All posts tagged: Ukraines

Russia wounds over 100 with new cluster supersonic missile on Ukraine’s Kharkiv – POLITICO

Russia wounds over 100 with new cluster supersonic missile on Ukraine’s Kharkiv – POLITICO

Published by Sam

A 79-year-old man was killed in his apartment, more than 100 people were wounded, and more than 500 lost their homes, the police chief said. “They have blast injuries, shrapnel cuts, and shock. There are seven children among the injured.” The attack on Kharkiv marks the third in a row in which Russia is using ballistic missiles filled with cluster munitions against civilian areas, after last weekend’s attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday killed 35 people and the week before saw an attack on Kryvyi Rih that killed 20. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing more strikes over the Easter weekend, targeting the country’s energy infrastructure. The Russian defense ministry claimed the attack was targeting the sites of drone launchers. Source link

What’s so special about Ukraine’s minerals? A geologist explains

What’s so special about Ukraine’s minerals? A geologist explains

Published by skeptic

Ukraine’s minerals have become central to global geopolitics, with the US president, Donald Trump, seeking a deal with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky to access them. But what are these minerals exactly and why are they so sought after? Ukraine is often recognised for its vast agricultural lands and industrial heritage, but beneath its surface lies one of the world’s most remarkable geological formations, the “Ukrainian Shield”. This massive, exposed crystalline rock formed over 2.5 billion years ago, stretches across much of Ukraine. It represents one of Earth’s oldest and most stable continental blocks. The formation has undergone multiple episodes of mountain building, the formation and movement of magma and other change throughout time. These geological processes created favourable geological conditions for forming several mineral deposits including lithium, graphite, manganese, titanium and rare earth elements. All these are now critical for modern industries and the global green energy transition. Ukraine has deposits containing 22 of 34 critical minerals identified by the European Union as essential for energy security. This positions Ukraine among the world’s most resource-rich …

The Download: Gene de-extinction, and Ukraine’s Starlink connection

The Download: Gene de-extinction, and Ukraine’s Starlink connection

Published by skeptic

This week saw the release of some fascinating news about some very furry rodents—so-called “woolly mice”—created as part of an experiment to explore how we might one day resurrect the woolly mammoth. The idea of bringing back extinct species has gained traction thanks to advances in sequencing of ancient DNA. This ancient genetic data is deepening our understanding of the past—for instance, by shedding light on interactions among prehistoric humans. But researchers are becoming more ambitious. Rather than just reading ancient DNA, they want to use it—by inserting it into living organisms. Because this idea is so new and attracting so much attention, I decided it would be useful to create a record of previous attempts to add extinct DNA to living organisms. And since the technology doesn’t have a name, let’s give it one: “chronogenics.” Read the full story. —Antonio Regalado This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first, sign up here.  If you’re interested …

Trump ‘Frustrated’ With Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, US Official Says

Trump ‘Frustrated’ With Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, US Official Says

Published by Sam

Donald Trump is “obviously very frustrated” with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to the US national security adviser. The US president has been attempting to negotiate a peace deal with Russia to end its war against Ukraine – and trying to pressure Kyiv into making serious concessions, like ceding occupied territory to Moscow, in the process. After Trump shocked the west by arranging early negotiations with Russia – and by not inviting Ukraine or Europe to the table – the president then falsely blamed Ukraine for starting the war earlier this week. Zelenskyy hit back by telling Trump he lives in a Russian-created “disinformation space”. The US president responded by calling him a “dictator” after Kyiv postponed its 2024 presidential elections due to Russia’s invasion. Asked about this war of words on Thursday, Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz said: “President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelenskyy.” He added: “Some of the rhetoric coming out of Kyiv, and frankly, insults to President Trump were unacceptable.” He then slammed Zelenskyy for rejecting a …

Donald Trump Put Elon Musk on the Phone With Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Donald Trump Put Elon Musk on the Phone With Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Published by José

Apparently you can buy anything, if you’re rich enough. Dialing In During his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just one day after the election, president-elect Donald Trump decided to include his number one campaigner: Elon Musk. First reported by Axios, this three-way call was apparently less tense than one might expect. According to insiders Axios spoke to, Zelenskyy was reassured by what he heard from the billionaire pair amid speculation about how a second Trump presidency will affect the United States’ relations with Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. One of those sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity so they could discuss the matter freely, said that it “didn’t leave Zelenskyy with a feeling of despair.” In particular, the Ukrainian president was heartened that the call happened so soon after the election, one of Axios‘ anonymous sources claims. Notably, the Zelenskyy call occurred days before Trump spoke to Putin — and during that exchange, which seems to have happened without Musk, he advised his Russian counterpart not to escalate his years-long incursion in Ukraine. From Russia …

