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TRAVEL: POWERING THE ECONOMY. CONNECTING AMERICA.

Learn more about the impact of the travel industry, american jobs.

In 2023, the travel industry directly employed 8 million Americans and supported nearly 15 million jobs .

National GDP

The travel industry represents 2.5% of our national GDP. Travel is a top services export for our nation and has the unique ability to generate a trade surplus for the U.S. economy.

Economic Output

$2.8 trillion.

Travel accounted for $1.3 trillion in direct spending in 2023—which produced an economic footprint of $2.8 trillion .

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About travelsavers.

Visionary entrepreneur Rick Mazza founded TRAVELSAVERS ® in 1970 for one simple reason: to help travel agency owners like himself grow with the tools and access they need to succeed while retaining their independence.

Rick was a successful travel agency owner seeking a way to exponentially grow his business. He joined a national franchise and quickly realized that the products and services they offered were very limited with a one-size-fits-all approach. No two agencies market and sell alike. Each agency needs customized services and products to meet their individual needs. This strategic approach, along with strong industry relationships, is the core of TRAVELSAVERS’ footprint for success and profit.

Today, TRAVELSAVERS is an international marketing leader of more than 3,000 independently owned agencies in over 35 countries. Thanks to the buying power of $20 billion in annual sales, our more than 25,000 advisors are able to offer their clients inspirational travel experiences at the best value.

With a global reputation for excellence, TRAVELSAVERS leisure and corporate agencies maximize sales and profits through cutting-edge products and services that cater to all needs. Through an exclusive protected territory system, strong supplier relationships, comprehensive marketing suite, innovative booking technology, specialized training and networking, and personalized business coaching, TRAVELSAVERS advisors are empowered to find, retain and delight clients. The proprietary resources we provide to our community translate into higher sales and profits that enable agencies to reach and often exceed business goals.

The TRAVELSAVERS Difference: You

No two travel agencies are the same. Our promise and sole purpose then and now is to unlock your profit potential and help you grow your business. Which is why whether you plan to specialize in African safaris, honeymoons, luxury travel, cruise, corporate travel or all of it, we will provide you with a partnership that inspires mutual contributions, is built on trust and one that delivers the value and results you deserve.

You are the TRAVELSAVERS difference.

Understanding that makes all the difference in the world and has earned us the respect and confidence of thousands of independent agency owners and travel advisors.

We are an extension of your sales and marketing team, focused on helping agency owners and their advisors create memorable travel experiences for their clients. Like you, we are privately held and fiercely independent. We are dedicated to the growth of your business.

A Family of Brands

American Marketing Group Inc. (AMG) is the quiet name behind some of the travel industry’s most well-known companies including TRAVELSAVERS, the brand that started it all. AMG serves as an essential business partner to the travel advisor community, offering a comprehensive network of 18 distinct brands including the elite marketing organization, The Affluent Traveler Collection, for agencies serving luxury travel clients.

Our Mission, Vision, Values

Our mission is to inspire, educate and ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of our travel partners to maximize their potential. We are a dedicated and passionate team that creates successful, unique business resources, providing services beyond expectations every step of the way.

Our vision is to continue to be a company that inspires and ignites an entrepreneurial spirit in travel that drives success.

The execution of our strategy is firmly anchored by our family culture — the foundation comprised of the shared values, competencies and spirit of our team. Aligned with our vision to inspire and ignite an entrepreneurial spirit, our values are the HEART of our company and exemplified in how we act every day.

Hospitality

Treating everyone like family with respect and integrity

Delivering our mission with passion in a courteous way while encouraging partners to take advantage of all our opportunities

Accountability

Owning our impact and actions

Considering others in every interaction, while valuing and accepting their views and opinions

Succeeding together in excellence to achieve our goals

Giving Back

Autism speaks.

AMG is proud to be a longtime advocate for Autism Speaks. The organization is dedicated to creating an inclusive world where individuals with autism can reach their potential. With 1 in 68 children today affected by autism, everyone knows someone who is touched by the condition.

Since starting its involvement with Autism Speaks in 2008, AMG has raised close to $500,000 on its behalf. With the assistance of its advisors, suppliers and staff, AMG holds a silent auction at the gala dinner ending every Travel Market conference. The auction featuring dozens of prizes donated by the travel community raises tens of thousands of dollars for Autism Speaks.

