Monday briefing: Avdiivka Falls to Russia
Avdiivka falls into the hands of Russia
Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka, which had been a stronghold in the Donetsk region for more than a decade, giving Russia its first significant victory in almost a year. Now Ukrainian troops may find themselves in their most precarious position since the first months of the war almost two years ago.
The fall of Avdiivka, Russia's biggest territorial advance since taking Bakhmut last May, is the latest sign that Russia has firmly regained the upper hand after the Ukrainian counter-offensive over the summer failed to meet most of its objectives. It could bring Russia closer to its goal of conquering the entire Donetsk region and give President Vladimir Putin a boost as he seeks election to a fifth term in March.
The city witnessed some of the most gruesome fighting of the war. Soldiers had to be bombed almost constantly. So did about 900 civilians, many of whom lived underground and survived on food and supplies brought in by aid workers. It is not clear how many of them escaped.
Geographical challenges: Ukraine's problems are exacerbated by the flat and unforgiving terrain outside the city. Without dominant hills, larger rivers or fortifications of the kind it has built around Avdiivka over the past decade, Ukraine will likely have to cede more ground.
In Europe: Leaders realize they must step up their defenses against Russia — especially as the U.S. wavers on aid.
Russians mourn Alexei Navalny
Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader, died in a penal colony on Friday. He was 47.
His family, who confirmed his death, have been unable to locate his body. Russian authorities said he was suffering from “sudden death syndrome,” which appeared to indicate sudden cardiac arrest. President Biden blamed President Vladimir Putin.
Many have wondered why Navalny chose to return to Russia after a poisoning attempt. The decision earned him international respect and led many to consider him a hero. It also caused serious problems for Putin; Navalny was a leader even from remote prisons.
Context: Navalny's health had been declining for years. He was held in a prison above the Arctic Circle, where he was held in freezing conditions and given mysterious injections.
What's next: Navalny's allies are trying to regroup. Some are hopeful his death will fuel opposition to Putin, looking to his wife, who gave a powerful speech to Western leaders after receiving news of her husband's death.
Protest: At least 400 people have been arrested across Russia since Navalny's death, a rights group said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would press ahead with plans for a ground invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering. He also said ceasefire negotiations were at an impasse.
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'Shawshank' opens in China
When a stage production of “The Shawshank Redemption” recently opened in China, it was cast entirely by Western actors who spoke fluent Mandarin Chinese. That's perhaps the least surprising part of the show; the fact that it was performed at all defies several cultural trends.
Chinese audiences' interest in Hollywood is waning, but the American film is still the highest-rated film on Douban, a crowdsourced review site, of all films – and not just Chinese. Censorship has also been tightened and the film, with its themes of resistance, has been censored before. And China's authoritarian government has also fueled nationalism and portrayed Western influence as a political polluter.
But production moved forward, albeit with adjustments, reflecting how artists navigate the changing landscape of what is permissible and what is marketable in China. And its success shows the hunger that many Chinese still have for cultural exchange.