Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin event for Victory Day cancelled after Kremlin drone strike

Russia will skip Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day reception this year following the annual parade, with celebrations of 9 May to be marked on a “smaller scale”, Britain’s defence ministry said in its daily intelligence update.

Citing security concerns, the Kremlin has cancelled Victory Day parades in six Russian regions, including occupied Crimea and 21 cities.

“The timing of the UAV strike on the Kremlin a few days before Victory Day shows Russia’s increasing vulnerability to such attacks and has almost certainly raised the threat perception of the Russian leadership over the Victory Day events,” MoD said.

It comes as Ukraine said the Wagner Group’s public video message to Vladimir Putin, threatening to withdraw its troops from the eastern city of Bakhmut, could be a smokescreen before a final push to capture the city before 9 May.

The Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an angry rant at the Russian leadership, saying his men had been starved of ammunition and he would pull them out, jeopardising what has long been Russia’s main target in its attempt to carve up its neighbour.

Key Points

• Ukraine says Wagner group preparing for final Bakhmut push

• Russian mercenary chief Prigozhin says his forces will leave Bakhmut next week

• Moscow’s Victory Day celebration to be muted, British intelligence says

• Ukraine delegate punches Russian at Black Sea nations assembly in Ankara

• Kherson prepares for curfew after Russian bomb attacks

• Wagner chief films dozens of his soldiers dead in a day: ‘Where the f**k is ammunition'

Kyiv says it has downed hypersonic missile

11:00 , Chris Stevenson

Ukraine's air force has claimed to have downed a Russian hypersonic missile over Kyiv – using Patriot defence systems recently acquired from Western allies.

It is the first known time the country has been able to intercept one of Moscow's most modern missiles.

Air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said in a Telegram post that the Kinzhal-type ballistic missile was intercepted in an overnight attack on the Ukrainian capital earlier in the week.

It is also the first time Ukraine is known to have used the Patriot defence systems.

"Yes, we shot down the 'unique' Kinzhal," Mr Oleshchuk wrote. "It happened during the night-time attack on May 4 in the skies of the Kyiv region."

He said the Kh-47 missile was launched by a MiG-31K aircraft from Russian territory and was shot down with a Patriot missile.

The Kinzhal is one of the latest and most advanced Russian weapons. The Russian military says the air-launched ballistic missile has a range of up to 1,250 miles and flies at 10 times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept.

A combination of hypersonic speed and a heavy warhead allows the Kinzhal to destroy heavily fortified targets like underground bunkers or mountain tunnels.

The Ukrainian military has previously admitted lacking assets to intercept the Kinzhals.

Russia accused of using phosphorus munitions

12:31 , Chris Stevenson

Ukraine has accused Russia of using phosphorous munitions in its attempt to win control of the eastern city of Bakhmut.

Russian troops have been trying to take the city for more than nine months, but Ukrainian forces are clinging to positions on the western edge of the city.

On Saturday, the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper quoted military officials as saying that "the enemy used phosphorus and incendiary ammunition in Bakhmut in an attempt to wipe the city off the face of the Earth".

Russian forces have not commented on the claim but have rejected previous accusations by Ukraine that they used phosphorus.

International law prohibits the use of white phosphorus or other incendiary weapons in areas where there could be concentrations of civilians.

ICYM: Moscow’s Victory Day celebration to be muted after Kremlin strike, British intelligence says

12:00 , Shweta Sharma

Russia will skip Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day reception following the annual parade, with celebrations of 9 May to be marked on a “smaller scale”, Britain’s defence ministry said in its daily intelligence update.

Russia has cancelled Victory Day parades in six Russian regions, including occupied Crimea and 21 cities, citing security concerns.

“Moscow’s Victory Day celebration is likely to go ahead but on a smaller scale. Russian president Vladimir Putin’s reception following the parade (last held in 2019) will not go ahead,” it said.

The defence ministry said that the drone strike on the Kremlin ahead of Victory Day “shows Russia’s increasing vulnerability to such attacks and has almost certainly raised the threat perception of the Russian leadership over the Victory Day events”.

It has also cancelled the traditional March of the Immortal Regiment, where family members display photographs of deceased veterans of the Second World War, associated with Victory Day.

“The potential for protests and discontent over the Ukraine war are also likely to have influenced the calculus of the Russian leadership,” the MoD concluded.

