Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s spokesman threatens ‘adequate response’ over UK missile pledge

The Kremlin has threatened an ‘adequate military response’ over the UK’s pledge to supply Ukraine with Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles.

Defence minister Ben Wallace confirmed in Parliament the UK would donate Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine to help the country’s forces to hit Russian troops and supply dumps deep behind the front lines.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov hit back at the announcement, saying that if Britain provided these missiles the Kremlin would require “an adequate response from our military”.

Ukraine has been asking for months for long-range missiles, but support provided by Britain and other allies such as the United States has previously been limited to shorter-range weapons.

“We will simply not stand by as Russia kills civilians,” Ben Wallace told Parliament. “Russia must recognise that its actions alone have led to such systems being provided to Ukraine.”

Mr Wallace said Britain was supplying the weapons to Ukraine so they could be used within its sovereign territory, implying he has received assurances from Ukraine that they will not be used to target inside Russia.

Key Points

• Ukraine says Russian brigade seriously damaged

• Putin’s troops ‘abandon’ Bakhmut, Wagner chief claims

• Wagner Group to be labelled terrorist organisation

• Journalist working for AFP killed in rocket attack in Ukraine

• Ukraine mocks Putin’s ‘loneliest little tank in the world’

Wagner boss Prigozhin says situation on Russian flanks near Bakhmut is bad

07:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group said on Thursday that his forces’ flanks were under pressure near the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, resulting in the loss of ground that his men had captured at heavy cost.

Yevgeny Prigozhin has argued that it is the job of regular Russian forces to protect Wagner’s flanks near Bakhmut, the city at the centre of the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.

“The situation on the flanks is developing according to the worst predicted scenario,” Prigozhin said in an audio message.

“All the territories that were taken with the blood and lives of our comrades over many months, advancing tens or hundreds of metres a day, are now being thrown away practically without a fight by those who should be holding our flanks.”

Russia’s defence ministry said earlier that its paratroopers were supporting an advance on the west of the city and had pinned down Ukrainian army units on the flanks.

Prigozhin said his fighters were 625 metres (680 yards) from the western outskirts of the city.

Zelensky thanks Sunak for cruise missiles

17:15 , Emily Atkinson

Volodymyr Zelensky has said the UK’s donation of Storm Shadow cruise missiles is a “significant enhancement” of Ukraine‘s efforts in the fight against Russia.

After a call with prime minister Rishi Sunak on Friday, the Ukrainian president said the two leaders had discussed “further cooperation” on defence.

It came after defence secretary Ben Wallace confirmed to MPs that he and Mr Sunak had agreed to authorise the donation of long-range cruise missiles after continued Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky, in a tweet, thanked Mr Sunak “for the significant enhancement of our capabilities with long-range Storm Shadow missiles and other irreplaceable military assistance”.

“We discussed further defense cooperation and coordinated our positions on the eve of upcoming international events. In particular, we need clear signals about Ukraine‘s future with Nato.”

Zelensky would have wanted to thank UK, say reigning Eurovision champions

16:45 , Emily Atkinson

Reigning Eurovision champions Kalush Orchestra have said president Volodymyr Zelensky would have only wanted to thank the British people for hosting the contest if he had been allowed to speak during the grand final.

The Eurovision Broadcasting Union, which produces the event, has barred Mr Zelensky from giving a remote address to the event’s millions of viewers on Saturday night over concerns it could politicise the contest.

Kalush Orchestra will open the 2023 grand final with a performance titled Voices Of A New Generation, which will include the folk-rap group’s hit song Stefania.

Tymofii Muzychuk, a piper who forms part of the seven-piece, told the PA news agency: “Actually we think that president Zelensky would have wanted to thank all the British people for doing this and, as we can see, Britain took this very responsibly, the UK.

“And so actually I think it would have been nice for him to talk.”

In pictures: Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut

15:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian servicemen ride atop of a tank on a road to the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Russia's Medvedev: we will respond to 'oppression' of Russians abroad

14:49 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that Moscow will respond to what he called the “oppression” of Russian businesses and residents abroad on the principal of an “eye for an eye”, the TASS news agency reported.

