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Chicago store owner, employee charged with selling stolen goods; $2.5M in high-end merch confiscated

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Cook County Sheriff's Office said at least $2.5 million worth of high-end merchandise was confiscated from a Near West Side store, where it was for sale.

"The types of things we got, it's just stunning. Just stunning. It's Prada, it's Lululemon, it's Louis Vuitton," said Sheriff Tom Dart.

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Officers raided Flee Club on West Taylor Street last Tuesday, where they allege the operators knowingly sold stolen merchandise, even requesting certain in-demand items be stolen.

"We were sending people in to sell, and we were telling them it was stolen," Dart said. "We would then go back in with a different undercover officer and buy the stolen stuff we had just sold them. So, we were recovering the stuff. Everyone knew it was stolen."

Flee Club owner Darris Kelly and employee Jerry Walker are both charged with felony theft.

RELATED: Burglars caught on camera smashing SUV into Flee Club in Tri-Taylor: 'You just can't survive'

The store was open Thursday, but no one in the shop would comment on the allegations.

Among the items the Cook County Sheriff's Office recovered are Air Jordans that had not been released. Dart said the Air Jordan 4 Retro SEs weren't to be sold publicly until after the Olympics.

Dart said his Organized Retail Crime Team found the items were stolen from stores and train cars. He added that the result of massive theft can be detrimental to retailers.

"All you have to do is walk down Michigan Avenue now and see vacancies here and there, 'cause they just won't do it anymore," he said.

Now the sheriff's office is working with retailers to return the items. Kelly and Walker are due back in court later in July.

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More From Forbes

Japan’s magarigawa club has patient investors and a 25-year horizon.

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Exotic cars on the Magarigawa Club’s private track.

In the U.S., or anywhere for that matter, it's difficult to find investors for a company that has a 25-year breakeven goal. The Magarigawa Club, a new luxury racetrack complex in Chiba, Japan, is once such place. After a 35-billion-yen ($218 million) initial investment, the club opened a year ago, meaning its investors expect breakeven by 2048. That is patience.

In our first story (link below) about Magarigawa earlier this week, we discussed the club, its opulent amenities and the membership as it now stands. We also took some hot laps around its hilly, 22-corner, 2.2-mile-long road course. It was a very enjoyable visit. Here, we look more at the history and construction of the club.

Japan’s Magarigawa Club is easily accessible from both Haneda Airport and Narita Airport.

Kenzo Watari, president and CEO of Hong Kong-based Cornes & Co., Ltd., attended a Lamborghini Huracan launch (2015) at Spain's Ascari Race Resort, one of the world's first private tracks. After seeing the place, Watari decided he wanted to build something similar in Japan. Initially, he considered a flat parcel of land near Narita Airport, and, while it was convenient for travelers, Watari didn't feel the terrain was interesting enough to warrant a high-end facility.

The Margarigawa Club is nestled in a mountainous area of Chiba, Japan, not far from Tokyo Bay.

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Eventually Wartari settled on some stunning mountainous land in Chiba near Tokyo Bay. But the uneven terrain would require a massive effort to carve out an area big enough for both a track and its facilities.

Construction on Magarigawa began in May 2020, much of it during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hideto Yasuoka, the club’s international sales manager who helped design the track, says the company was lucky in that there were no major earthquakes and, more importantly, no typhoons in the Chiba area during the challenging construction project. Either could have done serious damage to the budding infrastructure. Yasuoka adds that while working under extremely difficult pandemic conditions, the team kept to schedule for the most part.

Magarigawa officially opened on July 29, 2023. The club’s premise is not to be a place for motorsports competition, or, necessarily for pro drivers. There are no plans to say, run Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR or IMSA series races on the track. The club is designed more for wealthy members to drive their exotic cars legally at a speed they can't achieve on Japan’s crowded highways. Yasuoka says, in fact, that about 70% of membership has never driven on a track or has only done so as part of a parade or corporate event.

