Latest news with #Maksim
New York Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Inside Trump's New Tactic to Separate Immigrant Families
Evgeny and Evgeniia faced an excruciating choice. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers told the couple they could leave the United States with their child and return to their native Russia, which they had fled seeking political asylum. Or they could remain in immigration detention in the United States — but their 8-year-old son, Maksim, would be taken away and sent to a shelter for unaccompanied children. In the end, they chose the agony of limbo in the United States over a return to a place where they saw no prospect for freedom or any future for their family. 'Interior separation is approved,' ICE officials concluded in writing after the couple insisted they could not return to Russia. The last time Evgeny and Evgeniia saw Maksim was on May 15, in a room at Kennedy International Airport in New York City, as ICE agents led them back to detention in New Jersey. 'A few days, right?' Maksim begged his parents that day. 'A few days?' The couple, who asked to be identified only by their first names out of fear for their family back in Russia, said they tried to keep their son calm. Maksim pleaded with his father, who told the boy what he wanted to hear. 'I said, 'Yes, yes, it will be just a few days,'' Evgeny said, recounting the moment in an interview. Their case is an example of a little-known tactic the Trump administration is using to pressure undocumented immigrants to leave the United States. Officials have begun separating children from their families in small numbers across the country, in what appears to be a more targeted version of one of the most explosive policies of President Trump's first term. The New York Times has uncovered at least nine cases in which parents have been separated from their children after they refused to comply with deportation orders, according to internal government documents, case files and interviews. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
American Military News
24-06-2025
- American Military News
‘I don't know who i buried': Families of dead Russian soldiers not allowed to open coffins
This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission. Valeria Mikhailova recently buried a sealed coffin, which — Russian authorities told her — contained the remains of her 23-year-old army contractor husband Maksim who was killed in Ukraine. The family was not allowed to open the coffin, which they buried in their hometown of Armavir, in Russia's Krasnodar region, in early May. 'The [officials] threatened that they will launch a criminal probe against us if we open the coffin without permission. I begged them to show me at least a photo of the body [taken before it was placed in the coffin] to see how it looked like. They didn't have any. They didn't allow us to do a DNA test,' Mikhailova said. Without having seen and identified the body, the Mikhailov family are not convinced the remains in the coffin did indeed belong to Maksim as the authorities claimed. 'I often think, 'Who did I bury?' I don't know,' Mikhailova said. She did not say which government agency the officials represented. Similar claims have been voiced by many Russians whose family members were killed in the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to families, eyewitnesses, and Russian media reports, it has become common practice since the beginning of the war in February 2022 that Russian military officials demand that relatives of dead soldiers do not open the coffins they receive from Ukraine. Authorities do not provide any reason, merely telling the relatives the opening the coffins is against the law, according to two affected families who spoke to RFE/RL. The law, however, does not bar relatives from opening of the coffins for burial. Lawyers say there were some exceptions to this during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus. Digging Up Coffins After Mix-Up Some Russian families have reportedly buried a 'wrong' body only to be told by authorities to dig the coffin up and return it to a rightful family after a 'mix-up.' The family of a dead soldier from Yekaterinburg who was identified only by his first name, Ivan, had to conduct two funeral ceremonies in two weeks in January 2024 when the authorities mistakenly send them the remains of another person. 'We just received Ivan's remains. The first time we buried a stranger,' a family member said ahead of the second funeral. In Buryatia, the family of 44-year-old contractor Sergei K. went through the pain and agony of getting the news of his death in Ukraine and receiving a coffin along with his death certificate in 2023. Several weeks after holding a funeral ceremony, the family received a phone call from Sergei K., who said he was wounded and taken to hospital for treatment. A recent study published by the Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, estimates that as many as 250,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since the war began. It is not known how many families received and buried the remains of strangers. Russian officials don't release such reports. In Armavir, the Mikhailov family plans to take legal action to secure a court order to exhume the body they buried last month in order to conduct a DNA test. Valeria Mikhailova said she was initially discouraged by some friends who told her that the Ministry of Defense has sued several families for 'illegally opening coffins' from Ukraine. 'They told me: 'Think about what would happen to your 4-year-old son with his father in the grave and his mother in prison,'' Mikhailova said. Mother Hopes Her Son Is Still Alive Valeria's mother-in-law, Valentina Mikhailova, still hopes that her son, Maksim, could still be alive. The mother says the Russian authorities' version about how Maksim was killed and how his body was allegedly found and identified has been inconsistent. 'Everyone around has lied about it. The military enlistment office told us that his body… was identified by his fellow soldiers and his commander, and that there was no need for a DNA test. Then, it turned out that his fellow soldiers had lost him altogether and there was no identification at all,' Valentina Mikhailova told RFE/RL. Along with the coffin, the family also received what Valentina Mikhailova described as a handwritten piece of paper that states Maksim 'died in an explosion.' 'How can they possibly call this paper an official document?' Mikhailova said. 'They also promised to send my son's belongings – his passport, military identity card, and identification tag. But one month on, we haven't received anything.' Earlier this week, Kyiv accused Moscow of sending badly mutilated bodies to Ukraine and mixing up body parts as Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners and returned the bodies of the dead. 'Bodies are returned in an extremely mutilated state, parts of [the same] bodies in different bags. There are cases when the remains of one person are returned even during different stages of repatriation,' Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said, accusing Russia of 'deliberately' making it more difficult for Kyiv to identify the repatriated bodies.
