Introduction

It's nearly a month since russia began its war in ukraine. Fierce fighting continues in the southern port city of mariapole, which is under intense russian bombardment. As the war rages, vladimir puttin is intensifying his crackdown at home more than 15 thousand people are estimated to have been arrested in anti war protests in Russia. Alexey novalni was sentenced to nine years in prison for fraud and contempt of court after a phony trial. The ruling was made public through an echoy video link from the makeshift court room inside the prison where he's being held.