First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Tass, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Moscow Times, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. NOTE: A Guardian report is linked in the Moscow Times article. — MCM
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Ukraine can’t falter in Bahkmut or Russia will ‘smell that we are weak,’ Zelenskyy says, by Julie Pace and Hanna Arhirova | AP ON A TRAIN FROM SUMY TO KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned today that unless his nation wins a drawn-out battle in a key eastern city, Russia could begin building international support for a deal that could require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises. He also invited the leader of China, long aligned with Russia, to visit. If Bakhmut fell to Russian forces,. . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian forces grinding down Ukrainian army in battle for Artyomovsk, says Wagner founder. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces are persistently grinding down the Ukrainian army with foreign mercenaries in the battle for Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut in Ukraine), Wagner private military company founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said today. “The battle for Bakhmut has practically destroyed the Ukrainian army today,” the Wagner press office quoted Prigozhin as saying on . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine hits Russian-held city deep behind front as talk of counteroffensive grows, by Olena Harmash | Reuters * Melitopol is Russian logisitical hub in occupied south * UN nuclear watchdog chief to visit Zaporizhzhia plant * Number of Russian attacks declines sharply over past four weeks * Russia conducts exercises with its Yars missile system | KYIV Reuters) – Ukraine struck a railway depot and knocked out power in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol deep behind the front line today amid growing talk from Kyiv of a counterassault against Russian forces worn out by a failed winter offensive. Melitopol is the base of the occupation administration in Zaporizhzhia, one of five Ukrainian provinces Russia claims to have annexed. Ukraine’s exiled mayor of the city confirmed . . . READ MORE . . .
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Putin says sanctions could have ‘negative’ impact on Russia. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that international sanctions imposed following Russia’s offensive in Ukraine could have “negative” consequences, after months of insisting Moscow was adapting to the new economic reality. “The sanctions imposed against the Russian economy in the medium term . . . READ MORE . . .
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Kremlin forecasts ‘long war’ with ‘unfriendly countries.’ From the Moscow Times. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov predicted a long-lasting hybrid war against Russia’s Western adversaries today after a media report revealed he had urged colleagues three months ago to brace themselves for a “forever war.” According to the report published by The Guardian on Tuesday, he warned members of Russia’s cultural and political elite at a New Year’s Eve dinner that the war would “take a very, very long time.” When asked today . . . READ MORE . . .
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After a Russian girl drew an antiwar poster, her dad faces defamation charges. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR In a small Russian town, a father and daughter have been separated by the state after she drew an antiwar poster in school. He was convicted of defaming the military; she’s now in an orphanage. Click HERE to listen and read.
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MAY BE CONTINUED