For today, links to reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, National Public Radio, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
– – –
Ukraine struggles to hold eastern front at Russians advance on cities, by Dan Peleschuk | Reuters Resurgent Russian forces, which significantly outnumber and outgun the Ukrainian defenders, have been mounting multiple attacks across the eastern Donbas region in recent months and along the country’s northeastern border last week. The drive . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Nearly 10,000 evacuated in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Region: governor. From AFP. Since Russia began its ground attack on May. 10, a total of 9,907 people have been force to leave their homes in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, the regional governor said. READ MORE . . .
– – –
Zelensky expects Russian offensive in northeast Ukraine to intensify. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday he expects Russia to step up its offensive in the northeast and warned Kyiv only has a quarter of the air defenses it needs to hold the front line. READ MORE . . .
– – –
Ukrainian drones hit military facilities in Russia, Crimea amid Russian claims of over 100 drones downed. From the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian drones attacked several military facilities in Russia and occupied Crimea in the early hours of Friday, according to a source from the Security Service of Ukraine. READ MORE . . .
– – –
Russian air defenses down four Hammer air bombs, two HARM missiles over Belgorod Region. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian air defense today downed four Hammer air bombs and two HARM missiles over the Belgorod Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. “The Kiev regime’s attempt to use . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
What Russia’s latest military offensive means for Ukraine. Scott Simon of NPR talks with strategic studies professor Phillips O’Brien of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland about the significance of Russia’s latest military offensive in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
– – –
Ukraine’s divisive mobilization law comes into force as a new Russian push strains front-line troops, by Samya Kullab and Joanna Kozlowska | AP KYIV — A divisive mobilization law in Ukraine came into force today, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive that . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Putin rejects Macron call for Ukraine ceasefire during Olympics. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on Friday that Moscow would not comply with calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Summer Olympics, pointing to . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Ukrainian president rejects French leader’s idea of Olympic truce. From Tass. PARIS — Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has rejected French leader Emmanuel Macron’s idea of a truce during the upcoming Paris Olympic Games in an interview with Agence France-Presse. Zelensky said an Olympic truce would . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM MAY 17 Russian guided bombs kill three, injure 28 in Ukraine’s Kharkiv. From Reuters. KYIV — Russian guided bombs killed at least three people and injured 28 in the northeastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv on Friday, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. The strikes on Ukraine’s second largest city have become more intense in recent months, hitting . . . READ MORE . . .