Russia’s shadow armies

[Soldiers, mercenaries or volunteers?]( March 15, 2018 A close look at [conflicts in Ukraine and Syria]( shows that the Russian definition of “soldier,” “mercenary” and “volunteer” seem to blur when convenient — often at the expense of those doing the fighting and often to mask the stakes of Russia’s rise as a global power. Also, this woman, retired from the medical field, [helps supply the historic dress]( that characterizes Valencia's annual Las Fallas festival. And, check out [@shirinjaafari's]( takeover of the Across Women's Lives Instagram account, [@womenslives]( (photos by [@autumnmparry](), and listen to the [radio segment](, as well, expanding on yesterday's story about this soldier as she readies herself for Afghanistan. — Anna Pratt, The Scan editor [No Images? Click here.]( [Russia’s shadow armies: Soldiers, mercenaries or volunteers?]( [Russia’s shadow armies: Soldiers, mercenaries or volunteers?]( A close look at the conflicts in both Ukraine and Syria shows that the Russian definition of “soldier,” “mercenary” and “volunteer” seem to blur when convenient. [Russia’s shadow armies: Soldiers, mercenaries or volunteers?]( [Russia’s shadow armies: Soldiers, mercenaries or volunteers?]( A close look at the conflicts in both Ukraine and Syria shows that the Russian definition of “soldier,” “mercenary” and “volunteer” seem to blur when convenient. [Meet the dress history expert outfitting Valencia for the Las Fallas festival]( [Meet the dress history expert outfitting Valencia for the Las Fallas festival]( As part of Valencia's reinasença, or cultural renaissance, one woman has built one of the most comprehensive antique dress collections in the city. Her goal is to create a historical record of Valencia's traditional dress. [Meet the dress history expert outfitting Valencia for the Las Fallas festival]( [Meet the dress history expert outfitting Valencia for the Las Fallas festival]( As part of Valencia's reinasença, or cultural renaissance, one woman has built one of the most comprehensive antique dress collections in the city. Her goal is to create a historical record of Valencia's traditional dress. [How a soldier gets ready for deployment]( [How a soldier gets ready for deployment]( The US is going to increase its military presence in Afghanistan over the next few months. The US Army plans to increase the total force by as many as 1,000. So, what is it like for an Army officer getting ready to deploy? We followed one of them. [How a soldier gets ready for deployment]( [How a soldier gets ready for deployment]( The US is going to increase its military presence in Afghanistan over the next few months. The US Army plans to increase the total force by as many as 1,000. So, what is it like for an Army officer getting ready to deploy? We followed one of them. [Investigation finds ICE detention center cuts corners and skirted federal detention rules]( [Investigation finds ICE detention center cuts corners and skirted federal detention rules]( The missteps and errors of ICE and its contractors have led to concerns about the safety of immigrant detainees with mental health issues. [Foreign policy and fragile states: A town hall discussion]( [Foreign policy and fragile states: A town hall discussion]( "There is a history of unexpected threats emerging from unexpected places, as we learned from Afghanistan. It is in both our national security interest and in line with our values to help fragile states." PRI takes a global approach to the news of the day. We help you understand how what happens around the world matters in Washington and in your neighborhood. Today more than ever, we need conversations, perspectives and diverse voices. [Donate Today >]( Enjoying The Scan? Forward it to a friend! And if you’re not getting it daily, it’s easy to subscribe. [Sign up here](. We also love feedback, so please [tell us how we’re doing](. Today’s newsletter was written by Anna Pratt. Find her on Twitter: [@annapratt](. [Press release]( [PRI Facebook]( [PRI Twitter]( [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( The Scan is brought to you by [GlobalPost]( and [PRI - Public Radio International](.