The Kremlin slammed Time magazine on Thursday for naming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky its “Person of the Year,” saying the choice reflected Russophobia in the West.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “The magazine’s editorial directives, which remain within the bounds of the pan-European mainstream, are completely myopic, anti-Russian and intensely Russophobic. “
Zelensky, 44, has been highly praised for his fearless leadership and ability to rally world leaders behind his cause. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the war was taking longer than expected, but he assured the Russian public that all of the Kremlin’s goals would be achieved.
“There is a lot of noise, chatter and outcry throughout the universe,” Putin said on Thursday. “This will not prevent us from fulfilling our combat mission.”
In the Time magazine cover photo, Zelensky is surrounded by the people of Ukraine, the flag and sunflowers, the country’s national flower. “Zelensky’s success as a wartime leader depends on courage being contagious,” wrote Time reporter Simon Schuster.
Time magazine has named its Person of the Year every year (until 1999 as Person of the Year or Person of the Year) since groundbreaking pilot Charles Lindbergh was honored in 1927. Russian dictator Joseph Stalin held the title twice, in 1939 and 1942.
Other progress:
►The Russian military said it shot down a Ukrainian drone over Crimea on Thursday, the latest sign of Kiev’s efforts to push the war into Russian-held territory. Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014.
► After meeting with counterparts from Sweden and Finland on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the U.S. remained confident the two Nordic countries would be admitted to NATO soon, despite delays from the only opponents, Turkey and Hungary. approve.
►Russian officials say Ukraine has struck again on its territory, shelling Belgorod province. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the projectile damaged power lines.
► A Ukrainian police chief and three other police officers were killed and four others were seriously injured when a mine exploded while on a demining mission in Kherson province.
►The ICRC says it has met with some POWs from both sides and provided books, personal hygiene items, blankets, warm clothing – and in some cases personal notes from family members.
Russia ‘not talking’ about annexing more Ukrainian territories
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday there was no “talk” about seizing more territory beyond the four Ukrainian regions Russia claimed to have annexed in recent months. Peskov was questioned by reporters a day after President Vladimir Putin described the illegal annexation as an important result of what he called a “special military operation” against Ukraine.
Peskov admitted that “in some new regions of the Russian Federation (Kherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk and Luhansk) there are occupied cities that need to be liberated.” For example, Kherson ) has been abandoned by Russian troops, although they continue to shell the prewar port city of nearly 300,000 people.
War sparks fears of nuclear catastrophe
The world has not seriously addressed the health effects of radiation since the Fukushima crisis in 2011, after Japan was hit by a powerful earthquake and tsunami, and the war has reignited fears of a nuclear catastrophe. Disaster could come from a radioactive release from a nuclear reactor, a conventional bomb filled with radioactive material, or worst case scenario – a nuclear bomb. Experts say the deliberate use of nuclear weapons is the worst possible outcome as it could lead to retaliation and escalation into a global nuclear war.
Experts told USA TODAY that the leak at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is one of the highest risks because Russia is deliberately attacking the area with rockets. Ukraine’s State Nuclear Corporation said on Thursday that the Russian military had placed multiple rocket launcher systems at the plant, saying it violated “all conditions of nuclear and radiation safety.”
Understanding the risks and types of radiation to which people are exposed is key to treating potential exposures. Read more here.
– Trevor Hughes
Brittney Griner released from Russian prison
WNBA star Brittney Griner, who spent months in a Russian prison on drug charges, was released Thursday in exchange for international arms dealer Victor Bout, the White House confirmed.
“She’s safe, she’s on the plane, she’s on her way home,” President Joe Biden said at the White House.
In August, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was sentenced to nine years in prison after admitting to having cannabis oil in her luggage while returning to Moscow to play against her Russian professional team. Like many WNBA players, Greiner supplemented his income by playing overseas during the league’s offseason. She played in Russia for nine years.
BRITTNEY GRINER posted:US-Russia Part of Prisoner Swap for Victor Bout
Emotional Pope Francis prays for end to Ukraine war
Pope Francis wept in central Rome on Thursday while praying for peace in Ukraine. Francis, who visits the statue of the Virgin Mary near the Spanish Steps every Christmas, was choked up and unable to speak accurately as he walked to the place of prayer, saying: “I wanted to take you to thank the people of Ukraine… “
After a long pause, Pope Francis continued: “…the Ukrainian people have long asked God for peace. Instead, I must make a plea to you children, old people, parents and young people of that suffering land. the people above.”
Contributing: Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY; Associated Press
