Europe

National

As Russia invades Ukraine, the cyber threats are subtle — for now

4:48pm February 25, 2022

by Jenna McLaughlin

As Russia invades Ukraine, some cyber experts warned of an initial, crippling cyberattack. That hasn't happened yet. But the digital threat has been present in more subtle ways.

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The Indicator from Planet Money: What to know about SWIFT

4:43pm February 25, 2022

by Darian Woods

Russia faces exclusion from a key bank messaging system known as SWIFT. We walk through what it is, why it's important, and what a ban of Russia from the system could mean for its economy.

A farmer harvests a wheat field about 130 miles north of Kyiv in 2009.

World News

Russia's invasion of Ukraine may cause havoc for wheat-importing Mideast nations

2:00pm February 25, 2022

by Jason Beaubien

Last year, the region imported more than 36 million metric tons of wheat, mostly from Russia and Ukraine. The concern is that Russia's war in Ukraine could disrupt supplies and drive up prices.

The story behind why Halyna Hrushetsky's family fled Soviet Ukraine for the U.S.

1:09pm February 25, 2022

by Jasmyn Morris

Halyna Hrushetsky was born in Ukraine during World War II and her family left in the 1930s. Hrushetsky talks to her daughter about her Ukrainian roots and the famine her parents lived through.

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The Kremlin downplays sanctions by saying any problems will be resolved

8:10am February 25, 2022

NPR's A Martinez speaks to U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo about the Biden administration's newest sanctions on Russia. Earlier sanctions failed to deter Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

As Russia keeps up its attack, how long can Ukraine hold the capital city?

7:22am February 25, 2022

Residents of Ukraine's capital city are fleeing as Russian missiles fall on Kyiv. Ukraine's foreign minister said the last time this has happened was in 1941 when Nazi Germany attacked.

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Russia continues a broader approach to its attack against Ukraine

7:22am February 25, 2022

NPR's Rachel Martin talks with Ben Rhodes, an ex-deputy national security adviser, about the Biden administration's efforts to penalize Moscow, and what the U.S. can do to counter Russian aggression.

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Politics & Government

News brief: Ukraine invasion, U.S, intelligence, GOP criticizes Biden

6:09am February 25, 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to unfold. U.S. intelligence didn't prevent the invasion, so what role should the U.S. play now? The GOP criticizes Biden over his response to the invasion.

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People protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine at a demonstration in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday.

World News

World leaders fine-tune punitive measures against Russia

5:41am February 25, 2022

by The Associated Press

A growing number of world leaders are preparing responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine that include both sanctions and humanitarian aid.

National

U.S. intelligence didn't stop the invasion of Ukraine, but it had positive effects

5:40am February 25, 2022

President Biden says the Russian invasion of Ukraine is unfolding largely as predicted. Accurate U.S. intelligence didn't prevent the attack, but it did counter Russian disinformation.