For today, links to reports from the Kyiv Post, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and the Associated Press, and to commentary from Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, via Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names and initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.)— MCM

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Zelensky shuffles security leadership. From Kyiv Post. President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov and replaced him with the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleksandr Lytvynenko. The decree was posted today on . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian missile attack hits Russian warship and reconnaissance vessel, navy says, by Max Hunder and Tom Balmforth | Reuters  KYIV — A Ukrainian missile attack struck a Russian naval reconnaissance vessel and a large landing warship that Moscow captured from Kyiv during the annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, Ukraine’s navy said today. The fact of the weekend strikes was already known, but . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says weekend missile attack damaged 4 Russian ships,  From AFP.  Ukraine said today that it had damaged four Russian naval ships in a weekend missile attack against annexed Crimea. The Ukrainian navy had previously said that the overnight attack between Saturday and Sunday damaged only . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia delivers strike at Ukrainian intelligence decision-making centers. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s Defense Ministry said today its forces delivered a combined strike by long-range precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukrainian intelligence decision-making centers and sites and foreign mercenaries’ deployment areas over the past day in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine ramps up spending on homemade weapons to help repel Russia, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Ukraine needs any edge it can get to repel Russia from its territory. One emerging bright spot is its small but fast-growing defense industry, which the . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 24  The French road to nuclear war. From Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, via Consortium News. An “Alert Memorandum” to President Biden. the fifth VIPS open message to the president since May 2022 concerning the war in Ukraine. Stated subject: “On the Brink of Nuclear War.” It is signed by 23 members of the VIPS steering group. Click HERE for statement and links to previous four. NOTE: VIPS does not have a website.

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

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NEWER  UN demands cease-fire in Gaza during Muslim holy month of Ramadan, its 1st demand to halt fighting, by Edith M. Lederer | AP  UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council today issued its first demand to halt the fighting in Gaza, calling for a cease-fire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a vote that drew an immediate protest from the Israeli prime minister. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned visit to Washington by a high-level delegation and  . . . Click HERE to read and watch live UN coverage.

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NEWER  UN Security Council demands immediate ceasefire in Gaza after U.S. abstains, by Michelle Nichols | Reuters   UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council today demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages after the United States abstained from the vote. The remaining 14 council member voted for the . . .  READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Israel will not end war until hostages released, defense minister says in Washington. From AFP.  Israel will not end its war against Hamas until militants free hostages, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said today in Washington after Israel cancelled another U.S.-bound delegation over a UN Security Council ceasefire call. “We have . . . READ MORE . . .

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Destruction, lawlessness and red tape hobble aid as Gazans go hungry, by John Davison, Michelle Nichols, Emma Farge, Emily Rose and Farah Saafan | Reuters  CAIRO — In mid-March, a line of trucks stretched for 3 kilometers along a desert road near a crossing point from Israel into the Gaza Strip. On the same day, another line of trucks, some 1.5 kilometers long, sometimes two or three across, was backed up near . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel kills dozens in Gaza attacks and besieges two hospitals, Palestinian medics say, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israel’s military killed dozens of people in new attacks in Gaza, Palestinian medics said today, and its forces maintained a blockade of two hospitals where they say Hamas . . . READ MORE . . .

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Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says death toll at 32,333. From AFP. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said today that at least 32,333 people have been killed in the territory during more than five months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants. The toll includes . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 24  Palestinians describe bodies and ambulances crushed in Israel’s ongoing raid at Gaza’s main hospital, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians who fled an ongoing Israeli raid of Gaza’s main hospital described mass arrests and forced marches past bodies in interviews on Sunday, while the United Nations said Israel is now blocking its main agency helping Palestinians from sending food aid to the enclave’s devastated north. Israel’s military . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel warns 4 European countries against Palestinian statehood recognition. From Reuters. Israel tells four European countries that their plan to work toward recognition of a Palestinian state constitutes a “prize for terrorism” that will reduce the chances of a negotiated resolution to the conflict. Spain said on Friday that it had agreed with Ireland, Malta and Slovenia to take first steps toward . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli officials are in Washington amid talk tactics in Gaza may threaten U.S. aid. Reported by Leila Fadel and Jennifer Ludden | NPR  Israel’s defense minister is in the U.S. today, as the two countries sharply disagree over what should happen next in Gaza. President Biden is pushing for a cease-fire. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Nearly 6 months after Hamas attacked Israel, has Israel accomplished its goals? Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Raphael Cohen, an expert in military strategy at Rand Corporation, a nonpartisan think tank, about whether Israel is winning the war against Hamas. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 24  Military draft bill creates rift in Israeli government. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — A member of Israel’s war cabinet said on Sunday he would quit the national emergency government should proposed legislation that continues to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews from mandatory military service be passed into law. “The nation cannot accept it,” said centrist cabinet minister Benny Gantz, “the Knesset . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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Kyiv endures a third bombardment in 5 days as Russia steps up targeting of Ukrainian cities, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russia launched missiles against Kyiv for the third time in five days today, part of an apparent escalation of aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities as the war stretches into its third year with the front line largely stationary. Seven people . . . READ MORE . . .

