Ukrainian prisoners of war embrace family members in emotional return from Russia
CNN's Clarissa Ward waited with families as buses brought Ukrainian prisoners of war home. In one of the largest prisoner exchanges of the war, 175 servicemen on each side were returned to Ukraine and Russia.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Albuquerque to Kharkiv, Part 1: The Ambulance
The ambulance that Albuquerque Fire Rescue donated to the city of Kharkiv, which is currently undergoing repairs in the Ukrainian city. (Courtesy of Oleksandra Kirian, Kharkiv City Council) KHARKIV, Ukraine— It's been three days since Yevhen Vasylenko has slept through the night, and a deep worry line has worn its way across his forehead. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv's Emergency Situations Department, Vasylenko says missile and drone attacks have awakened him each night. Two nights earlier, Russia's biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv to date had left at least 12 dead and 90 injured. Here, just 23 miles from the Russian border, the attacks are more intense and frequent. More than 12,000 of the city's buildings, 70% residential, have been destroyed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 'The attacks right now are almost every night,' Vasylenko says through a translator, describing combined attacks of both drones and rockets. 'We are near the front line, so during all the years of the full-scale invasion we have had constant attacks.' Standing outside one of the city's fire stations, Vasylenko takes a final drag on his cigarette before gesturing for us to step inside as an air raid siren whistles through the mid-afternoon air, indicating an incoming ballistic missile. When those strikes come, Ukrainian first responders pull on their flak jackets and kevlar helmets, and head out to pull civilians from the rubble of buildings, extinguish fires and disarm mines. They do so aboard a fleet of emergency vehicles — including fire trucks donated from Germany; a specialized tow truck gifted by an American entrepreneur; and an ambulance sent from the City of Albuquerque. In July 2023, Albuquerque formed a sister city relationship with the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, and soon began sending aid, including a decommissioned ambulance formerly used by Albuquerque's Station 8, located in the foothills near the intersection of Indian School and Tramway. 'From the beginning, we've been dedicated partners with Kharkiv — including the donation of an ambulance to support their emergency services — and we will continue doing everything we can to lend a hand to our friends overseas who need our help now more than ever,' Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. The ambulance is a 2011 Ford F6G, a behemoth of a rescue vehicle. Albuquerque Fire Rescue Lt. Paramedic Brent Rohrig, of Station 8, recalls that the department purchased two such vehicles, which were specced out to be large enough for the tallest firefighter in the department, who stood over 7 feet tall. The department used the vehicles for a few years, but with only two in the fleet, many EMTs and paramedics didn't have an opportunity to learn on them. When the city purchased new ambulances in 2015, it moved the 2011 models to reserves. 'This ambulance has already been in active service with the Emergency Situations Department's Situation Center in Kharkiv City Council,' Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terehov said through a translator. 'It was used to respond to emergency calls, to reach sites of explosions and to provide help in the most difficult conditions. It's multifunctional, well-equipped and it truly saves lives.' Albuquerque Fire Rescue has a legacy of donating emergency vehicles that are obsolete for the city's needs, but still in good enough shape to be useful elsewhere, says Public Information Officer Lt. Jason Fejer. 'We did nothing more than give it away,' he said of the ambulance donated to Kharkiv. In the past, Albuquerque has donated retired fire engines to Isleta Pueblo and the towns of Mesilla and Eagle's Nest. Albuquerque first began its sister city relationship with the city of Kharkiv at the urging of Northern New Mexico's Sikh community. The religious community, which has roots in India but a large presence at the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das in Española, counted among the first to offer aid to Ukrainian cities impacted by the war. When Simran Singh, a member of Española's Sikh community and a kundalini yoga teacher, approached the Albuquerque City Council about forming a sister city partnership with Kharkiv, he said the answer was an immediate yes. 'It's such a beautiful testament to what this state stands for,' he said. 'The ambulance is one outcome of a total community-to-community aid initiative.' Although he's grateful for all the support the United States has offered Ukraine, Kharkiv Mayor Terekhov says, 'direct city-to-city contacts are among the fastest and most effective forms of support today — especially during wartime, when action needs to be taken not in theory, but immediately.' He added that the relationship 'provides not only vital resources but also a sense of solidarity — the knowledge that we are not alone,' noting that representatives from Albuquerque have visited 'Kharkiv despite the ongoing shelling — a truly courageous gesture.' At the moment, the Albuquerque ambulance is undergoing repairs to replace a few worn out parts. 'A number of those parts are manufactured only in the United States, so we are waiting for them to arrive,' said Terekhov. That's not unusual for donated emergency vehicles, says spokesman Vasylenko, who notes that fire engines from the US and Europe are generally designed to attach to fire hydrants, which Ukraine does not use. The style of ambulances used in the United States were not common in Ukraine either before donated vehicles began arriving. As tensions continue to escalate in Ukraine — with Russia launching some of its most intense strikes on Ukrainian cities amid ongoing peace talks — the ambulance may be more needed than ever. 'Once repairs are complete, the ambulance will return to duty — helping people in need,' said Terekhov. Liubov Sholudko and Tetiana Burianova contributed reporting and translation support. This reporting was supported by the International Women's Media Foundation's Women on the Ground: Reporting from Ukraine's Unseen Frontlines Initiative in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hamas exploits aid distribution chaos to sow suspicion of Israel, aid group
