Wednesday Briefing: How Ukraine invaded Russia

Plus, cease-fire talks in the Middle East.

View in browser|nytimes.com August 14, 2024 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering the details of Ukraine's military offensive and cease-fire talks in the Middle East. Plus: The "shadow daddies" of romantasy novels. A Ukrainian military vehicle passing a destroyed Russian border post. David Guttenfelder for The New York Times How Ukrainian troops invaded Russia On Aug. 6, Ukraine launched an audacious — and highly secretive — military offensive, with the aim of upending a war it has for months appeared to be losing. The operation surprised even Kyiv's closest allies, including the U.S., and has pushed the limits of how Western military equipment would be permitted to be used inside Russian territory. Ukraine has pushed seven miles into Russia along a 25-mile front and taken dozens of Russian soldiers as prisoners, analysts and Russian officials say. The governor of Russia's Kursk region said on Monday that Ukraine controls 28 towns and villages there. More than 132,000 people have been evacuated from nearby areas, Russian officials said. For Russia, it was a shocking moment that called into question the unwritten social contract that has largely accompanied President Vladimir Putin's 30-month campaign: that most Russians could get on with their normal lives even as he waged war. Analysis: This offensive is a major gamble for Ukraine. If its troops can hold territory, they could stretch the capacity of Russian soldiers, deliver embarrassment for Putin and get a bargaining chip for any peace negotiations. But if Russia manages to push back, Ukrainian military leaders could be blamed for giving the Russians an opening to gain more ground. On the ground: Andrew E. Kramer, our Kyiv bureau chief, spoke to Ukrainians living in villages near the border with Russia. He told The Headlines: "One Ukrainian woman who had been evacuated from a border village was saying that it was time now for the Russians to feel what war is like." Protesters in Tel Aviv on Saturday calling for a cease-fire deal. Amir Levy/Getty Images Hamas will not attend cease-fire talks International mediators are heading to the Middle East for a high-stakes round of cease-fire negotiations scheduled for tomorrow. It is hoped that a truce could defuse tensions ahead of an anticipated attack on Israel by Iran and Hezbollah. But Hamas will not take part in the talks because its leaders do not think Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has been negotiating in good faith, an official for the group said. Hamas's decision did not appear to bode well for a breakthrough, but it did not mean the group had completely left the bargaining table. Two officials briefed on the talks, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Hamas would still be willing to engage with mediators after the meeting if Israel put forward a "serious response" to Hamas's latest offer, from early July. Netanyahu responds: The Israeli leader rejected accusations that he was stonewalling, but documents reviewed by The Times showed he had been less flexible in recent discussions. Last month, he privately added new, less flexible conditions to Israel's cease-fire demands than those put forth in May. His own negotiators fear those stipulations created extra obstacles to a deal. In Britain: The counterterrorism police charged seven people with violent disorder after pro-Palestinian demonstrators forced their way into a building owned by an Israeli defense company. 🇺🇸 U.S. ELECTION 2024 The presidential election is less than 90 days away. This is what we're watching. Democrats hope that support for abortion rights will drive turnout in their favor. Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press Abortion rights take the stage in the U.S. election Arizona voters will decide in November on a measure to establish a right to abortion in the state Constitution. The measure could strongly influence turnout in the battleground state, which is critical to the presidential election as well as to control of the Senate. Similar measures on abortion rights are on the November ballot in six other states, but Nevada is the only other battleground state. Democrats are hoping the issue will give them an edge. Background: Since Roe v. Wade, which established a right to abortion under the U.S. Constitution, was overturned, Democrats have leveraged unhappiness over its demise to make gains in elections. Young women in particular have shifted toward the party. In other news from the race: Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate, held his first solo appearance yesterday, addressing labor leaders at a convention in Los Angeles. Harris is expected to lay out her economic policies in a speech on Friday. See our analysis of how Harris has found her footing in the spotlight. Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us and we'll find the answers. Stay up-to-date: Live coverage | Poll tracker | The "Run-Up" podcast | On Politics newsletter MORE TOP NEWS Bryan Denton for The New York Times Climate: Parts of Canada's boreal forests are burning faster than they can regrow, deeply transforming one of Earth's biggest storage systems for carbon dioxide. Japan: Fumio Kishida, the country's unpopular prime minister, intends to step down next month. Greece: The authorities said the threat posed by wildfires near Athens had lessened, but risks remained. Pakistan: In a first, a former head of the top intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, was arrested on charges of corruption and political meddling. Military: A series of joint war games between Russia and China — a vivid expression of their alignment — are setting new precedents. Chile: The expansion of the country's salmon farms has drawn repeated challenges from environmentalists and Indigenous people of the region. U.S. politics: Hunter Biden sought assistance from the U.S. government for a potentially lucrative energy project in Italy while his father was vice president, records show. Tanzania: A total of 520 people were arrested across the country before an opposition rally. Business & Science Starbucks: The coffee giant announced an abrupt leadership change after months of weak sales and a falling stock price. Pixel: Google unveiled four new smartphones crammed with artificial intelligence features. Google: The Justice Department and state attorneys general are discussing how to remedy Google's dominance in online search, including a breakup of the company. Streaming: Tubi has exploded in popularity over the past 18 months, outpacing some competitors with much bigger budgets. Cancer: President Biden announced eight research centers that will collectively receive $150 million toward cancer research. SPORTS NEWS Basketball: With Olympic gold secured, could Team U.S.A. players team up in the N.B.A.? Gymnastics: The head of a panel that ruled that the U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles had to give up her Olympic medal in favor of a Romanian athlete has for years represented Romania in arbitration cases. N.F.L.: The sports agent Sean Stellato, who represents pro football players, rocketed to fame through a mix of outlandish clothes and an outsize personality. He is sticking with what has worked. Formula 1: The best driver, our favorite races and pleasant surprises from the 2024 season so far. MORNING READ Atul Loke for The New York Times The young student protesters who led an uprising against Bangladesh's leader, Sheikh Hasina, are now cabinet ministers and traffic cops. They were surprised by what they achieved — now it's up to them to try to protect the spaces that have fallen into their hands, to restore order and to chart the future of the nation. Lives lived: The model Peggy Moffitt helped define the look of the 1960s, but she was best known for one image: a 1964 shot in which she posed in a topless bathing suit. She died at 86. CONVERSATION STARTERS Washed ashore: While cleaning up after Hurricane Debby, a woman found a message in a bottle from 1945. America's activist left: For years, the new left has been wary of charismatic figureheads. But a movement without leaders has its limits. The future of Europe: What is the secret to Sweden's tech sector success? ARTS AND IDEAS Kaitlin Brito A swoon-worthy 481-year age difference Disappointed by swipe culture and — perhaps — reality, some readers pine for the much older male characters (seriously, think ancient) of "romantasy" novels, a subgenre that combines fantasy and romance. The novels have garnered a huge fan base, and many of the male love interests are vampires, faeries, gods or angels. They can be centuries old internally, but externally, they're always young-presenting and, well, hot. But among fans, there has been a recurring point of debate: Is it acceptable for a 19-year-old to date a 500-year-old? Some say it's not only acceptable, it's aspirational. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Yossy Arefi for The New York Times Cook: This macaroni salad is bright, acidic and herbaceous. Game: Our culture reporter recommends three of the best video games of the summer. Travel: See Lake Como on the cheap. Watch: "Industry" started off slow. In its third season, it's now must-see TV. 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. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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