Russia ukraine war

Germany has collected evidence of Russia's war crimes reaching the "three-digit range," German Prosecutor General Peter Frank warned. Frank spoke to Welt am Sonntag media outlet on Saturday saying, "Currently, for example, we are focusing on the mass killings in Bucha or attacks against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure." Frank added that Germany is "not yet investigating specific persons, but rather collecting information and evidence," and also questioning Ukrainian refugees who "may have knowledge of war crimes in Ukraine." As of January 28, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office reported Russia has committed 66,743 "crimes of aggression and war crimes." The report also says that 459 children have been killed, and 917 have been injured since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Rajan Menon, Director of the Grand Strategy Program at Defense Priorities, told Newsweek on Saturday, "there's no doubt that the Russian army has committed war crimes: I've been to … [Read more...] about Russia’s war crimes reach “three-digit range” Germany warns

KYIV, Ukraine — Moscow is deploying thousands of soldiers to southeastern Ukraine as it renews an assault on a strategically important town that Ukrainian forces have used to harass shipments on a critical Russian supply line that runs from the eastern Donbas region to Crimea. The town, Vuhledar, has long been in Russia’s cross hairs. It sits at the intersection of the eastern front in the Donetsk region and the southern front in the Zaporizhzhia region , close to the only rail line linking Crimea with the Donbas region. The Ukrainians have used that proximity to lob artillery shells at the trains, limiting Russia’s ability to move men and equipment between the two fronts and, ultimately, to achieve its stated aim of capturing the Donbas, which comprises the provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk. After a major drive in November failed, with reportedly enormous losses, Russian commanders are once again attacking in and around Vuhledar in hopes of securing the rail line. “This can be … [Read more...] about Russia Pushes to Take Ukrainian Town Near a Vital Supply Line

A convention aimed at eliminating landmine usage is raising concerns about the alleged application of them by Ukraine. The war-torn nation is among the 164 member states of The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, also known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. If a report released this week by Human Rights Watch (HRW) is true, it would mean that Ukraine is not in full compliance with the treaty, the convention said in a Friday news release . Thomas Göbel, convention president and German ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, said the ban on these mines "must be respected" by all nations in "times of war as in peace." " We therefore take seriously a report by Human Rights Watch about the alleged use of anti-personnel mines by members of the Ukrainian armed forces," Göbel said. Ukraine has said it "has always demonstrated its readiness for cooperation" with … [Read more...] about Landmine treaty seeks answers after Ukraine’s alleged use of banned mines

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine draws closer to the one-year mark, Russian media pundits are still debating exactly what a victory for Moscow would look like. In a video shared Friday on Twitter by Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Chechen general Apti Alaudinov—who in March led troops of what Russia called volunteers from Chechnya to Ukraine—joined the host of Russia-1's "60 Minutes" to talk about the situation on the battleground in Ukraine. Alaudinov, who was awarded with the title of commander of the special Akhmat forces and "Hero of Russia" last August, joined the show after appearing in a self-shot video from a snowy Ukraine. He speaks of the war in Ukraine as one that can only end "with Russia ceasing to exist or with the NATO bloc ceasing to exist in the format it has up until now." Alaudinov adds that he doesn't believe the Russian leadership will agree to a peace that doesn't include the end of NATO as we know it. … [Read more...] about Russian state TV can’t decide what Ukraine victory would look like

The United States is stepping up efforts to persuade partner nations that have not joined Western sanctions on Russia to crack down on commercial activities in their countries that could be helping Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine , U.S. officials said. Those efforts include pointing out to foreign governments transactions that the United States suspects are helping Russia evade sanctions and threatening new American sanctions on people and companies that the United States believes are fueling Russia’s war machine, the officials said on Friday. The new push comes as the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches and as U.S. officials, recognizing the limited effect of layers of Western sanctions on Russia , seek new ways to increasingly damage the Russian economy and undermine President Vladimir V. Putin’s ability to support his forces. The sting from these sanctions is leading Russia to look for new economic pathways, said a senior U.S. official, who spoke on … [Read more...] about U.S. Presses Partners to Weed Out Illicit Trade With Russia

