U.S. Closes Its Kyiv Embassy, Warning of ‘Significant Air Attack’

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The unusual alert came a day after Ukraine used American-made ballistic missiles to strike Russian territory for the first time.

The United States Embassy in Kyiv issued an urgent warning on Wednesday morning that Russia might launch “a significant air attack,” closing the embassy and telling employees to shelter in place.

Air-raid alerts are a daily fact of life in Ukraine and the capital often comes under drone and missile attacks, but the embassy rarely issues such a specific alert or shuts down.

The warning came one day after Ukraine’s military used American-made ballistic missiles to strike into Russian territory for the first time, after receiving long-sought authorization from President Biden to do so. The Kremlin had long warned that such strikes would be treated as an escalation, and on Tuesday vowed to respond.

“We will be taking this as a qualitatively new phase of the Western war against Russia,” Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei V. Lavrov, said at a news conference on Tuesday. “And we will react accordingly.” » | Marc Santora | Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine | Wednesday, November 20, 2024

THE NEW YORK TIMES: As Trump Pushes Peace, Russia Intensifies Assaults on Ukraine: Overextended and exhausted, Ukrainian forces lack manpower and artillery against Russian forces willing to absorb staggering casualties. »

Ukraine War: EU Ministers Meet in Kyiv Following US Funding Concerns - BBC News

Oct 2, 2023 | European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Kyiv in a show of support following signs Western resolve may be wavering.

The European Union’s most senior diplomat, Josep Borrell, has told the BBC that he is worried by the US’ decision not to include new support for Ukraine in a short-term funding deal.

The temporary measure, pushed through to avert a government shutdown, did not include $6bn (£4.92bn) in military aid for Kyiv - a top White House priority.

President Joe Biden has said the US will continue to support Ukraine.

Russian Forces Launch Overnight Drone Attacks on Kyiv

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The assault was the first pre-dawn drone barrage to target the Ukrainian capital in almost two weeks, officials said.

Sweeping up debris after an apartment building was hit by a Russian drone that was shot down in May by Ukrainian defenses in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. | Brendan Hoffman for The New York Times
Russian forces launched a wave of drone attacks on Ukraine’s capital before dawn on Sunday for the first time in nearly two weeks, according to Ukrainian officials.

Air-raid alarms sounded around 2:30 a.m. in the capital, Kyiv. Explosions were later reported.

Serhiy Popko, the head of the city’s military administration, said that air defenses had destroyed all of the drones in Kyiv’s airspace. It was the first time in 12 days that Russian forces had used Iranian-made attack drones to target the capital, he said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

No one was killed, but debris from downed drones damaged three homes in the Kyiv region, according to the local military administration in a statement on Telegram. A man suffered a leg injury in one of those homes, it added. » | Cassandra Vinograd, Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine | Sunday, July 2, 2023

My Next Guest with David Letterman and Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Official Clip | Netflix

Dec 7, 2022 | David Letterman travels to Kyiv, Ukraine for an in-depth conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a secret underground bunker.

Lire l’article « du Monde » ici.

Ukraine War: Explosions Rock Ukrainian Capital Kyiv and Other Cities | DW News

Steinmeier's Visit to Kyiv 'Not Wanted' | DW News

Apr 13, 2022 • German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday said a proposed trip to Kyiv had been rejected by the Ukrainian leadership.

Steinmeier had been planning to make a joint visit to Ukraine with Polish President Andrzej Duda and their Estonian, Lithuanian and Latvian counterparts "a strong signal of joint European solidarity with Ukraine."

But "that apparently wasn't wanted in Kyiv" Steinmeier said while visiting the Polish capital Warsaw.

Ukraine has previously been highly critical of the German president over his connections with Russia and the leading role he played as former foreign minister in improving relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.


Ukrainekrieg: Selenskyj will Steinmeier nicht empfangen »

Zelensky Spokesman Describes Heartbreaking Scenes in Ukraine

Read the article here.