“If Russian businesses and citizens are oppressed and discriminated against in this or that country, its residents have no reason to expect different treatment in Russia,” he was quoted as saying by TASS.

Belgium to support Ukraine using taxes on frozen Russian assets

14:26 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Belgium will use 92 million euros ($101 million) it has received in taxes on frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, its government said on Friday.

Half of the amount will be used to deliver military goods such as armoured vehicles, weapons and munition. The other half is earmarked for humanitarian support, the future reconstruction of Ukraine and strengthening Belgium’s diplomatic presence in the country, the government said.

China to send special envoy to Ukraine and Russia as part of peace efforts

13:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

China is sending a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia next week in an effort to help reach a political settlement over the Ukrainian crisis, officials in Beijing said.

Li Hui, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs and a former ambassador to Moscow, will also visit Poland, France and Germany, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin confirmed.

China says it remains neutral over Russia‘s war in Ukraine but has declared it has a “no limits” relationship with Moscow and blames the US and Nato for provoking the conflict.

Beijing has put forward a peace plan for Ukraine that has been largely dismissed by the country’s supporters, who say a resolution can only come when Russia ceases its attacks and withdraws its troops from Ukrainian territory.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month, setting the stage for the diplomatic push.

“The visit of the Chinese representative to relevant countries expresses China’s commitment to promoting peace and negotiations,” Mr Wang said at a daily briefing.

China wishes to prevent an “escalation of the situation”, Mr Wang said.

Mr Li’s visits are to begin next week but his detailed schedule has not been released.

Beijing has previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries but appears to be trying to assert itself as a global diplomatic force after arranging talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led them to restore diplomatic relations after a seven-year break.

China has friendly relations with Moscow as well as economic leverage as the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas, after the United States and its allies cut off most purchases.

Beijing, which sees Moscow as a diplomatic partner in opposing US domination of global affairs, has refused to criticise the invasion and used its status as one of five permanent UN Security Council members to deflect diplomatic attacks on Russia.

Mr Wang also confirmed that the ruling Communist Party’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan held talks on Wednesday and Thursday in Vienna, Austria.

The Chinese foreign ministry official said the two sides had “candid, in-depth, substantive, and constructive discussions” on stabilising and improving bilateral relations.

China-US relations are at a historical low and nosedived in February after the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had flown across Canada and the United States.

The incident led to the postponement of a visit by US secretary of state Antony Blinken to Beijing which has yet to be rescheduled.

Britain gives Ukraine new missiles in boost for Zelensky’s counteroffensive

13:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Britain has supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow stealth cruise missiles, giving Volodymyr Zelensky’s government the capability to carry out long-range strikes against Russian forces.

The missiles, with a range of 155 miles, will provide a vital boost to Ukrainian forces when they launch their much-publicised spring offensive. They have a shorter reach than the 185-mile American Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which President Zelensky has asked for repeatedly, but they will enable Ukrainian forces to carry out strikes not just in occupied territories but inside Russia.

Leaked Pentagon papers revealed, based on electronic eavesdropping, that Ukraine’s president complained in late February to the head of the country’s military, General Valeriy Zaluzhny, that Ukraine “does not have long-range missiles capable of reaching Russian troop deployments in Russia”.

Our world affairs editor Kim Sengupta reports:

Britain gives Ukraine new missiles in boost for Zelensky’s counteroffensive

Russia says it repelled surge of Ukrainian attacks in the east

12:56 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s defence ministry said on Friday that its forces had repelled a surge of attempted Ukrainian attacks against its positions in eastern Ukraine and indicated that its forces had fallen back a bit in one area for tactical reasons.

The ministry said in a statement that Ukraine had deployed more than a thousand troops and up to 40 tanks in 26 attempted attacks across a frontline extending over 95 kilometres. It said the attacks had taken place in the direction of the town of Soledar which is held by Moscow’s forces.

