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Cruise Ship Killers

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The stories of people who never returned home after taking a holiday on a cruise ship, featuring interviews with family, friends, investigators and experts.

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Cruise ship killers.

S2.E1 ∙ Sally

S2.e2 ∙ abigail, s2.e3 ∙ debra, s2.e4 ∙ darla, s2.e5 ∙ shirley, s2.e6 ∙ carlene, s2.e7 ∙ tamara, s2.e8 ∙ micki, s2.e9 ∙ sandra, s2.e10 ∙ ashley, s2.e11 ∙ leon, s2.e12 ∙ tina, s2.e13 ∙ jennifer, s2.e14 ∙ mindy, contribute to this page.

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Cruise Ship Killers – The REAL Deaths Behind The Show (Episode Guide)

The TV show cruise ship killers describes itself as ‘true crime’. Names, details, and locations have been changed but are these stories really based on real murders?

In this post, we look at the truth behind the episodes and the real-life cases that match the circumstance of the murders mentioned on the show.

Is Cruise Ship Killers Real?

The stories told in Cruise Ship Killers are based on real cruise ship murders. Names, details, and locations have been changed but it is possible to match each episode to a real murder that’s happened onboard a cruise ship.

The majority of cruise ship deaths are caused by natural causes or accidents but with 30 million people taking a cruise each year, murders do happen.

Where Can I Watch Cruise Ship Killers?

Cruise ship killers is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

If you don’t have Amazon Prime you can use this link to sign up for a 30-day free trial. (It’s definitely possible to watch all episodes within 30 days if you want to).

Episode Guide – ASHLEY

The episode about ‘Ashley’ is based on the murder of a woman called Karen Roston. She was killed on the Stardancer in 1988 by her husband on her honeymoon.

The Stardancer was later renamed the MS Ocean Gala 1 before being scrapped in 2018.

What Happened? – Murder of Karen Roston

Karen’s husband Scott strangled her to death before throwing her overboard in order to make it look like she had an accident. Scott informed the authorities of the cruise ship that Karen had ‘gone overboard’ at around 3 am.

It is said that Scott’s story was inconsistent, at first he said that she had been blown overboard when they were running on the running track of the ship. He then later changed his story and said that she had fallen overboard.

Karen was only 5’3 so it was almost impossible for her to fall over the high railing.

She was 26 years old and had only been married to Scott for 9 days before the accident took place.

Karens body was found and it was determined that she was unconscious, but not dead when she hit the water.

Episode Guide – SHELLY

What happened – murder of yang wenjuan.

Yang Wenjuan was cruising with her husband Wang Weilie onboard the MV Macau Success in 2010. Wang admitted to throwing his wife overboard but said that he only did this after he thought she was already dead.

He claimed that she was trying to kill herself and knocked herself unconscious.

Wang then claims that he knew that she wanted to be buried at sea so he threw her body overboard. He was found in his cabin covered in blood. Witnesses report seeing Yang’s body falling to the ocean and there are also reports of people seeing the couple arguing earlier in the day.

What Happened? – Murder of Lynne Kauff man

Lynn Kauffman was 23 at the time of her murder. She was sailing onboard the SS Utrecht and was murdered in the port of Boston, Massachusetts. Lynn Kauffman was having an affair with a crew radio operator named VanRie. It is thought that VanRie had lied to Lynn Kauffman about the fact that he was already married. VanRie was taken to trial for the death of Lynn Kauffman but was found not guilty. He initially claimed that the last time he saw her alive was on the morning of the day that she died before changing his statement to admit that he saw her in the evening. It was determined that Lynn Kauffman had been beaten before she drowned in the harbor.

Episode Guide – JACOB

What happened – murder of charles a. fink.

