Ukraine graft concerns resurface as Russia war goes on
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s dismissal of senior officials is casting an inconvenient light on an issue that the Biden administration has largely ignored since the outbreak of war with Russia: Ukraine’s history of rampant corruption and shaky governance. As it presses ahead with providing tens of billions of dollars in military, economic and direct financial support aid to Ukraine and encourages its allies to do the same, the Biden administration is now once again grappling with longstanding worries about Ukraine’s suitability as a recipient of massive infusions of American aid.
US and NATO countries are dispatching planes filled with military equipment for Ukraine – here are some of the weapons sent to hold back Russian tanks and aircraft
The US and other NATO countries have sent thousands of weapons to Ukraine in recent weeks.
The shipments include anti-armor and anti-aircraft missiles which could be used against Russian tanks and helicopters .
The weapons are being used by Ukrainian fighters to push back Russian forces.
As fighting in Ukraine enters its third week, reports this week revealed heavily-laden military cargo jets are pouring into an airfield across the border, stacked with weapons and military equipment to help Ukraine's forces hold back the advance of Russian troops.
Pentagon chief says Russia's 'relentless shelling' of Ukraine 'harkens back to the horrors of WWI'
"Ukraine needs the firepower and the ammunition to withstand this barrage and to strike back at the Russian weapons launching these attacks," Austin said."Russia is keeping up its relentless shelling, and that's a cruel tactic that harkens back to the horrors of World War I," Austin said in a press conference following the fourth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which brings together dozens of countries to hold discussions on Ukraine's defense needs.
Throughout the buildup to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO countries, including the US, insisted they would not send troops to the region amid concern that the presence of their personnel on the ground would lead to a dangerous escalation of the conflict.
That stance has continued since Moscow ordered its troops into Ukraine on the morning of February 24. Instead, NATO nations and other countries are supplying Ukraine's defence forces - vastly outgunned and outnumbered by Russia's military - with weapons and equipment that Kyiv hopes will be able to help staunch Russia's advance.
Around 17,000 anti-armor weapons have been sent to Ukraine in the last number of weeks and are being pressed into use against Russian tanks and other hardware. As of March 8, Ukrainian fighters had destroyed over 1,000 armored personnel carriers, 303 tanks, 120 artillery systems and 80 helicopters, The Kyiv Independent claimed.
CIA Director William Burns dispels rumors that Putin is unwell saying 'as far as we can tell, he's entirely too healthy'
"He believes it's his entitlement, it's Russia's entitlement, to dominate Ukraine," CIA Director William Burns said in Aspen.From the introduction of Russian currency to the complete shuttering of Ukrainian broadcasting, the Kremlin is taking extreme measures to make Ukrainian towns look, feel, and operate like Russia.
With heavy transport aircraft continuing to deliver consignments of equipment critical for Ukraine's defense, we take a look at some of the weapons being sent to Ukraine as it tries to hold back Russia's advances.
The US approved a $350 million military package for Ukraine, which includes Javelin missiles
President Biden announced $350 million in military aid for Ukraine on February 26, two days after the invasion started. The package included anti-armor weapons, small arms, body armor, and other equipment, according to a senior US Defense Official.
A Defense Official said later that it was"fair to say" that US javelin surface-to-air missiles would be included in that package.
The US had already provided $650 million in military aid over the last year, President Biden confirmed on the day of the invasion.
2 US volunteers believed to be fighting for Ukraine killed in Donbas, State Department says
It is believed that the US citizens were volunteer fighters, per ABC News. At least two other Americans have been killed while fighting against Russia.From the introduction of Russian currency to the complete shuttering of Ukrainian broadcasting, the Kremlin is taking extreme measures to make Ukrainian towns look, feel, and operate like Russia.
The US package also includes Stinger anti-aircraft missiles
The $350 million package also includes Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
The shoulder-fired missiles focus on their target using infrared technology and can be used to shoot down Russian helicopters, Insider's Jake Epstein and John Haltiwanger previously reported.
The shipment marked the first time President Biden had sent Stinger missiles to Ukraine.
The UK has sent anti-armor weapons designed to disable tanks and armored vehicles
The UK defense ministry has also approved packages of military aid for Ukraine, but has given little detail on what those packages include.
In January, the UK government announced a new package - which included 2,000 anti-armor missiles - intended to bolster Ukraine's "defensive capabilities," according to a research briefing published by the UK House of Commons Library.
On March 2, British Member of Parliament, James Heappey, told the House of Commons: "In the next hours and days, we will provide a further package of military support to Ukraine, including lethal aid in the form of defensive weapons and non-lethal aid such as body armour, medical supplies and other key equipment as requested by the Ukrainian Government."
Neither Moscow nor Kyiv can control Ukraine's skies. These are the jets they're using to fight the air war.
As of late July, observers have identified 36 Russian aircraft and 35 Ukrainian aircraft as lost, but the totals for both sides are likely higher.Throughout the buildup to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO countries, including the US, insisted they would not send troops to the region amid concern that the presence of their personnel on the ground would lead to a dangerous escalation of the conflict.
