Russia-Ukraine war – live: Zelensky says counteroffensive against Putin’s troops about to ‘gain pace’

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the country’s counteroffensive to push back occupying Russian forces is set to “gain pace” as Kyiv expects more military aid from its allies, including the US.

Mr Zelensky called on allies to provide fighter jets and more long-range missiles, with Washington planning to announce a new military package to Ukraine imminently.

US national security adviser told the same security forum in Colorado that the results of the counteroffensive would only become clear once Kyiv fully commits its forces, saying this has not yet happened.

Meanwhile, president Vladimir Putin accused Nato member Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russia‘s neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia.

Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus “with all the means at our disposal”, Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks.

And a South African court has issued an arrest warrant for Mr Putin ahead of a Brics summit in Johannesburg next month. The Kremlin says Mr Putin will not be attending.

Key Points

• Zelensky says counteroffensive about to 'gain pace'

• Putin gives chilling warning to Poland as Moscow ready to defend Belarus

• Ukraine using US cluster bombs ‘effectively,’ White House says

• Video shows first confirmed use of US clusterbombs by Ukraine

• Russia restricts movements of British diplomats in response to 'hostile actions'

British Ministry of Defence responds to arrest of Putin critic

13:29 , Matt Drake

Prominent Russian nationalist Igor Girkin, who publicly accused president Vladimir Putin and the army top brass of not pursuing the war in Ukraine harshly or effectively enough, was remanded in custody on Friday on charges of inciting extremism.

His arrest earlier suggests authorities have wearied of his criticism of what they call Russia’s “special military operation”.

The MOD said the move is likely to ‘spark fury’.

MOD tweets pictures of Ukrainian recruits finishing training on British weapons

13:51 , Matt Drake

The UK has been supplying Ukraine with weapons to help combat the Russian invasion.

In a recent tweet, they tweeted recruits using a British-made AS90 155mm self-propelled gun who finished their training earlier this year.

Russian journalist killed, three wounded near Ukraine frontline - Kremlin claims

13:12 , Matt Drake

A war correspondent for Russia’s RIA news agency was killed and three other Russian journalists were wounded by shelling near the frontline in Ukraine‘s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday, Russia’s defence ministry said.

The ministry said that Ukraine launched an artillery strike on the journalists using cluster munitions. Reuters was not able to immediately verify the defence ministry’s account.

Bulgaria agrees to send heavy military equipment to Ukraine for the first time since the invasion

12:11 , Matt Drake

Bulgaria has agreed to provide the Ukrainian army with some 100 armoured personnel carriers, marking a turnaround in its policy on sending military equipment to the country to aid Kyiv’s battle against the Russian invasion.

The parliament in Sofia late Friday approved by 148 votes to 52 the government’s proposal to make the first shipment of heavy military equipment to Ukraine since the beginning of the war.

“This equipment is no longer necessary for the needs of Bulgaria, and it can be of serious support to Ukraine in its battle to preserve the country’s independence and territorial integrity after the unjustified and unprovoked Russian aggression,” the Parliament’s decision said.

Video apparently captures moment ammunition depot hit by drone strike

12:01 , Matt Drake

Russia has accused Ukraine of a drone strike on an ammunition depot.

People around a three mile radius were evacuated.

Euromaidan Press has tweeted a video which apparently shows the depot after it was hit.

Russian attacks kill at least eight civilians - authorities say

11:41 , Matt Drake

Russia attacked 11 regions across Ukraine overnight, authorities have said.

The regional prosecutor’s office in the eastern Donetsk region said that at least four people including a married couple were killed last night.

It came as Russian forces shelled the settlement of Niu-York, south of the city of Bakhmut, which also hospitalised three other residents.

Ukraine’s interior ministry said that two civilians died in Kostiantynivka in Donetsk from rocket attacks. The ministry said another civilian was wounded in the same attack which destroyed 20 private homes.

Two people were killed in Chernihiv after Russian cruise missiles destroyed the local cultural centre.

Russia accuses Ukraine of indiscriminate shelling

11:27 , Matt Drake

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of the Belgorod region said that Ukraine fired cluster munitions at a village, but his statement has not been verified.

Ukraine received cluster bombs from the United States this month. But Ukraine pledged to use them only to dislodge concentrations of enemy soldiers and repeatedly said their use will be limited to the battlefield.

Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, has been repeatedly targeted by what Russia says is indiscriminate shelling by Ukraine's armed forces.

In May and June, the region was rocked by fighting after militants from a pro-Ukrainian armed group crossed the border and started battling with Russian security forces.

Ukraine does not claim responsibility for attacks inside Russian territory and denied it was involved in the cross-border raids.

Ukraine hit Russian village with cluster munitions, regional governor says

11:14 , Matt Drake

The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region said on Saturday that Ukraine fired cluster munitions at a village near the Ukrainian border on Friday, but that there were no casualties or damage.

“In Belgorod district, 21 artillery shells and three cluster munitions from a multiple-launch rocket system were fired at the village of Zhuravlevka,” Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

The governor’s statement has not been independently verified. It was made in a daily briefing on his Telegram channel, without providing visual evidence.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Drone attack in Crimea prompts evacuation

11:07 , Matt Drake

A drone attack on an ammunition depot in Crimea prompted authorities to evacuate everyone in a 3.1-mile radius and briefly suspend road traffic on the bridge linking the peninsula to Russia, the Moscow-installed regional governor said on Saturday.

Sergei Aksyonov said there was an explosion at the depot in Krasnohvardiiske in central Crimea but reported no damage or casualties. Footage shared by state media showed a thick cloud of grey smoke at the site.

Aksyonov blamed it on a Ukrainian drone attack. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv.

Ukraine drones hit ammunition depot

10:58 , Matt Drake

According to Russian-installed governor Sergei Aksyonov, the previous drone attack today hit a Crimean ammunition depot.

There were no casualties and residents within three miles of the site in the Krasnogvardeisky district were evacuated, he claimed.

Russian authorities claim Ukraine carried out a drone attack today which caused traffic on the Kerch Bridge to be temporarily halted.

Pictured: Ukrainians liberate village

10:49 , Matt Drake

Shocking photos have shown the aftermath of the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces can be seen among the rubble, destroyed danks and churned earth.

The pictures from Reuters show Novodarivka, a village in the Zaporizhzhia, following the liberation by Ukrainian forces.

Traffic resumes on Kerch Bridge

09:49 , Matt Drake

According to reports, the traffic has resumed following a brief suspension.

Drivers passing over the bridge were halted earlier for an unspecified reason.

Russia claims Ukraine tried to attack with a drone

09:25 , Matt Drake

According to the Russian-installed governor of the occupied peninsula, Ukraine attempted to attack Crimea infrastructure.

People stuck on Crimea Bridge told to 'remain calm'

09:20 , Matt Drake

No reason has so far been given for the traffic being halted.

An official Telegram channel said: "Those on the bridge and in the inspection area are asked to remain calm and follow the instructions of transportation security officers."

Two civilians were killed in the drone attack this week and part of the road bridge was out of service.

It had only recently returned to full operation after being severely damaged in a similar attack in October by Ukraine.

Traffic on Crimea Bridge temporarily blocked - reports claim

08:44 , Matt Drake

Russian state-owned TASS news agency said traffic on the Crimean bridge is temporarily blocked.

The reports have not been independently verified and the situation remains unclear.

It comes only two days after Russia lifted cargo vessel restrictions along the Kerch Strait following a drone attack on the bridge last Monday.

Supermarket fuel margins have more than doubled since Ukraine war started

08:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

The margins on fuel at supermarkets, including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons have more than doubled since the start of the war in Ukraine, a new analysis suggests.

