For now, links to a video from Consortium News and CN Live! and to commentary from ScheerPost; other published matter is accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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FROM OCT. 3  Watch: ‘Assange appears as Mideast burns.’ Joe Lauria and Elizabeth Vos of Consortium News and CN Live! interview British journalists Craig Murray and Richard Medhurst about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange‘s speech to a committee of the Council of Europe on Tuesday and about the explosive situation in the Middle East. Click HERE for introduction and video.

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FROM OCT. 3  ‘Who do you want to win?’ by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  A piece by a Times of London columnist merits careful consideration. Matthew Syed titles his commentary, “Israel–Hezbollah conflict hinges on a crude question: Who do you want to win?” He proposes we consider Israel’s barbarities another case of the West against the rest. Russia will invade Europe when it finished in Ukraine. China . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to five reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio and to a video via Consortium News of Oct. 12 UN General Assembly meeting, and links to video from ScheerPost and to commentary from nader.org and CN; other published matter is accessible by clicking on the sources’ names or internet addresses below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM 

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Gaza and a ceasefire slip out of focus as Lebanon conflict rages, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Palestinians fear the crisis in Lebanon is diverting the world’s attention from Gaza, where Israeli strikes killed dozens more people this week, and diminishing already dim prospects for a ceasefire a year into a war that has shattered the enclave. READ MORE . . .

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Rare Israeli strike in central Beirut kills 7 as troops battle Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, by Fadi Tamil and Jack Jeffrey | AP  BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike on an apartment in central Beirut killed seven Hezbollah-affiliated civilian first responders. Israel has been pounding areas of the country where the militant group has a strong presence since late September, but has rarely struck in the heart of the capital. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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FROM OCT. 2  The UN security council holds an emergency session on the situation on the Middle East. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  The UN Secretary General is urging all sides to accept a diplomatic solution as “time is running out.” Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM OCT. 2  Watch: UN Security Council on widening Mideast war. From Consortium News.  The nearly three-hour session began at about 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Click HERE for video. (Deliberatons begin about 19 minutes in.)

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FROM OCT. 2 What leverage does the U.S. have in the Middle East? A diplomat weighs in. Reported by Mary Louise Kelly, Tyler Bartlam and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR  U.S. diplomat Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, talks about the leverage the U.S. has in ceasefire talks and the Mideast conflict. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM SEPT. 29  Julian Assange’s 2012 interview with the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. From ScheerPost. “In light of the recent assassination of Hezbollah secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, ScheerPost is republishing this 2012 interview with the Lebanese leader conducted by Julian Assange.” Click HERE for brief introduction and video of interview.

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FROM SEPT. 27  Netanyahu – ‘Nothing can stop us’ – not even the majority of Israelis, by Ralph Nader | nader.org  Israel’s Biden-backed war machine is once again bearing down on defenseless Lebanese people. Hostilities on the Israeli/Lebanon border . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 30  Nasrallah is dead but Bibi hasn’t won, by Patrick Lawrence | Special to Consortium News  You have probably heard by now, or heard about, Bibi Netanyahu’s viciously vituperative hate speech before the U.N. General Assembly last Friday. The Israeli prime minister let it be known he hates more or less everybody now, not least the membership of the organization hosting him. They, we, are all . . . READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press, and to commentary from Indian Punchline; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Russia launches major drone attack on Ukraine, damages energy infrastructure. From Reuters. KYIV — Russian forces launched a major drone attack overnight on 15 Ukrainian regions, causing damage to energy infrastructure and residential buildings, authorities said today. READ MORE . . .

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New NATO chief Mark Rutte visits Ukraine in his first trip since taking office, by Hanna Arhirova and Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — New NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited Ukraine today in his first official trip since taking office and pledging continued support for Kyiv in its war with Russia. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 28  The fog of war is lifting in Ukraine, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  The alignments of the endgame in the Ukraine conflict are surfacing as never before. If much remains in the realm of speculation still, that is largely due to . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to an article from Substack, and to nine reports: from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, the Anadolu Agency, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM OCT. 1  My meetings with Nasrallah, by Seymour M. Hersh | Substack  I must confess that I liked Hassan Nasrallah. I had a few long meetings with him that began in the winter of 2003. It was a few months after the U.S. invasion of Iraq even though Iraq was led by the secular Saddam Hussein who had no connection to Al Qaeda. I was working for . . . READ MORE . . .

