Ukraine has made its first battlefield gains since the launch of its counteroffensive against Russian forces, claiming the liberation of several villages in the eastern Donetsk region. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram that Ukraine’s flag was again flying over the village of Storozhov, and she predicted the liberation of “all Ukrainian land” would be the final outcome. The United Nations has estimated that the conflict has caused the displacement of more than 1.5 million people and the death of over 13,000 since 2014.
Posts tagged as “Moscow”
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.
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.
Tara Reade, a former Senate aide who accused President Joe Biden of sexual assault, has moved to Moscow and is seeking Russian citizenship. Reade said that she felt "heard and respected" in Russia and that she was now asking President Vladimir Putin for citizenship. Her accusations against Biden sparked a national debate about sexual assault and the #MeToo movement, which Biden has denied.
Moscow was hit by an unprecedented drone attack Tuesday morning, with the Russian defense ministry saying that all of the enemy drones were downed. This attack comes weeks after an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin itself and following days of deadly Russian bombardment against civilians in Kyiv. The attack is a dramatic display of the Kremlin's war increasingly coming home and is a reminder of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula.
Turkish citizens headed to the polls on Sunday for the second round of the presidential election, with incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan facing off against challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Voters waited in short lines to cast their ballots, hoping for a good outcome for the country. The election is being closely watched from around the world, as the results will determine whether Erdogan will extend his rule or if Kilicdaroglu will be able to restore a more democratic society.
American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been wrongfully detained in Russia since March and his pre-trial detention has been extended until August 30th by the Lefortovsky District Court in Moscow. The U.S. State Department and international human rights groups have called for his release, while the Russian Foreign Ministry has accused him of espionage without providing any evidence.
Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine wrongfully detained in Russia since December 2018, has expressed his concern about the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has called for the release of Whelan and other wrongfully detained Americans in Russia, and the Biden administration has yet to comment on the situation. Whelan remains hopeful that he will be released soon, expressing confidence that the wheels are turning.