From making an average of about 4.7p per litre on fuel sales in February 2022, the fuel margins in these supermarkets are now around 10p per litre, leading to higher pump prices, the RAC noted.

“While we accept the cost of running forecourts might have increased, these bloated margins must make difficult reading for the millions of drivers who are already battling the rising cost of living,” RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said.

“In short, this means everyone is paying more than they should be to a lesser or greater extent depending on where they live,” he said.

More on RAC’s report and its recommendations here.

UK fuel margins have more than doubled since start of Ukraine war

08:29 , Matt Drake

Supermarkets have more than doubled their margins on fuel since the start of the war in Ukraine, new analysis suggests.

The RAC said Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s were making an average of around 4.7p per litre on fuel sales when the Russian invasion began in February 2022.

The motoring services company found this had increased to around 10p per litre, leading to higher pump prices.Supermarket fuel margins were 2.3p per litre in 2016.

Lower fuel prices helped drive a drop in the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation last month to 7.9%, down from 8.7% in May.

Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s fuel profits have doubled since Ukraine war

US set to unveil new military aid package to Ukraine – report

08:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

The US is reportedly planning to announce a new military package valued up to $400m to Ukraine consisting of artillery, air defence missiles, and ground vehicles.

This new package will not include the controversial cluster munitions and may be announced as early as Tuesday, Reuters reported, citing officials close to the matter.

It is also expected to include armoured personnel carriers, mine-clearing equipment, and anti-tank weapons but the list may undergo changes before the announcement.

Once approved, this would mark the 43rd such military assistance package provided by the US to Ukraine since its invasion by Russia in February 2022.

Zelensky says counteroffensive about to 'gain pace'

07:22 , Vishwam Sankaran

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says the country’s counteroffensive to push back Russian forces in occupied Ukraine is set to “gain pace.”

The much-anticipated effort began later than Kyiv had expected due to a lack of sufficient ammunition supplies from allied countries.

But Mr Zelensky said yesterday that the now weeks-old counteroffensive is about to shift in momentum, with Ukraine set to receive more weapons.

He called on his allies to provide the war-torn country with more long-range missiles as well as advanced fighter jets, as he addressed international leaders at the Aspen Security Forum.

“We are approaching a moment when relevant actions can gain pace because we are already going through some mines locations and we are demining these areas,” Mr Zelensky said.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told the audience in Colorado that the results of Ukraine’s military effort would only become clear once Kyiv had fully committed its forces.

“It is at that moment when they make that commitment that we will really see what the results of the counter-offensive will be,” Mr Sullivan said.

Russia's attack on Ukrainian ports will deal further blow to 'global food security,' UN says

07:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said yesterday that Russia’s bombardment of Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea could have further impacts on global food security.

Condemning Russia’s aerial strikes of Ukraine’s ports in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv, Ms DiCarlo said these new wave of attacks would have “far-reaching impacts on global food security, in particular, in developing countries.”

“Any risk of conflict spilling over as a result of a military incident in the Black Sea – whether intentional or by accident – must be avoided at all costs, as this could result in potentially catastrophic consequences to us all,” she added.

“We strongly condemn these attacks and urge Russia to stop them immediately,” Ms DiCarlo said.

Ending Black Sea grain deal risks 'hunger and worse' for millions, UN warns

06:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

Russia quitting the deal allowing safe export of Ukraine grain via the Black Sea “potentially threatens hunger and worse for millions of people,” the United Nations’ aid chief said yesterday.

The landmark deal, brokered a year ago to combat a potential global food crisis, allowed Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea but by pulling out of the agreement on Monday, higher prices will be “acutely felt by families in developing countries,” Martin Griffiths, the aid chief told the UN Security Council.

The UN said the deal had benefited poorer countries by helping lower food prices globally.

But Russia effectively quit the deal on Monday, saying it views any ships traveling to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports as likely carrying military cargoes.

“Some will go hungry, some will starve, many may die as a result of these decisions,” Mr Griffiths said, according to Reuters.

Zelensky says Ukraine 'will respond' to Russia's recent attacks

06:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address yesterday that Ukraine would respond to Russia’s recent deadly attacks.

On Friday, Russian shelling killed two children in Donetsk, two women in Chernihiv, and missiles also hit Odesa, according to The Kyiv Independent.

The president said over 20 people, including two children, were wounded by attacks on Odesa in the past week.

Reacting to the shelling Mr Zelensky said Ukraine “will respond” to the attacks, adding that “there will be punishment.”

“In addition, there will be even more consolidation of the world for defence and for joint action, even more energy for victory, even more desire for justice, and just punishment of Russia for all the crimes of this war,” the Ukrainian president said.

South Africa agrees to issue warrant for Putin's arrest

05:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

A high court in South Africa has confirmed that it has finally issued a warrant against Russian president Vladimir Putin, ahead of the African country hosting a summit of BRICS countries that includes Russia.

As one of the signatories to the International Criminal Court (ICC) which issued a warrant against Mr Putin over war crime allegations, South Africa is expected to detain the Russian president once he sets foot in the African country.

But officials from both countries had previously stated that Mr Putin would be permitted to attend the summit despite the ICC warrant.

Then South Africa said on Wednesday that Mr Putin would not be attending the summit, and Russia would instead be represented by foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

A high court in Pretoria confirmed on Friday that the department had finally sent the warrant.

Zelensky calls for Crimean bridge to be 'neutralised'

05:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the Crimean bridge to be taken down during his speech at the Aspen Security Forum.

He called the bridge a legitimate target for Ukraine that must be “neutralised.”

“The Crimean Bridge is not just a logistical road. This is the road that is used to feed the war with ammunition. And it militarises the Crimean Peninsula. This is an enemy facility built outside international law, so understandably, it is a [military] objective,” Mr Zelensky said.

“And any target that is bringing war must be neutralised,” he added.

Russia builds fake trenches to lure Ukrainians into mines – report

04:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

Russian forces have reportedly built fake trenches to lure Ukrainians into mine-filled traps.

Insider reported that Russia has built a vast network of trenches ahead of Ukraine’s counteroffensive, including fake ones containing mines.

“They build out fake trenches. They have mine trenches,” Michael Kofman, a Russia expert at the Center for Naval Analyses, said in a podcast on Thursday.

Mr Kofman, who recently visited Ukraine with other war experts, said Russian forces are attempting to “lure Ukrainian forces into trenches that have been mined... and then blow up these mines” with remote controls.

Video shows first confirmed use of US clusterbombs by Ukraine

03:57 , Vishwam Sankaran

A new video reveals for the first time Kyiv making use of controversial US clusterbombs against Russian forces.

In the video, smaller bomblets can be seen released from the cluster bomb canister near Krasnohorivka city in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

The US had announced previously that it would send the cluster bombs to Ukraine as a part of an $800m package.

More than 100 countries have banned the use of these bombs as some of the bomblets may not explode and turn instead into mines on the battlefield, remaining a threat for a long time to come.

Zelensky condemns Russian artillery attack in Donetsk

03:48 , Holly Bancroft

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a Russian artillery attack in Donetsk that he said had killed two children.

In a video posted on Twitter, Mr Zelensky said: “Russia killed two more children today. Artillery attack on the village of Druzhba, Toretsk community, Donetsk region. A girl born in 2007 and a boy born in 2013 died. Chernihiv Region, the village of Honcharivske - a missile hit. Two women were killed, the demolition of the rubble is under way... A cultural center, a school, residential buildings were damaged”

Icymi: Zelensky sacks Ukraine’s ambassador to UK over Wallace weapons row

02:46 , Holly Bancroft

Ukraine’s ambassador in London has been sacked after criticising Volodymyr Zelensky’s behaviour in a row with Ben Wallace over claims of ingratitude on the part of Kyiv for arms supplied by Britain and other Western allies.

