First, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. NOTE: Monday’s expanded entry on an interview with the Lawyers’ Committee for 9/11 Inquiry litigation director, HERE, has been added to. — MCM

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Toll from Ukraine strike In Makiivka rises to 89: Russian ministry. From AFP. The toll from a Ukrainian New Year strike on Makiivka, in Russian-controlled territory of eastern Ukraine, has risen to 89, the Russian defence ministry said today. In an extremely rare announcement, Russia said Monday that 63 soldiers had been killed in the — the biggest loss of life from a single strike reported by Moscow since the start of the offensive on February 24. The admission . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says phone use allowed Ukraine to target its troops, by Felipe Dana | AP  KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Unauthorized use of cell phones by Russian soldiers led to a deadly Ukrainian rocket attack on the facility where they were stationed, according to the Russian military. Gen. Lt. Sergei Sevryukov said in a statement late Tuesday that phone signals allowed Kyiv’s forces to “determine the coordinates of the location . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian army receives advanced Ka-52M helicopters – source. From Tass. MOSCOW — The first upgraded Ka-52M strike and reconnaissance helicopters were delivered to the Russian army and supplies will continue this year, a source in the defense industry told TASS. About ten . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to reports from National Public Radio, Tass, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to an undated YouTube commentary by a retired U.S. Army colonel and former government official. Next, a link to a post initially filed four days ago on antiwar.com — MCM

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Russian air attacks continue to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Reported by Tim Mak | NPR  Russia and Ukraine are both claiming Russian casualties following a missile attack on the occupied Donetsk region. The attack came as Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Russian forces eliminate over 130 foreign mercenaries in Ukraine operation – top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Aerospace Forces delivered a strike on the deployment site of the Ukrainian army’s foreign legion in the Donetsk People’s Republic, eliminating “over 130 mercenaries” in the past day, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov said today. “Precision strikes . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian civilian killed by Russia was a celebrated children’s author. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  The killing of children’s author Volodymyr Vakylenko has become a symbol of Russia’s war on Ukrainian culture. His last work was a diary of life under Russian occupation. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Moscow and Kyiv dispute the number of Russian soldiers killed in blast. Rob Schmitz of NPR talks with Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about Ukraine carrying out a strike on Russian troops. Ukraine says the death toll is in the hundreds. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Drone advances in Ukraine could bring dawn of killer robots, by Frank Bajak and Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — The longer the war lasts, the more likely it becomes that drones will be used to identify, select and attack targets without help from humans, according to military analysts, combatants and artificial intelligence researchers. That would . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian bloodbath is going to happen soon — Americans need to understand this, by Douglas Macgregor. Click HERE to listen.

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Biden reneged — now Russian army will talk, by Ray McGovern | antiwar.com A year ago today [on Dec. 30, 2021] U.S. President Joe Biden, in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, assured him that “Washington had no intention of deploying offensive strike weapons in Ukraine.” Against that backdrop, bilateral talks in Geneva to start on January 9, 2022 seemed off to a promising start. The Kremlin thought so. Then Biden . . . READ MORE . . .

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For now, a link to British talk show host George Galloway interviewing Mick Harrison, litigation director of the Lawyers’ Committee for 9/11 Inquiry. They discuss an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the Committee’s efforts to present to a federal special grand jury its considerable evidence in the destruction on Sept. 11, 2001, of three World Trade Center skyscrapers — as well as the case’s overall legal context. Click HERE to watch and listen.

Because of the popularity of Galloway’s show, known in Britain as the Mother Of All Talk Shows (and coming to the United States in some form possibly as soon as this year), it is figured that the LC’s Harrison had his biggest audience ever during the Jan. 1 interview. Here is the final paragraph of the Committee’s followup message:

”As we await the decision of the Court following its Jan. 6th conference on whether to take up the case We ask that You donate generously to help us meet our Goal of $10,000 to cover the costs of drafting the brief and professional Petition copying and filing fees; to be ready with the more substantive brief should the Court accept the case; and for filing costs and attorney’s fees to draft our signature case for the coming year, an FOIA Lawsuit to force the FBI to release its collection of photos, videos and documents of its ‘Major Bombing Cases’ related to 9/11.”

Visitors may visit the LC’s website HERE to do so. Or mail a check to:

Lawyers’ Committee for 9/11 Inquiry P.O. Box 14125 Arlington, TX 76094

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via Popular Resistance, two pieces of commentary. — MCM

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Russia presses its Ukraine strategy, fires 40 drones at Kyiv, by Felipe Dana | AP  KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia deployed exploding drones in another nighttime attack on Ukraine, officials said today, as the Kremlin signaled no letup in its strategy of using bombardments to target civilian infrastructure and wear down Ukrainian resistance to its invasion. The barrage . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Strike kills 63 Russian troops in eastern Ukraine: Moscow. From AFP. A Ukrainian strike on a complex in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Makiivka killed 63 Russian troops, the Russian defence ministry announced today. “As a result . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian army hits Ukraine’s combat drone production sites on Dec 31. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Armed Forces carried out a high-precision strike on Ukrainian defense industry sites involved in the production of combat drones on December 31, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday. “The move thwarted . . . READ MORE . . .

