For today,  links to six reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, Tass, and the Kyiv Post; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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North Korea and Russia send political shockwaves with Ukraine war moves.  From Reuters. MOSCOW / SEOUL — North Korea’s foreign minister arrived in Russia today for talks as the Russia-Ukraine war appeared to take a dangerous new turn, with NATO and South Korea expressing alarm that North Korean troops could soon be joining in on Moscow’s side. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AP.

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Explosions reported in occupied Luhansk, Ukrainian official suggests ammunition depots hit. From the Kyiv Independent. Smoke and explosions were recorded in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk, Ukraine’s easternmost regional center, today after what Gov. Artem Lysohor called possible strikes on Russian ammunition depots. READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces liberate three communities in Donbass region over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces liberated three communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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Drone attacks Russian special forces university in Chechnya. From the Moscow Times. An early morning drone strike damaged a special forces university in the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov said today, marking the first such attack on the region since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.