Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky won't say it, and Vladimir Putin can't. But Ukraine is winning the war. Russian propaganda leaflets fluttered from the sky north of Kyiv last week. "They are trying to force you to defend the interests of others!" they declared, encouraging civilian to resist service in the military. The leaflets labeled the local regime "tycoons," "gangs" and "terrorists," claiming that the war-makers were serving only their own interests in fighting. One problem with these leaflets: they were addressed to "Citizens of the Chechen Republic!", intended for a different audience, from a different era, for a different war. Taken out of deep storage and shipped to Belarus, they were shot across the border by Soviet-era artillery, echoing an earlier time, representing a sloppy and uncoordinated war effort, speaking to no one. "Whether the Russians have confused them, or just do not bother, these leaflets fell on the heads of Ukrainians," Yevhen Yenin, first deputy … [Read more...] about Yes, Ukraine will win the war, even if no one wants to say so
Odessa ukraine points of interest
Russia warns Lithuania as it presses offensive in Ukraine’s Donbas
Moscow warned Lithuania of “serious” consequences on Tuesday over its restriction of rail traffic to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, as Kremlin forces made gains in Ukraine’s strategic Donbas region. Kremlin troops were causing “catastrophic destruction” in Lysychansk, an industrial city at the forefront of clashes in the eastern Donbas, the region’s Governor said. Ukraine confirmed Russia had taken frontline village Toshkivka. Governor Sergiy Gaiday said “every town and village” in Ukrainian hands in Lugansk region was “under almost non-stop fire”. Since being repelled from Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine following its invasion in February, Moscow is focusing its offensive on the strategic Donbas region. Also Read Russia-Ukraine live updates | ‘We are ready’, Ukraine towns insist as Russians advance Flash point In the eastern town of Sloviansk, which could become a flash point as Russian troops advance from the north, local people were preparing to withstand … [Read more...] about Russia warns Lithuania as it presses offensive in Ukraine’s Donbas
EU Discusses Whether to Make Ukraine Official Candidate for Joining Bloc
BRUSSELS (AP) – European Union leaders on Thursday are set to make Ukraine a candidate for joining the 27-nation bloc, a first step in a long and unpredictable journey toward full membership that could take many years to navigate. Making Ukraine a contender now seems to be a done deal after national leaders were initially divided on how quickly to embrace the war-torn country’s request to become an EU member, which the Ukrainian government submitted only a few days after Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24. According to several diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity before a leaders’ summit in Brussels, Ukraine will receive the unanimous approval required for candidate status and the launch of eligibility negotiations. France’s President Emmanuel Macron (2ndL) speaks with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (2ndR) next to Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi (R) prior to the start of the EU-Western Balkans leaders’ meeting in Brussels on June … [Read more...] about EU Discusses Whether to Make Ukraine Official Candidate for Joining Bloc
Russian Hackers Targeted Countries, Organisations Outside Of Ukraine With 29% Success Rate: Report
State-backed hackers from Russia have conducted multiple cyber spy operations on countries allied with Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine back in February this year. The details were published in a report from Microsoft, saying that the cyber aspects of the current war extend far beyond Ukraine and reflect on the unique nature of cyberspace. The Russian embassy in Washington has not responded to requests for comments so far, but the country has, in the past, denied conducting foreign cyber espionage missions, saying that it goes against the country’s foreign policy. ALSO READ: What Is RCS Messaging, How Does It Work And Which Phones Support It? The Microsoft report said that researchers have found 128 organisations in 42 countries outside of Ukraine were also targeted by the same groups that launched destructive cyberattacks on Ukrainian entities in a stealthy, espionage-focused hacks. The report says that outside of Ukraine, the United States was the most-targeted … [Read more...] about Russian Hackers Targeted Countries, Organisations Outside Of Ukraine With 29% Success Rate: Report
Russia pushes to block 2nd city in eastern Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces are trying to block a city in eastern Ukraine, the region's governor said Saturday, after their relentless assault on a nearby city forced Ukrainian troops to begin withdrawal after weeks of intense fighting. Russia also launched missile attacks on areas far from the heart of the eastern battles. Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Luhansk region, said on Facebook that Russian forces are attempting to blockade the city of Lysychansk from the south. That city lies next to Sievierodonetsk, which has endured relentless assault and house-to-house fighting for weeks. After Haidai said Friday that Ukrainian forces had begun retreating from Sievierodonetsk, military analyst Oleg Zhdanov said some of the troops were heading for Lysychansk. But Russian moves to cut off Lysychansk will give those retreating troops little respite. Russian bombardment has reduced most of Sievierodonetsk to rubble and cut its population from 100,0000 to 10,000. Some Ukrainian … [Read more...] about Russia pushes to block 2nd city in eastern Ukraine
