Latest news with #Russi
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukrainian delegates arrive in Istanbul for next round of peace talks with Russia
The Ukrainian delegation arrived in Istanbul for peace talks with Russia, which are scheduled for the afternoon of June 2, Ukrinform reported, citing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi. Their Russian counterparts have also already arrived. The negotiations follow the first round of Istanbul talks, which concluded on May 16 with an agreement on the largest prisoner exchange of the war but without any progress toward a peace deal. Russia has not officially submitted its memorandum outlining peace terms, but Ukraine plans to present a detailed roadmap aimed at securing a lasting settlement. According to the proposal, the process would begin with a minimum 30-day ceasefire, followed by a full exchange of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russian-held areas, ultimately leading to a potential meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The plan was reported on June 1 by Reuters, which reviewed a copy of the document. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya reiterated on May 30 that Moscow would only consider a ceasefire if Ukraine halts mobilization and stops receiving foreign military aid. Speaking ahead of the June 2 talks, Zelensky reminded that Russia has not submitted its so-called peace memorandum to Ukraine, Turkey, or the U.S. "Despite this, we will try to achieve at least some progress on the path toward peace," he added. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is leading Ukraine's 14-member delegation, which includes several figures from Ukraine's military, human rights, and legal sectors who did not take part in the May 16 negotiations. Russian delegates will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who represented Moscow both during the first unsuccessful peace talks in Istanbul in 2022 and then again in May this year. Security advisors from the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany also plan to attend, according to U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Talking to the Russian state media, Medinsky confirmed that the Russian side had received Ukrainian peace proposals. Russia plans to present its memorandum only during the talks, Russian pro-state news agency Interfax reported, citing its sources. While the U.S. and Ukraine have pushed for an unconditional ceasefire, the Kremlin has rejected it. Instead, Moscow has regularly voiced maximalist demands that are unlikely to be accepted by Kyiv, such as recognition of Russia's illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions and withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the parts of these regions remaining under Kyiv's control. Trump has expressed frustration with Russia's reluctance to make concessions and its intensifying and deadly attacks on Ukraine. He has so far refused to impose additional sanctions on Russia. The talks are taking place only a day after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched a mass drone attack against Russian air bases, allegedly hitting 41 Russian bombers and disabling 34% of Russia's cruise missile air fleet. Read also: As Trump fails to sanction Moscow, few expect breakthrough during upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
eNCA
3 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Ukraine expands evacuations in Sumy region amid offensive fears
Ukraine ordered the evacuation of 11 more villages in its Sumy region bordering Russia on Saturday amid fears Moscow was gearing up for a fresh ground assault. Russia claims to have captured several villages in the northeastern region in recent weeks, and has massed more than 50,000 soldiers on the other side of the border, according to Kyiv. The evacuations came just two days before a possible meeting between the two sides in Istanbul, as Washington called on both countries to end the three-year war. Russia has confirmed it will send a delegation to the Turkish city, but Kyiv has yet to accept the proposal, warning the talks would not yield results unless the Kremlin provided its peace terms in advance. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of doing "everything" it could to sabotage the potential meeting by withholding its peace terms. Authorities in Ukraine's Sumy region said Saturday they were evacuating 11 villages within a roughly 30-kilometre (19-mile) range from the Russian border. "The decision was made in view of the constant threat to civilian life as a result of shelling of border communities," the regional administration said on social media. A spokesman for Ukraine's border guard service, Andriy Demchenko, said Thursday that Russia was poised to "attempt an attack" on Sumy. In total, 213 settlements in the region have been ordered to evacuate. Russia's defence ministry said Saturday that its forces had taken another Sumy region village, Vodolagy. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the destruction of towns and villages across parts of the east and south of the country. The Kremlin's army now controls around a fifth of the country and claims to have annexed five Ukrainian regions as its own, including Crimea, which it seized in 2014. - 'Strong delegations' - US President Donald Trump has spearheaded diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the fighting, but Kyiv and Moscow have both accused each other of not wanting peace. The Kremlin has proposed further negotiations in Istanbul on Monday, after a May 16 round of talks that yielded little beyond a large prisoner-of-war exchange. Kyiv has not yet said whether it will attend the Monday meeting, and said Friday it did not expect any results from the talks unless Moscow provided its peace terms in advance. Russia says it will provide its peace memorandum in person on Monday. AFP | Odd ANDERSEN But Ukraine suspects it will contain unrealistic demands that Kyiv has already rejected, including that Ukraine cede territory still under its control and abandon its NATO ambitions. In a statement to the United Nations on Friday, Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia suggested the memorandum might call for Western countries to halt arm supplies to Kyiv and for Ukraine to abandon its military mobilisation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has fostered warm relations with both Zelensky and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, has become a key mediator amid efforts to end the conflict. In a call with Zelensky late Friday, the Turkish leader urged both sides to send "strong delegations" to ensure momentum towards peace, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu. Turkey has offered to host a summit between Putin, Zelensky and Trump, but the Kremlin has turned down the offer.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chaos to coordination: the evolution of POW swaps in the Russia-Ukraine war
The nature, size, and political significance of prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia have evolved significantly over the three and a half years of the full-scale war, accelerating sharply in recent weeks. While ceasefire and peace negotiations have gone through periods of halts and bursts, increasingly institutionalized prisoner exchanges are one of the few enduring areas of direct cooperation between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. On average, Ukraine and Russia exchanged 135 prisoners — mostly military, but with a sizable civilian component – each month from February 2022 through May 2025 (excluding the planned 1,000 for 1,000 exchange that began on May 23). But a deeper inspection of the data reveals a number of meaningful trends. Prisoner exchange numbers have surged — 277 individuals changed hands in April, and this weekend alone, 1,000 brave Ukrainians will come home. The picture is unrecognizable from last year, when prisoners were only returned on special occasions and holidays. Prisoner exchanges have been shaped by competing (and sometimes mutually exclusive) priorities including backchannel logistics, battlefield developments, and geopolitics. New data collected by KI Insights, an analytical research unit backed by the Kyiv Independent, gives a look behind the curtain into the institutionalization of prisoner exchanges. The full-scale invasion brought two meaningful institutional changes to prisoner exchanges. Firstly, Russia became an official party to the conflict, creating room to directly engage in negotiations. (Before the full-scale invasion, the Russian Federation denied its involvement in aggression in Ukraine, and negotiations were done through Russian-backed proxies in occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.) Secondly, Ukraine created the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, an interagency working group created by the Cabinet of Ministers in March of 2022, which is responsible for prisoner exchanges. Since its creation, the Coordination Headquarters has gone through meaningful changes. Roles and responsibilities have changed hands, priorities have been defined, and each agency has a specific process it is responsible for. Kyrylo Budanov, leader of the Coordination Headquarters (since June of 2022, taking over from Iryna Vereshchuk) and Ukraine's chief of military intelligence, has successfully turned prisoner exchanges into an institution. Data collected by KI Insights demonstrates the impact of institutionalization. The average number of prisoners swapped per exchange has steadily increased, growing by approximately 50% each year. The number of swaps, however, has been inconsistent, with frequent breakdowns until late last year. In 2022, an average of 50 prisoners were returned to Ukraine per exchange. In 2025, the number has risen to more than 200, with this weekend's exchanges driving the number higher. The Istanbul negotiations failed to achieve a ceasefire, proving once again, Russia does not want peace. But for the prisoners who returned home, they were meaningful. The exchange also underscores an interesting dynamic of this war. There are lines of communication between Ukraine and Russia, and enough trust between officials to work together to return prisoners home. That is significant — the current frontline in Ukraine is more than 1,200 kilometers long, and any ceasefire will