A key ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Moscow could turn to nuclear deterrence if Ukraine tries to retake control of Crimea. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, said in an interview with a Russian journalist published to Telegram on Saturday that any Ukrainian attacks on Crimea would be met with "retaliation strikes," with no negotiations to end the conflict, which will hit its first-year anniversary later this month. His remarks come as Russia struggles to achieve substantial military victories in Ukraine, despite the large size of its military. When Putin launched the invasion on February 24, 2022, he aimed for a quick win, but Ukraine's stronger-than-expected defense effort, bolstered by Western military aid, blunted the Kremlin's military gains, allowing Kyiv to retake thousands of square miles in formerly occupied territory last fall. Now, Ukrainian victories are … [Read more...] about Russia floats nuclear deterrence if Ukraine attacks Crimea

Ukraine has confirmed fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be planning a February 24 'anniversary' attack on the country with half a million troops. Ukraine ’s defence minister Oleksii Reznikov has said that Moscow has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops and could “try something” on the one year anniversary of its invasion. The major new offensive would mark another phase of the ongoing war, and comes after prolonged fears Russia might utilise the anniversary date to renew their efforts to take Ukraine . The Kremlin shocked the world when, in February last year, it invaded the country and tried to seize Kyiv as apart of what it claimed was a "special military operation". Any attack would also mark Russia’s Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23 - which celebrates the army. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov is the latest to warn Putin might try something on the one year anniversary of the initial invasion ( Image: Getty Images) … [Read more...] about Ukraine confirms Putin planning February ‘anniversary’ attack with half a million troops

Russian state TV presenter Sergey Mardan praised North Korea for threatening to use nuclear weapons against the United States during a Friday night broadcast amid the Ukraine war. After Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine last February, state TV pundits have repeatedly taunted the West, which has largely condemned Moscow's military actions, over the potential use of nuclear weapons that would greatly escalate the conflict between the two Eastern European nations. The latest nuclear remarks came Friday night when Mardan celebrated North Korea for being "independent" in global affairs, as well as for its President Kim Jong-un's nuclear threats. Video of the discussion was posted to Twitter by BBC journalist Francis Scarr on Saturday morning. "For them, independence is an absolute value for which they are prepared to do anything, including turning the whole world into dust," Mardan said. "That's to say, when King Jong-un said back when Trump was … [Read more...] about Russian propagandist praises North Korea’s nuclear threats against U.S.

Live Updates A mysterious balloon was spotted flying over the U.S. this week, raising concerns about whether another country was using the device to spy on America. The balloon has been identified as belonging to China. The Chinese government said Friday the balloon mistakenly flew off course while collecting weather-related data. The Pentagon said it is tracking the balloon as it floats above U.S. commercial airspace. Officials said the "surveillance balloon" violates U.S. airspace and international law. The balloon is expected to continue floating above the U.S. for " a few days ," U.S. defense officials said. People across northern Missouri reported seeing the balloon Friday afternoon. Republicans have blasted President Joe Biden for not shooting down the balloon, calling it moment of weakness for the administration. The White House said the balloon was not shot down due to the risk of safety of people on the ground. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken … [Read more...] about Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Updates: Blinken postpones China trip

The wife of a Marine veteran turned medical volunteer who was killed in Ukraine paid tribute to her “selfless” husband Saturday. “I can’t imagine our lives without him. I loved him so much, and he loved me so well,” Alex Potter said of her husband Pete Reed in a statement. “Everything he did was always for the benefit of others,” she said, adding that his “big personality overlaid the fact that he was also incredibly sensitive, loving, and brave in all aspects of the word, someone who carried me and others through incredibly hard times, placing others’ needs above his own.” Reed, 33, was killed Thursday “while rendering aid” in the city of Bakhmut, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Global Response Medicine, the group he founded to help provide emergency medical care for people displaced by war or disaster, said in a statement Friday. The city and its surrounding area have become a focal point of the war and both Ukraine and Russia have suffered huge losses in … [Read more...] about Wife pays tribute to ‘selfless’ marine veteran who died treating people in Ukraine