Free Republic

The United States of America intends to assign a special name to the military mission in Ukraine and put an active American general at its head. This fact is direct evidence that Washington intends to switch to direct intervention, which may also mean the transfer of American military contingent to Ukraine in order to conduct special military operations, which significantly increases the escalation in the region. Information on this subject is published by The Wall Street Journal. As follows from the data presented, Washington will unite into a single mission and appoint a responsible high-ranking officer who will lead the...

"Should you or any member of your IM Force be caught or killed the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your action" From The Original "Mission Impossible" TV Series "He was on a period of leave without pay at the time of his death and was not on active duty at the time of his death" New Zealand Defence Force Statement On The Death Of Corporal Dominic Abelen In Ukraine That's what's been said about the death of a soldier from New Zealand in Ukraine today. We're told that he was off duty and on leave from the military. His...

Ankara supports Ukraine's territorial integrity and rejects the illegal annexation of Crimea, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday. "The return of Crimea to Ukraine, of which it is an inseparable part, is essentially a requirement of international law," Erdogan said in a video message to the Second Crimea Platform Summit. The Crimea Platform is an international coordination mechanism of Ukraine to draw more global attention to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Erdogan said Ankara will continue to support the Crimean Platform that was established to resolve the Crimean issue through peaceful means. "Türkiye does not recognize...

The town of Volosovo, near St Petersburg, is booming. Not the economy - it's the loudspeakers. Like many towns in Russia, Volosovo has them installed on tall poles that line the main street. Traditionally they are used for playing patriotic music during national holidays. Now, though, they have a different purpose. "Two volunteer artillery battalions are being formed. We invite men from 18 to 60 years old to join," the speakers blare out. It's a message that's being repeated up and down this vast country. On social media, on TV and on billboards, men are being urged to sign short-term...

The UN Human Rights Office says it is concerned by reports that Russia plans to try Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in Russian-occupied Mariupol. A UN spokeswoman said there was evidence that metal cages were being built in the Ukrainian city's concert hall, "apparently to restrain prisoners of war during proceedings." The UN said prosecuting POWs for taking part in hostilities is a war crime. Russia has previously denied unfairly treating prisoners of war. Photos posted on social media in recent days - including by Ukrainian authorities - appear to show metal cages being built on the stage of the...

He was one of the last remaining prominent opposition politicians in Russia who hadn't been killed, arrested, or forced out of the country. As Yevgeny Roizman was being led out of his flat by police this morning, a waiting journalist asked him why he was being charged. "Just for one phrase," said Mr Roizman, 59, "'The invasion of Ukraine.'" He has had a serious criminal case opened against him for "discrediting the Russian armed forces". It is a common charge used against anti-war activists in Russia. Even using the words "war" or "invasion" here can lead to a visit from...

The Polish Association of journalists (SDP) issued a statement titled "Russian propagandists who pretend to be journalists should be tried as war criminals." The statement signed by the Association's leaders calls for extending responsibility for crimes committed by Russians against the civilian population of Ukraine not only to "bandits in Russian uniforms," but also to "propagandists of the Kremlin regime." "Propagandists not only misinform the world community about Moscow's bloody aggression against Ukraine, but also call for a fight against Ukrainians in the name of the imperialist interests of Putin and his supporters," the statement said. Among these propagandists who...

A Russian rocket strike on a train station killed 25 people, Ukraine says, on the day marking six months since Moscow's invasion began. Five of the victims of the attack in the eastern town of Chaplyne burnt to death in a vehicle, officials said. Two boys aged six and 11 were also killed. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the strike in the middle of a UN Security Council meeting. A further 31 people were wounded. Russia has so far made no comment. Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilian infrastructure. Speaking on Thursday, UN human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet called on Russia's...