not sent any weapons to Ukraine and all allegations published on that topic are false rumours,” Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said in a statement. “Someone obviously aims to drag Serbia into that conflict.”
Serbia is among just a few European countries that have not issued sanctions targeting Russia, with which it has close cultural and business ties, in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year. Belgrade has struggled to balance these policies with its long-standing ambition to become a member of the European Union.
Read the full story here.
Russia says China agreed to secretly provide weapons, leaked documents show
China approved “provision of lethal aid” to Russia in its war in Ukraine earlier this year and planned to disguise military equipment as civilian items, according to a U.S. intercept of Russian intelligence revealed in leaked secret documents.
The intercept, apparently obtained through U.S. eavesdropping on Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), was included in a top-secret summary, dated Feb. 23, of recent Ukraine- and Russia-related “products” compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It was among a number of previously unreported documents that The Post obtained from a trove of images of classified files posted on a private server on the chat app Discord.
According to “signals intelligence,” the intelligence summary said, the SVR reported that China’s Central Military Commission had “approved the incremental provision” of weapons and wanted it kept secret.
Read the full story here.
China approved “provision of lethal aid” to Russia in its war in Ukraine earlier this year and planned to disguise military equipment as civilian items, according to a U.S. intercept of Russian intelligence revealed in leaked secret documents.
The intercept, apparently obtained through U.S. eavesdropping on Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), was included in a top-secret summary, dated Feb. 23, of recent Ukraine- and Russia-related “products” compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It was among a number of previously unreported documents that The Post obtained from a trove of images of classified files posted on a private server on the chat app Discord.
According to “signals intelligence,” the intelligence summary said, the SVR reported that China’s Central Military Commission had “approved the incremental provision” of weapons and wanted it kept secret.
Read the full story here.
Russia names Ukrainian suspect in blast that killed pro-war blogger
RIGA, Latvia — Russia’s Federal Security Service on Thursday accused a 35-year-old Ukrainian man of playing a central role in the bombing attack in St. Petersburg this month that killed a Russian nationalist military blogger, and said the assassination had been carried out on the orders of the Ukrainian security services.
The blogger, Maxim Fomin, also known as Vladlen Tatarsky, was killed when a bomb, hidden in a statuette that he had been given as a gift, exploded in a cafe where he was giving a talk to fans.
The Federal Security Service or FSB identified the Ukrainian suspect as Yury Denisov, but the agency also claimed, without providing evidence, that Russian opposition figures abroad, associated with jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, were involved in the attack. Navalny’s associates strongly rejected the allegation.
Read the full story here.
RIGA, Latvia — Russia’s Federal Security Service on Thursday accused a 35-year-old Ukrainian man of playing a central role in the bombing attack in St. Petersburg this month that killed a Russian nationalist military blogger, and said the assassination had been carried out on the orders of the Ukrainian security services.
The blogger, Maxim Fomin, also known as Vladlen Tatarsky, was killed when a bomb, hidden in a statuette that he had been given as a gift, exploded in a cafe where he was giving a talk to fans.
The Federal Security Service or FSB identified the Ukrainian suspect as Yury Denisov, but the agency also claimed, without providing evidence, that Russian opposition figures abroad, associated with jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, were involved in the attack. Navalny’s associates strongly rejected the allegation.
Read the full story here.