For today, links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to historical commentary by the editor of Consortium News. — MCM

–   –   –

Ukrainian drone attacks Russian town near major nuclear plant.  From Reuters.  MOSCOW A Ukrainian drone attacked a town in western Russia which is home to one of the country’s biggest nuclear power stations, though there was no damage reported to the plant, Russian officials said today. Governor Roman Starovoit said a Ukrainian drone had damaged the facade of a building in the town of Kurchatov. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Zelenskyy says Ukraine has developed a long-range weapon, a day after a strike deep inside Russia. From AP. KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday his country has developed a weapon that hit a target 700 kilometers (400 miles) away, in an apparent reference to the previous day’s strike on an airport in western Russia. He said the weapon was produced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

U.S. victim of own propaganda in Ukraine war, by Joe Lauria  | Consortium News The massacre on May 2, 2014, of demonstrators in Odessa protesting the U.S.-backed coup deposing  democratically elected President Viktor Yanukovych “is a key point in understanding the cause of the war.” It has since been buried by the West, creating a propagandized narrative about Russia’s intervention. An Aug. 21 goof by someone in the U.S. Embassy in Prague last month illustrated this. Click HERE to read.

First, links to reports from Reuters, the Moscow Times, Tass, the Kyiv Independent, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to commentary from the Moscow Times. — MCM

–   –   –

More Ukrainian drones attack Russia after planes hit on airfield. From Reuters. Ukrainian drones attacked more targets in Russia late on Wednesday, a night after drones struck at least six region deep within Russia in one of the broadest volleys yet of Kyiv’s campaign to turn the tables on Moscow. In a separate incident, Ukraine’s military said six of its servicemen, all of them officers. had died on Tuesday in the crash of two helicopters near Bakhmut. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia says killed, detained Ukrainian saboteurs in border region. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s Federal Security Service said today it has repelled a Ukrainian sabotage group’s attempt to infiltrate western Russia’s Bryansk region, the second attempted incursion this month. Two Ukrainian fighters were purportedly killed and five others . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian forces repel six Ukrainian attacks in Kupyansk area. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s Battlegroup West repelled six counterattacks by Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk area in the past day, the battlegroup’s spokesman Yaroslav Yakimkin said today. “The enemy’s overall losses amounted . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

UK Defense Ministry: 25 drone attacks on Russia in August, by Elsa Court and the news desk| The Kyiv Independent   Russia has been hit by 25 drone attacks this month alone, the U.K. Defense Ministry said today. That many drones have struck their targets means that Russian air defense “is having difficulty detecting and destroying them,” leading . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia is trying to buy weapons from North Korea, the U.S. says. Michel Martin of NPR talks with White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby about accusations Russia aims to do an arms deals with North Korea to support Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

Washington’s hesitant Ukraine strategy hands victory to Putin, by Boris Bondarev | The Moscow Times  As Kyiv’s counteroffensive stalls and a decisive Ukrainian victory looks increasingly unlikely, suggestions by someAmerican experts that the United States should initiate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine may seem tempting. However . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Press, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via Popular Resistance, commentary from Covert Action Magazine. — MCM

–   –   –

Russia says major Ukraine drone attack reaches deep into its territory while Kyiv barrage kills 2, by Susie Blann and Dasha Litvinova | AP   KYIV — Ukraine sent waves of drones deep into western Russia in nighttime attacks that lasted more than four hours and struck military assets, Russian officials and media reports said today. With at least six regions of Russia targeted, the . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Two killed in Russia’s biggest air strike on Ukraine’s capital in months, by Yurii Kovalenko and Vladyslav Sodel | Reuters KYIV — Russia’s largest air strike on Kyiv since spring killed two people early on Wednesday, with the debris of downed missiles falling on buildings, a park and a school, Ukrainian officials said. Three people were wounded in the overnight strike on Kyiv, and combat drones attacked infrastructure in the central region of Zhytomyr, where . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Turkish foreign minister to visit Russia on Thursday. From AFP. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will host his Turkish counterpart for a two-day visit beginning Thursday, Moscow has announced, after Ankara’s top diplomat held talks with Ukrainian officials last week. Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman sad Lavrov and Hakan Fidan would discuss . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Kiev regime’s drone attacks on Russia display of ‘sheer futility,’ Russian diplomat says. From Tass. MOSCOW — In the early morning hours of August 30, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were deployed in several attempted attacks on a number of Russian regions. In Crimea, seaborne drones were used in an attempted attack on Sevastopol harbor. “Obviously,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, “these are . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

