Ukraine: Russia accused of new military incursion
Analysts say Russia may be trying to establish a land corridor through Ukraine to Crimea

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has demanded an explanation from President Putin over reports that Russia has sent soldiers to fight in the southeast of Ukraine.
"The latest reports of the presence of Russian soldiers on Ukrainian territory must be explained," said Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert. "She emphasised Russia's major responsibility for de-escalation and watching over its own frontiers."
The Ukrainian government has accused Moscow of supporting pro-Russian rebels who have opened a new front near the port of Mariupol, Reuters reports.
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.
The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher said that the suspicion in Washington was that Russia is leading an assault on the southeast of the country to divert Ukrainian forces from the besieged cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Denis Pushilin, a rebel leader in Donetsk, insisted that Russia was not involved in the fighting. "If Russia entered into the war, the counter-offensive would already be in Kiev," he said. "For now, we do without outside help."
The separatist resurgence "dimmed the glimmer of optimism" that had begun to emerge from talks held in Minsk between Putin and President Poroshenko, The Times says. The two leaders had previously been "cautiously positive" about their discussions and Poroshenko had promised to deliver a "road map" to peace.
Some analysts say that the latest fighting could be an attempt to establish a land corridor from Russia to Crimea, which would also offer control over the entire Sea of Azov.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Such a corridor would "transform the geography of Europe", The Times says.
Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said on Wednesday that a column of five armoured personnel carriers had been seen crossing the Ukrainian border.
"Five armoured infantry carriers and one Kamaz truck entered Amvrosiyivka with men in them," Lysenko told journalists in Kiev. "If this tactical group got lost and accidentally came into Ukraine like the paratroops of the 98th paratroop division, then it remains for us to remind them that they can return to Russia, taking an easterly direction," said Lysenko.
-
Russia slams Kyiv, hits government building
Speed Read This was Moscow's largest aerial assault since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022
-
'Axis of upheaval': will China summit cement new world order?
Today's Big Question Xi calls on anti-US alliance to cooperate in new China-led global system – but fault lines remain
-
China's Xi hosts Modi, Putin, Kim in challenge to US
Speed Read Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Asian leaders at an SCO summit
-
Russian strike on Kyiv kills 23, hits EU offices
Speed Read The strike was the second-largest since Russia invaded in 2022
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Kyiv marks independence as Russia downplays peace
Speed Read President Vladimir Putin has no plans to meet with Zelenskyy for peace talks pushed by President Donald Trump
-
What will security guarantees for Ukraine look like?
Today's Big Question From boots on the ground to economic sanctions, here are the measures that might stop Russia taking another bite out of Ukraine
-
Will Ukraine trade territory for peace?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Kyiv’s defences are wearing thin but a land swap is constitutionally impossible and crosses Zelenskyy's red lines