Last week, Ukrainian forces surrendered the eastern city of Avdiivka, which they had for months been desperately defending against a brutal Russian onslaught. The conquest of Avdiivka represents a strategic and symbolic victory for Russia, strengthening its defence of the regional capital, Donetsk, and potentially opening up avenues for further offensives against Ukrainian-held territory. Ukrainian…
It’s called the Munich Rule: engage and interact; don’t lecture or ignore one another. But this year, at the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC), two of the most talked-about people weren’t even here. That included former US President Donald Trump, whose possible return to the White House could throw a spanner in the work of…
US President Joe Biden has assured his Ukrainian counterpart that $60bn in military aid is on its way. The measure still needs to pass a final congressional vote, but Mr Biden told Volodymyr Zelensky that he was confident it would be approved. Mr Zelensky had earlier made an urgent appeal for more weapons to avoid…
Alexei Navalny’s mother has been unable to recover his body after his death in an Arctic jail, a close aide to the dead Russian opposition leader says. Kira Yarmysch said his mother, Lyudmila, was told his body would only be handed over once a post-mortem examination had been completed. Mr Navalny’s team believes the anti-corruption…
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has made an urgent appeal for more weapons to avoid a “catastrophic” situation in Europe. An “artificial deficit of weapons” will only help Russia, Mr Zelensky told an international conference in Germany. Ukrainian troops have been running out of ammunition as vital US support has been held up by supporters of…
Ukraine’s military says it is withdrawing its troops from Avdiivka – the key eastern town besieged by Russian forces. Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said he acted “to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of service personnel”. He added that the troops were being moved to “more favourable lines”. Avdiivka – a gateway to…
“Difficult, but under control”, “manoeuvring” but not “retreating”. Ukraine’s military has chosen its words carefully when it comes to the situation in the eastern city of Avdiivka, which was briefly occupied by Russia in 2014 before being retaken by Ukraine. But the inescapable reality is that Russia is likely to be about to achieve its…
The US has warned that Russia could seize Ukraine’s key eastern town of Avdiivka – the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in recent months. “Avdiivka is at risk of falling into Russian control,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, citing Ukraine’s ammunition shortages. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to do everything to…
At least four people have been killed in an air attack on the Russian city of Belgorod, Russian media report. Another 10 people are said to have been wounded in the strike not far from the Ukrainian border. Videos circulating on social media showed several ambulances parked outside a heavily damaged shopping centre with shattered…
The man’s fist looked unrecognisable. Like a split and bruised peach. “Or like a rock,” said the Ukrainian army surgeon, tapping the frozen fingers. It was the second case of frostbite he’d treated that morning, standing beside a makeshift operating table, hidden inside an anonymous-looking cottage near the besieged ruins of the Ukrainian front-line town…