UKRAINE

Russia has begun fortifying its defenses on the northern border of Crimea, according to a report.

Foreign fighters who join the Ukrainian army to fight in the war against Russia become part of Ukraine's International Legion.

Expectations of growth were echoed by Ukrainian companies in the industrial, service and retail sectors.

The White House on Monday estimated that Russia's military has suffered 100,000 casualties in the last five months in fighting against Ukraine in the Bakhmut region.

In recent months, Russian commanders began punishing troops committing misdemeanors such as drunkenness by placing them in makeshift underground cells.

According to the Ukrainian military, Russia suffered heavy losses on the battlefield in April, including 17,150 of its military personnel.

Ukraine said on Sunday its troops were holding onto parts of the eastern city of Bakhmut, focus of a prolonged Russian assault, while the head of a major pro-Moscow force said his men were making progress.

Russia's private Wagner militia, which is leading the assault on Bakhmut in Ukraine and has been active in Africa, could soon cease to exist, founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in video remarks to a blogger that were released on Friday.

A retired Air Force colonel believes Ukraine has a huge chance of defeating Russia in the war if it has modern military hardware.

A correspondent for a Russian state-run newspaper said Putin fired the colonel for logistics.

The first phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been met with skepticism from analysts.

At least 17.6 million Ukrainians require humanitarian assistance this year, according to the United Nations.

Russia filtered Ukrainian civilians whom it categorized as disloyal and dangerous and subjected them to electric shock torture while in detention, according to a researcher.

A confrontation ensued between two Russian mercenary groups fighting in the war in Ukraine, as Gazprom fighters' Potok group abandoned their positions.

Mariupol was one of the first cities Russia attacked at the start of its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian refugees struggle in nationalist Hungary

Russia is expected to continue investing in defenses for its bases in annexed Crimea.

Hundreds more Russian soldiers were killed and dozens of Russia's military equipment were destroyed by Ukrainian forces Tuesday.

Ukraine is poised to begin its counteroffensive against Russia in May, as thousands of its soldiers will conclude combat training by the end of this month.

Russian state TV host Vladimir Solovyov said they will support Carlson if he runs for the presidency in 2024.

Discussions for Russia to invade Ukraine began as early as February to March 2021, one source said.