The Washington Post

13 September 2023 13:23

In time of war, Russia turns up aggression on transgender citizens

When Russian authorities took away Yan Dvorkin’s 10-year-old adopted son last spring, there was nothing he could do but shout in frustration. His crime? He was a transgender, nonbinary person, married to a man.

The family had fallen afoul of one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most vehement obsessions, his rejection of what he sees as Western “degradation and degeneration,” in particular transgender people, leading to a raft of repressive laws and, according to LGBTQ+ activists, rising street violence against transgender people.

Putin has framed the Ukraine invasion as a war against “Satanists,” liberal Western values, and “parent number one and parent number two.” His venom is echoed by everyone from state television propagandists to politicians and, as the war has ground on, Russia has witnessed increasingly harsh measures against these groups.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

12 September 2023 21:15

Here is the latest from Ukraine:

- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia for a rare summit with President Vladimir Putin, during which Washington expects the two leaders to discuss an arms deal.

- Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said its forces recaptured a strategic group of oil and gas drilling platforms off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula, which were seized by Russia in 2015 and used for military purposes.

- Britain’s Defense Ministry said Russia in recent weeks has “recalibrated” the air defense system protecting Moscow.

- Putin said Western delivery of F-16s to Ukraine “just prolongs the conflict” and will not “change” the course of the war.

- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on citizens to maintain their focus on the war in his nightly address, suggesting they are gearing up for the long haul.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

12 September 2023 13:35

The Russian and North Korean leaders are set to meet. Why, and why now?

SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in Vladivostok this week, their first summit since 2019, amid warming relations between the two countries.

The encounter is expected to take place on the sidelines of the annual Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian port city, which continues through Wednesday. Putin’s summit with Kim is likely to take place that day, according to South Korean analysts.

This will be Kim’s first known international trip since imposing a strict pandemic border closure in early 2020.

The two leaders are expected to discuss weapons, laborers and food transfers as both countries’ mutual interests align in their efforts to reduce U.S. influence in the region.

Here's what you need to know.

The Washington Post

11 September 2023 21:19

Here is the latest from Ukraine:

- A pair of volunteer aid workers killed near Ukraine’s front line have been identified as 32-year-old Spanish national Emma Igual and Canadian Anthony “Tonko” Ihnat, according to the Spanish government and the international aid group they worked for.

- Russian President Vladimir Putin invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for an official visit set to take place in the next few days, the Kremlin announced. It would mark their first meeting since 2019.

- Ukrainian forces recaptured a group of oil and gas drilling platforms off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula, Kyiv’s military intelligence agency said Monday.

- Poland said it is ready to impose a unilateral ban on the import of Ukrainian grain if the European Commission refuses to extend the current restrictions past Sept. 15.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

10 September 2023 21:35

Here's the latest from Ukraine:

- World leaders at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi adopted a declaration that called on all member states to refrain from the use of force for territorial gain, but avoided directly criticizing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

- Romania’s Foreign Ministry summoned the chargé d’affaires of Russia’s embassy in Bucharest for a meeting after officials found drone fragments similar to those used by Russian forces near Romania’s border with Ukraine.

- There is “no way” Russian President Vladimir Putin will be arrested if he attends the G-20 summit in Rio de Janeiro next year, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

10 September 2023 13:47

Cuba says human traffickers luring citizens to Russia’s war on Ukraine

Cuba has identified a human trafficking network originating in Russia that has been recruiting Cuban citizens to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine, the Cuban Ministry of Interior said.

The government said it already detected and neutralized attempts at such recruitment, targeting citizens residing in both Russia and Cuba, and has initiated criminal proceedings against those involved, but did not offer details.

“Cuba has a firm and clear historical position against mercenarism,” Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in a statement on Monday.

Russia has been struggling to shore up its army with recruits since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization last fall — a declaration that pushed thousands to flee or hide. Since then, a tough law that makes evading conscription more difficult has been approved, allowing electronic military summonses and travel bans on those drafted.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

09 September 2023 17:45

Whatever the fuss over Elon Musk, Starlink is utterly essential in Ukraine

DNIPRO, Ukraine — New details about how Elon Musk limited Starlink satellite internet service to prevent Ukraine from attacking Russian ships in Crimea last year have provided a stark reminder of how vital the service is to Kyiv’s forces — and how success on the battlefield depends partly on the whims of a mercurial billionaire.

