Russian invasion The fighting

Fierce fighting in Pokrovsk – could be Russia’s most important success since Bachmut

Russia said on Thursday it had launched new attacks on the strategically important city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, AFP reports.

Pokrovsk is an important railway junction. If it were to fall completely into Russian hands, it would be the most important Russian success on the battlefield since Bachmut fell in May 2023, the New York Times estimates. That would open the way to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the last major cities in Donetsk still controlled by Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to defend Pokrovsk. The fact that it has taken so long for Russia to take the city, despite it being designated as a high priority by Vladimir Putin, is remarkable, says Laura Cooper, who worked on the Ukraine war in Joe Biden’s administration.

– It dashes hopes for a quick takeover of Donetsk, she says.

Russian soldiers warned about “black widows” – wanting to marry for the money

In Russia, it is becoming increasingly common for women to marry soldiers to receive large sums of money in compensation if their husbands die in war, reports the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper writes that the phenomenon has become so common that the women have been given a nickname – “black widows”.

In one case, a woman received almost two million kronor when her husband died on the battlefield in Ukraine. The sum is almost 20 times greater than an average annual salary in Russia.

The couple’s wedding took place the day after the soldier enlisted and lasted only 20 minutes.

After the soldier died, suspicions arose that the woman had married for the money. The marriage was annulled and the woman was sentenced to a fine.

Politicians in the country have now proposed tougher penalties and cuts in compensation.