Russia and ukraine conflict

Russian missile attacks on residential areas killed at least 21 people early on Friday near the Ukrainian port of Odesa, authorities reported, a day after the withdrawal of Moscow’s forces from an island in the Black Sea seemed to ease the threat to the city. Video of the attack before daybreak showed the charred ruins of buildings in the small town of Serhiivka, about 50 kilometers from Odesa. The Ukrainian President’s office said three Kh-22 missiles fired by warplanes struck an apartment building and a campsite. Data | India’s imports from Russia soar amid sanctions Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. The conversation that came days after PM Modi participated in the G7 summit in Germany, included the Ukraine crisis and the latest developments in the global commodities market. "The two leaders reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken during President Putin's visit to India in December 2021. … [Read more...] about Russia-Ukraine crisis updates | Blasts rock Mykolaiv after Russian missiles kill 21 near Odesa

WASHINGTON — In the early phase of the war in Ukraine, shortages of soldiers and problems with equipment forced Russia to narrow its mission, abandon its assault on Kyiv and focus its offensive on the east. Now, as the fighting enters its sixth month, critical manpower and equipment problems could again slow Russian operations and give Ukraine’s counteroffensive a better chance to succeed, U.S. and European officials said. The signs of Russia’s challenges abound: artillery shells missing their targets, intercepts of Russian soldiers complaining they have been given old tanks and a sharply rising death and injury toll in its military ranks. But unlike earlier in the war, it could become harder for Russia to reset its strategy and recover, at least in the short term. U.S. and European officials say few powers have conquered a country and destroyed an opposing army with a mostly volunteer force, as President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is attempting to do. But Mr. … [Read more...] about Russia’s Shortfalls Create an Opportunity for Ukraine, Western Officials Say

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia is working to fabricate evidence and frame Ukraine for an attack that killed dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war , U.S. and Ukrainian officials told NBC News Thursday. Describing recently declassified intelligence, a U.S. official said the United States expects Russian officials to falsify intelligence about the July 29 attack on the prison camp in Olenivka, which Kremlin-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region said killed 53 and injured 75. Ahead of likely future visits by international investigators and journalists to the attack site, the official said, “We have reason to believe that Russia would go so far as to make it appear that Ukrainian HIMARS were to blame.” HIMARS refers to High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, advanced medium-range rocket launchers, which the U.S. recently provided to Ukraine. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , said Ukraine had exchanged intelligence … [Read more...] about Russia aims to fabricate evidence in killing of POWs, U.S. and Ukraine warn

The Russian military has reportedly suffered a major casualty in the form of a decorated senior military officer. Lieutenant Colonel Nikolay Gorban, 36, head of the 4th Department of the Special Operations Department of Russia's Federal Security Service, was reportedly killed "somewhere in Ukraine on August 2," InformNapalm reporter Anton Pavlushko said in a Sunday Facebook post . The circumstances surrounding the death of Gorban, who reportedly fought in Syria and possessed two Medals of Courage, were not mentioned. Gorban was reportedly among Russian President Vladimir Putin 's highest-ranking officials, according to Pavlushko. Pavlushko also posted a photo of a plaque featuring Gorban's picture, with flowers placed underneath. The message, written in Russian, reads that Gorban "participated in the conduct of combat activities and special operations both in Russia and abroad." "In the course of carrying out combat missions, he proved himself to be a courageous and … [Read more...] about Senior commander of Putin’s elite special forces killed in Ukraine: Report

This is the life of frontline workers during the war in eastern Ukraine. They are resting with their unit in a village before another rotation. These women are joining the war effort in any way they can. 29-year-old Kateryna Novakivska provides the troops with moral and psychological support. She says soldiers talk more easily with her than to their loved ones because there are a lot of things that they cannot tell them. But at times it is even hard for her to listen to everything they share as that makes her depressed. Karina joined the army in 2020 on a two-year contract and drives her armored vehicle back and forth from the front line. She says it is hard to think about the soldiers when everyone is in position. Every incoming rocket or missile is hard to bear. To hope that no one gets hit or dies is the hardest thing for them. The Russians have already taken a lot of territory in Ukraine. Dozens of soldiers are killed every day on Ukraine’s eastern front, where … [Read more...] about Watch | This is how Ukraine’s women warriors live