The Battle for Kyiv Looms as a Long and Bloody Conflict

Ukrainian security forces at a fortified checkpoint next to a market that provides food, shelter and medical care for up to 5,000 soldiers and the needy around northern Kyiv.
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Ukraine’s capital is the biggest prize of all for the Russian military. If Russia tries to take control, it could lead to one of the biggest urban conflicts since World War II.

KYIV, Ukraine — The city of Kyiv covers 325 square miles and is divided by a broad river. It has about 500,000 structures — factories, ornate churches and high-rise apartments — many on narrow, winding streets. Roughly two million people remain after extensive evacuations of women and children.

To the northwest and to the east, tens of thousands of Russian troops are pressing toward the city, Ukraine’s capital, backed by columns of tanks, armored vehicles and artillery. Inside Kyiv, Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers are fortifying the downtown with barriers, anti-tank mines and artillery.

Kyiv remains the biggest prize of all for the Russian military; it is the seat of government and ingrained in both Russian and Ukrainian identity. But capturing it, military analysts say, would require a furious and bloody conflict that could be the world’s biggest urban battle in 80 years.

“What we are looking at in Kyiv would dwarf anything we’ve seen since World War II,” said David Kilcullen, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Australian Army who has extensively studied urban combat. “If they really, really want to level Kyiv, they can,” he said of the Russian leadership. “But the level of political and economic damage would be tremendous.” » | Andrew E. Kramer; Photographs: Lynsey Addario | Saturday, March 19, 2022

Brent Renaud, First US Reporter Killed in Ukraine, Praised for Exposing Horrors of War

Mar 14, 2022 • On Sunday, the U.S. journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud was shot dead near Kyiv while working on a documentary about refugees. He is the first foreign journalist known to have been killed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion. Ukrainian officials are accusing Russian forces of his death. We discuss Renaud’s remarkable documentary work and feature part of an interview he gave on Democracy Now! after he was embedded in Iraq with the National Guard from his home state of Arkansas. We are joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ann Marie Lipinski, who got to know both Renaud and photographer Juan Arredondo during their time as fellows at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, which Lipinski curates. “Brent was a very, very special journalist, yes, but also person,” says Lipinski. “He just brought a very, very rare humanity and patience to the work.” We also hear from Cora Weiss, former board of directors chair of Downtown Community Television, where Brent and his brother Craig started their filmmaking career in the same former firehouse building that housed Democracy Now! for over a decade. “He shouldn’t have been killed,” says Weiss. “Brent was terribly important as an educator for all Americans to understand the horrors of war and the unnecessary expense in life.” Carlos Martínez de la Serna of the Committee to Protect Journalists says Renaud’s killing amounts to a war crime.

Kyiv ‘Ready to Fight’ as Russian Forces Close In Ukraine Capital

THE GUARDIAN: Ukrainian president warns of ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ as hundreds of thousands of civilians remain under fire across country

A Ukrainian army tank on a Kyiv street as Russian troops inch towards the capital. Photograph: Jonathan Alpeyrie/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock
Ukrainian officials have said Kyiv is “ready to fight” as Russian forces renewed their bombardment on the capital and observers warned of “an unimaginable tragedy” unfolding after more than two weeks of war.

Air raid sirens and shelling rang out over Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities on Saturday morning amid warnings from western defence officials that the Russians were beginning to gain ground around the capital.

There were reports of loud explosions in Dnipro in the country’s east on Saturday, as well as Mykolaiv, Nikolaev and Kropyvnytskyi.

But Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said the capital was “ready to fight”. He called it a “city under siege”, with checkpoints prepared and supply lines in place. “Kyiv will stand until the end.”

Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies on Saturday has shown homes and buildings on fire and Russian artillery battalions appearing to fire on towns surrounding to the north-west of the Ukrainian capital as forces advance. The Guardian has not independently verified the images. » | Tess McClure, Peter Beaumont and Luke Harding in Lviv | Saturday, March 12, 2022

Russian Military Moves into Firing Positions around Ukraine Capital Kyiv - BBC News

Mar 11, 2022 • The Russian military convoy that had been outside Kyiv appears to be on manoeuvers, taking up positions around towns near Kyiv.

US officials say that Russian forces have moved closer to Kyiv in the last 24 hours in what could be a renewed push.

