Ukraine Briefly

December 15, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, a cyberattack hit Ukraine, particularly affecting its largest mobile network operator, the Washington Post reported. More than 24 million subscribers of provider Kyivstar both in-country and abroad lost service, preventing the delivery of air-raid warnings to their mobile phones. Among them was the...

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Ukraine Briefly

December 08, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, US authorities charged four Russian soldiers with war crimes for allegedly abducting and torturing an American citizen living in Ukraine, the BBC reported. The American, residing in Ukraine since 2021, was held for about 10 days in April 2022, enduring mock executions and...

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Need to Know

December 01, 2023

Faltering Resolve

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The admission shocked Ukrainians who have shown little but resolute courage as they tried to fend off the Russian forces that invaded their country in February last year. In an interview with the Economist, the commander of Ukraine’s forces, General Valery Zaluzhny, confessed that the...

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Ukraine Briefly

December 01, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Russian forces increased their attacks in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the industrial town of Avdiivka, as they seek territorial gains before the year’s end, Agence France-Presse noted. Avdiivka is strategically important but is surrounded on almost three sides by Russian troops. Ukrainian forces,...

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Ukraine Briefly

November 24, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Ukraine celebrated the tenth anniversary of the pro-Europe Maidan Revolution, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the “first victory” against Russia, Al Jazeera reported. The series of mass protests taking place on Kyiv’s Maidan Square in 2013 called on the Ukrainian government to distance...

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Ukraine Briefly

November 17, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, a Ukrainian military officer, Roman Chervinsky, is alleged to have coordinated the September 2022 attack on the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline, damaging three out of four pipelines running under the Baltic Sea, according to Voice of America. The United States and NATO...

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Ukraine Briefly

November 03, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin revoked Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), a move aimed at aligning Moscow with the United States, which has signed but not ratified the treaty, Al Jazeera reported. The CTBT, drawn up in 1996, bans all nuclear...

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Ukraine Briefly

October 27, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Slovakia’s newly reelected Prime Minister Robert Fico pledged that the country will cease supplying weapons to Ukraine and instead will provide only humanitarian aid, Politico wrote. He expressed the view that an immediate cessation of military operations is the best solution for Ukraine,...

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Ukraine Briefly

October 20, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, new satellite images showed that Russian ships connected to military transport networks have been collecting cargoes from North Korea and delivering them to a Russian military port over the past two months, the Washington Post reported. US intelligence assessments and White House officials...

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Ukraine Briefly

October 13, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Russian forces launched a series of attacks on Ukrainian positions around the city of Avdiivka in the country’s east, Politico wrote. The Ukrainian side has lost some positions in the northern outskirts of Avdiivka, although Kyiv’s troops still control key parts of the...

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Ukraine Briefly

October 06, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russia’s invasion, as schisms over the issue continued to grow in the United States and Europe, Al Jazeera reported. A delegation of EU foreign ministers visited Kyiv and expressed unity...

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The World Briefly

September 29, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Russia conducted a series of air strikes on three Ukrainian regions, targeting Mykolaiv and Odesa in the south and Kirovohrad in central Ukraine, Reuters noted. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 34 of the 44 incoming “Shahed” drones used in the attack. While some drones...

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Need to Know

September 25, 2023

Halal Cash

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Russia launched a pilot program this month for Islamic banks in the Muslim-majority regions of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Islamic law holds that banks can’t charge interest. But they can share in the client’s profits and risks. Additionally, Islamic banks don’t support endeavors involving alcohol,...

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Ukraine Briefly

September 22, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington, DC to secure more US support for Ukraine as questions loom over continuing American financial aid to the war-torn country, the Associated Press reported. Zelenskyy expressed optimism about Ukraine’s progress in the war with Russia in meetings...

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Ukraine Briefly

September 15, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed “full support” for Russian President Vladimir Putin during a summit in Russia, highlighting their nations’ relationship as a “top priority,” NPR reported. During a meeting in Russia’s Far East, Putin offered Kim technological support for launching...

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The World Briefly

September 12, 2023

‘Empty Elections’

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Russia’s ruling party won most of the votes in elections held in occupied Ukrainian territories, in a poll that Ukraine and Western countries decried as a sham, the Associated Press reported. Russian election officials announced Monday that lawmakers from the United Russia party came out on...

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Ukraine Briefly

September 08, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kyiv and pledged more than $1 billion in additional aid for Ukraine as it continues its counteroffensive against Russia, according to the Wall Street Journal. Blinken’s visit aimed to demonstrate ongoing US support and strengthen Ukraine’s...

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Need to Know

September 04, 2023

Next Steps

Russia

DNA tests prove that the leader of the mercenary Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in a plane crash last month, Russian officials said recently. As Reuters wrote, the tests could put to rest speculation that Prigozhin was not on the plane and might have faked...

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Ukraine Briefly

September 01, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Russia experienced the biggest assault by drones on its territory since the Ukraine conflict began, with attacks reported across six regions, including Moscow, according to CNN. Russian officials claimed to have prevented most of the strikes and reported no casualties. Moscow responded to...

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Ukraine Briefly

August 25, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group more recently known for a rebellion against Russia’s military, reportedly died in a plane that crashed near Moscow, CNN reported Thursday. Russian authorities investigating the incident confirmed that Prigozhin’s name was on the passenger...

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