require significant amounts of communication and trust between Ukrainian and Russian officials. Russia has broken off prisoner exchanges at key points over the war, often when Russia thinks it can inflict maximum psychological damage. Following the siege of Mariupol and Ukraine's unsuccessful counteroffensive, Russia froze prisoner exchanges. Russian soldiers also tortured and killed Ukrainian prisoners of war at Olenivka Prison and on the battlefield. Refusing to return prisoners is a tactic Russia uses to exploit existing divisions in Ukrainian society and exploit the pain of families of the imprisoned as a political resource. For Russia, prisoners are resources — for psychological warfare and for bargaining. While pressure from the United States hasn't brought Russia to the table for a ceasefire, it likely has caused Russian President Vladimir Putin to make a show of reasonableness by agreeing to a prisoner exchange. The latest exchange is historic and could be a tipping point that helps U.S. President Donald Trump realize that U.S. pressure on Russia makes a difference. It could also solidify the shadowy infrastructure built between warring states and set the stage for an all-for-all prisoner exchange. Maybe it could, as Trump puts it, 'lead to something big???' Even if it doesn't, it is a battle won on the road to returning Ukrainians to Ukraine. Read also: BREAKING: Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap since start of Russia's war We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
UK, Australia warn of Russian cyber moves over Ukraine
The United Kingdom and allies including Australia have issued an advisory warning of a Russian state-sponsored cyber campaign targeting the delivery of support to Ukraine and international logistics entities and technology companies. "This malicious campaign by Russia's military intelligence service presents a serious risk to targeted organisations, including those involved in the delivery of assistance to Ukraine," Paul Chichester, Director of Operations at the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said. The campaign has also targeted defence, IT services, maritime, airports, ports and air traffic management systems sectors in several members of the NATO military alliance, the NCSC statement said. GRU Unit 26165 - also known as APT 28 or Fancy Bear - is said to have gained access to some networks using a range of techniques, including guessing log-in credentials and spear-phishing - where specific individuals or organisations are targeted in an effort to gain access to a network. Wednesday's advisory was issued in conjunction with Australia, the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France and the Netherlands, warning organisations of the elevated threat and urging immediate action to protect themselves. "We strongly encourage organisations to familiarise themselves with the threat and mitigation advice included in the advisory to help defend their networks," Chichester said. with PA The United Kingdom and allies including Australia have issued an advisory warning of a Russian state-sponsored cyber campaign targeting the delivery of support to Ukraine and international logistics entities and technology companies. "This malicious campaign by Russia's military intelligence service presents a serious risk to targeted organisations, including those involved in the delivery of assistance to Ukraine," Paul Chichester, Director of Operations at the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said. The campaign has also targeted defence, IT services, maritime, airports, ports and air traffic management systems sectors in several members of the NATO military alliance, the NCSC statement said. GRU Unit 26165 - also known as APT 28 or Fancy Bear - is said to have gained access to some networks using a range of techniques, including guessing log-in credentials and spear-phishing - where specific individuals or organisations are targeted in an effort to gain access to a network. Wednesday's advisory was issued in conjunction with Australia, the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France and the Netherlands, warning organisations of the elevated threat and urging immediate action to protect themselves. "We strongly encourage organisations to familiarise themselves with the threat and mitigation advice included in the advisory to help defend their networks," Chichester said. with PA The United Kingdom and allies including Australia have issued an advisory warning of a Russian state-sponsored cyber campaign targeting the delivery of support to Ukraine and international logistics entities and technology companies. "This malicious campaign by Russia's military intelligence service presents a serious risk to targeted organisations, including those involved in the delivery of assistance to Ukraine," Paul Chichester, Director of Operations at the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said. The campaign has also targeted defence, IT services, maritime, airports, ports and air traffic management systems sectors in several members of the NATO military alliance, the NCSC statement said. GRU Unit 26165 - also known as APT 28 or Fancy Bear - is