Funeral held in Ukraine for American man killed in action

11:45 , Chris Stevenson

Soldiers from the International Legion of Ukraine said farewell Friday to an American military veteran they served with, who was killed a month ago in the fierce struggle to prevent the eastern city of Bakhmut from falling into Russian hands.

In a funeral service at Kyiv‘s St. Michael’s Cathedral, Ukrainian regular army troops bore the Ukrainian-flag-draped coffin of Chris Campbell while about three dozen members of the International Legion looked on.

After folding the flag, they presented it to Ivanna Sanina, Campbell’s Ukrainian wife.

Funeral held in Ukraine for American man killed in action

ICYM: Wagner chief films dozens of his soldiers died in a day: ‘Where the f**k is ammunition'

11:30 , Shweta Sharma

Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin shared a video purporting to show dozens of his soldiers being killed in the past 24 hours as he abused the Russian defence leadership for not providing the private military group with ammunition.

The two-minute-long video shared on the press service channel of Prigozhin in the early hours of yesterday showed him standing next to three or four rows of dead mercenary forces as he abused defence minister Sergei Shoigu and Russian chief of staff Valery Gerasimov.

Several social media accounts shared the video in which Mr Prigozhin is heard shouting: “Shoigu, Gerasimov, where the f**k is ammunition”.

He is seen flashing a light on the deceased mercenary fighters who he claimed died in just a 24-hour span yesterday, blaming their deaths on Moscow for not giving ample ammunition.

Russia dropping phosphorus bombs on Bakhmut, Ukraine says

11:24 , Shweta Sharma

Ukraine has accused Russia of using phosphorus bombs in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

The Ukrainian defence ministry released drone footage purportedly showing huge parts of a city on fire.

It said the blazes were caused by white phosphorus rain dropping down on the city, a weapon that leads to fast-spreading fires.

The use of white phosphorus is not in itself banned but dropping it in civilian areas amounts to a war crime.

In a tweet, the defence ministry said Russia’s phosphorus attack targeted “unoccupied areas of Bakhmut with incendiary ammunition”.

Kherson in photos as weekend curfew begins

10:30 , Shweta Sharma

Some residents left the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in cars and buses on Friday, and others stocked up on groceries, before the start of an unusually long weekend curfew.

The announcement of the curfew, to last from Friday evening to Monday morning, has prompted speculation in Kherson that the city is about to be used as a launch point for Ukraine’s long-awaited counterattack.

Russian attacks kill 5 civilians in Donetsk Oblast over past 24 hours

10:00 , Shweta Sharma

At least five people have lost their lives and three were injured in attacks by the Russian army in Donetsk Oblast over the past 24 hours, governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

Five people were also injured in Sumy Oblast, where two guided bombs launched from theaRussian Su-35 jet struck the Hlukhiv community, Ukraine’s Northern Operational Command reported.

Curfew kicks off in Kherson as Kyiv prepares for counter-offensive

09:30 , Shweta Sharma

A weekend curfew beginning from Friday evening to Monday morning has prompted speculation in Kherson city that it could be used as a launch point for counter-attack.

Residents of the southern Ukrainian city left in cars and buses before the curfew began and others stocked up groceries.

Senol Gezer, a 56-year-old man originally from Turkey, said he and his wife were going to a hotel in nearby Odesa. “We are not afraid. We do not want to sit at home. We have time to leave,” he told Reuters.

“The authorities say they will clean up the collaborators (accused of cooperating with the Russians). But that is what the authorities are saying. I think something big is about to start soon. These are preparations for that, most likely.”

People will not be allowed to enter or exit the city during the curfew and residents have been asked to not go outside their homes.

Poland summons Russian ambassador over assassination comment

09:00 , Shweta Sharma

The Polish foreign ministry summoned the Russian ambassador in protest on Friday after a former Russian official suggested that it would be acceptable to assassinate Poland’s ambassador to Russia.

Pavel Astakhov, Russia’s children’s ombudsman from 2009 to 2016, spoke on a television programme hosted by Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov.

He was being interviewed after Polish authorities took over a school building in Warsaw on Saturday that was serving the children of Russian diplomats and the military.

Mr Astakhov argued that murdering an ambassador in retaliation “for unfriendly actions ... is within the framework of international law,” adding: “I was taught this well at the KGB school at the counterintelligence faculty.”

Poland’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it had summoned Mr Andreev and handed him a protest note about Mr Astakhov’s statement “calling for the murder of the ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Moscow”.

“The Polish side protested firmly against this situation and urged that criminal proceedings be instituted immediately and the perpetrator be punished without delay,” spokesman Lukasz Jasina said.

Firefighter who delivered life-saving equipment for Ukraine recalls ‘humbling’ experience

08:30 , Shweta Sharma

A firefighter who was part of a convoy of fire engines and lorries delivering life-saving equipment for Ukraine has described the experience as “very humbling” after reaching Poland.

Darren Cleaves, station manager for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, was in Poland to help deliver fire engines as well as life-saving equipment for Ukrainian firefighters.

“It’s been a very humbling experience because knowing that the small difference we can make to help (firefighters in Ukraine) is really rewarding for us,” the 48-year-old from Monmonth told the PA News agency.

“It has been quite challenging - the logistics behind it in terms of keeping our team of over 80 people fed, watered, truck refuelled, and dealing with maintenance issues, but we’ve managed to overcome all of those.”

Mr Cleaves is part of the biggest party of the convoy with 24 drivers from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

“On behalf of the convoy, everyone is very humbled and overwhelmed by the whole experience and I’m proud to be part of this small aid effort in helping Ukrainian firefighters.”

Moscow’s Victory Day celebration to be muted after Kremlin strike, British intelligence says

08:28 , Shweta Sharma

Russia will skip Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day reception following the annual parade, with celebrations of 9 May to be marked on a “smaller scale”, Britain’s defence ministry said in its daily intelligence update.

Russia has cancelled Victory Day parades in six Russian regions, including occupied Crimea and 21 cities, citing security concerns.

“Moscow’s Victory Day celebration is likely to go ahead but on a smaller scale. Russian president Vladimir Putin’s reception following the parade (last held in 2019) will not go ahead,” it said.

The defence ministry said that the drone strike on the Kremlin ahead of Victory Day “shows Russia’s increasing vulnerability to such attacks and has almost certainly raised the threat perception of the Russian leadership over the Victory Day events”.

It has also cancelled the traditional March of the Immortal Regiment, where family members display photographs of deceased veterans of the Second World War, associated with Victory Day.

“The potential for protests and discontent over the Ukraine war are also likely to have influenced the calculus of the Russian leadership,” the MoD concluded.

Don’t expect an end to sabotage and retribution during the war in Ukraine

08:00 , Shweta Sharma

Ukraine’s “attempt to assassinate Vladimir Putin” in the early hours of Wednesday was followed by a barrage of Russian strikes on Thursday. Some of the missiles that landed in Odessa were inscribed “For the Kremlin” and “For Moscow”.

What unfolded was in line with the two opposing narratives from Moscow and Kyiv – that Ukraine tried to kill the Russian president in the Kremlin using drones; or that it was a false flag operation by the Russians to justify another round of assaults on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Russia has accused the US of being the real architect of the Moscow raid. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said: “We are well aware that decisions on such actions, on such terrorist attacks, are not made in Kyiv, but in Washington, and Kyiv is doing what it is told to do. It is very important that in Washington they understand that we know this, and understand how dangerous such direct participation in the conflict is.”

The Independent’s Kim Sengupta writes.

Don’t expect an end to sabotage and retribution during the Ukraine war | Kim Sengupta

China ready for ‘political resolution of the Ukrainian crisis’ jointly with Russia

07:30 , Shweta Sharma

China is ready to assist and “promote peace talks” in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang said following bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart in India.

The two met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in India’s coastal city of Goa.

“China will persistently assist and promote peace talks. We are ready to make a practical contribution into the political resolution of the Ukrainian crisis through contacts and coordination with Russia,” a statement by the Chinese defence ministry quoting Mr Gang said.

“China and Russia have been maintaining active contacts at all levels, promoting cooperation in all directions,” he added.

The two sides hailed their growing closer relationship and Beijing said it is ready to “intensify strategic contacts with Russia, to strengthen and deepen cooperation in all areas.”

