What's happened
Russia plans to evacuate 9,000 children from a border region due to continuous shelling by Ukraine. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pledges ongoing support for Ukraine's war effort against Russia. Russia's navy likely limits operations in the eastern Black Sea due to mounting losses from Ukraine's sea strike campaigns.
Why it matters
The evacuation of children from a Russian border region highlights the escalating conflict with Ukraine, while US support for Ukraine's war effort underscores the international stakes involved. The impact of Russia's navy limiting operations in the Black Sea signifies the effectiveness of Ukraine's sea strike campaigns and the strain on Russian military capabilities.
What the papers say
The Independent reports on the evacuation of children from the Russian border region and US Defense Secretary Austin's commitment to supporting Ukraine. Al Jazeera provides additional details on the continuous shelling by Ukraine and the impact on civilian areas. The Independent also covers Russia's navy limiting operations in the Black Sea due to mounting losses from Ukraine's sea strike campaigns.
How we got here
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen increased hostilities, with Ukraine targeting Russian border regions and Russia seeking to create a buffer zone to protect its territories. The shelling by Ukraine has led to civilian casualties and prompted the evacuation of children from the affected area. The US's support for Ukraine comes amid stalled funding discussions in Congress over sending additional weapons to the front.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Belgorod is a city and the administrative center of Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Seversky Donets River 40 kilometers north of the border with Ukraine. Population: 356,402; 337,030; 300,408.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.