Ukraine, 5-25-23

First, links to reports from Tass, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Next, via Popular Resistance, commentary published yesterday by Pressenza. Finally for today, via Global Research, commentary published Monday by the Strategic Culture Foundation. — MCM

   

Russian naval ship repels Ukrainian drone attack in Bosporus Strait waters – top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — The crew of the Russian naval ship Ivan Khurs repelled an attack by Ukrainian surface drones in the Bosporus Strait waters within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone, Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Wednesday. “All of the enemy’s boats . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Zelensky says Russia ‘terrorizing’ Ukraine as 36 drones downed. From AFP. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of terrorising Ukrainians today, as his military announced it had shot down 36 Iranian-made attack drones deployed by Moscow’s forces. Russia subjected Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, says they stay under its control. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russia and Belarus signed a deal today to formalise the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles on Belarusian territory, a step Moscow said was driven by rising tensions with the West. “In the context. . . READ MORE . . .

   

Chinese special envoy for Ukraine to visit Russia on Friday. From AFP. China’s Ukraine envoy Li Hui is due to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Friday, the Russian foreign ministry said. “On May 26 . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Head of Russian private army Wagner says his forces are handing control of Bakhmut to Moscow, by Susie Blann | AP  KYIV — The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claimed today that his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military, days after he said Wagner troops had captured the ruined city. Yevgeny Prigozhin . . . READ MORE . . .

   

What are realistic expectations for Ukraine’s military offensive? Reported by Greg Myre | NPR  Major military operations are normally shrouded in secrecy. But Ukraine’s planned offensive against Russia has been part of a lively public debate for months. This has created a wide range of expectations. For all the public chatter about the offensive . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

       

Putin’s war in Ukraine is headed toward a conclusion, while Biden’s war in Ukraine is just beginning to heat up, by Mark Lesseraux | Pressenza / Educate!  Fifteen months ago, I began writing a series of articles about what was taking place in Ukraine and what was likely to take place in the future there if a peace settlement was not reached. I’m sorry to say that most of the things that I and a small contingent of other outlier journalists warned were very likely to occur, have happened. This piece . . . READ MORE . . .

       

The EU is over-invested in the Ukrainian war-project, by Alastair  Crooke Strategic Culture Foundation Ukraine is not a stand-alone foreign policy issue, but rather the pivot around which Europe’s economic prospects will rotate. The European Union . . . READ MORE . . .