Magarigawa Club villa at dusk, Chiba, Japan.

While club memberships bring in cash, more than 40 million yen ($250,000) each, they alone are not enough to keep Magarigawa in the black. The most lucrative profit center for the club are private corporate events, like the one Lamborghini hosted for its dealers when I visited. Yusuoko says some events like product launches don’t even involve use of the track. The clients find Magarigawa’s views, luxury setting and pampering accoutrements exotic enough in themselves.

The club also sells to members on-premises villas where they can stay with family and friends while visiting. They’re not cheap - from 200 million yen ($1.2 million) to 800 million yen ($5 million), depending upon location. When the villas are empty, Magarigawa has a program whereby they can be rented out as hotel rooms, fetching about 200,000 yen ($1,250) per night for the owners.

Friends and family of club members can get a birds-eye view watching cars circle Magarigawa while ... [+] sitting on large stones perched near the track.

Over the coming years, Magarigawa should continue to build membership, grow its facilities (there is still expansion planned) and work toward profitability. But, like we said up-top, a quarter of a century is a long time to wait for breakeven. Watari, only in his mid-40s, will probably be around to see that day. And his patient heirs most certainly will.

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About MSC Cruises

We’ve called the sea our home for over 300 years. It’s a place of wonder, discovery, and delight. But it’s also a place that needs protection. On an MSC Cruise, our guests don’t just create unforgettable memories, visit incredible destinations, and enjoy the finest hospitality - they also have a chance to make a difference. From our experienced crew members to our engineers, to our expert ship builders, we’re securing the sea’s tomorrow by taking positive steps today.

Discover the Beauty of Cruising with MSC Cruises

Our company

We are the world’s third-largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa, with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. We are also the fastest-growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.    Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, we are part of MSC Group , the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage.  We employ over 30,000 staff globally and sell cruise holidays in many countries around the world.

Our Cruises

At MSC Cruises, our love for the sea goes back many generations. And we are eager to pass this passion on to future generations. That’s why we are dedicated to making each of our cruises a voyage of discovery and unforgettable emotions for every guest. We offer an enriching, immersive and safe cruise experience, where you can enjoy international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs and the latest user-friendly technology on board. 

With our cruises you can decide where to go and for how long. Choose among the best cruise destinations, with a wide variety of itineraries mapped to reveal the sights, sounds and flavours of the world's most intriguing cultures. Our ships sail year-round in the Mediterranean  and the Caribbean - Antilles  (visiting also Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve , our private island in the Bahamas). Our seasonal itineraries include Northern Europe , South America , Southern Africa , Asia , North America , Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar  and Saudi Arabia & Red Sea .

With us you can discover the world, from few days at a time to all at once on a four-month cruise around the globe with MSC World Cruise .

We want you to discover the world in absolute style, comfort and safety. That’s why we are constantly expanding and improving our fleet, not only to give you a greater choice of destinations, but also to offer you an amazing state-of-art cruising experience wherever you go.

We have a modern fleet of vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new ships. The current ships across our classes of ship include: 

MSC World Europa , the first MSC World Class ship introduces a completely new, ground-breaking platform that brings together innovative technologies and industry-first design features including its unique Y-shape. MSC World Europa will be the first LNG-powered vessel in MSC Cruises’ fleet and the most environmentally advanced to date. The ship will be delivered in December 2022.  MSC World America  will be the second in the cruise line’s innovative World Class when she launches in April 2025, offering sustainable cruising in the Caribbean from Miami, with new, immersive and unique experiences at sea.

MSC Virtuosa , is one of the most environmentally-advanced ship of our fleet, delivered in February 2021. With a total guest capacity of 6,334 passengers, she is the largest ship in the MSC Cruises global fleet. Her sister ship MSC Grandiosa (from the Meraviglia Plus Class), came into service in November 2019.  