AMG also sponsors the Long Island Walk Now for Autism Speaks, with 20,000 people including employees striding along the Jones Beach boardwalk to benefit the cause. The walk inspires and empowers participants to make a difference and honor someone with autism. As well, AMG has also enlisted the help of its preferred partners to create autism-friendly travel offerings for impacted children and their families.

www.autismspeaks.org

Trees4Travel

AMG is passionate about the power of travel to create a more sustainable future. To demonstrate our commitment, we’re the first North American travel agency network to partner with Trees4Travel to rebalance the impact of our event emissions.

By planting trees with Trees4Travel, we compensate for the carbon emissions created from travel to our events. By the end of 2024, we estimate we will save 341 tons of carbon emissions and fund the planting of 2,093 trees. Growing trees in developing countries such as Haiti and Nepal also improves a community's economic situation, restoring ecosystems and biodiversity and creating forests for future generations.

As well, AMG is promoting the importance of Trees4Travel’s work to our agency affiliates. Agencies can advise their travelers how to voyage more mindfully and sustainably while reducing emissions. They can also calculate how many trees are needed to compensate for each trip they plan for their clients. For as little as the cost of a cup of coffee, travel companies can help contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.

Trees4Travel also takes an extra step. It backs up each tree by investing in renewable energy projects such as wind and solar power. It does this with certified emissions reduction carbon credits approved by the United Nations. In this way, the organization both reduces the carbon emitted today and helps with future carbon removal. Trees4Travel’s hybrid approach aims to support up to 13 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are targeted to be achieved by 2030.

www.trees4travel.com

TRAVELSAVERS provides a human element that I value immensely. The fact that it is family run also demonstrates to me the closeness that I was looking for in a consortia. Family owned leadership means long relationships and loyalty; which I truly value. If I ever have a question or need business advice, they are quick to assist. I feel like I have a business mentor in my pocket that I can reach out to whenever I need one! Because of their close relationships, I’ve been introduced to preferred vendors that have been instrumental in helping my business grow. Jennifer Doncsecz, CTIE President, VIP Vacations Inc

The TRAVELSAVERS Advantage

Travelsavers products and services.

You can rely on our technology to customize marketing programs and solutions  tailored to your needs.

Our technology ensures you are covered in all areas to seamlessly reach your clientele and offers the best, most competitive pricing.

Read More >

We've spent more than four decades building solid relationships with the top suppliers. Our partnerships allow us the ability to negotiate competitive pricing that is passed on to our agents.

Preferred Suppliers

Don’t trust your business to just anyone..

Trust the experienced team at TRAVELSAVERS.

GET IN TOUCH  71 Audrey Avenue Oyster Bay, NY 11771  (516) 624-0500

SALES  (516) 624-0500    [email protected]

MEDIA INQUIRIES    [email protected]

JOIN THE TEAM For information on career opportunities at TRAVELSAVERS visit the careers section or email    [email protected]

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North America is one of the most geographically diverse regions on Earth. From the astonishing breadth of the Great Plains, mountain ranges such as the Rockies and the Appalachians, and endless miles of coast, there is adventure to be found over just about every horizon on this continent.

As Teen Travel Network’s travel programs in North America typically center on the United States, the home country of the vast majority of TTN’s student travelers, our expert Programs Team has gone above and beyond to make sure our program itineraries are bursting at the seams full of surprises. This is not the USA you find just down the street from home.

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How to Visit Russia as an American

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While U.S. citizens are welcomed with visas on arrival to 184 countries around the world, Russia isn’t one of them. American citizens need to obtain a Russian tourist visa before they’re allowed to depart for the country. 

There is one loophole, at least for now: cruise passengers are allowed to visit Russia without a tourist visa for up to 72 hours, presuming they follow a rigid set of rules. 

If you’re an American looking to plan a trip to Russia, here are your travel options.

How to Get a Russian Tourist Visa

Americans looking to visit Russia on tourist visas have two options, a single-entry visa for $113 or a multiple entry visa for $273 dollars. It’s recommended to apply for Russia travel visas 30 to 90 days before departure, but procrastinators can typically pay extra to have visa applications expedited.

