News with a historical perspective
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered so-called volunteer fighters from the Middle East to be brought into Ukraine. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia knew of “more than 16,000 applications”, according to a statement from the Kremlin. Most “volunteers” are people who had been helped by Russia against the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, ShoiguContinue reading “War in Ukraine: Putin approves use of volunteer foreign fighters from the Middle East “
Ukraine is demanding an immediate ceasefire and for all Russian troops to leave the country as they report more than 350 Ukrainian civilians have so far been killed in President Putin’s invasion, which entered its fifth day Monday. The United Nations is also reporting more than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine and another 100,000 areContinue reading “Report from Kyiv: LGBTQ Activist Says Ukrainians Are United in Resisting Russian Invasion – Democracy Now!”
A huge convoy of Russian armoured vehicles is advancing on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv – as a massive Russian strike hits Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv. President Zelenskiy has called the attacks on Kharkiv “state terrorism” while Boris Johnson has accused Russia of “barbaric and indiscriminate” attacks.
Poland will refuse to play their forthcoming World Cup play-offs with Russia in March following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The winners of the game, which was due to be played on March 25, would face Sweden or Czech Republic four days later for a place in the finals in Qatar in November. The PolishContinue reading “Poland will refuse to play World Cup play-offs with Russia in opposition to invasion of Ukraine – Sky Sports News”
Ukraine on Wednesday has started conscripting reservists aged 18-60 following a decree by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the armed forces said in a statement. The maximum service period is one year. Zelenskiy on Tuesday said he was introducing the conscription of reservists but ruled out a general mobilisation after Russia announced it was moving troops intoContinue reading “Ukraine starts drafting reservists aged 18-60 after president’s order”
Russia has acquired the right to build military bases in Ukraine’s two breakaway regions under treaties signed by President Vladimir Putin with their separatist leaders. Putin on Monday officially recognised the two breakaway regions – the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic – as independent statelets, defying Western warnings that such aContinue reading “Russia now has right to build military bases in eastern Ukraine – treaties”
Meanwhile, separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine order a full military mobilization amid a spike of violence in the region citing an ‘immediate threat of aggression’ from Ukrainian forces Top Ukrainian military officials came under a shelling attack during a tour of the front of the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. The officials fled to aContinue reading “Ukraine Officials Come Under Shelling Attack on Eastern Front”
In which John Green teaches you about World War I and how it got started. Crash Course doesn’t usually talk much about dates, but the way that things unfolded in July and August of 1914 are kind of important to understanding the Great War. You’ll learn about Franz Ferdinand, Gavrilo Pincep, the Black Hand, andContinue reading “How World War I Started: Crash Course World History 209”
Among the Fray 