Avdiivka: Russians take control of city in ‘important’ victory over Ukraine
Russian forces have taken complete control of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka after months of intense fighting, the defence ministry has said.
President Vladimir Putin congratulated troops on the development, labelling it a “success” and “important victory” just days away from the second anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, informed the Kremlin that forces were working to clear the final pockets of resistance, the same day Ukraine’s military chief said he was withdrawing outnumbered troops from the city.
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It comes as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy implored the West to increase supplies of military aid and suggested the withdrawal was partly caused by a lack of weapons.
“Now, [the military] will replenish, they will wait for the relevant weapons, of which there simply weren’t enough, simply aren’t enough,” he said, addressing the Munich Security Conference.
“Russia has long-range weapons, while we simply don’t have enough.”
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Zelenskyy’s warning over Russian threat
He later expressed hope that Congress in the US would make a “wise decision” and pass the package to resupply Ukrainian forces, which has met fierce resistance from the Republicans.
“We hope that the House of Representatives will make decisions to ensure further necessary US support for Ukraine,” Mr Zelenskyy wrote on X.
“We must win this war.”
A Ukrainian soldier in Avdiivka last year. Pic: AP
The White House blamed the withdrawal from Avdiivka on “dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction” that had forced Ukrainian soldiers to ration ammunition and resulted in “Russia’s first notable gains in months”.
Later, in a phone call with Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Biden underscored the US’ commitment to supporting Ukraine.
The taking of the southern city is Russia’s biggest advance since it took Bakhmut last May, and could be key in Russia moving a step closer to securing full control of the two provinces that make up the industrial Donbas region.
Putin congratulated troops on victory in Ukrainian city. Pic: Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov
In a telegram, Mr Putin paid tribute to soldiers who had died in the campaign, saying: “Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in fulfilling the tasks of the special military operation!”
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Russian forces have been trying to advance on the town since October last year and have surrounded it on three sides, leaving limited resupply routes for the Ukrainian troops dug in there.
In recent days, Rodion Kudriashov, deputy commander of the Third Assault Brigade, gave an insight into the situation on the ground, saying Russian warplanes had been dropping about 60 bombs a day, relentlessly shelling the area and launching assaults with armour and infantry.
Pic: AP
The city, once home to around 30,000 residents but now thought to have a population of just over 1,000 people, is located to the north of Donetsk.
It was home to a large industrial facility producing chemicals and the coal-based fuel known as coke, but the plant has been largely destroyed in the fighting, according to its owners.
The takeover hasn’t come easy to the Russians, with footage appearing to show bodies of about 150 soldiers, most wearing Russian uniforms, lying scattered along tree lines where they sought cover.
Banned from Eurovision after its invasion of Ukraine, Russia will hold a rival international song contest on Saturday, with an emphasis on “traditional values”.
Instead of camp, think conservative – patriotic pop with a PG-rating.
“Intervision” was launched under the order of Vladimir Putin, with the hope it would serve as an expression of Moscow’s international pulling power.
Intervision decorations in Red Square, Moscow, ahead of the contest
There are contestants from 23 countries, which are a mixture of Russia’s allies old and new, including Belarus, Cuba and Tajikistan as well as China, India and Saudi Arabia.
The odd one out is the United States, who’ll be represented by an artist called “Vassy”. She’s not part of an official delegation, but an American voice is still a coup for the Kremlin, which will seek to use this contest as proof of the West’s failure to isolate Russia on the global stage.
‘War whitewash’
Intervision is not entirely new. It was originally launched in the 1960s as an instrument of Soviet soft power, before largely fading from view in the 1980s.
According to Moscow, its revival has nothing to do with politics. But Ukraine has condemned it as propaganda, and an attempt to whitewash Russia’s war.
It was a point I put to some contestants after their final press conferences, but it didn’t go down well.
“We don’t think like that, we are here to spread peace,” India’s Rauhan Malik told me, when I asked if his participation was a show of support for Russia’s invasion.
Malik, one of the contestants
“Are you not turning a blind eye to Russia’s aggression?” I countered.
“I have no idea about it,” he said. “I have no idea about the current situation that’s happening. I don’t want to speak about that as well.”
Eurovision legends Abba would almost certainly not make the Russian contest guest list. Pic: AP
Really? He had no idea? But before I could go on, I felt a forceful hand on my shoulder and a minder stepped in.
The intervention was even quicker when it came to speaking to Brazil’s act. As soon as I mentioned the word Ukraine, I was drowned out by shouts of “no, no, no, no” and the duo were ushered away.
Brazilian contestants, duo Luciano Calazans and Thais Nader
Where’s the glitter?
Intervision is not just a reaction to Russia’s recent exclusion from Eurosivion, however, it’s also a reaction to the contest’s values and what it’s come to represent.
Its celebration of sexual diversity and LGBTQ+ rights are seen as a symbol of what the Kremlin calls the West’s moral decline. In contrast, Intervision organisers say their contest will promote “traditional, family values.”
Judging by the costumes on show ahead of last week’s draw, that translates to less glitter, more embroidery, with a thematic emphasis on national heritage.
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So what do Russians think of Intervision’s resurrection? Can it replace Eurovision?
“We don’t miss Eurovision,” Galina and Tatiana say, underneath a collection of purple and pink ‘Intervision’ flags near Red Square.
“It was so horrible, especially lately. We didn’t like watching it at all.”
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Why are countries boycotting Eurovision?
Polina agrees, believing Russia’s version will be “more interesting”.
“Many countries that participated in Eurovision want to boycott it, so it’s interesting to see a more peaceful event now,” she says.
Igor is more circumspect. “I’d like to believe that this isn’t a political event,” he says, “but rather an event that unites nations and people.”
Intervision will succeed in uniting some nations. But at the same time, it may only deepen divisions with others – further evidence that Russia and the West are singing very different tunes.
Donald Trump will introduce a new $100,000 application fee for foreign worker visas.
A White House official said the US President is preparing to sign a proclamation today that will require a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visa, which covers highly-skilled foreign workers.
The charge is part of a broader immigration crackdown.
H-1B visas are meant to bring the best and brightest foreigners for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill with qualified Americans and other permanent residents.
The programme has drawn criticism for becoming a pipeline for overseas workers who are often willing to work for wages lower than those typically paid to US technology workers. Critics also argue that companies use H-1B visas to overlook Americans for jobs.
First lady Melania Trump, the former Melania Knauss, was granted an H1-B work visa in October 1996 to work as a model. She was born in Slovenia.
What is a H-1B visa?
The H-1B programme has been crucial for technology and staffing companies who rely on foreign workers.
Historically, these visas – 85,000 per year – have been doled out through a lottery system.
Donald Trump will introduce the charge as part of an immigration crackdown
India, the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounted for 71% of approved beneficiaries.
China was second with 11.7%, according to government data.
Shares of IT services company, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, fell by over 5% on Friday.
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