For today, links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE and ASSANGE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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Israel strikes Lebanon’s Baalbek for first time since start of Gaza war, security sources say. From Reuters. BEIRUT — At least two simultaneous Israeli strikes hit around Lebanon’s city of Baalbek today, two security sources told Reuters, the first bombardment of eastern Lebanon since regional hostilities erupted following the start of the war in Gaza. The Israeli military said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s air force strikes deep inside Lebanon, killing 2 people, after Hezbollah downs a drone, by Bassem Mroue | AP  BEIRUT — The Israeli military said its air force today struck targets of the militant Hezbollah group “deep inside Lebanon,” where residents reported explosions near the northeastern city of Baalbek. At least two people . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 25  Netanyahu says a cease-fire deal would only delay ‘somewhat’ an Israeli military offensive in Rafah, by Tia Goldenberg, Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  TEL AVIV — An Israeli military offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah could be “delayed somewhat” if a deal is reached for a weekslong cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, and claimed that . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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Ukrainian troops pull back again as Russia’s onslaught pushes ahead in eastern Ukraine, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian troops have pulled out of a village in the east of the country, an army spokesman said today, as Russian forces make their advantages in manpower and ammunition tell on the battlefield. The latest setback for Kyiv’s soldiers was in the village of Lastochkyne, where . . . READ MORE . . .

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Paris conference to belie ‘doom and gloom’ on Ukraine, Elysee says, by Michael Rose | Reuters  PARIS — Some 20 European leaders will gather in Paris today to send Russian President Vladimir Putin a message of European resolve on Ukraine and counter the Kremlin’s narrative that Russia is bound to win a war now entering its third year. . . . READ MORE . . .

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At Paris gathering, Western leaders to show unity for Ukraine and signal ‘that Russia cannot win,’ by Sylvie Corbet | AP   PARIS — More than 20 European heads of state and government and other Western officials are gathering in a show of unity for Ukraine, signaling to Russia that their support for Kyiv isn’t wavering. “We are at a critical moment,” French President Emmanuel Macron . . .    READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine downs nine Russian drones, three missiles, air force says. From Reuters. Russia launched 14 attack drones and a barrage of missiles at Ukraine overnight, with air defence systems destroying nine drones as well as three guided missiles over the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, Ukraine’s air force said on today. Russia also launched . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s victory ‘depends on you,’ Zelensky tells West. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday his country’s victory “depends” on Western support and that he was “sure” the United States would approve a critical package of military aid. He also said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in two years of war with . . .READ MORE. . .

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Russian forces liberate Lastochkino community near Avdeyevka, top brass reports. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces liberated the community of Lastochkino in the Avdeyevka area over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a briefing. READ MORE . . .

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Scholz again rules out Germany’s delivery of long-range Taurus missiles, by Nate Ostiller and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today reiterated his refusal to send Ukraine long-range Taurus missiles, days after the German parliament rejected a measure explicitly calling for Taurus to be provided. The missiles, which . . . READ MORE . . .

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Partisans in Crimea report tampering with Russian tanks bound for front, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  Atesh partisans claim to have successfully tampered with Russian tanks stationed at a railway station in Yevpatoria, Crimea, which will directly hinder Kremlin armored advances in the Zaporizhzhia region. “There is a high probability,” they said, “that. . . READ MORE . . .

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Denmark closes probe into Nord Stream blasts saying there’s not enough grounds for a criminal case, by Jan M. Olsen | AP  COPENHAGEN — Denmark on today joined Sweden in closing its investigation into the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The underwater detonations . . . READ MORE . . .

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Denmark shutting Nord Stream satellite probe ‘close to absurd’: Russia. From AFP. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today criticised the closure of Denmark’s investigation into the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany. “On the one hand,” Peskov said, “they . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, with apologies, a link to a just one report, from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its name below, or by going to websites of the Associated Press, Reuters, or daily newspapers in the United States and elsewhere. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM   

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In the West Bank, U.S. sanctions on Israeli settlers are having an impact. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  With sanctions now imposed on some West Bank Israeli settlers, a visit to a West Bank community where one Israeli led a campaign of destruction after the Oct. 7 attacks. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to reports from the Kyiv Post, the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, and National Public Radio, and to two pieces of commentary via or from  Consortium News; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.)— MCM

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Railway station destroyed after Russian attack in Kostyantynivka. From Kyiv Post. The Kostyantynivka railway station along with more than a dozen houses and shops were damaged this morning in Russian shelling. Radio Svoboda reported that police said one person was injured in the Donetsk region industrial city, allegedly targeted by  Russian military with S-300 missiles . . . READ MORE . . .

