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Funerals, beauty queens and bombs: The Ukrainian city that won’t let Putin win
LVIV, Ukraine — As Kyiv takes a massive hit from Russia, another city seeks to carry on amid war. Four years into Russia’s war, the western Ukrainian city of Lviv is trying to master something impossible: how to live normally while surrounded by death.
At 11:30 a.m., the city stops.
Cars freeze in the middle of the street. Pedestrians pause on sidewalks. In the center of town, underneath the tall clock tower that rises above city hall, people bow their heads in silence as another military funeral convoy passes through the streets.
“It happens one to five times a day,” a local resident says quietly.
The war feels far from Lviv, until suddenly it doesn’t.
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The city of roughly one million people sits near the Polish border, hundreds of miles from the brutal front lines in eastern Ukraine. But Russian drones and missiles still hit here. Air raid sirens interrupt coffee dates and children’s soccer games. Funeral processions cut through wedding traffic. Entire neighborhoods live between moments of beauty and grief.
“We lost approximately 2,000 citizens of Lviv,” Mayor Andriy Sadovyi told Fox News Digital during an interview at city hall. “It is a very huge price which we pay to our independence, to our democracy.”
Sadovyi has led the city for nearly two decades, except for a brief presidential run. Inside his office overlooking the historic center, he proudly points to the terrace where he has hosted world leaders and celebrities, including actor Tom Cruise. At one point, a large well-fed cat jumps onto his desk.
“This is my deputy,” Sadovyi jokes. The cat, he explains proudly, has become something of a city mascot. “He’s tough like a Ukrainian.”
But beneath the humor is exhaustion. Sadovyi says he realized at the beginning of the war that Lviv had a special responsibility. It was close enough to Europe to remain functioning, but close enough to war to understand what was at stake.
His answer was what he calls the “Unbroken” project: a sprawling rehabilitation and innovation effort aimed at helping Ukraine survive physically and psychologically.
The city built rehabilitation centers for wounded soldiers and civilians arriving from across the country, treating amputees, burn victims and trauma patients. Sadovyi says the municipality also dedicated 20% of its budget to supporting defense technology companies developing military solutions for the war effort.
“Every family in this city was affected by war,” he says. “We need to be strong. We need to survive. I’m building what is needed for that.”
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Yet survival in Lviv is not only about weapons or hospitals. It is also about convincing people not to give up on life itself.
“People are afraid to come here,” Sadovyi says. “But we need them to come.”
One of the city’s newest projects reflects that mentality. Part school, part shooting range, part patriotic training center, it was designed to prepare civilians for a country where war has become everyday reality.
Inside one classroom, dozens of teenage girls sit listening to instructors explain emergency survival skills. Upstairs, at the indoor shooting range, instructor Vitaliy proudly shows off rows of American-made weapons including AR-15 style rifles and pistols.
“It’s not as big as ranges in the United States,” he says apologetically.
On the wall hangs a shredded image of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin, riddled with bullet holes from target practice.
Vitaliy laughs when asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin posters.
“We ran out,” he jokes. “They’re too popular. We can’t keep them.”
On the terrace outside, two wounded veterans practice archery.
One sits in a wheelchair after losing both legs in the war. Another leans on a cane. Both have become competitive athletes through rehabilitation programs.
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One proudly explains he won a silver medal during a national contest. The other recently took gold and is now preparing for an international championship. Neither wants to talk much about what happened to them during combat.
Their therapy now is sport.
Down the road, another funeral begins. A military convoy carrying the body of a 32-year-old soldier drives slowly through the city center until it arrives at the cemetery.
The city’s military cemetery filled so quickly that officials recently had to open a new burial ground just weeks ago. Already, rows of fresh graves stretch across the hillside, above them blue-and-yellow flags and photographs of young men and women smiling back from before the war.
The grieving brother at the funeral says the fallen soldier never had time to start his own family.
Around him, families kneel beside the earth.
And still, life continues.
Children go to school. Mothers rush to work. Cafés remain packed. Street musicians perform in the old town square.
That same evening, inside the Lviv Theater of Opera and Ballet, hundreds gather for the “Miss Lviv” beauty pageant.