said to have gained access to some networks using a range of techniques, including guessing log-in credentials and spear-phishing - where specific individuals or organisations are targeted in an effort to gain access to a network. Wednesday's advisory was issued in conjunction with Australia, the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France and the Netherlands, warning organisations of the elevated threat and urging immediate action to protect themselves. "We strongly encourage organisations to familiarise themselves with the threat and mitigation advice included in the advisory to help defend their networks," Chichester said. with PA The United Kingdom and allies including Australia have issued an advisory warning of a Russian state-sponsored cyber campaign targeting the delivery of support to Ukraine and international logistics entities and technology companies. "This malicious campaign by Russia's military intelligence service presents a serious risk to targeted organisations, including those involved in the delivery of assistance to Ukraine," Paul Chichester, Director of Operations at the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said. The campaign has also targeted defence, IT services, maritime, airports, ports and air traffic management systems sectors in several members of the NATO military alliance, the NCSC statement said. GRU Unit 26165 - also known as APT 28 or Fancy Bear - is said to have gained access to some networks using a range of techniques, including guessing log-in credentials and spear-phishing - where specific individuals or organisations are targeted in an effort to gain access to a network. Wednesday's advisory was issued in conjunction with Australia, the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France and the Netherlands, warning organisations of the elevated threat and urging immediate action to protect themselves. "We strongly encourage organisations to familiarise themselves with the threat and mitigation advice included in the advisory to help defend their networks," Chichester said. with PA
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Sometimes Russia's Motorcycle Assaults Actually Work
Ukrainian 117th Heavy Mechanized Brigade troops in training. Every once in a while, Russia's motorcycle assault tactics work—and help Russian regiments nudge the front line in eastern Ukraine a mile or so to the west. There's a line of Ukrainian fortifications stretching from the fortress city of Pokrovsk to the ruins of Toretsk, 30 miles to the northeast. Capturing Pokrovsk—a major obstacle to wider Russian advances in Donetsk Oblast—is arguably the Kremlin's top priority in its 39-month wider war on Ukraine. A pair of Russian field armies, each with 10,000 or more troops, spent most of last year slowly marching toward Pokrovsk from the devastated city of Avdiivka, 25 miles to the southeast, but stalled a few miles outside Pokrovsk as Ukrainian resistance stiffened—and Ukrainian drones strangled the supply lines trailing behind the advancing Russian armies. So now the Russians are trying to surround Pokrovsk instead of directly attacking it. In recent days, Russian assault groups have stormed a line of Ukrainian trenches threading along the T-0504 highway connecting Pokrovsk and the city of Kostyantynivka, north of Toretsk. Crossing the trenchline is a necessary first step if the Russians are going to encircle Pokrovsk. At great cost, they're making some progress—and their motorcycle troops are leading the way. Probing with small reconnaissance groups, many of them on bikes, the Russians ran into stiff defenses manned by the Ukrainian 14th National Guard Brigade, 38th Marine Brigade and 117th Heavy Mechanized Brigade. Attempting a larger assault on April 17, the Russians lost 21 armored vehicles and as many as 240 troops. Damage in Pokrovsk. In recent days, one Russian unit—the 39th Motor Rifle Brigade—finally found a weak point in the Ukrainian line: a stretch of exposed trenchline outside the village of Malynivka lacking any tree cover. Russian drones struck some of the armored vehicles shuttling Ukrainian troops to the trench, and over the weekend, captured a segment of the trench. A Ukrainian counterattack failed when drones struck the attacking infantry. Advancing up to a mile in a month or so and seizing a lodgment in the Ukrainian defenses surrounding Pokrovsk, the Russians are now in a position to exploit this gain. If they can surge more forces in the lodgment, they may be able to gain more ground—and put pressure on Pokrovsk's eastern flank. It's an extremely risky effort. Most Russian motorcycle attacks fail, often at the cost of the majority of the troops and bikes involved. The follow-on attacks by Russia's dwindling stock of armored vehicles are costly, too. Civilian bikes, cars, vans and trucks now make up 90 percent of Russian vehicle losses, but that doesn't mean Russian regiments aren't also losing dozens of tanks and fighting vehicles every week. And daily troop casualties number around 1,000. That's nearly as many troops as the Kremlin manages to recruit every day. Even a small increase in personnel losses would tip the Russian armed forces into a manpower deficit.
