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Covid-19 updates.

Visit Tampa Bay is committed to the safety of its visitors, partners and community. We continue to monitor the situation very closely and recommend everyone concerned stay up-to-date with the most recent information through the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  and the  Florida Department of Health .

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Omicron, travel bans and how they could impact your trip

• NerdWallet NerdWallet

As countries rush to impose travel bans to manage the spread of the omicron COVID-19 variant, some travelers have been left stranded. Meanwhile, those with trips planned might not be able to take off.

Here’s what you need to know about traveling and the omicron variant.

Review border closures and entry requirements

As of Nov. 29, the U.S. has restricted travel from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe due to concerns over the new variant. While these travel restrictions do not apply to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and certain other categories of travelers, some airlines are canceling flights from those countries anyway.

Many countries have imposed even stricter restrictions than the U.S. While some have banned inbound flights from specific countries, others, including Morocco, Japan and Israel, have temporarily banned international travel — with few exceptions — entirely.

Even if it’s just a layover, check the border closures and entry requirements at every stop on your trip. You can typically find a country’s most up-to-date travel policies by checking with the government’s travel and tourism office.

Understand your flight’s change and cancellation policies

In 2020, many major airlines introduced flexible and generous change and cancellation policies, and they’ve largely held on through 2021 (and likely will continue into 2022, too). Check with your air carrier, as you may be able to get a voucher toward a future flight and sometimes an outright refund if you opt not to travel — often no matter the reason.

Read the fine print. Policies on low-cost or basic economy fares tend to be less generous, and sometimes even the flight credits have tight expiration dates.

For flights specifically between the U.S. and many southern African countries, many airlines are rolling out special change policies, many of which leave you with tough, last-minute decisions to make.

For example, if you originally booked a flight for Johannesburg, South Africa, between Nov. 27 and Dec. 12, Delta is waiving the fare difference should you decide to fly elsewhere. However, you must take the new flight by Dec. 12, which doesn’t give you a lot of time to find a new destination. If you opt to fly after Dec. 12, Delta may charge you for the fare difference, which can be especially hefty if you’re booking last-minute.

Purchase ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ travel insurance coverage

Whether a prebooked trip is disrupted by a travel ban or you’re feeling more travel hesitancy now that omicron is in the lexicon, you might decide to cancel your trip altogether.

You can protect the money you shell out for a trip in advance with the right travel insurance coverage.

But sometimes even the biggest travel insurance policies won’t cover all omicron-related challenges. For example, while AIG’s Travel Guard insurance plan covers you in the event you get sick from COVID-19, it explicitly does not cover travel restrictions or travel warnings issued by any governmental body or health authority.

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In that case, you’d need to have purchased Cancel For Any Reason coverage, which can get you a partial or full refund, no matter why you choose not to travel.

Have a quarantine plan

If you’re traveling abroad and returning to the U.S., you need proof of a valid, negative COVID-19 test to return — even if you’re vaccinated.

There’s still a chance you can get a COVID-19 breakthrough case while vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you do, understand what quarantining for more than a week in a foreign country might entail. Plan where you might be able to stay. Make sure you’ve packed enough for the additional nights, including extra prescription medications or perhaps a laptop to help pass the time.

The bottom line

Given the ever-changing COVID-19-related travel restrictions, taking trips in 2021 is complicated. If you’re set on international travel, understand what you’re in for: potential lockdowns, canceled flights, lost money from upfront bookings, and the risk of having to quarantine. And even domestic travel might feel precarious for those uneasy about the emergence of omicron.

No matter where you’re headed, have a plan. And these days, it doesn’t hurt to also have a solid backup plan.

About the author: Sally French is a reporter for NerdWallet. Her work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Washington Post

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TPA Ready Update: Florida travelers face varying border restrictions across the globe

Before planning that summer or weekend getaway, know the restrictions before you go

With Americans planning hundreds of millions of trips this summer , local and national governments and health agencies around the world are putting restrictions in place to keep their communities safe from COVID-19. Florida, in particular, is considered a virus hot zone given this month’s spike in cases, causing other U.S. states or cities to order extra precautions for traveling Floridians or those who recently visited Florida.

