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Ukraine halts Russia's advance in northern Sumy region, commander says

Ukraine halts Russia's advance in northern Sumy region, commander says

Washington Post5 hours ago

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces have halted Russia's recent advance into the northern Sumy region and have stabilized the front line near the border with Russia, Ukraine's top military commander said Thursday.
Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces, said that Ukrainian successes in Sumy have prevented Russia from deploying about 50,000 Russian troops, including elite airborne and marine brigades, to other areas of the front line.

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Belarusian dissident thanks Trump admin for his freedom, demands the UN act
Belarusian dissident thanks Trump admin for his freedom, demands the UN act

Fox News

timean hour ago

  • Fox News

Belarusian dissident thanks Trump admin for his freedom, demands the UN act

EXCLUSIVE — Belarusian dissident Siarhei Tsikhanouski is free after spending more than five years as a political prisoner, and now he is calling for those still behind bars to be released. In a video message played before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday, Tsikhanouski makes a desperate plea for international intervention. "I was tortured, I was held in solitary confinement, I was frozen. I wasn't even given a pen to write a few words. For years, I didn't receive a single letter, not even from my daughter. They filled my ears with lies and propaganda. They tried to convince me that everyone had forgotten me. What is happening in Belarusian prisons is not law enforcement. It is torture, abuse, and the destruction of human beings. People are literally being killed behind bars," Tsikhanouski said in the video, which was provided to Fox News Digital by UN Watch. Tsikhanouski credited the international community — especially the Trump administration — for his release, which was secured after U.S. Special Envoy on Ukraine and Russia Gen. Keith Kellogg met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. In addition to Tsikhanouski, 13 other political prisoners were released through U.S. mediation. The Belarusian dissident said in the video that he would not have made it out alive if it were not for "international solidarity" and "the efforts of the USA administration." In his first address as U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Nils Muižnieks warned that, since Jan. 2025, the human rights situation has "continued to deteriorate." He also noted that authorities in Belarus have abused "highly problematic" legislation, including a prohibition on insulting the president or other public officials. "Belarus has a very large number of people behind bars who should not be there, including opposition politicians, human rights defenders, journalists, independent trade union activists, environmental defenders and lawyers," Muižnieks said before Tsikhanouski's video was played. He also described the ill-treatment of prisoners by Belarusian authorities. After the council heard Tsikhanouski's message, Muižnieks said that the recently-freed dissident's words "carry extra weight." Following his release, Tsikhanouski was reunited with his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and their children in Lithuania. Tsikhanouskaya is the exiled Belarusian opposition leader whom some countries recognize as the president-elect. Tsikhanouskaya thanked President Donald Trump, Kellogg and the State Department for their efforts, which led to her husband's freedom. "My husband Siarhei is free! It's hard to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya wrote on X. "We're not done. 1,150 political prisoners remain behind bars. All must be released." UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer joined the call to see the remaining 1,150 prisoners gain their freedom. "Siarhei Tsikhanouski is a symbol of courage who paid a heavy price for daring to challenge Lukashenko's dictatorship. United Nations Watch is honored to give him the floor at the UN Human Rights Council just days after his release from prison. His voice, silenced by the regime for more than five years as he was tortured in jail, now speaks for millions of Belarusians who continue to demand freedom and human rights," Neuer told Fox News Digital. Neuer said Tsikhanouski's message to the U.N. was "a direct challenge to the regimes that continue to silence their critics." Thursday, June 26, also marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Tsikhanouskaya wrote on X to mark the occasion and shared a photo illustrating the effects that five years in prison had on her husband. "Today is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. My husband survived five years of isolation and cruelty in the Belarus regime's prisons. Many others still endure it. If we had given up, Siarhei wouldn't be free. That's why we keep going—until everyone is home," Tsikhanouskaya wrote. According to NPR, Tsikhanouski lost more than 41% of his body weight. He went into prison weighing 298 pounds but weighed just 174 pounds when he was released on June 21. In response to a request for comment on Tsikhanouski's statement, UN Human Rights Council spokesperson Pascal Sim directed Fox News Digital to a recording of the hearing, particularly Muižnieks' remarks. The U.N. Human Rights Office also directed Fox News Digital to Muižnieks' statement.

Ottawa eyeing Ukrainian partnership, EU loans for defence equipment, minister says
Ottawa eyeing Ukrainian partnership, EU loans for defence equipment, minister says

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Ottawa eyeing Ukrainian partnership, EU loans for defence equipment, minister says

OTTAWA — Defence Minister David McGuinty says the federal government is weighing whether to follow in the footsteps of several European nations by forging a new defence co-production deal with Ukraine for military equipment. McGuinty says the idea is under "active consideration" by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Ukraine has become a world leader in combat drone technology over the course of its war with Russia, and countries such as the U.K. and Denmark have announced plans for co-operative equipment production projects with Kyiv. McGuinty made the comments while speaking to Canadian reporters on a call from the embassy in Riga, Latvia, capping off his trip to Europe this week. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a massive new defence spending commitment at the NATO summit in The Hague this week and said in Brussels that Canada and the European Union will negotiate a new security and defence procurement partnership. McGuinty says Canada needs to be able to leverage European loans through that partnership and that his government intends to join up with European nations on bulk purchasing — something he says will save money on defence procurement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press

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