Musk’s company SpaceX dispatched Starlink terminals to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February 2022, when Moscow quickly cut off all other service. Ever since, the high-speed satellite terminals have formed the backbone of the Ukrainian military’s digital communications. Nestled into trenches, covered in camouflage atop armored vehicles and humming in dusty command centers, the small WiFi terminals are so essential many soldiers say not having them would put their lives at risk.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

09 September 2023 10:06

Here is the latest from Ukraine:

- Zelensky pointed to the death of Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the former head of the Wagner mercenary group, as proof of Putin’s untrustworthiness.

- Ukraine on Friday froze the assets of Ihor Kolomoisky, a tycoon facing graft allegations, who is already under indictment and sanctions in the United States over accusations of bank fraud.

- The Group of 20 economic summit starts Saturday, with the war in Ukraine among issues taking center stage.

- Zelensky adviser Mykhailo Podolyak criticized SpaceX owner Elon Musk for cutting off Starlink satellite internet services to Ukrainian submarine drones last year.

- Ukrainian troops rely on Starlink services for virtually any task requiring digital communication, The Washington Post reported.

- A Russian missile strike hit Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih early Friday.

- The CIA has published a video aimed at recruiting disaffected Russian officials.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

08 September 2023 16:52

Prigozhin confidant says fatal plane crash shows no one is safe

A close confidant of Wagner Group leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin said the plane crash that killed the mercenary boss and two top aides last month might have been an internal hit, showing that “no one [in Russian leadership] can be trusted” — and no one is safe.

Maksim Shugalei, one of Prigozhin’s trusted political influence peddlers, is the first member of his inner circle to speak publicly of possible government involvement in the Aug. 23 crash that killed all 10 passengers and crew aboard. Many in Russia’s elite are convinced it was an assassination ordered by the Kremlin. Russian authorities have strongly denied any role.

Western analysts believe President Vladimir Putin was likely to have ordered Prigozhin’s death as retribution for the rebellion his former ally led in June against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the general staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

08 September 2023 11:03

Here's the latest from Ukraine.

- Three months into the counteroffensive, Russia has slowed Ukraine’s efforts by learning from past mistakes, analysts say, as it waits for the resolve of Kyiv’s Western backers to falter.

- Still, Ukraine appears to be making some progress. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech to the E.U. Parliament that there is “heavy fighting, difficult fighting,” but that the counteroffensive is “gradually gaining ground.”

- A Zelensky adviser called out Elon Musk after his new biography revealed details about how his company SpaceX cut off Starlink satellite internet service to Ukrainian submarine drones last year, just as they were launching an attack on a Russian fleet.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

07 September 2023 19:21

Who is Rustem Umerov, Zelensky’s pick for Ukraine defense minister?

A year and a half into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named a new defense minister: Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar who rose through the private sector and has played a key role in some of the war’s highest-stakes negotiations.

Umerov’s nomination, formalized Tuesday, subject to parliamentary approval in the days ahead, follows the resignation of Oleksii Reznikov, who took the role in November 2021. The shake-up at the cabinet level comes amid a wide-ranging crackdown on graft as Ukraine seeks to project to its Western backers a hard line on the issue.

Reznikov has not been charged in any corruption cases and Zelensky has not accused him of malfeasance. High-profile allegations of graft have plagued the Defense Ministry, however, during the war.

Here's what you need to know.

The Washington Post

07 September 2023 13:23

Romania finds suspected Russian drone fragments on its territory

Suspected fragments of a Russian drone have been found on the territory of Romania, officials from the NATO country said on Wednesday, following days of denials that one may have fallen within its borders during Moscow’s bombardment of neighboring Ukraine.

If confirmed that the parts belong to a Russian drone, it would represent “a serious violation of the sovereignty and territory of Romania, a NATO ally,” Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said. An investigation into exactly when the debris landed is underway, he said.

There was no insinuation from Romanian officials that the fragments were from an intentional strike that might lead to a response from NATO. But this and other incidents of war debris falling into countries bordering Ukraine highlight the continued risk of escalation.

Officials at NATO headquarters in Brussels did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

06 September 2023 21:07

Here is the latest from Ukraine:

- A Russian missile strike hit a crowded market in Kostiantynivka, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, leaving at least 17 people dead and at least 32 injured, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday.