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Anger in Russia as scores of troops killed in one of war’s deadliest strikes, by Pavel Polityuk | Reuters  * Third straight night of attacks signals new Russian tactic * Kyiv says Russian strikes are failing * Scores of Russian troops reported dead in barracks blast * Stern Putin New Year speech signals no let-up * Zelenskiy says Ukraine stands united | KYIV — Russia acknowledged today that scores of its troops were killed in one of the Ukraine war’s deadliest strikes, drawing demands from nationalist bloggers for commanders to be punished for housing soldiers alongside an ammunition dump. Russia’s defense ministry . . . READ MORE . . .

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In Ukraine, the New Year was met with more sheltering from aerial bombardment. From NPR. Ukraine’s government issued 15,000 air raid warnings in 2022, and it doesn’t look like Russia is planning to let up this year. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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What’s ahead for the war in Ukraine in 2023. Elissa Nadworny of NPR speaks with Melinda Haring, the outgoing deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, about what to expect from the Russia-Ukraine war in 2023. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Photographing the levity and macabre of living through the war in Ukraine. Elissa Nadworny of NPR talks with photographer Carol Guzy, about her most recent photo essay, which documents a young couple living with the effects of the Ukraine war. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Lack of good analyses contributes to the decline of the ‘West,’ by Moon of Alabama. | Educate!  What really hit me last year was the dearth of correct analyses in main stream media and in politics with regards to the war in Ukraine. Little if anything is based on facts. More than 90% of the published output is propaganda. The ‘western’ plan . . . READ MORE . . .

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We’ve reached peak Zelensky — now what? by Robert Freeman | Consortium News When the president of the poorest, most corrupt nation in Europe is feted with multiple standing ovations by the combined Houses of Congress, and his name invoked in the same breath as Winston Churchill, you know we’ve reached Peak Zelensky. It’s a farcical, almost . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, a poem for the new year. Happy New Year! — MCM

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The Courage That My Mother Had

By Edna St. Vincent Millay

The courage that my mother had
Went with her, and is with her still:
Rock from New England quarried;
Now granite in a granite hill.

The golden brooch my mother wore
She left behind for me to wear;
I have no thing I treasure more:
Yet, it is something I could spare.

Oh, if instead she’d left to me
The thing she took into the grave! –
That courage like a rock, which she
Has no more need of, and I have.

Today’s year-end entry begins and ends with contributions from Consortium News. The first links to a useful collection of 23 CN articles. Then, links to reports from National Public Radio, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally, via Popular Resistance, an article by CN’s editor. — MCM

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For a different angle on Ukraine. From Consortium News. This is a link to a collection of 23 articles published Consortium News since February of 2014, by founding editor Robert Parry, current editor Joe Lauria, and authors Sottt Ritter and Patrick Lawrence. Click HERE for it.

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Ukraine marks the end of a year almost entirely spent under attack. Reported by Tim Mak | NPR  Russia conducted its largest series of airstrikes against Ukraine since mid-December, aimed at critical infrastructure. It’s the latest salvo targeting Ukrainian power and water supplies. Click HERE to listen.

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Missile strikes on Ukraine kill one, Zelenskiy says Russians in league with the devil, by Dan Peleschuk and Olena Harmash | Reuters KYIV — Russia fired more than 20 cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine today, killing at least one person in Kyiv. The second barrage of major Russian missile attacks in three days . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine shot down 12 of 20 Russian missiles: Army. From AFP. Ukraine’s air defense shot down 12 out of 20 missiles launched by Russia this afternoon, hours before New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Ukrainian army said. Russia “launched . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine conflict casts shadow on Russia as it enters 2023, by Jim Heintz | AP  MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New Year’s address to the nation usually is rather anodyne and backed with a soothing view of a snowy Kremlin. This year, . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin’s New Year address: Year of major steps and fight for Russia’s future. From Tass. MOSCOW — The outgoing year has been one of “difficult, necessary decisions, major steps” towards Russia’s full independence, and now the country is fighting for its future, President Vladimir Putin said in his New Year’s address today. He addressed . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s debts: U.S. aims to get IMF to reexamine loan fees, by Fatima Hussein | AP  WASHINGTON — The National Defense Authorization Act requires American representatives to each global development bank, including the IMF, where the U.S. is the largest stakeholder, to use “ the voice, vote, and influence ” of the U.S. in seeking to assemble a voting bloc of countries that would change each institution’s debt service relief policy regarding Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Evidence of U.S.-backed coup in Kiev, by Joe Lauria | Consortium News NewsGuard, the media rating agency, gave Consortium News a red mark for “publishing false content” on Ukraine, including that there was a U.S.-backed coup in Kiev in 2014 and that neo-Nazis have significant influence in the country. Here is Consortium News‘ detailed proof. READ MORE . . .

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As the year winds down countless people are hoping or praying that the latest (or at least one of the latest) in a series of avoidable wars, the one in Ukraine, is winding down too and headed for at least a truce. In a welcome diversion, the news has been filled with stories of vacation air flights canceled for thousands of travelers fortunate enough to have planned to fly — especially those with fares on Southwest Airlines.

Yesterday I posted link to a 10-minute message, HERE, by a retired airline pilot, Dan Hanley of United. I neglected to mention that he’s president of Pilots for 9/11 Truth and that he has conducted a series of interviews with other pilots (probably all retired) who disagree with the government / mass media line on the use of airplanes in the mass murders of Sept. 11, 2001. HERE they are. — MCM

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

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Putin, Xi vow closer ties as Russia bombards Ukraine again, by Felipe Dana | AP  KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping vowed toiday to deepen their bilateral cooperation against the backdrop of Moscow’s 10-month war in Ukraine, which weathered another night of drone and rocket attacks following a large-scale missile bombardment. Putin and Xi . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin expects China’s Xi to visit soon; Xi holds his line on Ukraine, by Kevin Liffey | Reuters * Putin’s remarks highlight pivot from West to China * Both men share distrust of West * Xi’s reserved remarks contrast Putin’s upbeat tone * No mention of visit in Chinese media reports of video meeting * No sign from Xi of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine | Russian President Vladimir Putin said toiday he was expecting Chinese President Xi Jinping to make a state visit early next year in what would be a public show of solidarity from Beijing as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine falters. But an official Chinese readout . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops strike four command posts in Ukraine operation – top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian missile troops and artillery struck four Ukrainian command posts in the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov said today. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says fresh Russian drone strike overnight largely repelled. From AFP. The Ukrainian military said toiday that it had repelled an overnight drone attack on the country, including on the capital Kyiv, a day after Russia launched a barrage of missiles on the war-battered nation. “On the night of December 29-30 . . . READ MORE . . .

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Evidence of Russian crimes mounts as war in Ukraine drags on, by Michael Biesecker and Erika Kinetz | AP  KYIV — Ten months into Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine, overwhelming evidence shows the Kremlin’s troops have waged total war, with disregard for international laws governing the treatment of civilians and conduct on the battlefield. Ukraine is investigating more than 58,000 potential Russian war crimes — . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky says Ukraine has helped the West ’find itself,’ by David DeCamp | antiwar.com In an address to Ukraine’s parliament on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in 10 months of the war, his country has helped the West “find itself again” and provided a “historic opportunity.” “In 10 months of this year, we helped everyone. We helped . . . READ MORE . . .

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After the 77-Years war— why there Is still no peace on earth, by David Stockman | anti war.com After the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989 and the death of the Soviet Union was confirmed two years later as Boris Yeltsin courageously stood down the Red Army tanks in front of Moscow’s White House, a dark era in human history came to an abrupt end. The world had descended into a “77-Years War . . . READ MORE . . .

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Pilots for 9/11 Truth is one of a number of specialized groups with allied goals. Retired United Airlines captain Dan Hanley’s 10-minute account linked below regarding efforts to elicit a truthful response from the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, speaks for itself. — MCM

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Captain Dan Hanley on FAA stonewalling, deceit, and lying. From Pilots for 9/11 Truth. Introduction: “On August 2020, on behalf of 9/11 PIlot Whistleblowers, Captain Dan Hanley filed an FAA Whistleblower Report via the FAA Hotline. For the subsequent 12 months, the FAA stonewalled and deceived him and ultimately lied to him as, according to a response to a FOIA request for all data pertaining to the investigation, no such data existed. The FAA lied.” Click HERE to watch and listen.

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

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Russia is finishing the year with continued strikes on Ukraine’s electrical grid. Reported by Steve Inskeep and Tim Mak | NPR  Lights flickered or went out in some Ukrainian citieS today. More than 300 days into the war, airstrikes and power outages have become part of life. Where do things stand as the year winds down? Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Russia launches massive missile barrage across Ukraine, by Renata Brito and Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Multiple regions of Ukraine, including its capital, faced a massive Russian missile attack today, the biggest wave of strikes in weeks targeting power stations and other critical infrastructure during freezing weather. Russia dispatched . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine shot down 54 out of 69 Russian missiles: Army. From AFP. Ukraine’s air defence shot down 54 out of 69 missiles launched by Russia in a new wave of attacks today morning, the Ukrainian army said. “According to preliminary data . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. uses civilian satellites to support Ukrainian army – Russian MFA. From Tass. MOSCOW — The United States and its NATO allies are testing an innovative command and control system in Ukraine, using civilian satellites to furnish support for Kiev’s forces in combat, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today. She said the fundamental treaty on outer space of 1967 provides for the use of near-Earth space exclusively for peaceful . . . READ MORE . . .

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What is Zelenskiy’s 10-point peace plan? From Reuters. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been vigorously promoting his 10-point peace plan, discussing it with U.S. President Joe Biden among others, and urging world leaders to hold a Global Peace Summit based on it. The plan calls for . . . READ MORE . . .

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Lavrov: Ukraine must demilitarize or Russia will do it, by E. Eduardo Castillo | AP  KYIV — Russia’s foreign minister on Tuesday warned anew Ukraine that it must demilitarize, threatening further military action and falsely accusing Kyiv and the West of fueling the war that started with Moscow’s invasion. Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine must remove any military threat to Russia . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED