To start, an item from Consortium News that may or may not be related to the war in Ukraine, concerning PayPal’s cancelation of the Consortium News account just as it was beginning its spring fund drive; readers are invited to visit recent entries in this blog with Consortium News contributions. Next, links to two Associated Press and Reuters reports related to the war, both linked to other Reuters and AP stories. Then, three National Public Readio reports from “Morning Edition.” — MCM
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PayPal Cancels CN Account; May Seize Balance, by Joe Lauria | Consortium News PayPaL has canceled Consortiium News’ account without any prior notice or due process and with virtually no explanation. As Consortium News is today launching its Spring Fund Drive, it has lost one of its most important ways for its viewers and readers to show their support through donations. Clicking on the yellow PayPal donate button on our home page now yields this message: “This organization is currently ineligible to receive donations.” PayPal has sent an email to CN that says: “You can’t use PayPal anymore. … We noticed activity in your account . . . READ MORE . . .
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First civilians leave Mariupol steel plant; hundreds remain, by Cara Anna and Inna Varenytsia | The Associated Press ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — People fleeing besieged Mariupol described weeks of bombardments and deprivation as they arrived today in Ukrainian-held territory, where officials and relief workers anxiously awaited the first group of civilians freed from a steel plant that is the last redoubt of Ukrainian fighters in the devastated port city. Video posted online Sunday by Ukrainian forces showed elderly women and mothers with small children climbing over a steep pile of rubble from the sprawling Azovstal steel plant and eventually boarding a bus. . . . The evacuation, if successful, would represent rare progress in easing the human cost of the almost 10-week . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukrainian evacuee recounts terror in the bunkers of Azovstal. From Reuters. BEZIMENNE, Ukraine — Cowering in the labyrinth of Soviet-era bunkers far beneath the vast Azovstal steel works, Natalia Usmanova felt her heart would stop she was so terrified as Russian bombs rained down on Mariupol, sprinkling her with concrete dust. Usmanova, 37, spoke to Reuters on Sunday after being evacuated from the plant, a sprawling complex founded under Josef Stalin and designed with a subterranean network of bunkers and tunnels to withstand attack.”I feared that the bunker would not withstand it . . . READ MORE . . .
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Many ex-Soviet republics do not want Russian troops operating in their country. Reported by Greg Myre | National Public Radio The focus is Ukraine, but Russian troops have been in five former Soviet republics this year — a reflection of Vladimir Putin’s desire to maintain a “sphere of influence” beyond Russia’s borders. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, to read.
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While a hundred people escaped a Ukrainian steel plant, more are still trapped. Reported by Rachel Martin and Tim Mak | NPR Reports say as soon as evacuations started from the plant, Russian shelling resumed. Also, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic lawmakers in Kyiv. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, to read.
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Where is the U.S. military aid heading to Ukraine making the most difference? NPR’s Rachel Martin talks to Barry Pavel of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, about the mechanics of military aid to Ukraine and the prospect of a long conflict. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, to read.
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TO BE CONTINUED