The smaller sister ships  MSC Meraviglia  and  MSC Bellissima  were the first two Meraviglia Class ships that came into service in 2017 and 2019. In 2023 another ship, MSC Euribia, powered by LNG will join the Meraviglia Plus Class fleet.

The Musica Class ships MSC Magnifica  (2010), MSC Poesia  (2008), MSC Orchestra  (2007) and MSC Musica  (2006) carry around 3,000 guests each.

  The fleet is completed by the Lirica Class ships – MSC Sinfonia  (2005), MSC Armonia  (2004), MSC Opera  (2004) and MSC Lirica  (2003) – each carrying around 2,000 guests.

The fleet is projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025, with options for six vessel orders in place through 2030.

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Life-changing programs worldwide

As a family-owned company with a global seafaring heritage that dates back to 1675, MSC cares passionately about the seas and has a real love of the beautiful places and inspiring cultures we take our guests to explore all over the world. This has led us to launch many life-changing initiatives over the years. The MSC Foundation was founded in 2018 to lead and coordinate these conservation and humanitarian commitments worldwide, developing the longstanding philanthropic partnerships of all the MSC Group companies and launching many new initiatives.    Vision To restore the critical balance between people and nature within a generation Mission To utilize MSC’s global reach and unique knowledge of the sea to take immediate action that contributes to protecting and nurturing the blue planet and all its people Joining hands to make a difference The Foundation works to restore the critical balance between people and nature, utilizing MSC’s global reach and unique knowledge of the sea to take immediate action to protect and nurture the blue planet, its peoples and our shared cultural heritage. It helps disaster-struck populations toward recovery and support vulnerable communities around the world to realize their full potential through education, sustainable development, and medical humanitarian programs. The Foundation works both independently and in conjunction with trusted partners that have a strong innovative vision or track record for effective action.   The Foundation works to achieve this both independently and together with trusted partners that have a strong innovative vision or track record for effective action. Our principal partners are UNICEF , Marevivo, M ercy Ships and Ba'a Foundation.

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Franz Wagner, Magic agree to 5-year extension, largest contract in club history, AP source says

FILE = Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, left, goes to the basket past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. Franz Wagner has agreed to the largest contract in Orlando Magic history, a five-year extension that will be worth at least $224 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday, July 5, 2024.(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

FILE - Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. Franz Wagner has agreed to the largest contract in Orlando Magic history, a five-year extension that will be worth at least $224 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

FILE - Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner poses for a photo during the NBA basketball team’s media day, Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. Franz Wagner has agreed to the largest contract in Orlando Magic history, a five-year extension that will be worth at least $224 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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Franz Wagner has agreed to the largest contract in Orlando Magic history, a five-year extension that will be worth at least $224 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

The contract value could reach $270 million if he becomes supermax eligible, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement cannot yet be announced.

The NBA’s offseason moratorium on such moves gets lifted Saturday.

Wagner has averaged 17.8 points in his three seasons with the Magic. He averaged 15.2 points as a rookie before climbing to 18.6 and 19.7 over the last two seasons, respectively.

The 22-year-old forward who helped Germany win the World Cup last summer and is slated to play at the Paris Olympics starting later this month has teamed with Paolo Banchero to give the Magic one of the league’s top young frontcourts.

Wagner, who played at Michigan, has started all 231 of his appearances with the Magic, a team coming off a Southeast Division title and the franchise’s first playoff berth in four years. Orlando pushed Cleveland to a seven-game series before losing in the first round.

Wagner’s extension begins with the 2025-26 season.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

• MSC Cruises

5+15 Voyager club offer for already booked cruise.

By kernow , February 10, 2022 in MSC Cruises

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We have a cruise booked in May on Virtuosa with final payment due next week. I see on the website that this now is in the Voyager selection cruises. Does anyone know if they will offer any discount or is it just hard luck? I wouldn't even mind just getting the obc. I'm in the UK if that makes a difference. Thought I would ask here before I ring the ta. 

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Two Wheels Only

I've added the " +15% " to an already booked cruise but I'm in the US.