- The attack, among the deadliest in recent months, came as Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kyiv, where he stopped at the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday and was set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

- Blinken is expected to announce more than $1 billion in new U.S. funding for Ukraine.

- Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also arrived in the Ukrainian capital and addressed the parliament in Kyiv on Wednesday.

- Fragments that “resemble drone parts” were found on Romanian territory, said Ministry of Defense spokesman Constantin Spanu.

- Britain is planning to declare Russia’s Wagner Group a terrorist organization because of the nature and scale of the mercenaries’ operations, the Home Office said.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

06 September 2023 16:26

Blinken arrives in Ukraine to tout U.S. support amid doubts about offensive

KYIV — Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday to boost support for Kyiv as its military makes only incremental gains against entrenched Russian forces and Congress girds for fierce debates about future funding for the war.

The top U.S. diplomat, a close confidant of President Biden, is among Ukraine’s staunchest supporters within the administration, repeatedly pushing officials at home and abroad to provide more sophisticated weaponry to Kyiv and tamping down calls for a negotiated cease-fire with Moscow.

The two-day trip is Blinken’s fourth visit to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion started in February 2022 and his sixth since taking office. He is expected to announce more than $1 billion in new U.S. funding for Ukraine as Kyiv pleads for more economic and military assistance amid controversy following the resignation of its defense minister.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

06 September 2023 10:18

Here's the latest from Ukraine:

- Ukraine had the highest death toll from cluster munitions of any country last year, according to a report by the Cluster Munition Coalition. Nearly 300 people were killed and 600 wounded by cluster bombs in Ukraine in 2022, according to the report.

- Cuba is working to “neutralize and dismantle” the trafficking ring that it said was targeting Cubans in Russia and their homeland. The allegation followed a report by Telemundo about two young Cubans who said they were sent to a Russian military unit in Ukraine after accepting construction jobs in Russia.

- Arms negotiations between Moscow and Pyongyang are “actively advancing,” according to Adrienne Watson, a U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

13 September 2023 08:07

Russia’s Putin welcomes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to spaceport

SEOUL — Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the Vostochny Cosmodrome Wednesday with smiles and warm words, taking him on a tour of the launch complex at the start of their first meeting in four years.

The meeting, the first encounter between the two leaders since 2019, appears designed to show that the two leaders will support each other, a rebuff to American-led efforts to isolate Putin over his invasion of Ukraine and Kim over his pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

The two leaders put on a show of bonhomie when they met.

Putin greeted Kim as he got out of a black car at the spaceport in the far eastern Amur region, and the two men shook hands and exchanged welcome greetings, according to a video released by the Kremlin on its Telegram channel.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

12 September 2023 16:45

George W. Bush recalls dinner served by Wagner’s Prigozhin: ‘I survived’

Former president George W. Bush was recently surprised to realize he was served by Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin during a dinner with Russian President Vladimir Putin years ago.

Bush, 77, was asked during a conference over the weekend whether he was shocked to learn of the recent death of Prigozhin in a plane crash months after he led a failed rebellion against the Russian military leadership.

“No,” Bush replied. “What’s shocking to me is I saw a picture the other day of a G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, where he was the guy serving me the food,” Bush said. “He was Putin’s chef.”

The image was taken as Bush and his wife, Laura, attended a dinner with Putin and his then-wife, Lyudmila, in 2006, during a Group of Eight summit. Prigozhin is seen leaning close to Bush’s shoulder while holding out a drink bottle.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

12 September 2023 10:36

Here is the latest from Ukraine:

- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in Russia with a rare bargaining chip ahead of his meeting with President Vladimir Putin. (His mode of transport? A luxurious, exceptionally slow-moving armored train).

- Washington expects the two leaders to discuss a possible weapons deal to bolster Russia’s fighting forces in Ukraine. Here’s why they are meeting and what Putin and Kim may want.

- Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said their forces recaptured a strategic group of oil and gas drilling platforms off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula, which were seized by Russia in 2015 and used for military purposes.

- Britain’s Defense Ministry said Russia has in recent weeks “recalibrated” the air defense system protecting Moscow. The move is “almost certainly” designed to “allow the system to detect and engage” drones, which have been used in near-daily attacks against the Russian capital, the ministry said.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

11 September 2023 14:38

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un to meet Putin in Russia in ‘coming days’

SEOUL — Weapons deals are expected to be top of the agenda as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to arrive in Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, while Moscow looks to replenish its depleted stockpiles in its war against Ukraine.

