First, a link to an op-ed article in today’s Berkshire Eagle by its foreign affairs columnist. Then, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, and Agence France-Presse; others may be accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM
– – –
Ukraine’s elite IT bedevils Russia, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle The Biden administration has made hardware and software fixes to prevent rockets from reaching Russia. American officials apparently forgot that in the Soviet era, Ukrainian engineers designed and built intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of hitting New York. This Cold War scientific legacy resurfaced this week when Ukrainian drones flew as far as 500 miles into Russia, hitting three . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Russia grinds on in eastern Ukraine; Bakhmut ‘destroyed,’ by Jamey Keaten | AP KYIV — Russian forces have “destroyed” the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, while Ukraine’s military today reported missile, rocket and air strikes in multiple parts of the country that Moscow is trying to conquer after months of resistance. The latest battles of Russia’s 9 1/2 month war in Ukraine have centered on four provinces that Russian President Vladimir Putin triumphantly — and illegally — claimed to have annexed in late September. The fighting indicates . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Ukraine gets more U.S. aid as Russia-Iran ties worry West, by Dan Peleschuk | Reuters * Washington announces new military aid for Ukraine * Ukraine says Russia is shelling in east of country * Russia trying to obtain ballistic missiles from Iran, says UK * Putin accuses West of using Ukraine as ‘cannon fodder’ | KYIV — The United States announced new military aid for Ukraine on Friday and vowed to disrupt Russian ties with Iran, which a British envoy said involved Moscow seeking hundreds of ballistic missiles and offering unprecedented military support in return. Tehran and Moscow have denied . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Russian troops destroy US-made AN/TPQ-36 radar system, two Grad MLRS in DPR – top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops destroyed a US-made AN/TPQ-36 mobile radar system and two Grad multiple rocket launchers in the course of the special military operation in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in the past day, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov said today. According to him, the U.S.-made radar system was destroyed near Torskoye, while . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Putin says ‘agreement will have to be reached’ to end Ukraine conflict. From AFP. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that ultimately an agreement would need to be struck to end fighting in Ukraine, nine months after the Kremlin launched its “special military operation” there. His comments came in response to remarks from former German chancellor Angela Merkel about the Minsk agreements, negotiated in 2014 with Paris and Berlin to end fighting between Russia and Ukraine. Merkel . . . READ MORE . . .