The first step in getting a visa to visit Russia is securing a formal invitation. This is easier than it sounds. The Petr Hotel in St. Petersburg, Russia , for example, offers guests visa invitation letters instantly online for a $16 fee. Many hotels, tour operators and travel agents provide similar services.

Once you’ve got your invitation letter, you’ll need to fill out an online Russia tourist visa application , but prepare yourself. The application asks for a detailed log of your past decade of travel abroad as well as for information about your schooling, parents, occupation, and involvement with professional or other organizations. If you’re an avid traveler it might take you awhile.

After completing your application, you'll need to submit it through a visa processing company and pay the required fees. Travisa , CIBT Visas , and Allied Passport & Visa are among the companies you can use. For Travisa, processing fees start at $164, but that’s in addition to the visa fee itself. 

You will need to send in your physical passport and two passport size photos as part of the process. If approved, your passport will be returned to you with a full-page Russian tourist visa. 

Getting a visa to visit Russia can be a good way to avoid the crowds that often accompany large cruise ships and to have more time and freedom to explore on your terms. Lines at the Hermitage Museum and other sites are noticeably shorter once the cruise ships have pulled out of town, leaving a more authentic feeling in St. Petersburg. If you’re looking to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg , you’ll want more than 72 hours and will be best served by having a Russian tourist visa.

Take a Visa-Free Cruise to Russia

Passengers visiting Russia on cruise ships or via ferry services are allowed to stay in the country for up to 72 hours without a visa. This option limits both your time and independence in Russia.

If you’re on a major cruise line that’s making a stop in St. Petersburg, you’ll need to buy a shore excursion from the operator or book a city tour with a local company. You will need to remain with your tour group the entire time you’re on land, so kiss that casual wandering goodbye.

If you opt for the St. Peter Line ferry from Helsinki, you’ll have a little more freedom but not much. You’ll have to either sleep on the ferry or at one of a number of pre-approved hotels. You’ll also need to take the company’s sightseeing bus tour, something that’ll eat into the precious little time you’ll actually have on land.

And while you won’t need a tourist visa, you’ll still have to go through Russian customs, which can be an experience.

It’s worth keeping in mind the St. Peter Line ferry is no luxury cruise ship. Rooms are small and basic, with the most budget-friendly options coming in at around $230, not including extras like the required shore tour, an extra $30 per person. There are restaurants, bars, and a dance club on board, but ships sailing this route look like they’re straight out of the 1990s.

This option will save you visa fees and the hassle of applying for a Russia travel visa, but there is a cost. Ferry schedules typically have passengers arriving in St. Petersburg around 9 a.m. after an overnight journey from Helsinki and departing two days later around 7 p.m., giving visitors a scant 58 hours to explore a sprawling metropolitan area that was Russia's imperial capital for two centuries and remains its cultural capital.

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Update May 10, 2024

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Russia Travel Advisory

Travel advisory september 5, 2023, russia - level 4: do not travel.

Updated to remove COVID-specific information and the kidnapping risk indicator as well as updates to security risks.

Do not travel to Russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the  unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces , the potential for  harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials , the  arbitrary enforcement of local law ,  limited flights into and out of Russia , the  Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia , and the possibility of  terrorism .  U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart immediately.  Exercise increased caution due to  the risk of wrongful detentions.

The U.S. government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia is severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, due to Russian government limitations on travel for embassy personnel and staffing, and the ongoing suspension of operations, including consular services, at U.S. consulates.

There have been numerous reports of drone attacks, explosions, and fires in areas in Western and Southern Russia, particularly near the Russian border with Ukraine, as well as in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the event of an emergency, U.S. citizens should follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately.

In September 2022, the Russian government mobilized citizens to the armed forces in support of its invasion of Ukraine. Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals’ U.S. citizenship, deny their access to U.S. consular assistance, subject them to mobilization, prevent their departure from Russia, and/or conscript them. 

U.S. citizens should note that U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia, and options to electronically transfer funds from the United States are extremely limited due to sanctions imposed on Russian banks. There are reports of cash shortages within Russia.

