First, links to reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and the Moscow Times; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. Then, a link to a letter by military analyst Scott Ritter to his representatives in Congress questioning U.S. funding for a Ukrainian “blacklist” of individuals deemed promoters of Russian propaganda. — MCM
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Dozens of Ukrainian POWs reported killed in missile strike, by Max Hunder and Pavel Polityuk | Reuters * Russia, Ukraine trade blame for prisoner deaths * UK says Russia deploys Wagner fighters more widely * Ukraine says grain ships loaded but no date yet to move | ODESA/KYIV — Dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war appeared to have been killed in a missile strike today, with Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of carrying out the attack. The incident overshadowed U.N.-backed efforts to restart grain shipments from Ukraine and ease a looming global hunger crisis stemming from the war, now in its sixth month. Russia’s defence ministry said . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia, Ukraine trade blame over strike on POW jail. From Agence France-Presse. Moscow and Kyiv today accused each other of bombing a jail holding Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian-held territory, with Russia saying 40 prisoners and eight prison staff were killed. Russia’s defence ministry said the Ukrainian strikes were carried out with US-supplied long-range missiles, in an “egregious provocation” designed to stop soldiers surrendering. . . . Ukraine’s military denied carrying out the attack saying its forces “did not launch missile and artillery strikes in the area of Olenivka settlement.” It instead blamed Russia’s invading forces for “a targeted artillery shelling” . . . READ MORE . . .
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Isolation complication? U.S. finds it’s hard to shun Russia, by Matthew Lee | The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Biden administration likes to say Russia has become isolated internationally because of its invasion of Ukraine. Yet Moscow’s top officials have hardly been cloistered in the Kremlin. And now, even the U.S. wants to talk. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been meeting with world leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country is a NATO member. Meanwhile, his top diplomat, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, is jetting around the world, smiling, shaking hands and posing for photos with foreign leaders — including some friends of the U.S. And on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said . . . READ MORE . . .
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Concerns around shipping Ukrainian grain. Reported by Jackie Northam | National Public Radio What it would actually take to send out Ukrainian grain. They need to bring in minesweepers, figure out shipping companies to use, assure no more missile attacks, sort out danger pay, and lots more. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Ukraine reduces Russian soldier’s life sentence to 15 years. The Moscow Times. A Ukrainian court today reduced to 15 years a life sentence handed down to a Russian soldier for pre-meditated murder in the country’s first war crimes trial. Vadim Shishimarin, 21, was sentenced to life in prison in May after being found guilty of fatally shooting a 62-year-old civilian in northeastern Ukraine in the early days of the war. His lawyer had vowed to appeal the verdict, arguing that “societal pressure” had influenced the verdict. “According to . . . READ MORE . . .
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U.S. should not fund Ukrainian ‘blacklist,’ by Scott Ridder | Consortium News The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, which appears to receive U.S. government funding, this month issued a list of 72 individuals — about one-third of them Americans — who the Center claims promote “Russian propaganda.” Scott Ridder, whose commentary has appeared in this blog, is on the list, and wrote concerning U.S. funding for it to his two U.S. senators and his congressman. Click HERE to see the list, and HERE to read the letter.