5 family members killed in drone attack on northeastern Ukraine, regional authorities say
From CNN's Niamh Kennedy and Svitlana Vlasova
Five people, including a mother and her sons, have been killed by a Russian drone attack in the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine, according to the region's military administration.
The drone hit a residential building in the city of Konotop on Tuesday morning, killing a mother, her two sons and two of their relatives — including a grandmother — who had traveled from another city, the administration said in a Telegram post.
The Sumy region has suffered a series of attacks in early February, with one on February 11 killing at least two people, according to an an update from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
8:18 a.m. ET, February 20, 2024
It's lunchtime in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know
From CNN staff
The Ukrainian Air Force said that it shot down two Russian fighter jets in the east of the country, and the armed forces said they held off a series of Russian attacks in the southeast.
Meanwhile, amid growing international concern about Ukraine's dwindling supplies of weaponry, Sweden said it would provide a record aid package to Kyiv.
Ukraine downs 2 Russian jets: The Ukrainian Air Force shot down two Russian fighter jets -- an Su-34 and an Su-35S -- in the eastern part of the country, it reported Monday.
Ukraine repels attacks: Ukraine's armed forces said they held off Russian attacks toward the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia during a "difficult" night, repelling 11 attacks near Malynivka and Robotyne.
Sweden pledges $683 million to Ukraine: Sweden announced its largest support package to Ukraine. "As global military stocks dwindle we will focus more on donations," Defense Minister Pål Jonson said, outlining Sweden's commitment to "stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes."
US dual citizen arrested in Russia: The FSB security service arrested a dual US-Russian citizen on charges of treason for collecting funds for Ukrainian organizations and openly supporting Kyiv. FSB said the 33-year-old Los Angeles resident was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg.
Kremlin hits back at Navalny accusations: The Kremlin dismissed Yulia Navalnaya's accusation that Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind the death of her husband Alexey Navalny. The opposition leader's mother on Tuesday issued an appeal to Putin to release his body.
US journalist to remain in Russian jail: The Moscow City Court upheld a decision to keep US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russian detention until March 30. Gershkovich, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested in Russia in March 2023 on spying charges.
7:18 a.m. ET, February 20, 2024
"Let me finally see my son." Mother of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny addresses Putin in video
From CNN's Anna Chernova
Lyudmila Navalnaya, left, the mother of late Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, and lawyer Vasily Dubkov arrive at the regional department of Russia's Investigative Committee in the town of Salekhard in the Yamal-Nenets Region, Russia, on February 17. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
Lyudmila Navalnaya, Alexey Navalny's mother, has released a video appealing directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "let me finally see my son."
"Behind me is the IK-3 "Polar Wolf" colony, where my son, Alexey Navalny, died on February 16. I haven't been able to see him for five days. They won't give me his body. They don't even tell me where he is," she says, directly staring at the camera.
"I am addressing you, Vladimir Putin. The solution to the issue depends only on you. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexey’s body be immediately handed over so that I can bury him humanely."
Moscow court rejects US journalist Evan Gershkovich's appeal against extending his detention
From CNN's Anna Chernova
US journalist Evan Gershkovich, appears inside a defendants' cage before a hearing to consider an appeal on his extended pre-trial detention, at the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, on February 20. Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images
The Moscow City Court has upheld a decision to keep US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russian detention until March 30.
Gershkovich, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested in Russia in March 2023 on spying charges.
The FSB, Russia’s main security service, accused him of trying to obtain state secrets – a charge Gershkovich, his employer and the US government have strenuously denied.
The Moscow City Court said it considered the appeal but would support the decision made earlier by the Lefortovo District Court to extend Gershkovich's period of detention.
If convicted of spying, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
7:03 a.m. ET, February 20, 2024
Kremlin says Yulia Navalnaya's accusations that Putin killed Navalny are unfounded
From CNN's Anna Chernova and Radina Gigova
Alexey Navalny, center, his wife Yulia, center right, and other demonstrators march in memory of murdered Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov in downtown Moscow, Russia, on February 29, 2020. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images
The Kremlin has dismissed Yulia Navalnaya's accusation that Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind the death of her husband Alexey Navalny as "absolutely unfounded" and "boorish."
Navalny, Russia’s highest-profile opposition leader, died in prison on Friday. Days later, Navalnaya released a video message in which she said "Vladimir Putin killed my husband."
CNN asked Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to comment on her statement during a call with journalists Tuesday.
"No, we leave this without comment," he said.
"Of course, these are absolutely unfounded, boorish accusations against the head of the Russian state. But given that Navalnaya became a widow just a few days earlier, I will refrain from commenting," Peskov said.
CNN also asked Peskov to comment on Navalnaya's comments that her husband's body hasn't been returned to his family because “they are waiting for the traces of Putin’s next 'Novichok' to disappear there.”
Peskov responded: "This is nothing more than unfounded accusations."
"To be honest, I am not familiar with this speech, but if it contained such words, then again this is nothing more than unfounded accusations," he said.
