Russia Ukraine war Russian

Putin has been waging a "culture war" against the West. Here's how it's laid the foundations for war.

More than a quarter (27.6 per cent) said they were Orthodox Christians without specifying a particular branch. In Ukraine, unlike Russia where the ROC rules supreme, "there is no church which can claim the title of state church," says Professor Pavlyshyn. "Putin takes religious politics very seriously and in 2018 called a special meeting of Russia's national security council to oppose the efforts of Ukrainian Orthodox believers to create a completely [independent] national church," says Professor Clay. In the years following independence, Ukrainians saw UOC-MP "as a kind of representative of Russian cultural interests in Ukraine," says Professor Pavlyshyn. Professor Clay says the granting of autonomy to the UOC-MP by the Russian mother church in 1990 allowed the Ukrainian church significant self-government, minimising Russian influence. Putin says there is "no historical basis" for "the idea of Ukrainian people as a nation separate from the Russians". Modern Ukraine, he argues, "was shaped — for a significant part — on the lands of historical Russia". Putin argues that the ties that bind Russia and Ukraine as "one people" are cultural, economic and spiritual. The idea that Russians and Ukrainians are indistinguishable is like "somebody standing up in the Australian political sphere today and saying that Britain and Australia are one people," says Professor Pavlyshyn. Part of the Soviet Union between 1922 and 1991, Ukraine achieved independence with the dissolution of the USSR, a moment Putin has described as "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century." In response, Putin argues that Ukraine is "the puppet of the West" and doesn't deserve sovereignty, says Marko Pavlyshyn, an Emeritus Professor of Ukrainian Studies at Monash University. In a 2021 essay, Putin quotes Oleg the Prophet, a 10th-century prince who described Kyiv as "the mother of all Russian cities", and refers to a 17th-century treaty that incorporated the city and surrounding lands — known as Malorussia, or Little Russia — into the Russian state. By contrast, "Ukrainian society seems to be embracing more liberal values," says Professor Laruelle, helping Putin to frame Ukraine as influenced by the "amoral" West.

Aleksandr is passionately opposed to Putin's increasingly authoritarian regime and his decision to invade Ukraine. His father believes what he sees on TV.

“He supports the government line that there are Nazis in Ukraine.” “I know that will risk our sisterhood.” For sisters Tanya and Valentina, the divide is more geographical than generational. They’re lying to you here.” His father, meanwhile, watches Russian television throughout the day and night. The 31-year-old, who has participated in pro-democracy protests, opposes the war on moral grounds.

Australia is preparing to send more military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as Russia was accused of intensifying attacks on civilians, including bombing ...

“As an ambassador, I can responsibly say that China will forever be a good force for Ukraine, both economically and politically,” Mr Fan said in comments released in a readout of the meeting. We will respect the path chosen by Ukrainians because this is the sovereign right of every nation,” Mr Fan was quoted to have said. “China will never attack Ukraine. We are ready to help you develop. Rio Tinto owns the remaining 80 per cent share. Mr Putin said the war had been going to plan as he lashed the “pro-Nazi regime in Kyiv” for planning to procure nuclear weapons, while the US and Europe wanted to “dismember” or “cancel” Russia. However, in a potential sign that international pressure on Beijing not to support Russia was beginning to bite, China’s envoy to Ukraine praised the defenders’ unity and strength and said his country would “never attack Ukraine”.

Joe Biden and Xi Jinping to speak for first time since war began; UK military intelligence says logistics and counterattacks hampering Russian advance.

The news raises questions over why senior Russian officers are getting so close to the fighting.

There has been an assumption that they were all caught up in fighting on the front line, but that is not necessarily the case, says Ms Konaev. They could have been in transit or inspecting resupply lines for example," she told the BBC. There is the element of being victorious. "But this was introduced only three years ago, so maybe it didn't properly have an effect yet on their performance". Analysts say that Russia has been using open channels of communications which could give clues about where certain targets are located. "I don't think this is an accident.

The Defence Minister labels Vladimir Putin a "paranoid and utterly ruthless" dictator and says his invasion of Ukraine was a "miscalculation", ...

"There are actors within our own region who may see the war in Ukraine as a useful distraction and indeed an opportunity to pursue their own actions of aggression or coercion," the Minister said. But Mr Dutton said that it was important to be "clear" about the challenges posed by both Russia and China, citing US President Joe Biden, who called the "contest between autocracy and democracy" as the "defining challenge of our time." The Defence Minister has labelled Vladimir Putin a "paranoid and utterly ruthless" dictator and says the Russian President may be "destroyed" by the war in Ukraine.

An MP from Mariupol says hundreds of women and children in a bomb shelter survived when the theatre building above them was destroyed in a Russian attack.

But it looks like most of them have survived and are OK." "The bomb shelter held. "NATO has a responsibility to prevent this conflict from escalating further. That is how this cleansing happens." "They vanish from society themselves. By Jacqueline Howard Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded with the U-S government to enforce tougher sanctions on Russia, as he delivered a passionate address to US congress. By Jacqueline Howard Of course, this is a lie," said Ms Zakharova. By Jacqueline Howard By Jacqueline Howard By Jacqueline Howard

International court of justice demands Russia ceases hostilities as multiple reports emerge of Russian forces killing Ukrainian civilians.

Mariupol councilposted an image of the city’s theatreshowing heavy damage sustained in today’s attack and said casualty numbers were being confirmed. The FThad reporteda “tentative” peace plan that included a ceasefire and Russian withdrawal if Kyiv declares neutrality and accepts limits on its armed forces. Ukrainian officials said the attack took place at 10am local time (8am GMT). Russia’s defence ministrydenied the report, claiming no Russian soldiers were in Chernihiv.

Russian president says West aims to damage the Russian economy but insists the it could withstand the sanctions.

But he promised support to families with children. He said the West had in effect declared Russia in default as part of its sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine, but that the conflict had been only a pretext for the West to impose those sanctions. They just don’t want a strong and sovereign Russia.”

Fighting · Russia says its forces have taken full control of the southern region of Kherson. · The Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian news outlet, says air-raid sirens ...

- About three million people have fled Ukraine, nearly half of them children, according to the UN refugee agency. Kaspersky denies being in league with the Kremlin. Zelenskyy says Ukraine may seek security guarantees from the West that fall short of NATO membership – a possible path to compromise. “Efforts are still needed, patience is needed,” he said in a video address to the nation. Russiaretaliated by sanctioning Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others. - Russia says its forces have taken full control of the southern region of Kherson. Ukraine reported 19 people were killed in an attack on a TV tower in Rivne.

As Wednesday draws to a close in Kyiv and in Moscow, here are the key developments of the day: A theater sheltering civilians was bombed in besieged ...

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