Charles Fink was sailing from Norway to the US. It was reported that he was carrying a large amount of money as he was planning on starting a new business in the US. He gave the money to the ship’s purser for safekeeping but it’s reported that after he was murdered, the murderer looked through his belongings. It’s suspected that they were looking for the cash that Charles had bought onboard. Nobody was ever bought to trial for Charles’s murder. The cruise line maintained that Charles must have jumped overboard.

Episode Guide – BETSY

What happened – murder of jessie harper mozee.

Jessie Harper Mozee was a former teacher in her 50s. She was sailing with a large amount of money and expensive jewelry onboard the SS Seeandbee. Her body was found overboard but nobody was ever convicted of her murder. During the cruise, Jessie had a maid who looked after her, shortly after her murder the maid went missing, as did the money and jewelry. The maid is the primary suspect in this case, if not of murder, of at least theft.

It took the ship 15 days to report Jessie as a missing person.

Episode Guide – ANNA

What happened – murder of adriana morales de florencio.

Adriana was a Royal Caribbean employee who went missing after she disembarked in Bonaire.

Her body was found 9 days later in a shallow grave. The man who was found guilty was found guilty of a crime of manslaughter and illegal firearm possession. He stabbed Adriana to death.

Episode Guide – AMY

What happened – disappearance of amy bradley.

In 1998 Amy Bradley was 23 and she went missing from the Rhapsody of The Seas. She was last seen around 5 am sleeping on her balcony. The cruise line searched the cruise ship but was not able to find any signs of Amy. There was no evidence that she had fallen overboard or committed suicide and there were no sightings of her. None of her belongings had been taken. There have been multiple reported sightings of Amy since she went missing, some in Curacao and more recently in Barbados. Amy remains to this day a missing person and there is hope that she is still alive somewhere.

Episode Guide – SARAH

What happened – death of camilla peixoto bandeira.

Camilla was a 28-year-old bartender working onboard the MSC Musica. Her boyfriend also worked on board as a waiter.

Camilla’s boyfriend claimed that Camilla had committed suicide by hanging herself in the cabin. He repeatedly changed his story and the door entry technology showed that nobody had entered or left the room during this time. During their time working on the ship, Camilla had been to the medical center for bruises and other injuries that are suspected to have been caused by her boyfriend. Her death has been reported as a ‘suspicious hanging’. Nobody has been charged with Camilla’s murder.

Episode Guide – MERRIAN

What happened – murder of merrian carver.

In 2004 a 40-year-old lady named Merrian was taking a cruise to Alaska on board the Celebrity Mercury. She disappeared without a trace.

It took 26 days after Merrian’s disappearance for her to be reported as a missing person and for the search for her to start. Her family was not contacted and her items were removed from her cabin. The cruise line confirmed that Merrian hadn’t been in her cabin since the first day of the cruise but said that this wasn’t abnormal. It was thought that she may have disembarked or have been staying with friends in another cabin. All of her belongings were left behind.

What Happened? – Murder of Angelo Faliva

Angelo Faliva was a chef employed onboard the Coral Princess. In 2009 he was cruising near Columbia when he went missing. He was meant to work until 10 pm but unexpectedly left his shift around 8 pm, he was never seen again.

It is unknown if Angelo committed suicide, was murdered, or if something else happened to him. This case remains unsolved.

Episode Guide – BILL

What happened – death of andy wallis.

In 1999 Andy Wallis took a cruise onboard Princess’s Grand Princess with his wife and a few of their friends. Andy was up late gambling in the casino when he won a large amount of money. He came back to his cabin excited to tell his wife which he did. Shortly after he went missing and wasn’t seen again. Andys body later washed up onshore. It is still unknown what happened to Andy.

Episode Guide – George

What happened – death of george smith iv.

George took a honeymoon cruise with his wife Jennifer, they had only been married for a few days at the time of his death.

He was 26 at the time and went overboard in suspicious circumstances. George’s family believes that George was murdered however there hasn’t been sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and the FBI closed the investigation in 2015. 10 years after George went missing. Photographs of blood on the canopy below George’s cabin were found as well as video footage of a group of men joking about the death of George.