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In a Russian city near the Ukrainian border, life teeters between war and normalcy. From the Moscow Times. VORONEZH, Russia — In this city of about 1 million near the border with Ukraine, Moscow’s war on Kyiv has quietly seeped into everyday life over the past two years. A month before the Feb. 17 drone crash, Voronezh experienced its largest drone attack. Wreckage from . . . READ MORE . . .

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Man killed in Nikopol after Russian drone drops explosives on truck, by Dominic Culverwell | The Kyiv Independent  A 57-year-old man was killed when a Russian drone dropped explosives directly on a truck in the city of Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing a 57-year-old man, the regional governor said today. It was part of a wave of drones overnight over eight  oblasts. READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces repel seven counterattacks in Avdeyevka area, moving to better positions. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces repelled seven enemy counterattacks in the Avdeyevka area in the past day, moving to more advantageous positions, according to a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine is relying on the U.S. to address its weapons shortage. Ayesha Rascoe of NPR talks with retired General Ben Hodges, a former commander of the US Army in Europe, about how shortages of weapons are affecting Ukraine’s war effort. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 19  Mea culpa on Ukraine, by Craig Murray | CraigMurray.org.uk / Consortium News  The genocide in Gaza — or more precisely the major NATO powers’ active and practical support for the genocide in Gaza — has forced me to re-evaluate my views on Ukraine in a manner more sympathetic to the Russian narrative. In particular, I . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 24, 2022  Why Putin went to war, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a TV address Thursday morning [Feb. 24, 2022] that the goal of Russia’s military operation was not to take control of Ukraine, but to “demilitarize” and “de-Nazify” the country.  Moments after he spoke . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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Brazil’s president accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, doubling down after earlier uproar, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Brazil’s president alleged today that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, doubling down on harsh rhetoric after stirring controversy a week ago by comparing Israel’s military offensive in Gaza to . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 23  Biden administration restores Trump-rescinded policy on illegitimacy of Israeli settlements, by Matthew Lee | AP  WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Friday restored a U.S. legal finding dating back nearly 50 years that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are “illegitimate” under international law. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 23  U.S. says Israel’s new settlements in West Bank are ‘inconsistent’ with international law, by Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk | Reuters  Israel’s expansion of settlements in the Occupied West Bank were inconsistent with international law, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday, signalling a return to long-standing U.S. policy on the issue, which . . . READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, the Moscow Times, Tass, and the Kyiv Independent, and to commentary from the Kyiv Post and NPR; other reports and commentary are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Zelenskyy hosts Western leaders in Kyiv as Ukraine marks 2 years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, by Susie Blann | AP  KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Western leaders to Kyiv today to mark the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and weaponry and foreign aid hangs in the balance. He posted a video from the Hostomel airfield together with several European Union leaders, saying . . . READ MORE . . .

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European leaders in Kyiv pledge to back Ukraine on war anniversary, by Olena Harmash and Angelo Amante | Reuters  KYIV — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed that Europe would back Ukraine until it was “finally free” as she and three other Western leaders arrived in Kyiv to show solidarity. The prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Belgium — Giorgia Meloni, Justin Trudeau and Alexander De Croo . . . READ MORE . . .

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What lies ahead after two years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Reported by Scott Simon, Charles Maynes and Joanna Kakissis | NPR  When Russia invaded Ukraine, it expected a quick fight, like its 2014 annexation of Crimea. Two years in, the war grinds on. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Ukraine claims drone strike on major Russian steel plant. From the Moscow Times. Ukraine said today it hit one of Russia’s largest steel plants with a drone strike on the second anniversary of Moscow launching its invasion. Russia reported a fire in the huge Novolipetsk factory in the western Lipetsk region, with images showing a huge . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kiev loses 425 troops near Avdeyevka over past day — Russia’s top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units near Avdeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, killing and wounding roughly 425 enemy personnel over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a bulletin. Details of this and other combat actions that happened over the past week . . .READ MORE . . .