The Independent revealed on Thursday that there had been “very strong and harsh” telephone conversations between Vadym Prystaiko and the government in Kyiv after he accused President Zelensky of “unhealthy sarcasm” in his response to Mr Wallace, who had said that Ukraine should not view its Western allies as an “Amazon” delivery service.

Diplomatic sources say that Mr Prystaiko, who has been a key point of contact for the British government since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began last year, was warned that he could be recalled to Ukraine and face strong disciplinary action, which could potentially include dismissal.

This morning, the Ukrainian government announced that Mr Prystaiko had been fired by presidential decree, and that he had also been removed as the country’s representative to the International Maritime Organisation. No reason was given for his sacking.

Read more from World Affairs Editor Kim Sengupta here:

Zelensky sacks Ukraine’s ambassador to UK over Wallace weapons row

Why Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s ports matter for us all

01:30 , Holly Bancroft

First Moscow ended a pivotal deal allowing Ukraine to export grain, now it is repeatedly attacking the country’s ports, writes Bel Trew.

“When Russia hits Ukraine’s farmers, it lashes out at the world.

This has been the resounding message I’ve heard over the last year of Moscow’s invasion by Ukrainian farmers from Donbas to Dnipro.

Most recently that warning was relayed near the southern city of Nikopol. “We are just one farm, there are thousands like us,” Vitaly, 29, told me in a crumbling field. “If we cannot produce food, there will be a problem for the world,” he added.

The area once backed onto the Khakhova reservoir, one of Europe’s largest. After the Khakhova dam exploded in June – an attack that Kyiv blamed on Moscow – the reservoir dried up, turning the fields surrounding it into dust-covered wastelands.

Vitaly was not exaggerating about the impact such losses would have, given that Ukraine holds a unique position in the global food market and has long been called the breadbasket of the world. And this week his warning gained greater pertinence with four days of bombardment on Ukraine’s southern ports used for grain exports – which followed Moscow’s withdrawal from a deal ensuring the safe passage of such exports through the Black Sea.

Markian Dmytrasevych, Ukraine’s deputy agriculture minister, told The Independent that pre-war Ukraine fed 400 million people worldwide. It is the fifth-largest exporter of wheat and a major exporter of corn and barley. It is also responsible for 50 per cent of the global sunflower oil market.

Altogether, experts estimate it makes up 6 per cent of the agricultural trade around the world.

United Nations officials in Mykolaiv said the World Food Programme usually buys food from Ukraine to export to developing countries across the Middle East and Africa.

But Ukraine has struggled to grow, harvest and export its crops since Vladimir Putin invaded the country last February. For four months at the start of the war, the Kremlin blockaded Ukraine’s vital Black Sea Ports, causing a spike in food prices across the world.”

Read more here:

Why the Russian attacks on Ukraine’s ports matter for us all | Bel Trew

RAC says supermarkets have more than doubled their margins on fuel since start of Ukraine war

Saturday 22 July 2023 00:17 , Holly Bancroft

Supermarkets have more than doubled their margins on fuel since the start of the war in Ukraine, new analysis suggests.

The RAC said Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s were making an average of around 4.7p per litre on fuel sales when the Russian invasion began in February 2022.

The motoring services company found this had increased to around 10p per litre, leading to higher pump prices.

Supermarket fuel margins were 2.3p per litre in 2016. Lower fuel prices helped drive a drop in the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation last month to 7.9 per cent, down from 8.7 per cent in May.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said the decline could have been even sharper if supermarket pump price reductions were “in line with cheaper wholesale costs”.

He went on: “While we accept the cost of running forecourts might have increased, these bloated margins must make difficult reading for the millions of drivers who are already battling the rising cost of living.

“In short, this means everyone is paying more than they should be to a lesser or greater extent depending on where they live.

“We hope artificially high pump prices will become a thing of the past due to the actions promised by the Government resulting from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) report earlier this month that showed supermarkets had overcharged drivers to the tune of £900 million last year.

“Their recommendation that a price monitoring body is set up and that retailers are mandated to provide live prices for fuel finder apps is very welcome and long overdue.”

CMA director of markets Dan Turnbull told the Commons’ Business and Trade Committee on Wednesday that Asda’s pence per litre fuel margin targets were three times higher this year than in 2019.

He added that the retailer deliberately passed on reductions in wholesale costs more slowly in areas where it had no competition.

An Asda spokesperson said: “Asda is proud to be a fuel price leader - and an Asda petrol station in a local area keeps prices down for all motorists. In support of calls for greater transparency in fuel pricing, we will be making our prices visible for all of our fuel stations in the coming weeks so motorists can be confident they are getting the best prices when filling up at Asda.”

Ukrainian soldiers learn bomb disposal techniques in Scotland

Friday 21 July 2023 23:14 , Holly Bancroft

Ukrainian troops have been on exercises in Scotland learning how to disarm and defuse Russian bombs, booby traps and mines.

Royal Navy divers, bomb disposal specialists and mine warfare experts have been training their Ukrainian counterparts on finding and neutralising explosive devices in the north-west Highlands.

Specialist personnel from the Royal Navy’s Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) used the waters of Loch Ewe to pass on their knowledge and expertise to Ukrainian Navy divers, explosive ordnance disposal operators and personnel who work with uncrewed underwater vehicles.

Sailors from Delta Diving Unit 1 and DTXG’s operational support squadron delivered the training alongside Nato allies, building on the existing knowledge and skills of the Ukrainian expeditionary mine countermeasures team and helping them prepare for future operations.

The training ranged from clearing deep water shipping lanes to rendering shallow water and beaches safe for amphibious raids.

It also covered clearing ports, jetties and any other infrastructure from potential threats.

Lieutenant Ali Aindow, the officer in charge of Delta Diving Unit 1, said: “It’s been great to be working with our close allies and partners again.

“We have been able to reinforce relationships and cohere into a single, multi-national force able to find and destroy underwater or maritime threats for the task group commander.”

She added: “The Ukrainian Navy divers have been great, it’s been a brilliant opportunity to share experience and learn techniques from each other. The Ukrainians are really focused and their enthusiasm for the training has been amazing.”

Teams trained with crewless underwater vehicles: submarine robots packed with cutting-edge technology such as sensors which generate images of objects so operators can identify any threats.

Once a threat was identified, the divers moved in to neutralise the device and make the area safe.

The training dealt with all types of exercise targets: free-floating buoyant mines; ground mines; and improvised explosive devices in, on and around the water.

Recap: White House says cluster bombs are having an impact in war

Friday 21 July 2023 22:09 , Holly Bancroft

The White House has defended supplying controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine, saying that they are having an impact in the counteroffensive against Russia.

National security spokesperson John Kirby said: “We have gotten some initial feedback from the Ukrainians and they’ve using them quite effectively.”

He said that the bombs were having an impact on Russian defensive formations and manoeuvring.

President Biden has described the decision to supply the munition as “very difficult”, acknowledging that they kill civilians.

Putin makes aggressive remarks about ‘defending Belarus'

Friday 21 July 2023 21:01 , Holly Bancroft

Putin has said that Russia will use “all means at its disposal” to defend Belarus and claimed without evidence that Poland was seeking to invade the country.

Mr Putin made the aggressive comments during a meeting of his security council on Friday, The Guardian reported.

Mercenaries from the Wagner group are running training sessions for Belarusian troops near the border with Poland.

Poland’s security committee has said that it would move troops to the east of the country in response to the exercises.

