Latest news about Russia and the war in Ukraine

The Russian state media accidentally published and then quickly deleted an article claiming victory in Ukraine and declaring the beginning of a “new era”, just two days after the Kremlin’s invasion in late February, Atlantic said In a report on Monday.

The incident has gained renewed significance in light of Ukraine’s erroneous attack on Russian forces in Kharkiv, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said succeeded.liberation of more than 6000 square kilometersFrom the lands I lost to the Kremlin.

The story, which prematurely claimed victory over neighboring Ukraine even before Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian forces north of Kyiv, Kremlin spokeswoman RIA Novosti omitted. However, a copy of the article remains in Internet archives known as the Wayback Machine.

“The Russian military operation in Ukraine has opened a new era,” said the incorrectly published article by Peter Akopov entitled “Russia’s Offensive and the New World.”

The deleted article reads, “Russia is regaining its unity – the tragedy of 1991, this terrible catastrophe in our history, its unnatural disintegration has been overcome.”

The 1991 article “Tragedy” referred to is the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

– Joanna Tan

Russia is almost certainly increasingly seeking weapons from other heavily sanctioned countries such as Iran and North Korea as its stockpile dwindles, according to the latest intelligence update from Britain’s Ministry of Defense.

It said on Twitter on Wednesday that it is highly likely that “Russia … has deployed Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to Ukraine for the first time.”

On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials reported that their forces shot down a Shahed-136 drone near Kobyansk, in the area of ​​the ongoing successful Ukrainian offensive in Kharkiv.

“Shahid-136 is a one-way attack drone with an alleged range of 2,500 km. Similar Iranian-made systems may have been used in attacks in the Middle East, including against the oil tanker MT MERCER STREET in July 2021.” Ministry noted.

“The loss of Shahed-136 near the front lines suggests that there is a realistic possibility that Russia is trying to use the system to conduct tactical strikes rather than targeting strategic targets further into Ukrainian territory.”

Yesterday, the Pentagon said it was unable to determine the impact of Russia’s use of Iranian drones on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The Pentagon Press Secretary, Brigadier General, Air Force. General Pat Ryder said the United States was closely monitoring the situation but refused to confirm press reports that Russia had begun using drones in Ukraine.

Last month, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that Russia had received the drones but said it was “too early to say” how the new weapons would shape the fight.

– Holly Eliat

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday evening that “stabilization measures” had been put in place in the liberated towns and villages in northeastern Ukraine, which came under a major counterattack by Ukrainian forces last week.

“The remnants of the occupiers and subversive groups are exposed, collaborators are detained, and complete security is restored,” he said, adding in his nightly address to the nation that the border guards were sent to protect “the state’s borders in the liberated area.” province.”

“It is very important that you enter a normal and normal life with our forces and teach us the lands that were removed from the occupation,” he said.

Zelensky said that in Balaklia, a town in the northeastern Kharkiv region that was recaptured by Ukrainian forces last week, pension payments had already been resumed.

“All Ukrainian pensioners in the liberated lands will receive payments. Ukraine always fulfills its social obligations to the people,” he said.

– Holly Eliat

With Ukraine making significant progress in repelling Russian forces from occupied parts of the country in the past week, thoughts have turned to whether this is a defining moment in the conflict.

But when asked on Tuesday whether Ukraine had reached a tipping point in the war, US President Joe Biden said, “The question is unanswerable. It’s hard to answer. It’s clear that the Ukrainians have made great progress. But I think it will be far-reaching.” .”

Ukrainian officials requested more arms assistance from the West to help them maintain their momentum in the war. Russian forces deployed in northeastern Ukraine amid the Ukrainian advance, which saw them retake more than 300 villages in the Kharkiv region.

– Holly Eliat

German Chancellor Olaf Schulz spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for 90 minutes about the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“Given the seriousness of the military situation and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, the chancellor urged the Russian president to find a diplomatic solution as soon as possible, on the basis of a ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Russian forces, and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” wrote a spokesman for the German federal government, Stephen Hyperstreet.

Schultz warned that any further Russian annexations “will not go unanswered and will not be recognized under any circumstances.”

The two leaders agreed to keep in touch. Schultz spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week.

– Amanda Macias

Ukrainian Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the counter-attack launched by Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv over several days resulted in the liberation of more than 300 villages from Russian occupation.

“The operation will continue until the area is completely liberated,” Mallar said during an update on national television, according to a translation by NBC News.

She said nearly 150,000 people living in an area spanning about 3,800 square kilometers have returned to Ukrainian leadership.

– Amanda Macias

The White House said another US security aid package for the Ukrainian installment would be announced in the coming days, but declined to go into details.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the next package would detail “in full swing” with Kyiv’s requests, and praised recent Ukrainian progress to retake territory from Russian forces.

“At least in the Donbass, there is a sense of momentum,” Kirby told reporters at the White House.

“Certainly in the north, we have seen the Russians withdraw from the Kharkiv region. They have abandoned combat positions and left supplies and they are calling this a repositioning,” Kirby said, adding that Russian forces still faced a slew of logistical challenges.

“It remains a very large and powerful military and Putin still has a tremendous amount of military capabilities remaining at his disposal, not only for use in Ukraine but potentially elsewhere,” Kirby added.

– Amanda Macias

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken praised Ukraine’s erratic progress over the weekend, but warned that Russian forces still maintain “very important forces in Ukraine”.

“As we have seen, the brutal treatment of the country by the Russian aggressor continues and there is, I think, unfortunately, a continued possibility of that happening, but I think it is encouraging to see the progress that Ukraine has made,” Blinken told reporters alongside Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in Mexico City. .

Blinken said the United States would continue to provide Kyiv with additional military aid packages.

“We will continue to do what is necessary to support Ukraine to maintain pressure on Russia until it ends its aggression,” Blinken added.

– Amanda Macias