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Iran and Israel swap threats following Tehran’s missile barrage. From AP. The Middle East moved closer to a long-feared regional war today, a day after Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel and Israel said it began limited ground incursions into Lebanon targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Israel said . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for audio of reports from NPR.

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FROM OCT. 1  Iran fires ballistic missiles at Israel after Israeli ground raid into Lebanon. From AP. Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday, another sharp escalation of the monthslong conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militias Hezbollah and Hamas. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Anadolu Agency.

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FROM OCT. 1  Israel vows response after Iran hits it with salvo of ballistic missiles, by John McCarthy | Reuters  JERUSALEM — Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for Israel’s campaign against Tehran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon, drawing vows of a sharp response from both Israel and the United States. Alarms sounded across Israel and . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM OCT. 1  Biden directs U.S. military to shoot down Iranian missiles targeting Israel: White House, by Michael Hernandez | Anadolu Agency  WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military to shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Israel, the White House said Tuesday after an Iranian salvo was launched on Israel. READ MORE . . .

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FROM OCT. 1  Iran fires missiles at Israel as Israel invades Lebanon. Reported by Jane Arraf and Daniel Estrin | NPR  Iran has launched almost 200 long-range missiles against Israel, just hours after Israeli forces launched a ground offensive into southern Lebanon against Iran’s main proxy, Hezbollah. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM OCT. 1  The Middle East war widens as Iranian missiles shoot into Israel. Reported by Ailsa Chang, Michael Levitt and Christopher Intagliata | NPR  The war in the Middle East appears to be widening. Iran sent a volley of missiles at Israel just days after Israel killed the leader of Hezbollah, Hasan Nasrallah. Click HERE  to listen and, later, read.

 

For today, reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, and Yahoo, and to commentary from the Washington Post; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Russia captures Vuhledar after two years of Ukrainian resistance, by Guy Faulconbridge | Reuters  MOSCOW — Russian troops today took charge of the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar, a bastion that had resisted intense attacks since Russia launched its full-scale assault in 2022. The advance of Moscow’s forces . . .READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for two reports from AP, and  HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent and Tass.

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FROM OCT. 1  Russian forces reportedly capture most of Vuhledar; Kyiv doesn’t comment. From Yahoo.  Russian troops have entered the embattled town of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast, Gov. Vadym Filashkin said on Tuesday, adding that fighting is ongoing. Speaking on national television, he . . . READ MORE . . .

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European companies sidestep sanctions against Russia: U.S. criticism fails to deter business as usual. From Kyiv Post.  Existing sanctions leave a swathe of loopholes that make it simple for businesses to bypass the limitations and continue doing business directly with Russian entities. Companies seem to easily flout the regulations. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 30  Don’t underestimate the risks of escalation over Ukraine, by David Ignatius | The Washington Post — President Joe Biden wouldn’t be very good at playing chicken, as he demonstrated again . . . READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to 13 reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, National Public Radio, and Agence France-Presse, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM   

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NEWER  Report: More women, children killed in Gaza by Israeli military than in any recent conflict, by Aysu Biçer | Anadolu Agency  LONDON — A combined analysis by Oxfam and Action on Armed Violence today revealed a sharp rise in civilian deaths in Gaza over the past year, surpassing numbers from any other conflict in the last two decades. According to the report . . .READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Israel says ‘targeted’ ground raids began in Lebanon. From AP. Israel said its ground troops crossed into Lebanon overnight, launching what the military described as “localized” raids to root out Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure. Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, but later the Israeli army said it had also carried out dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon going back nearly a year. READ MORE . . .