More people are leaving their homes as fears grow of use of chemical weapons. At the same time volunteers are arriving in Kyiv to help fight the Russian invasion.

Ukraine: Russian Forces Attack Civilians Near Kyiv, as Mauripol Evacuation Halted for Second Time

Mar 6, 2022 • Warning: There are distressing scenes from the beginning of this report.

They were trying to escape the wreckage of what was once their homes when they came under direct attack.

In Irpin, just outside Kyiv, at least three members of a family - including children - were killed.

To the south, renewed Russian shelling forced the Red Cross to abandon a second attempt to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol.

President Zelenskyy appealed to the West again to enforce a no-fly zone, something they have refused to do, but today US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said they have given the green light to Nato countries to provide fighter jets to Ukraine.


Time for the West to Grow a Spine!

Russia Ukraine Conflict: Massive Russian Convoy Advances on Kyiv

Mar 1, 2022 • A huge convoy of Russian armoured vehicles is advancing on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv - as a massive Russian strike hits Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv. President Zelenskiy has called the attacks on Kharkiv “state terrorism” while Boris Johnson has accused Russia of “barbaric and indiscriminate” attacks.

Vast 65 km Russian Military Convoy Advances towards Kyiv | DW News

Mar 1, 2022 • A massive Russian military convoy consisting of hundreds of tanks, trucks, towed artillery pieces and support vehicles has been pictured slowly making its way toward Kyiv. Satellite images provided by the US company Maxar Technologies show the convoy spanning a distance of about 40 miles (65 kilometers). The Ukrainian news agency UNIAN also reported the same length early on Tuesday. The convoy, which is longer than previously thought, is inching slowly toward the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital. Up until now, Ukrainian forces have managed to slow the Russian invasion, but it is unclear just how long they will be to fend off the Russian push for the capital.

More than 70 Ukrainian troops were killed when Russian troops shelled a military base in the town of Okhtyrka, regional governor Dmytro Zhyvytskyy said on Facebook. Okhtyrka is located in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, which borders Russia.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has confirmed the deaths of 102 civilians, including seven children, since the Russian invasion began on Thursday. Hundreds more had been injured, and the figures provided were likely to be undercounted. Residents of Kyiv who have remained in the city have hunkered down in the subway stations.

Russia and Ukraine broke off peace talks Monday, which were held on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. A follow-on round will take place in the coming days. Ukraine had demanded an immediate Russian cease-fire and troop withdrawal as its delegation arrived in Belarus for talks with Russian negotiators.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a formal request for his country to join the European Union as EU leaders said they might discuss the possibility of Ukraine joining the 27-nation bloc at an informal summit in March.

The UN said that more than 500,000 people had fled the country and were seeking safety in neighboring countries.

The US ordered 12 members of Russia's diplomatic mission to the United Nations in New York to be expelled, mandating their departures by March 7, said Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya.

Sanctions have taken a toll on Russia's economy, with the Central Bank announcing that it will raise its key interest rate to an unprecedented 20%, up from 9.5%, in the face of new sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian ruble plunged almost 30% against the dollar.

On Monday, hundreds of anti-war protesters were arrested in both Russia and Belarus, according to human rights watchdogs.

Russia Launches Multiple Rocket Attacks in Kharkiv and Renews Kyiv Assault

THE GUARDIAN: ‘Dozens’ of civilians killed in Ukraine’s second city amid widespread use of indiscriminate weapons

Russian forces launched rocket attacks that killed “dozens” of civilians in Ukraine’s second city, and began a renewed assault on the capital Kyiv, as Moscow faced unprecedented western sanctions and isolation.

Widespread use of indiscriminate weapons such as multiple rocket launchers against civilian areas, as used on Monday in the city of Kharkiv, suggested that the Kremlin, having failed to land a knockout blow in the first days of the war, was prepared to unleash more desperate methods.

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he would launch an investigation into possible war crimes or crimes against humanity in Ukraine. With video » | Luke Harding in Lviv, Jon Henley, Julian Borger in Washington and Dan Sabbagh in London | Monday, February 28, 2022

Russian Forces Press Toward Cities, as Ukraine Stiffens Resistance

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Ukrainian troops and civilian volunteers battled to keep control of Kharkiv, the second-largest city. The Russian priority remained the capture of Kyiv, the capital, which observed a daylong curfew as explosions were heard from the outskirts.