“All the attacks by Ukrainian army units were rebuffed,” the ministry said. “No breakthroughs in the defensive lines of Russian forces were allowed to take place.”

The same statement did indicate however that Russian forces had fallen back in one area of the front, taking up what it described as “more favourable positions” near the Berkhivka reservoir northwest of Bakhmut.

The shattered city of Bakhmut has been the focus of fierce fighting for months.

The defence ministry said Russian assault units, a reference to Wagner mercenary fighters, were continuing to fight in western Bakhmut - backed by paratroopers.

Ukrainian attempts to counter-attack Bakhmut’s flanks were being repelled, it added.

Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said earlier on Friday that Ukrainian forces had advanced by about 2 km around Bakhmut this week and had not given up any positions there in that time.

Reuters was unable to verify the situation on the battlefield.

Sunak ‘disappointed’ in Eurovision’s decision to block Zelensky addressing competition

12:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak is “disappointed” in the decision of the European broadcasting union, Downing Street has said, after it was reported Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was blocked from addressing Eurovision.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister believes it would be fitting for President Zelensky to address the event and we’re disappointed by the decision from the European broadcasting union.

“The values and freedoms that President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are fighting for are not political, they’re fundamental, and Eurovision themselves recognised that last year when they rightly suspended Russia‘s participation from the competition.”

There are no plans to intervene and ask broadcasters to change their mind, Downing Street suggested.

Kremlin, on upcoming visit of China envoy on Ukraine, says no Putin meeting set up yet

12:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Kremlin said on Friday that a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Chinese special envoy Li Hui, who is set to tour European countries next week to discuss Ukraine, had not yet been set up.

“There is no such meeting in the schedule yet. This will all be worked out through diplomatic channels,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Russia says Ukraine mounted attack in direction of Soledar

11:41 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s defence ministry said on Friday that Ukrainian forces carried out “offensive operations” yesterday along the entire line of contact near Soledar, the ministry’s official Zvezda news outlet reported.

More than a thousand troops and up to 40 tanks were used in the assault, it said, adding that the attacks were repulsed.

Kremlin says it's not aware of Vatican peace mission on Ukraine

11:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Kremlin said on Friday that it was not aware of a Vatican peace mission on Ukraine after diplomatic sources told Reuters President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was expected to meet Pope Francis in the Vatican on Saturday.

The pope has said that the Holy See is involved in a peace mission to try to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow did not have information about the initiative, but said such information might be shared with it in future.

Russian woman charged for ‘desecrating’ Putin grave

10:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Russian woman who left a note on President Putin’s parents’ grave saying they had raised a “monster and murderer” has been handed a two-year suspended sentence.

Irina Tsybaneva, a 60-year-old retiree from St Petersburg, was found guilty of desecrating the Putin family plot in October last year.

Tsybaneva said she was motivated by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and referenced the war in her note, which said Mr Putin had caused “so much pain and trouble,” the Novaya Gazeta Europe news website reported.

“Death to Putin, you brought up a monster and a murderer,” the note said as it urged the president’s deceased parents to “take him with you”.

Russian woman charged for ‘desecrating’ Putin grave

Kyiv reports small gains around Bakhmut, decries Russian 'false information'

10:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian forces have advanced by about 2 km around the eastern city of Bakhmut this week and have not given up any positions there in that time, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Friday.

She urged Ukrainians to disregard what she described as Russian disinformation about the situation in and around Bakhmut, where Ukraine has held on to some parts of the city in about 10 months of fierce fighting.

Some Russian military bloggers reported on Thursday that Ukrainian troops had broken through parts of the front line. Moscow denied the reports and said the situation was under control.

“How does the enemy cover the battles in Bakhmut? (It) praises itself, talks about supposed success and invents stories about our military command,” Maliar wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

“At the same time, the enemy gives false information about the lack of weapons, which probably aims to justify the real situation.”

Describing what she called “the real situation” over the past week, she said “the enemy failed to carry out its plans; the enemy suffered great losses of manpower; our defenders advanced 2 km (1.2 miles) in the Bakhmut sector; we did not lose a single position in Bakhmut this week.”

