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job in the field of external relations See how to apply for an EEAS call for tenders Grants can be awarded as donations to third parties that are engaged in external aid activities Grants are managed by EuropeAid (DEVCO) or DG Near The EU supports projects worldwide covering a range of sectors events are organised worldwide by the European Union Delegations and its partners Bucha stands as stark evidence of Russian war crimes The ICC and Ukrainian prosecutors have launched war crimes investigations but Bucha is not an isolated case Today we mark the third anniversary since the liberation of Bucha The Bucha massacre remains a defining symbol of Russian brutality The haunting images and testimonies from the Russian occupation in March 2022 expose the brutal war of aggression against Ukraine Russian authorities have been trying to cover-up their war crimes Russian authorities know what happened but they shamefully choose to spread disinformation and deny facts once again trying to reverse blame and pushing responsibility towards Ukraine After Russian forces withdrew in March 2022 Ukrainian authorities and international investigators (from UN NGOs and independent experts) uncovered mass graves and bodies of civilians Forensic experts confirmed evidence of torture Survivors described summary executions and the use of civilians as human shields Satellite imagery and intercepted communications confirmed bodies had been lying in the streets while Russian forces were still present Investigations by the UN and Human Rights Watch confirmed deliberate targeting of civilians constituting war crimes under international law The ICC and Ukrainian prosecutors have launched war crimes investigations identifying Russian military units involved Russian forces relentlessly bombed civilian infrastructure including a maternity hospital and a theater sheltering hundreds of civilians with the word "children" clearly marked outside with many survivors forced into mass deportations to Russia after Ukrainian forces liberated the city in September 2022 they uncovered a mass grave with over 440 bodies Russian airstrikes flattened entire residential blocks Russian forces subjected civilians to electric shocks Survivors recounted weeks of inhumane treatment The missile strike on Kramatorsk railway station in April 2022 killed over 50 civilians These war crimes are not isolated incidents but part of a deliberate campaign of terror and destruction against Ukrainian civilians The EU continues to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) and multiple human rights organizations to continue to gather evidence and build cases to hold all those responsible for these heinous crimes including Russian military and political leadership and demand justice for the victims and survivors Ahmanson Auditorium became a space for witness and community reflection during a screening of “Bucha,” the first narrative feature film shot in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion on February 24 The story is based on actual events that occurred in Bucha during the initial months of the war from February to March 2022 Russian forces occupied Bucha in March 2022 but Ukrainian troops successfully forced a withdrawal of Russian forces from the city in April of that year Hosted by Professor Katerina Zacharia, professor of classics and director of Classics and Archaeology Learning Community series, and Father Cyril Hovorun, director of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute the event was part of a nationwide tour bringing the film’s powerful story to audiences nationwide.“They’ve done something so extraordinary,” said Zacharia the film’s screenwriter and producer] have been traveling across different cities for one day at a time taking this heavy material around the United States and the world.” and an activist who received asylum in Ukraine and lived in Bucha when the war began He uses his foreign citizenship status while traveling across militarized checkpoints to rescue 203 residents from Russian-occupied areas But when a foreigner who could leave Ukraine at any time decides to stay it becomes a symbol that nobody can stand by while such evil things happen,” said Schur “I witnessed the beginning of the full-scale Russian Invasion … We wanted to show that in the first days of the war everybody in Ukraine came together and believed we could stand.” The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Kyiv Regional Military Administration assisted the team in the creation and filming of the movie “Oleksandr filmed the actual buildings after the war and he followed the real stories of the people he interviewed,” said Zacharia “There is a kind of meta-truth or alternative truth repeatedly echoed in the media Knowing that the film was made early in the war it’s interesting to see how its narrative evolves Its life is changing because there is a shift in its reception now that U.S and the Ukrainian president has been accused of starting this.” Organized by LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts the post-screening discussion welcomed open commentary and inquiry underscoring the film’s significance at a moment heightened by the historical crossroads we are facing with the conflict “Even though it’s like a fiction narrative it’s really based on everything that’s happened,” said Hovorun “I would even say that more horrible things have happened.” Hovorun of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at LMU is very engaged in fostering dialogue and collaboration between Christian churches through public forums and encounters on both local and global levels His presentation elucidated the United States’ shifting attitudes towards the war and the impact the current administration’s rhetoric has on foreign affairs “I now see world leaders transforming the ideal of self-sacrifice into its opposite: harmful Ethical deontology has been replaced by social Darwinism Everything seems now to be a commodity for sale A recording of the introduction and discussion at the screening can be viewed here See All Campus News Stay up to date on LMU news via email alerts and RSS feeds. Copyright © 2025 Loyola Marymount University Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker LEAVE A COMMENT a village of about 6,900 people in the city of Bucha was once a refuge for Ukrainians fleeing Russian occupation in the east in 2014 Hidden by forests of thin-leaf trees and shrubs Vorzel provided safety — until a fateful day in 2022 unleashing a massacre that swept through the village and elsewhere in Bucha By the end of February 2022, Vorzel itself succumbed as Russian soldiers raided Bucha, rolling in with tanks from the north in Belarus. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission said 178 people were killed in the first few days of the invasion Fear gripped Vorzel as Russian soldiers marched through the streets grabbing men from their homes and executing anyone knowing that stepping outside meant staring down the barrel of a Russian gun Those who dared to leave met the firing nuzzles the elderly and the vulnerable were not spared a resident who survived those dark months told PassBlue in a phone call recently you cannot notice that something happened here three years ago,” the resident said He turned the camera on his device to a window to show the grass outside — green lush — healed from the scorchers of bombs and airstrikes of past years and it is regaining its calm even though it is still interrupted by the hums of Russian drones Many people moved here from Kyiv and other cities We received a lot of refugees from the east there are new waves of refugees that are coming from new occupied territories.” Bucha was reclaimed by Ukrainian forces in April 2022 but more than 13,000 civilians have been killed across the country since Russia’s invasion on Feb Russia’s attacks on every aspect of Ukrainian life continue to this day despite attempts by the United States to try to broker a peace deal helping local entrepreneurs reconstruct what was lost In the heart of Bucha, the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called remains unscathed but the grounds surrounding it tell a different story a mass grave was uncovered beside the church having been executed by Russian troops while trying to escape the onslaught the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine at the time described the atrocities in harrowing detail saying in 2022: “Russian soldiers brought civilians to makeshift places of detention and then executed them in captivity Many of the victims’ bodies were found with their hands tied behind their backs and gunshot wounds to their heads.” a memorial wall — with 501 names — now stands in the center of Bucha the wall is a call for justice and a reminder that they will always be prepared to defend their country a 99-year-old woman slain by the Russians only a few days before The UN says the number of civilian casualties is probably higher “It means that Russians made no difference among people who may stay in front of their barrels,” the Vorzel resident told PassBlue “They kill almost everyone whom they want to kill at that particular moment women and seniors who were killed by the Russians.” The war has left visible marks on the town’s residents as well There are more people with disabilities seen on the street There are more cars with a sign that says the driver has lost a limb or other parts of their body Children are back in school and their playgrounds are rebuilt Every new structure in Bucha has a bunker built underneath it Parents let their children to play on the green lawns again “We are learning to live our normal lives,” the resident said Damilola Banjo is an award-winning staff reporter for PassBlue who has covered a wide range of topics from Africa-centered stories to gender equality to UN peacekeeping and US-UN relations She also oversees all video production for PassBlue She was a Dag Hammarskjold fellow in 2023 and a Pulitzer Center postgraduate fellow in 2021 She was part of the BBC Africa team that produced the Emmy-nominated documentary Banjo has a master’s of science degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and an undergraduate degree from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Says Mr Nobody of a two-times billionaire president I think the "dewokeization" of the UN is correct Thank you Arthur for this important contribution on this very… Thank you Frank for this very important challenge facing humanity,… independent women-led media company that covers foreign affairs and the United Nations with a focus on women’s issues and the impact of major world powers on ordinary citizens We are strongly committed to high-quality original reporting and our team strives to ensure that these powers are accountable for their actions and decisions Don't miss a  story,  Subscribe to PassBlue We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep The current conflict is more than one country fighting to take over another; it is — in the words of one U.S official — a shift in "the world order."Here are some helpful stories to make sense of it all Ukraine — The suburban moms in army-green fatigues assemble their rifles in a cold forest outside the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv Tetiana used to be a water utilities inspector "especially after what we've been through." The women call themselves the "Combat Witches of Bucha." The name comes from a badge one of the women have depicting a witch with weapons though the women say the name isn't important They are part of a female air defense unit training to shoot down drones in the suburbs of Kyiv tortured and raped residents early in the 2022 invasion NPR is not disclosing the women's last names at the request of the Ukrainian military the women's trauma and grief still run deep helped bring in supplies to Ukraine's beleaguered defenders enlisted in the military as part of the local territorial defense Tetiana and Oleksandr met through a group for car lovers and he had raised three girls from his first marriage his two oldest daughters lived with their partners He and Tetiana lived with her daughter and his youngest Tetiana hurriedly packed suitcases for herself and the girls Her husband rushed to embrace them one last time Yours is to save our children,' " she says Tetiana and their young daughters took an evacuation train to western Ukraine A Spanish friend then helped take Tetiana and the girls to Spain Walking along a seaside promenade with their daughters Tetiana was gripped by a cold emptiness in her heart "I went back to the place we were staying and cried," she says someone called me and said my husband was dead." She asks me to shut off the recorder as her eyes fill with tears Valentyna and her best friend, Inna, live in Nemishayeve, a village near the city of Bucha. The city is known worldwide as the site of a Russian massacre early in the 2022 invasion. The names of hundreds of local residents are on a memorial wall in Bucha The two women were both older mothers who grew up during Soviet times and soon we realized we were cut from the same cloth," Valentyna says "It was like we'd known each other forever." When Russian troops occupied Bucha and surrounding villages at the end of February 2022 Valentyna and her family ran into their basement and panicked neighbors from nearby houses joined them there "There was barely enough room for us," she says Inna and her family decided to drive to another village about 60 miles away where Inna's grandparents had a tiny old hut The Russian army never got to the village where Inna had fled spent more than a week in the basement as fighting raged outside She heard women considering unimaginable