The Independent – Behind enemy lines with Zelensky’s forces
The Independent leads on an exclusive as reporter Askold Krushelnycky goes behind enemy lines with Ukraine. The paper says he saw first-hand the brutality of the Russian regime. But as Ukraine establishes a foothold in Kursk, could the tide finally be turning?, the paper asks.
I’ve always dreamed of crossing the Russian border on a Ukrainian tank – now I’ve done it
Last weekend, when I was taken into Russia’s Kursk region by the Ukrainian army, I remembered how, as a foreign correspondent, I had rued all the bureaucratic hurdles in travelling to and from Moscow.
When I was posted to Moscow, years ago, as a British newspaper’s correspondent for the region, I was messed around by malicious Russian authorities for months before I was granted a Russian press visa. Even after that, Russian airport officials had a knack of making entry to or exit from their country unpleasant.
It was always a joy to board a western plane flying out of Russia. The air crew said they recognised “that look” of relief on the faces of those taking their seats and, sometimes, would immediately offer a celebratory drink to passengers – even if they were flying economy.
So I smiled as the armoured personnel carrier I was in sped past the wreckage of the Russian passport control building at the border with Ukraine, and I entered – visa-free – the country that in 2022 launched Europe’s largest conflict since the Second World War.
I describe what I saw elsewhere in The Independent, but here I want to describe some of the emotions I felt on an assignment that was very different from most journeys I’ve ever written about.
Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read
Editorial 02 September 2024.
Monday’s front pages have a variety of domestic and international leads with the broadsheets slightly more focused on the latest happenings on the global stage. The bodies of six Israeli hostages have been found in Gaza, the latest from the Ukraine-Russia War and the German far-right’s election victory in the east are among the popular headlines on the front splash.
A little closer to home, the front pages report on the latest from Downing Street including Labour axing winter fuel payments and the shake-up of the Ofcom rating system following the death of a head teacher last year.
Oasis, Venice Film Festival and Man Utd’s humiliating loss to Liverpool are all pictured on the front pages. The weekend’s Premier League action dominates the back pages.