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Generation of fire: Young Ukrainians forced to survive first, plan for future later, by Kate Tsurkan | The Kyiv Independent  “The past two years have flown by. It’s hard to keep up with everything that has happened,” said Larysa, 18, who has been living in Vienna, “so . . . READ MORE . . .

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What Feb, 24, 2022, means for us – Tsikhanouskaya, Kasparov, Aslund, Kurkov. From Kyiv Post. Prominent political, business and military people, analysts and journalists have shared their thoughts on what this somber date means for them and for all of us. The Post published four others’ views yesterday.  SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA: “On Feb. 24, 2022, we entered a new reality. Illusions that . . . READ MORE . . .

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The U.S.’s role in conflicts abroad is coming under debate in American politics. Scott Simon of NPR talks with Stephen Walt, a foreign policy expert at Harvard University, about engaging abroad versus staying on the sidelines. It’s a debate roiling American politics. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and an ASSANGE entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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Netanyahu seeks open-ended control over security and civilian affairs in Gaza in new postwar plan, by Wafaa Shurafa and Bassem Mroue | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israel seeks open-ended control over security and civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip, according to a long awaited postwar plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was swiftly rejected today by Palestinian leaders and runs counter to Washington’s vision for the war-ravaged enclave. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s Netanyahu presents first official post-Gaza war plan. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has presented a “day after” plan for Gaza, his first official proposal for when the war in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory ends. According to the document, presented to members of Israel’s security cabinet on Thursday, Israel would . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel plans to build 3,300 new settlement homes. It says it’s a response to a Palestinian attack, by Julia Frankel | AP  JERUSALEM — Israel plans to build more than 3,300 new homes in settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in response to a fatal Palestinian shooting attack, a senior Cabinet minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said late Thursday. The decision is bound to . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 21  Rape and sexual assault took place during Hamas attack, Israeli association says, by Melanie Lidman | AP  TEL AVIV — The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel on Wednesday said it has found evidence of “systematic and intentional” rape and sexual abuse during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that ignited the war in Gaza. The report said the attacks were more widespread . . . READ MORE . . .

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Hamas says it is awaiting new truce proposal from mediators’ talks with Israel, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Bassam Masoud | Reuters  Hamas wrapped up ceasefire talks in Cairo and is now waiting to see what mediators bring back from weekend talks with Israel, an official from the terrorist group said today, in what . . . READ MORE . . .

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UN rights chief deplores ‘entrenched impunity’ in Israel-Hamas war. From Reuters.  The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, said today that perpetrators of gross human rights violations in the conflict between Israel and Hamas must be held accountable. “The entrenched impunity that OHCHR [the UN rights agency] has reported on for many years cannot . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, Reuters, the Kyiv Post, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Kyiv Post; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for today and an ASSANGE entry for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Biden slaps sanctions on 500 targets involved in Russia ‘war machine,‘ by Beiyi Seow | AFP  U.S. President Joe Biden today announced sanctions on more than 500 targets in Russia on the second anniversary of the Ukraine invasion. The sanctions, described by the Treasury Department as . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian drone strike on Ukrainian regions kills four, Kyiv says. From Reuters. KYIV — Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian regions in the south and east killed four people overnight and damaged residential and commercial buildings, officials said today. Ukrainian air defences shot down 23 out of . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin follows up Medvedev call for Odesa to rejoin Russia with drone strike killing three, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Former Russian president Dmitriy Medvedev on Thursday said all Russians love the Ukrainian city of Odesa and hope and pray for its return to the Russian fold. Later the Kremli hit the Black Sea port with kamikaze drones, killing three residents including a child. Medvedev is currently deputy head of the ARussia’s National Security Council. READ MORE . . .

