Isabel van Brugen
News Reporter
Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel joined Newsweek in 2021 and had previously worked with news outlets including the Daily Express, The Times, Harper's BAZAAR, and Grazia. She has an M.A. in Newspaper Journalism at City, University of London, and a B.A. in Russian language at Queen Mary, University of London. Languages: English, Russian
You can get in touch with Isabel by emailing i.vanbrugen@newsweek.com or by following her on X @isabelvanbrugen
Ukraine drones target 16 Russian regions in "largest" attack of war
"It is entirely justified for Ukrainians to respond to Russian terror by any means necessary to stop it," the Ukrainian president said.
Explosions rock Kyiv as Russian missiles strike orphanage in Sumy
Videos showed the devastating aftermath of an overnight Russian missile barrage targeting northern Ukraine towns and the capital.
Kursk invasion map reveals where Russia has recaptured territory
President Vladimir Putin's troops are reported to have taken back some of the Kursk region, three weeks into Ukraine's incursion.
Russian trust in Putin falls to record 2024 low amid Kursk incursion: poll
The Levada's Center's poll was conducted just over two weeks into Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region.
Russia suffers "losses" after tank push in city: "Retreated"
Russia was forced to retreat from the embattled front line town of Vovchansk in Ukraine's northeast, Kyiv's military said.
Ukraine F-16 crash may have been friendly fire: Reports
Kyiv said the F-16 crashed on Monday during a mission to "repulse" Russian missiles.
Putin's high-level purge continues as ex-deputy defense minister arrested
Russia's former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov was taken to a Moscow court in handcuffs on Thursday.
Joe Biden moves to Russia in new TV comedy
The show, set to premiere in 2025, will see the president forced to live in a Soviet-era apartment and work as an English teacher.
Russia deploys prized Pantsir system to defend Crimea bridge—report
The Kerch Strait Bridge was struck by Ukraine in October 2022 and again in July 2023.
Explosions rock Kyiv for third time in one week
"Ukraine's ability to maintain their defenses requires increased supply and more support," the NATO secretary-general said.
Russia issues WW3 warning to US
"The West does not want to avoid escalation. The West…is asking for it," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Ukraine destroys Russia's "Sapphire" EW system in Kursk attack
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces said its soldiers "hunted down" the EW system in Kursk and destroyed it with attack drones.
Ex-Russian official says Putin's handling of Kursk incursion a "disgrace"
"Once again, we are harboring illusions towards Ukraine, that everything is falling apart there, and so on," said Andrei Fedorov.
Ukraine shoots down Russian Su-25 jet in MANPADS strike
Anti-aircraft units shot down the plane using a Man-Portable Air-Defense System in the eastern Donetsk region.
US approves $1 billion missile sales to two NATO countries
The weapons sales come amid heightening tensions between Russia and NATO in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Map shows NATO jets scrambled against Russian aircraft, "aerial objects"
NATO jets were deployed as Russia launched one of its largest drone and missile barrages against Ukraine in the war so far.
Russia deploys Soviet-era weapons to defend Kursk
Russia's ministry of defense released videos showing its troops using 130-mm M-46 howitzers from the 1950s in Kursk.
Russia's 'massive attack' on Ukraine cost Moscow $1.3 billion: report
The ISW think tank said that Russia "likely lacks the defense-industrial capacity" to sustain large attacks such as that launched on Monday with regularity.
Kyiv dam hit by Russia missile, sparking flood fears
"A breach of Kyiv dam would kill thousands of civilians in Kyiv and nearby towns," said the founder of a German think tank.
Russian military bloggers are panicking after Telegram chief's arrest
Russian-born Pavel Durov was detained after his private jet landed at a Paris airport on Saturday evening.
NATO air base security scare sparked by Russian threat
The news of a threat to a NATO air base in Germany comes days after drones were reported to have flown over key nuclear infrastructure in the country.
Kursk map shows latest Ukraine positions in Russia
Ukraine is now nearly three weeks into its incursion in Russia's Kursk region, which has forced 115,000 residents to flee.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant "blackout" warning issued by Ukraine
The nuclear plant—Europe's largest—has been under Russian control since early March 2022.
"Battle of Kursk" anniversary sees German weapons in Russia once again
Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner has defended Ukraine's ability to use German-supplied weapons in its Kursk incursion.
Ukraine strike on burning Russian oil depot threatens "unparalleled" blast
A burning Russian oil depot targeted in a Ukrainian drone attack six days ago was reportedly struck again on Friday.
Putin shifts blame as Kursk failures dampen Russians' approval
The incursion has made Putin "nervous," "The Moscow Times" reported, citing unnamed Kremlin officials.
Russian town can't cope with troop losses—"crowd funding for body bags"
"Local people are now having to crowd-fund for body bags and the transportation of corpses," a military historian wrote on X.
Putin's earmuffs mishap sparks mockery
"Is everybody too scared to tell him that's not how you wear ear defenders?" wrote one commenter of footage showing Putin observing a shooting drill.
Merrick Garland's DOJ goes after Putin's mouthpieces in US
The FBI earlier in August searched the homes of former American intelligence officer Scott Ritter and Russian-born Dimitri Simes.
Ukraine targets critical Russian air bases in mass drone raids
Videos show a massive fireball and plumes of black smoke over the Marinovka base, hours after another in the Murmansk region, 1250 miles from Ukraine, was hit.
