US considering sending more troops to Europe as war in Ukraine rages on, official says: LIVE UPDATES
A senior U.S. defense official said Thursday that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is still considering the possibility of deploying additional American troops to NATO's eastern flank in Europe as the war in Ukraine rages on.
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Putin spokesman declines to rule out use of nuclear weapons if Russia perceives 'existential threat”
Russian President Vladimir Putin spokesman Dmitri Peskov refused Tuesday to say his nation would not use nuclear weapons if it thought Russia could be destroyed.
Peskov said the conditions were consistent with the nations national security concept. “If there’s a threat to the very existence of our country, it can be used in accordance with this concept,” he stated in response to the question of whether Russia’s use of nuclear weapons could be completely ruled out, according to the Russian government-controlled news site TASS.“
"Russian military doctrine envisions use of nuclear weapons in a first use scenario if it is losing a conventional conflict. Ukraine is exactly the scenario for which this was developed,” said Rebekah Koffler, who is a former DIA intelligence officer who specialized in Russia.
“They fear U.S. intervention in Ukraine because they fear we are conventionally superior,” she said. “And if they interpret our action as offensive rather than defensive, that is when the viability of Russian statehood would be threatened, in accordance with the Russian national security concept and military doctrine.”
Russians destroy laboratory at Chernolbyl nuclear power plant
Russian troops destroyed a laboratory that helped improve management of radioactive waste at Chernobyl's nuclear power plant, the Ukrainian government said Tuesday.
The laboratory contained “highly active samples and samples of radionuclides that are now in the hands of the enemy, which we hope will harm itself and not the civilized world,” the Ukrainian state agency responsible for the Chernobyl exclusion zone said in its statement.
The laboratory was built in 2016 with the support of the European Commission at a cost of 6 million euros.
Forest fires also broke out near the plant on Monday, causing concerns that it could help s[read radiation.
Russia took control of plant soon after invading a month ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Helping Ukraine 'about our common values': Slovenian diplomat
White House warns about potential Russian cyber attacks
President Zelenskyy’s office launches humanitarian aid website
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office has launched a humanitarian website aimed at providing assistance to Ukrainians.
The website, help.gov.ua, has a number that people can dial as well as step-by-step instructions for delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The website comes as many Ukrainian cities have faced a constant barrage by Russian forces, with many residents struggling for food and medical supplies.
Goldman warns markets too relaxed on Russia-Ukraine war risks
Global markets may be underestimating the downside risks posed to stocks by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, according to Goldman Sachs strategists.
Although the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February initially triggered a sharp market correction, many major stock indexes have since rebounded: The S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones Industrial Average have all erased their initial losses and eclipsed levels recorded before the conflict began, and similar trends have been recorded in Europe.
But in a Thursday analyst note, the Goldman strategists led by Dominic Wilson and Vickie Chang said the recent trends indicate the market is not braced for the war to worsen, with the fallout potentially rippling throughout the global economy.
Ukrainian military makes gains against Russian forces
Mariupol residents 'starving' as Russian occupation continues: 'Things are bad for my family'
Residents of Mariupol, a strategically located port city in Ukraine that Russian forces have been shelling for weeks, are "starving" as attacks continue.
Russia's invasion of Mariupol and other key Ukrainian cities like Kyiv have forced people underground and destroyed signs of civilization, leaving people without food, water, electricity and ways to communicate with their families.
Maria Smarovailo, a Mariupol native who has since left the city, told Fox News Digital that there has been "no food for more than three weeks."
"In the first week of hostiles in the city, residents bought food in stores en masse," she said, according to a translation. When electricity, water and cellphone signals were cut, people began collecting snow and rainwater and looting stores that were still standing "to get at least some food and water for children."
Ukrainian protesters block Russian yacht in Turkey
A video on YouTube shows a group of Ukrainian protesters aboard a small vessel attempting to block a large Russian yacht belonging to sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
The protesters were members of the Optimist Sailing Team Ukraine, according to BBC News, and waived the Ukrainian flag while chanting "no war in Ukraine."
The group was in Turkey to compete in a junior sailing competition.
Abramovich, a Russian billionaire who owns the famed Chelsea Football Club, is one of many Russian oligarchs who have been sanctioned since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
An attorney for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny vowed to appeal the nine-year prison sentence handed down to Navalny.
"We will certainly be appealing the sentence. As soon as we receive it, we will immediately file complaints," the attorney said at a rally Tuesday, according to a translation obtained by Fox News.
The attorney complained about the process in which Navalny was convicted, arguing they were not allowed to use certain defense materials in what he called an "incorrect process."
What happens if Ukraine and Russia fight to a stalemate?
I'm an American doctor in Ukraine treating people injured in the war and it's gut wrenching
I'm an American doctor currently treating desperate innocent Ukrainians—women, children and the elderly—who have been lucky enough to escape the Russian military by fleeing to Lviv in Western Ukraine and then onward to other countries.
I helped organized a medical mission to Ukraine/Poland because it’s God’s calling to serve. I’m blessed to be a doctor and take care of others and I felt I needed to help those in need.
I was sponsored by the Children Are Medical foundation "CHARM." This is a foundation that serves underprivileged children -- it got involved because over 1 million of the refugees from Ukraine are children. I am also a "DART" a member of the disaster assistance response team with Samaritan’s Purse.
Russia's move in Ukraine has united the West: Peter Schweizer
Pentagon sees no need change nuclear posture
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Tuesday that the U.S. has not seen a need to change its nuclear posture in response to Russia.
"We haven't seen anything that would lead us to conclude that we need to change our strategic deterrent posture," Kirby said when asked about Russia's recent rhetoric on using nuclear weapons.
Pentagon says Russian forces still experiencing logistical issues
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Tuesday that the Russian military did "not properly plan" for the logistical operation during their invasion of Ukraine.
Kirby's comments come as Ukrainian forces have continued to resist the Russian invasion, resulting in a lack of Russian ability to take major cities such as Kyiv.
Pentagon says Russia still has a lot of combat capability available
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby warned Tuesday that the Russian military still has "significant" combat capability available, despite facing potentially heavy losses during their invasion of Ukraine, but also noted that Ukrainian resistance has been formidable.
"That said, they have been increasingly frustrated," Kirby said of Russian forces.
Senate to have classified briefing on Ukraine next week
The Senate will hold a Senate-wide classified briefing on Ukraine next Wednesday at 3 pm, according to reporting from Fox News' Chad Pergram.
Who is set to give the briefing is still unclear.
Russia-Ukraine war photos show families fleeing, tearful goodbyes
At least 2,510 civilians have been hurt in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began on Feb. 24, with 953 people killed so far, the United Nation’s human rights office said Tuesday.
The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner reported 2,510 civilian casualties from Feb. 24 through March 21.
Russia's tactical nuke test is Putin 'sending a message': Gen. Breedlove
Russian combat power drops below 90% as Ukrainians, frostbite stall Putin invasion: DOD
Russia President Vladimir Putin’s invasion into Ukraine has persisted for nearly four weeks but his forces remain stalled, with the Pentagon assessing Tuesday that his combat power is dropping.
"We've assessed, for the first time, that the Russians may be slightly below a 90% level of assessed available combat power," a senior defense official told reporters.
The drop in power is reflective of the 150,000 soldiers he amassed on Ukraine’s border in the lead-up to the invasion last month.
"It is not an assessment of all Russian military power," the senior defense official added.
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