The Update with Brandon Julien

We're celebrating the best of our 5 years by periodically looking back at some of our best moments in these specials. This is the best of Year 3 from February 2019-February 2020.

On #TheUpdate this Friday, a Russian soldier has gone on trial in Ukraine for the killing of an unarmed civilian. The suspect, Sergeant Vadim Shyshimarin, faces up to life in prison under a section of the Ukrainian criminal code that addresses the customs of war. 🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally, three companies that operate more than 600 school buses in New York City are being sued by Attorney General Leticia James'...

On #TheUpdate this Thursday, the U.N's human rights chief says that her office has found that Russian forces and affiliated armed groups are responsible for most civilian deaths during the war in Ukraine. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said the "vast majority" of civilian casualties have. Even caused by the use of explosive weapons, including heavy artillery, multiple launch...

On #TheUpdate this Wednesday, new satellite photos analyzed by the Associated Press show that a Russian ship believes to be carrying stolen Ukrainian grain has docked in Syria. The photo taken by Planet Labs PBC showed the Russian-flagged Matros Pozynich at dockside in Latakia, Syria. 🇺🇦🇷🇺🌾🇸🇾 Locally, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández is hoping that three American Presidents- forme...

On #TheUpdate this Tuesday, Ukrainian officials say around 100 civilians still remain trapped at the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol despite earlier reports that all had been evacuated. Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said in televised remarks that those left behind are the civilians that "the Russians have not selected" and that the evacuees go through the so-called "filtration" camps....

On #TheUpdate this Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin used a major patriotic holiday to once again justify the war in Ukraine, but did not declare even a limited victory, or even give a signal to where the conflict is headed next. His forces continue to pummel targets across the country with few signs of significant progress. 🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally, Richard Rojas, the man behind the wheel of the car t...

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

On Friday's edition of #TheUpdate, a European Union embargo on Russian oil would be equivalent to dropping an "atomic bomb" on Hungary's economy and could not be accepted, according to the country's nationalist prime minister Viktor Orban, speaking on state radio. Orban reiterated earlier statements from Hungarian officials that Hungary would not support a new round of proposed EU sanctions agains...

On #TheUpdate this Cinco De Mayo Thursday, Ukraine's millitary says that it's recaptured some areas in the south and repelled Russian attacks in the east. The bloody battle continues to rage on at the steel mill in Mariupol where Ukrainian troops are holes in tunnels and bunkers, fending off a Russian onslaught. 🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally, a federal judge has refused to order New York to hold its congressional...

On #TheUpdate this Wednesday, Russian forces are pounding targets across Ukraine, taking aim at supply lines for foreign weapons in the west, and intensifying the offensive in the east. The Russian military said that it used missiles to destroy electric power facilities at five railway stations across Ukraine, while military and aircraft also struck troop strongholds along with fuel and ammunition...

On #TheUpdate this Tuesday, to join NATO? Or not to join NATO? That's the question for the leaders of Finland and Sweden- they're indicating that their governments haven't yet decided whether to join NATO, but are stressing that close security cooperation with other European countries in the face of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. 🇸🇪🇫🇮🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally, in another court appeal, lawyers for former...

On #TheUpdate this Monday, a top-level U.S congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Warsaw to express gratitude to Poles for their humanitarian and other support for Ukraine. Pelosi and half a dozen U.S lawmakers met with Poland's President Andrzej Duda and Polish lawmakers in Warsaw. 🇺🇲🇵🇱🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally, Broadway theaters are ending the policy of requiring customers to show...

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

On Friday's edition of #TheUpdate, the German government strongly criticized the Russian missile strike on Kyiv during U.N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' visit to the Ukrainian capital. 🇺🇳🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally, the funeral was held for 31-year-old firefighter Timothy Klein, killed while battling that house fire in Canarsie. In Albany, the task of redrawing those congressional district maps (literally)...

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

On Thursday's edition of #TheUpdate, Ukraine says that Russia's offensive in the east is picking up momentum, with several towns coming under intense attack as Moscow's forces attempt to surround Ukrainian troops. In another reminder of the horrific toll the war has taken since it began, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited towns outside of Kyiv where evidence of mass killings...

On #TheUpdate this Wednesday, U.N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russian President Vladimir Putin met one-on-one for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. And the United Nations says they agreed on arranging evacuations from a besieged steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. 🇺🇳🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally, as the MTA deals with more violent crimes and plans to crack down furth...

On #TheUpdate this Tuesday, Russia has pounded eastern Ukraine as U.S Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin promises to "keep moving heaven and earth" to get Kyiv the weapons they need to repel the new offensive. Moscow has earned that such support risks widening the offensive. 🇺🇲🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally, New York Judge Arthur Engoron has found former President Trump in contempt bof court for failing to adequately r...

On #TheUpdate this Monday, after a secrecy-shrouded visit to Kyiv, U.S Secretary Of State Anthony Blinken says that Russia is failing in its war aims and "Ukraine is succeeding". The trip by Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was the highest-level American visit to Kyiv since the Russian invasion began. 🇺🇲🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally, we're remembering one of New York's bravest. 31-year-old Firefighter Ti...

From New York, the greatest city in the world, it's The Update with Brandon Julien!

As part of our 5th anniversary, we're looking back at the best of The Update over the last 5 years! This time, we're looking back from February 2018 to February 2019- with a few bonus Year 1 highlights.

We have the latest details in the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plans to meet Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin to press for fighting to stop in Ukraine. The U.N. chief will travel to Moscow for conversations with Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, U.N. spokesperson Eri Kaneko said Friday. She said discussions about a similar visit to Uk...

On #TheUpdate this #earthday, there are mounds of dirt seen in new satellite images that Ukrainian officials say indicate new mass graves have highlighted the savagery of a wat that shows no signs of abating. Russia has pindes targets in eastern Ukraine in a new offensive to take the country's industrial heartland. 🇺🇦🇷🇺 Locally in the state capitol in Albany, a panel of five mid-level appellate ju...

We have the latest details in the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. The Mariupol City Council says as many as 9,000 civilians could be buried in mass graves in the village of Manhush outside Mariupol. In a post on Telegram, the city council quoted Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko calling the site ”the new Babi Yar.” We'll also tell you about why the battle for Mariupol's steel mill matters, and also h...