Mr Putin said: “Unleashing agression against Belarus would mean aggression against the Russian Federation. And we will respond to it using all means at our disposal.”

Russian pro-war Putin critic Igor Girkin facing charges of inciting extremism

Friday 21 July 2023 20:09 , Holly Bancroft

A prominent Russian hardline nationalist who has accused President Vladimir Putin of weakness and indecision in Ukraine has been detained on charges of extremism.

The move suggests authorities have wearied of former FSB agent and battlefield commander Igor Girkin’s criticism of Moscow’s invasion, and perhaps that of other loud nationalist voices who had appeared to have exceptional licence to deride the Kremlin and the military.

It follows an abortive mutiny last month led by another outspoken critic, Yevgeny Prigozhin, boss of the Wagner mercenary force, who is still free but has sharply curtailed his own verbal attacks.

Read the full story here:

Pro-war Putin critic Igor Girkin facing charges of inciting extremism in Russia

Ukraine MoD calls Russians ‘terrorists'

Friday 21 July 2023 19:00 , William Mata

Ukraine’s ministry of defence has taken to Twitter to call out Russian insurgents as “terrorists”.

“Russian terrorists want to become exemplary in the way they destroy life.

“We will become exemplary in the way we protect life and in the way life then responds - justly and inevitably - to every blow inflicted to every terrorist.”

‘A war on healthcare'

Friday 21 July 2023 18:12 , William Mata

The British Ministry of Defence has tweeted an alert of the ‘war on healthcare’.

The account released an update on Friday afternoon to state: “Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces have been attacking hospitals, healthcare facilities & healthcare workers, contrary to international humanitarian law.”

Ukraine and Russia: Pictures from Friday, July 21

Friday 21 July 2023 16:58 , William Mata

Putin tells Poland any aggression against Belarus is attack on Russia

Friday 21 July 2023 16:43 , Reuters

President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused NATO member Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russia’s neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia.

Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus, which forms a loose “Union State” with Russia, “with all the means at our disposal”, Mr Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks.

Warsaw’s Security Committee decided on Wednesday to move military units to eastern Poland after members of the Russian Wagner mercenary force arrived in Belarus, the state-run news agency PAP quoted its secretary as saying on Friday.

Russia targets Ukraine's farm storage sites after days of hitting Black Sea port facilities

Friday 21 July 2023 16:23 , AP`

Russia followed its withdrawal from a grain export deal by expanding its attacks from port infrastructure to farm storage buildings in Ukraine's Odesa region on Friday, while also practicing a Black Sea blockade.

Other Russian missiles damaged what officials described only as an "important infrastructure facility" southwest of the port city of Odesa, in what appeared to be an effort to cripple Ukraine's food exports.

Attacks in recent days have put Odesa in Russia's crosshairs after Moscow abandoned a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.

Ukranian troops learn how to diffuse Russian bombs in Scottish training exercise

Friday 21 July 2023 16:16 , PA

Ukrainian troops have been on exercises in Scotland learning how to disarm and defuse Russian bombs, booby traps and mines.

Royal Navy divers, bomb disposal specialists and mine warfare experts have been training their Ukrainian counterparts on finding and neutralising explosive devices in the north-west Highlands.

Specialist personnel from the Royal Navy’s Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) used the waters of Loch Ewe to pass on their knowledge and expertise to Ukrainian Navy divers, explosive ordnance disposal operators and personnel who work with uncrewed underwater vehicles.

Sailors from Delta Diving Unit 1 and DTXG’s operational support squadron delivered the training alongside Nato allies, building on the existing knowledge and skills of the Ukrainian expeditionary mine countermeasures team and helping them prepare for future operations.

The training ranged from clearing deep water shipping lanes to rendering shallow water and beaches safe for amphibious raids.

It also covered clearing ports, jetties and any other infrastructure from potential threats

Arrested pro-war Kremlin critic Girkin charged with incitement to extremism - Russian agencies

Friday 21 July 2023 15:40 , Reuters

Prosecutors from Russia’s FSB federal security service on Friday asked a Moscow court to remand prominent nationalist Kremlin critic Igor Girkin in detention on a charge of inciting extremist activity, Russian state news agencies reported.

Girkin faces up to five years in prison if convicted, the TASS and RIA agencies said.

Armenian foreign minister to meet Russian counterpart

Friday 21 July 2023 15:31 , William Mata / Reuters

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan is set to meet his Azeri and Russian counterparts in Moscow, Russia’s TASS news agency said on Friday.

The countries have a historic relationship and are both members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Vladimir Putin is additionally set to meet his Belarus allies over the weekend.

Russia says there are no talks on any alternative to lapsed grain deal

Friday 21 July 2023 14:53 , Reuters

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Vershinin said on Friday that Moscow was ready to explore options on grain exports, but that there were no current talks on an alternative to the Black Sea grain deal.

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to help prevent a global food crisis by allowing grain blocked by the conflict in Ukraine to be safely exported from Black Sea ports.

Russia announced it was withdrawing from the deal on Monday.

Russia says it wants option to inspect ships heading to Ukrainian ports

Friday 21 July 2023 14:36 , Reuters

Russia wants to be able to inspect ships bound for Ukrainian Black sea ports if necessary following its withdrawal from the grain deal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Friday.

“We have to make sure that the ship is not carrying something bad, it means a request, inspection, if necessary, to make sure that this is the case or not. I think this is perfectly logical, especially after the terrorist attacks that took place,” Vershinin said.

“There is no longer a maritime humanitarian corridor, now there are, perhaps, zones of increased military danger.”

Russia is working on new grain export routes, diplomat says

Friday 21 July 2023 14:27 , Reuters

Russia is working on new grain export routes, deputy foreign minister Sergei Vershinin said on Friday after Moscow pulled out of the Black Sea grain export deal earlier this week.

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, aimed to help prevent a global food crisis by allowing grain blocked by the war in Ukraine to be safely exported from Black Sea ports.

Russia targets Ukraine's farm storage sites after days of hitting Black Sea port facilities

Friday 21 July 2023 14:19 , AP

Russian cruise missiles destroyed farm storage buildings in the Odesa region early Friday, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow's forces expanded their targets following three days of bombardment of the southern region's Black Sea port infrastructure.

Other Russian missiles damaged what officials described only as an "important infrastructure facility" southwest of the port city of Odesa, in what appeared to be part of an ongoing effort to cripple Ukraine's food exports.

Attacks in recent days have put Odesa in Russia's crosshairs after Moscow abandoned a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.

In the attack on the storage site, two of the low-flying cruise missiles hit initially and started a blaze, and then another struck during firefighting efforts, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said. The barrage injured two people, damaged equipment and destroyed 100 metric tons of peas and 20 metric tons of barley, Kiper said.

Russia targeted Ukrainian critical grain export infrastructure after vowing to retaliate for an attack that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Russian diplomat accuses Ukraine of using Black Sea grain corridor for 'terrorist attacks’

Friday 21 July 2023 14:00 , William Mata

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Vershinin on Friday accused Ukraine of using a grain export corridor in the Black Sea to launch “terrorist attacks” against Russian interests, including on the Crimean Bridge earlier this week.

Vershinin was speaking at a briefing about Russia’s decision to quit the Black Sea grain deal.

Iran says EU sanctions linked to Russia's war in Ukraine are 'politically motivated'

Friday 21 July 2023 13:56 , Reuters

Iran "reserves the right for reciprocal and proportional action" after the European Union imposed new sanctions over Tehran's support for Russia's war on Ukraine, its foreign ministry said on Friday.

The ministry again denied Iran was sending drones to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.