choices like killing themselves and their own children to avoid being raped and tortured by Russian troops "All that sorrow and anxiousness is still just beneath the surface." Her youngest son was 8 years old at the time please take in my son and raise him,' " Inna says I promise you we will raise our children together.' " After Ukrainian troops pushed Russian troops out of the Kyiv suburbs in late March 2022 leaving her daughters in Spain for their safety She advocated to secure benefits from the Ukrainian government for families who had lost loved ones during the war She helped transport supplies to the front line in honor of her husband "I was going through a very tough time," she says Bucha's territorial defense created a volunteer air defense unit to shoot down the drones Tetiana saw an advertisement for the unit while scrolling through her phone last summer "I immediately dialed the number," she says The Combat Witches of Bucha currently has about 50 volunteer members who work at least three days a week in their base in the forest outside Kyiv Valentyna, Inna, Tetiana and a blond woman in braids named Olena jump into a truck outfitted with a recoil-operated machine gun called the Maxim, the first fully automatic machine gun in the world They drive through the forest until they reach an open field where a male soldier takes notes on how quickly they put the gun together This is the main gun they are supposed to use to shoot down Russian drones something the women say they're itching to do Tetiana says they haven't had the chance yet during their patrols at night "They often don't fly over here," she says Destroying Russian drones isn't the only mission Tetiana says the unit's camaraderie has helped her emerge from a grief so deep that it deadened her Tetiana calls the Combat Witches of Bucha her second family her phone buzzes repeatedly with messages from the other witches "It's my day off and they're checking in on me," she says Tetiana says they meet at cafes and restaurants the others — "my sisters," she calls them — will always have her back and one of my sisters just gave me her car and said 'take it and drive it as long as you need to,' " Tetiana says Valentyna and Inna say they feel like being part of this team has also transformed them "Everything is still scary," Valentyna says "but training with this unit makes us feel better." the two best friends sit side by side in a café in Bucha Valentyna recalls how tightly she and Inna hugged each other when they reunited after Ukrainian troops forced the Russian soldiers out of Bucha relieved they had escaped being captured or worse Polina Lytvynova contributed reporting from the Kyiv region Become an NPR sponsor The story of exiled Russian journalist Katerina Fomina who was sentenced by a Moscow court to 8.5 years in prison for “spreading fake news.” She had investigated possible war crimes committed by the Russian army in Ukraine.  Russian journalist Katerina Fomina was on the phone with an old friend when she suddenly began receiving messages They informed her that a court in Moscow had sentenced her to 8.5 years in prison Fomina left Russia a few weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 she has been living in exile somewhere in Europe she does not even publicly disclose the country she is in.  She was convicted in absentia by a Russian court on charges of “spreading false news.” In reality which exposed possible war crimes committed by the Russian army in the town of Bucha.  I live in exile and won’t be sent straight to prison,” she told iMEdD during a call on the Signal app.  What role does photography play in the pursuit of truth and justice The photography exhibition A Brief Guide to Investigating War Crimes seeks to answer these questions through the work of Ron Haviv one of the world’s most renowned war photographers Fomina spent the first weeks of the Russian invasion documenting anti-war demonstrations in Moscow “It was obvious that the government would not allow journalists to continue their work Those who stayed behind and spoke out against what was happening would be immediately arrested,” she told iMEdD explaining why she and her colleagues decided to leave the country “We were afraid the government would close the borders or block the internet so we wouldn’t be able to do anything,” she added.  According to data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) a New York-based international organization 26 journalists have been imprisoned in Russia since February 24 eight were charged with spreading “fake news,” 14 were charged with terrorism or extremism the reason for imprisonment has not been disclosed.  though this has not been officially confirmed.  Fomina knew that charges were pending against her she had already been arrested while abroad and had appointed a lawyer to represent her at the trial in Moscow.  “I didn’t expect everything to happen so quickly,” she told iMEdD Her conviction came after four court sessions “There was actually no evidence against me He didn’t decide anything,” she said.  Fomina arrived in the area shortly after the withdrawal of the Russian troops Her investigation led her to a mobile phone that had been left behind by Russian soldiers after they used it to call relatives back home she compiled a list of phone numbers and matched them to social media profiles she was able to find out about eight Russian paratroopers who had been part of the occupation and were suspected of involvement in possible war crimes.  “My investigation was meant as an invitation to the Russian Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the case further. Instead, they chose to investigate my work,” she told iMEdD. The report was published on the website iStories which specializes in investigative journalism.  In early April, the investigative network OCCRP published a video of Fomina speaking on the phone with the key prosecution witness in her trial. The video was originally published on the Russian channel TV RAIN. The journalist did not disclose her identity at first “Does the name Katerina Fomina sound familiar?” she asks him in Russian “I just wanted to let you know that she got 8.5 years in prison,” Fomina continues They lied; they said that our guys killed civilians Our enemies must be punished.” the man finally says.  Fomina later reveals that she herself is the person convicted She claims the man is a pro-regime activist and a supporter of Putin’s government.  “I wanted to talk to him face to face ‘What’s going on in your mind?'” she recalls This is not Fomina’s only legal ordeal. A second case is pending against her, this time for reporting on alleged war crimes by the Russian army in the village of Andriivka From the outset of the crisis—triggered by the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu—journalists have been targeted and authorities have imposed restrictions on social media Fomina’s journalistic journey began when she was still a teenager writing for local newspapers and covering social issues known for its in-depth investigations and reporting on corruption and human rights violations in Russia she says life in exile comes with many challenges.  and build rapport and trust with my sources and I rely on web applications to communicate with them,” she told iMEdD “Someone can go to jail for five years just for talking to me,” she added explaining why she follows strict security protocols to protect her sources and collaborators.  But it’s not just about protecting her sources—Fomina is also extremely cautious about her own safety, despite having lived outside Russia for more than three years. She referred to the case of Christo Grozev, the Bulgarian journalist and Kremlin critic, who, as revealed in a London court had been tracked for years and was the target of a planned assassination by a group of Russian spies.  “I don’t share my address or personal details with new friends or colleagues and I never post real-time photos online,” Fomina said “You get into the habit of not eating at unknown places checking a hotel room carefully before booking it There have even been poisoning attempts of colleagues at international conferences.”  Watch below Katerina Fomina’s speech at the iMEdD International Journalism Forum 2022 Independence and Sustainability of the Press”: Cover image: A worker carries a cross during a burial ceremony for unidentified persons killed in the Bucha district at the time of the Russian occupation iMEdD is a non-profit organization in an effort to enhance transparency founded in 2018 with the exclusive donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Sign up for The Media Today In November, I wrote about a stunning presidential election result—in Romania a Trump-friendly and Putin-curious soil scientist turned ultranationalist politician on a divine mission came out on top in the first round of voting despite having been frozen out of the debate in Romania’s mainstream media and being almost literally invisible in international coverage Headlines quickly referred to Georgescu as a “TikTok star,” noting that he’d ridden a late viral surge on the platform among other things; one journalist described the election as the first in which “social media has been more influential than television,” adding that “we have seen how TikTok can defeat mainstream media.” I noted at the time that an impending runoff would test that proposition (again) almost literally: Georgescu was set to face off against Elena Lasconi a moderate who had worked as a war correspondent and anchor for a private TV network it was “safe to say that the world’s media is suddenly paying far more attention to Romanian politics,” having largely overlooked the vote ahead of time—always an oversight given the country’s important role within NATO and the European Union the corrupt system made a pact with the devil,” he said “I have only one pact—with the Romanian people and God.”  he also did an interview with Mario Nawfal the latter’s campaign videos appeared to mimic Andrew Tate’s “subversive but government and corrupt politicians have failed to deliver for the Romanian people,” she wrote “I fear we have 15 years to go—maybe less—where no one wants to go: dictatorship.” One researcher called Georgescu’s rise “an indicator of the extent to which Legionary propaganda has slowly penetrated the Romanian mainstream,” a reference to an anti-Semitic movement of the 1930s; another said that Romania can’t “cancel all the fascists” in its cultural history since “we will be left with Nadia Comaneci and Dracula,” referring to a gymnast and a fictional vampire (Georgescu has denied supporting the Legionary cause Glorifying fascist figures is outlawed in Romania.) There are many other dynamics at work, too, not least a generalized dissatisfaction with Romania’s political establishment, economy, and social services. (“There is a common saying in Romania,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty noted yesterday “that you enter a hospital with one illness and leave with 10.”) As Zaitchik wrote for Drop Site the electoral rerun in May will give “the government and media” a rare “second opportunity to show how well it understands the dynamics driving Georgescu’s success.” At least for now it seems that Georgescu himself won’t be on the ballot Has America ever needed a media defender more than now? Help us by joining CJR today As the game clock ticked closer to the end of seven minutes of stoppage time and as FC Cincinnati were tracking back to defend a last ditch effort to find an equalizer by D.C explosions in the distance lit up the night sky and the sounds of pops and sizzles rang out through the Washington Those in the stands not from the area were startled and looked to the distance Fourth of July Fireworks in the nation's capital spilled out from the National Mall and colored the sky with Red For FC Cincinnati had a one-goal game to win A type of game The Orange and Blue have become experts at winning and some measly celebratory explosions in the distance could not rattle them Pat Noonan said “It wasn’t pretty.” But it was a win Another three points banked for the definitive best team in the league when going away and another impressive performance (all things considered) for the FCC group who continues to learn how to win and do so with grit “You always want it to look a certain way when you win we have to be pleased with wins,” Noonan said of the result postgame at this stage certainly winning is an important part of where we want to be at the end of the year.” because we've gone on the road two games here and gotten results and I think we have a large enough sample size I told them before the game to understand ‘you guys are a good team on the road and it might not always be the way we wanted to look.’ That's credit to the opponent (but) that's credit to going on the road in tough atmospheres where you have to be able to adjust at times and adapt to the conditions FC Cincinnati has now won 12 one-goal games of the 14 wins they have total this season Dating back to last season FCC has secured 26 one-goal victories an MLS record when tabulating a two year stretch has been FCC’s ability to do it on the road Breaking more records by winning their seventh straight road match and their ninth total on the year but given the context he means that the style of game wasn’t appealing With the turf conditions the way they were both sides battled all night to control the ball in tight spaces and at times had to double their efforts just to move the ball casually as they would at others fields “I don't want to make excuses or point things out but for both teams I think it was challenging with just the condition of the field to be able to move the ball,” Noonan clarified “I think you saw a lot of guys concentrating on just trying to get a touch right just some of those difficulties that the players face I think maybe that took away from the flow and I thought our guys did a good job of that.” who typically excel when the field is well manicured and allows for quicker sharp movement from superstars like Luciano Acosta and Luca Orellano had to smash and grab their way through the direct ball playing D.C United side who purposely wishes to play that more aerial So FC Cincinnati had to another learn a new way to win as they have done so many times the last two years If FCC typically act as a scalpel — precise cutting effects — on this night they won like a hammer “I thought (Miles Robinson) was excellent tonight,” Noonan said highlighting one of the key contributors of the win “​​I think he commanded the back line in a good way and then had purpose with where the headers were going Because the reality is he's got [Jacob] Murrell on him who's a tough forward to deal with gave us a lot of advantages in those moments and I think good composure at times (when) tracking runners behind.” and his fitness looked like he hadn't missed a beat That's tough considering he hasn't had a game in about a month.” back with FC Cincinnati after his stint with the US Men’s National Team at the CONMEBOL Copa America with FCC on Tuesday night and missed all the prep work done in the build up to Wednesday night’s match told them he wanted to play and was ready to play and got to work studying what he could Robinson did not feature in any of the American’s three group stage games or two friendlies in the build up to the event but said the staff with the USMNT makes sure everyone in camp is in excellent fitness so physical prep never ended up being a problem “I think we all knew the type of game it was going to be,” Robinson said postgame “It's going to be chaotic and given the team that we're playing and how they like to play and the conditions of the field and things like that I think it took me a bit to kind of get acclimated to the game…but I think in general we played well enough to get a win and I think that's what's most important.” The return of the now two-time MLS All-Star to the back line fundamentally changes how FCC can plot for matches but with the results at Copa America not going the USA’s way FCC is the beneficiary as the quality Robinson provides was on full display all night long And while Robinson self-critiqued by blaming the first goal for D.C United on himself and pointed to that as a place to get better having Robinson back is certainly a welcome addition “When you have players like Miles…their decision making and their communication and how they read the game typically helps to make their teammates look stronger,” Nooan said it's just a confidence boost to have guys like that next to you Pavel Bucha was another contributor to the winning effort dominating in all parts of the field and being rewarded for his efforts with his first brace with the club The Czech midfielder has been a fundamental part of what has made FC Cincinnati successful in 2024 He plays just about every minute of every game is reliable on defense and can progress through the middle of the field both with passes and off the dribble in 1-on-1 situations blend in with whatever style is needed of him both of his goals (one scored in the 39 minute and the other the 63) came by result of tenacity being rewarded Goal number one comes after Bucha had already done all the hard work of building the play opportunity through the midfield from FCC's side of the field fighting through multiple tackles from defenders to intercept him The initial attempt eventually is turned over FCC wins the ball back and eventually Luca Orellano combines with Bucha for a brilliant bit of passing and finishing Goal number two is simpler but ideologically similar Bucha joins the attack with recently subbed on Sergio Santos and Yamil Asad up the left wing and makes what could have been a thankless run through the middle in an open channel At the very least his run spreads the defense But Asad finds him in space and Bucha puts home a lovely finish past the D.C “We look at different ways to get (Bucha) advancing into the box and it's not always going to look the same but in moments where we get our wing backs in wider positions and maybe we have a nine opposite side of the field especially when Lucho [Acosta] is on the left side and almost plays as a second attacking midfielder and then understand the timing of how to run in behind into goal That's something that we thought he was capable of and could help us score goals in that fashion that was the two goals that he scored tonight,” Noonan explains “It's how he advances into these spaces and understands how he needs to have a presence higher up the field and how he can get us moving to goal with those deeper runs.” FC Cincinnati continues to find ways to win Even when it isn’t pretty or when the style of play may be less suitable to them they unite and find a way to come together in the spirit of the Smash and Grab ideological understanding of tonight's match rolled his ankle in the 46 minute after D.C United player tried to box him out while setting up for a corner kick Keller clearly felt pain as he limped around the field in the aftermath and the coaching staff began to look for a substitute to replace him battled through the pain or discomfort for as long as he could along with Ian Murphy and being mindful of other subs while rotating for fitness level and (they) don’t want to come off the field,” Noonan said “(But) it's something that we need to get right with cramping And that's not to say that the guys weren't ready to play through discomfort it's just where we're at along our back line and trying to eliminate injuries in this busy period ‘how long can you go?’ And if you can't go anymore…then we have guys that can step in.” FC Cincinnati now turn their attention to a significant weekend match with Supporters’ Shield-leading Inter Miami CF who despite being without key stars have continued to be dominant and also find ways to win games FCC leads on points per game and has a game in hand over Miami but regardless this is just one of two times the clubs will meet this season and a victory over the south Florida side would flip the league upside down At times in this game it felt like there was one eye to the future in Wednesday’s game Kevin Kelsy and Dado Valenzuela were substituted out early Orellano is one yellow card away from suspension so his early exit ensures participation in the weekend match and with Kelsy and Valenzula starting over Santos and (more specifically) Yuya Kubo all four forwards will be fresher than they would have had they played a full 90 minutes FCC again has to turn the page quickly and adapt in just two days' time and with road performances feeling comfortable for FCC and certainly playing with confidence,” Noonan closed with where the horrors of war reveal a truth far greater than any political rhetoric: this is a battle between good and evil Then-Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance speaks at a campaign rally at VFW Post 92 in New Kensington by David JunkFormer Eastern Europe Vice President of Universal MusicDuring a heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Feb Vice President JD Vance accused the Ukrainian president of leading “propaganda tours” of Russia’s destruction in the country asked Vance if he had ever been to Ukraine Of course, Vance’s criticism of Ukraine is not new In a New York Times op-ed released in April 2024 Vance argued that America shouldn’t help Ukraine citing the burden of producing weapon systems like 155 mm shells and Patriot missiles should pressure Ukraine to surrender territory it has lost to Russia and claimed that supporting Ukraine “doesn’t add up.” uncovered in the initial months of the full-scale war Seeing Bucha will help Vance understand that this war is about more than just territory; it’s a war between good and evil as a record executive for Universal Music Group I traveled to Kyiv to check on my colleagues I saw destruction everywhere: bombed-out apartment buildings Even a statue of the poet Taras Shevchenko had been shot up in the Borodianka town square One of my colleagues offered to bring me to Bucha Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw I visited the site where mass graves were uncovered behind the local church I spoke with an elderly church worker who survived the massacre by hiding in the basement for days Listening to her terrifying account and seeing the destruction firsthand made it clear to me: this is a war of good versus evil In the territories Vance wants to hand over to Russia war crimes have been committed daily for over two years — including torture By suggesting America should pull back from helping Ukraine Reagan confronted evil with steely determination American values justified confronting the Soviet Union — not excuses like production problems in weapons factories who loved Ohio and won the state’s presidential election twice understood the crucial role Ohio’s military bases and weapons manufacturing played in the Cold War I believe he would strongly disagree with Vance’s policy of weakness I don’t understand Vance’s weak view of America I grew up on a family farm in central Ohio but we were both raised with the same Midwestern values — to support good and confront evil And what the Russian army is doing in Ukraine is among the greatest evils of this century Both of us learned about Ohio’s greatest figures in public schools from abolitionists Harriet Beecher Stowe and Sojourner Truth to astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong — individuals who demonstrated courage and bravery Most of Vance’s constituents in Ohio support Ukraine and Ohioans consider ourselves the heart of America Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent David Junk was Universal Music’s first CEO in Moscow and vice president of Eastern Europe FC Cincinnati’s Pavel Bucha has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 24 The Czech midfielder is in his first season with the Orange and Blue and has been a staple all season, appearing and starting in all 21 league contests. He leads the club in minutes played and is second on the team in assists with five. His first-career brace in MLS were his second and third goals of the season. Bucha’s weekly Team of the Matchday honors is the 25th recognition for an FC Cincinnati player or coach on the weekly team this season. A full list of 2024 FC Cincinnati matchday honors: The full team for Matchday 24 is listed below. 2024 MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi (Matchday 24) Bench: Yohei Takaoka (VAN), Indiana Vassilev (STL), Julian Gressel (MIA), Martín Ojeda (ORL), Maren Haile-Selassie (CHI), Hannes Wolf (NYC), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Andrés Gómez (RSL), Diego Rossi (CLB) Bucha and FC Cincinnati take on Inter Miami CF Saturday, July 6 at TQL Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and the match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Fans can also listen to the match on ESPN 1530 in Cincinnati and on iHeart. Retired Army Capt. Paul “Bud” Bucha, a Medal of Honor recipient, died Wednesday in West Haven, Conn. He was 80. Bucha, a longtime resident of Ridgefield, Conn., received the Medal of Honor in May 1970 for his actions during the Vietnam War. Until his death, Bucha was the only living Medal of Honor recipient in the state, according to a statement from Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ron Welch. “Paul Bucha is an American hero whose service to our country inspired many, including those who went on themselves to make the selfless decision to enlist in the military,” Lamont said. “Following his military service, he went on to work with several organizations that provide services to veterans and the military community.” Bucha was born Aug. 1, 1943, in Washington, D.C., to an Army officer father. He was an All-American swimmer at Ladue Horton Watkins High School before being selected for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He graduated 18th in his Army class in 1965, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The honor was awarded to Bucha for actions that he took on March 16-18, 1968, as commanding officer of Company D on a reconnaissance-in-force mission against enemy forces near Phuoc Vinh in the Binh Duong province of Vietnam. On March 18, his unit encountered an overwhelming enemy attack. “Capt. Bucha, with complete disregard for his safety, moved to the threatened area to direct the defense and ordered reinforcements to the aid of the lead element,” according to his Medal of Honor citation. “Seeing that his men were pinned down by heavy machine gun fire from a concealed bunker located some 40 meters to the front of the positions, Capt. Bucha crawled through the hail of fire to single-handedly destroy the bunker with grenades.” He received a shrapnel wound during this action. Returning to the perimeter of the fight, Bucha observed that his unit could not hold its positions and repel the wave of enemy assaults. He ordered a withdrawal to a more defensible position. Throughout the night, Bucha encouraged his men, distributed ammunition and directed artillery and helicopter gunship fire. “Using flashlights in complete view of enemy snipers, he directed the medical evacuation of three air-ambulance loads of seriously wounded personnel and the helicopter supply of his company,” according to his medal citation. Bucha led a rescue party at daybreak to recover the dead and wounded members of the ambushed force. After the Army in 1972, Bucha became prominent in business ventures, veterans support organizations and politics. He unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1993 but served as a foreign policy adviser for former President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. The American Legion National Headquarters:  700 N. Pennsylvania St., P.O Box1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206 Subscribe to The American Legion's e-newsletters to receive important updates, resources, and special offers tailored for veterans and their families. a female volunteer unit who defends Kyiv's airspace The tough training helps them cope with the grief of the Ukraine war your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt Stories from the battlefield are often told through the lens of soldiers the true heroes of the ongoing war are the civilians who have been thrust into unimaginable circumstances described as the first feature narrative film shot in Ukraine since the Russian invasion After premiering at the Warsaw Film Festival last year and being screened at the European Parliament in Brussels the film has gained significant attention for its powerful storytelling It follows the real-life story of Konstantin Gudauskas a citizen of Kazakhstan who saved more than 200 people from the occupied territories in spring 2022 As the war continues to ravage the country 'Bucha' remains a crucial and timely watch Euronews' Sasha Vakulina sat down with Oleksandr Shchur to discuss the importance of sharing these stories and how cinema can be a "weapon for truth" Shchur: 'Bucha' is a feature film based on the true story of Konstantin Gudauskas who saved more than 200 people from Bucha and other occupied territories in the spring of 2022 We aimed to show what really happened during that time All the Ukrainian characters in the movie are real and tried to convey the reality of what happened in Ukraine Is it fair to say that this was the hardest job you've ever done I worked with Volodymyr Zelenskyy for 15 years when he was still an actor I became a volunteer and wanted to use my skills in the best way I could - through shooting and filmmaking I knew it would resonate with everyone around the world while it’s expected that Ukrainians save Ukrainians here we have a Kazakhstani citizen - a Lithuanian Jew -who chose to stay in Ukraine It’s a powerful message that no one can stand aside when faced with such evil Some argue that war movies should wait until after the conflict to allow for appropriate reflection with fierce fighting still happening in parts of Ukraine What would you say to those who believe it’s too soon there are several powerful examples of films made during wartime Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator was released in 1940 while London was being bombed by the Nazis Casablanca came out in 1942 as the war continued was made while the conflict was still ongoing But there’s another important reason to act now We know that Russia spends billions of rubles on propaganda movies some people might believe the narratives that Russia promotes While I believe that many great films will be made in 10 or 20 years someone has to be the first to tell the truth now that's interesting because that's what I wanted to ask you to follow up - when the horrors of Bucha were revealed How do you use this movie as a weapon to counter that narrative and show the truth of what people lived through we showed the trailer to a big Hollywood producer from a major company He told us they wouldn’t take the film onto their streaming platform because they didn’t know the true reality - maybe it was Ukrainian propaganda very long end credits showing the real names and stories of all the Ukrainian characters We’ve also made a documentary about the making of the movie so anyone wanting more information can find it no amount of evidence will change their minds Take the case of the Malaysian Boeing shot down by Russia more than ten years ago Despite huge papers of evidence presented in court in the Netherlands Russia continues to claim it’s false and that Ukraine hid the plane those unwilling to accept the truth will always find ways to deny it Your film was recently screened at the European Parliament Kushmuns: The story deeply touched everyone The Russian antagonists in the film are not portrayed as "stupid Russians," but as educated individuals with deep cultural knowledge who are still on the side of evil It shows that standing up to evil transcends nationality or origin - it’s about humanity the Vice President of the European Parliament saying it should be shown in every EU member state She even said she would be promoting it in Italy and convincing other MPs to do the same This is not about persuading people to adopt our views - it’s about showing the facts If you have even a bit of humanity in your heart One particularly powerful scene in the film involves a girl escaping from a torture camp by stepping over the body of a man who sacrificed his life to protect her from being raped Do you plan to show this movie also to the wider European public and audience apart from the EP We had an official worldwide premiere at the Warsaw Film Festival in October where we received the second place award from 57 movies And we already have distribution in Canada from the 1st December And we are in negotiations to show this movie as widely as possible We already have an agreement with Portugal we want to have not only European distribution but also in America or Latin America and Asia war movies focus on soldiers and the frontlines How important is it to show this aspect of the war It’s clear that war is not only fought on the frontlines especially in a large country like Ukraine This movie shows that all Ukrainian civilians never imagined the war would reach their homes It also highlights the idea that no one can feel truly safe when a dictator or regime with imperialistic ambitions exists A lot of people believe such a situation will never affect them but sometimes a situation hits you so fast that there’s nothing you can do once again it’s important to note that this is a film about human beings and the choices we make Our lives are not simply black or white - it’s more like a checkerboard and our lives depend on the choices and steps we take like when the hero is faced with a moment of moral conflict but he understands that taking them would risk everyone’s lives It’s an incredibly difficult human choice for him it showed progress in his personal evolution but the difference is that brave people keep moving forward This moment motivates him to continue his journey he’s willing to take a bullet for the truth and you will not decide what happens here." the mass graves in Izium – it is as if these atrocities never happened Orders and statements from the new US president come at us daily now and international politics is reduced to an endless series of justifications and denials of unfounded accusations It’s hard to believe, but Ukrainian activists have had to write explainers for a global audience, reminding them who the true dictator is, that it was not Ukraine that started the war with Russia and that we are actually just trying to defend what is ours These past three years of our lives have been referred to in many ways: Putin’s war, the Russo-Ukrainian war, the full-scale invasion, the conflict. Now some of the media are starting to call it simply the Ukrainian war or the Ukrainian crisis. US envoys have started objecting to the phrase “Russian aggression” in G7 communications And we are being dragged into a paradigm in which the war crimes of the Russians will soon be called “those events” or “this situation” The world is trying to understand how Ukrainians feel about all this and I have been having chats with foreign journalists Almost everyone asks whether it is possible to get used to living in a war it seems as if the world has long since grown used to the idea that there is a war in Ukraine and that this is simply the way it is now A Ukrainian serviceman is reunited with his daughter after a prisoner-of-war exchange between Russia and Ukraine Photograph: Evgeniy Maloletka/APUkrainian servicemen and women are defending the borders of our country around the clock Years of grief without the opportunity to grieve tragedy that cannot be lived through but is simply compounded by the next airstrike A foreign journalist asked me if I had ever felt real hatred towards Russians and dreamed of killing them one by one but please do not squeeze emotions out of us just to give yourself a headline for your report when the enemy did this to your people … I said Anger is a more constructive feeling that gives you strength and opportunity to at least somehow act A major international media outlet asked me recently to join its educational platform I had to record a video message in English and talk about my experience of serving in the armed forces of Ukraine so children around the world could learn English from these videos and accompanying materials I recorded it and did everything according to their instructions I got a cheerful message the other day from the editorial office saying: “We’ve launched!” I opened the presentation and had a panic attack The lesson was structured around eight speakers each talking about their war experience: four Ukrainians (including me) and four Russians A Russian journalist and armed forces “deserter” The question proposed for discussion: “What similarities and differences did you notice when listening to the experiences of people from Russia and Ukraine?” The emotional negligence of this makes me want to scream we have been turned into research material I am sickened by how my story has become an ideological tool to equalise the experience of the defender and the attacker nausea and despair into diplomatic phrases and requests to the international media outlet asking them to remember that the experience of Ukrainians and Russians in this genocide is not something that can be compared I’ve been living with the acute feeling that the world is tired of restraining its unquenchable love of Russia The west wants to believe in the Cinderella story that one day the dictatorship will fall and a wonderful democratic world will emerge The world is ready to listen to Russia again: a UK television channel last year released the film Ukraine’s War: The Other Side by Sean Langan The film doesn’t just give the other side a voice; it gives a human dimension to the stories of the occupiers and repeats the narratives of Russian propaganda This is as consistent with journalistic standards as asking an executioner and do you miss your family who are waiting for you at home My parents spent almost three weeks under occupation in Bucha But all these years I have lived with a keen sense of the need for justice for others wondering every day why the crimes of Russians remain unpunished Or is it easier for the world to forget all this and pretend that none of the following events happened The siege of Mariupol and the deadly shelling of the local theatre A missile attack on the Kramatorsk railway station A rocket attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv Thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russians. Thousands of missing Ukrainian soldiers. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians killed. Thousands in Russian captivity. Dozens of executions captured on camera when Russians killed those who surrendered Someone who supplied parts for their weapons Someone who settled in the occupied Ukrainian cities in addition to Russian and Iranian shells (and support from about 20 countries around the world) we are being attacked by the military from North Korea a world order is being formed in which truth as a category does not exist That was not a Nazi salute at the inauguration celebrations If during the first term of Trump’s presidency we talked of the post-truth era now we find ourselves in a world in which the truth is taken out Russia has been living like this for centuries one with an arrest warrant from the international criminal court and the other the first US president to have a mugshot taken after being criminally charged The world is looking at the body of truth that is dying and bleeding before our eyes at least don’t turn away from the sight of blood Yet there is a unity among Ukrainians that I have not seen for a long time Oleksandr Mykhed is the author of The Language of War and member of PEN Ukraine three years since Russia started its brutal invasion of Ukraine The region of Kyiv and its towns like Bucha Hostomel and Irpin were the first to face — and stop — Russian forces in their all-out war in early 2022 Father Andriy says it will be replaced with a permanent memorial replete with metal plaques for each person killed in the town after Russian troops occupied it should be a place where people could come with their children “The liberation of our country started with the liberation of Bucha," Father Andriy explained Father Andriy knows every corner of Bucha and probably every resident The family who lived there escaped Russia’s war once in the past But the Kremlin and its war chased them all the way to Bucha On 5 March — several days into the occupation — the family tried to evacuate in the streets of Bucha," Father Andriy recalled The names of the two children — nine and four years old — and their mother are engraved on the memorial at the church He knows the names and stories of almost everyone whose name is on the memorial Many families got killed while trying to evacuate “We have surveillance cameras at the exit from Bucha Many civilians also got killed while staying in Bucha under occupation they would open fire at anyone inside,” Father Andriy explained Residents had no choice but to leave and try to find food Russian soldiers told the locals to put white bands on their arms “A father and a son went to a city hall to get medicine survived because the bullet got through the hood of his vest pretending to be dead until it was safer to run home,” the priest recalled where a column of Russian armored vehicles was destroyed by a Ukrainian army There's no sign of battle and almost no sign of destroyed houses and it now looks just like any other road in any quiet European town with modern cookie-cutter houses and tidy fences Cafes and shops have been rebuilt and reopened But although one can spot the scars of Russian brutality only on some residential buildings in the facades pockmarked by shrapnel from the shelling signs on the facade — just like on the Church of St Andrew — the emotional wounds have not healed There are 509 names of the civilians killed during the occupation of Bucha on the Wall of Remembrance "509 civilians died here not as a result of combat Among many statements regarding Ukraine by US President Donald Trump crossing red lines for the Ukrainians: when Trump said that Ukraine should not have started the war but "a way to achieve what you cannot achieve with weapons." “The Russians wanted to take Kyiv in three days they are trying to occupy Ukraine in some other way," he explained What is worrying is that when they say ‘negotiations’ He says he fully understands why those on the outside might be unable to comprehend it explaining it as simple as "human psychology" “When planes were already flying over our heads Russian helicopters were flying overhead and everything was blasting away and exploding you understand that there is war," Father Andriy said "But mentally it was it impossible to admit that it can be real in the 21st century.”  