"Because they are not linked to anything, not confirmed by anything. In this case, only for ethical reasons, I cannot assess these words as they should be," Peskov added.
Navalnaya later responded.
"I don't care how the killer's press secretary comments on my words. Give back Alexey’s body and let him be buried with dignity, don’t stop people from saying goodbye to him," she posted on X. "And I strongly ask all journalists who can still ask questions: don’t ask about me, ask about Alexey."
Remember: Novichok is a poison used on Navalny in August 2020. A CNN and Bellingcat investigation later uncovered that a Russian intelligence service squad planted the poison on his underwear.
Ukraine remembers "Heavenly Hundred" demonstrators killed in 2014 clashes in Kyiv
From CNN's Radina Gigova in London and Svitlana Vlasova in Kyiv
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena attend a commemoration ceremony at a monument "Heavenly Hundred", the people killed during the Ukrainian pro-European Union (EU) mass demonstrations in 2014, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 20. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters
Ukraine is today marking the Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred – those who lost their lives during the peak of the clashes between demonstrators and the regime of former president Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.
The protests erupted after Yanukovych decided not to sign an association agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, choosing instead closer ties with Moscow.
The largest number of people, 78, were killed on Kyiv's Independence Square from February 18 to February 20, according to Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform.
After February 20, more than 20 protesters died from injuries. Those more than 100 people are known as the "Heavenly Hundred."
"Ten years ago, an attempt was made to kill Ukrainians in their own country, in their own capital, just for making a peaceful choice to be themselves and be free," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement Tuesday. "Ten years later, attempts to destroy us and our independence continue," he said. "There were bullets against the unarmed Heavenly Hundred. Now it is missiles, drones and armies. But ten years ago, we stood up and we are still standing," Zelensky added.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also praised "the brave souls who sacrificed their lives on the Maidan for Ukraine's freedom in 2014."
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said the sacrifice "will forever find its place in the history of Ukraine's fight to be free."
5:10 a.m. ET, February 20, 2024
Sweden to provide record $683 million in aid for Ukraine
From CNN's Niamh Kennedy in London
A Swedish-made Archer self-propelled howitzer of Ukraine’s 45th separate artillery brigade fires at Russian positions in the Donetsk region on December 16. Thomas Peter/Reuters
Sweden has announced a record $683 million in aid to Ukraine — the country's largest support package to the war-torn country.
Swedish defense minister Pal Jonson said that "continuing support" for Ukraine is crucial for safeguarding both Swedish and Ukrainian security, during a press conference announcing the package.
There has been a renewed focus on countries' financial commitments to Ukraine as the US Congress drags its feet over approving $60 billion in further aid to Ukraine.
Jonson said in a thread on X that the package "meets some of Ukraine's most pressing needs" and will include artillery ammunition, air defense weapons, anti-tank missiles, hand grenades, and grenade launchers.
The Scandinavian country will also donate military boats, group boats, and underwater weapons, he said.
"As global military stocks dwindle we will focus more on donations," Jonson said, outlining Sweden's commitment to "stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes."
"Ukraine is not only defending its own freedom but that of all of Europe. Russia cannot be allowed to win this war," the defense minister said.
4:09 a.m. ET, February 20, 2024
Ukraine says it repelled Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia overnight
From CNN's Clare Sebastian and Svitlana Vlasova
Ukraine's armed forces said they repelled Russian attacks toward the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia in what they described as a "difficult" night.
Ukrainian forces repelled 11 attacks near Malynivka and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region overnight, according to an update Tuesday by the General Staff of Ukraine.
"Last night was difficult. All attacks in the Zaporizhzhia sector were repelled. The Russians were destroyed. The situation is under control," Ukraine's Operational Command West said on Tuesday in a Telegram post.
Ukraine's Air Force said Tuesday it was attacked overnight by two S-300 or S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles, a guided aircraft missile, and 23 attack drones.
All of the drones were shot down in the Kharkiv, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions, it said.
On Monday, the Ukrainian military said it had thwarted a renewed Russian offensive in Zaporizhzhia, saying that offensive personnel were "fleeing" and that their equipment was "destroyed.
The Ukrainian military command also said that Russian forces repeatedly tried to "storm our positions," but were unsuccessful.
3:35 a.m. ET, February 20, 2024
Analysis: US divisions over Putin’s Russia present grave global implications
From CNN's Stephen Collinson
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump prepares to deliver remarks at a Nevada Republican volunteer recruiting event on July 8, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mario Tama/Getty Images
US politics is now split by a fault line over Russia that could have far graver global implications even than condemning Ukraine to defeat after President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
The refusal of pro-Donald Trump Republicans in Congress to extend a military lifeline for Ukraine, and the former president’s return to attacking NATO allies in ways that align with Putin’s goals, show that Trump is already reshaping geopolitical realities months before his possible White House return.
The result is rising alarm about Trump’s intentions in any second term, including over whether he would seek to quit the alliance and thereby dismantle the post-World War II trans-Atlantic security arrangements that won the Cold War and led to 80 years of peace in Europe.