Smoke rose after shelling on the outskirts of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, on Sunday, the fourth day of Russia’s invasion. | Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters
As Russian forces pressed into Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Ukraine’s defense forces and civilian volunteers battled to hold off Russia’s invasion for a fourth day on Sunday, as international pressure mounted on Moscow and support for Kyiv’s besieged government grew.

The pace of Russia’s advance appeared to slow, with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine saying that his country’s fighters had “withstood and successfully repelled enemy attacks.” But the offensive seemed likely to intensify, as U.S. officials said that most of the more than 150,000 Russian troops who had massed around Ukraine were now engaged in the fighting. Here are the latest developments: Ukrainian forces take aim at Russian supply lines as battles rage in multiple cities. » | The New York Times | Sunday, February 27, 2022

Germany Decides to Send Weapons from Its Military to Ukraine | DW News

Feb 26, 2022 • The German military will send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 "Stinger" class surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion, the government announced. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said the weapons would be delivered as soon as possible to support the Ukrainian military. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was Germany's "duty to support Ukraine to the best of its ability in defending itself against the invading army of Vladimir Putin."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Germany's decision to send weapons, in a major reversal of policy for Berlin. "Keep it up, Chancellor Olaf Scholz! Anti-war coalition in action!" Zelenskyy tweeted.

Earlier Saturday Berlin authorized NATO partners the Netherlands and Estonia arms deliveries to Ukraine. For the Netherlands, 400 German-made anti-tank weapons are involved, while Estonia was granted approval to sent artillery from old GDR (East German) stocks.

The move marks a major change of course for Germany, which had until now refused the delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine due to its policy of not sending weapons to a conflict zone.

The Netherlands also said it would sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, according to the Dutch defense ministry.

'I’m Ready’: Ukraine’s Civilians Take Up Arms

Ukraine Crisis: Chaos Descends on Ukrainian Capital

Feb 26, 2022 • On Sky News Breakfast live from Kyiv with Mark Austin on Saturday February 26:

- Ukraine says fighting has been ongoing on the streets of Kyiv overnight. It is understood Russian troops are approaching Kyiv from two sides in an attempt to surround the capital.

- No casualties were reported by Ukraine's Foreign Minister following a missile strike on a residential apartment building in Kyiv.

- Fighting is continuing across much of Ukraine, but Russian troops are largely concentrated in three main areas: to the south, near Crimea, to the north west near the border with Belarus, and close to Kharkiv.

Russian Forces Close In on Ukraine Major Cities | DW News

Feb 25, 2022 • Ukrainian forces battled Russian troops on multiple fronts, including the outskirts of Kyiv.

Ukraine's border guard has said that males aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country in a statement posted on its Facebook account. The border guard said that this restriction will last for the duration of the period of martial law in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law earlier on Thursday shortly after it was reported that Russia had attacked Ukraine.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar has warned that Russian forces are poised to enter areas just outside the capital, Kyiv, on Friday. A government adviser, Anton Herashchenko, said the Russian troops planned to break through into the capital using tanks but that Ukrainian forces were ready to counter the attack with anti-tank missiles supplied by foreign allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier said the government had information that "subversive groups" were moving on the city. This comes after a night of reported air raids in the city that were said by a DW correspondent to have set some residential buildings on fire. Many Kyiv residents have taken shelter in underground metro stations.

The Ukrainian general staff of the armed forces said Ukrainian troops were firmly resisting what he called "Russian occupiers" in the Kyiv area. Ukrainian airborne assault troops were reported in a statement to have stopped "overwhelming enemy forces" at the Teteriv River near the settlements of Dymer and Ivankiv, northwest of the capital. The statement said a bridge over the river was destroyed. "The hardest day will be today. The enemy's plan is to break through with tank columns from the side of Ivankiv and Chernihiv to Kyiv,'' Interior Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko said on Telegram.