Ukraine invasion — explained (2024)

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How 2 unexpected wars are defining Biden's presidency

June 11, 2024 • President Biden pulled U.S. troops out of Afghanistan and showed no desire for other military adventures. But the unexpected wars in Ukraine and Gaza have become defining issues of his presidency.

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Arts Fortress: Ukrainian musicians play on amidst air sirens

June 5, 2024 • Musicians in Kharkiv, Ukraine refuse to cancel the city's music festival, despite weeks of Russian strikes. And American veterans of the Normandy invasion travel to France to mark the anniversary of D-Day.

La Presidenta: Mexico Elects Its First Woman to the Presidency

June 3, 2024 • For the first time since their country became a republic more than two hundred years ago, Mexicans have elected a woman as president. And Ukraine's center for book publishing survives a punishing Russian bombardment.

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Zelenskyy accuses China of helping Russia undermine peace summit

June 2, 2024 • Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused China of helping Russia in “actively blocking” countries from participating in this month’s peace conference in Switzerland.

A Visit to the Gateway for Ukrainian Prisoners of War Freed from Russia

May 31, 2024 • The Ukrainian border town of Krasnopillia, in the country's northeast, is near the only open checkpoint between Ukraine and Russia. When Ukrainians are freed from Russian captivity, or when the bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers are returned, they usually come through the town. Our correspondent visited and found the returning countrymen are always welcomed by residents and the staff from the town's scrappy local newspaper.

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U.S. gives Ukraine permission to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia, with caveats

May 30, 2024 • U.S. officials say Ukraine can now use some U.S. weapons defensively inside of the Kharkiv region, a change in policy for the Biden administration.

Questions of Loyalty in Latvia

May 27, 2024 • Russia's war in Ukraine is deepening divisions across Europe. One example is the Baltic nation of Latvia, formerly part of the Soviet Union. One third of those living in Latvia are Russian speaking and now some elderly residents, who may have lived there for decades, are being forced to prove their loyalty or leave.

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A newspaper near Ukraine's border with Russia watches for freed POWs

May 22, 2024 • Only four staffers work at the weekly Peremoha, which means "victory." Its motto: "Don't let ordinary people be erased from history."

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Blinken tells Ukraine U.S. aid will make a difference against Russia's offensive

May 14, 2024 • Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Kyiv and said some new U.S. aid already arrived and more will reach the battlefield in the coming weeks.

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Russia Makes Surprising Gains in Ukraine

May 13, 2024 • Russia launched a surprise new offensive in northeast Ukraine, near the second largest city of Kharkiv. Russian troops are continuing to advance, we get the latest from our Ukraine correspondent. And in another development in that war, Russia's President Putin replaced the country's defense minister. We get context on both events from a retired U.S. Lieutenant Colonel who used to oversee European affairs at the National Security council.

A Foiled Assassination Plot in Ukraine; Russia Marks World War II Victory

May 9, 2024 • Ukraine uncovers what they say was a sophisticated network of spies working with Russia to kill President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials. And in Russia, during a celebration marking the USSR's victory over Germany in World War II, Russia's president again drew parallels between that fight against fascism and the war in Ukraine. We hear from Russians who attended the event.

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What Does Winning Look Like for Ukraine Now?

May 2, 2024 • After months of delay in Congress, Ukraine is finally receiving the U.S. military aid it says is crucial in winning its fight against Russia. But after two years of war, what it means to win is increasingly complicated. We hear about the state of the conflict from our correspondent in Kyiv and our Pentagon correspondent.

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Invasion Worries in Eastern Europe

May 1, 2024 • European countries that border Russia are concerned that they'll be invaded next if an emboldened Russia is successful in Ukraine, even though they're members of the NATO alliance. We go to the Baltic nation of Estonia and hear from people who are making preparations in case of invasion.

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Ukraine pulls U.S.-provided Abrams tanks from the front lines over drone threats

April 26, 2024 • Five of the 31 tanks have already been lost to Russian attacks in Ukraine, where the use of surveillance and hunter-killer drones had made it difficult for them to operate.

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Biden signs $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

April 24, 2024 • Ukraine will get most of the weapons as it struggles to combat Russia's overwhelming firepower. The bill also includes more arms for Israel, and humanitarian help for Gaza.

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Why Should the U.S. Send Aid to Ukraine?

April 22, 2024 • The U.S. Congress is poised to finally approve a package of aid to Ukraine worth over $60 billion, with the House having approved the funds on Saturday. The Ukrainian prime minister was in Washington to urge for the aid to be passed and explains why Americans should continue to assist in his country's war effort.

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Ukraine's prime minister says, if passed, $60B U.S. aid package will be critical

April 20, 2024 • Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discusses on NPR's All Things Considered how further U.S. aid would make a difference on the front lines, and the state of the war in general.

A Milestone for a Major International Alliance and an Olympic Music Controversy

April 4, 2024 • NATO, the alliance formed to protect Europe from the Soviet Union is marking 75 years. It the focus is still on Russia.

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A mayor in Ukraine aids his town's few remaining people, as Russia closes in

April 4, 2024 • Russian attacks have driven out most of Chasiv Yar's residents. NPR accompanies the mayor on a routine visit to check on those who remain.

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Ukraine's Kharkiv moves classrooms underground so kids survive Russian attacks

March 27, 2024 • With Russian troops on the offensive, Ukraine's second-largest city is taking the drastic step of moving classrooms for primary and secondary education underground.

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A Visit to a Town Under Fire in Eastern Ukraine

March 22, 2024 • We go to a town in Eastern Ukraine that is close to the front lines and under constant fire. Russians are advancing in Eastern Ukraine as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and weapons.