I don't know about UK bookings. 

38 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said: I've added the " +15% " to an already booked cruise but I'm in the US. I don't know about UK bookings. 

Same for us.

We had it applied to our 11/2021 cruise a few weeks before sailing.  It showed as a negative balance on our on line account. I called and they switched it to an OBC for us.   

@kernow it’s worth the call for sure. Good luck!

Happened to me twice this year. I did call and the 15% was applied as OBC. 

28 minutes ago, miataman19 said: Happened to me twice this year. I did call and the 15% was applied as OBC. 

Assuming you had booked directly with MSC (and had not gone through a TA), correct?

Thanks for the answers.

I just heard back from the TA and she said that she called MSC but they said no, so seems we are unlucky. 

2 hours ago, kernow said: Thanks for the answers. I just heard back from the TA and she said that she called MSC but they said no, so seems we are unlucky. 

Is there any shortcut way to check if the Cruise you have booked is in the 5 + 15% category?

45 minutes ago, drsel said: Is there any shortcut way to check if the Cruise you have booked is in the 5 + 15% category?

I just looked on the website as if booking a new cruise.

3 hours ago, kernow said: Thanks for the answers. I just heard back from the TA and she said that she called MSC but they said no, so seems we are unlucky. 

We booked our Xmas Meraviglia 2019 cruise from Miami via a UK travel agent, the cruise became a 5+15% cruise and the 15% was applied to our cruise which was before final payment and the  final balance reduced by that amount, Try again I believe MSC are wrong in what they have told you. As other have said they have had it added after final payment and received the difference as OBC.

As usual, it depends on what rep you get at MSC. I just had an adjustment adding the 15% on out May Seashore cruise. I didn't even know about the 5+15 option.I called about something unrelated and when the young lady saw the reservation, she notified me of the extra 15%. Of course, I thanked her profusely. With MSC, as opposed to the other cruise lines is really the luck of the draw.

6 hours ago, kernow said: Thanks for the answers. I just heard back from the TA and she said that she called MSC but they said no, so seems we are unlucky. 

I believe that response to be in error! This is direct from the website:

Any other communications I see about various discounts or offers usually make reference to the promotion being for new bookings only. This doesn't, so I agree with Sids response to you, a couple of posts prior.

As an example, this is direct from the website in relation to Healthcare Workers discount with a clear reference to it being applied only to new bookings:

Our special ‘thank you’ discounted cruise fares for healthcare professionals and their families will be available for all MSC Cruises’ sailings of any duration for all   new bookings made till the 31st March 2022  on all cruises departing up to the end of 2022 (WORLD CRUISES excluded).

4 hours ago, drsel said: Is there any shortcut way to check if the Cruise you have booked is in the 5 + 15% category?

Go to MSC site. Click in Cruise Deals at top. Then click on %. Scroll down to Voyagers club and click on orange tab. you will have to enter Voyagers Club number . I have entered mine so many times, I have it memorized now.

Click on 5+15% departures.

Refine search to Caribbean ( for example) month and port.

search then shows ships and dates of 5+15% discounted cruises.

I had exactly this scenario on our Meraviglia cruise (next week). I run MSC and the first 2 reps said hard luck. The third said they would escalate and bingo!! I suggested I’d accept as on board credit and that’s exactly what they did. Definitely worth you or the travel agent trying again.  As noted above it’s about rewarding loyal / voyager club members and thus given that’s what you are, as a good will gesture, could they please use their discretion to retrospectively apply (with OBC an option).  Good luck 

Thanks for the replies. I have messaged MSC on FB to ask the policy on this, does anyone know if there is a direct contact for Voyager Club. I think that if I just contact the general MSC number they will not speak to me as I am booked with a TA.

I once booked via a Travel Agent who was reluctant to apply the 15+5% as it also reduces their commission by 15+5%.     Since then found a much better one.

In the UK you also have an option to move the cruise once, so you could move the existing booking to a future cruise and book it again.    The 15+5% doesn't apply to all rates - especially special rates (e.g. black friday specials) have been previously been exempt.

1 hour ago, 8420PR said: I once booked via a Travel Agent who was reluctant to apply the 15+5% as it also reduces their commission by 15+5%.     Since then found a much better one.   In the UK you also have an option to move the cruise once, so you could move the existing booking to a future cruise and book it again.    The 15+5% doesn't apply to all rates - especially special rates (e.g. black friday specials) have been previously been exempt.

The cruise has already been moved from a cancelled Magnifica one so can't re book. 

I know some TAs are bad but have used this one quite a bit over the years and they have been very helpful so I do believe them that they were told no.

I'll keep trying myself but not going to let it ruin the cruise if I don't get it 🙂 .

21 hours ago, Morgsmom said: Assuming you had booked directly with MSC (and had not gone through a TA), correct?

Yes, you are correct. Booked thru MSC

On 2/11/2022 at 5:28 AM, phissy said: Go to MSC site. Click in Cruise Deals at top. Then click on %. Scroll down to Voyagers club and click on orange tab. you will have to enter Voyagers Club number . I have entered mine so many times, I have it memorized now. Click on 5+15% departures. Refine search to Caribbean ( for example) month and port. search then shows ships and dates of 5+15% discounted cruises.

My voyagers club status is valid till 6-11-2022 on the US site.

Is that 6th of November or 11th of June?

I wish they would specify the month to avoid any confusion.

Our last cruise on MSC bellissima ended on 7 December 2019, but it's not reflecting in our past sailings and I cannot add the booking number. I keep getting an error. 

Calling MSC did not help. They said to ask the agent to add the booking to my past sailings.

The sailing just prior to that ended on 4th November 2018. This is seen in my past sailings.

On 2/11/2022 at 4:27 AM, hamrag said: I believe that response to be in error! This is direct from the website:   We've taken our best deal for MSC Voyagers Club members and made it even better!    Book any cruise from the Voyages Selection  and you'll get a massive  5%+15% DISCOUNT!   Any other communications I see about various discounts or offers usually make reference to the promotion being for new bookings only. This doesn't, so I agree with Sids response to you, a couple of posts prior.   As an example, this is direct from the website in relation to Healthcare Workers discount with a clear reference to it being applied only to new bookings:   Our special ‘thank you’ discounted cruise fares for healthcare professionals and their families will be available for all MSC Cruises’ sailings of any duration for all   new bookings made till the 31st March 2022  on all cruises departing up to the end of 2022 (WORLD CRUISES excluded).    

Not all doctors or Health Care workers are eligible for the MSC discount.

eg. orthopaedic surgeons, dentists, ophthalmologists and skin specialists working in their own private clinics are not eligible.

Only those Health Care workers and doctors directly involved with Covid patients or attached to hospitals are eligible

I have a Voyagers number but this will be our first cruise with MSC. I tried to get the extra 15% discount applied to the cruise I have booked for May but was told it’s only for past passengers. Does anyone know if this is actually the case?

So I found my booked cruise with a 5+15% discount.

After adding my Voyagers Club no, the price reduces by 5+15 = 19.25%,  but even after 19.25% discount, it is STILL MUCH MORE than what I paid (with only 5% discount). 

Also, I paid only $150 pp for the All-in (Easy Plus & WiFi) add ons. Now it is $242 pp after 19.25% discount.

I shall check other cruises also to see if the same applies

For another cruise, the All-in price after 5+15=19.75% discount is also more than what I paid,

Although the cruise only price after 19.75% discount is less.

But another problem is that the $100+200 OBC which we received for accepting a FCC will not get transferred to the new booking with 5+15=19.25% discount.

So its best not to do anything (in my case)

Earlier MSC had a 5+5% discount +$50 pp OBC (US$ 100 per cabin OBC) for members.

Has MSC removed the US $50 pp OBC for Voyagers club members when they started this 5+15% discount?

8 hours ago, drsel said: My voyagers club status is valid till 6-11-2022 on the US site. Is that 6th of November or 11th of June? I wish they would specify the month to avoid any confusion.   Our last cruise on MSC bellissima ended on 7 December 2019, but it's not reflecting in our past sailings and I cannot add the booking number. I keep getting an error.  Calling MSC did not help. They said to ask the agent to add the booking to my past sailings.   The sailing just prior to that ended on 4th November 2018. This is seen in my past sailings.

Since MSC is a European company, I assume they use that for dates, ie, day, month, year. November 6 does correspond with your November sailing plus the one year extension.

For your Bellissima cruise, I would email MSC voyagers Club with info.

[email protected]

I have done this twice and both times they just reduced what I owed.

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Russia Sends Waves of Troops to the Front in a Brutal Style of Fighting

More than 1,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine were killed or wounded on average each day in May, according to NATO and Western military officials.

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By Julian E. Barnes ,  Eric Schmitt and Marc Santora

Julian E. Barnes and Eric Schmitt reported from Washington, and Marc Santora from Kyiv, Ukraine.

May was a particularly deadly month for the Russian army in Ukraine, with an average of more than 1,000 of its soldiers injured or killed each day, according to U.S., British and other Western intelligence agencies.

But despite its losses, Russia is recruiting 25,000 to 30,000 new soldiers a month — roughly as many as are exiting the battlefield, U.S. officials said. That has allowed its army to keep sending wave after wave of troops at Ukrainian defenses, hoping to overwhelm them and break through the trench lines.

It is a style of warfare that Russian soldiers have likened to being put into a meat grinder, with commanding officers seemingly oblivious to the fact that they are sending infantry soldiers to die.

At times, this approach has proved effective, bringing the Russian army victories in Avdiivka and Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. But Ukrainian and Western officials say the tactics were less successful this spring, as Russia tried to take land near the city of Kharkiv.

American officials said that Russia achieved a critical objective of President Vladimir V. Putin, creating a buffer zone along the border to make it more difficult for the Ukrainians to strike into the country.

But the drive did not threaten Kharkiv and was ultimately stopped by Ukrainian defenses, according to Western officials.

“President Putin and Moscow have really tried to make big gains, to break through the front lines this spring,” Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, said in an interview with The New York Times editorial board. “They tried and they failed. They made very small gains, and they are paying a very high price.”

Russian casualties have spiked at other times, especially during the assaults on Avdiivka and Bakhmut. But the assaults on those cities were spread out over several months. The push in May, both outside Kharkiv and along the eastern front, involved more intense periods of Russian wave attacks. British military intelligence analysts said Russia’s casualties in May, which they put at an average of 1,200 a day , were the highest of the war.

The fighting last month decimated the town of Vovchansk, about 40 miles from Kharkiv, where Ukrainian and Russian are engaged in a grueling battle for control.

Russian soldiers have said on Telegram, the social media and messaging platform, that their units are suffering high casualties. Some say their ranks are being cut down by drones, machine gun fire and artillery barrages.

Russia’s use of infantry in wave attacks reflects one of its advantages in the war: Its population is much larger than Ukraine’s, giving it a bigger pool of potential recruits.

But the casualties have forced Russia to ship new recruits to Ukraine relatively quickly, meaning that the soldiers sent to the front are poorly trained.

The lack of structured training, and the need to commit new recruits to combat operations, has limited Russia’s ability to generate more capable units. It also increases casualties.

But it is more complicated than that. The changing nature of modern warfare has also increased the body count in recent months.

Ubiquitous drones have made it easy for both sides to spot, and target, enemy forces. And mines and cluster munitions make movement across open ground a nearly suicidal endeavor.

Since Mr. Putin launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, at least 350,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III recently said. British estimates put the number of Russians killed or wounded at more than 500,000.

