27 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says troops contesting Russian advance in Sumy

Ukrainian forces ‘pushing back the occupiers’ says president but prevailing assessments show Russian gains. What we know on day 1,206Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukrainian forces are pushing back against Russian forces in the border Sumy region where they have established a foothold in recent weeks. “Our units in Sumy region are gradually pushing back the occupiers,” said Ukraine’s president in his nightly video address. “I thank you! Thanks to every soldier, sergeant and officer for this result.”The Ukrainian president provided no further details and offered no proof of Ukrainian advances in the area, and the claim contradicts prevailing assessments of continued Russian gains in Sumy. Russia has seized over 190 sq km (73 sq miles) of the Sumy region in less than a month, according to pro-Ukrainian open-source maps. They have captured more ground in the past days, advancing to around 20km from the city of Sumy’s northern suburbs and rendering it vulnerable to long-range artillery an...

Events

5 d. ago Voters in Hamilton chose hope over despair and more Scots will do the same next year

In his regular column for the Record, the Scottish Labour leader says the 2026 Holyrood election will give voters a direct choice between him and John Swinney to become the next First Minister.

Politics

6 d. ago Russia bring 1,212 'frozen Ukrainian soldier's bodies' to the border with more to come

As per the agreements of the Istanbul summit earlier this month, Russia has reportedly begun taking the first 'batch' of thousands of frozen Ukrainian bodies back to their home

Events

2 w. ago Russian forces take four border villages in Ukraine’s Sumy region

A Ukrainian official says Russian forces have taken over four border villages in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region

Politics

2 w. ago Russia seizes Ukrainian border villages as its massive bombing campaign slows

A Ukrainian official says Russian forces have taken over four border villages in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region

Events

3 w. ago ‘Every day there is shelling’: Ukrainian border town torn between hope and despair

Mayor of Bilopillya, where nine people were killed in strike on bus, says Russia has shown it does not care about talksEven before the Russian strike on a shuttle bus travelling from his frontline town at the weekend, the mayor of Bilopillya, Yuri Zarko, was very sceptical that Vladimir Putin’s agreement to direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul would lead to peace.The strike, which killed nine people including five over 60, only confirmed his conviction that talks to end the war were going nowhere and Ukraine had a challenging time ahead. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Bruce Springsteen review – a roaring, rousing s how that imagines a better America

Co-op Live, ManchesterThe Boss and his E Street Band pluck hope from the depths of despair with a fiery show that hits out at the US administration but ends with loveBefore Bruce Springsteen sings a word on the opening night of his European tour, he has something to get off his chest. “The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock’n’roll in dangerous times,” he says. “The America I love is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.” The band then launch into a roaring, rousing version of Land of Hope and Dreams, as strings swoop, brass soars and Springsteen gives an impassioned take of the song he sang for Clarence Clemons on his deathbed. Followed by Death to My Hometown – with the titular lyrics delivered with venomous sting – it sets the tone for an evening that is bruised and angry yet also hopeful and filled with love.The band – who Springsteen calls a “booty-shaking, lovemaking, Viagra-...

Politics