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Israel sends troops into Lebanon in a significant escalation. From AP. Israeli ground forces made “limited” moves into southern Lebanon early Tuesday, the country’s military said, marking a significant escalation of an offensive against Hezbollah militants. Hezbollah’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, promised the group will fight on following the death . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for earlier reports from Reuters and Anadolu Agency, and HERE for audio of report from NPR.

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Any Israeli invasion of Lebanon violates UN resolution 1701: UNIFIL. From Anadolu Agency. BEIRUT — The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon todaywarned that any Israeli invasion of Lebanese territory would be a violation of the country’s sovereignty and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. “Any . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel says calling up four more reserve brigades for northern operation. From AFP. The Israeli army mobilised four additional brigades to be deployed in missions along the northern border, the military said today, after launching ground operations targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon overnight.”This will . . . READ MORE . . .

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UN: Israel’s expansion of war displacing people, increasing suffering. From Middle East Monitor. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, warned on Monday that Israel’s expansion of the war into Lebanon and Yemen will only result in more displaced people and civilians suffering. He said more than 100,000 Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon have now crossed into Syria . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli military says ‘limited’ operation against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon has begun, by Josef Federman, Matthew Lee, Samy Magdy, Abby Sewell and Natalie Melzer | AP  JERUSALEM — The Israeli military today said it had begun a “limited, localized” operation against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, opening a new front in its war against the Lebanese militant group. It said . . . Click HERE for report including map.

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Examining Washington’s role in managing the escalating Middle East crisis. Leila Fadel of NPR talks with former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon Ryan Crocker about Israeli launching a limited ground invasion of Lebanon, and U.S. influence in the Middle East. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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U.S. appears to support Israel’s attacks in Lebanon while calling for diplomacy. Michel Martin of NPR speaks with Beirut-based security consultant and Hezbollah expert Nicholas Blanford about the Iran-backed militant group’s next steps following the death of its leader. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM SEPT. 30  Israel launches airstrikes to central Beirut as attacks widen. Reported by Eyder Peralta | NPR  Early Monday morning, Israel struck a building in central Beirut for the first time since the conflict started nearly a year ago. Now, there is a military buildup along the border. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to six reports: from the Kyiv Post, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Reuters, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Russian forces enter Vuhledar, raise flags amid heavy fighting, analysts report, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  Russian forces have entered Vuhledar in the Donetsk region from the western and southern parts of the town, according to analysts from the DeepState project. It says Russian troops have raised their flags in the western part . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Russian strike on Kherson kills 6. From AFP. A Russian strike on the center of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson killed six people today, the regional prosecutor’s office said. Video showed debris and broken glass strewn around a market, and several bodies lying on the pavement. READ MORE . . .

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Situation in Kursk Region. From Tass. MOSCOW — Ukraine lost more than 340 servicemen in the Kursk Region over the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said at beginning of statement READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 30  Russia proposes record defense spending as it pursues victory in the Ukraine war, by Illia Novikov and Dasha Litinova | AP  KYIV — The Russian government wants to earmark 32.5% of its spending next year for defense, a record amount and up from a reported 28.3% this year, as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 30  Putin orders conscription of 133,000 servicemen in Russia’s autumn draft. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered the conscription of 133,000 new servicemen in Russia’s autumn draft, which starts on Oct 1 and goes until the end of the year, according to a Kremlin decree published on Monday. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to 14 reports: from the Anadolu Agency, National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, Middle East Monitor, Reuters, and the Associated Press, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM   

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25 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, by Moahmed Majed | Anadolu Agency  GAZA CITY, Palestine  At least 25 Palestinians were killed and many others injured in Israeli air and artillery strikes targeting various areas of the Gaza Strip since Sunday morning, according to the Civil Defense in Gaza. In northern Gaza . . . READ MORE . . .

