First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, American Public Media, National Public Radio, and teleSUR; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials initials below. Then, a link to an opinion piece by a Moscow Times columnist. NOTE: Starting within the last 24 hours, reports from Tass, the Russian news agency, are not available; the message “502 Bad Gateway” appears in place of the Tass website, although at another site offering dated Tass reports, is still functioning for the time being. — MCM
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Death toll from train station attack in Ukraine rises to 25, by Inna Varenytsia | AP POKROVSK, Ukraine — The death toll from a Russian rocket attack as Ukraine observed its Independence Day has risen to 25, including an 11-year-old boy found under the rubble of a house and a 6-year-old killed in a car fire near a train station that was the target, a Ukrainian official said today. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces used an Iskander missile to strike a military train that was carrying Ukrainian troops and equipment to the front line in eastern Ukraine. The ministry claimed more than 200 reservists “were destroyed on their way to the combat zone.” . . . READ MORE . . .
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EU warns Russia to be held accountable for ‘rocket terror.’ From AFP BRUSSELS — The European Union today condemned Russia’s deadly bombardment of a railway station in Ukraine and warned those “responsible for Russian rocket terror will be held accountable”. “The EU strongly condemns another heinous attack by Russia on civilians,“ EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted . . . READ MORE . . .
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In isolated Russia, a tale of two economies. From Reuters. * This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. | IZHEVSK, Russia — Russia’s record employment signals a surprisingly smooth decoupling from the West. Its rapid replacement of McDonald’s and Starbucks says business as usual. Yet pressures are building inside its economic machine. . . . The strategies and struggles of Russia’s biggest automaker offers an insight into the contrasting fortunes of a country striving to withstand what Vladimir Putin calls an economic “blitzkrieg” by the West. Avtovaz restarted production of its Lada brand . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia’s economy after 6 months of war. Kai Ryssdal of American Public Media’s Marketplace interviews Dr. Kristy Ironsides, professor of Russian history at McGill University. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the ruble has cratered and rebounded, and sanctions by Western governments have isolated the country. They talk about how the war has scarred Russia’s economy and how it may fare. Click HERE to listen.
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On the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s split from Soviet Union, the war hits month 6. Reported by Frank Langfitt | NPR Ukraine celebrated 31 years of independence from the Soviet Union on Wednesday. It was also six months to the day since President Putin sent troops to try to bring Ukraine back into Russia’s orbit. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Russia takes stock of the Ukrainian conflict’s first six months. From teleSUR. August 24 marked six months since the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. In this context, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu took stock of events to date. “The special military operation is proceeding as planned and all objectives will be met,” he said at a meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with the defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). He said the Ukrainian conflict provided the United States and its allies with an additional pretext to unleash a “hybrid” economic and media war against Russia. “The goal . . . READ MORE . . .
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What are the longterm implications of the U.S. sending military supplies to Ukraine? Reported by Rachel Martin and Tom Bowman | NPR The Pentagon is ramping up its support of Ukraine in its war against Russia. The Defense Department is sending another $3 billion to Ukraine. That brings total U.S. aid to more than $13 billion. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Why Europe should ban Russian tourists, by Benjamin Tallis | The Moscow Times The proposed Schengen visa ban on Russian tourists has attracted strong support from Europeans who resolutely oppose Russia’s brutal war on Ukraine. It has also attracted criticism, including from some Western European liberals, who see it as an unjustifiable form of “collective punishment” that would run counter to the EU’s values and interests. EU states should ignore such criticisms, which are misguided and, more importantly, both miss the point and misunderstand the purpose of the visa ban. The term collective punishment has . . . READ MORE . . .
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TO BE CONTINUED