Episode Guide – SALLY

What happened – ruby roegge.

In 1929 37-year-old woman called Ruby was sailing onboard the SS Mongolia. She died on board and it was later found out that she had been poisoned . Nobody was ever convicted of her death although is it assumed to have been the result of foul play.

Cruise Ship Murder Mystery Books

If the show has piqued your interest in cruise ship killers, Steve Higgs has created a series of cruise ship mystery books which while not as gruesome as the murders mentioned above, are gripping and exciting. It’s tricky to put the books down once you’ve started reading or listening, despite the often series subjects the books are still funny and easy to read.

The books follow the adventures of Patricia Fisher as she solves crimes on cruise ships. The books can be found here (affiliate link): Cruise Ship Murder Mysteries .

How Many People Die on Cruise Ships Each Year?

To learn more about cruise ship deaths, including how many people die each year and what the most common causes of death are, check out this post:

Cruise Ship Deaths – Annual Statistics, Causes and Real Examples

Free Insiders Cruise Line Guide

Ever wondered how the mainstream cruise lines compare? Cruise lines won’t tell you this, but I will.

This FREE guide shows you everything you need to know to find your perfect cruise line.

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Cruise Ship Killers - Season 1 Episode 1 - Ashley

Cruise Ship Killers Season 1

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Cruise Ship Killers

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Cruise Ship Killers - watch online: streaming, buy or rent

Currently you are able to watch "Cruise Ship Killers" streaming on Peacock, Amazon Prime Video or for free with ads on The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, Freevee, Runtime, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.

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S2 e14 - mindy, s2 e13 - ashley, s2 e12 - jennifer, where does cruise ship killers rank today the justwatch daily streaming charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. this includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. this includes data from ~1.3 million movie & tv show fans per day..

Streaming charts last updated: 5:19:39 AM, 04/27/2024

Cruise Ship Killers is 1889 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The TV show has moved up the charts by 393 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than The Heiress and the Heist but less popular than Three Little Birds.

Cruise Ship Killers is a true crime series that tells the stories of people who never returned home after taking a holiday on a cruise ship, featuring interviews with family, friends, investigators and experts.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

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Where Reena Virk's killers are now almost 30 years on from her murder that inspired 'Under the Bridge'

• Hulu's "Under the Bridge" looks at the 1997 murder of Canadian teen Reena Virk.
• The show is led by Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone as an unlikely duo investigating Virk's murder.
• Here's where Virk's killers are now.

In 1997, 14-year-old Canadian teenager Reena Virk was invited to a riverside party by a friend. She was then attacked by a group of teenagers, two of whom beat her unconscious before drowning her. Her death is the focus of Hulu's limited series, " Under the Bridge ," based on author Rebecca Godfrey's book of the same name about the incident.

Riley Keough plays a fictional version of Godfrey in the show, as she helps the police investigate Virk's death while writing a book about teenage girls.

She works with officer Cam Bentland ( Lily Gladstone ) to figure out what really happened by the river. Godfrey did not assist the authorities in real life.

Six teenage girls and one teenage boy were involved in the attack on Virk, which started when ringleader Nicole Cook put out a cigarette on Virk's face. After Virk escaped, Warren Glowatski and Kelly Ellard followed her and continued beating her. Then, they drowned her in a body of water known as the Gorge Waterway.

The six girls, who were nicknamed the "Shoreline Six," were given a variety of sentences for aggravated assault. But Glowatski and Ellard, who are played by Javon Walton and Izzy G in "Under the Bridge," were tried as adults and convicted of murder.

Here's where Glowatski and Ellard are now.

Glowatski was granted parole in 2010

Glowatski was 16 when he took part in Virk's murder, and a year later, in 1998, he was convicted of second-degree murder and given a life sentence with the possibility of parole after seven years.