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is in Ukraine to meet Zelenskyy as U.S. aid hangs in the balance, by Mary Clark Jalonik | AP  WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is in Ukraine today to try to reassure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials that Congress will deliver another round of U.S. aid, even as a package that would provide $60 billion is stalled in the U.S. House. Schumer’s surprise trip . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 22  ‘Our reserves will run out:’ Ukrainian artillery sounds alarm on Western shell shortage, by Francis Farrell | The Kyiv Independent  DONETSK OBLAST – Over winter, Russian forces have been on the offensive in the area, pushing past the ruined Bakhmut towards the Ukrainian stronghold of Chasiv Yar. Assaults on Ukrainian positions are carried out on a daily basis, but the shells lined up in the storage racks of a U.S.-built . . . READ MORE . . .

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Emboldened in Ukraine, Russia marks patriotic holiday.  From AFP. President Vladimir Putin today hailed Russia’s “heroes” fighting in Ukraine on the eve of the second anniversary of the Kremlin’s offensive, with Moscow bolstered by gains against ammunition-starved Ukrainian troops. His message came on Russia’s Defender of the Fatherland Day patriotic holiday, which . . .READ MORE . . .

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Putin will continue destruction if he ‘does not pay the price’: Biden.  From AFP. U.S. President Joe Biden said today that fresh sanctions imposed on Russia will force President Vladimir Putin to pay “an even steeper price” for his war in Ukraine and the death in prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. “They will . . . READ MORE . . .

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As Russian troops advance, Kharkiv residents are determined to stay in the city. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Two years since Russia’s invasion, the Ukrainian border city of Kharkiv prepares for a long war by building entire school systems underground. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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What Feb. 24, 2022, means for us – Garton Ash, Dickinson, Bociurkiw, Hodges. From Kyiv Post. In connection with the second anniversary of Russia launching its all-out war against Ukraine, we have invited a number of prominent political, business and military people, analysts and journalists, to share their thoughts on what this somber date means for them and for all of us. Here is the first group. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to a report and two discussions, all from Consortium News, and to an article from ScheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (UKRAINE and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) – MCM

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U.S. reinforces grand Assange deception, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  On the second and final day of Julian Assange’s High Court hearing, barristers for the United States wove a delusory tale in which journalism is espionage, First Amendment rights are stripped from foreigners on U.S. soil and a government hunting a dissident journalist who revealed its secret crimes is lauded as a beacon of democracy. However, . . . READ MORE . . .

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Watch: Reporters’ roundtable on Assange Day 2. Taylor Hudak of AcTVism Munich hosts Matt Kennard, journalist at Declassified UK; Dustin Hoffman, parliamentary assistant at the European Parliament; Richard Medhurst, independent journalist and commentator; Professor Richard Werner, economy at Linacre College, Oxford University; and journalist Mohamed Elmaazi, to discuss Julian Assange’s hearing at Britain’s Supreme Court on Wednesday. Click HERE to watch and listen.

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Watch: CN Live! — ‘Assange’s last stand?’ Joe Lauria and Elizabeth Vos of Consortium News are joined by journalist Chris Hedges, The Duran editor Alexander Mercouris, and CN Live! executive producer Cathy Vogan on Thursday to discuss Julian Assange’s two-day hearing at the High Court. (Former UK diplomat Craig Murray, originally scheduled to take part, was unable to.) Click HERE to watch and listen.

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Julian Assange’s grand inquisitor, by Chris Hedges | Original to ScheerPost  LONDON — The prosecution for the U.S., which is seeking to deny Julian Assange’s appeal of an extradition order, begun by the Trump administration and embraced by the Biden administration, grounded its arguments on Wednesday in the dubious affidavits filed by a U.S. federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, Gordon Kromberg. READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and an ASSANGE entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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An attempt by UK lawmakers to vote on a cease-fire in Gaza descended into chaos, by Jill Lawless | AP  LONDON — UK lawmakers called Wednesday for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war — but only after dozens walked out of the House of Commons in protest at how the vote was handled. Lawmakers had been debating three separate resolutions related to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel hits Gaza’s Rafah; Hamas chief’s trip raises truce hopes, by Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Nidal Al-Mughrabi andDan Williams | Reuters  RAFAH, Gaza Strip / CAIRO / JERUSALEM — Israeli bombs on Rafah flattened a mosque and destroyed homes in what residents called one of their worst nights yet, while the Hamas chief was in Cairo for talks Gazans hope could bring a truce in time to head off a full-blown assault on the city. READ MORE . . .