Russian military

Reema Karki, shown at her home in Nepal, received a letter informing her that her husband, Pritam Karki, had died on Nov. 15 while serving in the Russian military in Ukraine.

World News

Nepal wants its men back from Russia's war in Ukraine after deaths on the front

5:00am January 27, 2024

Russia recruits Nepali men with promises of citizenship and enticing wages. But after news of at least 10 Nepali troops killed, Nepal's government and families want to bring their soldiers home.

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Dmytro Orlov, the exiled mayor of Enerhodar, in his office at a community center in Zaporizhzhia.

With an inconclusive counteroffensive, Ukraine looks toward an anxious winter

5:00am December 11, 2023

by Joanna Kakissis

Ukraine's government acknowledges the gains in its most recent counteroffensive have been small. And it worries Western allies are distracted by the war between Israel and Hamas.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (center left) and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visit a monument to fallen defenders of Ukraine in Kyiv, Monday. Borrell and EU foreign ministers have gathered in Kyiv in a display of support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.

World News

Latest on Ukraine: U.S. aid stumbles and Slovakia elects a pro-Russia leader

12:39pm October 02, 2023

by International Desk

Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A Russian Su-34 bomber takes off for a training mission in the Krasnodar region of Russia on Jan. 19, 2022.

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Russia says its air force accidentally bombed its own city near Ukraine

2:52pm April 21, 2023

by Charles Maynes

A Russian fighter jet had an "accidental discharge" of its payload over the Russian city of Belgorod on Thursday, according to Russia's Defense Ministry, causing injuries and damaging buildings.

More than 200,000 people had reported to service as of this photo in October 2022 under Russia's mobilization. The defense minister instructed the military chiefs to provide the conscripts with the necessary clothing, arms and other equipment. But the public complained about a lack of provisions and training for recruits.

World News

Russia races to pass tough new military draft rules, banning conscripts from leaving

5:25pm April 13, 2023

by Charles Maynes

The law could have big implications for the Kremlin's war plans in Ukraine, especially as it tries to recruit thousands more troops in anticipation of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

A Ukrainian artilleryman fires a howitzer at a position on the front line near Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, on Oct. 31.

Ukraine updates: Iran admits sending Russia drones as electricity knocked out (Nov. 7)

1:21pm November 07, 2022

by NPR Staff

Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia says it enlisted 300K new troops to fight in Ukraine and doesn't plan for more

2:43pm October 28, 2022

by Charles Maynes

Russia's defense minister says the military reached its target of adding 300,000 troops to fight in Ukraine. The recruitment effort led many Russians to protest and flee the country.

Soldiers prepare to fire BM-21 Grad rocket launcher toward Russian positions in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region on Monday. Russia intends to annex Donetsk but Ukrainian forces retook Lyman, a strategic city in the region, on Saturday.

Ukraine war updates: Ukraine retakes part of a region Russia claims to annex (Oct. 3)

2:42pm October 03, 2022

by NPR Staff

Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Passengers walk in the new hall of Istanbul Airport on the first day after moving from Ataturk International airport on April 6, 2019, in Istanbul. Many Russian men (not pictured) have been buying up tickets for Turkey since their government issued a draft to fight in Ukraine.

World News

Russian men flee the country. Many are showing up in Istanbul

9:21am September 26, 2022

by Fatma Tanis

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.

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Riot police detain demonstrators during a protest against mobilization in Moscow on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia, effective immediately.

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Russians are protesting and fleeing the country as Putin orders a draft for Ukraine

4:51pm September 23, 2022

by Charles Maynes

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.

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