Kim was invited by Putin to arrive in the coming days, according to Russia’s Tass news agency and North Korea’s state media. South Korean media reported Monday that Kim had departed for the Russian port city of Vladivostok, citing unnamed officials.

The meeting is likely to fuel concerns in Washington and like-minded capitals about increased military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang at a critical juncture in Russia’s war in Ukraine. U.S. and South Korean officials also have warned that North Korea may seek critical technologies from Russia to boost Pyongyang’s nuclear and weapons ambitions.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

10 September 2023 18:15

What are depleted uranium rounds, and why is U.S. sending them to Ukraine?

When Britain announced it would supply Ukraine with depleted uranium rounds designed to penetrate tank armor, Russia decried the move as escalation. U.S. officials has had a simple response: If you don’t like it, leave Ukraine.

“If the Russians are very concerned about their tanks staying fully operational, they can just take them across the border back into Russia,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said in a March news briefing, following Britain’s move.

On Wednesday, almost six months later, the United States announced it would follow Britain in supplying Ukraine with 120mm tank ammo made of depleted uranium, setting off another flurry of criticism from Russian officials who said the rounds could cause cancer and other illnesses.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

09 September 2023 20:58

Here is the latest from Ukraine:

- Romania found new drone fragments on its territory near the Ukrainian border, the Defense Ministry said Saturday, describing the pieces as “similar to those used by the Russian army.”

- At a Group of 20 economic summit in New Delhi, world leaders adopted a declaration that avoided openly condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine.

- In an interview with CNN, Zelensky said there is no possibility of compromising with Putin to end the war.

- Putin vowed Russia would “continue to systematically build up bilateral communications in all directions” with North Korea.

- Zelensky adviser Mykhailo Podolyak criticized SpaceX owner Elon Musk for cutting off Starlink satellite internet services to Ukrainian submarine drones last year.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

09 September 2023 13:38

In northeast Ukraine, the Russians are coming — or maybe setting a diversion

KHARKIV REGION, Ukraine — As Russian invaders focus their fire on the strategic northeastern town of Kupyansk, a Ukrainian armor platoon, hidden under camouflage nets and the last embers of summer foliage, expressed nostalgia for the tank-on-tank battles last year that tested soldiers’ will and skill.

The war is different now, said a 26-year old commander with the call sign Leshyi. The enemy is farther away, probing for weak spots rather than full-on blitzing, forcing the Ukrainians to use tanks more like howitzers to fire at targets identified by reconnaissance soldiers.

In the south, Ukrainian troops are pressing a grueling counteroffensive, fighting meter by meter to retake occupied territory from Russian forces that are dug into defensive positions. In the northeast, however, it is unclear if Russia is really trying to advance or is creating a distraction hoping to divert Ukrainian resources.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

08 September 2023 20:49

Here is the latest from Ukraine:

- A Russian missile strike hit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih early Friday, leaving at least one dead and more than 70 injured, emergency officials said.

- A top Ukrainian official criticized SpaceX owner Elon Musk after a new biography revealed details about how the company cut off Starlink satellite internet services to Ukrainian submarine drones last year.

- Ukraine on Friday froze the assets of Ihor Kolomoisky, a tycoon facing graft allegations, already under indictment and sanctions in the United States over accusations of bank fraud.

- Musk told engineers to turn off Starlink coverage near the Crimean coast after learning about the planned submarine drone attack in the fall of 2022, according to a new biography of Musk.

- Biden and other world leaders are arriving in New Delhi for the Group of 20 economic summit, with the war in Ukraine among issues taking center stage.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

08 September 2023 13:26

Musk cut internet to Ukraine’s military as it was attacking Russian fleet

SpaceX cut off Starlink satellite internet service to Ukrainian submarine drones last year just as they were launching an attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet, according to a new biography of SpaceX founder Elon Musk.

The new details of the previously reported incident underscore how dependent the U.S. government has become on a company that once had to fight in court to become part of the Washington establishment.

The armed submarine drones were poised to attack the Russian fleet, according to a CNN report that cited an excerpt of a forthcoming biography of Musk by Walter Isaacson, a former CNN CEO and Time magazine editor. Instead, according the book, which goes on sale Tuesday, the drones “lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly.”

