The Biden administration has released new intelligence warning of a deepening military partnership between Iran and Russia, which includes the transportation of hundreds of attack drones to Russia for Moscow's war in Ukraine. The White House also released a satellite photo of a planned drone production plant in Tatarstan, which could be operational as soon as next year. The U.S. is urging both countries to end their military cooperation.
Posts tagged as “Eastern Ukraine”
Residents of Southern Ukraine are facing a chaotic situation as they attempt to evacuate people from a vast area flooded by the destruction of a crucial dam in Russian held territory. Ukraine has accused Russia of shelling civilians fleeing the floodwaters and has called for an investigation into the dam's destruction. Emergency workers and regular citizens are risking life and limb to evacuate people from the flooded area and the Ukrainian government has called for international assistance to help with the relief efforts.
Five people have died and two more are missing after a dam breach in Nova Kakhovka, Ukraine caused massive flooding. Vladimir Leontyev, the Russian-appointed mayor, reported the deaths on Russian state TV and efforts are underway to evacuate the missing people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited affected areas and urged allies to offer aid and assistance.
The House Oversight Committee is set to vote Thursday on whether to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over a document subpoenaed by Chair James Comer. The document, an FD-1023 form, was brought back from Ukraine by Rudy Giuliani and is related to an alleged bribery scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden. Attorney General William Barr set up an “intake process” for the material in April.
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station in southern Ukraine, threatening a massive flood that could displace hundreds of thousands of people. Ukrainian authorities have warned that the dam’s failure could unleash 18 million cubic meters of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other areas. In response, Ukraine has ordered residents downriver to evacuate, though the exact number of people affected is still unknown.
Russia's Defense Ministry has claimed that Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale offensive against five areas in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine on Sunday, but their forces were able to successfully thwart the attack. The Ukrainian government has not confirmed or denied the claims, but have cautioned against Russian misinformation. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been escalating since 2014, and the recent attack is the latest in a series of escalations. It remains to be seen how the two sides will respond.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that a cease-fire in Ukraine that allows Russia to consolidate control over the territory it has seized is not a just and lasting peace. The U.S. and its allies are pushing for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, while Ukraine is receiving military training to be able to defend itself. The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in the deaths of more than 13,000 people and the displacement of 1.5 million since 2014.
The U.S. has been attempting to restore high-level communications with China, and extended an invitation for Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. However, China has declined the invitation, signaling limits to their willingness to ease tensions. It remains to be seen if the two sides can come to an agreement and move forward with their relationship.