N ow that the excitement of Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk two months ago has faded, the prevailing narrative has reasserted its grip. Ukrainian forces are retreating in the face of steady, if costly, Russian advances across the front line in the Donbas, thanks to Russia’s vast superiority in troop numbers and firepower.

Russian missiles have hit a civilian container ship at a port in Ukraine's Odesa region, killing seven people, according to local officials. "This is the third attack on a civilian vessel in the past four days,

"The American administration should critically consider what is happening and the possible risks," the Russian Embassy told Newsweek.