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7 wounded in Russian missile attack on Kyiv, by Stanislav Doshchitsyn and Sergei Supinsky | AFP  Kyiv’s mayor said seven people including a teenage girl were wounded today after Ukrainian air defense systems downed two Russian ballistic missiles over the capital, sending metal debris crashing to the ground. Emergency workers in hard helmets cleared concrete and bent metal from one building ripped open . . . READ MORE . . .

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Security Service of Ukraine Target of Ballistic Attack on Kyiv – SBU, by Alisa Orlova | Kyiv Post  Sources within the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have confirmed that two ballistic missiles were launched from Russian-occupied Crimea toward Kyiv today and were aimed at the SBU offices. Today Ukraine is observing the Day of the Security Service of Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops break through Ukrainian defenses northwest of Verbovoye in Zaporozhye area. From Tass. MELITOPOL — Russian troops broke through Ukrainian army defenses northwest of Verbovoye in the Zaporozhye area and advanced by 2 km, Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the We Are Together with Russia public movement, said today. “Our troops . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast’s Vovchansk kills elderly man, by Kateryna Denisova and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Russia attacked the city of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast today, killing a civilian, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported. Settlements in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv Oblast are subjected . . . READ MORE . . .

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Latvia prepares for Russian aggression amid concern war will spread beyond Ukraine. Leila Fadel of NPR talks with Latvia’s Foreign Minister Krišjanis Karinš about the threat amid waning U.S. enthusiasm for supporting Ukraine. Lithuania and Estonia officials are also in Washington, D.C. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 23  Meet the rebel units taking the fight inside Russia amid war in Ukraine, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  Ten days ago, armed units of three Russian exile groups crossed into Russia from Ukraine. Since then, in a 75-mile arc in Belgorod region, rebels have taken over or are fighting for six border towns. Incursions reportedly . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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Palestinians describe heavy destruction, forced marches in ongoing Israeli raid around Gaza hospital, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians who fled during an ongoing Israeli raid in and around the Gaza Strip’s main hospital described days of heavy fighting, mass arrests, forced marches past dead bodies and flattened buildings in interviews today. The Israeli . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel besieges two more Gaza hospitals, demands evacuations, Palestinians say, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israeli forces besieged two more Gaza hospitals today, pinning down medical teams under heavy gunfire, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, and Israel said it had captured 480 militants in continued clashes at Gaza’s main Al Shifa hospital. Israeli forces say . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kamala Harris ‘ruling out nothing’ if Israel invades Rafah: ‘There’s nowhere for those folks to go,‘ by Ben Samuels | Haaretz  WASHINGTON — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris referred to Senator Chuck Schumer’s Israel speech in an interview with ABC News, saying that: “I will not speak for Senator Schumer. But we are very clear that that is on the Israeli people to make a decision . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘Kill them all’: Inside the Israeli blockade on Gaza aid. Reported by Jeremy Loffredo | The Grayzone / ScheerPost  From introduction: “Setting out on a bus caravan through illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Loffredo arrives at the Kerem Shalom crossing to Gaza, filming . . .” Click HERE to watch and listen.

