For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, and Tass, and to commentary from the Kyiv Independent; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, HERE.) — MCM

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Russia throwing large numbers of troops at Ukraine’s Avdiivka, mayor says. From AFP. Large numbers of Russian troops are pushing to capture the frontline town of Avdiivka, its Ukrainian mayor said today, escalating a months-long effort to capture the industrial hub. Late last year, Moscow launched a costly bid to seize the town, which . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine needs more troops fighting Russia. Hardened professionals from Colombia are helping, by Illia Novikov and Manuel Rueda | AP  KYIV — Melodic Colombian Spanish fills a hospital treating soldiers wounded fighting Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s ranks are depleted by two years of war. As it battles the Russian war machine, Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian army loses up to 310 troops in Donetsk area over 24 hours. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 310 troops in the Donetsk area over 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Here are the details of this and other combat actions that happened over the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry report. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine wants to make reconstruction transparent. Will it work? by Dominic Culverwell | The Kyiv Independent  IRPIN, Ukraine — Inside a bare apartment littered with concrete blocks and slabs of plywood, construction site manager Serhiy Yerokhin points to a large balcony overlooking the treetops of this suburb outside of Kyiv occupied and heavily damaged during the first month of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Almost two years ago, a missile tore through the roof of . . . READ MORE . . .