Zelensky says world has ‘historic responsibility’ to prosecute Putin for war crimes

07:00 , Shweta Sharma

Vladimir Putin has to face justice for war crimes in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has declared during a visit to The Hague – the home of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“We all want to see a different Vladimir here in The Hague, the one who deserves to be sanctioned for his criminal actions here, in the capital of international law,” the Ukrainian president said, referring to the Russian leader. “The aggressor must feel the full power of justice. This is our historical responsibility.” Mr Zelensky added that he was sure “we will see that happen when we win... and we will win”.

In March, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mr Putin over the suspected deportation of children from Ukraine, which is a war crime. Russia, not a member of the ICC, has called the charges meaningless but the warrant does make Mr Putin’s foreign trips more difficult – with nations signed up to the court obliged to obey.

Zelensky says it is a ‘historic responsibility’ to prosecute Putin for war crimes

Ukraine says Wagner group reinforcing to seize Bakhmut before Victory Day after withdrawal claims

06:30 , Shweta Sharma

Ukraine has suggested that Wagner Group’s warning to withdraw troops from the eastern city of Bakhmut over a lack of military support from Moscow could be a smokescreen for redeployment.

Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said that Russia is trying “with all its might” to capture Bakhmut by 9 May when it will hold a Victory Day parade in the Red Square of Moscow.

She said Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries are being reinforced and replaced with paratrooper assault units.

She claimed that Wagner ammunition storage facilities were destroyed in Ukrainian artillery fire.

Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children ‘may amount to crime against humanity’: OSCE

06:00 , Shweta Sharma

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) says that the mass deportation of Ukrainian children in Russian-occupied territory would amount to a crime against humanity.

“The Mission concluded that numerous and overlapping violations of the rights of the children deported to the Russian Federation have taken place.” the report said.

“Not only has the Russian Federation manifestly violated the best interests of these children repeatedly, it has also denied their right to identity, their right to family, their right to unite with their family,” it added.

More than 19,000 children have been taken to Russia, according to Ukrainian national database, as thousands remain unaccounted for. So far 364 Ukrainian children were able to return to their homes after being forcibly relocated by Russia, it said.

The 90-page report also said Moscow “violated their rights to education, access to information, right to rest, leisure, play, recreation and participation in cultural life and arts as well as right to thought, conscience, and religion, right to health, and the right to liberty and security.”

Lavrov says Russia will respond to drone attack with ‘concrete actions'

05:30 , Shweta Sharma

Addressing a group of reporters in India, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said they will respond to the alleged Ukrainian drone strike on the Kremlin with “concrete actions”.

“It was clearly a hostile act, it is clear that the Kyiv terrorists could not have committed it without the knowledge of their masters,” Mr Lavrov told a press conference in India.

“We will not respond by talking about ‘casus belli’ or not, we will respond with concrete actions,” he said.

Mr Lavrov arrived in the coastal state of Goa on Thursday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Summit which was chaired by India.

According to Tass, he said SCO colleagues condemned the attack and said it is now impossible to resolve the Ukrainian issue by “freezing” the line of engagement in Donbas.

Engineers reduce risk of dam bursting near Russian-held Ukraine nuclear plant

05:00 , Shweta Sharma

Engineers have reduced the risk of a dam bursting and damaging the large Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine, a senior Russian official was quoted as saying by Tass news agency on Friday.

Renat Karchaa, an adviser to the general director of the energy engineering firm Rosenergoatom, said specialists had begun discharging water from the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam on the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine.

“As we anticipated, a technical solution to the problem has been found,” Mr Karchaa told Tass, quoting regional officials in Kherson region, where the dam is located.

“A gate of the Kakhovka hydropower plant has been opened and repair works have begun at the Kakhovka canal. Pumps and pipes are being repaired. Water is being discharged. The risks of flooding have reduced considerably.”

The risk would be eliminated once water levels returned to normal, Mr Karchaa said.

He had earlier told Tass that a possible breach of the dam owing to high water levels could flood the cable line for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant further east and cause nuclear safety risks. Nearby towns could also be affected.

Ukraine’s prosecutor general records 84,500 Russian war crimes

04:30 , Shweta Sharma

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said it has recorded over 84,500 Russian war crimes in Ukraine since the war began.

Russian forces have committed 84,764 war crimes and crimes of aggression in Ukraine since launching the invasion of the country, it added.

