European Council sanctions 33 people over ‘slow killing’ of Alexei Navalny
The European Council has sanctioned 33 people and two entities over the death of former Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny last month, it was announced on March 22.
Chris York
Articles
White House condemns ‘brutal strikes’ against Ukraine, calls for more air defense
The White House on March 22 condemned Russia’s “brutal strikes overnight against Ukraine’s cities and civilian infrastructure,” after a series of attacks killed at least five people and left almost 1.5 million people without electricity.
Media: Russian Navy accidentally hits fishing boat, authorities try to cover it up
A Russian fishing trawler was hit by a missile during Russia’s Baltic Fleet military exercises, killing three and injuring four others, a relative of one of the dead men claimed to the Russian TV Rain on March 21.
Hungary’s Orban congratulates Putin on election ‘win’
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban congratulated Vladimir Putin on his presidential election win in a letter lauding their countries’ cooperation “based on mutual respect.”
French army chief: Putin needs to know West could send troops to Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to understand that Western support for Ukraine could extend to troops on the ground, the chief of France’s Armed Forces, General Thierry Burkhard, said on March 21, as reported by AFP.
Russia continues to redeploy Black Sea Fleet from Crimea, Ukraine promises ‘new steps’ to target it
Russia is continuing the redeployment of its Black Sea Fleet from occupied Crimea to the relative safety of Novorossiysk after yet more successful strikes on its ships, Ukraine’s military intelligence reported on March 21.
Ukraine closing public access to ‘International War Sponsors’ list
Ukraine is removing its ‘International War Sponsors’ list from the website of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption after representatives from several countries raised concerns, the Cabinet of Ministers announced on March 20.
Russia accuses Olympic Committee of ‘racism and neo-Nazism’ over opening ceremony decision
The Kremlin has accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of “racism and neo-Nazism” over its decision to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics this summer.
UN: Russia creating ‘stifling climate of fear’ in occupied territories
Russia is committing widespread violations of international law, including unlawful detention and torture, to create a “stifling climate of fear” in occupied areas of Ukraine, the UN said on March 20.
Russia’s ‘exit tax’ nets Kremlin $385 million from foreign firms in 2024 alone
A Russian ‘exit tax’ on foreign companies leaving the country has netted the Kremlin $385 million since the start of 2024, already surpassing predictions for the full year, Reuters reported on March 20.
New ICC chief on Putin: ‘Heaven's vengeance is slow but sure’
The new Head of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Tomoko Akane told Kyodo News on March 20 that "Heaven's vengeance is slow but sure" when asked what fate awaits Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia threatens to target US spy satellites made by SpaceX
Russia said on March 20 that U.S. spy satellites launched in collaboration with private companies such as SpaceX would be a “legitimate target for retaliatory measures, including military ones.”
5 things to know about the latest weapons being sent to Ukraine
Over the past few days, Germany, Belgium, and Finland announced aid packages for Ukraine totaling over 1 billion euros, a critical boost to Kyiv's military from Europe as the U.S. continues to squabble over and delay a $60 billion package of its own. While the latest assistance pledged is
Russian, Belarusian athletes barred from Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to take part in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics this summer, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on March 19.
Lloyd Austin: 'Ukraine’s survival is in danger’
Ukraine’s survival in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion is “in danger” which poses a risk to America, the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on March 19.
Trump says US won't leave NATO if member states 'play fair'
Former U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. will remain in NATO and come to the aid of a bloc member if they are attacked so long as other countries “play fair” and pay their share of maintaining the alliance.
Politico: France calls for curb on Ukrainian imports
France is calling for a curb on Ukrainian agricultural imports, joining Poland in a push that could cost Kyiv 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in trade revenue, Politico reported on March 19.
Ukraine, Estonia begin drafting bilateral security agreement
Ukraine and Estonia have started work on a draft bilateral security agreement, the Presidential Office said on March 19.
Anti-Kremlin militia claims fighting ongoing in Belgorod Oblast
One of the anti-Kremlin militias fighting in Russia's Belgorod Oblast claimed that fighting is ongoing in the region and that it is continuing to take prisoners.
Why is Russia intensifying attacks on Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast?
Russian attacks on Ukraine's northern Sumy Oblast have left some villages resembling the ruins of Bakhmut and Marinka, officials have said, as Moscow's forces continue to escalate aerial bombardments against homes and civilian infrastructure in the area. In the latest strikes, one person was killed and another injured in Velyka
Charles Michel: ‘Europe must prepare for war’
If Europe wants to exist in peace it must shift to a “war economy” mode and significantly bolster defense capabilities in the face of the threat posed by Russia, European Council President Charles Michel said on March 18.
‘It was not unpredictable’ – While House condemns Putin’s sham election victory
There was “nothing free or fair” about Vladimir Putin’s presidential election victory, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on March 18, highlighting the extreme lengths the Kremlin went to to get the result it needed.
Kyiv adopts plan for ‘Ukraine Facility,’ structural reforms to be implemented
Ukraine has adopted a plan for a series of reforms that will allow the EU to provide up to €50 billion over the next four years, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on March 18.
Ukrainian intelligence 'hacking Russian online voting systems'
A source in the military intelligence agency confirmed to the Kyiv Independent it was currently making attempts to disrupt the vote, adding: "There are no elections or democracy there anyway."
Bloomberg: Republicans warming to idea of using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine
According to Bloomberg, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul is working on a plan that would involve seizing some of the frozen Russian assets to pay for the bill.
Russian torture of Ukrainian POWs ‘widespread and systematic,’ UN commission says
Russian torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) is “widespread and systematic” and shows a “blatant disregard for human dignity,” a report from a United Nations commission of inquiry on Ukraine said on March 15.
Ukraine retrieves bodies of 100 fallen soldiers
Ukraine has repatriated the bodies of 100 soldiers who died fighting against Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of the Prisoners of War reported on March 15.
Michel mockingly congratulates Putin on ‘landslide victory’ as Russian presidential elections begin
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, mocked Vladimir Putin on the first day of the Russian pseudo-democratic presidential elections that are expected to grant him six more years in power.
Kyiv confirms Ukrainian drone strike on oil refinery in Russia’s Kaluga region
Ukraine has successfully targeted yet another Russian oil refinery, this time in the country’s Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, in the early hours of March 15, a source in Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), confirmed to the Kyiv Independent.
Russia claims no ‘active combat’ in Belgorod region, Ukraine says otherwise
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has said there are no hostilities on the territory of the region just hours after Ukrainian military intelligence said it was “now an area of active combat actions.”
Syrskyi: Russia trying to break through in Avdiivka direction, Ukraine facing ‘intense artillery fire’
Russian forces are concentrating their main efforts on making a breakthrough near the recently fallen town of Avdiivka, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on March 15.
Syrskyi: Ukraine begins rotation of troops who have been fighting ‘for a long time’
Ukraine has begun rotating troops who have been serving at the front “for a long time” despite the increasingly difficult situation faced by the country’s Armed Forces, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on March 14.
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