Ukrainian soldiers defending Avdiivka faced a relentless Russian assault with shortages of ammunition and men, leading to the city's fall in mid-February. The retreat was dangerous and costly, with soldiers facing constant Russian artillery fire. The lack of ammunition was cited as a key reason for the city's loss, as Ukrainian troops struggled to hold their positions. Russian casualties were high, but they continued to advance, eventually encircling the city and cutting off escape routes. The harrowing retreat resulted in significant Ukrainian casualties and the capture and killing of soldiers left behind.
Russia continues to bombard Avdiivka, prompting Ukraine to switch to air attacks; casualties on both sides reported. Russian shelling injures eight people in front-line regions of Ukraine. Russia claims to have destroyed three unmanned Ukrainian boats in the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy vows to maintain military pressure on occupied Crimea. More than half of Ukraine's newly-formed Siberian Battalion consists of Russian citizens. German Chancellor Scholz assures continued aid to Ukraine despite support for Israel. Moldova blocks access to Russian media websites, citing information war. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's sister appeals for his release from Russian detention. Ukraine announces joint venture with German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to service and repair Western weapons.
A New York Times journalist recounts his experience accompanying a team of Ukrainian snipers on a mission in southern Ukraine. The soldier, known as Raptor, candidly discusses the moral calculations and emotional toll of killing Russian troops. The article explores the dehumanizing effects of war and the justifications soldiers use to cope with their actions. The journalist reflects on his own experiences as a Marine sniper in Afghanistan and the lingering discomfort and silence surrounding the violence committed in the name of war.
A new report based on open source data reveals that the average lifespan of Russian mobilized soldiers in Ukraine is just four and a half months. The report, compiled by independent Russian outlets Important Stories and the Conflict Intelligence Team, analyzed the deaths of approximately 3,000 mobilized troops over the past year. It found that over half of the deceased soldiers were between the ages of 30 and 45. The report also highlighted that the actual number of Russian casualties could be much higher. The intensity of fighting during different months heavily influenced the life expectancy of mobilized troops, with the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023 being the most intense periods. Many mobilized troops have yet to receive promised vacation breaks due to fears of desertion.
The Ghosts of Bakhmut, an elite Ukrainian sniper squad, have reportedly killed 524 Russian soldiers in the past six months, with their leader personally accounting for 76 enemy troops. Trained by the UK's best snipers and equipped with the same rifles as Britain's Special Forces, the team operates silently and verifies their kills using video footage recorded by their night-scopes. Despite the dangers they face, the Ghosts continue their missions, considering it a noble deed to defend their country.
A female frontline medic in Ukraine shares her experiences of the war, describing the overwhelming emotional toll and horrifying sights she has witnessed. She highlights the challenges of helping critically ill civilians, including the elderly and children with their pets, and emphasizes the difficulty of evacuating wounded soldiers. Despite the horrors of war, she finds solace in the support of her crew and the ability to save lives. She reflects on the parallel reality of everyday life and the sense of horror that lingers, but remains committed to her work and grateful for each day she is alive.
Ukraine claims to have shot down 32 of 35 “Shahad” drones launched in an overnight attack mostly directed at Kyiv. Heavy casualties are being endured by both Ukrainian and Russian forces, with Ukraine claiming to have killed or injured 4,600 soldiers. Western powers will only protect Ukraine’s multibillion-dollar postwar recovery if they agree a unified strategy to make aid conditional on clear progress on combating judicial corruption. Russia’s mercenary Wagner group is calling for people aged 21 to 35 with a “gaming background” to join it as drone specialists as it seeks to expand its recruitment pool following heavy losses. The British government announced plans Monday to tighten its sanctions policy against Russia, including introducing legislation to keep assets frozen until Moscow has agreed to pay compensation to Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces, made up of professional soldiers and civilians, are using drones to find and strike Russian positions up to two miles away in their counteroffensive. The drones and artillery are coordinated at the forward command base, which is close to the fighting. Elaborate trenches lead to Western weaponry provided by Poland. The soldiers work and sleep in their position for days, knowing that the counterassault is much more dangerous than defense. The Ukrainians have lost close to 20,000 soldiers in the conflict.
A Russian conscript who surrendered to a Ukrainian drone last month revealed the poor training and equipment of soldiers on the front lines in Ukraine. Ruslan Anitin, who was unexpectedly drafted for service, was sent to Bakhmut, a city he described as a "meat grinder." He saw two other men in the trenches with him take their own lives before surrendering to a drone. Anitin is currently being held in a detention center in Kharkiv and wants to return home to his family.
A Russian soldier, Ruslan Anitin, surrendered to Ukrainian drones after his entire unit was taken out by drone and mortar attacks near Bakhmut. Anitin used hand signals to communicate with the Ukrainian drone pilots, who guided him across enemy lines. An assault drone had already been sent out to kill Anitin, but when the drone’s pilot saw the high-definition images of Anitin begging for his life, he decided to abort the mission. Anitin was eventually captured by Ukrainian forces and expressed a desire to return to Russia, even if it means going to jail.
Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were killed or permanently injured fighting for the city of Bakhmut, which analysts said held no strategic value. Russian forces recently claimed victory and control of the ruined city, but Ukrainian troops are already pushing to take it back. Soldiers who fought in Bakhmut spoke about their experiences and the sacrifices made, including life-altering injuries. Despite the cost, they believe the decision to hold Bakhmut was necessary to stop the Russian army's advance.
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy visited the Kherson region affected by flooding and heavy fighting in Donetsk region, while a substantial Ukrainian force pushed an assault against Russian positions in the south. Russia denied Ukrainian accusations of backing pro-Russian separatists and discrimination against ethnic Tatars and Ukrainians in Crimea. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is in danger of collapse due to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, and Ukraine could lose several million tons of crops. The investigations team of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny claimed to have found a son of Russia’s defence minister. Britain announced new sanctions against Belarus for its role in facilitating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The leader of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, dismissed as "wild fantasies" claims by the Russian Defense Ministry that its troops killed more than 1,500 Ukrainian troops and halted their advance. A major dam collapsed early Tuesday in a part of southern Ukraine controlled by Russia, causing massive flooding, putting thousands of homes at risk and threatening drinking water supplies. Each side blamed the other for the disaster, which comes as Russian forces struggle against what appears to be the start of a long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukraine wants the International Court of Justice to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks in the regions, including for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that was hit by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.
Ukrainian forces are reportedly attempting to break through Russian defensive lines in southeast Ukraine for a second day, while Russia's Defense Ministry claims to have foiled an assault in an illegally annexed region of Ukraine. Kyiv authorities suggest the attack reports are a Russian misinformation ruse as the Ukrainian military prepares for a widely anticipated counteroffensive after more than 15 months of war. Ukraine's Western allies have sent the country more than 65 billion euros ($70 billion) in military aid to help its defense.
Two missile attacks in the Dnipro area of Ukraine, including one that killed a young child, have reminded residents that there is no escaping Russia's war. The attacks, which injured 22 people, were the latest in a series of strikes on the city, which is about 80 miles from the southern front in Zaporizhzhia and roughly twice that distance from the eastern front in the Donbas region. Despite the ongoing conflict, residents are trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy, with outdoor cafes and children's festivals providing a welcome relief from the burdens of war.