It said it has already analyzed more than 7,000 photo and video files and identified around 150 individuals involved in these crimes.

Ukrainian PM thank King Charles for ‘unwavering support’ on eve of coronation

03:54 , Shweta Sharma

Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska and prime minister Denys Shmyhal who arrived in England for the coronation thanked the King for his solidarity with the country.

The pair was hosted by King Charles and other royals along with other heads of state from around the world at a Buckingham Palace reception on the eve of the coronation.

King Charles offered Ukraine his "unwavering support" when he met Ukrainian leaders.

Mr Shmyhal said on Twitter: "It is a special honour to attend the reception of His Majesty King Charles III ahead of coronation.

"We received assurances from His Majesty that (Ukrainian) people will have unwavering support until the final victory. Grateful for the solidarity."

In March, King Charles visited Berlin where he met with Ukrainians who had been forced to flee the country.

He told them "I’m praying for you" after condemning the "unimaginable suffering" caused by Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of their homeland.

Russia's Wagner boss threatens Bakhmut pullout in Ukraine

03:30 , Eleanor Noyce

In case you missed it...

The owner of Russia’s Wagner Group military contractor threatened Friday to pull his troops out of the protracted battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut next week, accusing Russia’s military command of starving his forces of ammunition and causing them heavy losses.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a notorious millionaire with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed that Wagner had planned to capture Bakhmut by May 9. That day is a major Russian holiday marking the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II.

But, Prigozhin said, his force hasn’t received enough artillery ammunition supplies from the Russian military since Monday. Known for his bluster, Prigozhin has previously made unverifiable claims and made threats he hasn’t carried out.

“Wagner ran out of resources to advance in early April, but we’re advancing despite the fact that the enemy’s resources outnumber ours fivefold,” Prigozhin’s statement said. “Because of the lack of ammunition, our losses are growing exponentially every day.”

The Wagner Group has spearheaded the struggle for control of Bakhmut, which is the longest — and likely bloodiest — battle of the war. The more than eight months of fighting there is believed to have cost thousands of lives, though neither side is saying how many.

David Rising reports:

Russia's Wagner boss threatens Bakhmut pullout in Ukraine

Ukrainian MP punches Russian delegate in Turkey after scuffle over flag

02:30 , Eleanor Noyce

In case you missed it...

A Ukrainian leader assaulted a Russian delegate who ripped Ukraine’s national flag out of his hands during a summit in Ankara on Thursday, according to reports.

Ukrainian leader Oleksandr Marikovski was seen unfurling the national flag of his country as Russian delegate Olga Timofeeva was being interviewed.

On seeing this, the Russian team member Valery Stavitsky was seen approaching Mr Marikovski and ripping the flag out of his hands.

The two delegates had gathered at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

As the Russian delegate walked away, the Ukrainian MP charged at him and landed a couple of blows as other people present at the venue tried to intervene.

Read more:

Ukrainian MP hits Russian delegate who pulled down Ukraine flag in Ankara

Why did Russia invade Ukraine?

01:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians.

Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russia’s neighbour needed to be “demilitarised and de-Nazified”, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine has fought back courageously against Mr Putin’s warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by defending itself against Russian onslaughts with the help of Western military aid.

Battle tanks from the US, Britain and Germany are now being supplied for the first time and Mr Zelensky toured London, Paris and Brussels in early February 2023 to request fighter jets be sent as well in order to counter the Russian aerial threat, a step the allies appear to have reservations about making, although Joe Biden has since visited Kyiv in a gesture of solidarity.

Read more:

Here’s why Putin really invaded Ukraine

Ukraine war ‘a warning shot’ for possible future energy shortages

Saturday 6 May 2023 00:30 , Eleanor Noyce

The war in Ukraine is a “warning shot” for the possibility of a future with energy shortages, the new chair of the Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee has said.

SNP MP Angus MacNeil has been elected as chairman of the cross-party committee of MPs tasked with scrutinising the work of the new Government department of the same name.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr MacNeil was critical of what he described as a lack of investment in energy security during the austerity agenda, followed by a lack of focus during the years of Brexit wrangling, and highlighted the importance of renewable energy for future supplies.

