Russia Invades Ukraine

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Ukrainian general: Counteroffensive against Russia has reached "stalemate"

Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces has reached a stalemate, a top Ukrainian general said in an interview published this week.

https://www.axios.com/2023/11/02/ukraine-russia-war-stalemate-counteroffensive-aid?

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Russia's biggest drone strike in weeks hits Ukrainian infrastructure

KYIV, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Russia launched a massive drone attack early on Friday, hitting critical infrastructure in the west and south of Ukraine and destroying private houses and commercial buildings in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, officials said.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-drones-hit-civilian-target-ukraines-kharkiv-officials-say-2023-11-02/

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A Ukrainian missile strike on a shipyard in Crimea damages a Russian ship

The Russian military said a Ukrainian missile strike on a shipyard in annexed Crimea had damaged a Russian ship.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-crimea-shipyard-d83ad8ea77d6263eca27d93e738bb8e2?

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Putin and top military leaders visit southern military headquarters to assess his war in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don as he assessed the state of his country’s forces in Ukraine as the war drags on toward winter. It was his second public visit to the headquarters in less than a month.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-military-headquarters-168ea222e53d99ff56f4233740dfd962?

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Military training efforts for Ukraine hit major milestones As the Russian invasion grinds into a second winter and casualties — already estimated in the hundreds of thousands — continue to mount on both sides, combat training programs provided by Ukraine’s allies are helping it hold out and its odds of eventual victory. Read more.

Recent developments France is on course to have trained 7,000 Ukrainians this year as part of a European Union military assistance mission. The EU mission’s initial goal was to train 15,000 soldiers, but it has far exceeded that target. The U.S. has trained about 18,000, with an additional 1,000 in the pipeline, the Pentagon says. In Britain, 30,000 have learned soldiering in the past 17 months.   Instructors are imparting specialized military know-how, ranging from clearing mines and launching waterborne attacks aboard small boats to equipment repair, officer training and even help for Ukrainian military chaplains. This is in addition to basic training with weapons and battlefield first aid.

Related coverage ➤ Russia ramps up attacks on key cities in eastern Ukraine One year after liberation, Ukrainians in Kherson hold on to hope  Ukrainian war veterans with amputated limbs find freedom in jiu-jitsu

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🦊 Scoop: Lachlan in Ukraine

Lachlan Murdoch, who last week succeeded his father Rupert as chairman of both Fox Corp. and News Corp., traveled to Kyiv this weekend to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Axios' Dan Primack scoops.

• Why it matters: Fox News remains the most powerful source of information for Republicans, a majority of whom have soured on funding Ukraine in the war with Russia.

Murdoch was joined by two reporters for his companies — Benjamin Hall of Fox News, who was catastrophically wounded by incoming fire in Ukraine last year, and Jerome Starkey, defense editor of The Sun, the London tabloid.

• Hall interviewed Zelensky for tomorrow's edition of "Special Report with Bret Baier."

Hall also met with service members who helped with his evacuation.

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10 years later, a war-weary Ukraine reflects on events that began its collision course with Russia

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — It happens every November, when the cold descends on Kyiv. The change in weather always makes Dmytro Riznychenko think back, and he is overwhelmed by his emotions.

https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-uprising-anniversary-russia-war-maidan-2f73f31a5aec45bd7dbcddae8f72edac?

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Intercepted calls from the front lines in Ukraine show a growing number of Russian soldiers want out

In audio intercepts from the front lines in Ukraine, Russian soldiers speak in shorthand of 200s to mean dead, 300s to mean wounded. The urge to flee has become common enough that they also talk of 500s — people who refuse to fight.

https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-war-russian-soldiers-intercepted-audio-d2418788051731a32689feb821cd29ec?

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The Israel-Hamas war could divert attention from Ukraine, Zelenskyy says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the war with Russia is in a new stage, with winter expected to complicate fighting after a highly anticipated summer counteroffensive failed to produce desired results due to enduring shortages of weapons and ground forces. Read more.