Young women dressed in glittering gowns pose beneath bright stage lights while music echoes through the theater. The audience is overwhelmingly female. Many of the men still in the city work in defense industries or hold exemptions from military service.
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The contrast feels surreal only hours after attending a military burial.
But for many residents, events like these are an act of resistance.
“We are trying to keep life going,” the reigning Miss Lviv says backstage before crowning the next winner. “I want the war to stop.”
One of her friends explains why gatherings like this matter.
“These are difficult times,” she says. “Doing normal things like this gives us a reason to dress up and enjoy ourselves.”
Nobody here believes anymore that peace can come in 24 hours. But many still hope that President Trump and the U.S. can help bring the war to an end.
By the time evening arrives, air raid sirens once again cut through the city.
At outdoor cafés, people barely react at first.
Parents continue watching children play near fountains. Young couples finish drinks on restaurant terraces. Residents wait to hear whether the threat is “only” drones or actual missiles before deciding whether to move toward one of the hundreds of shelters spread throughout the city.
That frustration increasingly extends beyond the battlefield itself. Speaking to Fox News Digital while the latest wave of Russian strikes battered Ukrainian cities overnight, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Nations Andriy Melnyk warned that the war was becoming even more dangerous for civilians.
Melnyk, a native of Lviv, described the massive Russian assault between Saturday and Sunday as “the worst and the most devastating Russian attack on the capital since the beginning of the large-scale invasion.”
Even members of his own family in Kyiv, he said, are now considering temporarily leaving the city because “it becomes unbearable to stay.”
In Lviv, residents repeatedly ask to remind the world that the war is still intensifying, not fading into the background. Melnyk called on the United States and European allies to take “bold actions” to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged Western countries to provide additional air defense systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and drones targeting civilians.
He also criticized the United Nations for failing to stop the war, arguing that Russia’s veto power had left the Security Council effectively paralyzed.
On the overnight train leaving Lviv, most passengers are women. Border guards spend long minutes questioning the few men onboard, making sure they are not trying to escape mandatory military service.
The exhaustion is visible everywhere. Still, Sadovyi is full of hope.
“This city will have a great future,” he says confidently.
He believes the world will eventually come to Lviv not only to rebuild, but to learn.
“To learn how to be unbroken,” he says.
Because, he warns, what happened to Ukraine could happen elsewhere too.
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Trump Humiliates Top UK Leader At G7 With Chilling Move
President Donald Trump arrived at the G7 summit this week once again demonstrating why world leaders continue to look to Washington for leadership on the most pressing international issues.
While European leaders initially planned to focus discussions on Ukraine, trade, migration, and economic concerns, attention quickly shifted to Trump’s newly announced framework agreement with Iran—a diplomatic breakthrough that could reshape stability in the Middle East and strengthen global energy markets.
The president confirmed that both he and Vice President JD Vance electronically signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran on Sunday. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf signed on behalf of Tehran.
Administration officials emphasized that the agreement represents only the first stage of a broader negotiation process designed to permanently address concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions while protecting American and allied interests.
“We’ll be releasing the text this week,” Vance said during a television interview on Monday.
“What everybody will see is that Iran doesn’t get a dime of money unless they perform their obligations.”
The vice president’s comments directly challenged media reports suggesting the agreement included hundreds of billions of dollars in reconstruction funding for Iran.
Instead, administration officials stressed that any future economic benefits would be entirely contingent on Iran fulfilling strict requirements established by the United States and its allies.
Vance dismissed reports of massive direct payments as misinformation and explained that any economic relief would primarily come through sanctions adjustments tied to verified compliance.
According to officials, Iran would be required to permanently abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions, eliminate enriched nuclear material stockpiles, and submit to extensive international inspections before receiving any meaningful economic benefits.
“So long as they honor their end of the obligation,” Vance explained, Gulf nations could potentially participate in reconstruction efforts only after Iran demonstrates full compliance with the agreement.
The framework marks a significant departure from years of escalating tensions that repeatedly threatened to destabilize the region and disrupt global energy supplies.