Ukrainian and American officials scrambled to get service restored, according to the report, appealing to Musk directly. Musk eventually agreed.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

07 September 2023 21:07

Here is the latest from Ukraine:

- Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up the second day of his trip to Ukraine, where he received battlefield updates from President Volodymyr Zelensky and pledged more than $1 billion in additional U.S. aid.

- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that Kyiv’s counteroffensive is “gradually gaining ground” as Ukrainian troops fight to reclaim territory from entrenched Russian forces in the country’s east and south.

- Zelensky said the tasks facing Ukraine’s new defense minister include building more confidence in the work of the ministry.

- Ukraine has begun exporting grain from Croatian ports on the Adriatic, following the collapse of the Black Sea grain deal, according to a news release citing remarks by Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s minister of economy.

- NATO does not have information “indicating an intentional attack by Russia” in Romania and is awaiting the outcome of an investigation, Stoltenberg said.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

07 September 2023 16:31

Blinken pledges $1 billion more to Ukraine amid doubts about offensive

KYIV — Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged an additional $1 billion in assistance to Ukraine on Wednesday during a visit to Kyiv aimed at boosting support for the country as its military makes only incremental gains against entrenched Russian forces and U.S. lawmakers begin debate about future funding for the war.

The top U.S. diplomat said he received a battlefield update from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had just returned from the front line, and came away with “tremendous confidence that Ukraine will prevail” as it pushes to retake occupied territory.

But when asked by reporters what undergirds his optimism, Blinken fell back on a statistic he has cited since July indicating that Ukraine has recaptured roughly half the territory that Russia had seized since the start of its full-scale invasion.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

07 September 2023 10:24

Here is the latest from Ukraine.

- The Pentagon announced Wednesday that Washington plans to send depleted uranium ammunition for previously committed Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a new military assistance package worth up to $175 million.

- The provision of the controversial rounds, which are mildly radioactive and capable of piercing through armor, was decried by Moscow as inhumane and marks an escalation in the type of weaponry that the U.S. has supplied to Kyiv.

- Russia claims to have intercepted drones over Moscow and the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, officials said on Thursday.

- Ukraine and the European Union condemned the attack in Kostiantynivka, which the E.U. connected to a pattern of indiscriminate Russian attacks on civilians.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

06 September 2023 18:11

Strike in Ukraine’s east leaves at least 16 dead as Blinken visits Kyiv

A Russian strike on a market in Kostiantynivka, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, left at least 16 people dead and at least 20 injured, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday.

“A regular market. Shops. A pharmacy. People who did nothing wrong,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram. “When someone in the world still attempts to deal with anything Russian, it means turning a blind eye to this reality.”

The attack comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Kyiv, where he visited the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday and is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The trip, Blinken’s fourth to Ukraine during the war, is meant to demonstrate U.S. support as Ukrainian troops struggle to make strides in their counteroffensive against Russian forces in the south.

More live updates here.

The Washington Post

06 September 2023 13:46

Kharkiv’s subways are now classrooms as school starts under Russian attacks

KHARKIV, Ukraine — The first-graders gathered to start a new school year in a windowless underground hallway turned classroom, gushing about the best things in the whole world.

A girl with a green handkerchief tied neatly around her neck held the yarn. It’s the talking yarn — meaning she had the floor. “My name is Nastia. I like chocolate,” she said. The students clapped. She passed the yarn to a boy.

Monday marked the first day of classes for students in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second biggest city, located just 25 miles from the Russian border. It was also the 558th day of Russia’s continuing invasion and, to protect the children from the constant threat of airstrikes, makeshift classrooms have been set up throughout the city’s sprawling subway system.

Read the full story here.

The Washington Post

05 September 2023 21:02

Here is the latest from Ukraine:

- Russian authorities said air defense systems shot down three Ukrainian drones early Tuesday near Moscow and a fourth over the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula.

- Cuba’s Foreign Ministry accused human traffickers operating from Russia of trying to recruit Cubans to fight for Russia.

- The Kremlin declined to comment Tuesday on reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could visit Russia this month.

- The Ukrainian parliament voted Tuesday officially to dismiss Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who took the role in November 2021, the state news agency Ukrinform reported.

- Putin did not rejoin the Black Sea Grain Initiative after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to discuss grain exports.

- Nearly 300 people were killed and 600 injured by cluster bombs in Ukraine last year, making it the country with the highest casualty toll from the widely banned munitions in 2022, the Cluster Munition Coalition said Tuesday.

More live updates here.