The European Union said on Thursday it would prohibit the export of components used in the construction and production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

It also listed six Iranian nationals under two already existing sanctions regimes for Iran's "military support of Russia's war against Ukraine (drones) and to the Syrian regime (air defense systems)".

Germany, NATO 'prepared to support Poland in defending eastern flank’

Friday 21 July 2023 13:38 , Reuters

Germany and NATO are prepared to support Poland in defending its eastern flank, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said in Prague on Friday.

"Where the Polish partners need support, they will receive it," Pistorius said at a press conference with his Czech counterpart in Prague. "They are Nato partners and reliable Nato allies, so we can confidently say that we are prepared."

The comment comes after Poland's security committee decided to move military units to the country's east due to the Wagner Group's presence in Belarus, according to a report by Poland's state-run news agency PAP.

Johnson ‘sad’ to see former ambassador go

Friday 21 July 2023 13:18 , William Mata

Former prime minister Boris Johnson said he was "sad" to see Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain go.

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Vadym Prystaiko on Friday.

A presidential order gave no reason for the dismissal but said Prystaiko had also been removed as Ukraine‘s representative to the International Maritime Organization.

On Twitter, Mr Johnson called him a "great Ukrainian ambassador and friend to this country".

"I hope he will emerge soon in another incarnation!" Mr Johnson added.

Putin gives chilling warning to Poland as Moscow ready to defend Belarus

Friday 21 July 2023 13:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused NATO member Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russia‘s neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia.

Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus, which forms a loose “Union State” with Russia, “with all the means at our disposal”, Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks.

Warsaw’s Security Committee decided on Wednesday to move military units to eastern Poland after members of the Russian Wagner mercenary force arrived in Belarus, the state-run news agency PAP quoted its secretary as saying on Friday.

On Wednesday, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was shown in a video welcoming his fighters to Belarus, telling them they would take no further part for now in the war in Ukraine but ordering them to gather strength for Africa while they trained the Belarusian army.

Russian investigators detain pro-war nationalist and Putin critic Igor Girkin

Friday 21 July 2023 12:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian investigators have detained prominent Russian nationalist Igor Girkin, his wife said on Friday, a move which suggests authorities may have wearied of his criticism of how Moscow is running its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Girkin, who is also known as Igor Strelkov, helped Russia annex Crimea in 2014 and then organise pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine.

A former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, he said earlier this year that he was entering politics and has been increasingly critical of President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu over what he has called the incompetent way Moscow is running what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

In a message posted on Girkin’s official Telegram account, his wife, Miroslava Reginskaya, said:

“Today, at about 11.30, representatives of the Investigative Committee came to our house. I was not at home. Soon, according to the concierge, they took my husband out by his arms and in an unknown direction.”

She said friends had told her that Girkin had been charged with extremism.

“I do not know anything about my husband’s whereabouts, he has not contacted me,” she said.

There was no immediate comment from the authorities.

Putin says Moscow would regard any aggression against Belarus as attack on Russia

Friday 21 July 2023 11:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russia‘s neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered aggression against Russia.

Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus “with all means at our disposal”, Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks.

Russia hits Ukraine's grain for fourth day and practises seizing ships in Black Sea

Friday 21 July 2023 11:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia pounded Ukrainian food export facilities for a fourth day in a row on Friday and practised seizing ships in the Black Sea in an escalation of what Western leaders say is an attempt to wriggle out of sanctions by threatening a global food crisis.

The direct attacks on Ukraine‘s grain, a key part of the global food chain, followed a vow by Kyiv to defy Russia‘s naval blockade on its grain export ports following Moscow’s withdrawal this week from a UN-brokered safe sea corridor agreement.

“Unfortunately, the grain terminals of an agricultural enterprise in Odesa region were hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley,” regional governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app.

Two people had been injured, he said. Photographs released by the emergencies ministry showed a fire burning among crumpled metal buildings that appeared to be storehouses, and a badly damaged fire-fighting vehicle.

Belarus Red Cross sparks outcry after its chief says it brought Ukrainian children to Belarus

Friday 21 July 2023 10:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Belarus Red Cross has sparked international outrage after its chief told Belarusian state television that the organization is actively involved in bringing Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied areas to Belarus.

Both Ukraine and the Belarusian opposition have decried the transfer as unlawful deportations, and there have been calls for international war crimes charges for the authoritarian Belarus leader, similar to the charges against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The actions of the Belarus Red Cross drew stern criticism from the International Federation of Red and Red Crescent Societies.

Belarus Red Cross sparks outcry after its chief says it brought Ukrainian children to Belarus

Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin? The Wagner Group mercenary chief who rebelled against Putin

Friday 21 July 2023 09:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Once a low-profile businessman who profitted from having Russian president Vladimir Putin as a powerful patron, Yevgeny Prigozhin has moved into the global spotlight since the onset of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Now the owner of the Kremlin-allied Wagner Group, the mercenary force seen fighting some of the Russian military’s toughest battles in Ukraine, most notably the drawn-out pursuit of Bakhmut, the 62-year-old has since stepped into his most dangerous role yet: preaching open rebellion against his country’s military leadership.

On Friday 23 June, Mr Prigozhin finally escalated what had been months of scathing criticism of Russia’s conduct of the war when he called for an armed uprising to oust Russia’s defence minister.

Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?

Zelensky dismisses Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain

Friday 21 July 2023 09:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Vadym Prystaiko as Ukraine‘s ambassador to Britain on Friday.

A presidential order gave no reason for the dismissal but said Prystaiko had also been removed as Ukraine‘s representative to the International Maritime Organization.

Britain has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since Russia‘s invasion last year.

Wagner mercenaries training Belarus special forces just miles from border with Nato-member Poland

Friday 21 July 2023 09:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In case you missed it...

Wagner mercenaries are training Belarusian special forces just a few miles from the border with Nato-member Poland.

Warsaw said that it was ready for “various scenarios as the situation develops” – having started moving around 1,000 of its own troops towards the border earlier this month.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was shown in a video on Wednesday welcoming his fighters to Belarus, telling them they would take no further part in the Ukraine war for now but ordering them to gather their strength for Africa while they trained the Belarusian army.

Mr Prigozhin, who agreed to move to Belarus as part of a deal to end a mutiny by his forces that rattled Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, said what is happening with Russian forces on the Ukraine frontline is a “disgrace” and that his group wants “no part of it”.

Wagner forces training Belarus troops just miles from border with Nato-member Poland

Russia steps up assault on Ukraine’s ports and threatens attack on ships

Friday 21 July 2023 08:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia has stepped up its assault on Ukraine’s ports with a third night of air strikes and a threat it is now treating all ships heading for those ports as potential military targets.

Saying that Moscow was deliberately turning the Black Sea into a “danger zone”, Kyiv responded in kind by announcing that from Friday, ships heading for Russian ports – or Russian-occupied ports in Ukraine – would be treated in the same way, as if they are carrying weapons or other military cargo.

Washington called Russia’s threat a signal that Moscow might attack civilian shipping and said Moscow was also releasing new mines into the sea. “We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge had said.

Our international editor Chris Stevenson has more:

Russia steps up assault on Ukraine’s ports and threatens attack on ships

Russia hits grain terminals in southern Ukraine

Friday 21 July 2023 08:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian missiles hit grain terminals at an agricultural enterprise in the Odesa region in a fourth successive night of air strikes on southern Ukraine, the regional governor said on Friday.

But Russia‘s attacks appeared less intense than on the three previous nights, when missiles and drones struck southern cities and ports after Moscow quit a U.N.-brokered deal allowing safe shipments of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

Odesa’s regional governor, Oleh Kiper, said two people had been hurt in the attack on an agricultural enterprise but did not say where in the region the enterprise was located.