Ben Hatton reports:

Ukraine war ‘a warning shot’ for possible future energy shortages

ICYMI: Funeral held in Ukraine for American man killed in action

Friday 5 May 2023 23:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Soldiers from the International Legion of Ukraine said farewell Friday to an American military veteran they served with, who was killed a month ago in the fierce struggle to prevent the eastern city of Bakhmut from falling into Russian hands.

In a funeral service at Kyiv‘s St. Michael’s Cathedral, Ukrainian regular army troops bore the Ukrainian-flag-draped coffin of Chris Campbell while about three dozen members of the International Legion looked on.

After folding the flag, they presented it to Ivanna Sanina, Campbell’s Ukrainian wife.

The Florida native is one of least nine Americans now known to have been killed in fighting in Ukraine, including another last month in Bakhmut. Two Canadian volunteers were also killed there April 26 after Russian artillery hit their position.

The struggle for Bakhmut, located about 55 kilometres (34 miles) north of the Russian-held regional capital of Donetsk, has been one of the bloodiest of the war. It has now been going on for more than eight months.

Nicolae Dumitrache reports:

Funeral held in Ukraine for American man killed in action

Zelensky says world has ‘historic responsibility’ to prosecute Putin for war crimes

Friday 5 May 2023 22:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Vladimir Putin has to face justice for war crimes in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has declared during a visit to The Hague – the home of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“We all want to see a different Vladimir here in The Hague, the one who deserves to be sanctioned for his criminal actions here, in the capital of international law,” the Ukrainian president said, referring to the Russian leader. “The aggressor must feel the full power of justice. This is our historical responsibility.” Mr Zelensky added that he was sure “we will see that happen when we win... and we will win”.

In March, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mr Putin over the suspected deportation of children from Ukraine, which is a war crime. Russia, not a member of the ICC, has called the charges meaningless but the warrant does make Mr Putin’s foreign trips more difficult – with nations signed up to the court obliged to obey.

My colleague Chris Stevenson reports:

Zelensky says it is a ‘historic responsibility’ to prosecute Putin for war crimes

King Charles hosts overseas Heads of States - including Ukraine - at Buckingham Palace on coronation eve

Friday 5 May 2023 21:59 , Eleanor Noyce

The King has hosted heads of state from around the world at a Buckingham Palace reception on the eve of the coronation.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence also greeted their overseas guests at the event.

Completing the royal contingent were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

The event was the last of several engagements by the royals on Friday.

Among the guests was First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, who was seen speaking animatedly with Kate.

Meanwhile, Charles was photographed sharing warm words with the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, and greeting Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, with a handshake and a kiss on the cheek.

Other dignitaries at the event included King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, the President of Israel Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

US to send $500 million worth of weapons to Taiwan using same emergency authority as for Ukraine, source says

Friday 5 May 2023 21:30 , Eleanor Noyce

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration plans to send $500 million worth of weapons aid to Taiwan using the same emergency authority that has been used more than 35 times for Ukraine, a source familiar with the plan said on Friday.

As a part of the 2023 budget, Congress authorised up to $1 billion worth of weapons aid for Taiwan using Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), a type of authority that expedites security assistance and has helped to send arms to Ukraine.

This drawdown, which authorises the president to transfer articles and services from U.S. stockpiles without congressional approval during an emergency, would be the first from that $1 billion authorisation.

China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has increased military pressure on the island over the past three years. It has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Black Sea grain deal: No new ships authorised on Friday

Friday 5 May 2023 21:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations on Friday failed to authorise any new ships under a deal allowing safe Black Sea exports of Ukraine grain, which Moscow has threatened to quit on May 18 over obstacles to its own grain and fertiliser exports.

Daily inspections of previously authorised ships continue, deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters. Officials from the four parties make up a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul, which implements the Black Sea deal agreed in July.

In an excerpt of a letter seen by Reuters, Russia told its JCC counterparts last month it will not approve any new vessels to take part unless their operators guarantee the transits will be done by May 18 - “the expected date of ... closure.”

Ukraine has been putting forward daily a list of ships to be authorized. Once approved those ships are then inspected by the JCC officials near Turkey before travelling to a Ukrainian Black Sea port via a maritime humanitarian corridor to collect their cargo and return to Turkish waters for a final inspection.

According to JCC data, there is currently one ship authorised for inbound inspection and 25 ships awaiting an outbound inspection - all in Turkish waters; there are 13 ships in Ukrainian ports and there are 5 ships in transit toward Ukraine and 2 vessels in transit heading back to Turkey.