Highlights “We have a new phase of war, and that is a fact,” Zelenskyy said in an exclusive interview with the AP in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, after touring the region. A counteroffensive powered by tens of billions of dollars in Western military aid did not forge the expected breakthroughs. Despite setbacks, however, he said Ukraine won’t give up. “Look, we are not backing down, I am satisfied. We are fighting with the second (best) army in the world, I am satisfied,” he said, referring to the Russian military. But he added: “We are losing people, I’m not satisfied. We didn’t get all the weapons we wanted, I can’t be satisfied, but I also can’t complain too much.”     Zelenskyy is concerned that the upheaval in the Middle East, the most violent in decades, threatens to take global attention and resources away from Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. Those concerns are amplified by the tumult that inevitably arises during a U.S. election year and its potential implications for Ukraine. Ukrainians understand “that we also need to fight for attention for the full-scale war,” he said. “We must not allow people to forget about the war here.”   A recent AP poll in the U.S. showed nearly half of Americans think too much is being spent on Ukraine. An increasing number of Republicans are not in favor of sending more aid, and it is not clear if or when a request for more from the White House will be approved by Congress. When asked about this, Zelenskyy replied bluntly that “the choice of Americans is the choice of Americans.” But he argued that by helping Ukraine, Americans are also helping themselves.

Related coverage ➤  Takeaways from AP’s interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy The debate over Ukraine aid was already complicated. Then it became tangled up in U.S. border security Ukraine has a new way to get its grain to the world despite Russia’s threat in the Black Sea

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Zelenskyy to address US senators by video as White House pushes Congress to support aid for Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address U.S. senators by video Tuesday during a classified briefing as the Biden administration urges Congress to approve the White House’s nearly $106 billion request for funds for the wars in Ukraine, Israel and other security needs.

https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-congress-military-assistance-economy-557cbced7f7c1242ea08c52dadefc33b?

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Ukraine's triple stalemate

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

In three critical arenas — the halls of Congress, European capitals and on the battlefield — Ukraine's war effort has encountered a storm of stalemates that pose an existential crisis to the country's future. Why it matters: With much of the world's attention focused on Israel and Gaza, President Biden and NATO's pledge to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes" is at serious risk. The implications could be devastating for Kyiv's democracy. Driving the news: The White House warned this morning that without congressional action, the U.S. government will run out of resources to support Ukraine by the end of the year. "There is no magical pot of funding available to meet this moment. We are out of money — and nearly out of time," Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young wrote to congressional leaders. Bipartisan Senate talks on a border package paired with Ukraine funding reached a breaking point over the weekend, with no further meetings currently scheduled, congressional sources tell Axios' Stef Kight. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will remotely join a classified briefing with senators tomorrow. An initial vote on a Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and border funding package will be held Wednesday, but it's expected to fail without GOP support. Leaders of the European Union — which some Republicans say should bear more of the burden for supporting Ukraine — are embroiled in a budget dispute that could threaten €50 billion ($54.2 billion) in funding for Kyiv. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, emboldened by the far-right's shocking victory in the Dutch elections last month, has demanded that opening talks about Ukraine's accession to the EU be removed from the agenda for the Dec. 14-15 European Council summit. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna recently described the upcoming summit as an "existential moment" for her country's future. On the battlefield, Russian President Vladimir Putin's bet that his invading forces could outlast Western political will appears to be paying off. "There will most likely be no deep and beautiful breakthrough" without technological advancements, Ukraine's top commander told The Economist in a frank assessment of his counteroffensive last month. A Washington Post deep dive found that cheap drones, an "ocean" of Russian mines, Putin's willingness to endure massive casualties, and Ukraine's lack of air power have contributed to the stalemate. Between the lines: Democrats involved in the Senate negotiations say talks have stalled because Republicans are unwilling to compromise on their desire to codify Trump-era border policies in exchange for Ukraine aid. GOP sources deny the talks are "dead" and say Democrats have long known significant border reforms would be a prerequisite to any Ukraine deal. That's especially true in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has signaled that nothing short of H.R. 2 — the GOP's sweeping, hardline border security package — would be acceptable. The bottom line: Posturing from both sides is inevitable in any negotiation. But when it comes to war, politics as usual can carry life-or-death consequences.