“Unfortunately, the grain terminals of an agricultural enterprise in Odesa region were hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley,” he said on the Telegram messaging app.

Kiper said Russia had attacked with Kalibr cruise missiles that were fired from the Black Sea at low altitude to bypass air defence systems.

He said two missiles hit the grain storage facilities, causing a fire. Another missile struck the same enterprise as the blaze was being extinguished, damaging agricultural and rescue equipment.

Russia seeks another 20 years in prison for jailed Putin critic Navalny

Friday 21 July 2023 08:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian prosecutors have called for Vladimir Putin‘s most prominent critic, Alexei Navalny, to be jailed for a further 20 years on extremism charges.

The 47-year-old has been on trial behind closed doors for a month at the IK-6 penal colony in Melekhovo, about 145 miles (235km) east of Moscow, where he is already serving sentences totalling more than 11 years on fraud and other charges which are widely seen as being trumped up to silence him.

In his closing statement released by his team, Mr Navalny bashed Russian authorities as being governed by “bargaining, power, bribery, deception, treachery... and not law.” Mr Navalny said: “Anyone in Russia knows that a person who seeks justice in a court of law is completely vulnerable. The case of that person is hopeless.”

Russia seeks another 20 years in prison for jailed Putin critic Navalny

Ukraine’s Zelensky calls for spending restraint, minister offers to resign

Friday 21 July 2023 07:28 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his government on Thursday to keep a tight rein on spending in wartime, in a call that resulted in his culture minister, a proponent of several high-profile and costly projects, offering his resignation.

“In a time of war like this the maximum amount of state attention and therefore state resources should go to defence,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address, referring to a conversation he had earlier with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

He told Shmyhal to find alternative funding for projects “that are really necessary. This applies to various areas, including culture. Museums, cultural centres, symbols, television series are important, but we have other priorities.”

Zelensky, who was a television comedy star before entering politics, said he had appealed to local councils to show restraint so that “people feel that budget resources are used fairly and correctly...Cobblestones, city decorations, fountains will have to wait. Victory first.”

And he asked Shmyhal to “consider replacing” Culture and Information Policy Minister Olexander Tkachenko.

Within an hour, Tkachenko said he had tendered his resignation, while remaining unapologetic about his projects.

“Culture in wartime is important as this war is not just about territory but also people - our memory, history, language and creativity despite the war,” Tkachenko, who headed a television channel before entering politics, wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine ambassador to UK grilled by Kyiv after criticising Zelensky in Amazon row

Friday 21 July 2023 07:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine’s ambassador in London has caused deep consternation in Kyiv after publicly criticising Volodymyr Zelensky’s conduct in a row with British defence secretary Ben Wallace, according to diplomatic sources.

Vadym Prystaiko, who has been a key point of contact for the British government during the Ukraine war, accused Mr Zelensky of “unhealthy sarcasm” in his response to Mr Wallace saying Kyiv should not view the UK and Western allies as an “Amazon” delivery service.

The Independent has been told that there were subsequently “very strong” telephone conversations between Mr Prystaiko and the government in Kyiv.

Kim Sengupta reports.

Ukraine ambassador to UK grilled by Kyiv after criticising Zelensky in Amazon row

Russian navy conducts live fire exercise in Black Sea

Friday 21 July 2023 06:59 , Shweta Sharma

Russia’s defence ministry said that its navy conducted a live fire “exercise” in the northwest region of the Black Sea.

This exercise took place just days after the Kremlin stated that ships passing through the waterway to Ukraine could be seen as potential military targets.

During the exercise, the Black Sea Fleet engaged in live firing of anti-ship cruise missiles at a target ship within the combat training range in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

“The target ship was destroyed as a result of a missile strike,” it said.

“Also during the joint exercise, the ships and fleet aviation worked out actions to isolate the area temporarily closed to navigation, and also carried out a set of measures to detain the offending ship.”

Russia says military plane exposed to F-16s over Syria

Friday 21 July 2023 06:44 , Shweta Sharma

A Russian military aircraft was exposed to “the guidance systems” of F-16 fighter jets of the US-led coalition during a routine patrol over Syria’s southern border, according to a military official quoted in Tass.

Rear Admiral Oleg Gurinov, who serves as the deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Centre for Syria, said the F-16s “affected” the Russian aircraft with their guidance systems. He provided no further details.

Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015, tipping the balance in president Bashar Al-Assad’s favour. Moscow has since expanded its military facilities in the country with a permanent air base and also has a naval base.

The US is leading a coalition against the Isis militant group and has carried out airstrikes in Syria this year.

Mr Gurinov also made fresh accusations that the pilots of the coalition had violated Syrian airspace several times over the past day.

Russia launched 70 missiles and nearly 90 Shahed drones in four days, Zelensky says

Friday 21 July 2023 06:17 , Shweta Sharma

Russia has launched nearly 70 missiles and 90 Shahed drones in the Ukrainian cities of Odesa, Mykolaiv and others during the span of just four days, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“Of course, our warriors managed to shoot down some of the enemy missiles and drones, and I thank each of our defenders of the sky for this,” he said.

“But unfortunately, the capacity of Ukrainian air defence is not yet enough to protect the entire Ukrainian sky.”

He said Ukraine is “working with our partners as actively as possible to obtain additional air defence systems”.

Crimea bridge linking mainland Russia temporarily closed

Friday 21 July 2023 05:56 , Shweta Sharma

The Crimean bridge that links to mainland Russia was temporarily closed late yesterday after air raid alarms went off following a reported Ukrainian strike, according to Russian news agencies.

The bridge was reopened for traffic shortly afterwards but no further details were provided.

On Monday, a Russian couple was killed and their 14-year-old daughter wounded in what Moscow said was a Ukrainian attack that knocked out the road part of the bridge linking Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

It was the second time in a week that the bridge had to be closed.

The bridge was also closed on Monday after aid raid sirens were activated.

US-cluster bombs deployed in Ukraine, Kirby says

Friday 21 July 2023 05:39 , Shweta Sharma

Ukraine is now in possession of US-supplied cluster munitions, which they have deployed in their battle against Russia, according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

Mr Kirby said the Ukrainians have provided positive feedback, stating that they are utilizing these munitions effectively in the field.

“We have gotten some initial feedback from the Ukrainians, and they’re using them quite effectively,” Mr Kirby said at a news briefing.

The cluster munitions are reportedly impacting Russian defensive formations and maneuvering.

Ukraine has made a commitment to use the banned cluster bombs solely for the purpose of displacing concentrations of Russian enemy soldiers.

Cluster munitions are banned in over 100 countries due to their potential to cause indiscriminate casualties over a wide area. Unexploded bomblets from these munitions also pose a threat for many years after they are deployed.

Both sides involved in the conflict, Ukraine and Russia, have accused each other of using cluster bombs since the conflict began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Putin buying time to strike back Wagner group leader, says CIA chief

Friday 21 July 2023 04:26 , Shweta Sharma

Russian president Vladimir Putin is likely buying time while working out how best to seek revenge against Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prighozin, CIA director William Burns said.

Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Mr Burns said the rebellion last month by the mercenary group exposed significant weaknesses in Mr Putin’s projected power on the world stage.

“What we are seeing is a very complicated dance,” the CIA chief said on Thursday.

“Putin is someone who generally thinks that revenge is a dish best served cold,” Mr Burns said. “In my experience, Putin is the ultimate apostle of payback so I would be surprised if Prigozhin escapes further retribution.”

Joe Biden earlier speculated that Mr Prigozhin could be poisoned, saying: “If I were he I’d be careful what I ate. I’d keep my eye on my menu.”