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

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UN chief says it’s time to ‘truly flood’ Gaza with aid and calls starvation there an outrage, by Samy Magda, Amr Nabil and Sam Metz | AP  RAFAH CROSSING, Egypt — UN Secretary-General António Guterres stood near a long line of waiting trucks today and declared it was time to “truly flood Gaza with life-saving aid,” calling the starvation inside the enclave a “moral outrage.” He called for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 22  Top U.S. diplomat warns Israel of global isolation if it attacks Rafah, by Humeyra Pamuk and Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  TEL AVIV — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday that Israel risked further global isolation if it attacks the Palestinian city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Blinken met one-on-one with Netanyahu . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 22  Netanyahu wants ‘total victory’ over Hamas. What would that look like? Reported by Sacha Pfeiffer,Courtney Dorning and Megan Lim | NPR  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he seeks “total victory” over Hamas. Sacha Pfeiffer speaks with Middle East expert Daniel Byman about what that means for Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 22  As famine looms in Gaza, we look at why modern famines are a ‘man-made’ disaster. Reported by Ailsa Chang, Linah Mohammad and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR  The United Nations says a famine is imminent in Gaza. Ailsa Chang checks in with Alex de Waal, leading scholar on famines, about the situation in the strip. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 20  How Western media built the case for genocide, by Jonathan Cook | Declassified UK / Consortium News  To understand how Western publics are being manipulated, just look to the coverage — especially from those outlets most closely aligned not with the right but with supposedly liberal values. How have the media dealt with . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and to  commentary from SheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Putin says gunmen who raided Moscow concert hall tried to escape to Ukraine. Kyiv denies involvement. From AP.  MOSCOW — Russian authorities arrested the four people suspected of taking part in the attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people and believe they were headed to Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said today in an address to the nation. Kyiv, meanwhile, strongly denied any . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia launches sweeping attack on Ukraine’s power sector, a sign of possible escalation, by Hanna Arhirova and Jim Heintz | AP  KYIV — Russia unleashed one of its most devastating attacks against Ukraine’s electric sector on Friday, an aerial assault it said was retaliation for recent strikes inside Russia and which could signal an escalation of the war just . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 22  Late-imperial duplicities, by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  As I was saying to Diocletian over Prosecco just last week, it is hard to run an empire these days. You have to lie to people more or less incessantly to keep the troops minding the perimeter in supplies. No falsehood is . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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NEWER  Russia attacks Ukrainian electrical power facilities, including major hydroelectric plant, by Hanna Arhirova and Jim Heintz | AP  KYIV — Russia attacked electrical power facilities in much of Ukraine, including the country’s largest hydroelectric plant, causing widespread outages and killing at least five people, officials said today. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 60 drones and about 90 rockets . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  A series of blasts in Ukrainian cities. From Tass. MOSCOW — A series of blasts rocked several Ukrainian cities. An air raid alert was declared on the country’s entire territory. As Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko specified, the blasts largely damaged electric power generation, transmission and distribution facilities. Some Ukrainian cities are experiencing problems with water supply and communications. A day before, explosions occurred in Kiev — the city’s . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Ukraine to drop Ruswsia business blacklist after backlash, by Tom Balmforth and John O’Donnell | Reuters  KYIV / BERLIN — Ukraine will scrap its “sponsors of war” blacklist, the centrepiece of its campaign to pressure companies doing business in Russia, today, after a backlash from countries from to Austria to China, two people familiar with the matter said. The end of the blacklist, which . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops advance on towns in eastern Ukraine, where some residents remain. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Some Ukrainians are spending their days under the fire of advancing Russian troops. We meet some of the last residents of an eastern Ukrainian town. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 21  The iron-clad piñata, by Seymour M. Hersh | seymourhersh.Substack.com  President Biden’s foreign policy problems in the Middle East and Ukraine are daunting, especially in an election year, but the war between Russia and Ukraine could be nearing a military endgame, and not via negotiations. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from CN and the London Review of Books; other articles from both are accessible by clicking on their names below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and an ASSANGE entry are HERE and HERE,) —MCM   

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A Palestinian boy is shot dead after he lit a firework. Israel’s use of deadly force is scrutinized, by Jack Jeffrey | AP  JERUSALEM — A 12-year-old boy in east Jerusalem lights the fuse of a long firework and hoists it in the air. Then, just before it explodes and illuminates the night sky with a burst of red, he is shot in the chest by Israeli police and falls to the ground. READ MORE . . .

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Fighting rages at Gaza’s Shifa hospital as Blinken meets Sisi in Cairo, by Humeyra Pamuk and Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Cairo today for talks with Arab officials to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, after Israel’s prime minister told U.S. Republicans there would be no let-up in the war against Hamas. In Gaza itself, Israel’s . . . READ MORE . . .

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EU leaders gather with Ukraine ammunition production and Gaza aid at the top of their agenda. From AP. BRUSSELS — European Union leaders gathered today to consider new ways to help boost arms and ammunition production for Ukraine and to discuss the war in Gaza amid deep concern about Israeli plans to launch a ground offensive in the city of Rafah. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will join the leaders, in part to encourage . . . READ MORE . . .

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Authorized atrocities, by Patrick Lawrence | Special to Consortium News  Israel’s savagery in its determination to exterminate the Palestinians of Gaza — and we had better brace for what is next on the West Bank of the Jordan — marks a turn for all of humanity. In its descent into depravity . . . READ MORE . . .

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The Shoah after Gaza, by Pankaj Mishra | The London Review of Books  For more than seven decades now, the argument among the “darker peoples” has remained the same: why should Palestinians be dispossessed and punished for crimes in which only Europeans were complicit? And they can only recoil with disgust . . . READ MORE . . .