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.
Analysis: The U.S.’s gloominess on the war in Ukraine is now clear to see
For months, U.S. officials have privately conveyed their concerns over the course of the war in Ukraine. In public, they stressed their enduring commitment to help Kyiv resist Russia’s brutal invasion and vowed to support its efforts as long as it takes.
But in more candid discussions, with reporters and directly with Ukrainians, they pointed to a tougher reality: A total military victory for Ukraine seemed impossible; the military-industrial base in Western countries required to sustain the flow of foreign munitions and arms to the front was under severe strain; and, at some point, the support of Western publics, especially Americans, would wane, and the spigot gushing tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine would get turned off.
Read the full analysis here.
For months, U.S. officials have privately conveyed their concerns over the course of the war in Ukraine. In public, they stressed their enduring commitment to help Kyiv resist Russia’s brutal invasion and vowed to support its efforts as long as it takes.
But in more candid discussions, with reporters and directly with Ukrainians, they pointed to a tougher reality: A total military victory for Ukraine seemed impossible; the military-industrial base in Western countries required to sustain the flow of foreign munitions and arms to the front was under severe strain; and, at some point, the support of Western publics, especially Americans, would wane, and the spigot gushing tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine would get turned off.
Read the full analysis here.
Ukrainian forces probe front lines for Russian weak spots
DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — Even as they grapple with ammunition shortages and await materiel from Western backers, Ukrainian forces are testing Russian defenses for vulnerabilities ahead of a much-anticipated counteroffensive.
At one trench position just over a kilometer from Russian lines, a Ukrainian corporal is working with a partner unit flying commercial drones to monitor Russian forces, identify weak points and plan strikes to destroy fortifications.
The expected spring offensive has been framed as Ukraine’s make-or-break opportunity this year to recapture territory held by Russian forces, which totals about one-fifth of the country. But the operation has been delayed by weather, slow equipment deliveries and ammunition scarcities, fueling fears of a stalemate.
Read the full story here.
DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — Even as they grapple with ammunition shortages and await materiel from Western backers, Ukrainian forces are testing Russian defenses for vulnerabilities ahead of a much-anticipated counteroffensive.
At one trench position just over a kilometer from Russian lines, a Ukrainian corporal is working with a partner unit flying commercial drones to monitor Russian forces, identify weak points and plan strikes to destroy fortifications.
The expected spring offensive has been framed as Ukraine’s make-or-break opportunity this year to recapture territory held by Russian forces, which totals about one-fifth of the country. But the operation has been delayed by weather, slow equipment deliveries and ammunition scarcities, fueling fears of a stalemate.
Read the full story here.
Here's the latest on Ukraine:
- China’s defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, hailed the “substantial achievements” of close cooperation with Russia’s military and said China is ready to deepen the partnership to “make new contributions to stability and security.”
- Li’s trip to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, follows similar recent visits by top Chinese leaders. Such displays of camaraderie have intensified concern that China is ready to provide lethal aid in support of the invasion.
- Warsaw is set to hold emergency talks with Kyiv on Monday after temporarily banning the import and transit of Ukrainian grain, Poland’s agriculture minister said.
- The death toll from Russia’s rocket strike Friday on the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk has climbed to 15. A 2-year-old boy found in the debris “was alive when we took him from the rubble, but he died in the ambulance,” one rescuer told The Post.
More live updates here.
- China’s defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, hailed the “substantial achievements” of close cooperation with Russia’s military and said China is ready to deepen the partnership to “make new contributions to stability and security.”
- Li’s trip to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, follows similar recent visits by top Chinese leaders. Such displays of camaraderie have intensified concern that China is ready to provide lethal aid in support of the invasion.
- Warsaw is set to hold emergency talks with Kyiv on Monday after temporarily banning the import and transit of Ukrainian grain, Poland’s agriculture minister said.
- The death toll from Russia’s rocket strike Friday on the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk has climbed to 15. A 2-year-old boy found in the debris “was alive when we took him from the rubble, but he died in the ambulance,” one rescuer told The Post.
More live updates here.
Russia sentences Kara-Murza, Putin critic and Post contributor, to 25 years
A Russian court sentenced Vladimir Kara-Murza, a longtime opposition politician and Washington Post Opinions contributor, to 25 years in prison on Monday on charges of treason for criticizing Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Amid a draconian crackdown on dissent, it was the harshest penalty yet for an opponent of the war, in a case that Kara-Murza condemned as “unfounded, illegal and politically motivated.”
The closed trial further highlighted Russia’s isolationist path, as President Vladimir Putin has disregarded Western criticisms of Russia’s human rights abuses and moved to brutally destroy any remnants of his country’s pro-democracy opposition.
Read the full story here.
A Russian court sentenced Vladimir Kara-Murza, a longtime opposition politician and Washington Post Opinions contributor, to 25 years in prison on Monday on charges of treason for criticizing Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Amid a draconian crackdown on dissent, it was the harshest penalty yet for an opponent of the war, in a case that Kara-Murza condemned as “unfounded, illegal and politically motivated.”
The closed trial further highlighted Russia’s isolationist path, as President Vladimir Putin has disregarded Western criticisms of Russia’s human rights abuses and moved to brutally destroy any remnants of his country’s pro-democracy opposition.
Read the full story here.
Exclusive: Russians boasted that just 1% of fake social profiles are caught, leak shows
The Russian government has become far more successful at manipulating social media and search engine rankings than previously known, boosting lies about Ukraine’s military and the side effects of vaccines with hundreds of thousands of fake online accounts, according to documents recently leaked on the chat app Discord.
The Russian operators of those accounts boast that they are detected by social networks only about 1 percent of the time, one document says.
That claim, described here for the first time, drew alarm from former government officials and experts inside and outside social media companies contacted for this article.
Read the full story here.
The Russian government has become far more successful at manipulating social media and search engine rankings than previously known, boosting lies about Ukraine’s military and the side effects of vaccines with hundreds of thousands of fake online accounts, according to documents recently leaked on the chat app Discord.
The Russian operators of those accounts boast that they are detected by social networks only about 1 percent of the time, one document says.
That claim, described here for the first time, drew alarm from former government officials and experts inside and outside social media companies contacted for this article.
Read the full story here.
China willing to work with Russia to maintain global security, defense minister says
The Chinese defense minister has hailed the “substantial achievements” of close cooperation with Russia’s military and said China is ready to deepen the partnership to “make new contributions to stability and security” globally, in the latest sign of Beijing’s commitment to its relationship with Moscow.
“Mutual trust between the Chinese and Russian militaries is growing stronger by the day, and our cooperation has resulted in substantial achievements,” Li Shangfu told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting on Sunday as he began a three-day visit to Moscow.
China is willing to “further improve strategic communication and strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation to make new contributions to stability and security in the region and globally,” Chinese state media on Monday reported Li as saying.
Read the full story here.
The Chinese defense minister has hailed the “substantial achievements” of close cooperation with Russia’s military and said China is ready to deepen the partnership to “make new contributions to stability and security” globally, in the latest sign of Beijing’s commitment to its relationship with Moscow.
“Mutual trust between the Chinese and Russian militaries is growing stronger by the day, and our cooperation has resulted in substantial achievements,” Li Shangfu told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting on Sunday as he began a three-day visit to Moscow.
China is willing to “further improve strategic communication and strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation to make new contributions to stability and security in the region and globally,” Chinese state media on Monday reported Li as saying.
Read the full story here.