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Anti-tank weapons sent by the UK are being deployed in the suburbs of the capital Kyiv
Though he did not confirm the details of which weapons would be sent, Heappey has since said that the UK's NLAW anti-tank weapons have proven to be "invaluable" in attacking Russian artillery, The Times reported.
The portable, shoulder-fired weapon has been used by Ukrainians to attack Russian armor in the suburbs of Kyiv.
The UK's defense secretary told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the UK has now sent 3,615 NLAWs to Ukraine.
The UK plans to send Starstreak high-velocity anti-aircraft missiles
The UK Defense Secretary also said on Wednesday that the UK was making plans to send Starstreak high-velocity missiles to Ukraine.
"To date, the international community has donated more than 900 man-portable air defence missiles and thousands of anti-tank guided weapons of varying types, as well as various small arms. However, the capability needs strengthening," the Defense Secretary told the House of Commons.
The missiles are laser-guided and have a range of seven kilometers and can be used to target aircrafts including fixed wing fighters and late unmasking helicopter targets, according to the missile's manufacturer, Thales.
Ukraine forces strike key bridge in Russian-occupied south
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops have struck a strategic bridge essential for Moscow to supply its forces occupying the country's south, as Russia pounded several areas in Ukraine with rocket and artillery strikes. The Ukrainian military struck the Antonivskyi Bridge across the Dnieper River late Tuesday, the deputy head of the Moscow-appointed administration for the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, said. He said the bridge was stillThe Ukrainian military struck the Antonivskyi Bridge across the Dnieper River late Tuesday, the deputy head of the Moscow-appointed administration for the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, said.
Military aid is arriving at an airfield close to Ukraine's border
Boeing C-17 aircraft belonging to the US, UK, and Canada have been delivering the equipment to an airfield close to Ukraine's border. Jets carrying military equipment arrive at the base every 90 minutes, The Times reported.
American military cargo planes were also spotted flying between eastern Poland and a separate airbase in Germany, per The Times.
The US rejected an offer from Poland to receive Soviet-era jets for transfer to Ukraine
US officials also engaged in talks with Poland on a deal which would supply Ukraine with Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets, but have since rejected Poland's offer to hand the jets over to the US.
Ukrainian forces already know how to fly Russian-made aircrafts, making them a better option for Ukrainian fighters than jets made elsewhere, according to Reuters.
"The prospect of fighter jets 'at the disposal of the government of the United States of America' departing from a U.S./NATO base in Germany to fly into airspace that is contested with Russia over Ukraine raises serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance," a US Department of Defense official said on Tuesday.
Other European countries have also sent military equipment to Ukraine.
Two days after the invasion, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, announced that Germany planned to donate 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to Ukraine. The decision marked a major policy shift for Germany, which has previously banned arms shipment to conflict zones.
Ukraine stepping up bid to retake Kherson - sources
A key river crossing used by Russian troops is now completely impassable after rocket attacks by Ukraine.A key bridge into the city was forced to close after being hit by long-range Ukrainian rockets originally supplied by the US.
The EU as a whole agreed to supply €500 million in military aid for Ukraine after the invasion in a move the president of the European Union described as a "watershed moment."
The weapons are being used by Ukrainian forces to disable Russian tanks
Some of the weapons are being used by Ukrainian fighters to attack Russian tanks. As of March 8, Ukrainians had destroyed over 303 tanks, The Kyiv Independent claimed, although numbers are difficult to verify.
Ukrainian tanks are heavily outnumbered by those belonging to Russia. According to Sky News, Russia has over six times the number of Ukrain's tanks.
Russia's foreign affairs minister, Sergei Lavrov, has accused Western countries of intensifying the conflict by supplying Ukraine with military equipment, Reuters reported.
As of Friday, US and UK defense officials said Russian forces were getting closer to Kyiv. A US defense official told reporters on Thursday that Russian forces had moved three miles closer to Kyiv in the 24 hours prior, and that they could be as close as nine miles from the city center.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukrainian forces are slowly moving towards the Russian-held city of Kherson, according to the BBC.
The President's announcement comes as Ukrainian forces claim they have damaged two important bridges across the Dnipro River vital to the lines of supply to Russian troops in and around Kherson, Reuters reports.
The British Ministry of Defense said that "Supply lines of the Russian forces west of the river are increasingly at risk" and that if the Russian forces in Kherson do become cut off, "it would be a significant military and political setback for Russia."
Ukraine’s Push to Take Back This City Could Make or Break the War
The war in Ukraine could be breaking out into a new phase in the coming days, as Ukrainian forces gear up to launch a make-or-break counteroffensive against Kherson, a key city which Russian forces have occupied since the early days of the war. Ukrainian forces have been preparing for weeks to to run an attack on Kherson, a key city in the south, close to Russia’s strongholds. The counteroffensive is “gathering momentum,” according to a British intelligence analysis issued Thursday.But some American officials and lawmakers are hesitant to say the Ukrainian forces are guaranteed a victory if they go all in now.
On Saturday, UK defense officials reported heavy fighting near Kherson.
