The Kakhovka Catastrophe: War-Weary Ukrainians Reel under Massive Flooding
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #Russia #VladimirPutin

Was it Russian incompetence or a monstrous war crime? Following the massive dam breach on Tuesday morning, several possible theories have emerged to explain the disaster․

On the Front in Ukraine: Going Into Battle in a Leopard 2 Tank
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #VladimirPutin #Russia

The Ukrainian counteroffensive has begun, and Western war equipment is playing a vital role․ A tank unit in Zaporizhzhia is in the thick of the fight․

German Reactions to Chaos in Russia: 'We Have To Look Each Other Deep in the Eyes in NATO'
#International #World #Russia #VladimirPutin #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #GermanForeignPolicy

Before Saturday's uprising in Russia unraveled, Western intelligence thought the Wagner Group might be able to reach Moscow - and believed that Putin had left the city․ Hours later, Western politicians were wondering how to exploit the weakness shown by the Russian leader․

Jewgenij Prigoschin: Ein Deal, der Wladimir Putins Schwäche offenbart (Kopie)
#International #World #Russia #VladimirPutin #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine

Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin quickly brought his uprising to an end on Sunday․ But not before inflicting a deep humiliation on Russian President Vladimir Putin․ There will almost certainly be consequences․

Prigozhin's Insurgency: The War Putin Wanted Now Threatens His Rule
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #VladimirPutin #Ukraine

Dictatorships seem stable up until the moment they no longer are․ After the failed uprising of the Wagner troops, Vladimir Putin's system is looking wobbly․ Suddenly, a Russia without him is conceivable․

Another Stumble: German Intelligence Criticized for Slow Handling of Russian Coup Attempt
#International #Europe #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #BND #GermanForeignPolicy

Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND, is under fire for learning too late about the recent Wagner Group coup attempt in Russia․ It's possible the agency's head could soon be out as a result of the late response, which many see as one too many․

Putin's Vassal: Belarus in the Inner-Russian Power Struggle
#International #Europe #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #Belarus #Ukraine

Alexander Lukashenko managed to shine as a mediator in Putin's conflict with the Wagner Group․ That triumph, though, should not obscure the fact that the Belarusian ruler is nothing more than a vassal of Moscow․

Western Support for Kyiv: It's Now or Never For Ukraine
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #Russia #VladimirPutin #NATO #JoeBiden

The Ukrainian counteroffensive has bogged down and soldiers have been able to do little to counter Russia's firepower․ At next week's NATO summit, the West must decide how much a victory over Putin is worth and finally get serious about delivering urgently needed weapons systems․

Germany - Pro-Russian AfD Worker: Moscow's Man in the Bundestag
#International #Germany #Russia #GermanRussianRelations #AlternativeforGermany #RightWingPopulism #Ukraine #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine

A pro-Russian activist with close ties to Moscow works for an AfD member of the federal parliament, giving him access to the seat of German democracy․ Security authorities are alarmed by the man, who holds both German and Russian citizenship․ Nevertheless, it seems there is little they can do․

The Kremlin's Friends in Germany:
#International #Germany #AlternativeforGermany #RightWingExtremism #RightWingPopulism #VladimirPutin #Russia #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine

A pro-Russian activist sought support from Moscow for a lawsuit by the far-right AfD party, DER SPIEGEL has learned․ They aim of the legal complaint was to delay German arms deliveries to Ukraine․

Germany: Secret Messages Document Moscow Contacts with Staffer of Far-Right AfD
#International #Germany #AlternativeforGermany #RightWingExtremism #RightWingPopulism #VladimirPutin #Russia #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine

A pro-Russian activist who works for a politician from the far-right AfD party, sought support from Moscow for a lawsuit against the German government, DER SPIEGEL has learned․ They aim of the legal complaint was to delay German arms deliveries to Ukraine․

Profile of a Fallen Ukrainian Soldier: "He Never Wanted Us to Cry"
#International #Europe #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #Russia #VladimirPutin

Thousands of young men have lost their lives in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine․ One of them was 24-year-old Ukrainian soldier Ruslan Babinets․ His family recalls the day they saw him for the last time․

Investigating the Attack on Nord Stream: All the Clues Point Toward Kyiv
#International #GasPipelines #NordStream #Ukraine #Russia #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #GermanForeignPolicy

It's a spy thriller that has the potential to change the course of international politics: A year ago, a secret commando blew up the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea․ Since then, investigators have been searching for the perpetrators․ The leads they have found are extremely politically sensitive․

Spying and Sabotage at the OSCE: How Russia Is Paralyzing Europe's Peace Organization
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #VladimirPutin #GermanForeignPolicy

The long-established Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is threatening to disintegrate because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine․ Critics claim Moscow is infiltrating the organization and sabotaging its work in ensuring European peace and stability․

An Oasis in the Middle of the Ukraine War: The Pike - and the Drones - Come at Night
#International #World #Ukraine #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #VladimirPutin

Sometimes the noise is distant artillery, at others it's the lawnmower next door: In the far east of Ukraine, on a river meandering its way through the forests, there is a village where people can take a break from war․ But it is never far away․

Russia's Scorched Earth Policy in Ukraine: A Trip to the Dried-Up Kakhovka Reservoir
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #CrimeaCrisis #VladimirPutin #Russia

The Kakhovka Reservoir was once a vast body of water in the heart of Ukraine․ In June, after the Russians apparently blew up the dam holding it back, the lake ran dry․ We traveled along the Dnieper River to see how people's lives have changed․

U․S․ Military Analyst: "Russia Doesn't Have a Good Strategy for Winning the War"
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #Ukraine

In an interview, American military analyst Michael Kofman says he believes Ukrainian troops have a realistic chance of a breakthrough in their counteroffensive, assuming they don't run out of ammunition․

Visiting with Ukrainian Sappers: A Sea of Explosives 1,000 Kilometers Long
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #VladimirPutin #Russia

Russian troops have transformed the fighting front into what is likely the largest minefield in the world․ Ukrainian sappers are making but slow progress through this sea of death․ But they haven't lost their optimism․

Ukraine: How Merkel Prevented Ukraine's NATO Membership (A DER SPIEGEL Reconstruction)
#International #Europe #Ukraine #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #VladimirPutin #NATO #TransAtlanticRelations #AngelaMerkel #Defense

In April 2008, NATO deliberated on admitting Ukraine as a new member as a show of strength against Vladimir Putin․ Washington favored the move, but the Germans thwarted the plan․ A reconstruction of a decision that ended in disaster․

A Ukrainian Couple Scarred by War: "I Could Sense that Alina Was There"
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine

Alina and Andriy got married in Kyiv in September 2019․ When Russia invaded, Andriy volunteered to defend his country, and lost both arms and his sight․ But the couple has found renewed purpose in life․