adding that now Europeans are in a state where they are beginning to understand but they are not ready to give up what they had or accept things as they are there is a danger that they will have to learn Russian Poland and the Baltic states will be next.” He believes that when it comes to any talks with Russia the crucial issue is the understanding of what "peace" essentially means which is very different in Ukraine and Russia Even if the conditions and terms of the agreement are fair will this make Russia's Vladimir Putin and his forces stop shooting “Ukrainians understand the word ‘peace’ when they are not killed when criminals are held accountable for their crimes — this is peace," Father Andriy said ‘peace’ is something like when they don't shoot anymore because there are no more survivors left on our side Kartashov was born in 2002 in the village of Gukovo he was a senior gunner in the Russian army Between 27 February 2022 and 30 March 2022 he and other servicemen of the 76th air assault division of the Russian Federation’s airborne forces stationed in Pskov a city located five kilometres away from Irpin.  According to a Russian media Kartashov received a suspended sentence for desertion The young man had returned unauthorised from the combat zone to his home in the Rostov region Kartashov and other soldiers were driving down Bucha’s Vokzalna Street towards the intersection with Nove Shosse Street Kartashov was positioned in the middle of the convoy approximately 500 metres from its front vehicle he was responsible for watching the perimeter gave an order over the radio that all the people dressed in black should be considered as enemies although many ordinary civilians may have been wearing black clothing after “having reached a tacit agreement based on mutual trust and loyalty within the military formation” Approximately three minutes after Tsvetkov had communicated the order Kartashov and his associates noticed a man in a black uniform on the driveway of Vokzalna Street near the Novus store It was a security guard of the supermarket a civilian who was not involved in the hostilities and was not armed He was standing in plain sight between the rear of the Novus store and a residential building Antonnikov and Gorshkov opened precision fire with assault rifles One of the shots inflicted a perforating wound to the guard’s chest The Russians kept driving in a convoy formation.  After the de-occupation of Bucha, a mass grave of people killed in the armed aggression of the Russian Federation was discovered on the Ukrainian orthodox church’s premises. Among them, there was Valeriy K.’s body. When the victim was identified, it was also discovered that he had managed to call an ambulance using his mobile phone before walking into the store’s basement where other employees attempted to help him before he died The identity of the killers was unknown until Kartashov was taken prisoner near the town of Kreminna he allegedly confessed to what had happened.  The police conducted an investigative experiment a reconstruction of the crime scene with Kartashov's testimony as to what had happened and subsequently issued a press release stating that the prisoner of war was testifying to crimes committed by his unit’s soldiers Kartashov pleads guilty but refuses to testify in court The accused faces 15 years in prison up to life imprisonment for violating the laws and customs of war.  Despite Kartashov’s cooperation with the investigation the prosecutor stated in court that he didn’t consider that there were mitigating circumstances for the accused The prosecutor reportedly has seven witnesses – residents of Bucha including colleagues of the deceased who were nearby at the time of the shooting residents of neighbouring houses and a man who identified the body of the victim Yet none of them is known to have been an eyewitness to the crime The case will resume at the end of December The court will start by examining written evidence a video of the investigative experiment and a 15-minute video of the military vehicles driving down the street filmed on the day of the alleged crime by a Bucha resident from his balcony The judge explained to Kartashov that he could testify at any time during the trial if he wished to do so He also recalled him thathe has the right not to testify against himself.  At the end of August 2023, the Irpin City Court found nine Russian military officers guilty of war crimes committed in Bucha following the investigations led in Ukraine on the infamous crimes perpetrated in Bucha that shocked the world.  When FC Cincinnati made their preseason home at a hotel in Clearwater many of the newcomers to the roster had less than a week of meet and greet with their teammates in Cincinnati before flying south had yet to find a permanent residence in the Queen City before he and the rest of the team jetted off He trained with the club for just over a week at the Bengals Indoor Facility as the team looked to escape the weather He visited briefly prior to reporting to visit the training facility and stadium but then spent the next month at preseason The same experience was essentially standard among newcomers Keller had a room to himself—a luxury shared by only a few and one that he says he thought he lucked out on upon arrival and room assignment a text came saying he would be getting a roommate and a knock on the door came shortly after that There stood the midfield dynamo from Czechia recently transferred from UEFA Champions League entrant Viktoria Plzeň Armed with only a duffle bag and a friendly smile the duo would now go from having met each other in this Clearwater Florida hotel hallway to living together for over a month I don't have my own space anymore,'" Keller said and we've been best of friends ever since." stayed late at the gym and on the training pitch to pass the ball around or just hung out with anyone else around Louis who had met just days or weeks before the duo was as close as anyone could imagine the pair stays on the field late to send each other field width passes until someone misses their mark with each session getting progressively longer and longer as the duo gets more and more competitive Keller and Bucha regularly go out for dinner with their significant others as the Bucha's – who recently announced they are expecting their first child – have created a bond with Keller and his long-time girlfriend the relationship has helped both integrate into the squad quicker and serves as an example of why interpersonal relationships and chemistry are better for the soccer side of the game as well who is brand new to the United States and MLS having an American counterpart to help bridge the cultural gap has done wonders for the Central European star in terms of creating a comfort around the city and the team For the first few weeks of living in the United States and his dog had not yet made the move with him to Cincinnati so Bucha has said having Keller there to bounce off socially was invaluable to making him feel comfortable says he looks up to his teammate and sees the commitment and passion the Czech star brings to every session and looks to match it so it's not as if their relationship gives off any particular 'mentor-mentee' vibes more like best friends who happen to work together but the defender sees Bucha's work ethic and corresponding success as a player as an ideal to work towards "He just puts his head down and works hard," Keller said "He does his job each and every day at training or in the game "He played in the Champions League and not only that I think this club is surrounded by good people It's just nice to have someone like him in the locker room to bond with and on and off the field." just how much sense Keller and Bucha make as a duo can't be overstated soccer-obsessed young men who love the game and love to work on it together they truly look like they belong in a Neil Simon play (or the Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau film Keller, whose wild hair matches his fiery and loud personality, is an extroverted social butterfly. He is regularly featured on FCC social channels (particularly on TikTok) and is generally more expressive. Bucha, on the other hand, is far more understated. While those who get to know him will tell you he is just as funny and social, his style is far more subdued and quiet than that of his American comrade. "I'm sure our fans see it and everyone here sees it, but he's just the most humble guy," Keller said with a smile and a laugh after a particularly strong match for Bucha. The defender was almost exasperated at how, even after such a big match, the midfielder refused to take any credit. "He's just always about the team and the guys and never about himself. It's a good reminder and inspiration to stay level and keep working." These days are Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asarnha Bucha Day, Buddhist Lent Day, and End of Buddhist Lent Day, he explained. Stores and business operators should refrain from retail and wholesale of all types of alcoholic beverages throughout the Kingdom for 24 hours, starting from midnight on February 11 until midnight on February 12, he said. Meanwhile, Deputy police chief Pol Gen Prachuap Wongsuk said policemen have been instructed to ensure safety among devotees who will travel to several temples to make merits during the Buddhist holiday. Policemen have also been instructed to strictly enforce the law against retail and wholesale business entrepreneurs who sell alcohol during the period. Any people who need assistance or witness any wrongdoing can inform the police through hotline 191 and 1599 anytime, he added. Thai Schools Gear Up for Term Start with Safety Checks and Tablet Rollout Tawee visits Narathiwat, pledges to tighten security for Buddhist communities Trump orders 100% tariff on foreign-made movies to save 'dying' Hollywood Ratchada Night Market Shuts Doors Suddenly, Leaving Businesses in the Lurch Chadchart confident search for 14 missing workers will be completed in four days MP Serhii Sobolev told the news outlet Suspilne The ratification vote is scheduled for May 8 Attacks against the border villages of Bilopillia and Vorozhba damaged civilian infrastructure and triggered emergency evacuations the regional military administration reported "I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous war between Russia and Ukraine ended — now!" U.S Putin's Victory Day truce "doesn't sound like much if you know where we started from," Trump told reporters at the White House on May 5 Far-right Euroskeptic candidate George Simion head of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan placed second with 20.99% of the vote and the candidate from the ruling coalition "It requires the continuation of contacts between Moscow and Washington which have been launched and are now ongoing," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said set to operate within the Council of Europe will focus on Russia's political and military leaders up to 20 Russian soldiers were killed and their equipment destroyed The move represents an apparent violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions passed in the wake of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests "We are ready to deepen our contribution to the training of the Ukrainian military," Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on May 5 Davis's arrival follows the resignation of Ambassador Bridget Brink by Kateryna DenisovaU.S Pastor Mark Burns arrived in Ukraine and visited cities in Kyiv Oblast liberated from Russian forces three years ago on March 30 (Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Azman/Facebook)U.S President Donald Trump's spiritual advisor arrived in Ukraine and visited cities in Kyiv Oblast liberated from Russian forces in 2022 Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Azman said on March 31 Azman invited Burns to visit Bucha, Borodianka, and Irpin Russia's attempts to encircle Kyiv failed after more than a month of heavy fighting with Moscow's troops retreating