Mr Burns shared similar concerns, saying: “If I were Prigozhin, I wouldn’t fire my food taster.”

New round of US sanction target Russia’s ‘access to battlefield supplies'

Friday 21 July 2023 04:12 , Shweta Sharma

The US on Thursday imposed a new round of sanctions against 120 people and entities to block Russia’s access to electronic and other goods that aid its war against Ukraine, the Treasury and State Department announced.

The new measures were designed to “reduce Russia’s revenue from the metals and mining sector, undermine its future energy capabilities and degrade Russia’s access to the international financial system,” the Treasury said.

“Today’s actions represent another step in our efforts to constrain Russia’s military capabilities, its access to battlefield supplies, and its economic bottom line,” deputy treasury secretary Wally Adeyemo said in the statement.

Russia’s embassy in Washington denounced the sanctions as “endless attacks” by US president Joe Biden’s administration “in the context of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against our country”.

The White House’s “destructive actions” confirmed Russia’s policy of boosting its “defence capability and financial and technological sovereignty” and leave no alternative “to speeding up the process of decoupling the dollar from worldwide economic relations,” an embassy statement said.

Sanctions were imposed on people, including a Russian and a North Korean national – Yong Hyok Rim – linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary organisation, for helping to supply munitions to Russia.

Two other private Russian military companies were targeted, including Okhrana, owned by Kremlin-controlled energy company Gazprom.

Ukrainian minister quits as Zelensky orders restraint on spending in wartime

Friday 21 July 2023 03:57 , Shweta Sharma

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged his government on Thursday to show restraint over spending in wartime so the country can focus more resources on the defence department.

The call prompted his culture minister, who is a proponent of several high-profile and costly projects, to offer his resignation.

“In a time of war like this the maximum amount of state attention and therefore state resources should go to defence,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address, referring to a conversation he had earlier with prime minister Denys Shmyhal.

He told Mr Shmyhal to find alternative funding for projects “that are really necessary. This applies to various areas, including culture. Museums, cultural centres, symbols, television series are important, but we have other priorities.”

He said he had appealed to local councils to show restraint so that “people feel that budget resources are used fairly and correctly... Cobblestones, city decorations, fountains will have to wait. Victory first.”

And he asked Mr Shmyhal to “consider replacing” culture and information policy minister Olexander Tkachenko.

Within an hour, Mr Tkachenko said he had tendered his resignation, while remaining unapologetic about his projects.

“Culture in wartime is important as this war is not just about territory but also people – our memory, history, language and creativity despite the war,” Mr Tkachenko, who headed a television channel before entering politics, wrote on Telegram.

“Private and state funding for culture in wartime is no less important than for drones. Culture is the shield for our identity and our borders.”

Cluster munitions in Ukrainian hands, being deployed in field -White House

Friday 21 July 2023 00:00 , William Mata

US-supplied cluster munitions are in Ukrainian hands and being deployed in the field as part of Kyiv’s battle against Russia, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, the country imposed sanctions on roughly 120 firms and people from Russia to the United Arab Emirates to Kyrgyzstan in an effort to choke off Moscow's access to products, money and financial channels that support its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine and Pakistan call for restoring the Black Sea grain deal after talks in Islamabad

Thursday 20 July 2023 23:00 , William Mata

The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Pakistan called Thursday for the restoration of the Black Sea grain initiative to ensure global food security, days after Russia halted the wartime deal that had allowed grain to flow from Ukraine.

The two sides made the demand at a news conference after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after arriving on his first visit to the Islamic nation.

Kuleba also met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a government statement. It quoted Sharif saying that the conflict in Ukraine has had a significant global impact that has hurt the economies of many countries.

US sanctions 120 firms and people from Russia to UAE to weaken Moscow’s access to products

Thursday 20 July 2023 22:00 , William Mata

The US has imposed sanctions on roughly 120 firms and people from Russia to the United Arab Emirates to Kyrgyzstan in an effort to choke off Moscow's access to products, money and financial channels that support its invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctions imposed by the Treasury and State departments target dozens of Russian mining, technology and munitions firms and commercial banks.

In addition, a group of Kyrgyzstan-based electronics firms and its leadership were targeted as exporters of components and other technology to Russia.

A UAE-based engineering company that sent dozens of shipments of electronics to Russia was also sanctioned.

The latest sanctions build on those imposed on Russia when the US and other G7 nations rolled out a wave of global actions during a Japan summit in May.

"Since Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States, working with our allies and partners, has taken unprecedented steps to impose costs on Russia and promote accountability for the individuals and entities who support its illegal war," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"We will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," he said.

Russia imposes travel restrictions on UK diplomats

Thursday 20 July 2023 21:00 , AP

Russia on Thursday imposed travel restrictions on most British diplomats in the country, a practice reminiscent of the Soviet Union's tight control over the movement of foreigners.

The Foreign Ministry summoned UK charge d'affaires Tom Dodd to announce the policy, saying it was "a response to the hostile actions of London, including hindering the normal functioning of Russian overseas missions in the UK."

The ministry also said it upbraided Dodd for the UK's support of "the terrorist actions of the Kyiv regime." Britain is among the countries most strongly supporting Ukraine in the fighting with Russia.

Under the restrictions, most UK diplomatic personnel will be required to give Russia five days' notice of intent to travel out a 120-kilometer (75-mile) radius and to state the purpose of the trip, the route, accommodations and planned contacts.

The ambassador, the consuls in Moscow and the deputy chief of mission are exempt from the order.

Russia has no plans to attack civilian ships in Black Sea - ambassador

Thursday 20 July 2023 20:30 , William Mata

Russia is not preparing to attack civilian ships in the Black Sea despite assertions by the United States, Russia's ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, said on Thursday, in comments posted by his embassy.

On Wednesday, Moscow said it would deem all ships travelling to Ukrainian ports to be potential carriers of military cargo and their flag countries to be parties to the conflict on the Ukrainian side, after quitting a year-old deal to give ships exporting Ukrainian grain safe passage despite the war.

Commenting on the decision, White House said Russia may expand its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea.

Russia has still not granted IAEA access to Zaporizhzhia reactor roofs

Thursday 20 July 2023 20:00 , William Mata

Russia has still not let the UN nuclear watchdog's team at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine have access to the rooftops of the occupied plant's reactors, the agency said on Thursday as it follows up on Ukrainian accusations of foul play.

"International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have carried out additional inspections and walkdowns at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) over the past week.

“So far without observing any heavy military equipment, explosives or mines, but they are still awaiting access to the rooftops of the reactor buildings," the IAEA said in a statement.

US ‘deeply concerned’ about Russian attacks

Thursday 20 July 2023 19:30 , William Mata

The United States is “deeply concerned” about Russian attacks in the Black Sea, the White House said Thursday.

“We’re deeply concerned about what we’re seeing in the Black Sea right now”, Olivia Dalton, White House deputy press secretary, told reporters on Air Force One, citing three straight days of Russian attacks on port cities and indications Russia could attack civilian ships in the area.

EU to create dedicated 20 billion Euros section for Ukraine defence

Thursday 20 July 2023 19:00 , Reuters

The European Union will provide up to five billion euros ($5.57 billion) a year for the next four years for Ukraine's defence needs via the means of a "dedicated section" under the European Peace facility, the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said on Thursday.

“It's still the same tool, the European Peace facility, which has been working very well and we will continue using it but with a dedicated chapter inside it, with a specific funding which can be estimated on the figures I mentioned," Mr Borrell told reporters during a press conference after convening with EU member states' foreign ministers.