Commercial flight options are extremely limited and are often unavailable on short notice. If you wish to depart Russia, you should make independent arrangements as soon as possible. The U.S. Embassy has severe limitations on its ability to assist U.S. citizens to depart the country and transportation options may suddenly become even more limited. Click  here  for Information for U.S. Citizens Seeking to Depart Russia.

U.S. Embassy personnel are generally not permitted to travel on Russian air carriers due to safety concerns.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded the air safety rating for Russia from Category 1 to Category 2 on April 21, 2022, due to Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport noncompliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over those areas of the Moscow Flight Information Region (FIR), the Samara FIR (UWWW) and the Rostov-na-Donu (URRV) FIR within 160NM of the boundaries of the Dnipro (UKDV) Flight Information Regions. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the  Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

The right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are not consistently protected in Russia. U.S. citizens should avoid all political or social protests and not photograph security personnel at these events. Russian authorities have arrested U.S. citizens who have participated in demonstrations and there are numerous reports Russian nationals have been detained for social media activity. 

Country Summary:

U.S. citizens, including former and current U.S. government and military personnel and private citizens engaged in business who are visiting or residing in Russia, have been interrogated without cause and threatened by Russian officials, and may become victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion. 

Russian security services may fail to notify the U.S. Embassy of the detention of a U.S. citizen and unreasonably delay U.S. consular assistance. Russian security services are increasing the arbitrary enforcement of local laws to target foreign and international organizations they consider “undesirable.”

Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on spurious charges, singled out U.S. citizens in Russia for detention and harassment, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting credible evidence. Furthermore, Russian authorities arbitrarily enforce local laws against U.S. citizen religious workers and have opened questionable criminal investigations against U.S. citizens engaged in religious activity. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Russia to perform work for or volunteer with non-governmental organizations or religious organizations.

There have been multiple security incidents in southwestern Russia related to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. The Russian government declared martial law in Russia’s regions bordering Ukraine (Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, Krasnodar) on October 20, 2022. The martial law regime allows the rapid introduction of restrictive measures such as curfew, seizure of private property, restriction of entry/exit and freedom of movement, internment of foreigners, forced relocation of local residents, and restrictions on public gatherings. U.S. citizens should avoid all travel to these areas.

Recent legislation has expanded the ability of Russian authorities to detain, question, and arrest individuals suspected of acting against Russia’s interests, including posts on personal social media accounts, engaging with foreign and international entities, discrediting the Russian state or military, as well as advocating for the rights of LGBTQI+ persons.

Terrorist groups, both transnational and local terrorist organizations, and individuals inspired by extremist ideology continue plotting possible attacks in Russia. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs and systems, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. Travel to the North Caucasus (including Chechnya and Mt. Elbrus) is prohibited for U.S. government employees and strongly discouraged for U.S. citizens.

The international community, including the United States and Ukraine, does not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya – that Russia has purported to annex more recently. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. Russia staged its further invasion of Ukraine, in part, from occupied Crimea, and Russia is likely to take further military actions in Crimea, and the four other Ukrainian oblasts are the subject of intensive fighting. There are continuing abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s authority.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continues to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya, although the ongoing conflict severely restricts the Embassy’s ability to provide services in these areas.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Russia.

If you decide to travel to Russia:

• Familiarize yourself with the information on  what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas .
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .
• Monitor local and international media for breaking events and adjust your contingency plans based on the new information.
• Ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible.
• Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Russia.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.

Travel Advisory Levels

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Myrtle Beach becomes certified autism-friendly travel destination through Champion Autism Network

Beyond the Ropes

Volunteers of Champions Autism Network. (Courtesy Champions Autism Network)

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The goal, Becky Large will happily tell you, is “world autism awareness domination.”

She started with Surfside Beach, South Carolina, in 2013 after relocating there from New Jersey. Large knocked on doors, met with business leaders and came up with innovative events to help families like hers impacted by autism feel supported.

The Champion Autism Network (CAN) was so successful that in 2016 Surfside Beach became its first certified autism-friendly travel destination. The City of Myrtle Beach, which the PGA TOUR visits this week, and Horry County followed two years later.

Now, vacation spots in Texas, Florida and Oregon are interested in making families impacted by autism -- some 80% of whom don’t travel due to the challenges -- feel more comfortable and welcome in the community. And CAN is even going international.

