Wednesday briefing: Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers are missing
Ukrainian soldiers go missing after the fall of Avdiivka
Hundreds of Ukrainian troops may have been captured or disappeared by Russia during Ukraine's chaotic withdrawal from the eastern city of Avdiivka. The loss could be a blow to Ukraine's already weakening morale.
The Russian capture of the small town was seen as a symbolic loss for Ukraine: Avdiivka had become an emotional center of the fighting. But the US had said it was not a significant strategic setback.
The capture of hundreds of soldiers could change that. Two soldiers with knowledge of the retreat estimated that 850 to 1,000 soldiers appear to have been captured or missing, a range that Western officials said seemed accurate. Unverified videos posted on social media also showed Russian troops executing Ukrainian troops in and around the city.
Ukraine already needed more troops, and the country cannot afford to lose experienced fighters. The country also wants to mobilize another 500,000 people, an effort that has already met with political resistance and is stalled in parliament. The arrest of hundreds of soldiers could complicate recruitment efforts, and military officials have tried to downplay both the number and significance of the missing soldiers.
Analysis: Some Ukrainian soldiers and Western officials said the withdrawal was poorly planned and started too late. These failures were directly responsible for the missing soldiers, they say.
Julian Assange's final appeal?
Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been in a British prison for almost five years, fighting a US extradition warrant. A hearing in London that started yesterday and will continue today could be his last chance to stay in Britain.
Assange's wife, Stella Assange, says his health has deteriorated in prison, and his lawyers say he faces espionage charges in the US that could carry up to 175 years in prison. Lawyers for the US have said it was more likely he would be sentenced to four to six years.
Background: The allegations date back to events in 2010, when WikiLeaks published documents leaked by Chelsea Manning, an Army intelligence analyst, that exposed hidden diplomatic dealings and contained revelations about civilian deaths in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The US draws up a ceasefire deal
For the third time, the US used its veto power against the UN Security Council to overturn a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Algeria put forward the resolution and diplomats and U.N. officials have said a ceasefire is necessary if Gaza is to get the aid it needs.
But in a shift, the US has drafted an alternative resolution, which is still in the early stages of negotiations. It calls for a temporary cessation of fighting “as soon as practicable” – and for the release of hostages. It also states that the Israeli army should not carry out an offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, under the current circumstances.
Reasoning: The US said the resolution would jeopardize negotiating efforts to reach a deal on the release of hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire. Those negotiations failed.
Other developments:
THE LAST NEWS
A death that still haunts gamers
In 1997, Final Fantasy VII shocked players with a plot twist: a key character, Aerith, was killed. It was an unthinkable idea when games were known for giving playable characters extra lives. When Aerith died, so did a narrative trope that had limited the medium's dramatic potential.
Now the game's creator is returning to that pivotal moment. Final Fantasy VII is being remade. The second part, Rebirth, will be released on February 29. It's expected to end with Aerith's death – or, perhaps, some speculate, her rescue. Fans are desperate to find out.