What a 110-year-old lemon tells us about espionage history
It's a classic line from a spy movie: 'Burn after reading.' For German agent Karl Muller, that advice would have really helped.
Muller, a spy who masqueraded as a Russian shipbroker and covertly traveled to England among a crowd of refugees in 1915, used pen nibs dipped in lemon to write invisible messages to his counterparts. He relayed his secrets in between lines of regular ink in what appeared to be otherwise unremarkable letters.
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2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ukraine says Russian strikes hit Kharkiv, killing two
Fresh Russian strikes on Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv killed two people and wounded 54 including children early Wednesday, authorities said, as Moscow pushed ahead with its relentless attacks after rejecting an unconditional ceasefire. "Seventeen strikes by enemy UAVs (drones) were carried out in two districts of the city tonight," Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov said on Telegram, later adding that 37 people were wounded and "several people were rescued from houses engulfed in flames". The State Emergency Service of Ukraine said eight children were wounded in the attack. Russia has escalated its bombardments of Ukraine despite US President Donald Trump urging Moscow to end its three-year invasion, with Kyiv launching retaliatory attacks deep inside Russian territory. After a previous overnight barrage of more than 300 drones and seven missiles on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Kyiv's Western allies to respond with "concrete action". "Action from America, which has the power to force Russia into peace. Action from Europe, which has no alternative but to be strong," Zelensky wrote on social media. Peace talks in Turkey last week failed to yield a breakthrough towards ending the conflict, with Russia rejecting calls for an unconditional ceasefire and demanding Ukraine give up its territory and bid to join NATO. But the two sides agreed to swap more than 1,000 prisoners of war and hand over the bodies of dead soldiers, swapping groups of captured soldiers on Monday and Tuesday. - Prisoner exchanges - Kharkhiv, which lies less than 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the Russian border, has been hit by a surge in large-scale nighttime attacks over the past week. Wednesday's strikes left a five-story building on fire in Slobidskyi district, while several houses were hit in Osnovyansky district, Mayor Terekhov said. He said "there may be people trapped under the rubble". The attack came after Russia pummelled the city on Saturday in what Terekhov called "the most powerful attack" on Kharkiv since the start of the war. Four people were killed and more than 50 wounded as homes and apartment blocks were hit overnight and guided bombs were dropped on the city on Saturday afternoon. Ukraine is also stepping up its drone attacks on Russia, targeting military production and bases. On Tuesday, one person was killed and four others wounded in a drone attack that destroyed a convenience store in the Russian region of Belgorod, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. Nevertheless, the two sides carried out a second prisoner of war swap on Tuesday. The deal should see the freeing of all captured soldiers under the age of 25, as well as those who are sick or severely wounded, though neither side has specified the number of soldiers involved. But Zelensky has said it is "pointless" to hold further talks with the current Russian delegation -- who he previously dismissed as "empty heads" -- since they could not agree to a ceasefire. As a condition for halting its invasion, Russia has demanded that Ukraine cede the territories Moscow says it has annexed and forswear joining NATO. It has also rejected a proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire sought by Kyiv and the European Union, arguing that this would allow Ukrainian forces to rearm with Western deliveries. Ukraine is demanding a complete Russian withdrawal of from its territory and security guarantees from the West. bur-dhw/cms
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Russia ships weapons to Africa, violating sanctions, AP reports
Russia has been shipping weapons to conflict zones in West Africa in violation of international sanctions, the Associated Press (AP) reported on June 10, citing radio signals, satellite images, and military officials. The deliveries represent another sign of Russia's expanding military footprint in African nations. Russian-flagged cargo ships delivered howitzers, radio jammers, and other military equipment to a port in Guinea in late May after a month-long voyage from the Baltic Sea, the AP reported. Other ships made deliveries to the same port in January, carrying armored vehicles and tanks. Some of the vessels involved in the shipments, including Russia's Baltic Leader and Patria, are on Western sanctions lists. The weapons delivered to Guinea were then carried in trucks to neighboring Mali, European military officials told the AP. The outlet analyzed video footage from a Malian blogger to verify the report. Footage analyzed by the AP identified Russian-made 152 mm artillery guns, small cannons, and a BTR-80 armored troop carrier equipped with radio-jamming devices entering Mali. The delivery also included tanker trucks and semi-inflatable boats, one marked with a painted Russian flag. Read also: US warns 'serious consequences' over Russian naval base plans in Sudan According to military officials, most of the weapons were likely delivered not to the Malian Armed Forces but to Russia's "Africa Corps," a paramilitary group controlled by the Russian Defense Ministry. Russian mercenaries, including the notorious Wagner Group, have fought alongside Malian government forces since 2021, in attempts to fend off Islamic insurgents. The Wagner Group announced its withdrawal from Mali on June 6, but Africa Corps intends to maintain an active presence in the country. Satellite images from the Bamako air base indicate that Africa Corps also has at least one Su-24 bomber, the AP reported. Wagner forces in Mali have been sanctioned for alleged war crimes and widespread looting. In December 2024, Human Rights Watch accused Wagner mercenaries and Malian government forces of deliberately killing 32 civilians. Wagner mercenaries and Malian soldiers have also reportedly suffered heavy losses in their engagements with Tuareg-led rebels. After a short-lived rebellion against Moscow led by former Wagner Commander Yevgeny Prigozhin in June 2023, Russia sought to tighten its control over operations in Africa — the majority of which were led by Wagner forces. The influx of Russian weapons into Mali is likely accelerating Africa Corps' rise over Wagner in the region, officials and experts told the AP. The weaponry could also help prevent Russian forces in Africa from suffering the kinds of heavy losses incurred last summer. Read also: In African universities, Russia's war against Ukraine finds new supporters We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Massive Russian drone attack kills 2, injures at least 37 in Kharkiv
Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russia attacked homes and apartment buildings in Kharkiv with drones overnight on June 11, killing at least two people and injuring 37 others, including five children, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. The attack struck a five-story residential building in the city's Slobidskyi district, leaving 15 apartments in flames, Terekhov said. Several homes in the Osnovyanskyi district were also hit. The large-scale attack also struck a trolleybus depot in the city, with several vehicles also catching fire, regional Governor Oleh Synehubov said. At least two people have been killed and 37 have been injured, including five children. The number may rise as authorities search for more victims trapped beneath the rubble. Terekhov said that nine people have been hospitalized as a result of the attack. including a 2-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy. Earlier in the night, Terekhov warned residents that a "massive enemy drone attack" was targeting Kharkiv. He later reported that Russia carried out 17 drone strikes in the city. Russia has pounded the city of Kharkiv with relentless aerial attacks in recent days. A series of attacks with drones, missiles, and KAB guided bombs on June 7 left four dead and around 40 injured, as Russia struck civilian targets in the city throughout the night and again in the afternoon. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the "brutal strike" and urged the U.S. to allow Ukraine to purchase urgently needed air defense systems. Already a frequent target of Russian strikes due to its proximity to the front lines, Kharkiv has also come under fire during Moscow's recent record-breaking attacks against cities across Ukraine. Zelensky said on June 10 that Russia has been steadily increasing the number of weapons it launches at Ukraine in its mass overnight assaults. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