Related stories

While serving his sentence, Glowatski took part in restorative justice programs . He also discovered that he had Métis indigenous Canadian heritage, and worked with elders to use cultural techniques to take responsibility for the crime, including apologizing to Virk's parents in a healing circle.

CTV reported in 2006 that Glowatski hugged Virk's parents when he was granted unescorted temporary passes in 2006, aged 25. Virk's mother, Suman Virk, wished him well.

"I am thankful and grateful you have taken responsibility for your actions," she said at the time. "From here, you have to go forward. I hope you stick to your path and prove that you have learned from your experiences and will truly love and respect others for the rest of your life."

He was later granted full parole at a hearing in 2010, where he told the parole board how much he regretted his actions.

"I hated myself. I think that night I turned that hate outward," he said. "My co-accused held her head under water and I didn't stop it. I didn't set out in the morning to take part in a murder."

Ellard is still in prison but has been granted day parole

Ellard was convicted of second-degree murder in 2000, which was later overturned after an appeal. After her second trial was declared a mistrial in 2004, Ellard was given a life sentence in 2007.

CBC reported in 2016 that she was denied day parole in 2016 because the parole board didn't think she had taken responsibility for killing Virk.

Patrick Storey, a spokesperson for the board, said at the time: "She still seems to be minimizing many aspects of the offence. We want to see more evidence."

Ellard, who now goes by Kerry Sim, was later granted day parole in 2017, and in 2020 was allowed to live away from prison for up to five days. She has two children with an ex-partner.

Victoria News reported in 2022 that she waived her right to a parole hearing, and said: "situationally I'm not ready"

Watch: Video shows Brittney Griner's reaction after being sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison

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At Least 2 Are Stabbed on a Party Boat in Brooklyn

Three people were hospitalized, including a man who was struck in the head with a bottle, and more than 1,000 passengers were evacuated, the authorities said.

By Erin Nolan and Eliza Fawcett

Two men were stabbed and another was hit in the head with a bottle on a crowded party boat in Brooklyn on Saturday evening, the authorities said.

The men were hospitalized with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, police and fire officials said.

The police said the attacks forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 passengers from the boat, a cruise ship called the Cornucopia Majesty , which was docked at Pier 4 at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

A 32-year-old man was stabbed in the torso, a 40-year-old man was stabbed several times in the chest and abdomen, and a 28-year-old man was hit in the head with a bottle, the police said. All three men were taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn.

The stabbings happened just after 5 p.m., the police said. No arrests had been made as of Saturday night, and it was unclear how many attackers had been involved.

The police said they believed that a dispute had escalated into a physical altercation, but that the events leading up to the stabbings were still under investigation.

Just before 8 p.m., the group that organized the party, BYFAR Entertainment, posted a statement to social media .

“Unfortunately, a crime scene developed by the pier, which has caused the postponement of the night event,” the company said. “We will have updates on a later date so just hold on tight with us while we sort everything out. BYFAR Entertainment has always been a beacon of safe events in New York City and this rare occurrence has never been the norm with us.”

In the hours before the fight, the Cornucopia Majesty had hosted a party .

Passengers said in interviews that they had enjoyed dancing, eating and drinking rum aboard the ship, but by early evening, they were standing confused on the pier, surrounded by police cruisers and ambulances.

Glendon Thomas, 29, a resident of New Jersey, said he and several friends realized a fight had broken out on the ship only after they disembarked.

“I saw a guy laying on his friend,” he said, adding that the friend appeared to have a wound on his chest.

Kevaun Whitely, who lives in Brooklyn, said the fight had broken out as a large crowd of rowdy partygoers — many of whom had been drinking alcohol — attempted to disembark through the same door.

“It was like a stampede,” Mr. Whitely, 27, said.

The police kept Mr. Whitely and several other people on board the ship for hours as they checked identification, he said.

“I’m glad we got out safe,” he said, adding, “I hope nobody passed away from all this craziness.”