Russia Today
24-06-2025
- Russia Today
Ukrainian terror plot targeting Russian energy facility busted – FSB (VIDEO)
Three Russian nationals suspected of plotting a sabotage attack at a gas-distributing facility in the port city of Berdyansk have been apprehended in the country's Zaporozhye Region, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Monday. According to video footage released by the agency, the group, acting on orders from Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), was detained with homemade explosives and bomb-making components. The suspects were apprehended while attempting to smuggle the explosive devices onto the premises, according to officials. 'Security services recovered a makeshift explosive device and bomb-making materials both at the site and during search raids at the suspects' homes,' the statement said. One of the detainees reportedly said during interrogation that an SBU officer named Maksim from Kiev had tasked him with assembling an explosive device and targeting specific objects. Another suspect, a woman who admitted guilt and expressed remorse, said she had been assigned to store and deliver the explosives. The third detainee, who identified himself as a schoolteacher, admitted that accepting the offer was the biggest mistake of his life. He emphasized that terror acts of this kind 'would never yield tangible benefit to Ukraine and would certainly inflict no appreciable damage to Russia, but would only warp the whole life of the actor.'According to Russian law, the suspects face up to 20 years in prison, if convicted. The FSB has warned that Ukrainian special services are increasingly using Telegram and WhatsApp messaging apps to involve Russian citizens in sabotage and reconnaissance activities. The security service noted that recruiters exploit their victims' trust and coerce them into committing serious crimes, which are punishable by long prison sentences. Earlier this month, the FSB reportedly thwarted a Ukrainian terrorist attack targeting an energy company in the Krasnodar Region of southern Russia. The agency said that the suspect had been contacted by Ukraine's intelligence via WhatsApp earlier that week.
Globe and Mail
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Goodbye Algorithms, Hello Humanity: ListForYou Gives the Power of Content Discovery Back to the People
ListForYou, the innovative platform redefining content discovery, announces the launch of its Kickstarter campaign. Designed for media enthusiasts tired of algorithm-driven recommendations, ListForYou offers a human-centric approach to discovering movies, shows, games, books, and more. With a mission to empower users to reclaim their browsing experience, ListForYou connects individuals through curated lists crafted by real people—trusted influencers, passionate bloggers, and like-minded users. The platform emphasizes privacy and personalization, creating a seamless, tailored experience. Key Features of ListForYou: Human-Curated Recommendations: Explore content selected by real people, not algorithms, for an authentic discovery experience. Cross-Category Exploration: Match your unique tastes with mood-based suggestions across multiple categories, from thrillers to sci-fi to indie games. Privacy-First Design: Enjoy personalized suggestions while safeguarding your data and preferences. Seamless Content Management: Organize, rate, and access all your favorite content in one place, synced across devices. 'ListForYou is more than a platform—it's a community of discovery,' said Maksim, Founder of ListForYou. 'We're giving users a chance to escape endless scrolling and enjoy content that truly resonates with their unique tastes.' At the heart of ListForYou is its commitment to authenticity and user privacy. Unlike algorithm-driven platforms, ListForYou celebrates individuality and shared interests, connecting users with content that reflects their personal style. The Kickstarter campaign offers exclusive perks for early supporters, including great discounts and the chance to shape the platform's future. Backers will become part of a movement to reclaim media discovery from algorithms and foster authentic connections. Join the ListForYou revolution and rediscover the joy of discovering content that truly moves you. To learn more or back the campaign, visit the Kickstarter page at Media Contact Company Name: ListForYou City: Newark State: Delaware Country: United States Website:
