For today, links to two reports from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 1-13-26, and up or down for IRAN, GAZA and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Ukraine’s new defense minister reveals scale of desertions as millions avoid the draft, by Illia Novikovy | AP  KYIV — Wide-scale desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers are among a raft of challenges facing Ukraine’s military as Russia presses on with its invasion of its neighbor after almost four years of fighting, the new defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, said today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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FROM JAN. 13  Russia attacks Ukraine’s power grid again in freezing temperatures, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russia launched a second major drone and missile bombardment of Ukraine in four days, officials said Tuesday, aiming again at the power grid amid freezing temperatures — almost 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles and seven cruise missiles at eight regions overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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