First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, commentary from Consortium News. — MCM
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Moscow blames Kyiv for attacks in south Russia as Kremlin forces hit Ukrainian buildings, by Felipe Dana and Jim Heintz | AP KYIV— Russian forces today struck the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro and pounded a key village in the southeast that Ukraine claimed to have recaptured in its grinding counteroffensive, while Moscow accused Kyiv of firing two missiles at southern Russia and wounding . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine uses North Korean rockets to blast Russian forces, Financial Times reports. From Reuters. Ukrainian soldiers were observed using North Korean rockets that they said were seized by a “friendly” country before being delivered to Ukraine, the Financial Times reported today. Ukraine’s defense ministry suggested the arms were captured from the Russians, the newspaper said. READ MORE . . .
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Russian army says struck Ukraine command post in Dnipro. From AFP. Russia said today its forces struck a command post in Ukraine’s Dnipro with high-precision weapons Friday after Kyiv said a missile hit an apartment block there, wounding nine people. READ MORE . …
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Russian air defenses intercept two upgraded Ukrainian S-200 missiles – Defense Ministry. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian air defenses intercepted two S-200 air defense missiles upgraded to hit ground targets in the past 24 hours, as well as seven Storm Shadow cruise missiles and two HIMARS rockets, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a briefing today According to him . . . READ MORE . . .
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Isolated by the West, Putin hosted a summit for leaders from Africa in St. Petersburg. Reported by Scott Simon and Charles Maynes | NPR At a time of increasing isolation for Russian President Vladimir Putin on the world stage, he just concluded a summit with leaders from Africa. Click HERE to listen and, later read.
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A resident of Odesa, Ukraine, describes life amid Russian missile and drone strikes. Scott Simon of NPR speaks with a resident of Odesa, Ukraine about what the last several days — and nights — have been like, under repeated attack from Russian missiles and drones. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Requiem for NATO’s nightmare, by Scott Ritter | Consortium News Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emerges as a tragic figure in the unfolding drama that is the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. He was asked to sacrifice the lives of his countrymen in order to be seen by the U.S. and NATO as worthy of joining their club. But when the sacrifice did not produce . . . READ MORE . . .