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White House points to defense spending in states in new plea for Ukraine aid

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is warning Congress that without more funding for Ukraine, the United States will no longer be able to provide that country with military assistance — and emphasizing the multiple states from Arkansas to Michigan to Pennsylvania where businesses already have benefited from earlier aid.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/12/04/white-house-points-to-defense-spending-in-states-in-new-plea-for-ukraine-aid/?

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The West has sanctioned Russia’s rich. But is that really punishing Putin and helping Ukraine? Western governments have sanctioned scores of billionaires to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin, choke off financial support for his war and turn them against him. But few tycoons have spoken out publicly and only a handful have unequivocally denounced the war, partly because they know it carries risk. With growing concerns about the future of Western funding for Ukraine, former diplomats and experts are asking what can be done to make the sanctions more effective and help Kyiv financially. Read more.

Why this matters: In the 21 months since the sanctions, few of the sanctioned have criticized Putin. Of an estimated $58 billion in frozen private assets confiscated in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, just $5.4 million has gone to Kyiv.   Assets of sanctioned individuals generally can only be liquidated if they are related to criminal activity. This can take years to prove, and most tycoons who have been sanctioned have not been accused of criminal wrongdoing.   Experts say a different approach is needed that could include offering tycoons a more clearly defined route off sanctions lists in exchange for cash and condemning Putin. It’s a controversial idea among Western governments, not least because they don’t want to suggest tycoons can buy their way off lists. Sanctions relief also doesn’t have the backing of Ukraine.

Related coverage ➤ The US imposes a new round of sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Under Putin, uber-wealthy Russian oligarchs are still rich but far less powerful

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Dismayed by Moscow’s war, Russian volunteers are joining Ukrainian ranks to fight Putin’s troops The Siberian Battalion is unique in many ways. Its soldiers are Russians who have joined Ukraine's military ranks to fight against their homeland, hoping someday to help oust Russian President Vladimir Putin. There are only a few dozen, but Ukraine hopes more Russians will join the battalion. Read more.

Why this matters: Unlike other volunteer units in Ukraine that have Russian nationals — such as the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps — the Siberian Battalion is officially part of the regular Ukrainian army. Fighters undergo lengthy security checks, which sometimes take up to a year, before they are trained and deployed.   For now, its fighters hail mostly from ethnic minorities from Russia's Far East. Fighters in the battalion from eastern Siberia, for example, hope a Ukrainian victory will bring them one step closer to dismantling Moscow’s political control over their region, which is among the poorest in Russia. Those from the area’s Yakut and Buryat ethnic communities complain of racism and oppression in Russia, which has driven some activist calls for independence.

Related coverage ➤ MI6 chief thanks Russian state television for its ‘help’ in encouraging Russians to spy for the UK US credibility is on the line in Ukraine funding debate Life in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine is grim. People are fleeing through a dangerous corridor

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A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers as war with Russia grinds on A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers nearly two years after Russia invaded their country. As Russian forces aim to push deeper into eastern Ukraine this winter so that Russian President Vladimir Putin can cite this momentum as he campaigns for reelection, Ukrainian soldiers say they remain fiercely determined to win, despite a disappointing counteroffensive this summer and signs of wavering financial support from allies. Read more.

Why this matters: A bleak mood is growing. The fatigue and frustration on the battlefield are mirrored in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, where disagreements among leaders have recently spilled out into the open. Discontent among Ukrainian soldiers — once extremely rare and expressed only in private — is also more common now.   A shift in defense. As winter approaches, Russia is looking better equipped for battle and Ukraine is mainly focused on standing its ground, according to interviews with a half dozen military commanders. Analysts say Ukraine may even be forced to cede patches of previously reclaimed territory this winter, though Russia is likely to pay a heavy price.   A lack of drones and men. Some Ukrainian commanders across the front line say they lack the fighters and firepower needed to keep Russia’s seemingly endless waves of infantrymen at arm’s length as they fortify defenses to protect soldiers. That places ever more importance on attack drones — a weapon, they say, that Russia is currently better equipped with.

