Good morning. We're covering Ukraine's announcement that 31,000 of its soldiers have been killed in the two-year war, and an Israeli push into Rafah, cease-fire or not. Plus: The astronomical cost of owning an English soccer team.
31,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed so far, Zelensky saidSome 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion began two years ago, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said. It is the first time he has announced a concrete figure for Ukraine's toll. Zelensky declined to disclose the number of wounded or missing soldiers, saying that Russia could gauge the size of Ukraine's active forces with that information. His tally could not be independently verified. Last summer U.S. officials estimated far higher losses, saying that close to 70,000 Ukrainians had been killed and 100,000 to 120,000 had been wounded. Russia's military casualties, the officials said, were about twice as high. Zelensky's acknowledgment comes as Ukraine is running short of soldiers and ammunition. A week ago, Moscow captured the city of Avdiivka. Hope: A majority of Ukrainians remain optimistic despite their country's seemingly dire circumstances, according to independent polls. Intel: The U.S. and Ukraine have a longstanding intelligence partnership that has resulted in collaborations like a C.I.A.-supported network of spy bases that includes 12 secret locations along the Russian border.
Netanyahu said Israeli forces would move into Rafah, cease-fire or notIsrael's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Israeli forces would push into the city of Rafah regardless of the outcome of talks to pause the fighting. A cease-fire would delay any move into the city, he added. Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, has become a refuge for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the war. The military push toward Rafah has drawn warnings from the U.S., Israel's closest ally, because of the potential for mass civilian casualties. Netanyahu's comments came as an Israeli delegation prepared to leave for Qatar for talks about a temporary cease-fire with Hamas and the release of some hostages held in Gaza.
Belarus's predictable electionsBelarus offered an alternative to the unpredictability of democracy in its parliamentary elections on Sunday: a vote without a single candidate critical of the East European nation's despotic leader, Aleksandr Lukashenko. Opposition parties have all been banned — belonging to one is a crime — and the four approved parties taking part in the election have competed only to outdo one another in their displays of unwavering loyalty to Lukashenko.
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An inflationary effect has rippled through the strata of English soccer, now that a stake in Premier League juggernauts like Manchester United is out of reach to all but those with wealth akin to that of a nation state. There are dozens of investors pouring vast sums into teams in the semiprofessional National League and even into the sprawling, hyperlocal amateur tiers below that. The result is that England's minor soccer leagues have become a place where even the very rich can feel poor. Lives lived: Alfred Grosser was a French political scientist and historian who played a major role in conciliating France and Germany after World War II. He died at 99.
Modern soccer: This is England's golden age. Bukayo Saka: A portrait of the soccer player, as told by his former teammates. Formula 1 testing: What can we learn from the preseason?
The power of an OscarFor the Ugandan opposition politician Bobi Wine and his wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, an Oscar-nominated film feels like a bulletproof vest. That's what they said about the film "Bobi Wine: The People's President," one of the nominees this year for best documentary feature. Wine is a leading opponent of President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986. The film examines the 2021 presidential election in Uganda. Wine, who is also a popular singer in the country, has been arrested multiple times and has been held under house arrest. The film shows Kyagulanyi's determination to free her husband, as well as tender moments between the couple. "The more the world knows about our plight, the safer we become," Wine said in an email. "An Oscar win would mean life secured." The Oscars will be held on March 10 in Los Angeles. — Lynsey Chutel, a Briefings writer in Johannesburg. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
Cook: This macaroni and peas recipe produces layers of flavor. Watch: In "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live," two of the most beloved characters in the popular series return for a six-part mini-series. Travel: 36 hours in Mérida, Mexico. Read: The novel "In Ascension" follows a marine biologist on a journey from deep sea to deep space. Imbibe: Does drinking beer before liquor actually make you sicker? Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. Thank you for spending part of your morning with us, and see you tomorrow. — Dan You can reach Dan and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
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