Tinkoff investigating impact of US and Canadian sanctions

Thursday 20 July 2023 18:30 , William Mata

Tinkoff has said it is investigating the impact of US and Canadian sanctions, imposed on Thursday.

The statement comes after Britain removed sanctions on serial entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov on Thursday, days after an appeal by British billionaire Richard Branson and nine months after Tinkov, critical of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, renounced his Russian citizenship.

Britain sanctioned Tinkov, the founder of digital bank Tinkoff, a month after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, naming him as "a prominent Russian businessman" who had been involved in an area of strategic significance to the Russian government.

The United States targeted 18 individuals and dozens of organisations, including Tinkoff Bank, in its latest Russia-related sanctions on Thursday.

Russia steps up assault on Ukraine’s ports and threatens attack on ships

Thursday 20 July 2023 18:00 , William Mata / Chris Stevenson

Russia has stepped up its assault on Ukraine's ports with a third night of air strikes and a threat it is now treating all ships heading for those ports as potential military targets.

Saying that Moscow was deliberately turning the Black Sea into a "danger zone", Kyiv responded in kind by saying that from Friday they would treat ships heading for Russian ports – or Russian-occupied ports in Ukraine – would be treated the same way, as if they are carrying weapons or other military cargo.

Read Chris Stevenson’s story here.

Labour call for Wagner group to be ‘terror’ organisation

Thursday 20 July 2023 17:30 , PA

Senior Labour figures, including shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, have called on the Government to proscribe the Wagner group as a terror organisation for its role in the Ukraine conflict.

Wagner forces played a major part, albeit with reports of heavy casualties during fierce fighting, in capturing the salt mining city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region for Moscow earlier this year.

Ministers have so far refused to proscribe the organisation, pointing instead to the extensive sanctions applied by Britain on the group's leadership.

Downing Street says it is ‘too early’ to say what impact Black Sea grain deal with have on UK

Thursday 20 July 2023 17:00 , William Mata

Downing Street said it was "too early" to say what impact the Russia decision to end the Black Sea grain deal would have on the UK and inflation rates.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Russia pulling out of the grain deal is going to affect vulnerable countries the most."

He added that the UK was "speaking to other partners to seek to find a way forward for this".

Confirmation that three died in attack on southern cities

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:47 , William Mata / Reuters

Three people have been confirmed to have died in an attack on Thursday night in southern Ukrainian port cities which damaged a Chinese consular building.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper posted a photograph showing at least one broken window at the Chinese consulate in the Black Sea city of Odesa, but there was no sign of any other damage.

Beijing, a Russian ally, did not immediately comment on the incident, one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 60,000 tons of agricultural products destined for China had been destroyed in an attack on another Ukrainian port city.

Belarus defence ministry release video said to show joint Wagner drills - video

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:23 , William Mata

The Belarus defence ministry has released a video said to show joint Wagner drills.

Ryanair eyes Ukraine tourism after Russia’s war ends

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ryanair’s boss has pledged to “charge back into Ukraine” once commercial flying reopens and promised investment worth $3 billion in the war-torn country.

Michael O’Leary visited Kyiv on Thursday and said that he soon hoped to reconnect Ukraine’s Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa airports with more than 20 European Union capital cities within eight weeks of the reopening of air space with around 600 weekly flights.

“The fastest way to rebuild and restore the Ukrainian economy will be with low fare air travel,” the chief executive said.

“Ryanair intends to invest heavily in Ukraine and lead this aviation recovery by investing up to $3 billion and basing up to 30 Boeing MAX aircraft at Ukraine’s three main airports in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa.

Ryanair eyes Ukraine tourism after Russia’s war ends

UK sanctions ‘despicable’ Wagner leaders linked to African killings and torture

Thursday 20 July 2023 15:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

UK sanctions have been announced against “despicable” individuals linked to massacre, rape and torture carried out by the Wagner Group across Africa.

Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said the Russian mercenary unit, as well as assisting the Kremlin with its invasion of Ukraine, was “acting with impunity” in countries such as Mali, Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan.

Mr Mitchell on Thursday announced 13 sanctions in a package aimed at individuals and businesses.

Officials said Wagner has operated in Mali, CAR and Sudan for several years where it is “aggressively pursuing Russian foreign policy interests” and providing military support to counter-terrorism operations which have seen hundreds of civilians killed.

UK sanctions ‘despicable’ Wagner leaders linked to African killings and torture

UK removes sanctions on businessman Tinkov after Branson plea

Thursday 20 July 2023 15:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Britain removed sanctions on serial entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov on Thursday, days after an appeal by British billionaire Richard Branson and around nine months after Tinkov, critical of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, had renounced his Russian citizenship.

The United Kingdom sanctioned Tinkov, the founder of digital bank Tinkoff, a month after Russia invaded Ukraine last February, naming him as “a prominent Russian businessman” who had been involved in an area of strategic significance to the Russian government.

Tinkov contested that designation, routinely criticising Russia‘s actions in Ukraine, offloading his stake in Tinkoff Bank and ultimately renouncing his Russian citizenship last October, saying he did not want to be associated with “fascism” or people who collaborate with “killers”.

“I decided to renounce my Russian citizenship after Russia invasion of independent Ukraine,” he wrote on Instagram in November. “I am against this war, and the killing of peaceful people.”

The UK Treasury on Thursday said: “The following entry has been removed from the consolidated list and is no longer subject to an asset freeze or trust services sanctions.”

Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Virgin-founder Branson are among the high-profile figures to have come out in support of Tinkov.

The Times on Monday quoted Branson as writing: “I feel strongly that Mr Tinkov has been wrongly included on the list of sanctioned Russians.

“Whilst he was a wealthy Russian businessman he has never been an oligarch. I have always known him as a self-made dynamic entrepreneur. That is why I have liked and supported him and continue to do so.”

The British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office did not immediately comment on further questions about the decision to remove sanctions and whether Branson’s plea had played a role.

Law firm Corker Binning, which represented Tinkov, said it welcomed the FCDO’s decision.

Tinkov’s lawyers said his opposition to the invasion had led Russia‘s government to force him into selling his 35% stake in Tinkoff-owner TCS Group to Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin.

Russia restricts movements of British diplomats in response to 'hostile actions'

Thursday 20 July 2023 14:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia said on Thursday it was imposing restrictions on British diplomats, requiring them to give five days’ notice of any plans to travel beyond a 120-km (75-mile) radius, due to what it called London’s “hostile actions”.

Britain’s chargé d’affaires in Russia was summoned to the foreign ministry in Moscow to be scolded for what Moscow said was support for the “terrorist actions” of Ukraine and for obstruction of Russian diplomacy in Britain.

“The British side was also informed of the decision to introduce a notification procedure for the movement of employees of British diplomatic missions on the territory of our country as a response to London’s hostile actions,” the ministry said.

Britain is one of the loudest cheerleaders for concerted international opposition to what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine, and one of the leading Western suppliers of weaponry to help Ukraine defend itself.

British diplomats, with the exception of the ambassador and three other senior diplomats, will be required to send notification of any plans to travel beyond the 120-km (75-mile) “free movement zone” at least five working days ahead.

“Such a document should contain information about the timing, purpose, type of trip, planned business contacts, accompanying persons, type of transport, places of visit and accommodation, as well as the route of the trip,” the ministry said.

Ukraine: ships on way to Russian ports to be considered potential carriers of military cargo

Thursday 20 July 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine‘s Defence Ministry said on Thursday it would consider all ships travelling to Russian ports and Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea occupied by Moscow as potential carriers of military cargo from July 21.

The ministry said in a statement that the Ukrainian armed forces had the means to repel what it called Russian aggression at sea.