“I'm working with an organization in Nairobi, Kenya right now to develop our first autism awareness module in Swahili to educate the parents and teachers and political officials,” Large says.

The Champions Autism Network advocates for world autism awareness. (Courtesy Champions Autism Network)

This week’s Myrtle Beach Classic is one of the many local events and attractions supportive of CAN’s mission. Not only will the organization receive a much-needed grant from the event, the tournament is hosting a a sensory-friendly event at PopStroke, one of a chain of putting courses that is co-owned by Tiger Woods.

Four young adults with autism and two of their parents will be joined at the event on Wednesday by TOUR pros Wilson Furr, Lanto Griffin and Scott Gutschewski. Large is grateful for the increased visibility, as well as the grant, which she says gives her hope.

“It is just a tremendous shot in the arm, and not just financially, but to have the opportunity to get involved with the PGA (TOUR) and golf, which could be a wonderful sport for people with autism because team sports are difficult (for them),” she says. “This kind of thing, it could be good for so many people.”

Autism is a neurological developmental disorder that impacts social interaction, the ability to communicate and repetitive behaviors, according to the National Autism Association. It’s the fastest growing developmental disorder, affecting one in every 36 children, and disproportionately affects males, 4 to 1, over females. Approximately 40% of children with autism are non-verbal.

Lights and loud noises and big crowds can trigger meltdowns in people with autism. Large says some people might see someone having a tantrum and think they are a spoiled child when that person is simply trying to express frustration or displeasure.

“Actually, this is a family in crisis, and we need either love or people that protect us,” Large says. "As you learn more about autism and how it impacts the family unit, then the family doesn't want to leave the house because everybody's judging them.

“So, I try and curate environments so that there's less sensory stimulation for the person with autism, and the family can all come out and play, because if everybody stays home, that's not good for anyone. The siblings, oh my gosh, life for the siblings, especially the younger ones with people on the spectrum is really challenging and difficult.”

Becky Large (right) with Tom Stoltman, who is on the autism spectrum and won the World’s Strongest Man title in Myrtle Beach. (Courtesy Champions Autism Network)

CAN works with restaurants like Myrtle Beach stalwart Johnny D’s Waffles and Bakery to heighten awareness of autism. When there’s a wait, families with an autistic member can show their CAN Autism Travel Card and go to the head of the line. Their order is expedited, and the staff knows where to seat the family and how to treat them with respect. The chef has a son on the spectrum, and the menus feature information about autism.

Among the events CAN sponsors are its flagship monthly movies, as well as birthday bowling bashes. Large can’t remember exactly when she started the film nights, but she does know the first one only drew 12 people. Now between 100-200 attend the free event each month.

“It’s a great gateway activity because there’s not a lot of social interactions,” Large says. “So, the lights are up, the sound is down and the people are free to move around. So, it's not your traditional movie viewing experience, but our families love it. Everybody gets it. Your kid can scream, spin, yell, cry, whatever.”

Melissa Montgomery’s 23-year-old son, Colin, who is on the autism spectrum, was the official greeter at the movies when he was a kid – an activity that eventually turned into his first job. Over the years, the family has taken advantage of many CAN programs and affiliated businesses, like Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach.

“They definitely know, and they're trained, and you just show them your CAN card,” Melissa says. “The aquarium is very peaceful for him. So, if we're having a day where I'm like, he might not be having his best day, we'll go and do that.”

Becky Large (right) started Champion Autism Network in Surfside Beach. (Courtesy Champion Autism Network)

Colin will be playing putt-putt at PopStroke with his dad, Scott. His twin brother, Conner, who is in law school in Kentucky, is coming home to watch the first PGA TOUR event ever held on the Grand Strand. He played golf in high school and their younger sister Kenley is currently doing the same. The family plans to head to the Dunes Club on Saturday, although Melissa isn’t sure how Colin will handle the crowd.

“That will be one where I’ll drive separate and we will probably leave,” she says.

Melissa says she looks for programs like CAN – which has a travel app -- when she and her husband plan family vacations. She tries to fly through airports with sensory-friendly areas or decompression rooms. And she’s always hoping to find the welcoming atmosphere provided by businesses and attractions that Large and CAN have helped to educate in Myrtle Beach.