Russia-Ukraine War Delivered Brutal Blow To Global Economy: RBI Dy Governor Michael Patra
The escalation of geopolitical tensions due to the Russia-Ukraine war delivered a brutal blow to the global economy, including supply chain and logistics disruptions, elevated inflation and bouts of financial market turbulence, Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Michael Patra said on Friday. “Emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) are bearing the brunt of these geopolitical spillovers as I speak, despite being bystanders. Capital outflows and currency depreciations have tightened external funding conditions, and along with elevated debt levels, put their hesitant and incomplete recoveries in danger,” said Patra, addressing an event by industry body PHD Chamber of Commerce. Patra added that heightened volatility in financial markets and surges in prices of commodities — especially of energy, metals, grain futures and fertilisers — have accentuated risks to growth, inflation and financial stability. “Like other emerging market economies (EMEs), India too faces major … [Read more...] about Russia-Ukraine War Delivered Brutal Blow To Global Economy: RBI Dy Governor Michael Patra
Russia closes in on key twin cities as Ukraine suffers eastern setback
Russia appears to have dealt Ukraine a significant setback in the battle for the country’s east , breaking through the defenses around a key city and opening the possibility that Kyiv’s troops in the area could be surrounded . In recent days, Russian forces have gained ground around Lysychansk, according to Ukrainian officials and Western military analysts, closing in on the city while fighting for full control of its battle-scarred twin, Sievierodonetsk . The advance puts Russia in sight of capturing or surrounding the last two holdout cities in Luhansk province, which, together with neighboring Donetsk, form the eastern industrial region of the Donbas , which has become the focal point of the war. This phase of the conflict has been marked by brutal artillery exchanges, with Kyiv urging the U.S. and its Western allies to send more of the heavy firepower it needs to counter Moscow’s forces. … [Read more...] about Russia closes in on key twin cities as Ukraine suffers eastern setback
Bouchard withdraws from Wimbledon as slam without points ‘makes no sense’
Former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard has withdrawn from the 2022 Championships with no ranking points on offer as the Canadian former world number five plots her return to the tennis circuit following surgery last year. The men's ATP and women's WTA stripped the grasscourt Grand Slam of ranking points after its organisers decided to ban participation by Russian and Belarusian players in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine . Wimbledon 2022 pic.twitter.com/I4MMGPkfvv — Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) June 17, 2022 Bouchard, 28, had surgery on her right shoulder last June after an injury at the Guadalajara Open a few months earlier, dropping out of the rankings due to her lengthy absence from the tour. Limited protected ranking entries "Due to my shoulder surgery, I get a limited number of protected ranking (PR) entries," she said in a social media post on Friday. Editorial: On ATP and WTA stripping of Wimbledon ranking points "As much as I … [Read more...] about Bouchard withdraws from Wimbledon as slam without points ‘makes no sense’
A turning point for Ukraine and its women’s rights
The Ukrainian Parliament — the Verkhovna Rada — passed a Bill on June 20 ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. Better known as the Istanbul Convention , it is the most far-reaching international treaty designed to set legally binding standards for governments in Europe for the prevention, protection, and prosecution of gender-based violence. According to official numbers, 259 deputies voted in favour of the bill, eight voted against it, 28 voted blank and 47 abstained. It will make a difference While the convention was first signed by Ukraine in 2011 — despite repeated calls from activists to ratify it — the government, for years, remained stubbornly mute on the subject and continued to delay its ratification because of opposition by religious and conservative groups over the term “gender” used in the document, as a recent article by Asami Terajima in the Kyiv Independent on Ukraine’s ratification … [Read more...] about A turning point for Ukraine and its women’s rights
Russia risks running out of weapons as Ukraine deadlock deepens – Western officials
Russia risks running out of ammunition as the deadlock deepens in eastern Ukraine , a Western official has revealed. Vladimir Putin ’s invaders and Ukrainian defence forces are increasingly locked in an attritional conflict in the Donbas region. An official warned: “With no strategic compromise and near stalemate on the ground, this will be a long war.” They believed the battle for the Donbas was “moving remarkably slowly”, adding: “ Russia has achieved tactical creeping success at very considerable cost.” They said Western officials were “increasingly alert that there will come a time when the tiny advances Russia is making become unsustainable in light of the costs and they will need a significant pause to regenerate capability”. Moscow was sending “significant reinforcements to the Donbas sector”, the official said, pointing to the Kremlin calling up “relatively low quality, under-manned, reservist units”. “In terms of force generation, Russia is effectively … [Read more...] about Russia risks running out of weapons as Ukraine deadlock deepens – Western officials