A blunt statement, accompanied by a slickly produced video of Ukrainian troops preparing for battle, appeared designed to rally the nation and to spread anxiety among Russian forces.
Satellite imagery and images taken by drones posted on social media by Russian and Ukrainian forces testify to the annihilation of the city.
Russia’s pro-war bloggers were quick to claim that Ukraine’s long-anticipated counteroffensive had begun, but Ukrainian officials downplayed the advances.
Far from disguising the deportations, the Kremlin puts the children on display in Red Square photo-ops and at lavish concerts celebrating the war.
The Chinese leader is expected to meet in person next week with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and a call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine could follow.
A state visit this week by Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus comes as the U.S. has accused China of preparing to send lethal aid to Russia.
Declaring the resolve to fight on, however, is much easier than mustering the resources and support to do so.
Ukraine has used the strategic town of Vuhledar to launch attacks disrupting transit on a critical rail link between the war’s southern and eastern fronts.
Even as Ukrainian workers race to restore basic services like electricity, heat and water, new Russian airstrikes send them back to the starting line.
Ukraine’s engineers and emergency crews work desperately to restore services through snow, freezing rain and blackout conditions.
