First, reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via Popular Resistance, two items of news and analysis; the first is from The Grayzone, the second from the Oronoko Tribune. — MCM
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Ukraine unit says Russia flees Bakhmut outskirts. From Reuters. KYIV — A Ukrainian military unit said today it had routed a Russian infantry brigade from territory near Bakhmut, claiming to confirm an account by the head of Russia’s Wagner private army that the Russian forces had fled. The Russian ministry of defence . . . READ MORE . . .
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Arman Soldin, journalist working for AFP news agency, killed in Ukraine. From AP. PARIS — French international news agency Agence France-Presse says its Ukraine video coordinator was killed Tuesday during a rocket attack near the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. The Agency said Arman Soldin, 32, was with a team of AFP journalists traveling with Ukrainian soldiers when the group came under fire with . . . READ MORE . . .
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Kremlin expresses ‘sadness’ over AFP journalist’s death, says circumstances unclear. From AFP. The Kremlin said today it was saddened by the death of AFP journalist Arman Soldin in east Ukraine, but that the circumstances of his killing under rocket fire near Bakhmut were unclear. “We . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine’s occupied nuke plant faces possible staffing crunch, by Susie Blann | AP KYIV — Russia plans to relocate around 2,700 Ukrainian staff from Europe’s largest nuclear plant, Ukraine’s atomic energy company claimed today, warning of a potential “catastrophic lack of qualified personnel” at the Zaporizhzhia facility in Russia-occupied southern Ukraine. Workers who . . . READ MORE . . .
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Brazil to offer to act as go-between for settling Ukraine conflict at G7 summit, Lula says. From Tass. RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he plans to offer Brasilia’s services as a mediator for settling the Ukrainian conflict on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, later this month. “The continuation of . . . READ MORE . . .
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Over $8 bn of Russian central bank assets held in Switzerland: Bern. From AFP. A total of 7.4 billion Swiss francs ($8.3 billion) of reserves and assets of the Russian central bank are being held in Switzerland, \-the Swiss economic affairs ministry said today. Transactions related to . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia marks Victory Day — although celebrations are scaled back. Reported by Steve Inskeep and Charles Mayness on yesterday’s NPR “Morning Edition” The annual event commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. But it’s hard to watch without thinking about that other war — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Neo-nazi terror threat grows as Ukraine fighters arrested in France, by Kit Klarenberg | The Grayzone On April 24, two French neo-Nazis were jailed for 15 months, nine of which were suspended, for possessing assault rifle ammunition. The pair had returned to Paris from Ukraine two days earlier, and were arrested at customs. Both were on the radar of French domestic spying agency DGSI, which . . . READ MORE . . .
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New report: How CIA schemes color revolutions around the world, by Yuan Hong | Orinoco Tribune / Educate! For a long time, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has plotted “peaceful evolution” and “color revolutions” as well as spying activities around the world. Although details about these operations have always been murky, a new report released by China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center and Chinese cybersecurity company 360 on May 4 unveiled the main technical means the CIA has used to scheme and promote unrest around the world. According to the report, . . . READ MORE . . .