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.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- 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.
- A stalemate in the war, with neither Russia nor Ukraine achieving a decisive advantage this year, is the most likely scenario, a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency assessment suggests.
- The Russian general prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into a video of an apparent beheading of a Ukrainian fighter that was shared on Russian-language Telegram channels, the office said in a Telegram post.
Read the full story here.
- 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.
- A stalemate in the war, with neither Russia nor Ukraine achieving a decisive advantage this year, is the most likely scenario, a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency assessment suggests.
- The Russian general prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into a video of an apparent beheading of a Ukrainian fighter that was shared on Russian-language Telegram channels, the office said in a Telegram post.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- A leak of U.S. military files has revealed close-held assessments of the Ukraine war: that the fighting has gutted Russian commando units and that China had agreed to provide Moscow with weapons.
- The trove of classified files, first posted on the chat app Discord and obtained by The Washington Post, has offered a window into U.S. intelligence on Russia and Ukraine’s militaries, and on other countries. The U.S. has assessed that Moscow’s commanders have over-relied on the clandestine spetsnaz forces that were deployed alongside the infantry at the front-lines that, like the Ukrainians, have suffered big losses during the war, The Post reported.
- It could take Moscow years to rebuild the commando units, according to the classified U.S. assessments.
- Russia can only consider a prisoner swap of detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich after a trial, according to Russian news agencies, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.
Read the full story here.
- A leak of U.S. military files has revealed close-held assessments of the Ukraine war: that the fighting has gutted Russian commando units and that China had agreed to provide Moscow with weapons.
- The trove of classified files, first posted on the chat app Discord and obtained by The Washington Post, has offered a window into U.S. intelligence on Russia and Ukraine’s militaries, and on other countries. The U.S. has assessed that Moscow’s commanders have over-relied on the clandestine spetsnaz forces that were deployed alongside the infantry at the front-lines that, like the Ukrainians, have suffered big losses during the war, The Post reported.
- It could take Moscow years to rebuild the commando units, according to the classified U.S. assessments.
- Russia can only consider a prisoner swap of detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich after a trial, according to Russian news agencies, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.
Read the full story here.
Exclusive: Russia’s commando units gutted by Ukraine war, U.S. leak shows
The war in Ukraine has gutted Russia’s clandestine spetsnaz forces and it will take Moscow years to rebuild them, according to classified U.S. assessments obtained by The Post.
The finding, which has not been previously reported, is among a cache of sensitive materials leaked online through the messaging platform Discord. U.S. officials attributed their assessments to Russian commanders’ overreliance on the specialized units who have been put to use as part of front-line infantry formations that, like the Ukrainians, have suffered massive numbers of dead and wounded.
Read the full story here.
The war in Ukraine has gutted Russia’s clandestine spetsnaz forces and it will take Moscow years to rebuild them, according to classified U.S. assessments obtained by The Post.
The finding, which has not been previously reported, is among a cache of sensitive materials leaked online through the messaging platform Discord. U.S. officials attributed their assessments to Russian commanders’ overreliance on the specialized units who have been put to use as part of front-line infantry formations that, like the Ukrainians, have suffered massive numbers of dead and wounded.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- A leak of military files has revealed close-held U.S. assessments of the Ukraine war, claiming that the fighting has gutted Russian commando units and that China had agreed to provide Moscow with weapons.
- The FBI has arrested a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard suspected of posting the classified material.
- China will not sell weapons to parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine, its foreign minister said Friday.
- Russia can only consider a prisoner swap of detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich after a trial, according to Russian news agencies, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
- The U.N. nuclear watchdog warned about risks to the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine after two land mine explosions on its perimeter this month.
- Russia has resumed its assault on the eastern town of Bakhmut, prompting Ukrainian troops to withdraw from some positions, Britain’s Defense Ministry said in an update Friday.
More live updates here.
- A leak of military files has revealed close-held U.S. assessments of the Ukraine war, claiming that the fighting has gutted Russian commando units and that China had agreed to provide Moscow with weapons.
- The FBI has arrested a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard suspected of posting the classified material.
- China will not sell weapons to parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine, its foreign minister said Friday.
- Russia can only consider a prisoner swap of detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich after a trial, according to Russian news agencies, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
- The U.N. nuclear watchdog warned about risks to the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine after two land mine explosions on its perimeter this month.
- Russia has resumed its assault on the eastern town of Bakhmut, prompting Ukrainian troops to withdraw from some positions, Britain’s Defense Ministry said in an update Friday.
More live updates here.
Here's the latest on Ukraine:
- Having seized a “fat chunk” of Ukrainian territory, the strategic option for Russia would be to lock down and defend those gains, Prigozhin wrote in the lengthy post published Friday.
- Teixeira, the suspected leaker, faces up to 15 years in prison.
- Fierce battles are continuing in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Bakhmut and Maryinka, the Ukrainian military said early Saturday.
- Russia carried out multiple air and missile strikes against Ukrainian civilian and military targets, the Ukrainian military said Saturday.
- China does not intend to sell weapons to Russia, Foreign Minister Qin Gang said at a Friday news conference with his German counterpart.
Read here for more updates
- Having seized a “fat chunk” of Ukrainian territory, the strategic option for Russia would be to lock down and defend those gains, Prigozhin wrote in the lengthy post published Friday.
- Teixeira, the suspected leaker, faces up to 15 years in prison.
- Fierce battles are continuing in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Bakhmut and Maryinka, the Ukrainian military said early Saturday.
