With Putin’s reshuffle, is Russia preparing for a long war?
Three experts have told VOA’s Russian Service that the appointment of Andrei Belousov as Russia’s defense minister suggests President Vladimir Putin is preparing his country for a protracted war against Ukraine. Putin reshuffled his government Sunday, tapping Belousov, an economist…
Will US voters continue to care about Ukraine amid Israel-Hamas conflict?
As Russia pushed into northern Ukraine this week, the U.S. presidential race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump remained focused on another foreign policy crisis — the war in Gaza. As VOA’s congressional correspondent, Katherine Gypson, reports,…
US, allies ‘doing everything humanly possible’ to rush weapons to Ukraine
The United States is working hard to rush weapons to Ukraine to fight against a surprise Russian ground offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, the White House said Monday. “We’re doing everything humanly possible, both ourselves and our allies,” White…
Ukrainian pastor serves as front-line chaplain
Fifty-year-old Yevhen Savchenko has been serving as an official chaplain for Ukraine’s Armed Forces since late 2023, often performing his duties on the front line. Savchenko is also the father of eight children and pastor of an evangelical Baptist church…
Russia reports destroying 47 drones and missiles from Ukrainian attacks
Russia’s defense ministry said Monday the country’s air defenses destroyed 31 drones and 16 missiles launched by Ukraine in overnight attacks. The ministry said seven drones and four guided missiles were shot down over Russia-occupied Crimea, eight drones were destroyed…
Ukrainians flee border areas as Russian forces advance near Kharkiv
More than 4,000 people have fled from areas around Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region since Friday, when Russia launched a surprise counteroffensive, the local governor said Sunday. “In total, 4,073 people have been evacuated,” Oleg Syniehubov wrote on his social media…
Russia blames Ukraine for lethal strike on Belgorod apartment block
Russia blames fragments of a falling Ukrainian missile for a deadly strike on an apartment building in Belgorod. Ukraine so far has offered no comment. This, as Russian forces continue the capture of territory in Ukraine’s northeast. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi…
McMaster: ‘It’s past time to provide Ukraine what they need’
The Russian army is attacking Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk region, near Chasiv Yar. British intelligence says Russia is sustaining heavy losses and according to the Ukrainian military has mobilized 20,000 soldiers around the small town just west of Bakhmut….
Battles rage in Ukraine; Russian forces claim they’ve captured 5 villages
Fierce battles continue for a second day in northeastern Ukraine, where the Russian Defense Ministry said its troops captured five villages — a claim Kyiv contested. The ministry said Moscow’s forces had taken the villages of Pletenivka, Ohirtseve, Borysivka, Pylna…
Ukraine ground force commander expects Russian push ahead of arms supplies
The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, in an interview published Friday, said he expected the 26-month-old war against Russia to enter a critical phase in the next two months as Moscow tries to exploit delays in supplying weapons to Kyiv….