The New York Times

Russia steps up attacks in Bakhmut as Ukraine pledges reinforcements. Russia has stepped up its attacks on Bakhmut, the eastern Ukrainian city that for months has been the site of one of the war’s most intractable battle…

Blinken and Lavrov hold an unexpected meeting on the sidelines of the G20 gathering. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met briefly on Thursday with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of a Group…

A Ukrainian Mayor Disappeared, but Questions of His Loyalty Did Not A decision by the former mayor of Kherson to remain in his post under Russian occupation has divided opinion, even after he vanished. Read more @nytimes

Ukraine Reinforces Embattled Bakhmut, but Mission Is Unclear A Ukrainian deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, said Wednesday that her government had begun deploying new fighters to Bakhmut, site of the most protracted…