West cannot afford to integrate Ukraine into NATO — Hungary’s Orban. From Tass. NEW YORK — Western countries can no longer afford to integrate Ukraine into NATO, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview with Tucker Carlson. In the interview, which was. . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Kyiv holds funeral for ‘Juice,’ one of Ukraine’s ace fighter pilots. Reported by Brian Mann | NPR  Andriy Pilshchykov, known by his call-sign “Juice” became an icon in Ukraine helping deny Russia air superiority in the early days of the war. He was given a hero’s funeral Tuesday in Kyiv. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

Ukraine providing a testing ground for space-based weapons, by Jeremy Kuzmarov | Covert Action Magazine Space-based satellites and sensors have been used by the Ukrainians to track Russian troop movements and assist in navigation, mapping and electronic warfare, and positioning systems that guide precision weapons and drones. A webinar hosted by the War Industry Resistance Network placed the U.S. strategy in Ukraine in the context of . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Tass, Reuters, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

–   –   –

Hungarian president believes conflict in Ukraine cannot be resolved militarily. From Tass. BUDAPEST — Hungary calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine because it is convinced that the conflict cannot be resolved militarily, Hungarian President Katalin Novak said in an interview with the Index online publication regarding her meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev on August 23. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine winter wheat sowing seen unchanged despite export crisis, by Pavel Polityuk | Reuters  KYIV — Ukrainian farmers are not expected to reduce the area of winter wheat they sow for the 2024 harvest despite higher logistics costs due to the wartime export crisis, a senior farming official said today. The demise of the Black Sea corridor used to safely export grain during the war spurred speculation . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Kremlin says Pope’s comments on Russian history are ‘very gratifying’. From Reuters. MOSCOW — The Kremlin today described as “very gratifying” comments by Pope Francis urging young Russians to remember their history, saying that the Russian state had a rich legacy and that it was good that the Pope knew Russian history. Pope Francis has come under criticism for telling Russian youths last week . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Washington hamstrung in formulating viable security guarantees for Ukraine — WSJ. From Tass. NEW YORK — The Biden administration may be forced to give weaker-than-hoped-for or overly vague pledges in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, as Washington may not be able to ensure the required levels of military spending earmarked for Kiev in future years, The Wall Street Journal reports today. According to the newspaper, Washington hopes . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Germany arrests a man accused of illegally exporting electronic components for drones to Russia. From AP. A German-Russian dual citizen has been arrested in Germany on allegations of violating the country’s foreign trade act multiple times by exporting electronic components to a company in Russia involved in the production of military materiel and accessories, Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office said today. The suspect was arrested in March. READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

–   –   –

Ukraine says it liberates strategic southeastern settlement. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukraine said today its troops had liberated the southeastern settlement of Robotyne and were trying to push further south in their counteroffensive against Russian forces. The Ukrainian military said last week that its forces had raised the national flag in Robotyne, but were . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia says destroyed drones near Moscow, Ukraine border. From AFP. Russian air defenses destroyed a drone approaching Moscow and two in a region bordering Ukraine, authorities said early today. The actions took place in the Lyubertsy district southeast of the Russian capital and over the western Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia wipes out Ukrainian aircraft armament, ammo site in overnight precision strike. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Navy delivered a multiple-launch precision strike, wiping out a Ukrainian aircraft armament and ammunition site over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said today in a briefing. “Last night, the Navy delivered a multiple-launch strike by seaborne long-range . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

An evacuation order finds few followers in northeastern Ukraine despite Russia’s push in the region, by Samya Kullab | AP  KUPIANSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities this month ordered a mandatory evacuation of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, a village some 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the front, and three dozen other populated areas as war returned to Kharkiv province. So far, most residents have refused to go as the battle inches closer to their . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, Tass, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via the Greanville Post, a link to two pieces of commentary by a close observer of the war in Ukraine, the first in a podcast interview with Danny Haiphong posted Aug. 25, the second in his Aug. 23 article in an online New Zealand daily. — MCM

