Ukraine troops reach railway hub as breakthrough threatens to turn into rout  —  Ukrainian officials shared photos on Saturday showing troops raising the nation's flag over the main railway city that has supplied Russian forces in northeastern Ukraine, as a collapse in Russia's frontline threatened to turn into a rout.

Gradually, then Suddenly  —  The Ukrainian flag is raised again in Kupyansk  —  “How did you go bankrupt?”  —  Two ways.  Gradually, then suddenly.  ― Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises.  —  As with bankruptcy so with military defeat.  What appears to be a long, painful grind can quickly turn into a rout.

Kupiansk, Izium liberated as Russian defenses collapse amid rapid Ukrainian advance in Kharkiv Oblast  —  Four days into Ukraine's surprise counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces have retreated from the key cities of Kupiansk and Izium, signaling a near-total collapse of the Russian line of defense in the area.

As Russians Retreat, Putin Is Criticized by Hawks Who Trumpeted His War  —  Russian bloggers reporting from the front line provide a uniquely less-censored view of the war.  But as Russia's military flails, these once vocal supporters are exposing its flaws, lies and all.

Russia announces troop pullback from Ukraine's Kharkiv area  —  Russia's Defense Ministry said Saturday that it is pulling back forces from two areas in Ukraine's Kharkiv region where a Ukrainian counter offensive has made significant advances in the past week.

In Major Advance, Ukraine Drives Russians Out of Key Eastern City  —  Ukraine marks its biggest strategic gain since mounting an offensive this week, closing in on a vital town and cutting off supplies to thousands of Russian troops  —  Ukrainian forces seized most of a strategically vital city …