Moscow sees Bakhmut as a stepping stone to attacking other Ukrainian cities. Kyiv has said that maintaining the defence of Bakhmut allows Ukraine‘s military to prepare an expected counteroffensive.

The head of Russian mercenaries fighting in Bakhmut said on Thursday Ukrainian operations around the city had been partially successful. He has argued with Russian defence officials over what he says has been a lack of ammunition for his forces.

Reuters was unable to verify the situation on the battlefield.

Turkey says Black Sea grain deal extension nearing

09:44 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Parties to the Black Sea grain pact are nearing a deal to extend it after talks between Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish and United Nations officials, Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said.

Russia has threatened to quit the agreement on May 18 over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports and the four parties discussed U.N. proposals to extend the deal on Thursday.

“(The parties) are approaching an agreement on an extension of the grain agreement period,” Akar said in a statement released by the defence ministry on Friday.

Two days of talks in Istanbul had appeared to end without Russian agreement on an extension.

The U.N. and Turkey brokered the Black Sea agreement in July last year to help tackle a global food crisis that has been worsened by Moscow’s war in Ukraine. At the same time, the U.N. agreed to help Moscow facilitate its own agricultural shipments.

The Kremlin said early on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin could speak with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at short notice if needed regarding an extension of the deal, but that there were no such plans yet.

Akar also said he had been told that an agreement was reached on the return to Turkey of six Turkish merchant vessels currently in Ukrainian ports.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet beefs up defences amid drone strikes -commander

09:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The commander of Russia‘s Black Sea Fleet has said its defences are being tightened amid a flurry of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting its home base, the Crimean port of Sevastopol.

Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov told Friday’s edition of the military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda (“Red Star”): “In connection with the threat of attacks by robotic surface and underwater systems, we have increased the technical defences of the fleet’s main base and of the ships’ anchorages.”

Sevastopol has repeatedly been attacked with drones since the start of Russia‘s military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine has tended to avoid taking direct responsibility for strikes on the Crimean peninsula, which Russia unilaterally annexed after seizing it in 2014.

In the interview, Sokolov said the Black Sea Fleet, whose flagship, the cruiser Moskva, was sunk by Ukraine in April 2022, would receive four new ships in 2023.

U.S. and German ministers discuss efforts to counter Russian sanctions evasion

08:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met German Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Friday, underscoring the importance of working together to counter evasion of Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its war in Ukraine, Treasury said.

Yellen and Lindner met on the sidelines of a Group of Seven finance officials meeting in Niigata, Japan, where U.S. officials have called for redoubled support of Ukraine.

“Secretary Yellen expressed appreciation for Germany’s close coordination on the implementation of Russia sanctions and discussed the importance of aligning efforts to counter sanctions evasion,” Treasury said in a statement.

The United States and a broad coalition of other countries have provided significant economic, security, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, while using sanctions and export controls to impose heavy economic costs on Russia.

Yellen told reporters on Thursday that the campaign had “systematically degraded Russia‘s military-industrial complex and helped reduce the revenues that Russia can use to fund its war,” and Washington and the coalition were focused this year on countering Russia‘s efforts to evade those sanctions.

In her meeting with Lindner, Yellen also emphasized the importance of building a clean, secure, and resilient global energy supply chain and affirmed the shared commitment to a strong partnership on global tax cooperation, Treasury said.

Germany and the European Union have objected strenuously to last year’s clean energy-focused U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which included a new $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit, but are trying to work out exemptions that will allow European firms with production in the U.S. to benefit from the U.S. subsidies.

ICYMI: UK to send Ukraine long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, defence secretary confirms

08:29 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The UK will send long-range missiles to Ukraine to assist the war effort against Russia‘s invasion.

In a statement made to the House of Commons on Thursday 11 May, defence secretary Ben Wallace committed to send the Storm Shadow projectiles.

‘The donation of these weapons systems gives Ukraine the best chance to defend themselves against Russia’s continued brutality’, Mr Wallace said.