Erin Nolan is a reporter covering New York City and the metropolitan region. She is a member of the 2023-24 Times Fellowship class. Email her at [email protected] . More about Erin Nolan

Eliza Fawcett is a reporter for the National desk and a member of the 2022-2023 New York Times fellowship class. More about Eliza Fawcett

Ukraine-Russia war latest: 'Putin did not order Navalny death,' - US report; Russian oil refinery suspends operations after 'Ukrainian drone attack'

US intelligence agencies have suggested Vladimir Putin most likely did not order Alexei Navalny to be killed, according to the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, a large fire broke out at an oil refinery it was hit with 10 Ukrainian drones, according to the Russian news agency.

Saturday 27 April 2024 13:33, UK

• 'Putin did not order Navalny death,' US report
• Russian oil refinery suspends operations after Ukrainian drone attack
• Forbes journalist placed under house arrest by Russian court
• How will Ukraine use US military aid?
• Explained : Why has Ukraine aid bill passed now, after months of delay?
• Your questions answered: Will Ukraine launch another spring offensive?
• Listen to the Sky News Daily above and  tap here  to follow wherever you get your podcasts
• Live reporting by Lauren Russell

In April 2023 116 Russian military personnel were convicted of murder - 900% higher than the previous year. 

The same time this year, Russian media outlet Vertska reported that 190 former convicts were prosecuted again in criminal cases - 20 of whom were for murder or attempted murder.

One of those included an ex-Wagner prisoner who was sentenced to 22 years after murdering an elderly woman after his release.

The UK's Ministry of Defence puts this high number of murders by serving and veteran Russian soldiers down to enduring war-related chronic poor mental health issues. 

It says post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and battlefield desensitisation to violence are also likely contributors. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a new appeal for air defence systems after the latest strike on Ukraine's energy sector.

Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine needed sufficient quantities of air defence and other weapons to protect its cities and prevail on the frontline.

"Terror should always lose, and anyone who helps us stand against Russian terror is a true defender of life," he said.

Earlier, we reported that Ukraine's air force said that it had intercepted 21 out of 34 drones launched across the country.

Energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk in the south of the country and Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv in the west had been attacked.

Private energy operator DTEK reported "casualties" after four of its thermal power plants were damaged.

Maxim Timchenko, DTEK chief executive, said the strikes are a cause for stronger defence. 

"Last night's attacks underline the continued urgent need for Ukraine's allies to provide stronger air defence systems," he said.

The newest appeal comes in spite of a military aid package from the US which will provide munitions and equipment for its air defence launchers.

One person has died and 14 have been injured after attacks on several regions in Ukraine, local authorities have said.

The areas of Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk were all targeted overnight.

In the Kherson region, one person died and eight others were injured, according to governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

While in Kharkiv, Russian forces hit a psychiatric hospital, injuring a 53-year-old patient.

Governor Oleh Syniehubov said 60 patients and five employees were in the hospital at the time. 

Russian troops launched a total of 16 attacks against settlements in the Donetsk region, destroying or damaging 12 houses and five other unnamed buildings, Vadym Filashkin, the regional governor, said.

Three people were injured.

Dnipropetrovsk

An 82-year-old woman was injured during several strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk area.

Governor Serhii Lysak said seven blocks of flats, a market and a beauty salon were among the buildings damaged.

Following on from our last post, the Kremlin has said China and Russia will continue to develop ties after efforts by the US to curb relations between the two nations. 

It follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying he had reiterated to China's top diplomat Wang Yi the serious concerns the US has about the country providing dual-use goods that are "powering Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine".

Those weapons are being used to "demolish a power grid and other civilian infrastructure and to kill innocent children, women and men", Mr Blinken said.

When asked about Mr Blinken's comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said China is an "absolutely sovereign state".

He added: "At the same time, it [China] is our close partner. We will further develop our co-operation." 