–   –   –

Russia launches overnight air attack on northern, central Ukraine. From Reuters. Russia launched an overnight air attack against Ukraine today, sending missiles over other northern and central parts of the country, authorities said. The Ukrainian military reported shooting down four cruise missiles out of up to eight total airborne targets detected, adding that the rest of the targets were “probably false”. It also . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine investigates incident that killed 3 pilots while Russia attacks with cruise missiles. From AP. KYIV — Ukrainian authorities have launched an investigation after a midair collision between two warplanes in the west of the country killed three pilots. The air force’s Telegram page says two L-39 training military aircraft collided on Friday during a combat mission over Ukraine’s western Zhytomyr region. Russian forces, in the meantime, targeted . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia says its forces repelled four Ukrainian counterattacks near Kupyansk. From Tass. MOSCOW — Assault units of the battlegroup West have repelled four Ukrainian counterattacks and seized two strongpoints in the Kupyansk area, said Yaroslav Yakimkin, a spokesman for the battlegroup. He said the enemy had lost up to three platoons, two tanks, one mortar unit and two Kozak armored vehicles over the past day. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Wagner boss Prigozhin’s death confirmed by Russian investigators — Moscow. From AFP. The death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner paramilitary group, following a plane crash on Wednesday has been confirmed by formal genetic analysis, Russia’s Investigative Committee said today. “The identities of all 10 victims correspond to the list stated in the flight list,” a committee spokesman said. Speculation . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Prigozhin’s death, Ukraine, BRICS’s new members + more! Danny Haiphong of the podcast DH on Twitter speaks with former UN arms inspector Scott Ritter for nearly hours on topics including the jet crash that killed Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and several associates, the Ukraine war, and BRICS’s increasing membership. Click HERE to watch and listen.

–   –   –

For NATO and Ukraine, reality bites, by Scott Ritter | Daily Telegraph NZ  Ukraine has dispatched the last of its strategic reserves, led by the elite 82nd Airlanding Brigade, into the battle for the Zaporozhye village of Rabotino. Here, in fields made fallow by conditions of war, Ukraine’s best fighting forces have been eviscerated by Russian defenders who have refused to yield. Based upon the experience of the lead elements of the 82nd Brigade, this fate awaits . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Tass, the Kyiv Post, Reuters, National Public Radio, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally for today, links to an op-ed column in today’s Berkshire Eagle by its foreign affairs writer and to an Atlantic Council observer whom he mentions. — MCM

–   –   –

Russia says downs 2 drones as Ukrainian shelling wounds 6. From AFP. Russia said today its air defences shot down one drone approaching Moscow and another in a border region while Ukrainian shelling wounded six in a border town. Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean peninsula have been hit by a wave of attacks in recent days as Kyiv warns it aims . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Shelling kills civilians in Ukraine’s northeast as fears grow of a second Russian takeover, by Susie Blann | AP  KYIV — Russian forces struck a cafe in a key front-line area in northeastern Ukraine today, killing two civilians and wounding a third, regional officials said. The shelling near the city of Kupiansk came as U.K. officials said that Russia may . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian forces improve positions in Kupyansk area – Defense Ministry. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces improved their positions on the frontline in the Kupyansk area in the past day, repelling five attacks by Ukrainian assault teams, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. According to him, the enemy lost . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Kyiv confirms Black Sea fleet attack, warns Moscow of more ‘surprises,’ by Maryna Shashkova | The Kyiv Post  Ukraine carried out a successful drone attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea on Friday, killing and wounding “several dozen” Russian servicemen and damaging ammunition dumps and storage facilities, Kyiv Post has been told. Russian officials tried to play down the attack, but according to . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Putin orders Wagner fighters to sign oath of allegiance, by Andrew Osborn | Reuters  MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin has ordered Wagner fighters to sign an oath of allegiance to the Russian state after a deadly plane crash believed to have killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the volatile chief of the mercenary group. Putin signed the decree bringing in the change with immediate effect on Friday after . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Zelenskyy denies any role in the plane crash that killed Wagner Group chief Prigozhin. Reported by Scott Simon and Brian Mann | NPR  In Ukraine, news of the apparent death of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash is being greeted with satisfaction and gallows humor. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

Ukrainian forces have broken through Russian main lines of defense in some areas, top U.S. general says. From the Kyiv Independent. Throughout their counteroffensive, Ukrainian troops have managed to attack through Russia’s first main defensive belt in some areas along the front lines, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said in an interview. “Specifically on . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –  –

What to make of Oliver Anthony, the full red-bearded young Virginian who has taken much of the country by storm with “Rich Men North of Richmond”?

“He seems to be so genuine, so authentic,” someone close to me just said. In an era of fakery and lying those two words seem to fit him and his new song perfectly.

NPR tried to catch the song (and the young man) for their listeners HERE on “Morning Edition.” Did they succeed? Surely they’ll try again.

A YouTube version of it is HERE, and some may find it difficult to listen to and watch just one time. His dogs and all the trees — both silent — don’t hurt either.

For some, “Rich Men” will be a forceful echo of “Sixteen Tons.” Tennessee Ernie Ford’s rendition was No. 1 for weeks and weeks in 1955. It seems like THIS version was the one played over and over on A.M. radio.

