Good morning to readers, Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

Today’s issue – in honor of AAPI heritage month – revolves around what it’s like to be an Asian journalist in Ukraine.

... in a weird way, I found it liberating.

In the U.S. I found race to be the central way in which people saw me.

In Ukraine, with so few Asians around, there are essentially no stereotypes around it – and so no presumptions made.

Here’s how today’s story starts:

I was in the central Ukrainian town of Dnipro, walking along a major thoroughfare, when someone shouted out:

“Ni Hao!”

My fists clenched. I prepared for a confrontation – after all, in the United States, this is the sort of street harassment that many Asian Americans are used to.

To read the rest of the story, and hear from other Asian journalists in Ukraine such as Asami Terajima and Laurel Chor, read the link in our bio.

NEWS OF THE DAY

#RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE STALLING: The head of #Kharkiv's government told the BBC that the Russian plan was to take the border town of #Vovchansk within two days, and reach Kharkiv city within five days.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp0018dzg32o

Ukraine war: On the Kharkiv front as Russia advances again

High-tech drones help Ukraine's defenders - but they say they need more support from allies.

…BUT #PUTIN CONFIDENT IN HIS GRIP ON POWER: Putin is overseeing the largest overhaul of his defense ministry since the outbreak of full-scale war, seemingly secure in his political position as he starts a fifth term, the New York Times reports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/26/world/europe/russia-corruption-putin.html

Putin Shakes Up Things at Home as His Optimism About Ukraine War Rises

Despite years of criticism, President Vladimir V. Putin has only now changed his defense minister and allowed high-level corruption arrests.

The New York Times

RUSSIA STRIKES HARDWARE STORE IN #KHARKIV: Fifteen are dead, and some 43 people are injured after bombs hit the #Epicentr hardware store in Kharkiv on Saturday, reports Reuters. An Epicentr is sort of like a #Ukrainian Walmart. Around 120 people had been inside when the bombs hit.

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240526-death-toll-rises-russian-air-strike-on-crowded-diy-store-in-ukraine-kharkiv-volodymyr-zelensky-vladimir-putin

Death toll rises in Russian strike on crowded DIY store in Ukraine’s Kharkiv

A Russian strike on a crowded DIY hardware store in Kharkiv killed 14 people and wounded dozens more, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday morning, the death toll rising as the country's second-largest city reeled from two attacks a day earlier.

FRANCE 24

POLISH JETS SCRAMBLE DUE TO WESTERN #UKRAINE STRIKES: Russian attacks in Ukraine have led to Polish military aviation scrambling to ensure nothing crosses over into its territory. The latest incident highlights heightened tension along #NATO’s eastern flank.

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/05/26/poland-scrambles-jets-to-secure-airspace-from-russian-attacks-on-ukraine

Poland scrambles jets to guard against Russian attacks on Ukraine

Warsaw said all steps were taken to secure the country's airspace as Moscow pummeled Ukraine with missiles on Saturday. #EuropeNews

euronews

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Today’s Dog of War was snapped by Myroslava, who saw this pup with his pet parents at a rally where they were demonstrating in support of Ukrainian POWs.

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