Russia

The Associated Press reports: Russian forces accelerated scattered attacks on Kyiv, western Ukraine and beyond Saturday in an explosive reminder to Ukrainians and their Western supporters that the whole country remains under threat despite Moscow’s pivot toward mounting a new offensive in the east. Stung by the loss of its Black Sea flagship and indignant over alleged Ukrainian aggression on …

Reuters reports: Dozens of people gathered in the Crimean city of Sevastopol on Friday to mourn the sinking of the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, a symbol, the crowd heard, of hope, revival and power until its demise. Some embraced and others laid flowers in memory of the Moskva missile cruiser at a monument to the 1696 foundation of …

The Associated Press reports: The bodies of more than 900 civilians have been discovered in the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital following Russia’s withdrawal — most of them fatally shot, police said Friday, an indication that many people were “simply executed.” The jarring number emerged shortly after Russia’s Defense Ministry promised to step up missile attacks on Kyiv in response …

Agence France-Presse reports: Russia’s Moskva warship was hit by two Ukrainian missiles before it sank in the Black Sea, a senior Pentagon official said Friday, calling it a “big blow” for Moscow. Briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, the official confirmed Kyiv’s account of the incident — which Russia said was caused by exploding ammunition on board. “We assess that …

CNN reports: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an exclusive interview from the office of the president in Kyiv on Friday that Putin could turn to either nuclear or chemical weapons because he does not value the lives of the people of Ukraine. “Not only me — all of the world, all of the countries have to …

The Washington Post reports: Russia this week sent a formal diplomatic note to the United States warning that U.S. and NATO shipments of the “most sensitive” weapons systems to Ukraine were “adding fuel” to the conflict there and could bring “unpredictable consequences.” The diplomatic démarche, a copy of which was reviewed by The Washington Post, came as President Biden approved …

The Associated Press reports: The head of the U.N. World Food Program said people are being “starved to death” in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, and he predicted the country’s humanitarian crisis is likely to worsen as Russia intensifies its assault in the coming weeks. WFP executive director David Beasley also warned in an interview Thursday with The Associated …

The Associated Press reports: French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen warned today against sending any more weapons to Ukraine, and called for a rapprochement between NATO and Russia once Moscow’s war in Ukraine winds down. Le Pen, an outspoken nationalist who has long ties to Russia, also confirmed that if she unseats President Emmanuel Macron in France’s April 24 …

Axios reports: Russia’s Defense Ministry threatened on Friday to increase bombings on Kyiv if Ukraine attacks targets on Russian territory. The threat comes after the ministry announced the sinking of the Moskva cruiser, the flagship of its Black Sea fleet. Ukraine said it struck the ship with cruise missiles, while Russia claimed it sank in a storm while being towed …

The BBC reports: A Russian warship that was damaged by an explosion on Wednesday has sunk, Russia’s defence ministry has said. Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, was being towed to port when “stormy seas” caused it to sink, according to a ministry message. The 510-crew missile cruiser was a symbol of Russia’s military power, leading its naval …

Reuters reports: Russia said the crew of its Moskva warship were evacuated on Thursday after an explosion of ammunition aboard that Ukraine said was caused by a missile strike, and a U.S. defence official said the stricken vessel was still trying to put out a fire. The warship, a Soviet-era missile cruiser, is still believed afloat and the United States …

The Washington Post reports: Russia warned Finland and Sweden on Thursday that if they join NATO, Moscow will reinforce the Baltic Sea region, including by deploying nuclear weapons. Dmitry Medvedev, a Putin ally who serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said Thursday that NATO expansion would lead Russia to strengthen air, land and naval forces to “balance” military …

The Independent reports: Steven Seagal reiterated his support for Vladimir Putin and his allies at a party in Moscow for his 70th birthday, it has emerged. In a video circulated on Twitter, Seagal, who called Putin “one of the greatest world leaders, if not the greatest world leader, alive today”, could be seen calling everyone in the room “my family …

Axios reports: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered during a televised address Wednesday to exchange Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Kremlin Ukrainian oligarch who was recently arrested, for Ukrainian prisoners of war. “I offer the Russian Federation to exchange this guy of yours for our boys and our girls who are now in Russian captivity,” Zelensky said. “It is therefore important that our …

Axios reports: President Biden on Tuesday said Russia is committing genocide in Ukraine, telling reporters “it’s become clearer and clearer” that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is just trying to wipe out even the idea of being Ukrainian.” While Biden had accused Putin and Russian forces of committing war crimes, the U.S. had previously refrained from using the term “genocide” to …

The New York Times reports: President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said on Tuesday that the “main goal” of the war in Ukraine was “to help people” in the country’s east, the latest sign that Russia is focused on the battle for the Donbas region as the next stage of the war. “What we are doing is helping people and …

The Hill reports: In an interview with CNN, Donestk region military governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said that Russian troops were taking the bodies in order to destroy them in “territory not controlled by Ukraine” in an attempt to hide “evidence of genocide.” “They are using mobile crematoriums and mobile cremation machines and, also, taking people out, taking bodies of the dead …

The Daily Beast reports: Italian police have added another stunning villa to their collection of sequestered Russian properties after seizing the so-called Rocky Ram belonging to former Formula One driver Nikita Dmitrievich Mazepin and his father, chemical baron Dimitry Mazepin, on Monday. The property, valued at around $115 million, sits on a cliff overlooking Sardinia’s rocky Paradise Beach coast and …

Mediaite reports: “The most banal approach I can think of is to invite Trump—before he announces he’s running for President—to some future summit in liberated Mariupol,” said Russian pundit Malek Dudakov. Another pundit on air agreed and suggested that former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) also be invited to Mariupol after the war. “Tulsi Gabbard would also be great. Maybe Trump …

The Associated Press reports: The mayor of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol said Monday that more than 10,000 civilians have died in the Russian siege of his city, and that the death toll could surpass 20,000, with corpses that were “carpeted through the streets.” Speaking by phone Monday to The Associated Press, Mayor Vadym Boychenko also said Russian forces …