Ukraine has been asking for long-range weaponry for some time but has faced reluctance from the US, fearing an escalation in tensions.

Storm Shadows are air-launched missiles with a range of up to 350 miles (563 kilometres).

UK to send Ukraine long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Here are the latest developments on arms in the conflict

08:11 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

* The United States envoy to South Africa said he was confident that a Russian ship had picked up weapons in South Africa, in a possible breach of Pretoria’s declared neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.

* South Africa has undertaken to institute an independent inquiry led by a retired judge into an alleged arms shipment to Russia, South Africa’s presidency said on Thursday.

* The United States has serious concerns about the docking of a sanctioned Russian cargo vessel at a South African naval port in December last year and has raised those concerns directly with multiple South African officials, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters.

* The European Union has not observed any significant smuggling of weapons into Europe from wartime Ukraine, the European Commission’s top internal affairs official said during a visit to Kyiv.

* Britain has supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, a Western official said, which would allow its forces to hit Russian troops and logistics hubs deep behind the front line.

Turkey says deal extending Black Sea grain deal nearing

08:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Parties to the Black Sea grain deal are approaching an agreement on extending it after two days of talks in Istanbul between Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish and UN officials, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said.

Russia has said that the deal would expire unless Moscow secured guarantees that its demands would be met by the deadline of May 18. Akar’s comment was released by his ministry in a statement on Friday.

Inside Ukraine’s ‘D-Day’ counteroffensive

07:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

On the frontline of Zaporizhzhia, soldiers are poised.

In Kyiv’s corridors of power, plans have been drawn up to end Putin’s occupation. Chief international correspondent Bel Trew talks to the key players as Ukraine prepares to strike back against Russia – and break the war’s brutal deadlock:

Inside Ukraine’s ‘D-Day’ counteroffensive

What’s the latest this morning?

07:24 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

* President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine‘s long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia‘s invasion force had yet to start even as his generals claimed some of their biggest battlefield successes in months.

* A Ukrainian brigade commander fighting in the ruins of Bakhmut said Russian mercenary forces have stepped up shelling and artillery attacks in recent days and were not facing a munitions shortage, despite its chief’s claims to the contrary.

* Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Thursday that the situation on the flanks near the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was unfolding in line with the “worst of all expected scenarios”.

* A Ukrainian drone attacked an oil storage depot in the Russian border region of Bryansk, the local governor said on Thursday. There were no casualties.

* Russia‘s military operation against Ukraine is “very difficult” but certain goals have been achieved, Tass news agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

No Russian missile or drone has struck it target since March, says Ukraine

06:35 , Arpan Rai

The Ukrainian defence ministry has said its air defence systems are operating well and prevented Russian missiles and drones from reaching their targeted spot.

“740 air alarms have gone off in Kyiv since 24 February, 2022. In total, the alarms have lasted 851 hours and 38 minutes. The guardians of Kyiv’s skies have been operating flawlessly for over two months – not a single missile or drone has reached its target,” the defence ministry said today.

Zelensky promises legal overhaul to aid EU entry bid

05:05 , Arpan Rai

Volodymyr Zelensky has approved a plan to reform criminal and law enforcement systems, a key element in plans to secure quick membership of the European Union.

“We must provide for a system that guarantees justice and rule of law in our country, compatible with our aim of quickly joining the EU,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

The changes, he said, would be part of a new social contract ensuring people felt safe and protected.

“Trust in the state is grounded in trust in those who act in the name of the state. Law enforcement and the prosecution system are the keys to this, along with everyone who works in the state apparatus,” he said.

Ukraine, fighting to repulse Russia’s invasion, has formally applied for membership of the 27-nation bloc.

Membership applications for the EU normally take years to process in order to complete the complicated process of bringing a candidate nation’s laws and regulations into line with rules enforced by the bloc.

Russian woman who left note on grave of Putin’s parents convicted

04:19 , Arpan Rai

A Russian court gave a two-year suspended sentence to a St Petersburg woman who left a note on the grave of president Vladimir Putin‘s parents that said they had “raised a freak and a killer.”