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Lebanon prepares to bury Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Reported by Jane Arraf and Michel Martin | NPR  The Middle East changed over the weekend. Israel killed the leader of the militant group Hezbollah in Beirut in a wave of continuing airstrikes that began a week ago. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Iran says will not send forces to confront Israel. From AFP.  TEHRAN — Iran will not deploy forces to Lebanon or Gaza to confront Israel, its foreign ministry said today, as Israeli strikes target its allies in the region. Foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said there was “no need” to . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Anadolu Agency.

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Israel mulls its next steps after killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Reported by Daniel Estrin and Leila Fadel | NPR  Israel’s military campaign is expanding. After assassinating Hezbollah’s leader, Israel’s air force bombed more targets in Lebanon, and stuck Houthi targets in Yemen. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Israel preparing for a limited ground operation in Lebanon: media report. From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli occupation army is preparing to launch a “limited ground operation” in Lebanon, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority Reported on Sunday. “The Israeli army . . . READ MORE . . .

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Hezbollah says it is ready for any Israeli land invasion in Lebanon, by Maya Gebeily, Laila Bassam and Muhammad Al Gebaly | Reuters  Hezbollah fighters are ready to confront any Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon, the group’s deputy leader Naim Qassem said today in his first public address since Israel killed its chief Hassan Nasrallah last week. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AP.

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Three Palestinian leaders killed in Israeli strike in Beirut, by Maya Gebeily and Laila Bassam | Reuters  BEIRUT — A Palestinian militant group said today that three of its leaders were killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut, the first attack within city limits as Israel escalated hostilities against Iran’s allies in the region. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from NPR.

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What do the assassinations of the head of Hezbollah and others mean for Iran? Leila Fadel of NPR speaks with Negar Mortazavi, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, about Iran’s role in the conflict in Lebanon as that country prepares to bury Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM SEPT. 29  Who were the 7 high-ranking Hezbollah officials killed over the past week? by Kareem Chehayeb and Jack Jeffrey | AP  BEIRUT — In just over a week, intensified Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed seven high-ranking commanders and officials from the powerful Hezbollah militant group, including the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 29  Inside Biden’s diplomatic attempts to control the war between Israel and Hamas. Scott Detrow of NPR speaks with Franklin Foer, a writer for The Atlantic. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM SEPT. 29  What do rising Middle East tensions mean for the U.S.? Scott Detrow of NPR talks with Dana Stroul, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East and currently director of research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Drunk with power, Israel’s ‘victory’ opens the gates for war without end, by Lubna Masarwa | Middle East Eye  The media in Israel reacted to the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah with euphoria. The media’s delight was matched by politicians of left and right. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to eight reports: from the Anadolu Agency, the Associated Press, Reuters, the Kyiv Post, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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NEWER  Ukraine claims to have downed 67 Russian drones across 11 regions, by Burc Eruygur | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — Ukraine said early today that it downed 67 Russian drones across 11 regions of the country, including the capital Kyiv. An Air Force statement claimed that a total of 73 drones and three different varieties of missiles . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AP.

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Russia launches drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s military says. From Reuters. KYIV — Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv early on Monday, with air defence units engaged in repelling the strikes, Ukraine’s military said. Kyiv, its surrounding region and all eastern Ukraine were under air raid alerts. READ MORE . . .

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Victory’ plan to be revealed to Ukrainians soon with classified provisions redacted, says Yermak. From Kyiv Post. Ukrainians will soon be introduced to the “victory plan” prepared by President Volodymyr Zelensky, though certain parts of the plan will remain classified, according to Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Putin says Russia will achieve ‘all goals set’ in war against Ukraine. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin today vowed that Moscow would achieve all the goals it has set for itself in the ongoing war against Ukraine. “The truth is on our side,” he said. “All goals . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Ensuring security in Donbas, Novorossiya government’s top priority — Putin. From Tass. NOVO-OGARYOVO — Russian President Vladimir Putin sees ensuring the security of Donbass and Novorossiya as the number one priority of the country’s authorities, while assuring that socioeconomic issues will not be pushed to the back burner. The head of state participated . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate Nelepovka community in Donbass region over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Nelepovka 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 . . .