“It's just been huge for our family,” Melissa says. “ I always know that Becky is fighting for people to understand our kids and to give them a safe place to go and just know that, okay, these people are not going to judge us.”

U.S. Soldier Gordon Black Detained In Russia—Here’s What To Know

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A U.S. soldier arrested in Russia on theft charges will be detained for at least two months and could face a five-year sentence if he’s found guilty, a Russian district court said Tuesday, amid allegations he stole from a girlfriend after following her from South Korea, where they were involved in a domestic disturbance.

Russian officials said the soldier’s detention—allegedly involving a Russian girlfriend—has nothing ... [+] to do with “politics or espionage.”

The Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok said the American soldier—Staff Sgt. Gordon Black—was arrested last week on criminal misconduct charges and will be held in pre-trial detention until July 2, a court spokesperson told the state-run news agency RIA Novosti.

The 34-year-old Black, who is married, is charged with “secretly stealing property,” which caused the alleged victim “significant damage,” the court said.

Black—who reportedly faces up to five years in prison—traveled to Russia to visit a longtime Russian girlfriend who had moved from South Korea after the two were involved in an alleged “domestic dispute or altercation,” U.S. officials told the Associated Press.

Black did not notify his unit in South Korea he was traveling to Russia and did not receive authorization to go there, and was instead on leave to redeploy back home to Fort Cavazos, Texas, according to the officials.

The alleged victim filed a police report accusing Black of stealing money following an argument, and Black was later arrested at a local hotel after having purchased a plane ticket to return home, Reuters reported .

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s office in Vladivostok said Black’s arrest has “no relation to politics or espionage,” adding a “household crime [is suspected] in this case,” according to the Russian state-run news agency Tass.

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A State Department official told ABC News the U.S. Embassy in Moscow was trying to get in touch with Black, though they have not been allowed to meet with him. The official said it’s likely Black’s detention will be extended.

Another U.S. citizen was arrested and detained in Russia earlier on Tuesday, RIA Novosti reported . Russell William Nycum was sentenced to 10 days in jail for “petty hooliganism,” after he allegedly climbed through the windows of a children’s library after getting drunk.

Key Background

Black is the latest American to be detained in Russia in recent years. Last year, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained on espionage charges and faces up to 20 years in prison. Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison on spying charges by a Moscow court in 2020. Whelan said his trial was a “sham” and has maintained his innocence, suggesting he was set up after he was given a flash drive containing sensitive information he was unaware of. The U.S. government has defended Whelan and Gershkovich and said both have been wrongfully detained. Brittney Griner spent 10 months in a Russian prison on drug possession and smuggling charges, though the WNBA star was returned to the U.S. in a prisoner swap involving a Russian arms dealer.

Further Reading

American Soldier Detained In Russia On Theft Charges ( Forbes )

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Ukraine war latest updates: Russia launches surprise advance on Ukraine - but why has Moscow opened up second front in war?

Russia has launched an attack in Kharkiv away from recent battlegrounds, Ukraine has said - as Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists his forces were "prepared" for the assault. Two civilians have been killed in the attack, a local governor has said.

Friday 10 May 2024 22:01, UK

• Putin's military launched an advance away from the frontline in the early hours of this morning
• Ukraine says its forces are fighting to repel the attack on the Kharkiv region
• Russian forces have advanced a kilometre, according to Ukrainian sources
• Analysis: Why has Russia opened up second front in war?
• Sky's Deborah Haynes witnesses terror in attacked town as evacuations under way
• Ukraine's president says forces were 'prepared' for assault
• Ed Conway : Russian oil still seeping into UK - the reasons why sanctions are not working
• Live reporting by Jess Sharp and (earlier)  Narbeh Minassian

We're pausing our coverage of the Ukraine war for today. 

We'll be back with any major updates overnight, and we'll resume our regular live updates tomorrow morning. 

Thanks for following along. 

In our previous post, we told you about a reported Ukrainian strike on the occupied region of Luhansk. 

Now, Russian news agencies have quoted officials as saying three people have been killed and seven others have been injured. 

