‘Not telling anyone else’s story’: Lily-Rose Depp's ‘The Idol’ character NOT based on Britney Spears
'This is a fictional character and fictional story,' the 24-year-old actress said
2023-05-31 20:46
Can you afford to age in place?
Most older adults ages 50 to 80 say it’s important to stay in their homes for as long as they can, according to the 2022 National Poll on Healthy Aging from the University of Michigan
2023-05-11 00:24
Kendall Jenner struts about in LA after lover Bad Bunny drops 'Where She Goes' music video with romantic 'easter eggs'
The former Victoria's Secret Angel is a horse-crazy Scorpio so the hitmaker uses all the three references in his 'Where She Goes' music video
2023-05-19 23:49
New migrant tragedy at sea changes little as EU leaders forge ahead with tougher borders plans
European Union leaders will push ahead this week with plans to beef up the bloc's borders and outsource their migrant challenges to countries people leave or cross to get to Europe
2023-06-28 15:49
Who is Johnathan Martinez-Garcia? 'Smirking' teen rapist gets 16 to 40 years for attack on teacher
Jonathan Martinez-Garcia has been sentenced to a prison term ranging from 16 to 40 years for the crimes of rape and assault against his teacher
2023-07-01 08:23
Danny Masterson's ex-stepfather Joe Reaiche considering suing his children for 'lying' to help convicted rapist
Danny Masterson and his half-siblings, Jordan and Alanna, share a complex family background
2023-09-10 20:26
Who's behind the attack on a Russian region on the border with Ukraine?
Russia alleges that dozens of Ukrainian militants crossed into one of its border towns in its Belgorod region, striking targets and forcing an evacuation, before over 70 of the attackers were killed or pushed back by what the authorities termed a counterterrorism operation. Ukraine denied any involvement in the skirmishes Monday and Tuesday, instead blaming two Russian groups that claim to be volunteers fighting alongside Kyiv's forces in an uprising against the government of President Vladimir Putin. While neither version could be independently verified, whatever happened appears to have sent Moscow scrambling to respond to one of the most serious border incursions since Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said an elderly woman died in the chaotic evacuation, and 12 people were wounded in the attack and shelling. As fighting there apparently continued Tuesday morning, he urged residents not to return to their homes, and only in late afternoon declared the operation was over. A look at what's known about the attack and the murky groups who say they carried it out: WHO'S CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY? Two groups — the Freedom of Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps – claimed responsibility for the attack and announced an ambitious goal of “liberating” the Belgorod region. Little is known about them beyond what they say about themselves, and it's not clear how they are. The website of the Freedom of Russia Legion says it was formed last spring “out of Russians’ desire to fight against Putin’s armed gang” and is “officially recognized” by Kyiv’s military. “We are fighting in full cooperation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and under the leadership of the Ukrainian command,” the website says. The website said it fought last summer in “small battle groups,” and now was involved in the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut. The Russian Volunteer Corps’ page in the messaging app Telegram used to say it was a formation within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It now describes itself as merely fighting on the Ukrainian side. In August 2022, an announcement posted there said: “We, Russian volunteers living in Ukraine, decided to take up arms and create a military formation, the Russian Volunteer Corps, in order to together with our Ukrainian comrades defend their homeland which gave us shelter, and then continue the fight against the criminal Putin regime and his henchmen.” Other posts claimed the group was fighting in southeastern Ukraine, or as volunteers serving elsewhere in the country, including in Kyiv's suburbs of Bucha and Irpin. In March, the Russian Volunteer Corps claimed responsibility for an incursion in Russia's Bryansk region, another border area. Media reports at the time identified some of its members as Russian nationalists. In a post Tuesday, the Russian Volunteer Corps described its political views as “right-wing conservative and traditionalist." WHAT DOES UKRAINE SAY? Ukrainian officials have never confirmed any ties with either group. The government in Kyiv denied involvement in this week's Belgorod incident, calling it an act by disgruntled Russians. When they did talk about it, officials were vague. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said “patriots of Russia” and “people who actually rebelled against Putin’s regime” were behind the attack. Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak blamed “underground guerrilla groups” that are “composed of Russian citizens.” In remarks to the news outlet Suspilne, Ukraine intelligence official Andrii Yusov said it was the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion. Andrii Cherniak, another intelligence representative pointed to the fact that the two groups claimed responsibility. "This is the consequence of aggressive politics of Putin’s regime and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he told The Associated Press. WHAT DOES RUSSIA SAY? Russia calls it an incursion by saboteurs deployed by Kyiv, with officials and state media using various epithets ranging from “militants” to “terrorists.