Within the U.S., the rules and enforcement of quarantines can vary. The City of Chicago recently issued an emergency travel order requiring any incoming travelers from states with rising cases – including Florida – to quarantine for 14 days or the duration of their stay in the city, whichever time period is longer. Signage around O’Hare and Midway airports alerts passengers to the order, which largely relies on self-regulation and does not apply to the rest of Illinois.

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut also require those traveling from Florida to self-quarantine. People who enter Alaska or Hawaii also face restrictions that require either proof of a negative COVID test within a specific time period or a 14-day quarantine.

International travel poses even more challenges for U.S. travelers, as many countries have border restrictions that range from banning all non-essential foreign travelers to simply filling out a form at customs. 

The IATA’s TravelCentre site has an interactive world map that is updated regularly and lists the various restrictions by country. Travelers should also check out the World Health Organization’s site for the most thorough and up-to-date information about COVID outbreaks and best practices.

TPA now has a TPA Ready resource page to help keep passengers informed about the latest health and safety procedures at the Airport, as well as a list of available nonstop flights from Tampa to make travel planning easier.

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No travel safety advisories are in effect at this time. .

View live webcams and get updates from all over the state here .

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• Visit  FloridaDisaster.org  for the latest on the state's response actions.
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• Go to  Alert Florida  to sign up for emergency alerts and other public safety notifications in your community. 
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What Can I Bring?

Planning ahead and packing properly can facilitate the screening process and ease your travel experience at the airport. Know what you can pack in your carry-on and checked baggage before arriving at the airport by reviewing the lists below. Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. Read about civil penalties for prohibited items .

• Twitter: @AskTSA
• Facebook Messenger:  www.fb.com/AskTSA
• Apple Business Chat: AskTSA
• Text Message: Text "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872)

The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.

Officers may ask you to power up your electronic device, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. TSA does not read or copy information from your device.

Search by A-Z

Aerosol Insecticide

• Carry On Bags: No
• Checked Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)

Aerosol insecticides are not allowed in carry-on; however they are allowed in checked bags as long as they are not labeled as hazardous material (HAZMAT).

Air Mattress with Built-in Pump

• Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)
• Checked Bags: Yes

Air mattresses with built-in pump are allowed in carry-on bags. Please check with your airline for any size or weight restrictions.

Airbrush Make-up Machine

Devices containing lithium metal or lithium ion batteries should be carried in carry-on baggage.  Most other consumer devices containing batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage.

For more information to portable electronic devices, see the FAA regulations.

Alcoholic beverages

• Carry On Bags: Yes (Less than or equal to 3.4oz/100 ml allowed)

Check with your airline before bringing any alcohol beverages on board. FAA regulations prohibit travelers from consuming alcohol on board an aircraft unless served by a flight attendant.  Additionally, Flight Attendants are not permitted to serve a passenger who is intoxicated.

Alcoholic beverages with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging. Alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations in checked bags. 

Mini bottles of alcohol in carry-on must be able to comfortably fit into a single quart-sized bag.

For more information, see FAA regulation: 49 CFR 175.10(a)(4).

Alcoholic beverages over 140 proof

• Checked Bags: No

Alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol (over 140 proof), including grain alcohol and 151 proof rum. For more information, see FAA regulation: 49 CFR 175.10(a)(4).

Check with your airline if ammunition is allowed in checked bags. Small arms ammunitions must be securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask the airline about limitations or fees. Read the guidelines for traveling with firearms.

When traveling, be sure to comply with the laws concerning possession of firearms as they vary by local, state and international government.

• Carry On Bags: Yes

You may transport this item in carry-on or checked bags. For items you wish to carry on, you should check with the airline to ensure that the item will fit in the overhead bin or underneath the seat of the airplane.

Arc Lighters, Plasma Lighters, Electronic Lighters, E-Lighters

Measures must be taken to prevent unintentional activation of the heating element while on board the aircraft. Examples of effective measures to prevent unintentional activation include, but are not limited to: removing the battery from the lighter; placing the lighter into a protective case; and/or using a protective cover, safety latch, or locking device on the lighter's activation button.

Each lithium ion battery must not exceed a Watt-hour (Wh) rating of 100 Wh; or for lithium metal batteries, a lithium content of 2 grams.

Recharging of the devices and/or the batteries on board the aircraft is not permitted.

See FAA regulations for more information.

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The ultimate weekend in Tampa, Florida

May 17, 2024 • 6 min read

Sunny Tampa is a perfect destination for a relaxing weekend waterside © VIAVAL TOURS / Shutterstock

While Florida destinations like Miami and Palm Beach get most of the hype these days, don’t overlook Tampa on the state’s Gulf Coast. The growing mid-sized city exudes a polished ease that makes it a relaxed and inviting vacation spot.

I grew up in Tampa, and it has a freshness and gravity that always pulls me back. I always end up lingering at home thanks to the city’s sunny days, convenient size, active culture and friendliness – there’s always a new, funky spot or activity to check out, plus a dozen staples I simply need to visit every time. Luckily, I’ve mastered a three-day itinerary that covers the best things to do in Tampa, balancing old staples and new must-sees.

From beaches to theme parks, don’t miss Florida's top experiences

When to arrive: If you can, arrive on Thursday night to take advantage of the full three-day weekend. If you can't get away from the office entirely, working by a body of water sure makes that Friday workload feel lighter.

How to get from the airport: Grab a ride share from TPA, a near-perfect airport. Fares vary based on time of day, but you’ll likely pay between $30 and $50 to get to wherever you’re headed.

Getting around town: Certain pockets are more walkable than others, and residents are stubbornly devoted to trekking about. (If you visit during Gasparilla, our "Mardi Gras-but-with-pirates" holiday in late January, locals will say the city’s doable on foot. You just might get 30,000 steps.) If you don’t plan to rent a car, try to stay near the Riverwalk , Water Street or Hyde Park for the easiest access. Ride shares are easy, bikes and scooters are available, and you can even take the trolley. 

Where to stay: Tampa hotels tend to have a chic, upscale vibe rather than boutique flavor. Swanky travelers might hype the luxurious, ultra-glam Tampa EDITION , but more mid-range travelers will have a stellar stay at the Aloft Tampa Downtown or the Epicurean Hotel in Hyde Park. Budget travelers will likely fare best with Airbnb if they want to stay in central neighborhoods.

What time of year to visit: While I love Tampa year-round, those seeking refuge from winter will love visiting during the winter months. (You’ll want to avoid January if the Gasparilla festivities and crowds aren’t your scene.) Summer’s sweltering, but if you can visit before hurricane season (which takes place from June to November), a cocktail tastes like a reward when it’s poolside on a hot day – and most establishments love their AC. 

What to pack: It’s usually hot and humid, so pack your lightest fabrics – but you can still get fancy. During winter, a light sweater or jacket tied around your waist can come in handy, especially if spending time on the water. Don’t forget good walking shoes, bathing suits and SPF in the Sunshine State.

Morning: Start your day with a long walk down Bayshore Boulevard – the longest pedestrian walkway in the world  (humble brag) – alongside bikers, runners and rollerbladers. When at Rome Ave, veer into Hyde Park Village and pop into Buddy Brew Coffee for a latte, or Goody Goody Burgers for a massive sit-down breakfast. 

How to spend the day: Shop in Hyde Park or swing back towards the Riverwalk, but do call in sandwiches for pickup at Wright’s Gourmet House for lunch. The slight detour to Palma Ceia is worth it. Get a toasted BLT, a chocolate alpine cupcake and an iced sweet tea. Then, get to the nearest body of water. Tampa itself has its bay, pools and various shorelines; for a more quintessential beach, you’ll want to drive roughly half an hour to an hour to St. Petersburg or Sarasota . Nearby beach towns worth noting include charming coastal spots like Anna Maria Island or Indian Rocks Beach.

If your abode doesn’t have an outdoor pool, absolutely snag a day pass nearby. You could also rent a small boat and circle Davis Islands.

Dinner: Swing by Ulele for funky Floridian fusion dishes like okra fries and seafood risotto. The gator tail may sound intimidating, but it’s very similar to chicken. Since the Riverwalk is a wet zone, you can take your cocktail for a stroll in the warm breeze. If you’re with a picky group, Armature Works is also a crowd-pleaser for its variety. Top tip: the open container law only applies to drinks purchased from approved vendors, so you can’t BYOB.

After dark: Tampa is known for partying, and the nightlife can be as lively or chill as you’d like. Head up to the deco-inspired rooftop bar at M.Bird for a striking view of the water and downtown. To get rowdy, take a quick ride down to South Howard “SoHo” to go out at bars like SoHo Saloon and MacDinton's Irish Pub .

Want more Florida beaches? These are the best

Morning: A café con leche is calling your name, and a one-day unlimited trolley pass from downtown to Ybor City is only $5 – hop on and make your way to this fascinating historic neighborhood. Try Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters for quicker bites or Florida’s oldest eatery, Columbia Restaurant , for lunch if your “morning” looks more like 11am.

How to spend the day: Ybor City was once the cigar capital of the world, thanks to Spanish, Italian and Cuban influences. Stately brick factories now house bakeries, clubs, tattoo parlors and more. Learn about the area's history at the cigar worker houses at Ybor City Museum State Park , open from 10am to 3pm. Ybor also has the best thrift and antique shopping in the city, so be sure to budget time for poring over racks.

Dinner: Head to the Channel District for a swanky dinner. From elevated French cuisine at Boulon to Michelin-starred prix fixe at Lilac to oysters at The Pearl , Tampa brought its culinary A-game out on its reimagined Water Street . Even if you rent a car, take a ride share here regardless – you’d have to valet anyway. 

If the Tampa Bay Lightning are playing at home, pivot to dining at hot spots in another neighborhood, like Cru Cellars in Palma Ceia or Willa’s in North Hyde Park; traffic downtown near Amalie Arena can get thorny.

After dark: For late night, you could sip and snack your way down Water Street or Bay to Bay Boulevard until last call with no regrets, or opt to revisit SoHo.Tampa is so navigable and compact that it’s easy to adjust plans.

Morning: Brunch at Oxford Exchange is the aesthetic highlight of a Tampa visit. This elegant space features an independent bookstore, cafe, tea room, restaurant, champagne bar, shop and co-working space, and its tasty menu and stunning ambiance make it an ideal experience to end your trip on. Plus, you can snag a read for the plane and a snap for your socials.

How to spend the day: Walk across the street to the University of Tampa , where you’ll see rowing teams skimming across the Hillsborough River and students hanging up hammocks under the palms. Then pick up Cubans at West Tampa Sandwich Shop on N. Armenia before heading to the airport.

While Tampa’s satisfying to pop into for two or three days at a time, I nearly always end up stretching my trips there by a few days and still end up wanting more.

You can also always stretch your trip to see the rest of Florida , too. 

Keep planning your trip to Florida:

• Here’s when the Sunshine State  gets the most sunshine  (and other great times to visit)
• Check out these  budget-friendly tips  before you book
• This is  what you should know  before any Florida trip
• Save our full  guide to getting around

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I regret moving from Pittsburgh to Tampa. Florida is not the paradise I thought it would be.

• Cassie Leigh moved from Pittsburgh to Tampa because she wanted a warm place fit for a millennial.
• She loved the weather and lifestyle but regrets moving due to overcrowding and expenses.
• Leigh plans to move soon and is eyeing North Carolina or South Carolina for her next home.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cassie Leigh, a 29-year-old journalist who moved from Pittsburgh to Tampa. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I've always heard people say Florida is a beautiful place to live, and I loved visiting the beach as a kid. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and the cold winters started getting on my nerves, so when I was 23, I decided to move to Florida.

I picked Tampa because it seemed affordable and had beaches nearby. My research also suggested Tampa was a good place for millennials . The city has many events and nightlife, and it's only a few hours from Miami and Orlando.

In January 2018, I quit my journalism job in Pittsburgh and moved to Tampa without knowing anyone. The journey felt like a gamble.

After only a few months in, I liked living in Tampa so much that I bought a house. But the city has changed so much since then, and my experience hasn't been great. It's made me regret ever moving in the first place .

Living here felt like paradise — but then everything changed

After 23 years in Pittsburgh, I was mesmerized by the year-round warm weather, living so close to the beach, and being surrounded by people my age.

I knew everything in Tampa became more crowded in the winter because of the snowbirds , but when the pandemic hit in 2020, it became busy year-round.

Tampa was a hot spot because of the relatively loose COVID-19 restrictions , the weather, and the outdoor activities. Over 400,000 people moved to Tampa between July 2021 and July 2022.

The city became unbearable, and the overcrowding is now the worst part of living here.

Related stories

The traffic is intense, and the beaches are so crowded that you can't find parking or a place to sit on the sand. I went to the beach often when I first moved, but now I hardly go .

Finding a job in my industry is challenging

When I first moved to Tampa, I had a job in marketing for a local lifestyle company that I secured before the move. I tried to get a job in journalism once I got here, but I hardly ever saw any openings. The overpopulation led to more competition for jobs .

After a year, I landed a remote job as a journalist for a Canadian company. It paid double the amount of any jobs I could find in Tampa .

Tampa has become more expensive

I got a good deal on my home, and my cost of living here is less than it was in Pittsburgh. Many people who came to Tampa to escape life in bigger cities during the pandemic also bought houses .

But the boom significantly drove up housing prices — in 2022, homebuyers started paying 43% more on properties compared to prices a few years back. This caused my property taxes to go up drastically; they used to be around $700 a year, and now they're over $2,000 a year.

My homeowner's insurance has also increased because of the Florida storms and inflation. In Pittsburgh, we didn't have natural disasters such as hurricanes, so I wasn't aware of the intricacies that go into insurance in Florida.

Wind mitigation is crucial; your insurance company could charge you more if you don't have the right hurricane shutters. My home is also built on a sinkhole , which I didn't initially realize, so my insurance cost is significantly higher than it would be if my home wasn't built on one .

It's time for me to leave

I'm leaving Tampa soon. The only reason I'm still here is because I'm taking a course at a college near my house.

I love the beaches and the weather, but living here is not worth the price tag. I'm unsure if I'll rent out my house or sell it when I leave.

I miss summers in Pittsburgh and seeing my family often, but I want to stay close to the coast and away from cold weather, so I'll likely move to North Carolina or South Carolina within the next few years .

Watch: One in every 10 Americans moved during the pandemic. Here's where they went.

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Ukraine Asks U.S. to Provide More Intelligence on Targets in Russia

American officials say they do not want U.S. weapons used in cross-border attacks or intelligence reports used to strike inside Russia.

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By Helene Cooper ,  Julian E. Barnes ,  Eric Schmitt and Michael Schwirtz

Helene Cooper reported from Brussels, Julian E. Barnes from Washington, Eric Schmitt from Tampa, Fla., and Michael Schwirtz from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Ukraine has asked the Biden administration to provide more intelligence on the position of Russian forces and military targets inside Russia as Ukrainian troops struggle to hold ground in the war, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

A group of Ukrainian Parliament members also met with members of Congress in Washington to press for the United States to allow Kyiv to use American weapons in Russia.

Ukraine’s requests have become more urgent in recent weeks as Russia has taken advantage of delays in shipments of American weapons and intensified military operations in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine.

But White House officials said the administration’s longstanding policy remained unchanged: The United States is not encouraging or enabling attacks inside Russia. American officials, seeking to avoid escalating the war, have insisted they do not want U.S. weapons used in cross-border attacks or their intelligence reports used to target sites in Russia.

The latest request came in recent days, officials said, and administration officials have begun to review it. Similar appeals have been turned down in the past.

The United States provides some intelligence to Ukraine on Russian forces in Russia, for example, on troops that are massing for potential attacks. Ukraine also has access to commercial satellite imagery that allows it to see Russian activity at major military bases.

But Ukrainian officials say they need to increase the number and effectiveness of their cross-border attacks to press Moscow to end the war, according to current and former Ukrainian officials. To do that, those officials say they want more real-time intelligence and more information from allies on what U.S. and European officials think are the most critical targets.

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the Ukrainians had been “asking us for help to be able to strike into Russia” but that the request was broad and not “specific to a weapons system.”

At the moment, “we don’t help them with any of their stuff they do into Russia,” he told reporters on Thursday on his flight to Brussels for NATO meetings.

A former Ukrainian official said American and allied intelligence on Russian military assets across the border would allow Ukraine to more accurately plan routes for its drones and guided missiles. Those weapons must fly low to avoid radar, requiring detailed terrain mapping.

And while some commercial imagery helps the Ukrainians locate Russia’s mobile air defenses, American intelligence would provide better and faster information.

There are signs that Ukraine’s cross-border strategy is becoming more effective, and allied officials say an expanded campaign, particularly one targeting Russia’s defense industry and manufacturing plants, would be critical to changing the trajectory of the war.

On Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said his troops were moving into the Kharkiv region to carve out a buffer zone that would make it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to strike the Russian border city of Belgorod.

American officials say those strikes have been a major irritant for the Kremlin. General Brown said Russia did not appear to have enough forces or supplies to take Kharkiv.

In the face of Russia’s incremental gains, and Ukraine’s critical shortage of troops, NATO allies are considering starting training missions inside Ukraine. Much military training is done at the unit level, and Ukraine has struggled to create a national program.

But American officials have cautioned allied governments about sending troops to Ukraine, worried that if Russia targeted them or they were killed in a strike, the alliance could quickly be drawn into a wider war.

Similar to the training missions, allied governments are considering loosening their restrictions on Ukraine’s cross-border actions, including by providing more intelligence on potential targets and allowing their weapons to be used inside Russia, Western officials said.

David Cameron, the British foreign secretary, said during a visit to Kyiv this month that Ukraine had “the right” to use weapons provided by London to strike targets inside Russia.

“Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it’s defending itself,” Mr. Cameron told Reuters .

Russia responded to those comments with a threat to strike British military facilities and equipment in Ukraine “and beyond.” The Kremlin also summoned the British ambassador in Moscow to deliver a message of protest.

The United States has said it was up to Ukraine to decide whether to strike into Russia.

“We have not encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine, but ultimately Ukraine needs to make decisions for itself on how it conducts this war,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Wednesday. “We will continue to back Ukraine with the equipment it needs to win.”

Elbridge Colby, a critic of the Biden administration’s policies on Ukraine, said the tensions between Britain and Russia over Mr. Cameron’s remarks showed the dangers of insufficiently considered escalation.

“These Russian counterthreats are very concrete and relatively proportional,” said Mr. Colby, who was a Pentagon official during the Trump administration. “And that’s the thing that worries me.”

Providing intelligence to specifically target the Russians in Russia would be a significant erosion of the guardrails the Biden administration has put in place to prevent the conflict from widening beyond the borders of Ukraine, he added.

“Like in the early years in Vietnam, we are step by step moving toward the erosion of the boundaries that we have set for ourselves,” Mr. Colby said. “We’ve been in this for two and a half years. We’re in a war of attrition with Russia and we’re steadily escalating. Is that where we want to be?”

An earlier version of this article mischaracterized comments by Elbridge Colby, a Pentagon official in the Trump administration. He said that providing intelligence to specifically target the Russians in Russia would erode the Biden administration’s guardrails to prevent the Ukraine war from widening, not that providing intelligence to Russia would do so.

How we handle corrections

Helene Cooper is a Pentagon correspondent. She was previously an editor, diplomatic correspondent and White House correspondent. More about Helene Cooper

Julian E. Barnes covers the U.S. intelligence agencies and international security matters for The Times. He has written about security issues for more than two decades. More about Julian E. Barnes

Eric Schmitt is a national security correspondent for The Times, focusing on U.S. military affairs and counterterrorism issues overseas, topics he has reported on for more than three decades. More about Eric Schmitt

Michael Schwirtz is an investigative reporter with the International desk. With The Times since 2006, he previously covered the countries of the former Soviet Union from Moscow and was a lead reporter on a team that won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for articles about Russian intelligence operations. More about Michael Schwirtz

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

Ukraine asked the Biden administration to provide more intelligence  on the position of Russian forces and military targets inside Russia, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law a bill allowing some Ukrainian convicts to serve  in the country’s military in exchange for the possibility of parole at the end of their service, a move that highlights Kyiv’s desperate attempts to replenish its forces.

NATO allies are inching closer to sending troops into Ukraine to train Ukrainian forces . The move would be another blurring of a previous red line and could draw the United States and Europe more directly into the war.

World’s Nuclear Inspector: Rafael Grossi took over the International Atomic Energy Agency five years ago at what now seems like a far less fraught moment. With atomic fears everywhere, the inspector is edging toward mediator .

Frozen Russian Assets: As much as $300 billion in frozen Russian assets is piling up profits and interest income by the day. Now, Ukraine’s allies are considering how to use those gains to aid Kyiv .

Rebuilding Ukrainian Villages: The people of the Kherson region have slowly rebuilt their livelihoods since Ukraine’s military forced out Russian troops. Now they are bracing for another Russian attack .

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .