As Ukraine violence escalates, gunmen shoot Kharkiv mayor
Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images


As-yet-unknown gunmen shot and gravely wounded the mayor of Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, in the back on Monday. The mayor, Hennady Kernes, is listed in "grave but stable" condition after a series of operations on his chest and abdomen. Kharkiv, a city of 1.5 million, is the only major population center in eastern Ukraine where the pro-Moscow insurgency has had little success.
The Kernes shooting kicked off a day of violence in eastern Ukraine. Pro-Russia militants seized a government building in yet another town, Kostyantynivka, and hundreds of men in military fatigues shouting "Russia!" attacked a 1,000-strong rally for Ukrainian unity in Donetsk using batons, bricks, iron bars, and stun grenades to beat and injure dozens of peaceful marchers. A similar clash occurred in Kharkiv on Sunday, with militants attacking a pro-unity march by fans of rival soccer teams.
Pro-Moscow militants are also still holding seven European observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and five Ukrainian security personnel who were accompanying them. In what passes for good news, one of the OSCE observers, a Swede, was released for health reasons. And Russia's defense chief told U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on the phone that Russia won't invade Ukraine, according to the Pentagon. That's good, though if I were in Ukraine I'd want that in writing, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats