For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, the Kyiv Post, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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Putin says Russia wants a buffer zone in Ukraine’s Kharkiv but has no plans to capture the city, by Illia Novikov | AP KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin said today during a visit to China that Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region aims to create a buffer zone but that there are no plans to capture the city. The offensive launched May 10 opened a new front and . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine braces for heavy battles as Putin says Russia carving out ‘buffer zone.’ From Reuters. KYIV — Ukraine’s top commander warned today of “heavy battles” looming on the war’s new front in the northeasterN Kharkiv region as Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was carving out a “buffer zone” in the area. Russian forces . . . READ MORE . . .
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Novorossiysk port, oil depot hit in overnight attack, by Abbey Fenbert | The Kyiv Independent Drones and missiles struck an oil refinery and seaport in the Russian city of Novorossiysk in today’s early hours, causing explosions and power outages, the Russian Telegram news channel Astra reported. Local residents said they heard . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia extended front line by 70 kilometers in Kharkiv Region, Syrsky says, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post Russian troops have extended the front line of active combat operations by almost 70 kilometers in the Kharkiv region to force Ukraine to use additional brigades from the reserves, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky. Due to complications . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia takes control of more land than Ukraine in 2023 counteroffensive — newspaper. From Tass. WASHINGTON — The Russian Armed Forces have taken control of more land in their recent operations than Ukraine regained in its 2023 counteroffensive, The Washington Post writes. The article is particularly based on . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 16 Russian President Putin makes first trip since inauguration to critical ally China. Reported by Charles Maynes and John Ruwitch | NPR President Putin starts his first foreign trip of this new term: a two-day visit to China to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Here’s the significance of this trip and what we can expect from it. Click HERE to listen and read.