U.S. estimates of casualties in the war are based on satellite imagery, communication intercepts, social media and news media dispatches from reporters, as well as official reporting from Russia and Ukraine. But such estimates vary, even within the U.S. government.

Reliable estimates of Ukraine’s casualties are more difficult to come by. Ukrainian officials guard those numbers carefully. Several U.S. officials insist they do not have an accurate account. Mr. Zelensky has said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the first two years of the war, but American officials say that number appears to understate Ukraine’s losses.

Russia conducted a partial mobilization in September 2022, which led to tens of thousands of young men fleeing the country. But Western intelligence analysts say Russia will not need to conduct another such mobilization or draft this year.

Russia appears to be able to sustain its current campaign by offering financial incentives to recruits, drawing on convicts and bringing in some Russian mercenaries from Africa.

But the major question for this year will be whether Russia’s current strategy can best the Ukrainian military, which is finding its defensive footing. Arms and ammunition from a new $60 billion U.S. aid package are finally reaching the front lines, and Ukrainian commanders are no longer having to ration rounds. Russia still outguns Ukraine, but not by as much.

Ukraine has shifted its posture, building fortifications and laying minefields to slow the Russian advance. War favors the defender, and Ukraine is focusing on holding its lines, American officials said.

“What I see is a slowing of the Russians’ advance and a stabilizing of that particular piece of the front,” Mr. Austin told reporters in Brussels this month. “A couple of weeks ago, there was concern that we would see a significant breakthrough on the part of the Russians. I don’t think we’ll see that going forward.”

And Russia’s new buffer zone at the border near Kharkiv may be a hollow achievement.

Ukraine has still been able to use longer-range American weapons to strike into Russia because of a policy shift by the Biden administration that allows the Ukrainian military to use U.S. missiles to strike military targets just over the border .

American officials said the change is beginning to have an impact, taking out Russian artillery and making it harder for Moscow to strike against Kharkiv.

The result, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said this month, was that the Kharkiv offensive had proved to be “yet another mistake for Russia.”

“The destruction of Russian terrorists’ positions and launchers by our forces, our warriors, near the border really matters,” he said . “It is working. Exactly as we expected.”

But for all of Ukraine’s success around Kharkiv, there are more challenges ahead. In the weeks to come, U.S. and Western officials expect the fighting to shift back to the east and the south, as Russia continues to appear willing to expend forces to make incremental gains.

Julian E. Barnes covers the U.S. intelligence agencies and international security matters for The Times. He has written about security issues for more than two decades. More about Julian E. Barnes

Eric Schmitt is a national security correspondent for The Times, focusing on U.S. military affairs and counterterrorism issues overseas, topics he has reported on for more than three decades. More about Eric Schmitt

Marc Santora has been reporting from Ukraine since the beginning of the war with Russia. He was previously based in London as an international news editor focused on breaking news events and earlier the bureau chief for East and Central Europe, based in Warsaw. He has also reported extensively from Iraq and Africa. More about Marc Santora

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

As NATO leaders gathered in Washington for a summit, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrived in the U.S. capital with pleas for more weapons and fewer restrictions on using them .

Russia is unlikely to make significant territorial gains  in Ukraine in the coming months as its poorly trained forces struggle to break through Ukrainian defenses that are now reinforced with Western munitions, U.S. officials say.

A Russian missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv  highlighted the growing number of deadly attacks on medical facilities, vehicles and workers .

Motorcycles and Mayhem: In the latest tactic for storming trenches, Russians use motorcycles and dune buggies  to speed across open space, often into a hail of gunfire.

Escaping the Russian Army: Facing grim job prospects, a young Nepali signed up to join Russia’s military, which sent him to fight in Ukraine. His ordeal turned into a tale worthy of Hollywood .

Evading Conscription: Fearful of a one-way ticket to bloody trench warfare, some Ukrainian men are spending their days holed up at home  to avoid draft officers who roam the streets.

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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