KYIV, Ukraine — The prospect of a nuclear catastrophe spurred growing international alarm Monday after shelling hit a Russian-controlled power plant in Ukraine that is almost twice the size of Chernobyl. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for international inspectors to be given access to the sprawling nuclear site as fears of a disaster grew after the weekend strikes left the plant damaged but still operational. “Any attack to a nuclear plant is a suicidal thing,” he said Monday in Tokyo after a ceremony in Hiroshima to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing. Russia and Ukraine have traded accusations over who is responsible for attacks on the plant, which is the largest in Europe. … [Read more...] about Fears of nuclear catastrophe grow after attacks on power plant in Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine continues with no end in sight , concerns are mounting in Washington—in both Democratic and Republican circles—that the Biden administration is holding back from supplying Ukraine with certain weapons that could give the invaded country a clear edge against Russia. The dispute centers around a mobile rocket launcher known in military circles as “HIMARS” (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System). It’s essentially a lightly armored military truck capable of firing multiple rockets. And the controversy on Capitol Hill is whether the United States should be supplying Ukraine with longer-range missiles—ones capable of traveling deep into Russia. Most lawmakers are grateful the United States has already supplied Ukraine with these HIMARS. Just this week, the Biden administration announced a new aid package that includes more munitions for the HIMARS. But many lawmakers also said they were concerned the Biden administration was holding back on longer-range munitions, … [Read more...] about Lawmakers Want Better Weapons for Ukraine. Biden Isn’t So Sure.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Insurer Hiscox tumbled to a hefty 107 million dollar (£88 million) loss for the first half of the year amid growing losses linked to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. Shares in the company fell on Wednesday morning continuing a recent sorry spell for London insurers. Hiscox slid to the significant loss from a 133 million dollar (£109 million) profit over the same period last year. The business insurance specialist said the loss was partly driven by a sharp decline in the value of its investment portfolio over the period. It recorded an investment loss of 214 million dollars (£175.7 million), having posted a profit over the same half-year in 2021. Hiscox also told shareholders it faces losses from Ukraine and Russia of around 48 million dollars (£39.4 million), an increase from its previous … [Read more...] about Insurer Hiscox slides to £88m loss amid hit from Ukraine conflict

Russia has not managed to destroy any of the U.S.-supplied HIMARS in Ukraine in spite of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu saying otherwise, according to a Pentagon official. Acting Pentagon spokesman Todd Breasseale directly refuted Shoigu, who said this week that Russia had destroyed six of the HIMARS in total, Reuters reported on Wednesday. "We are aware of these latest claims by Minister Shoigu and they are again patently false," Reuters quoted Breasseale as saying. "What is happening, however, is that the Ukrainians are employing with devastating accuracy and effectiveness, each of the fully accounted for precision missile systems the U.S., our Allies, and partners have provided them to defend against Russia's brutal, criminal invasion." Breasseale's comments did not appear to be publicly available on the Department of Defense's website as of Wednesday morning. Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon for access to the full statement from Breasseale. The United … [Read more...] about U.S. denies any HIMARS systems in Ukraine destroyed by Russia

Long before he rose to power in Russia, Vladimir Putin had a "fixation" on Ukraine, according to the author of a comprehensive new biography on the longtime Russian leader. Philip Short, who penned the aptly named Putin , noted in a piece published by Time on Wednesday that Ukraine was able to gain independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 . Putin, who was appointed acting president in 1999 and has since maintained his grip on power in Russia via the presidential and prime minister offices, said mere days before he invaded Ukraine on February 24 that Russia's western neighbor "actually never had stable traditions of real statehood." When Putin announced Russia's offensive in Ukraine in late February, he did not describe it as a war but as a " special military operation " aiming for the "demilitarization and denazification" of a country that he accused of bullying and genocide. But Ukraine has said that Russia was looking for a false pretext to attempt to … [Read more...] about Putin Ukraine “fixation” began years before he rose to power: Biographer