They Were Married. They Shared a Trench. They Died in It Together.
Taras and Olha Melster signed up to help the war effort. Like many other urban professionals in Ukraine, they never expected to be sent to the front line.
Defense and Military Forces
Your Monday Briefing: A Testy Exchange Between the U.S. and China
Also, Vladimir Putin’s war narrative takes hold in Russia.
Blinken Has Tense Meeting With Chinese Official Amid Spy Balloon Furor
The meeting resumed diplomatic contact between Washington and Beijing that had been frozen since the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon.
One Year Into War, Putin Is Crafting the Russia He Craves
In Ukraine, President Vladimir V. Putin’s invasion has met setback after setback. But its effect at home has been very different.
Syrian State Media Reports a Deadly Strike in Damascus
Attributed in Syria to Israel, the strike appeared to be the latest episode of a long-running conflict between Israel and Iranian proxies.
North Korea Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
It was the North’s first test of a long-range missile in three months, and came as the country warned of strong countermeasures against joint military drills by the United States and South Korea.
Western Leaders Pledge Support for Ukraine at Munich Security Conference
As Russia’s invasion approaches its second year with no end in sight, Ukraine’s supporters faced lingering questions at the Munich Security Conference about how long their resolve will last.
Macron Calls for Intensified Support for Ukraine but Eyes Peace Talks
His support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia have hardened, but France’s president still stands out among Western leaders in insisting that compromise will be needed to end the war.
Images Show Hidden Clues About Iran’s Significant Fighter Jet Upgrade
In early February, Iranian state media aired a video about an underground Air Force base. Details in the footage and satellite images point toward the possible arrival of advanced Russian jets.
U.S. and China Vie in Hazy Zone Where Balloons, U.F.O.s and Missiles Fly
American officials are worried China is far along in developing military technology that operates in the unregulated high-altitude zone of “near space.”