from the capital's outskirts Hundreds of residents of the three towns were found to have been tortured "The war in Ukraine is bigger than Democrats or Republicans, the Left or the Right. Whether you dislike President Trump or President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, real people are dying here," Burns said on X executions of civilians and destruction of multiple churches Ukraine's top religious leaders also told him about Russia's systematic religious persecution Ukraine stands strong as a beacon of religious freedom The pastor said that Ukrainian soldiers on the front line "are not asking for money" but for more weapons and fighter jets "to shoot down the drones that still fire at civilian buildings Ukraine has agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready to take such a step if Russia also agrees to the terms instead attempting to extract major concessions from the U.S in exchange for partial ceasefire agreements Mark Burns is a televangelist and pastor of Harvest Praise & Worship Center in South Carolina. He supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election and was labeled by Time Magazine as "Donald Trump's Top Pastor." "Pastor Burns is a man who has the ability to be heard where big decisions are made. And I believe that the voice of truth from Ukraine will be brought to the heart of the new U.S. leadership," Azman said Trump has adopted a more critical stance toward Ukraine than his predecessor The new administration has temporarily paused military and intelligence support for Kyiv while praising the U.S president's supposedly warm relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin Kateryna Denisova works as a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent She previously worked as a news editor at the NV media outlet for four years covering mainly Ukrainian and international politics Kateryna holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv She also was a fellow at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati and Tigres UANL drew 1-1 in the first leg of their Round of 16 series as the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continued Tuesday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati The hosts found an early opener through Pavel Bucha in the 3’ who struck with a right-footed shot from the edge of the box to the bottom right corner Kévin Denkey registered the assist on the play Nicolás Ibáñez equalized for Tigres in 17’ sending the ball to the back of the net with a header inside the penalty area to capitalize on a delivery from Sebastián Córdova Both sides generated attacking opportunities throughout the second half in search of the winner but both goalkeepers stifled chances in attack FC Cincinnati man Roman Celentano finished the match with three saves while Nahuel Guzmán recorded five saves for Tigres UANL The two sides will meet in the second leg next Tuesday at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza Tigres are unbeaten in 15 consecutive matches against MLS opposition in the Concacaf Champions Cup (W8 D7) No other team in the modern era of the competition (since 2008) has gone more than eight straight matches against MLS opponents without defeat ● Each of Pavel Bucha’s last five goals for FC Cincinnati were scored incontinental tournaments (three in the Concacaf Champions Cup and two in the Leagues Cup) Tonight’s goal was his first for Cincinnati against Mexican competition His first four goals for the club were all scored in regular-season MLS play Nicolas Ibáñez hadn’t scored a goal for Tigres for 12 games in all competitions while Sebastián Córdova hadn’t recorded an assist for 15 matches The two players combined for Tigres’ goal against Cincinnati tonight Nahuel Guzmán is the first player to play in more than 40 matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup since 2016 is second on that list with 38 appearances ● Pavel Bucha’s opening goal after 2 minutes 34 seconds was the fastest goal scored by an MLS team against a Liga MX team in the Concacaf Champions Cup since Brek Shea scored after 2:02 for Vancouver Whitecaps By 2025-02-15T06:00:00+00:00 UK seller Canoe has locked in a series of theatrical deals for Ukrainian war film directed by Stanislav Tiunov and written and produced by Oleksandr Shchur Film Hive (Canada) and Lighthouse Home Entertainment (German-speaking Europe) It was released nationwide in Ukraine on November 7 The film is based on the true story of Konstantin Gudauskas and resident of Ukraine who used his foreign passport to save 203 civilians following the 2022 Russian invasion Poland’s Cezary Lukaszewicz and Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Dovzhenko star “This is a film that reflects the hard truths of the war in Ukraine but it is most poignantly the story of an outsider who risks his own life to set up a rescue operation for local civilians,” said Canoe’s managing director Bookmark this page and keep track of the latest film release dates in the UK & Ireland Principal photography scheduled for later this year Letter spearheaded by Producers’ Anonymous Monday’s statement to reporters follows Truth Social Company’s latest foray into genre will open theatrically on October 10 ’Thunderbolts*’ has achieved the third-biggest opening number for a US studio film in 2025 Screen International is the essential resource for the international film industry access to the Screen International archive and supplements including Stars of Tomorrow and World of Locations Site powered by Webvision Cloud Article8 January 2025, 18:16Pavel Vasilyev“Shame compassion” How the Russian translator of the UN Bucha report was prosecuted for participating in an “undesirable organisation”Photo: Raisa Boiko personal archive she was charged with participation in an “undesirable” organisation Boiko told Mediazona how she distributed anti-war leaflets and photographed graves of dead military personnel while she stayed in Russia how she and her husband and child moved to the US and what struck her most of all in the report on the crimes of the Russian army politics is a dirty business.” Despite that I was really offended when she turned out to be a fan of pro-war Telegram channels she was still interested in politics after all I learnt about the annexation of Crimea from a meme—‘Nyah-meows but I didn't understand what was going on He used to hang out with the National Bolsheviks at rallies in Krasnoyarsk and Moscow He introduced me to the vast experience of Navalny rallies and political activism to Ekho Moskvy—and little by little I formed my opinion about the policies of the Russian government Navalny was good in that he was like a political tutor when the basic truths were slowly hammered into you Navalny implanted a strong feeling that you have the right to your opinion and that politics itself is a practical and legal matter The first time I participated in street protests was when [in January 2021 Alexei] Navalny returned to Russia from Germany after his poisoning. I remember Navalny under the portrait of [Genrikh] Yagoda, when he looked into the camera and said but for yourself and for your future.” And I said to myself then I think it's time to go out—for myself.” And at first all three of us were going to protests: me I'd go with my child and sometimes I'd try to call my friends People often refused because they were scared Leha is coming.” Like how can you all be so indifferent if Alexei Navalny is coming back the cops came to the flat and demanded to hand over the poster they came again: with a warning in my husband’s name not to come to rallies who was collecting a base of translators to translate his videos I’ve been translating their videos from time to time Or the Feminist Anti-War Resistance (FAR) called for help if you have design skills I told my dad about my views for the first time He is a fan of aggressive propaganda and conspiracy theories At some point I got tired of listening to him my dad has been tormenting me for a fortnight with his desire to change my mind He was deeply offended and hasn’t spoken to me since “There’s gonna be a war.” I couldn’t imagine it someone pays a mortgage for a beaten up 1960s apartment and a rocket flies into it you can’t rationalise anything of the sort I wrote a lot and discussed what had happened with friends and acquaintances Many people told me that they wanted to take their own life because they were unbearably ashamed [of the actions of the Russian authorities] others thought about going to the front to fight on the side of Ukraine I myself was putting anti-war leaflets in mailboxes - in my building entrance and in the neighbouring one I left some of the leaflets in supermarket trolleys I also took pictures of cars with the letter Z—it was like a personal insult So I decided to make an archive of these cars I thought that one day someone would find a photo with the licence plate number in the archive and shame the driver When some time since the start of the full-scale war passed searching of graves of Russian servicemen killed in Ukraine I made an Excel-table for ten cemeteries in Krasnoyarsk and neighbouring towns I thought to myself: while the child is in kindergarten It was disturbing to look for graves in cemeteries the state is obviously very uncomfortable when you make public what they are trying to hide You look at these dead people and you don’t know whether to hate them because they took part in all this or to feel sorry for them: they could still live And it’s all associated with your life being ruined I was hoping that if my mom said that war was bad relations with my parents have been very bad my husband wanted to take out a loan for another car lived in a flat which we renovated to our taste And I think we were ready to raise a baby in peace And then the mobilisation came [in September 2022] I was inspired by travelling and the people I met on my trips But it’s not easy to start life in another country from scratch my husband got a call from the university where he worked and was told that there was a summons for him They asked him whether he had served in the army or not so they told him that they’d hold on to the summons for the time being but said he shouldn’t expect an exemption from the draft either So then he gave me a power of attorney to sell the flat I took out a loan: 100 thousand rubles for the ticket And he left for Turkey during the so-called referendums in Luhansk and Donetsk I was very scared that suddenly the borders would be closed And I thought: “I’ll kick him out [of the country] and then I’ll manage on my own.” And the child and I sold the car sold the flat and went to Turkey to live with him My husband left on 1 October [2022] and we joined him on October 30th and we got to the US through Mexico and asked for political asylum I kept thinking how I would tell my mom about it One thought was just to call from the beach and say we are taking a trip But mom found out about our departure before we left the country when her friend sent her photos of our flat for sale It was clear that she felt uncomfortable and uneasy about a “traitor of the Motherland” in her family my husband’s relatives gave the three of us a room We waited six months for a work permit.I found a job translating various texts and documents A lot of people need help and language support People have problems with bureaucracy and other things because they don’t know English I sometimes visit Navalny’s underground headquarters in the Tor browser: I take tasks like making leaflets or writing letters to local US congressmen I also called Russia several times with Navalny’s Agitation Machine It’s very pleasant to listen to Navalny’s voice when you try to get through to the interviewees under the guise of a social survey but I can’t stand the half an hour to an hour of answering machine we sometimes think that mayve it would be possible to return But fascism at home is a little frightening but the head of our department is very pro-war and tells them what “traitor of the Motherland” the Boiko family are The bright side of our forced departure was the opportunity to speak out there was this cycle: the authorities are going wild I found comfort in food and attempts to express myself ornately And I got relief by inventing underground activism there was the thrill of not being punished for my words by the state I remind myself that I have to speak up for those left behind And those left behind then give signs that they’re glad to hear from me including details of extrajudicial executions But there was a generalisation in the report: this wasn’t happening in Buch alone there was nothing radically new there for me The most striking thing in the Bucha story for me was when iStories got through to a guy who said he killed [civilians] You’re scared that [Ukrainian troops] are coming from Kyiv to knock you out of Bucha and Irpen There’s a feeling that you’re watching hostages being abused Mediazona told me about the case of participating in an “undesirable organization.” I was shocked It’s obvious that it’s not safe to return to our homeland Russian America for Democracy in Russia insisted on consulting with human rights defenders I was told that people live with several administrative protocols for participation in “undesirable activities,” but this does not develop into a criminal case I decided that they [Russian authorities] should judge themselves for whatever they want Mediazona is in a tough spot—we still haven’t recovered our pre-war level of donations If we don’t reach at least 5,000 monthly subscribers soon Nearly 105,000 deaths confirmed by April 25 and Artyom Krieger were accused of producing media content for ACF Antonina Favorskaya says she was transported in coffin‑sized compartments without