- Russia carried out multiple air and missile strikes against Ukrainian civilian and military targets, the Ukrainian military said Saturday.
- China does not intend to sell weapons to Russia, Foreign Minister Qin Gang said at a Friday news conference with his German counterpart.
Read here for more updates
Navalny, jailed Russian opposition figure, is severely ill, aides say
RIGA, Latvia — Lawyers and associates of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny fear that Russian authorities may be slowly poisoning him in prison after he suffered acute stomach pains and seizures and lost more than 17 pounds in a recent spell in an isolated “punishment” cell.
Navalny’s lawyer, Vadim Kobzev, has demanded toxicological and other medical tests and complained to Russian authorities, after the doctor who saw Navalny for the stomach pain gave no diagnosis and told him that everyone has health issues during spring.
Navalny was jailed in 2021 and is serving 11½ years on charges widely viewed as trumped up because of his opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s government.
Read the full story here.
RIGA, Latvia — Lawyers and associates of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny fear that Russian authorities may be slowly poisoning him in prison after he suffered acute stomach pains and seizures and lost more than 17 pounds in a recent spell in an isolated “punishment” cell.
Navalny’s lawyer, Vadim Kobzev, has demanded toxicological and other medical tests and complained to Russian authorities, after the doctor who saw Navalny for the stomach pain gave no diagnosis and told him that everyone has health issues during spring.
Navalny was jailed in 2021 and is serving 11½ years on charges widely viewed as trumped up because of his opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s government.
Read the full story here.
Analysis: How Poland became the new ‘center of gravity’ in Europe
“Glory to Ukraine,” chanted the Polish crowd gathered outside Warsaw’s Royal Castle. “Glory to the heroes,” responded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, smiling in gratitude. His Wednesday visit to the Polish capital marked a meeting of close friends and allies, whose bonds have only grown tighter since the onslaught unleashed by Russia last year.
Earlier in the day, President Andrzej Duda awarded his Ukrainian counterpart Poland’s highest honor, the Order of the White Eagle, while Zelensky voiced thanks for the active role Poland has played in marshaling support for Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion and in welcoming more than 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees.
It’s not just Zelensky who appreciates the help. Over the course of the past year of war, Poland has emerged as a key bulwark in the West’s confrontation with Russia.
Read the full analysis here.
“Glory to Ukraine,” chanted the Polish crowd gathered outside Warsaw’s Royal Castle. “Glory to the heroes,” responded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, smiling in gratitude. His Wednesday visit to the Polish capital marked a meeting of close friends and allies, whose bonds have only grown tighter since the onslaught unleashed by Russia last year.
Earlier in the day, President Andrzej Duda awarded his Ukrainian counterpart Poland’s highest honor, the Order of the White Eagle, while Zelensky voiced thanks for the active role Poland has played in marshaling support for Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion and in welcoming more than 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees.
It’s not just Zelensky who appreciates the help. Over the course of the past year of war, Poland has emerged as a key bulwark in the West’s confrontation with Russia.
Read the full analysis here.
Here is the latest on Ukraine:
- Russian forces launched at least eight S-300 rockets at Sloviansk, according to the Ukrainian city’s mayor, Vadym Liakh. The State Emergency Service said in a statement that “75 tons of rubble have been dismantled at the site” of the strikes.
- Russia has still not granted U.S. consular officials access to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich since he was detained last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said — a situation that Blinken emphasized needed to be rectified immediately.
- Jack Teixeira, the suspect in the leaks, faces up to 15 years in prison after the federal government charged him with retention and transmission of national defense information and willful retention of classified documents.
- The “fiercest battles” were taking place around Bakhmut, Ukraine’s armed forces said. The military update said Russian forces were focusing their offensive operations on the city in the eastern Donetsk region.
More live updates here.
- Russian forces launched at least eight S-300 rockets at Sloviansk, according to the Ukrainian city’s mayor, Vadym Liakh. The State Emergency Service said in a statement that “75 tons of rubble have been dismantled at the site” of the strikes.
- Russia has still not granted U.S. consular officials access to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich since he was detained last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said — a situation that Blinken emphasized needed to be rectified immediately.
- Jack Teixeira, the suspect in the leaks, faces up to 15 years in prison after the federal government charged him with retention and transmission of national defense information and willful retention of classified documents.
- The “fiercest battles” were taking place around Bakhmut, Ukraine’s armed forces said. The military update said Russian forces were focusing their offensive operations on the city in the eastern Donetsk region.
More live updates here.
Here's the latest on Ukraine:
- Li will hold talks with his Kremlin counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry did not directly mention the invasion of Ukraine in a Telegram statement but said the two officials would discuss global and regional security.
- Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is detained by Russia on unproven claims of espionage, has written to his family.
- Poland has imposed a temporary ban on Ukrainian grain imports, according to its Agriculture Ministry.
- The Russian military has lost more than 10,000 vehicles, including some 1,900 tanks, and is close to emptying out its arsenal of sophisticated cruise missiles, the British Defense Ministry said Saturday.
More live updates here.
- Li will hold talks with his Kremlin counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry did not directly mention the invasion of Ukraine in a Telegram statement but said the two officials would discuss global and regional security.
- Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is detained by Russia on unproven claims of espionage, has written to his family.
- Poland has imposed a temporary ban on Ukrainian grain imports, according to its Agriculture Ministry.
- The Russian military has lost more than 10,000 vehicles, including some 1,900 tanks, and is close to emptying out its arsenal of sophisticated cruise missiles, the British Defense Ministry said Saturday.
More live updates here.