The Antonovsky and the Daryivskyi bridges across the Dnipro River, connecting Kherson to southern Ukraine and Crimea, have been damaged by Ukrainian shelling, according to reports.
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The deputy head of the Russian-installed regional authority said the Daryivskyi bridge had been hit by seven rockets from US-supplied high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) on Saturday, but that the bridge still worked, Russia's TASS news agency said, per Reuters.
Serhiy Khlan, an advisor to the region's governor, wrote on Facebook: "Every bridge is a weak point for logistics and our armed forces are skilfully destroying the enemy system. This is not yet the liberation of Kherson, but a serious preparatory step in that direction."
Ukrainian state media channel Euromaidan quoted presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych as saying there would be no humanitarian (or "green") corridor for Russian troops to leave Kherson.
"We have a very strong temptation to bury them all," he said before adding, "but, first of all, we do not fight like the Russians, we do not break our word. -secondly, I think that the highly humane Ukrainian Armed Forces will simply offer them to surrender."
"We will not provide a corridor. If they do not want to surrender, their fate will be decided," he said.
Dr. Mike Martin, War Studies Visiting Fellow at King's College London, tweeted that "if I were a Russian soldier in Kherson, I would be pretty scared right now."
He added, "I would be watching Kherson very closely over the next ten days."
Russian forces seized Kherson, a strategically important port city of 300,000 people, on 3 March. It was the first major city to fall following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukraine’s Push to Take Back This City Could Make or Break the War .
The war in Ukraine could be breaking out into a new phase in the coming days, as Ukrainian forces gear up to launch a make-or-break counteroffensive against Kherson, a key city which Russian forces have occupied since the early days of the war. Ukrainian forces have been preparing for weeks to to run an attack on Kherson, a key city in the south, close to Russia’s strongholds. The counteroffensive is “gathering momentum,” according to a British intelligence analysis issued Thursday.But some American officials and lawmakers are hesitant to say the Ukrainian forces are guaranteed a victory if they go all in now.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s dismissal of senior officials is casting an inconvenient light on an issue that the Biden administration has largely ignored since the outbreak of war with Russia: Ukraine’s history of rampant corruption and shaky governance. As it presses ahead with providing tens of billions of dollars in military, economic and direct financial support aid to Ukraine and encourages its allies to do the same, the Biden administration is now once again grappling with longstanding worries about Ukraine’s suitability as a recipient of massive infusions of American aid. 
"Ukraine needs the firepower and the ammunition to withstand this barrage and to strike back at the Russian weapons launching these attacks," Austin said."Russia is keeping up its relentless shelling, and that's a cruel tactic that harkens back to the horrors of World War I," Austin said in a press conference following the fourth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which brings together dozens of countries to hold discussions on Ukraine's defense needs.
"Ukraine needs the firepower and the ammunition to withstand this barrage and to strike back at the Russian weapons launching these attacks," Austin said."Russia is keeping up its relentless shelling, and that's a cruel tactic that harkens back to the horrors of World War I," Austin said in a press conference following the fourth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which brings together dozens of countries to hold discussions on Ukraine's defense needs. 
"He believes it's his entitlement, it's Russia's entitlement, to dominate Ukraine," CIA Director William Burns said in Aspen.From the introduction of Russian currency to the complete shuttering of Ukrainian broadcasting, the Kremlin is taking extreme measures to make Ukrainian towns look, feel, and operate like Russia. 
It is believed that the US citizens were volunteer fighters, per ABC News. At least two other Americans have been killed while fighting against Russia.From the introduction of Russian currency to the complete shuttering of Ukrainian broadcasting, the Kremlin is taking extreme measures to make Ukrainian towns look, feel, and operate like Russia. 
As of late July, observers have identified 36 Russian aircraft and 35 Ukrainian aircraft as lost, but the totals for both sides are likely higher.Throughout the buildup to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO countries, including the US, insisted they would not send troops to the region amid concern that the presence of their personnel on the ground would lead to a dangerous escalation of the conflict. 
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops have struck a strategic bridge essential for Moscow to supply its forces occupying the country's south, as Russia pounded several areas in Ukraine with rocket and artillery strikes. The Ukrainian military struck the Antonivskyi Bridge across the Dnieper River late Tuesday, the deputy head of the Moscow-appointed administration for the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, said. He said the bridge was stillThe Ukrainian military struck the Antonivskyi Bridge across the Dnieper River late Tuesday, the deputy head of the Moscow-appointed administration for the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, said. 
A key river crossing used by Russian troops is now completely impassable after rocket attacks by Ukraine.A key bridge into the city was forced to close after being hit by long-range Ukrainian rockets originally supplied by the US. 
The war in Ukraine could be breaking out into a new phase in the coming days, as Ukrainian forces gear up to launch a make-or-break counteroffensive against Kherson, a key city which Russian forces have occupied since the early days of the war. Ukrainian forces have been preparing for weeks to to run an attack on Kherson, a key city in the south, close to Russia’s strongholds. The counteroffensive is “gathering momentum,” according to a British intelligence analysis issued Thursday.But some American officials and lawmakers are hesitant to say the Ukrainian forces are guaranteed a victory if they go all in now. 