seatbelts Telegram’s press office claims the channel’s owner likely deleted it due to “unauthorized access” by Tim ZadorozhnyyUkrainian warfighters walk among the debris of destroyed Russian armored vehicles in Bucha (The Kyiv Independent)Nursultan Mussagaleyev a former Russian army commander suspected of involvement in war crimes has been appointed as an acting deputy minister for regional and information policy in Russia's Orenburg Oblast As a platoon commander at the 76th Airborne Assault Division, Mussagaleyev allegedly participated in Russia's brutal occupation of Bucha according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Hundreds of civilians were massacred by Russian troops in Bucha at the time The SBU has identified him as having taken part in so-called "purge operations," which aimed to suppress resistance and intimidate civilians Bucha, a suburb northwest of Kyiv, became a symbol of Russian war crimes after mass graves were uncovered in April 2022 following its liberation by Ukrainian troops The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has documented over 1,400 civilian killings in the Bucha District, including 637 in Bucha itself their bodies left on the streets or buried in mass graves Mussagaleyev was later honored by Russia's military and political leadership He was awarded the "Hero of Russia" star and the "Military Distinction" medal Russian state television glorified his role in the invasion broadcasting a feature about him on the state-run Russia 1 channel His appointment to a government position in Orenburg Oblast follows a broader trend in Russia of rewarding military personnel linked to war crimes with prestigious roles in civilian administration Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent he is pursuing studies in International Relations Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor by Martin Fornusek, The Kyiv Independent news deskPope Francis exchanges gifts with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during an audience at the Apostolic Palace on October 11 (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Vatican on Oct Zelensky's second private audience at the Vatican comes amid an uneasy atmosphere between the Holy See and Kyiv caused by some of the pope's past controversial remarks about Russia's war in Ukraine During a meeting that lasted 35 minutes, the pope presented Ukraine's head of state with a bronze bas-relief with a flower and an inscription, "peace is a fragile flower," the ANSA news agency wrote The details of talks between Zelensky and the pope have not yet been made public The Vatican's relationship with Ukraine also came into the spotlight recently with the nomination of Mykola Bychok a Ternopil-born bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Australia While the nomination of Ukraine's only cardinal was seen as a positive signal toward Kyiv by some the decision to choose a lesser-known bishop over Sviatoslav Shevchuk the primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Zelensky's visit to the Vatican follows his trips to the U.K., France, and Italy, where he met leaders of the respective countries to present them with Ukraine's five-step victory plan The president is also expected to travel to Germany later on Oct 11 to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Ukraine's head of state is touring the European countries to ramp up military support and mobilize backing behind the victory plan which Kyiv describes as a path toward a just and lasting peace The situation grows ever more dire for the besieged country as Russian forces keep pressing on in the east, and the population faces energy deficits in the coming winter. In the meantime, the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House prompts fears of weakened U.S. support. 20,000 free saplings to be handed out at temples today for worshippers participating in traditional Wian Thian processionBangkokians are being invited to pick up tree saplings instead of candles during traditional processions to mark Makha Bucha Day today in City Hall’s latest effort to combat chronic air pollution.    A total of 20,000 free saplings will be handed out during Wian Thian processions at temples in the capital this evening Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesman Aekvarunyoo Amrapala said Led by the city’s Environment Department the project aims to replace the polluting smoke from candles and incense with trees that clean the air by absorbing carbon emissions Bangkok registered unhealthy levels of PM2.5 – the most hazardous form of air pollution – across all 50 districts on Wednesday morning.   Aekvarunyoo said worshippers can plant the free saplings at home or donate them to expand the green areas of temples adding that the project would reduce air pollution in the capital over the long term Various sapling species are being distributed at more than 100 temples and other venues across the capital Worshippers can choose from perennial trees Makha Bucha Day commemorates a gathering held by the Buddha and his first 1,250 disciples Thai Buddhists mark the day by offering alms to monks listening to dharma teachings and participating in Wian Thian candlelight processions at temples For a list of temples participating in the saplings project, visit https://treefordhamma.org/home/tree-circumambulation/temple-participation/ 2024 8:43 PM20 min readUkrainian service members look for and collect unexploded shells in Kyiv by Irynka Hromotska, Kateryna HodunovaOne thousand days ago Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine the deadliest military conflict in Europe since World War II Ukraine has been defending against the Russian military well-equipped and superior in numbers of weapons and people deployed which in total is ongoing for over 10 years is filled with new challenges and key moments that decide the war's next turn Ukraine has fended off the initial invasion in the first few months and fought a deadly battle for the city of Mariupol that ended in Kyiv's withdrawal and the capture of several thousand Ukrainian soldiers Ukraine launched a successful counteroffensive in 2022 liberating northern Kharkiv Oblast and the southern regional capital of Kherson and failed to achieve a major breakthrough during the 2023 counteroffensive Russian troops are now actively advancing in the country's east and a few kilometers away from recapturing Kupiansk "One thousand days of a tough and fierce battle for our existence For the future of Ukraine and each of us," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov adding that the total front line now stretches over 1,000 kilometers The Kyiv Independent has compiled a photo gallery of the key events that took place during a nearly three-year-long all-out war that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions of others the first Russian missiles hit Ukrainian cities as Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the start of what he called "a special military operation." and thousands of citizens took up arms — some joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine while others became involved in the territorial defense of their cities In the first days of the full-scale invasion millions of Ukrainians left their homes in the north over 6 million Ukrainians had temporary protection in the EU Almost 600,000 more Ukrainians were granted protection outside of Europe Poland and Germany hosted the largest number of Ukrainian citizens Inhabitants of Kyiv leave the city following pre-offensive missile strikes of the Russian Armed Forces at Kyiv a 52-year-old teacher stands outside a hospital after the bombing of Chuguiv (Aris Messinis / AFP via Getty Images)This general view shows damage to the upper floors of a building in Kyiv on Feb after it was reportedly struck by a Russian rocket (Daniel Leal / AFP via Getty Images)People cross a destroyed bridge as they evacuate the city of Irpin 10 days after Russia launched a military invasion on Ukraine (Aris Messinis / AFP via Getty Images)A father puts his hand on the window as he says goodbye to his daughter in front of an evacuation train at the central train station in Odesa (Bulent Kilic/AFP via Getty Images)A woman with two children and carrying bags walks on a street to leave Ukraine after crossing the Slovak-Ukrainian border in Ubla close to the Ukrainian city of Velykyi Bereznyi following Russia's invasion of the Ukraine (Peter Lazar / AFP via Getty Images)BuchaRussian troops entered Bucha in Kyiv Oblast on Feb about 35 kilometers (21 miles) northwest of Kyiv and evidence of mass killings of civilians and many unarmed civilians had their hands tied behind their backs Law enforcement officers recorded over 9,000 war crimes committed by the Russian army during the occupation of the Bucha district in Kyiv Oblast a wall of remembrance was installed in Bucha Each has plaques with the names of the victims engraved on them the memorial contains 509 names of civilians who have been identified Bodies of civilians lie on Yablunska Street in Bucha after the Russian army pulled back from the city (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)Ukainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) speaks to the press in the town of Bucha (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP via Getty Images)A picture shows an arm and a shoe in a mass grave in Bucha amid Russia's military invasion launched on Ukraine (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP via Getty Images)Priests pray by the bodies of those killed during the Bucha massacre committed by Russian forces at the start of the full-scale war at a mass grave discovered on the grounds of a church in Bucha (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)MariupolThe defense of Mariupol lasted from Feb following the Mariupol garrison surrender of the Azovstal cut off from the rest of Ukraine-held territory The Russian military bombed the maternity hospital and the Drama Theater The Russian military damaged or destroyed 80% of all residential buildings in the city Some of the Russian war crimes were caught on tape by Ukrainian journalists Mstyslav Chernov Their footage became the centerpiece of the Academy Award-winning documentary "20 Days in Mariupol." Mariupol has been under occupation for over two years Russia is actively displacing the local population Those who are willing to leave the occupied territories are forced to undergo often humiliating and deadly checks A screenshot from the Ukrainian documentary "20 Days in Mariupol," which covers Russian forces' siege of Mariupol amid Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine (Facebook)A man carries the bottles with drinking water past the partially destroyed Mariupol drama theatre in the city of Mariupol (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)A woman and her dog are seen behind the smashed windscreen of her car after arriving at an evacuation point in a large convoy of cars and buses carrying hundreds of people evacuated from Mariupol and Melitopol (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)KhersonIn early March 2022 the only regional center that the Russian army was able to capture after the start of the full-scale invasion Ukrainian forces liberated the city in mid-November of the same year during a large-scale counteroffensive in the country's south Kherson residents met the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Freedom Square so strangers passed on the news of Kherson's liberation to each other the liberated Kherson continued to live under almost round-the-clock attacks by Russian troops from the occupied eastern bank of the Dnipro River The Russian army is attacking Kherson with mortars the Russian-occupied Kakhovka Dam was destroyed from within which led to the flooding of substantial parts of Kherson Oblast with Russia denying humanitarian organizations access to the flooded villages located on the Russian-occupied part of the river Civilians carrying Ukrainian flags celebrate at Independence Square after the withdrawal of the Russian army from Kherson to the eastern bank of Dnipro River (Narciso Contreras/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)A woman hugs a Ukrainian soldier as local residents celebrate the liberation of Kherson (Bulent Kilic/AFP via Getty Images)Mobilization in RussiaRussian President Vladimir Putin declared partial mobilization only once Putin said the mobilization was over but did not sign a decree that would officially end such practice Although Russia continues to advance in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts The growing shortage of soldiers is prompting Russia to increase recruitment and offer substantial signing bonuses for soldiers willing to fight Ukrainian officials reported that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers were now located in Russia's Kursk Oblast More than 200,000 people have reported to service under partial mobilization in Moscow (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Zelensky's diplomatic effortSince the start of the all-out war President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken a leading role in attempting to mobilize support for Ukraine Zelensky addressed both chambers of the U.S Congress during his visit to Washington on Dec "Despite all the unpredictable events Ukraine has not fallen," Zelensky said adding that this achievement is possible due to the strong international support Zelensky added that the war cannot be "frozen or postponed." Nearly two years after Zelensky's speech in Congress President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end the war "in 24 hours," while praising Vladimir Putin of Russia Trump's inner circle had gone even further throwing constant jabs