The aid sites are one of the most significant places where Hamas wants to see chaos unfold, and it hopes that additional incidents can be exploited. Hamas is seeking to use reports of shooting incidents near the new aid distribution centers in Gaza to create chaos and suspicion about the initiative. Over the past three days, there have been reports that civilians have been killed seeking aid, though Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) have denied such statements. However, this has not stopped the reports from spreading quickly and from Hamas seeking to leverage the incidents. On Sunday, CNN wrote, 'Dozens of Palestinians were shot dead by the Israeli military near an aid distribution site in Gaza on Sunday, according to Palestinian officials and eyewitnesses.' Hamas had already condemned the new aid sites earlier on May 27. 'The scenes of thousands of our people rushing into the site designated for implementing the occupation's aid distribution mechanism, accompanied by live fire on civilians who gathered under the pressure of hunger and siege, confirm beyond doubt the failure of this suspicious mechanism,' the terror group said. It also stated that new aid sites endangered lives. It was clear from that day that it was in the interests of Hamas to make this claim come true. The first days of aid distribution saw some chaos unfold at the sites, but the humanitarian workers and security were prepared for this and withdrew, setting up the sites the next day. On Sunday, the terrorist group accused Israel of a 'horrific massacre,' which it said had targeted people seeking aid. It said 40 people had been 'martyred' and 150 had been wounded. The next day Hamas claimed that three 'starving civilians' had been killed and 35 wounded. Hamas obviously blamed Israel. 'Hamas holds the occupation fully responsible for this crime and its predecessors. The number of martyrs killed at aid distribution centers in the past eight days has risen to 102,' the terrorist group said. It accused Israel on Tuesday of a massacre in the 'Al-Alam area of Rafah governorate.' It said 'Unarmed civilians waiting to receive aid' had been killed and that dozens were 'martyrs.' The BBC wrote on Tuesday that 'for the third day running, Palestinians have been killed while gathering to collect aid. This morning, reports started to emerge of another fatal incident near an aid distribution center in Gaza.' CNN reported that 'Palestinians on their way to receive aid from a distribution site in southern Gaza have come under fire for a third consecutive day, with nearly 30 people killed and dozens wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and Nasser Hospital.' THE IDF said, 'Earlier today, during the movement of the crowd along the designated routes toward the aid distribution site – approximately half a kilometer from the site – IDF troops identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated access routes. The troops carried out warning fire, and after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near a few individual suspects who advanced toward the troops.' The military said it was looking into reports of casualties. It noted that it 'allows the American Civil Organization (GHF) to operate independently in order to enable the distribution of aid to the Gazan residents – and not to Hamas. IDF troops are not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites. The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site.' Hamas hopes that this will tip the scales in its favor. It is in the terror group's interest to cause chaos and exploit incidents that occur. There is a power vacuum in Gaza between areas that Hamas controls, such as the central camps, Mawasi areas, and parts of Gaza City, and the aid sites. For instance, there are three aid sites in southern Gaza along a route that extends from near Tal al-Sultan toward the Morag Corridor and Rafah. This is accessed by civilians who come from Mawasi or Khan Yunis. Some civilians claim to have walked 10 or 15 kilometers, meaning they may come from as far away as Deir el-Balah or other areas in the central camps part of Gaza. Hamas has controlled the central camps, Deir el-Balah, Maghazi, El-Bureij, and Nuseirat, throughout the 19 months of war. The IDF has not entered these areas. In general, the military has not entered around 40% of Gaza, leaving it in the control of the terror group. Even though many Hamas commanders and leaders have been killed, the IDF is cautious and reticent to move quickly. This results in Hamas controlling almost all of the areas where civilians live in Gaza. Most of the enclave's 2 million people have been displaced by the war and are asked to evacuate from areas such as Khan Yunis to areas controlled by Hamas. The only time they are not under its control is when they leave to get the aid at the new sites. They then walk several kilometers over areas where Hamas is not visibly present. HAMAS'S GOAL is to create chaos and killing in the areas where there is a vacuum. It wants to control the civilians. The IDF and Israeli leaders have not provided any alternative. The military doesn't