There are eight vessels seeking authorization from the JCC, according to the Ukrainian sea ports website.

The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea grain export deal to help tackle a global food crisis that has been worsened by Moscow’s war in Ukraine. At the same time, Russia accepted a three-year deal in which the U.N. agreed to help try and remove any obstacles to its grain and fertiliser exports.

While those Russian exports are not subject to Western sanctions imposed following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance are a barrier to shipments.

Firefighter tells of ‘humbling experience’ delivering equipment for Ukraine

Friday 5 May 2023 20:28 , Eleanor Noyce

A firefighter who was part of a convoy of fire engines and lorries delivering life-saving equipment for Ukraine has described the experience as “very humbling” after reaching Poland.

The timing of the shipment is meant to honour the Eurovision link between Ukraine and the UK, with the vehicles leaving Liverpool on Tuesday, the city which will host the competition later this month.

Darren Cleaves, station manager for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, was in Poland to help deliver fire engines as well as life-saving equipment for Ukrainian firefighters.

“It’s been a very humbling experience because knowing that the small difference we can make to help (firefighters in Ukraine) is really rewarding for us,” the 48-year-old from Monmonth told the PA News agency.

“It has been quite challenging - the logistics behind it in terms of keeping our team of over 80 people fed, watered, truck refuelled, and dealing with maintenance issues, but we’ve managed to overcome all of those.”

Read more:

Firefighter tells of ‘humbling experience’ delivering equipment for Ukraine

Poland summons Russian ambassador over assassination comment

Friday 5 May 2023 20:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The Polish Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador in protest Friday after a former Russian official suggested that it would be acceptable to assassinate Poland’s ambassador to Russia.

Pavel Astakhov, Russia’s children’s ombudsman from 2009 to 2016, spoke on a television program hosted by Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov. He was being interviewed after Polish authorities took over a school building in Warsaw on Saturday that was serving the children of Russian diplomats and the military.

Astakhov argued that murdering an ambassador in retaliation “for unfriendly actions ... is within the framework of international law,” adding: “I was taught this well at the KGB school at the counterintelligence faculty.”

That school takeover was the latest of several incidents which have added to tensions between Russia and Poland, an ally of Kyiv which has been supplying Ukraine’s military with weapons.

In the interview with Solovyov, Astakhov referred to Poland’s seizure of other properties, its freezing of Russian bank accounts, and an incident last year in which an activist in Warsaw doused the Russian ambassador to Poland, Sergey Andreev, with a red liquid. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau at the time strongly condemned that incident, calling it “highly deplorable.”

Vanessa Gera reports:

Poland summons Russian ambassador over assassination comment

Wagner withdrawal from Bakhmut ‘hysterical’, says Yuriy Sak

Friday 5 May 2023 19:35 , Eleanor Noyce

Our Chief International Correspondent, Bel Trew, has heard from Yuriy Sak – an advisor to Ukraine’s defence minister. He called Mr Prigozhin’s statement about the Wagner withdrawal from Bakhmut “hysterical”.

“In one way it didn’t come as a surprise. [Prigozhin] has been complaining about the lack of ammunition for quite some time now”, the official said.

“What is quite extraordinary and is quite unprecedented is the format with which he made this most recent statement – it is hysterical. I am not sure what he is playing at.

“Maybe it has become clear that they will not be able to take Bakhmut and that is why he is already trying to explain it: if they fail they will have failed because of a lack of ammunition.”

He added: “But despite the statement, Wagner continues to pound Bakhmut today and has apparently sent some reinforcements there. For the time being it remains but a statement. What it really means we will have to see.”

Don’t expect an end to sabotage and retribution during the war in Ukraine, writes Kim Sengupta

Friday 5 May 2023 19:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Ukraine’s “attempt to assassinate Vladimir Putin” in the early hours of Wednesday was followed by a barrage of Russian strikes on Thursday. Some of the missiles that landed in Odessa were inscribed “For the Kremlin” and “For Moscow”.