at Ukraine and its president uncertain about its survival or whether its main ally would turn against the country at war President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the U.S (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the U.S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) hold a Ukrainian national flag that Zelensky gave them at the US Capitol in Washington (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)Throughout the full-scale invasion has been making efforts to gather allies to help Ukraine defend against Russia the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense bringing together more than 50 allied countries were established within the Ramstein framework to enhance assistance to Ukraine where Zelensky presented his peace formula Delegations from 92 countries and eight international organizations joined the event hosted by Switzerland The communiqué was signed by 94 countries and organizations Russia began mass missile strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure that soon became a common feature of the war Russia's large-scale attack on Ukraine on Nov resulted in an emergency shutdown of all the country's nuclear reactors It was the first time Ukrainian cities faced major blackouts due to constant Russian attacks on critical infrastructure rolling blackouts and the sound of generators on the streets are a regular occurrence Zelensky said in September that past Russian attacks had destroyed all of Ukraine's thermal power plants and almost all hydroelectric capacity According to an International Energy Agency (IEA) report Ukraine's electricity shortage could reach 6 gigawatts this winter due to the attacks about one-third of the expected peak demand Kyiv during a blackout after a Russian missile attack on Ukrainian power infrastructure in Kyiv 2022 (Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Pedestrians walk past Soviet era Arch of friendship of the Ukrainian and Russian people in Kyiv 2022 during a rolling blackout in the Ukrainian capital (Sergei Supinsky / AFP via Getty Images)A person walks in a street during a blackout following Russian attacks on a city's energy infrastructure in Kharkiv (Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images)Dnipro apartment building attackA Russian missile hit a multi-story building in the Peremoha residential area in Dnipro on Jan The search and rescue operation involved 450 Emergency Service workers who worked in shifts of 12 hours Thirty-six people were rescued from the rubble and the search and rescue operation lasted almost 70 hours This attack remains one of the deadliest Russian attacks on civilians since 2022 A rescuer climbs a ladder of a fire engine to one of the damaged apartments after a missile strike in Dnipro (Yurii Stefanyak/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)BakhmutThe Battle of Bakhmut was called the bloodiest since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the bloodiest infantry battle since World War II Russian losses were estimated at 60,000 killed and wounded, one for every half meter of captured territory, according to the British government The Russian army struck Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast with all types of weapons burning and destroying everything in its path The siege of Bakhmut was conducted by the Wagner Group mercenaries employed by Russia gained substantial powers and became increasingly tangled in conflict with the Russian Defense Ministry and the country's Armed Forces Zelensky said that Bakhmut was completely destroyed: "They destroyed all the buildings The battle for the city lasted almost 10 months Two soldiers walk among destroyed trees in the morning fog as the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade 'Edelveys' operate at the front line with infantry holding fire at positions 100 meters below Russian positions (Kostya Liberov/Libkos via Getty Images)Ukrainian military paramedics evacuate a wounded serviceman from the front line near Bakhmut (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)An aerial view of the city of Bakhmut totally destroyed by heavy battles in Donetsk Oblast 2023 counteroffensivesIn the summer and fall of 2022 Ukrainian forces conducted their most successful counteroffensive campaign to date liberating dozens of settlements in Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts that had been seized at the beginning of the full-scale invasion The active phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive lasted about three months and ended on Nov with the liberation of the city of Kherson the Ukrainian military liberated almost the entire oblast namely about 6,000 square kilometers (2,316 square miles) the 2023 counteroffensive didn't deliver substantial results The months-long push resulted in the liberation of the town of Robotyne in the southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast and an increased loss of soldiers and military equipment causing a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine The floods caused by the breach killed at least 32 people in Ukrainian-held territories, according to Ukraine's Defense Ministry Russia, in turn, claimed that 59 people died in the territory it occupies, while an Associated Press investigation discovered that in the town of Oleshky alone and hundreds of thousands were left without access to clean drinking water marking the first anniversary of the event "It was a deliberate and premeditated crime," Zelensky said Ukrainian security forces transport local residents in a boat during an evacuation from a flooded area in Kherson following damages sustained at Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam (Oleksii Filippov / AFP via Getty Images)Residents of Kherson wear warming blankets after the explosion at the Kakhovka Dam unleashed floodwaters in Kherson (Seth Herald/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)A view from the roof of a residential building in a flooded area of Kherson As a result of Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka Dam massive swaths of land in the south of Ukraine were flooded (Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)People wait for a transfer on a pontoon in a flooded area as the result of the Kakhovka Dam destruction in Afanasiivka village (Roman Pilipey/Getty Images)Wagner coupWagner launched a so-called "march for justice" against Russian military leaders after alleging on June 23 that a missile strike on the mercenary forces in Ukraine had caused substantial casualties Wagner seized administrative buildings in Russia's city of Rostov and passed through Voronezh said that his mercenary forces were 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian Armed Forces had received an order to eliminate the rebels The rebellion ended abruptly when Prigozhin backed down the following day Prigozhin said on June 24 that the mercenaries would stop their march on Moscow and withdraw to military camps Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko held talks with Prigozhin acting as a mediator between the dictator and the warlord Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders died in a mysterious plane crash in Russia on Aug. 23, 2023. The crash came two months after Prigozhin led Wagner troops in a short-lived rebellion against the Kremlin Head of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don (Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)A man holds a flag with the Wagner Group logo in Rostov-on-Don (Roman Romokhov /AFP via Getty Images)A member of Wagner Group stands guard in Rostov-on-Don (Stringer / AFP via Getty Images)AvdiivkaOn the night of Feb Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced that Ukrainian troops were withdrawing from Avdiivka to avoid encirclement and to save the lives and health of the soldiers The occupation of the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast was Russia's biggest achievement since the Battle of Bakhmut in May 2023 Over the four months of the Battle of Avdiivka the commander of the Tavria group of forces Ukrainian police officers patrol a residential area after shelling in the front-line city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine (Ozge Elif Kizil/Anadolu via Getty Images)Ukrainian infantry soldiers of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade wait to head toward the front line in the Avdiivka direction (Roman Pilipey /AFP via Getty Images)A general view of smoke rising from the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant behind the village of Lastochkino which is under fire from MLRS "Grad" in Avdiivka district (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)Ukrainian infantry soldiers of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade walk to board an armored fighting vehicle MaxxPro to head toward the front line in the Avdiivka direction (Roman Pilipey /AFP via Getty Images)2024 attacks on civiliansApart from advancing on the front line Russia continued to target the civilian population of Ukraine constantly attacking cities with drones and missiles resulting in deadly casualties and considerable destruction at least 75 medical institutions were destroyed and 587 damaged while 324 educational institutions were destroyed and 1,172 were damaged nearly 50,000 civilians were killed and injured with the agency saying that the actual figures are much higher Russia attacked Ukraine with drones everyday An improvised memorial in honor of the children who died as a result of the Russian drone attack is displayed in Odesa 2024 (Tanya Dzafarowa/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)A residential building is partially collapsed after Russian drone attack in Odesa (Tanya Dzafarowa/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)Medical personnel (C) stand amid the rubble of the destroyed building of Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital following a Russian missile attack in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv (Roman Pilipey /AFP via Getty Images)Emergency and rescue personnel along with medics and others clear the rubble of the destroyed building of Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital following a Russian missile attack in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv (Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images)People clean up inside the damaged Derzhprom building after the Russian aerial bomb attack on the city center in Kharkiv (Ivan Samoilov/Gwara Media/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)Ukrainian first responders work at the site of a Russian missile attack on a publishing factory in Kharkiv (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)People with a child in a stroller walk past a ruined residential building in Northern Saltivka the district of the city damaged the most by Russian shelling of Kharkiv (Zinchenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)Kursk OblastIn August Ukrainian troops decided to take the fight to Russia Ukrainian soldiers crossed the Russian border and began an offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said the Ukrainian military had taken control of 1,294 square kilometers (500 square miles) and 100 settlements neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian side has provided updated data on the Kursk operation Russian forces managed to regain some of the seized territories Ukraine is currently holding back 50,000 Russian troops in Kursk Oblast Russia has captured 1,146 square kilometers (442 square miles) in Ukraine since Aug about a quarter more than in the first seven months of the year Bloomberg reported that the Russian military also advanced by 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) over the past week Kyiv's forces announced the withdrawal from one of the key Donetsk Oblast settlements, Vuhledar, on Oct. 2 after Russian forces swarmed the town's flanks. Russian troops have also reportedly captured the town of Selydove but Ukraine has not yet confirmed the reports Apart from Vuhledar and Selydove, Russian forces have been focusing their efforts against the Donetsk Oblast towns of Pokrovsk and Toretsk where outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian soldiers are slowly losing ground under Russian pressure Russian troops also appear to be preparing for assault operations in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast where "the enemy is amassing personnel," the Ukrainian military's Southern Command spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn said on Sept You don't have permissions to access this page by Yuliia TaradiukPrime Minister Bart De Wever during a a diplomatic visit to Kyiv on Tuesday 08 April 2025 (Justin Yau / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever The delegation also visited Bucha, a suburb northwest of Kyiv which became a symbol of Russian war crimes after mass graves were uncovered in April 2022 following its liberation by Ukrainian troops Prevot said on his social media that their visit is "more than a symbolic gesture." The Kremlin has long-used Bucha in state propaganda, denying the extensively documented crimes committed by Russian forces Ukraine marked the third anniversary of the Bucha tragedy on March 31, with European parliamentary leaders visiting the suburb Today, together with the Prime Minister of Belgium, @Bart_DeWever, we commemorated our defenders—the warriors thanks to whom Ukraine is alive, free, and continues to fight.We remember the feat of every man and woman who defended Ukraine at the cost of their own lives. Eternal… pic.twitter.com/oTSUZRnZLt "The brutality of March 2022 is not hearsay," Prevot said But no lie can erase the truth written in blood," he added