want to run displaced persons camps or deal with masses of civilians. In the war, this has been clear. Israel asks them to leave areas where it operates, without setting up any alternative government for Gaza or providing any way for a different civilian authority to emerge. Usually in war, when the goal is to remove a group from power, an alternative is set up to govern. This is what happened in 1945 in Germany and Japan, in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, and in Afghanistan. However, in Gaza, there is no alternative to Hamas. In some areas where there is a power vacuum, armed gangs or clans take over, taking over aid and shooting at civilians. These gangs and clans, or tribes, don't seem to be filling the vacuum with competent governance. They don't provide schooling or medical support; they don't run hospitals or universities. Gazan children have now been under the cloud of war for 19 months, with no school or alternatives. The war has resulted in them all being moved to areas under Hamas control, which perpetuates its rule. Hamas wants this to be the future. It knows the IDF is reticent to go into areas where hostages might be held. It also knows that the military moves very slowly and cautiously in Gaza and that Israel has no clear exit strategy or post-war vision. Hamas likely assumes that the goal of the war includes keeping it in power, but in a weakened state. Hamas doesn't mind this, though. It has gone through this before in the 1990s and 2000s and has always emerged from the rubble. The terror group also assumes that its leadership in Doha will eventually get a deal. It believes time is on its side and that most of the world is slowly turning against Israel after 600 days of war. The aid sites are one of the most significant places where Hamas wants to see chaos unfold, and it hopes that additional incidents can be exploited. It doesn't care what the facts are; if some people can be pushed into the firing line, or if Hamas can simply invent stories about 'martyrs,' it will do so daily until it achieves its goal.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Rivals Meloni and Macron seek to mend fences in Rome talks
Italy's Giorgia Meloni and France's Emmanuel Macron met Tuesday in Rome, seeking to reconcile their differences as they confront common challenges, notably US tariffs and the Ukraine war. The far-right prime minister welcomed the centrist French president to her Palazzo Chigi office, the pair kissing lightly on the cheek and both smiling. A guard of honour played both national anthems before the two European rivals headed inside for talks and a dinner, with no plans to speak to the press. They are not natural political allies, but as the leaders of the EU's second- and third-largest economies, they are both grappling with the fall-out from the war in Ukraine, as well as US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs against the bloc. Meloni on Friday acknowledged "divergences" with Macron but denied she had any "personal problems" with him, and said she was "very happy" with the visit. An Italian government source said Rome and Paris hoped to "lay the foundations for a further strengthening of relations" between two nations "on the front line of the various fronts of international politics". Macron's office said Italy was "an important partner" with "a crucial role to play in European decisions", particularly in the Ukrainian conflict. Despite their political rivalry, the French presidency said the two leaders were showing they were "capable of moving forward together on the essentials". - 'Undeniable rivalry' - Their cooperation has been sorely tested by Trump, with the pair disagreeing over how to deal with the US president on both tariffs and Ukraine. Meloni and Macron have and "undeniable rivalry", said Marc Lazar, a professor at Sciences Po university in Paris. He said the pair were following different strategies with Meloni seeking "mediation and compromise" with the US president and Macron favouring "unwavering firmness". Rome "believes that because it is ideologically close to the US administration... it will be able to force it to back down on trade tariffs", he told AFP. But while Paris says it has "respect" for those who can "maintain the best possible relationship with President Trump", it insists trade negotiations are the responsibility of the European Commission -- effectively sidelining Meloni as a would-be mediator. On Ukraine, Macron presents himself as the EU's go-to man on the issue, speaking to Trump regularly and invoking the relationship developed during the billionaire's first term. And he has seriously ruffled feathers in Rome with his attempts to put together a "coalition of the willing" ready to provide "security guarantees" to Ukraine. In recent weeks, the French president's meetings on the Russian invasion with the British, German and Polish leaders -- but without Meloni -- have ratcheted up tensions. Paris says that "between Europeans, the issue of formats must be arranged to achieve the best impact we can under the circumstances". It says that Italy has always insisted the US take part. But Lazar notes that as a nuclear power with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, France sees itself as less dependent on the United States. The mood was not helped when an adviser to Macron dismissed Italy's proposal to grant Ukraine protection under Article 5 of the NATO treaty without Kyiv joining the military alliance itself. The article stipulates that if one member is attacked all the others must act as if they too were attacked. While that idea "deserves discussion", it would in practice be very hard to implement, Lazar said, not least "because if the Trump administration refuses Ukraine's accession, it is precisely because it does not want to implement Article 5 for Ukraine's benefit". ff/ide/ar/giv