The court found Irina Tsybaneva, 60, guilty of desecrating burial places motivated by political hatred. Her lawyer said she didn’t plead guilty because she hadn’t desecrated the grave physically or sought publicity for her action.

Russian woman who left note on grave of Putin's parents convicted amid dissent crackdown

Russia rejects reports of Ukraine’s breakthrough along war frontlines

03:58 , Arpan Rai

Russia’s defence ministry has denied reports of Ukraine’s breakthrough in various places along the frontlines and said the military situation was under control.

“Statements circulated by individual Telegram channels about ‘defence breakthroughs’ that took place in different areas along the line of military contact do not correspond to reality,” the Russian defence ministry said in a Telegram post.

“The overall situation in the area of the special military operation is under control,” it said in a statement, using the Kremlin’s description of the war in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had called the grinding war in Bakhmut a “difficult situation” but maintained that Moscow will be able to capture and control the mining city.

The clarification from its defence ministry comes after Russian military bloggers reported what they said were Ukrainian advances north and south of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, with some suggesting a long-awaited counteroffensive by pro-Kyiv forces had started.

However, Ukraine has not confirmed the start of offensive and president Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv will wait for a few days in order to prevent deaths.

UK donating long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine

02:30 , Joseph Rachman

Defence secretary Ben Wallace has confirmed that Britain is donating long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.

Speaking in the House of Commons he said that: “Russia must recognise that their actions alone have led to such systems being provided to Ukraine.”

“It is my judgment as Defence Secretary that this is a calibrated and proportionate response to Russia’s escalations.”

He went on to add that: “The donation of these weapons systems gives Ukraine the best chance to defend themselves.”

“The use of Storm Shadow will allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces based within Ukrainian sovereign territory.”

Wallace did not give further information about the missile’s capabalities. However, he said that “while these weapons will give Ukraine new capability, members should recognise that these systems are not even in the same league as the Russian AS-24 killjoy hypersonic missile” or “even the Kalibr cruise missile with a range of over 2,000 kilometres, roughly seven times that of a Storm Shadow missile”.

He also warned: “Russia is far from a spent military force and the next few weeks and few months will be critical. I’m really proud of British military leadership over the last year on Ukraine. I want in six months’ time to be able to say the same.

“We want the UK’s momentum for Ukraine to be maintained and accelerated ... we must and we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

Battle for Bakhmut rages as Wagner commander says situation is “worst of all expected scenarios”.

01:30 , Joseph Rachman

The situation on the Russian flanks near the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was was the “worst of all expected scenarios”, said the Wagner mercenary group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

In audio message, Prighozhin complained that territory which had taken months to capture was now being thrown away by regular Russian troops

He further claimed that the Ukrainian counter-offensive was going full speed ahead and that a Russian army unit had been routed near Bakhmut on Wednesday.

In a video link interview with Reuters Ukrainian colonel Roman Hryshchenko rejected Prigozhin’s previous claims that Russia was facing a lack of munitions and painted a picture of a still tough situation.

“They haven’t had anything even close to a munitions deficit. In the last few days, the intensity of shelling and rocket artillery has increased,” Hryshchenko said.

He said Russian forces were conducting constant assaults in the city - and that Ukrainian troops were beating them back.

“The situation is difficult. The enemy is throwing a great deal of its forces at us, constant waves of assaults,” he told Reuters late on Wednesday.

He and the rest of his brigade have inhabited the ruins of Bakhmut for nearly two months, he said.

He went on to add: “They (Russian forces) don’t just retreat by themselves. It’s a big, arduous task, and we need to work very hard to drive them out,” he said. “For every metre, ten metres, section of trench, for every building, we need to try very hard.”

However, he also suggested that news from Bakhmut, of an unspecified nature, would be coming “soon”, smiling but declining to expand.

“I ask everyone to have a little bit of patience, and you will see,” he said.