Ukraine’s independent Orthodox Christians may tear the country apart

Ukraine’s independent Orthodox Christians may tear the country apart

Published by skeptic

(RNS) — After the first Ukrainian-language liturgy was celebrated at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Cherkasy in central Ukraine on Thursday (Oct. 17), rival groups of Orthodox Christians clashed violently outside the church in a continuing skirmish between those loyal to the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church and supporters of the relatively new Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The brawl, which is being investigated by police, comes in the wake of a law signed in August by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month effectively banning the UOC because of its Russian ties. Though the law has been justified by credible evidence that a few UOC priests have been caught spying for Russia, it has also brought criticism in Ukraine and from abroad that Zelenskyy is impinging on Ukrainians’ religious freedom. The clash in Cherkasy points to a more dangerous reality: It is not just about a single city or church, but an indication of the brewing domestic tensions in Ukraine that have the potential to boil over into a religious and ethnic conflict that would be in no …

Russia Takes New Village Near Hub Of Pokrovsk; Drone Debris Hits Outside Ukraine’s Parliament

Russia Takes New Village Near Hub Of Pokrovsk; Drone Debris Hits Outside Ukraine’s Parliament

Published by skeptic

On Saturday Russia’s defense ministry (MoD) has announced the capture of another village in Eastern Ukraine as its forces close in on the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk.  Moscow forces “have liberated the village of Kalynove” in the Donetsk region, which is about 16 miles southeast of Ukraine-held Pokrovsk. Via AFP Pokrovsk is the crossroads city of some 60,000 people seen as vital to Kiev’s defense efforts. The fears in the West are that if it falls, the whole of Donetsk will be easily taken by Russia, and so will all of the Donbass region. Ukraine authorities have already ordered an evacuation of all children and young people from the city amid the months-long Russian advance. Moscow has recently said it captured a string of villages in the area, and all of these maneuvers are seen as aiding in capturing the ultimate prize of Pokrovsk. President Putin reiterated Thursday in a talk that capturing and solidifying all of the Donbass under Russian rule remains the “primary objective” of the ‘special military operation’. But there are conflicting …

North Korea condemns Ukraine’s incursion into Russia as act of terror

North Korea condemns Ukraine’s incursion into Russia as act of terror

Published by skeptic

Seoul, South Korea —  North Korea condemned Ukraine’s incursion into Russia as an unforgivable act of terror backed by Washington and the West, adding it would always stand with Russia as it seeks to protect its sovereignty, state media said Sunday. Ukraine’s drive into Russia is a product of the anti-Russia confrontational policy of the United States, which is pushing the situation to the brink of World War III, KCNA news agency said. The U.S. handed “astronomical” sums of lethal weapons to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the report said. “We strongly condemn the armed attack against the Russian territory by the Zelenskyy puppet regime under the control and support of the United States and the West as an unforgivable act of aggression and terror,” North Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement, according to KCNA. North Korea has dramatically upgraded its ties with Russia in the past year with two summit meetings by their leaders who pledged closer cooperation in all areas. In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin …

Is Ukraine’s incursion into Russia a gamble that could pay off? – podcast | News

Is Ukraine’s incursion into Russia a gamble that could pay off? – podcast | News

Published by skeptic

It’s a move that has taken Russia – and the world – by surprise. In recent months, the feeling had been growing that Russia’s war with Ukraine had reached a deadlock. Or worse, that, inch by inch, Ukraine was slowly losing ground to Russia. Then, last week, came the unexpected news that Ukraine had launched a surprise incursion across a lightly defended border into Russia, taking towns and villages along the way. Days later, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, confirmed the historic attack was taking place. Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence and security editor, is in the Sumy region of Ukraine. He explains that while the Ukrainian troops have only captured tens of kilometres of land, Kyiv is hoping that it could be a turning point in the war. He tells Hannah Moore how Zelenskiy hopes the incursion could force Russia to move some of its troops from the eastern front, where the Ukrainians are losing ground, to fight the Kursk incursion. Sabbagh adds that the seemingly easy attack could provide a much needed psychological …