China maintains that it has not provided weaponry to any party and is "not a producer of or party involved in the Ukraine crisis".

The Kremlin has said there are currently no grounds for peace talks with Ukraine.  

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said the two nations would not discuss an end to the conflict after Kyiv put in place a formal refusal to negotiate. 

The comments refer to a 2022 decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy which declared the prospect of any talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin "impossible".

The decree states that the possibility for a discussion is still open to what Mr Zelenskyy called "another president of Russia".

Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, appearing to target the country's energy infrastructure.

Ukraine's air force said that it had intercepted 21 out of 34 drones launched across the country.

Energy minister Herman Halushchenko said energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk in the south of the country and Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv in the west had been attacked.

An engineer was reportedly injured, Mr Halushchenko said.

Private energy operator DTEK said four of its thermal power plants were damaged and that there were "casualties" but did not provide any further detail.

It comes after the security service of Ukraine confirmed that it had launched drones at the Slavyansk and Ilsky oil refineries in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region.

The source said drones also targeted Russia's Kushchevsk military airfield in the same region. 

Intelligence agencies in the US have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin most likely did not order opposition leader Alexei Navalny to be killed, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Mr Navalny, one of Mr Putin's fiercest critics, died at an Arctic prison camp in February at the age of 47.

His allies, including his wife, accused the Russian leader of having him murdered - an accusation the Kremlin has always denied. 

But after a recent assessment based on a range of information - including some classified intelligence and an analysis of public facts - US intelligence agencies do not believe Mr Putin ordered the death of his opponent.

The assessment also took into account the timing of the death and how it overshadowed Mr Putin's presidential re-election in March, the WSJ cited some of its sources as saying.

The paper quoted sources as saying the finding had been "broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the State Department's intelligence unit".

Responding to the report, Leonid Volkov, a senior Navalny aide, called the findings naive and ridiculous, the WSJ reported.

A Russian oil refinery has partially suspended operations after being damaged in a suspected Ukrainian drone attack, the Russian TASS news agency says.

A large fire broke out at the Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnoyarsk region after being hit with 10 Ukrainian drones, the security director at Slavyansk ECO Group, was quoted as saying. 

They said some of the damage caused may be hidden so the "work of the plant has been partially suspended".

Earlier today, Roman Siniagovskyi, head of the Slavyansk administrative district said the distillation column was damaged during the alleged strike. 

Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defence units had intercepted and destroyed 66 Ukrainian drones over the Krasnoyarsk region, and two more over the Crimean Peninsula.

A source from the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed that Ukrainian drones had been launched at the Slavyansk and Ilsky oil refineries and had caused fires at the facilities. 

A Ukrainian court has ordered the detention of the country's farm minister in the latest high-profile corruption investigation.

The country's High Anti-Corruption Court ruled that agriculture minister Oleksandr Solskyi should be held in custody for 60 days, but he was released after paying bail of 75 million hryvnias (£1.5m), a statement said.

He is alleged to have led an organised crime group that unlawfully obtained land worth 291 million hryvnias (£5.87m) and attempted to obtain other land worth 190 million hryvnias (£3.83m) between 2017 and 2021.

Over the past two years, a number of senior Ukrainian officials have lost their jobs, causing embarrassment as they receive thousands in foreign aid. 

US military aid is currently on the way to Ukraine, which may take several weeks to arrive.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says due to this, it will be a little while until any of the much-needed aid makes much of an impact on the battlefield.

It says forces in Ukraine will first have to use the aid to stabilise the frontlines and try to stop ongoing Russian advances, particularly in the areas of Avdiivka and Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region.

No matter what way Ukraine uses the new aid, the US has not claimed that it would be enough to allow the country to regain all of its territory. 

The ISW also warns of a potential summer Russian offensive operation that may begin as soon as June.

"Ukraine's ability to regain all of its territory in the long term rests on numerous future decisions in the West, in the Kremlin, and in Kyiv," the ISW says.

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