Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
As Russian troops fall back, nuclear fears advance
Ukraine recaptured more of its territory from Russian forces Monday amid grim reports from European media that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be mobilizing elements of his country's massive nuclear arsenal for potential use on the battlefield. Published October 3, 2022
Pipeline mystery deepens as Russian energy leverage in the spotlight
Deliberate acts of sabotage were responsible for the damage done to two major Russian underwater natural gas pipelines, European leaders said Wednesday, with multiple suspects, murky motives and a deepening divide between the Kremlin and the West serving to spook already uneasy global energy markets. Published September 28, 2022
‘Gross incompetence’: Russian bid to control Ukrainian airspace fails spectacularly, strategists say
On the ground, Russian and Ukrainian troops appear poised for a war of attrition that could drag on for years. But in the air, Moscow may have already lost. Published September 27, 2022
Iran’s protests show no signs of slowing as anger at ‘morality police’ mounts
Iran on Monday accused the U.S. and Europe of directly fueling the deadly popular uprising that has gripped the Islamic republic over the past 10 days, while the West threatened new economic sanctions on Tehran and called for an immediate end to the "brutality" with which Iranian security forces are treating protesters. Published September 26, 2022
White House vows ‘catastrophic consequences’ for Russia if Putin follows through on nuclear threats
U.S. and Ukrainian officials said Sunday that they take Russian President Vladimir Putin's threats of nuclear war seriously, as fears mount that Russia's recent military defeats in Ukraine could lead Mr. Putin to dramatically escalate the conflict. Published September 25, 2022
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says world must take Putin’s nuclear threats seriously
Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons must be taken seriously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday. Published September 25, 2022
North Korea fires ballistic missile hours before VP Harris departs for Asia
North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile early Sunday in a provocative move just hours before Vice President Kamala Harris departed for Asia, U.S. and South Korean military officials said. Published September 25, 2022
No escape: Russia reportedly bars airlines from selling tickets to adult men amid military call-up
The Kremlin on Wednesday reportedly barred Russian airlines from selling tickets to adult men amid an apparent would-be exodus of draft-age citizens looking to escape President Vladimir Putin's military mobilization. Published September 21, 2022
All ‘available means’: Putin threatens nuclear escalation, mobilizes Russian reserves
With his war in Ukraine stalled after a series of embarrassing battlefield defeats, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday issued a veiled threat of nuclear war with the West and ordered the mobilization of up to 300,000 reserve forces in his country's first major military call-up since World War II. Published September 21, 2022
Longtime face of Iranian foreign policy exits stage as U.S., Iran nuclear talks stall
Mohammad Javad Zarif rose to prominence as the smooth, English-fluent mouthpiece of Iran's theocratic regime. He went toe-to-toe on Twitter with President Trump and built deep connections with power players on the American political left looking for a softer U.S. policy toward Tehran. Published September 20, 2022
Retreating Russian troops steal Ukrainian citizens’ motorboats to escape across Dnipro River
Russian troops have resorted to stealing motorboats from local residents as they seek to escape Ukraine's major counteroffensive near the city of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said Friday. Published September 16, 2022
Zelenskyy takes victory lap in ‘de-occupied’ city as U.S. warns of fights to come
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday marked his military's highly successful counteroffensive with a surprise visit to Izium, the front-line city that troops recaptured last weekend after months of Russian occupation. Published September 14, 2022
Ukraine faces new dilemma: How far and how fast to press advantage over Russia?
Ukraine's stunning success on the battlefield in recent days has sparked renewed optimism in Kyiv that a lasting, decisive victory over Russia may be within reach. Published September 13, 2022
War’s biggest supporters turn on Putin as Russians retreat in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin faced calls to resign from some former strong supporters Monday as his troops were pushed back to their border by a crushing Ukrainian counteroffensive that has retaken strategically key cities and dealt a massive blow to the morale of the Russian army. Published September 12, 2022
New aid package latest sign U.S. is in it for the long haul in Ukraine
The Biden administration on Thursday announced a fresh $675 million military aid package for Ukraine and pledged to make available another $1 billion in American-made weapons as officials sent the strongest signal yet that Washington is broadening its focus beyond the battle with Russia and aiming to bolster the Ukrainian army for the long term. Published September 8, 2022
Pentagon to deliver $675 million in military equipment to Ukraine in sign of long-term U.S. support
The U.S. will immediately deliver $675 million in fresh military equipment to Ukraine as its war with Russia drags on, Biden administration officials said Thursday, while Pentagon leaders said they're also increasingly focused on long-term military aid to Kyiv in a bid to help permanently bolster Ukraine's armed forces. Published September 8, 2022
Army will consider soldiers’ requests not to serve in states that ban abortion, top general says
The Army will consider requests from soldiers who want to serve in states where abortion is still legal, the service's chief of staff said in an interview published Wednesday, pledging that the Pentagon will "try to make it work for them" if possible. Published September 7, 2022
‘Playing with fire’: U.N. inspectors express fears for Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant caught in war zone
Russia and Ukraine "are playing with fire" as fighting continues near the giant Zaporizhzhia power plant, the United Nations' top nuclear inspector warned Tuesday in a plea for Moscow and Kyiv to immediately establish a safe zone around the site to prevent a potentially massive and deadly radiation leak. Published September 6, 2022
Over-the-horizon U.S. strike on terrorist raises fears of what’s being missed
On its face, last month's strike on al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri proved U.S. forces can still carry out military and intelligence missions in Afghanistan even with American boots no longer on the ground. Beneath the surface, however, counterterrorism insiders say the bombing of al-Zawahri's safehouse in Kabul only exposed much deeper long-term problems for the U.S. Published September 3, 2022
Inspectors reach embattled Ukrainian nuclear plant amid fear of disaster
International inspectors reached the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Thursday and pledged to stay on site as continued fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces threatens to ignite a disaster at Europe's largest nuclear facility. Published September 1, 2022