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The invasion of Ukraine is a war crime and calling it a “tragedy” shelters Russia from its responsibility

By Mariana Budjeryn, Research Associate, Project on Managing the Atom, Harvard Kennedy School Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to cause unspeakable, unimaginable suffering. By now, the word “tragedy” is firmly installed in the lexicon of the war and has become almost a cliche. Journalists record tragedies in Ukraine in their many heartbreaking manifestations. Marking the first anniversary of the war in February 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden said, “This war was never a necessity; it’s a tragedy.” The label of “tragedy” is liberally applied to most every development in this war. Russia’s breach of the Kakhovka dam on June...

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Ukraine’s leaders assess war resources as Russian occupation of their territory nears another winter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with President Joe Biden about future U.S. support for Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a military base near the invaded nation’s border as the warring countries prepared for the winter and next year’s combat operations. Almost 20 months of war have sapped both sides’ military resources. The fighting is likely to settle into positional and attritional warfare during the approaching wintry weather, analysts say, with little change along the more than 600-mile front line. Zelenskyy said he spoke to Biden by phone about “a significant support package” for Ukraine on...

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How long-range missiles provided by the U.S. enabled Ukraine’s major strike on Russian airfields

Ukraine claimed on October 17 to have carried out one of the most destructive attacks on Russian air assets since the beginning of the war, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the assault used longer-range ballistic missiles donated by the United States. Zelenskyy’s announcement came hours after a U.S. official revealed that the longer-range ballistic missiles sought for months by Kyiv and promised by President Joe Biden had been delivered quietly and are in battlefield use. Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces claimed it destroyed nine Russian helicopters at two airfields in Russia-occupied regions in a nighttime attack on targets in...

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China restricts exports for some civilian drones over concerns of military use in Ukraine

China imposed restrictions on exports of long-range civilian drones beginning in August, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine and concern that drones might be converted to military use. Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government is friendly with Moscow but says it is neutral in the 17-month-old war. It has been stung by reports that both sides might be using Chinese-made drones for reconnaissance and possibly attacks. Export controls took effect on August 1 to prevent use of drones for “non-peaceful purposes,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. It said some drone exports still will be allowed. China is a...

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Amnesty International documents evidence of war crimes as Israeli attacks hit civilians in Gaza

As Israeli forces continue to intensify their cataclysmic assault on the occupied Gaza Strip, Amnesty International has documented unlawful Israeli attacks, including indiscriminate attacks, which caused mass civilian casualties and must be investigated as war crimes. The organization spoke to survivors and eyewitnesses, analyzed satellite imagery, and verified photos and videos to investigate air bombardments carried out by Israeli forces between October 7 and 12, which caused horrific destruction, and in some cases wiped out entire families. The organization presented an in-depth analysis of its findings in five of these unlawful attacks. In each of these cases, Israeli attacks...

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Gaza relief operations: The difficulty of navigating logistics and politics to deliver vital aid during war

By Topher L. McDougal, Professor of Economic Development & Peacebuilding, University of San Diego The 2.2 million people who live in Gaza are facing economic isolation and experiencing incessant bombardment. Their supplies of essential resources, including food and water, are quickly dwindling. In response, U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged US$100 million in humanitarian assistance for the citizens of Gaza. As a scholar of peace and conflict economics who served as a World Bank consultant during the 2014 war between Hamas and Israel, I believe that Biden’s promise raises fundamental questions regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid in a...

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