“Frankie Laine recorded it also,” writes someone named Mark Gallagher who may have put together THIS moving audio-video combo. “But if you didn’t live in the U.K. you might not have heard Frankie’s version. Frankie had a Top 10 recording in England, but for some reason it was never issued in the States.”

Photos honoring coal miners bring home what Merle Travis tried to get across.

And don’t forget John Prine’s wistful “Paradise,” HERE, inspired by his family’s Muhlenberg County Kentucky roots and, I’m guessing, in part by Travis.

Where does Anthony fit in all of this? In the future.

— MCM

First, links to reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Tass, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

–   –   –

Russia says Ukraine fired missile towards Moscow, hit Crimea with drones. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russia said today Ukraine had fired a missile towards Moscow and attacked Crimea with 42 drones, in what would be one of the biggest known coordinated Ukrainian air attacks to date on Russian-held territory. The Russian defence ministry said a modified S-200 missile had been shot down over the Kaluga region, which . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

‘Absolute lie’: Kremlin rejects it ordered Prigozhin’s death. From AFP. The Kremlin today rejected rumours it had ordered the death of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, presumed to have died in a plane crash Wednesday between Moscow and St. Petersburg, two months after leading a mutiny in Russia. Speculation. . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia expert says it would make sense that Putin was behind the death of Prigozhin. Reported by Michael Levitt,Tinbete Ermyas and Ari Shapiro | NPR  Ari Shapiro of NPR with Fiona Hill, senior policy advisor at the Brookings Institute and former White House advisor, about the apparent death of Wagner Group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

NATO-member Norway to donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, becoming third country to do so, by Jan M Olsen | AP  COPENHAGEN, Denmark — NATO-member Norway will donate several F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Thursday, amid Kyiv’s difficult counteroffensive against Russia. Speaking in Kyiv . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine marks Independence Day and vows to keep fighting Russia as it remembers the fallen, by Susie Blann | AP  KYIV — Ukraine on Thursday marked its second Independence Day since Russia’s full-scale invasion, with officials vowing to keep up their fight to drive out the Kremlin’s forces and local people remembering their fallen . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

The GOP candidates’ differing takes on the war in Ukraine. Reported by Brian Mann and Tom Bowman | NPR  Last night, eight of the Republican candidates running for president took the debate stage for the first time. They had one major point of disagreement: Russia’s war on Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

Economic sanctions against Russia not achieving desired result — German foreign minister. From Tass. BERLIN The economic sanctions imposed by Germany and other Western countries over the Ukrainian conflict are not having the desired result on Russia, according to Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The sanctions against Russia “should have had an economic effect. However, this is not the case,” she was quoted as saying by the DPA agency. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko says Russian invasion of Ukraine through Belarus was ‘unexpected,’ by Maria Yeryoma | The Kyiv Independent  Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko admitted that Russian forces invaded Ukraine from Belarus at the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. He claimed Russian troops were in Belarus as part of planned military exercises and that their crossing the Ukrainian border from of Belarus on Feb. 23 and 24 of last year was “unexpected,” adding . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Reuters, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

–   –   –

Mercenary chief Prigozhin is presumed to have died in a plane crash seen as the Kremlin’s revenge. From AP. Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and some of his top lieutenants were presumed dead in a plane crash— widely seen today as an assassination to avenge a mutiny that challenged President Vladimir Putin’s authority. The founder of the Wagner military company and six other passengers . . . READ MORE . . .  

–   –   –

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin reported killed in plane crash. Reported by Steve Inskeep and Charles Maynes | NPR  Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin led a brief uprising against Russia’s military in June. A plane crashed in Russia Wednesday, and he may be among the people who died. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

Ukraine says it launched ‘special operation’ in Russian-occupied Crimea. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukraine’s navy and military intelligence carried out a “special operation” overnight in which units landed on Russian-occupied Crimea, the defence ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) said today. Brief and dark video footage posted alongside the statement . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian troops wipe out two Ukrainian army sites, two ammo depots in DPR. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops struck Ukrainian army units near Grigorovka and Umanskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), destroying two enemy deployment sites and tw  ammunition depots over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Southern Battlegroup Spokesman Vadim Astafyev said today. Also, the following . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –   

Despite dangers and hardship of war, Ukrainians enjoy Black Sea beaches this summer. Reported by Brian Mann | NPR  This summer Ukrainians are thumbing their noses at Putin by sunbathing and swimming on Black Sea beaches that have reopened despite the dangers of war. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED