For today, links to seven reports from the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, Tass, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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U.S. lifts ban on sending weapons to a controversial Ukrainian military unit. From AP. KYIV — The U.S. has lifted a ban on providing American weapons and training to a controversial Ukrainian military unit that was key to the defense of the major port city of Mariupol, the State Department said today. Washington had banned the Azov Bridade regiment from . . . READ MORE . . .
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Zelensky says Russia destroyed half of Ukraine’s energy capacity. From the Moscow Times. Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid have destroyed half of its electricity generation capacity since the winter, leading to scheduled power outages and regular blackouts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today. He also urged allies to supply more air defense systems, saying. . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine wants to restore energy facilities damaged by Russia by winter with allied help, Zelensky says at Berlin conference, by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent Ukraine could some of its restore energy facilities damaged by Russia before winter with the help of its allies, President Volodymyr Zelensky said today. He stressed the need for air defenses to . . . READ MORE . . .
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Kharkiv mayor says striking Russia has helped to calm embattled city, by John O’Donnell | Reuters BERLIN — Ukraine’s army has struck missile launch positions in Russia, helping to reduce the number of attacks on the embattled city of Kharkiv, its mayor said today. READ MORE . . .
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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s Battlegroup West liberated the settlement of Artyomovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic and the settlement of Timkovka in the Kharkov Region over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .
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The ‘duped’ Sri Lankans fighting in Russia’s Ukraine war. From AFP. When Sri Lanka’s economy crashed in 2022, people sought work abroad wherever they could find it — including ex-soldiers who joined forces fighting in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion. Colombo’s parliament set up an inquiry last month to track at least 2,000 battle-hardened Sri Lankans who reportedly enlisted on both sides of the Ukraine war, including . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM JUNE 10 Biden’s two wars. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have become defining issues for President Biden. Anne Applebaum of The Atlantic magazine, Stephen Walt of the Harvard Kennedy School, and Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council talk about it. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM JUNE 10 Using Ukraine since 1948, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News The United States has for nearly 80 years seen Ukraine as the staging ground for its once covert and increasingly overt war with Russia. After years of warnings, and after talk since 2008 of . . . READ MORE . . .