Ukraine war updates: Regions vote on joining Russia, Putin orders a draft (Sept. 26)
Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia
Russian men flee the country. Many are showing up in Istanbul
Men are fleeing Russia by land or air days after President Vladimir Putin said he was mobilizing more forces into Ukraine. NPR met Russians arriving in Turkey, where they don't need visas to enter.
13 dead and 21 wounded in Russia school shooting
A gunman killed 13 people, including seven children, and wounded 21 other people in a school in central Russia on Monday, authorities said.
Russians are protesting and fleeing the country as Putin orders a draft for Ukraine
The mobilization of thousands more troops to bolster the military campaign in Ukraine is rippling across Russia, as the military swiftly drafts new recruits and signs of discontent appear to spread.
Russia begins annexation vote, illegal under international law, in occupied Ukraine
Ukrainians are fleeing from Russian-held areas to avoid the sham referendums, which could pave the way for annexation. "It was all staged," said one Ukrainian. "How can you vote when they have guns?"
McDonald's reopens in Ukraine, feeding customers' nostalgia — and future hopes
All of the chain's 100-plus locations in Ukraine closed after Russia invaded in February. Three reopened in Kyiv this week, for delivery only. "It's a nice gift from McDonald's," one customer says.
In a retaken border village, Ukrainians point to signs of Russian abuse of civilians
Villagers describe allegations of abuse and officials say they found a torture chamber in Kozacha Lopan, in the Kharkiv region, which Russian forces invaded and took over at the start of the war.
Facing setbacks, Vladimir Putin makes his biggest gamble yet in Ukraine
The Russian leader has already lost several big bets in Ukraine. He may be taking his largest risk yet by mobilizing more troops and pushing ahead with plans to annex Ukrainian territory.
Putin announces a partial military mobilization for Russian citizens
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday a partial mobilization in Russia as the war in Ukraine reaches nearly seven months and Moscow loses ground on the battlefield.
Ukraine hunts for pro-Moscow collaborators suspected of helping Russia strike targets
The southern Mykolaiv region has seen targeted strikes, leading Ukrainian officials to round up hundreds of people suspected of leaking information to the Russians.