What unfolded was in line with the two opposing narratives from Moscow and Kyiv – that Ukraine tried to kill the Russian president in the Kremlin using drones; or that it was a false flag operation by the Russians to justify another round of assaults on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Russia has accused the US of being the real architect of the Moscow raid. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said: “We are well aware that decisions on such actions, on such terrorist attacks, are not made in Kyiv, but in Washington, and Kyiv is doing what it is told to do. It is very important that in Washington they understand that we know this, and understand how dangerous such direct participation in the conflict is.”

Alongside the fighting on the frontlines there have been clandestine campaigns against both infrastructure and people, writes Kim Sengupta:

Don’t expect an end to sabotage and retribution during the Ukraine war | Kim Sengupta

No new ships authorised on Friday for Ukraine grain Black Sea exports - UN

Friday 5 May 2023 19:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations failed to reach an agreement on Friday to authorise any new vessels to carry out Black Sea grain exports, deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said.

Haq said daily inspections of previously authorised ships continued.

Why is Russia's Wagner threatening to withdraw from Bakhmut?

Friday 5 May 2023 18:30 , Eleanor Noyce

A threat by the leader of private Russian military company Wagner on Friday to withdraw his fighters from the battle to seize a city in eastern Ukraine is another episode in his dispute with Russia’s regular military over credit and tactics in the war.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a millionaire with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has led the push to jump-start Russia’s stalemated offensive in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province. He threatened to pull out his soldiers from the city of Bakhmut next week, citing high casualties and ammunition shortages.

Russia’s nine-month campaign to take Bakhmut has made the city the focus of the war’s longest battle. Ferocious house-to house fighting there has produced some of the bloodiest encounters since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Here is a look at Wagner’s history and its role in the fighting:

Why is Russia's Wagner threatening to withdraw from Bakhmut?

In pictures: Kherson locals evacuate as Ukraine prepares for counter-offensive

Friday 5 May 2023 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Local residents are seen a during an evacuation effort at a bus station in the outskirts of Kherson ahead of a weekend curfew as Kyiv prepares for a counter-offensive against Russian forces.

Russian theatre director accused of 'justifying terrorism' remanded in custody

Friday 5 May 2023 17:50 , Eleanor Noyce

A prominent Russian theatre director was remanded in custody for two months on Friday after being accused of justifying terrorism with an award-winning play about Russian women who married Islamic State fighters, the state news agency TASS reported.

Investigators opened a case this week against Yevgenia (Zhenya) Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk, alleging that Petriychuk’s “Finist, the Brave Falcon”, which premiered in 2020 under Berkovich’s direction, had broken the law.

Since Russia sent its armed forces into Ukraine last year, Moscow has intensified a clampdown on freedom of expression, and encouraged citizens to report anyone they suspect of demonstrating disloyalty.

“Finist, the Brave Falcon” won two “Golden Mask” national theatre awards last year, and Berkovich also received a nomination for best director.

The detention of the two women has drawn condemnation from several prominent Russian artists and cultural figures.

Journalist Ksenia Sobchak said the case against them showed “rampant ignorance”, and that the play in fact had an anti-terrorist message.

“The heroines leave their families, their universities, their jobs and go into hell to their new lovers, who promise them love and a happy life,” she wrote on her Telegram channel.

“There they first become semi-slaves in the militant units and then return to their homeland as prisoners. It’s clear that the production has an anti-terrorist message.”

Funeral held in Ukraine for American man killed in action

Friday 5 May 2023 17:20 , Eleanor Noyce

Soldiers from the International Legion of Ukraine said farewell Friday to an American military veteran they served with, who was killed a month ago in the fierce struggle to prevent the eastern city of Bakhmut from falling into Russian hands.

In a funeral service at Kyiv‘s St. Michael’s Cathedral, Ukrainian regular army troops bore the Ukrainian-flag-draped coffin of Chris Campbell while about three dozen members of the International Legion looked on.

After folding the flag, they presented it to Ivanna Sanina, Campbell’s Ukrainian wife.

The Florida native is one of least nine Americans now known to have been killed in fighting in Ukraine, including another last month in Bakhmut. Two Canadian volunteers were also killed there on April 26 after Russian artillery hit their position.

The struggle for Bakhmut, located about 55 kilometres (34 miles) north of the Russian-held regional capital of Donetsk, has been one of the bloodiest of the war. It has now been going on for more than eight months.

Nicolae Dumitrache reports:

Funeral held in Ukraine for American man killed in action