Monday Briefing: Zelensky warns of a new Russian offensive

Plus: Hamas fires rockets at central Israel

View in browser|nytimes.com May 27, 2024 By Justin Porter Good morning. We're covering a Ukrainian warning of a new Russian offensive as well as a Hamas strike on Israel. Plus, a lost Tudor palace. A hardware superstore was hit in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday. Finbarr O'Reilly for The New York Times Zelensky warned of a new Russian offensive A day after a Russian missile strike on a hardware superstore in Kharkiv, Ukraine, killed at least 16 people, according to officials there, its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that Moscow's forces were massing for a new ground offensive in the northeast. Kharkiv has seen a sharp escalation in the ferocity of aerial attacks this month, forcing many to flee. On Saturday, a second strike, which came just hours after the attack on the superstore, hit commercial infrastructure, wounding at least 25 people. Far from the front lines, U.S. and allied intelligence officials are tracking an increase in low-level sabotage operations in Europe, saying that the acts are part of a Russian campaign to undermine support for Ukraine. The covert operations have mostly been arsons or attempted arsons targeting a wide range of sites, including a warehouse in England, a paint factory in Poland, homes in Latvia and an Ikea store in Lithuania. People accused of being Russian operatives have also been arrested on charges of plotting attacks on U.S. military bases. Analysis: Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, changed defense ministers this month for the first time in more than a decade, and he recently allowed corruption arrests among top officials. The purge is most likely a sign that he has greater confidence about his battlefield prospects in Ukraine. A member of the Israeli police bomb squad collecting the remains of a rocket in Herzliya. Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Hamas fired rockets at central Israel Hamas launched a barrage of rockets yesterday afternoon, setting off air-raid sirens in the Tel Aviv area for the first time since at least late January. The attack showed that the group retained some long-range missile capabilities. The Israeli military said that at least eight rockets were fired from the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where Israeli forces have been advancing. There were no immediate reports of major damage. Israel's emergency service said that two women were lightly wounded as they fled to a bomb shelter. In Rafah: Hours after the Hamas rocket attack, an Israeli airstrike on a makeshift tent camp for displaced Palestinians killed at least 35 people, the Gaza Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said that its operation was aimed at a Hamas compound. The Times wasn't able to immediately confirm the details. Cease-fire talks: Officials said that negotiations could restart in the next week, after a meeting in Paris among U.S. and Israeli intelligence chiefs and Qatar's prime minister. Villagers searching through a landslide in Yambali, Papua New Guinea, yesterday. Mohamud Omer/International Organization for Migration, via Associated Press A landslide in Papua New Guinea killed hundreds More than 48 hours after a landslide struck a densely populated region of Papua New Guinea with boulders the size of shipping containers, a U.N. official in the country said that at least 670 people were estimated to have died. The landslide occurred around 3 a.m. on Friday, when many residents were asleep. As of Sunday afternoon, land was still sliding, rocks were falling, and the soil was cracking from increased pressure and running groundwater, hampering search-and-rescue efforts and forcing residents from their homes. MORE TOP NEWS The debris after a fire at an amusement park in Rajkot, India, yesterday. Siddharaj Solanki/EPA, via Shutterstock India: Two fires over the weekend killed 27 people at an amusement park and seven babies at a clinic, exposing India's abysmal fire preparedness. U.S.: Severe storms in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas killed at least 14 people and left hundreds of thousands without power. Airlines: Twelve people were injured during turbulence on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Ireland. China: A surveillance campaign is tracking residents, schoolchildren and businesses to forestall any potential unrest. Mount Everest: This season, five climbers have died and three have gone missing. Health: Ahead of the World Health Assembly, opening today in Geneva, countries failed to agree on a treaty to prepare for the next pandemic. Peru: A government decree calling transgender identity a disorder has incited a backlash. Mexico: Dozens of candidates have been targeted in attacks ahead of next month's election, a surge in violence largely traced to local criminal groups. Cannes: "Anora," a bawdy comedy about a sex worker by the American filmmaker Sean Baker, won the Palme d'Or, Cannes's top prize. French Open: Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka scored wins on the opening day of the tennis tournament. Follow our live updates. MORNING READ What is thought to be the palace floor, discovered in February.  Andrew Testa for The New York Times For generations, residents of Collyweston, a village in central England, passed down stories of a grand Tudor palace that had been home to Henry VIII's grandmother. A group of dedicated locals unearthed portions of the palace. Lives lived: Richard Sherman, who was part of the songwriting team that gave the world numbers like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "It's a Small World (After All)," died. He was 95. CONVERSATION STARTERS Bared: A Times reporter served as a nude model for an art fair and had some revelations. New old myths: Medusa, Clytemnestra and other women from mythology are having their stories retold in novels. Neck and neck: The hottest Olympic rivalry is between the world's best middle-distance runners. SPORTS NEWS Manchester United, 2, Manchester City, 1: Erik ten Hag gets it right to win the FA Cup. Remembering Grayson Murray: The two-time PGA Tour winner died by suicide at age 30. Jelena Ostapenko interview: Handshakes, electronic line calls and Roland Garros. ARTS AND IDEAS Clockwise, from top left: "Past Lives," "Everything Everywhere All at Once," "Minari," and "The Sympathizer." A24; Allyson Riggs/A24; Hopper Stone/HBO; David Bornfriend/A24 The subtlety of subtitles Subtitles used to be a barrier for American viewers, at least outside art-house theaters. But hits like "Parasite," "Squid Game" and "Shogun" have demonstrated the shift away from dubbing. Asian and Asian American filmmakers are showing how subtitles add more nuance to narratives. Lulu Wang's Prime series "Expats" takes place in Hong Kong and has portions in Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Punjabi and English. The fifth episode in particular showcases the subtlety of subtitles. When the focus shifts from wealthy English-speaking expats in Hong Kong to the mostly Filipino domestic workers who maintain the homes of the elite, the sudden prominence of Tagalog is a way into their inner lives — and a moment to relish for viewers who know the language. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Linda Xiao for The New York Times Cook: This miso ramen with shrimp is creamy but light. Discuss: These are our favorite books and movies of the year so far. Watch: "Zarqa" is a madcap Canadian comedy about a divorced Muslim mother. Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here. That's it for today's briefing. Thank you for spending part of your morning with us, and see you tomorrow. — Justin You can reach Justin and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018