Ukraine Military Spox Resumes CNN Engagement After 'Mercenaries' Dispute

Ukraine's military spokesperson, Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, ended her boycott of CNN after accusing the network of endangering soldiers' lives with its coverage of the war. Ashton-Cirillo initially criticized CNN for referring to foreign fighters in Ukraine as "Western mercenaries," which she claimed put their lives at risk. Following her video message, CNN changed the wording to "foreign fighters," prompting Ashton-Cirillo to end the boycott. It remains unclear how CNN's coverage endangered lives, and it is uncertain if the Ukrainian Armed Forces would have enacted the boycott. Ashton-Cirillo, a transgender journalist, arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 and currently serves as a combat medic with the Ukrainian Ground Forces.