Russian ship picked up weapons in South Africa, US ambassador claims

Friday 12 May 2023 00:30 , Joseph Rachman

The U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, told local journalists in a briefing earlier on Thursday that Washington was confident a Russian vessel had uploaded weapons and ammunition from South Africa in December.

“Amongst the things we noted were the docking of the Russian cargo ship Lady R in Simon’s Town between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8, 2022, which we are confident uploaded weapons, ammunitions ... as it made its way back to Russia,” Brigety said.

Senior U.S. officials had “profound concerns” Brigety added, in a recording of the briefing heard by Reuters. This “does not suggest to us the actions of a non-aligned country.”

The event represents a possible breach of Pretoria’s declared neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa did not confirm or deny the shipment took place but said his government was looking into the matter, when an opposition leader asked him about the issue in parliament.

The rand and South Africa’s 2030 government bond extended losses after the U.S statement as currency traders said they were worried that South Africa could now face Western sanctions.

Washington has repeatedly warned countries against providing material support to Russia, cautioning that those who do may be denied access to the world’s most important markets.

Inside Ukraine’s ‘D-Day’ counteroffensive

Thursday 11 May 2023 23:30 , Joseph Rachman

Against the deadly beat of artillery fire, the drone commander picks his way through the destroyed remains of the village which lies just a few hundred metres away from Russian positions.

The Independent’s Bel Trew reports from the frontlines in Zaporizhzhia as Ukraine’s prepares its offensive.

Inside Ukraine’s ‘D-Day’ counteroffensive

Ukrainians drones allegedly strike targets in Bryansk, Russia - governor claims

Thursday 11 May 2023 22:30 , Joseph Rachman

Ukrainians drones struck an administrative building and an oil depot in Bryansk, according to the local governor Alexander Bogamoz.

“A Ukrainian drone conducted shelling of an administrative building in Starodub,” he wrote in a post on Telegram.

Another drone attacked the Klintsy oil storage depot, owned by Russia’s Rosneft oil company.

“As a result of the munitions drop, the concrete base and oil products storage tank were partially damaged,” Bogomaz wrote on Telegram.

However, he added that no casualties had been reported as a result of the incidents.

US gives riches seized from Russian oligarch to Ukraine

Thursday 11 May 2023 21:22 , Joseph Rachman

Assets seized from a sanctioned Russian oligarch have been sent to Ukraine to help with the country’s reconstruction.

US Attorney-General Merrick Garland said that more moves of this sort were to come. “While this represents the United States’ first transfer of forfeited Russian funds for the rebuilding of Ukraine, it will not be the last.”

The US State Department said: “Working with Congress, [the department] plans to use these proceeds to support Ukraine’s veterans. This is a population that will have tremendous needs as the war continues and as Ukraine recovers and rebuilds.”

The oligarch affected is Konstantin Malofeyev, founder of a pro-Putin media empire. He has been accused of breaching sanctions imposed in response to Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Malofeyev responded angrily claiming that “Biden’s organised crime group” had “defrauded” him. He also wrote to Russia’s prosecutor-general’s office asking them to file charges against the US officials behind the seizure.

The Kremlin also weighed in on the issue threatening retaliation. Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary, said: “Such steps will not be without reciprocity.”

Nonetheless, other countries are also debating whether they should take similar action.

Canada has already changed its laws to allow for this. However, discussions in the European Union remain ongoing.

The EU is also considering whether it could revenue generated by hundreds of billions of dollars of frozen Russian state assets to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Ukraine wants the deal that lets its export grain via the Black Sea expanded

Thursday 11 May 2023 20:42 , Joseph Rachman

The Ukrainian government wants to see the Black sea grain export initiative, which lets it export grain without fear of Russian attack, extended for a longer period and expanded.

The Russia-Ukraine deal, broked by the United Nation and Turkey in July 2022, allows the safe export of grains and fertilisers from three Ukrainian ports.

The agreement is designed to help tackle the global food crisis that was worsened Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The deal allows the safe export of grains and fertilisers from three Ukrainian ports.

Following the end of talks Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov posted on Facebook saying: “Negotiations in Istanbul on the functioning of the Grain Initiative have been completed.”