According to Russian state media, the attack triggered a large fire at an oil storage depot in the region.

"The enemy opened fire on the peaceful city of Rovenky," Russia installed regional Governor Leonid Pasechnik wrote on Telegram. 

"Because of the shelling, the oil depot was engulfed by flames and nearby houses were damaged."

Ukrainian bloggers and Telegram channels reported the strike, saying the oil depot was directly hit. 

It was the second such attack in three days.

On Wednesday, an attack on an oil depot in the regional centre of Luhansk injured five people.

Mr Pasechnik reported at least one of the dead was an employee at the depot. 

The Ukrainian military has launched a strike and triggered a fire near an oil storage depot in the occupied Luhansk region, Russian state news agency TASS has reported. 

Ukrainian bloggers and Telegram channels said the depot in the town of Rovenky was hit. 

Several photos have emerged online appearing to show a large blaze, but these have not been verified by Sky News. 

In Vovchansk, Ukrainian officials have been helping civilians evacuate due to the heavy shelling.

The border town in the Kharkiv region came under intense attacks. 

In his evening address, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi had reported to him that "heavy fighting" was taking place all along the more than 1,000-km (600-mile) front line.

Ukraine chased Russian troops out of most of the Kharkiv region in 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion in February of that year.

But after weathering a Ukrainian counteroffensive last year, Russian forces are back on the offensive and slowly advancing in the Donetsk region that lies further south. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued an updated statement on the situation in Kharkiv. 

In a post on  Telegram , the Ukrainian president said Russian troops have tried to expand their operations. 

But he added that Ukraine understands the "scope of the occupier's forces". 

"We see his plan," he said. "Our soldiers, our artillery, our drones respond to the occupier." 

He also said Ukrainian forces were adding their "strength" along the state border and the entire frontline near Kharkiv. 

"We will invariably destroy the occupier in such a way as to thwart any Russian offensive intentions," the 46-year-old leader wrote. 

"Everything depends on the stability of our soldiers, and everyone who holds a position now protects the position of all of Ukraine.

"It is important that partners support our soldiers and Ukrainian stability with timely supplies. Really timely. The package that really helps is the weapons brought to Ukraine, not just the announcement of the package." 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked Joe Biden after a $400m military aid package was announced by the US. 

The Ukrainian president said the assistance will "help save civilian lives" and strengthen troops on the frontline. 

"The United States maintains its leadership role in supporting Ukraine and this has historic significance," he added. 

This is the third tranche of aid for Ukraine since Congress passed supplemental funding in late April after months of gridlock.

The package includes: 

• High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and rockets for them
• Munitions for Patriot and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems
• Anti-aircraft and anti-tank munitions
• An array of armoured vehicles, such as Bradley and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles
• Coastal and riverine patrol boats
• Demolition munitions
• High-speed anti-radiation missiles
• Protective gear, spare parts and other weapons and equipment

The weapons are being sent through presidential drawdown authority, which pulls systems and munitions from existing US stockpiles so they can go quickly to the war front. 

By Deborah Haynes , security and defence editor, in Vovchansk

Terror and grief were the overwhelming emotions from dozens of mainly elderly men and women who fled the Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk after Russian forces attacked.

Gathered at an evacuation point just outside the town, they said it had been the fiercest fighting they had ever experienced since the full-scale invasion.

Sky News followed a pair of volunteer rescuers, who drove a white van into the tow to help residents evacuate.

Smoke hung over the road on the way – we were told all roads into Vovchansk were being targeted by Russian artillery, rockets and drones.

One of the attacks had ignited a fire in a forest that lined the road, sending clouds of smoke into the air.

The streets of the part of the town we entered were almost completely empty.

We pulled into a residential area of bungalows.

A group of five elderly men and women sat or stood on a bench on the side of the road, seemingly happy to stay put.

The rescue team pulled up outside an address where they had been told four residents wanted to be evacuated.

They knocked on the door, but no one replied. Instead, a petite, grey-haired woman who lives in the next door house pushed open her green gate and told the rescuers that her neighbours had already gone.

Distraught, Valentina, 74, had no plans to leave, but the rescuers managed to persuade her.

"Let's go, don’t stay here, it is dangerous," they said.