Administration officials also announced that the Strait of Hormuz—one of the most strategically important shipping routes in the world—is expected to fully reopen following the formal signing ceremony scheduled for Friday in Geneva.
The recent disruptions in the waterway have contributed to uncertainty in global energy markets and increased economic pressure on nations around the world.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the importance of restoring normal operations in the strait.
“The strait being closed has had an impact on our economy and an impact on every household across the country,” Starmer said.
The British leader suggested that the United Kingdom could potentially assist with demining operations if necessary.
The summit also served as another reminder of America’s dominant role on the world stage under Trump’s leadership. While European leaders sought greater involvement in ongoing negotiations surrounding both Iran and Ukraine, much of the summit’s focus remained squarely on Trump’s diplomatic initiatives and high-profile meetings.
One particularly revealing moment occurred when Starmer appeared to be caught on a hot microphone asking whether Trump was holding another meeting elsewhere after the president met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The incident sparked speculation in British media that Starmer had been sidelined during portions of the summit as world leaders sought opportunities to engage directly with the American president.
Starmer dismissed suggestions that he had been snubbed.
“We had very productive, very good conversations,” Starmer said.
Nevertheless, observers noted that the summit’s most significant developments centered on Trump’s diplomatic efforts rather than the priorities advanced by many European leaders.
The president also met separately with Zelensky as he continues advocating for a negotiated resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine, a position that has increasingly gained attention among leaders seeking an end to the prolonged conflict.
Meanwhile, administration officials released additional details regarding the Iran framework agreement.
The United States will maintain its current military posture throughout a 60-day negotiation period while talks continue. Officials repeatedly emphasized that any economic concessions will remain tied to verified Iranian compliance and that enforcement mechanisms will remain firmly in place.
The administration’s approach reflects Trump’s longstanding strategy of combining diplomacy with strength—pursuing peace agreements while ensuring America retains leverage throughout the negotiation process.
As negotiations move forward, the agreement is being viewed by many observers as a significant diplomatic achievement that could reduce tensions in the Middle East, strengthen global economic stability, and further underscore America’s leadership role on the international stage.
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FBI Raids George Soros — Major Plot Narrowly Thwarted
Federal investigators executed a major raid Thursday on a Soros-funded voter mobilization organization in Ohio as part of an ongoing fraud investigation, marking the latest effort by the Trump administration to crack down on alleged election-related misconduct.
According to reports from MS Now, FBI agents raided the headquarters of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC) on June 11 and conducted interviews with individuals connected to the organization across the state. Some of those contacted reportedly received subpoenas or were asked to surrender electronic devices.
Sources familiar with the matter later told CBS News that the law enforcement activity was connected to a fraud-related investigation.
The operation represents another significant step in President Donald Trump’s broader push to investigate allegations of voter fraud and election integrity violations. Conservatives have long argued that such cases were not aggressively pursued by previous administrations and have welcomed increased federal scrutiny of organizations involved in voter registration and mobilization efforts.
The Ohio Organizing Collaborative is a nonprofit organization that works closely with Democratic Party-aligned causes in Ohio, focusing on voter registration, turnout efforts, and ballot initiatives. The group has received substantial financial support from major liberal donor networks, including organizations tied to billionaire George Soros.
While federal authorities have remained tight-lipped about the details of the investigation, the Department of Justice emphasized that the search warrants were approved through the normal judicial process.
“Search warrants are authorized by a judge, and anything said by any organization or others in the media is unfounded speculation, as the target of any investigation is not privy to the search warrant affidavit until after indictment,” a DOJ official told Fox News.
Financial disclosures show OOC has become a major force in Ohio politics. The organization reported more than $10 million in revenue during 2024 and has spent heavily on ballot initiatives and political campaigns.
Last year alone, OOC spent $250,000 opposing a Republican-backed effort related to abortion policy in Ohio and another $300,000 fighting a GOP redistricting initiative.
The group’s financial backing comes from a network of prominent Democratic-aligned organizations, including the Soros family’s philanthropic entities, the New Venture Fund, the Tides Foundation, and major labor unions such as the American Federation of Teachers and the Service Employees International Union.
Records show the Soros family’s Foundation to Promote Open Society provided approximately $1.9 million to OOC between 2019 and 2020. In addition, the Open Society Action Fund contributed $1 million to OOC’s affiliated organization in 2021 and another $1 million in 2023.
OOC leaders have sharply criticized the investigation, accusing the Trump administration of using federal law enforcement to target political opponents.
The organization has faced controversy before. In 2017, a paid canvasser associated with OOC pleaded guilty for his role in a fraudulent voter registration scheme, a case that continues to draw attention amid the current federal investigation.
OOC board member Prentiss Haney questioned the timing of the operation.
“How can they distract and intimidate civil rights leaders and voters and community leaders who are helping people get registered to vote, and create a national spectacle about it?” Haney told MS Now.
“That is the only reason why they would choose to do that, do it now, in the middle of a contested political election in the state. There’s no other reason. They have no evidence of that,” Haney added.
The investigation also comes after President Trump publicly criticized George Soros and his son, Alexander Soros, earlier this year.
“George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged with RICO because of their support of Violent Protests, and much more, all throughout the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“We’re not going to allow these lunatics to rip apart America any more, never giving it so much as a chance to ‘BREATHE,’ and be FREE. Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you! Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump added.
As federal investigators continue their work, the raid is likely to intensify the national debate over election integrity, political activism, and the role of powerful donor-funded organizations in American elections.
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Bone-Chilling Details Emerge From White House Terror Plot
Federal authorities say they foiled a chilling terror plot targeting Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn, preventing what investigators believe could have been one of the most devastating attacks on the nation’s capital in recent memory.
According to officials, five suspects are already in custody after the FBI uncovered a multi-phase attack plan that allegedly included explosive-laden drones, sniper teams, and an attempted assault on the White House itself.
The plot was reportedly aimed at the historic UFC event attended by President Donald Trump and thousands of supporters. Authorities say the attackers intended to use drones carrying explosives to strike buildings near the venue, creating chaos among attendees and forcing panicked crowds into predetermined kill zones where snipers would allegedly open fire.
Investigators say the operation did not stop there. Officials revealed that a “second wave” of attackers allegedly planned to exploit the confusion and attempt to breach the White House gates.
FBI Director Kash Patel credited law enforcement agencies for stopping the threat before it could be carried out.
The scheme was “stopped cold” on June 10 after investigators executed a search warrant in Cincinnati, where the first arrest was made.
Federal court documents identify California resident Michael Alan Thomas as one of the alleged organizers behind the operation.
According to an arrest affidavit, Thomas told investigators he believed the federal government is controlled by elites who sacrifice and eat children, had ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and are protected by President Trump.
Authorities say some members of the group traveled to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or June 13 to conduct preparations for the planned attack.
The investigation uncovered extensive communications among the suspects. After examining an iPhone linked to one of the individuals, federal agents reportedly discovered at least 23 users participating in discussions on the encrypted messaging application Signal.
Investigators say those conversations included detailed planning for what could have become a catastrophic attack. Screenshots recovered by federal agents allegedly show maps of the UFC event being circulated among participants, along with discussions regarding potential sniper positions.
Law enforcement officials also recovered rifles and ammunition during the investigation.
According to the affidavit, one suspect told investigators that the goal of the operation was to target “capitalist elites,” “billionaires” and politicians who had received support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as AIPAC.
Sources familiar with the investigation told Fox News correspondent David Spunt that all five suspects currently in custody are American citizens. At this time, authorities say they have found no evidence suggesting any foreign involvement in the alleged plot.
Following the arrests, Patel praised the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
“While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team — we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight,” Patel later wrote on X.
The UFC Freedom 250 event marked a major celebration coinciding with President Trump’s 80th birthday and drew approximately 4,300 attendees, including 1,200 active-duty military service members.
Officials estimate another 80,000 to 85,000 fans attended a ticketed watch party on the Ellipse south of the White House, while thousands more gathered on the National Mall to watch the event on giant screens.
The successful disruption of the alleged attack underscores the significant security challenges surrounding high-profile public events and highlights what officials describe as the vigilance of law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting both President Trump and the tens of thousands of Americans who attended the historic celebration.
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