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Belgorod attack was a diversion, meant “to draw attention away” from Russia's victory in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which Moscow claimed to have captured over the weekend after months of bloody fighting. Asked Tuesday about claims that the invaders were ethnic Russians, Peskov insisted that “these are Ukrainian militants from Ukraine.” “There are lots of ethnic Russians in Ukraine, but these are still Ukrainian militants,” Peskov said. Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said more than 70 “Ukrainian terrorists” were killed in Russia’s operation. He also referred to the attackers as “nationalists.” Russian state TV reported the invaders were from Ukraine's armed forces. One report alleged the attackers used U.S. military equipment despite Washington’s assurances its weapons won't be used for attacks on Russia. WHAT'S THE TRUTH? It's hard to know. Analysts and commentators say both Russia and Ukraine would likely benefit from its own version of the events. The British Defense Ministry tweeted Tuesday that “Russia will almost certainly use these incidents to support the official narrative that it is the victim in the war.” Russian state media coverage appears to support this notion, with its allegations that U.S. weapons were used in the attack and the general tone of some reports that overlaid video from the region with tense, dramatic music. For Kyiv, it's beneficial “to take up the position of an observer and not admit its involvement,” said Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. “The fact is that the war is happening on Russian territory, the Kremlin is being clearly indicated that Russians are not the only ones who can employ hybrid (warfare) methods,” Zhdanov told AP. The involvement of the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion should serve as signs that “there are forces inside Russia who can resist Putin’s regime,” he said. At the same time, the Belgorod attack “showed Russia’s helplessness," Zhdanov said. “Russia turned out to be completely unprepared -– neither its security forces, nor border guards, nor special services were prepared for hostilities on their own turf. The myth that Russia keeps its border locked has been busted,” he added. Some Russian voices echoed that sentiment. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military contractor, used the incident as yet another chance to bash the Russian Defense Ministry for not adequately protecting the border. Alexander Kots, military correspondent with the pro-Kremlin newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, also raised questions on his Telegram page. “What’s with our technical equipment of the border, surveillance systems, motion detection systems?" he asked. "What’s with mining of the potentially dangerous areas? What’s with anti-tank equipment? Why did an enemy armored group breach deep into our territory?” These are the questions “to which there are no answers,” Kots said. “To be more accurate, there are, but they’re very unpleasant.” ___ Karmanau reported from Tallinn and Arhirova reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Read More The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary Russian sailors offered limited option to qualify for Paris Olympics Who is behind Belgorod incursion on Russian region bordering Ukraine? Ready for a digital euro? At 25, European Central Bank preps for future of money
2023-05-24 19:17
Rohingya: Gang violence stalks world's largest refugee camp
Six years after fleeing Myanmar, refugees are kept sleepless by nightly sounds of gunfire.
2023-08-25 06:55
Slowing Chinese economy of more concern to EU firms than geopolitics - survey
By Joe Cash BEIJING A slowdown in both the Chinese and global economies is the biggest issue affecting
2023-06-21 09:23
Investigative genetic genealogy leads police to a suspect in series of California kidnappings and sexual assaults
A man suspected of a series of suspected sexual assaults in Sacramento, California, over a decade ago, was identified and arrested through the use of investigative genetic genealogy, officials announced Tuesday.
2023-09-07 10:18
The mental and physical tolls of the tennis season weigh on players by the US Open
The mental and physical tolls of the long tennis season weigh on players by the time they get to the U.S. Open, which concludes this weekend
2023-09-08 03:56
Iran releases five Americans in prisoner exchange
The four men and one woman fly out of Tehran after $6bn of frozen Iranian funds is released.
2023-09-18 21:16
You Might Like...
Who is Amanda Abbington dating? 'Sherlock' actress deletes her Twitter account after being accused of 'transphobia'
Congolese Nobel laureate kicks off presidential campaign with a promise to end violence, corruption
Does Christopher Nolan have a hitman brother codenamed 'Oppenheimer?' Truth behind bizarre rumor about director's rarely talked about sibling
Ukraine war: At least three killed in Odesa strikes, Kyiv says
Putin deliberately attacked Ukrainian civilians in Kharkiv missile strike, says Zelensky
Who is Maria Ramos de Ruiz? More HIV cases linked to New Mexico 'vampire facial' salon
How tall is Mark Wahlberg? 'Pain & Gain' star once exaggerated his height
More states are requiring patients to give consent for medical students performing pelvic exams
