Notes and Essays -- John Brown

Ukraine invasion — explained January 10, 2026 11:30 AM ET By  The Associated Press ;  image from article, with caption: "   residential building is damaged after a Russian air strike during a heavy snow storm in Kyiv, Ukraine, early Friday, Jan. 9, 2026." Efrem Lukatsky/AP KYIV, Ukraine — A  drone strike sparked a fire at an oil depot in Russia's southern Volgograd region, officials said Saturday, after Russia launched a powerful hypersonic missile along with drones and other weapons that disrupted Kyiv's power supply and heating. There were no immediate reports of casualties, Volgograd Gov. Andrei Bocharov was quoted as saying in a Telegram post published on the channel of the local administration. The post did not specify the damage, but said that people living near the depot may have to be evacuated. Ukraine's General Staff said Saturday it had struck the Zhutovskaya oil depot overnight. In a statement on Telegram, it said the depot is supplying fuel t...

January 10, 2026 AI Overview ; map from  US Dept of War Recent Ukraine news includes a massive Russian overnight drone and missile attack on Kyiv and other cities, causing casualties and power outages, with Russia deploying new hypersonic missiles . Key developments involve potential Western troop deployments discussed by France, the UK, and Ukraine, while Zelenskyy remains open to talks, and Ukraine pushes its domestic arms industry. International attention focuses on security agreements, troop commitments, and ongoing infrastructure attacks amidst stalled peace efforts.   Key Developments Massive Russian Strikes:  Russia launched extensive overnight attacks using hundreds of drones and missiles, hitting Kyiv and infrastructure near Lviv, killing civilians and causing power cuts in Dnipro. Hypersonic Missiles:  Russia used new hypersonic missiles, including the " Oreshnik ," in its attacks, threatening Europe, notes  Ukrainska Pravda  and  AP News . W...

For the Russian leader, courting President Trump to secure a favorable resolution in Ukraine, and possibly more, is far more important. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia during a news conference with President Trump in August in Anchorage. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times By  Paul Sonne   Valerie Hopkins  and  Andrew E. Kramer Paul Sonne and Valerie Hopkins reported from Berlin, and Andrew E. Kramer from Kyiv, Ukraine.  The New York Times , Jan. 10, 2026, updated 7:17 a.m. ET;  original article contains additional illustrations Sitting on a gilded chair in the green drawing room of the Grand Kremlin Palace, Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, turned to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and spoke of their bright future together. “We will see relations flourish between the great Russia, today a leading power of humankind, and Venezuela,” Mr. Maduro proclaimed at the meeting, last May. Eight months later, Mr. Maduro is sitting some 4,700 mi...