Suddenly there was a boom – it seemed to change her mind.

Gathering a few simple belongings, she was led out of her home and into the minibus.

The mayor said some 500 people from the town have been evacuated since the attack began, but he said the town’s population was 3,000, with many more yet to leave.

Evacuation operations are set to continue.

By Sean Bell , military analyst 

At 5am, the Russians launched a surprise attack on the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, killing two civilians and injuring at least five others. 

The Ukrainian border community of Vovchansk was one of the targets - this community is only 5km away from the Russian border, and the attack led to the evacuation of 3,000 residents. 

Russian forces are reported to have advanced around 1km, before Ukrainian reinforcements were deployed.

So why has Russia opened up a second front in the war?

There are probably two key reasons for this latest Russian attack.

First, the Russian border town of Belgorod is a logistics hub for Russian military activity, and is regularly targeted by artillery from Ukrainian territory.

President Putin has long promised to create a buffer zone to push Ukrainian forces out of artillery range, which would limit the attacks on this frontier town. 

Secondly, although most analysts believe Russia would struggle to seize Kharkiv, the attack does force Ukraine to spread its limited resources across a broader front, leaving it more vulnerable to further attacks.

Russian's priority still appears to be the Donbas - a primary objective of what it calls its special military operation. 

Russia's military are evidently exploiting the window of opportunity created by Ukraine's current shortage of weapons, and are reported to be preparing for a major summer offensive. 

Ukraine's strategy appears to be to trade territory for time, making Russia pay a high price for every metre of ground seized, pending the arrival of the West's next delivery of military aid.

But, momentum and initiative are vital commodities in war, and Russia has both at this crucial juncture.  Ukraine is on the back foot, and could face a very difficult next few weeks on the battlefield.

The UK's foreign secretary, Lord Cameron, said last week Ukraine has a right to use British-supplied weapons against targets inside Russia.

Referring to those comments, senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev warned the West against greenlighting Ukrainian attacks on its territory using Western-supplied weapons.

After what Moscow said were threats from France, Britain and the US, Russia said earlier this week it would practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons as part of a military exercise.

These exercises are to work out Russia's response to any attacks on the country using weapons supplied by the West, Mr Medvedev claims.

He said the Russian response would "be aimed not only at Kyiv" - and took personal aim at Lord Cameron.

"I remember this guy quite well. I worked with him when he became prime minister. An ordinary dull Brit. At that time, he was joyfully stupid and looked like a young devil who was revelling in his unexpectedly acquired position," he wrote on the Telegram messaging app, which has been translated.

"Under certain circumstances, the response [to such attacks] will be aimed not only at Kyiv," he added.

He added: "And not just with conventional explosives, but also with a special kind of arms."

As we have been reporting throughout the day, Russian forces gave started the first stage of an operation in Kharkiv. 

Fierce fighting has been taking place in parts of the northeastern region, and Ukrainian officials have claimed Russian troops have advanced by 1km. 

Leading US thinktank the Institute for the Study of War has said evidence indicates the initial Russian attacks have been carried out for reconnaissance and not as a major drive to seize Kharkiv city. 

It has also suggested five objectives Russia might be trying to achieve with the operation: 

• To thin out Ukrainian forces along the 600-mile frontline, and create opportunities in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
• Draw Ukraine forces towards Vovchansk in Kharkiv to facilitate Russia's efforts to seize Kupyansk - another city in Kharkiv. 
• Create a demilitarised or sanitary buffer zone in Ukraine.
• Instil panic in Ukraine.
• Set conditions for a larger future offensive on Kharkiv. 

The ISW added that Russia was unlikely to take control of Kharkiv city. 

Open source data suggests Moscow's forces have an insufficient number of troops in nearby areas to seize it, the thinktank added. 

"If the Russian command intended to seize Kharkiv city, then Russian forces would have likely also attacked to the west and northwest of Kharkiv city as well," it said. 

It also explained that Russia's use of its airspace for the Kharkiv attacks highlights the "urgent need" for the US to provide more long-range air defences to Ukraine. 

"Ukraine would be better able to defend Kharkiv oblast if Ukrainian air defenders could intercept Russian aircraft in Russian airspace before they drop their glide bombs," it added.

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