Below are links to reports from the Associated Press, the Daily Mail, and Reuters. Then, via Consortium News, a link to Scott Ridder’s askance look at three American volunteers’ service in a Ukrainian Army auxiliary unit. — MCM

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Russians withdraw from around Kharkiv, batter east, by Oleksandr Stashevskyi and David Keaton | The Associated Press  KYIV — Russian troops are withdrawing from around Ukraine’s second-largest city after bombarding it for weeks, the Ukrainian military said today, as Kyiv and Moscow’s forces engaged in a grinding battle for the country’s eastern industrial heartland. Ukraine’s general staff said the Russians were pulling back from the northeastern city of Kharkiv and focusing on guarding supply routes, while launching mortar, artillery and airstrikes in the eastern Donetsk province in order to “deplete Ukrainian forces and destroy fortifications.” Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Ukraine was “entering a new – long-term – phase . . . READ MORE . . .

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demands immediate ceasefire during first call to Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, by Rob Crilly | Daily Mail U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin talked to his Russian counterpart by telephone on Friday for the first time since Moscow invaded Ukraine, and called for an immediate ceasefire. American officials had repeatedly expressed frustration at Russian refusals to maintain communications during the conflict. But on day 79 of the war, the Pentagon announced that Austin had spoken to Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu. ‘Secretary Austin urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication,’ said spokesman John Kirby. A senior U.S. defense official said the two had spoken for about an hour in a ‘professional’ call requested by Austin. ‘I won’t speak for the Russians,’ said the official, ‘but I think . . . the message was received with respect to keeping the lines open”. READ MORE . . .

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Turkey ‘not closing door’ to Sweden, Finland NATO entry, Erdogan advisor says, by Orhan Coskun, Jonathan Spicer and Can Sezer | Reuters * Finland wants to join NATO * Sweden expected to follow suit in bid to join alliance * Turkey wants its security concerns to be considered | ISTANBUL — Turkey has not shut the door to Sweden and Finland joining NATO but wants negotiations with the Nordic countries and a clampdown on what it sees as terrorist activities especially in Stockholm, President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said today. “We are not closing the door. But we are basically raising this issue as a matter of national security . . . READ MORE . . .

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Live-Action Role Play in Ukraine, by Scott Ridder | Consortium News Malcolm Nance, Dennis Diaz and Willy Joseph Cancel: Their experiences — one fatal — offer a sobering view of Americans in the International Legion of the Territorial Defense of Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED