Damage to Russian-occupied dam submerges Ukrainian reservoir island community

LYSOHIRKA, Ukraine (AP) — The rising waters came as a relief at first, for both the tiny community living on the islands in the southern Kakhovka Reservoir and for everyone who had feared the low levels risked a meltdown at the nearby Russian-occupied nuclear power plant. Since...

Firewalkers in Greece honor Saint Constantine in mystery-shrouded, centuries-old rituals

LAGKADAS, Greece (AP) — Sotirios Gkaintatzis danced across burning coals, his stomping bare feet raising sparks and puffs of smoke as he held aloft an icon of Saints Constantine and Helen. Gkaintatzis is the leader of a group of anastenaria -- the devotees of St. Constantine who...

UN official hopes for breakthrough on Russian food, fertilizer shipments

GENEVA (AP) — A top U.N. official said Thursday that he hopes for a breakthrough soon after months of efforts to ensure that Russian food and fertilizer can be shipped to developing countries struggling with high prices. A day after Moscow agreed to renew a wartime accord allowing...

Russia agrees to extend Ukraine grain deal in a boost for global food security

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russia agreed to a two-month extension of a deal that has allowed Ukraine to ship grain through the Black Sea to parts of the world struggling with hunger, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday, a boost to global food security after the war drove up...

Erdogan says Russia agrees to extend deal that allows Ukraine to ship grain through Black Sea in win for food security

Ukraine farmers surrounded by risks, from mines to logistics

POTIOMKYNE, Ukraine (AP) — A grassy lane rutted with tire tracks leads to Volodymyr Zaiets’ farm in southern Ukraine. He is careful, driving only within those shallow grooves — veering away might cost him his life in the field dotted with explosive mines. Weeds grow tall where...

Ukraine delegate hits Russian at Black Sea summit in Turkey

ISTANBUL (AP) — Ukrainian and Russian delegates have had to be separated after a scuffle during a meeting of Black Sea countries in the Turkish capital Ankara. Oleksandr Marikovski, a Ukrainian member of parliament, landed several blows to the head of a Russian official after his...

NATO, US forces join Romania-led Black Sea military drills

MAHMUDIA, Romania (AP) — Romania’s navy led multinational military drills in the Black Sea region Thursday that brought together U.S. and NATO troops as the 30-nation alliance looks to boost security on its southeastern flank amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sea and air...

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Crimea to mark anniversary of Black Sea peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine

Russia will extend Ukraine grain deal for 60 days — not 120

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — On the eve of the expiration of a deal enabling Ukraine to export grain, the United Nations’ humanitarian chief on Friday called its extension crucial to ensuring global food supplies and keeping prices from spiraling as they did after Russia’s invasion of its smaller...