Related coverage ➤ Ukrainian drone video provides a grim look at casualties as Russian troops advance toward Avdiivka Russia and Ukraine launch numerous drone attacks targeting a Russian air base and Black Sea coast

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Feds raided Rudy Giuliani’s home and office in 2021 over Ukraine suspicions, unsealed papers show

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal agents raided Rudy Giuliani’s home and office in 2021 because they suspected the former New York City mayor had sought the removal of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine partly because of the prospect of a financial reward from a Ukrainian official, according to documents made public Tuesday.

https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-2021-federal-raid-ukraine-57bac6d437b86a3ff5bb1f4b5db5aaf5?

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Russia Just Lost Three Su-34 Bombers in One Day

Ukraine claimed three more Russian Su-34 bombers downed on Friday, all in the southern area of operations which has been the focus of Kyiv's counteroffensive efforts over the past six months.

https://local.newsbreak.com/washington-state/3274406282520-russia-just-lost-three-su-34-bombers-in-one-day?

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🇷🇺 Putin open to Ukraine deal

Twenty-two months after invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is back-channeling that he's open to a deal to halt the war — as long as he could still declare victory, the N.Y. Times reports.

• Putin is "open to a cease-fire that freezes the fighting along the current lines, far short of his ambitions to dominate Ukraine."

Why it matters: "While deploying fiery public rhetoric, Mr. Putin privately telegraphs a desire to declare victory and move on," The Times says.

🥊 Reality check: Ukraine "has been rallying support for its own peace formula, which requires Moscow to surrender all captured Ukrainian territory and pay damages," The Times adds. So they're not close.

• Go deeper: Ukraine's wartime Christmas traditions.

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Ukraine damages a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea after battlefield disappointments

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian warplanes damaged a Russian ship moored in the Black Sea off Crimea, both countries said Tuesday, bolstering Ukrainian morale after battlefield disappointments and doubts about the future of Western aid.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-navy-ship-crimea-3d558083dcd765d8b9daccc461865b21?

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Russia launches the biggest aerial barrage of the war and kills 30 civilians, Ukraine says

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched 122 missiles and dozens of drones against Ukrainian targets, officials said Friday, killing at least 30 civilians across the country in what an air force official called the biggest aerial barrage of the war.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-aerial-attack-missiles-drones-fe3fb596cdea0035573a6a677f17070c?

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A look at Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian targets since the war began in February 2022

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian military has repeatedly used missiles to blast civilian targets across the country, with devastating consequences.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-invasion-war-military-0fd6866d7ee2aec12e51daa1e7c5c881?

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Russian missiles hit Ukrainian cities, killing 5 and injuring at least 130, Kyiv officials say

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s two largest cities came under attack early Tuesday from Russian missiles that killed five people and injured as many as 130, officials said, as the war approached its two-year mark and the Kremlin stepped up its winter bombardment of urban areas.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kharkiv-kyiv-2b23b1163c859a645b485d5c38035369?

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Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners in biggest swap of war

Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war on Wednesday in the largest prisoner swap between the two countries since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion nearly two years ago, according to officials.

https://www.axios.com/2024/01/03/ukrainian-prisoners-free-russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap?

Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners of war in biggest release so far

Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the biggest single release of captives since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-belgorod-e1fab1a1968fc272fd49687399e4cc78?

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Russia has used North Korean ballistic missiles in Ukraine and is seeking Iranian missiles, US says

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russia has acquired ballistic missiles from North Korea and is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran as Moscow struggles to replenish supplies for its war with Ukraine, the White House said Thursday.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ballistic-missile-ukraine-iran-us-intelligence-3601a979e91d19c94e7d0fe27a398669?

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More than 220 Russian soldiers have surrendered to Ukraine via a hotline

More than 220 Russian soldiers have surrendered to Ukraine by appealing to the "I Want to Live" hotline .

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3288895483036-more-than-220-russian-soldiers-have-surrendered-to-ukraine-via-a-hotline?