Ukraine, 2-29-24

For today, links to reports from the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Independent, the Kyiv Post, Reuters, Tass, and National Public Radio, to commentary from MintPress News via Consortium News, and to an interview from El País; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a HERSH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

   

Putin sends message of defiance to West in state of nation address. From the Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual State of the Nation address today, accusing the West of instigating the war in Ukraine, and also highlighting state social support programs and the Russian economy’s resilience against Western sanctions. “The West . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Congress reaches deal to avert government shutdown with no plans for Ukraine aid, by Olena Goncharova | The Ukraine Independent  U.S. congressional leaders announced on Wednesday a tentative agreement to avert a government shutdown, but there is currently no immediate plan in place to approve the $95 billion emergency national security funds intended for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies. READ MORE . . .

–    

Ukrainian air force downs three more Russian fighter-bombers, bringing total to 12 in 13 days, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) brought down three more Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers today, totaling 12 Su planes brought down in the last 13 days and 13 Russian planes overall including . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Ukraine says it has shot down three more Russian warplanes. From Reuters.  KYIV — Ukraine’s military said today it had shot down three more Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers, the latest successes it has reported against Moscow’s air force. The Ukrainian military said last week that Russia had lost six warplanes in three days. Since receiving . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Kiev loses over 490 troops in Avdeyevka area in past day — Russia’s top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Ukrainian military lost over 490 troops and 7 tanks near Avdeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a general briefing on the special military operation in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

–    

Ukrainian spec ops disaster: 20 reported killed by ambush in small boat landing in Crimea, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Russian shore defenders in the occupied territory Crimea scored a victory today, ambushing and killing nearly two dozen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s most highly-trained and skilled special operations troops. The early morning engagement . . . READ MORE . . .

    –

FROM FEB. 28  Congressional leaders hope to avoid a shutdown. But Ukraine aid is still unclear. Reported by Tamara Keith and Eric McDaniel | NPR  Congressional leaders emerged from an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday saying they were optimistic that they could reach a deal before a Friday deadline to avert a partial government shutdown. But . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

   

‘Shock therapy’: War in Ukraine attracts foreigners to see scars of Russia’s invasion, by Dominic Culverwell | The Ukraine Independent  Ukraine’s tourism industry predictably plummeted after Russia’s invasion. Even the initial flurry of journalists and political delegations who came to the country following the invasion has waned. But as tourists gradually begin to return, the sector has adapted by offering war tourism opportunities. READ MORE . . .

   

Worthy & unworthy victims: Navalny & Lira, by Alan MacLeod | MintPress News / Consortium News  MintPress conducted a quantitative analysis of the media coverage of the two political figures who recently died in prison: Alexey Navalny this month in Russia’s Siberia and Gonzalo Lira in January in Ukraine. Both died under suspicious . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Borrell: ‘Trump has not won yet, just as Putin has not won yet, but Europe has to wake up.’ Claudi Pérez of El País talks with Josep Borrell, foreign minister of the European Union. From Pérez’s introduction: “One war in Europe has just entered its third year: Ukraine. Another in the Middle East — Gaza — is . . .” READ MORE . . .  Click HERE to read in Spanish.