First, links to reports since Wednesday from Reuters, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on the organizations’ names below. — MCM

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U.S. readies new $1 billion Ukraine weapons package, by Idrees Ali and Mike Stone | Reuters WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s next security assistance package for Ukraine is expected to be $1 billion, one of the largest so far, and include munitions for long-range weapons and armored medical transport vehicles, three sources briefed on the matter told Reuters. . . . The package is expected to be announced as early as Monday and would add to about $8.8 billion in aid the United States has given Ukraine since . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine condemns Amnesty International report that troops were too close to civilians. Reported by Julian Hayda | National Public Radio Amnesty International has criticized Ukraine for setting up military bases in residential areas. Ukrainian officials say It’s Russian forces that are putting Ukrainian civilians lives in jeopardy. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Amnesty Int’l report sparks furor, resignation  From the Associated Press KYIV — The head of Amnesty International’s Ukraine chapter has resigned, saying the human rights organization shot down her opposition to publishing a report that claimed Ukrainian forces had exposed civilians to Russian attacks by basing themselves in populated areas. In a statement posted Friday night on Facebook, Oksana Pokalchuk accused her former employer of disregarding Ukraine’s wartime realities and the concerns of local staff members who had pushed for the report to be reworked. The report, released . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia must take responsibility for nuclear plant ‘terror,’ says Zelensky. From Agence France-Presse. KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Russia must take responsibility for an “act of terror,” after Kyiv and Moscow traded blame for strikes at Europe’s largest nuclear plant. Russia earlier accused Kyiv’s forces of striking Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and charged that Zelensky’s government was committing acts of “nuclear . . . READ MORE . . .

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A young Ukrainian man’s journey to get himself and his mother to safety. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf | NPR  One young man has struggled to get himself and his mom out of Russian-occupied territory in southern Ukraine as fighting there intensifies. Click HERE to listen and read.