“The Ukrainian delegation once again stressed that the Grain Initiative should be extended for a longer period and expanded. This will give predictability and confidence to both the global and Ukrainian markets.”

He gave no details on the outcome of the talks.

Little sign of weapons being smuggled out of Ukraine, says to EU official

Thursday 11 May 2023 20:02 , Joseph Rachman

The European Union has not seen evidence of much smuggling of weapons out of Ukraine, said European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said in an interview with Reuters.

“I must say that we have not seen any industrial smuggling of firearms out of Ukraine,”

Johansson added that some individual cases of small arms being taken out of Ukraine had been recorded.

They were mostly individuals attempting to take weapons out as trophies or for personal protection and “they’re being taken, of course, at the border by the border guards,” Johansson said.

Johansson is currently visiting Kyiv and said that the issue of arms smuggling had been a priority in her meeting with Ukrainian Interior Minister Oleksandr Klymenko.

China and America meet in Vienna to discuss Russian invasion of Ukraine

Thursday 11 May 2023 19:22 , Joseph Rachman

American and Chinese officials met for two days in Vienna to discuss a wide range of issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Most important was the meeting between President Joe Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, and China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi.

A public statement the White House said: “The two sides had candid, substantive, and constructive discussions on key issues in the U.S.-China bilateral relationship, global and regional security issues, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and cross-Strait issues, among other topics.”

The meeting comes as some express the hope that China might be persuaded to support peace negotiations in Ukraine, and pressure Russia to come to the table.

In late April Xi Jinping announced plans to send a delegation to Ukraine to hold talks with all parties on resolving the conflict, following his first phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

However, many remain sceptical that China’s offers should be taken seriously arguing that it supports Putin and has acted to quietly support Russia’s invasion.

Russian teacher who compared Putin to Hitler sentence to five and a half years in a penal colony

Thursday 11 May 2023 18:42 , Joseph Rachman

A Russian teacher who criticised the war in Ukraine and compared Putin to Hitler has been sentenced to five and a half years in a penal colony.

In October 2022 Nikita Tushkanov, who is twenty-nine, made post saying that the bombing of Kerch bridge linking Russian to Crimea was “a birthday present for Putler”.

He later called Russian missile strikes against Ukrainian cities “the revenge of Putin’s fascism for the Kerch bridge.”

His fiancee Alexandra Kochanova said that his court case in front of military judges lasted “not more than 10 minutes”, speaking to Reuters.

She also said that Tushkanov had written the posts because he believed “it was necessary to write, speak, and show that he didn’t agree. He understood the risks, but he still decided that this was more important, that these were his principles”.

A new censorship law introduced last year, following the invasion of Ukraine, mandated long prison sentences for “discrediting” the armed forces or spreading misinformation about them.

Tushkanov was arrested 7 December by members of Russia’s FSB security service at his home in the city of Syktyvkar according to reporting by Mediazona, an independent news outlet. He was added to a federal database of “terrorists and extremists.”

Mediazona also found that he was fired from his job as a history teacher in 2021 for staging a one-man protest in suppport of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny. He has also been fined twice for participating in anti-war protests since Russian’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russia is moving slowly because it is “trying to preserve infrastructure and save lives”, claims Putin spokesman

Thursday 11 May 2023 18:02 , Joseph Rachman

Trying to explain the near total failure of Russia’s recent offensive campaign to gain ground in Ukraine Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary, claimed that this was due to Russia’s desire to to limit damage.

In an interview with the Turkish channel ATV Peskov claimed that the failure of Russia’s advance was because it was “trying to preserve infrastructure and save lives.”

He added: “Why are the Russians so slow to act? Because the Russians are not at war, we are not at war. Waging war is a completely different matter, it means total destruction of infrastructure, total destruction of cities and so on. We don’t do that.”

Despite Peskov’s claims as part of its invasion of Ukraine Russia has nearly totally levelled some towns and cities. It also continues to use missiles and drones to attack Ukrainian infrastructure and the civilian population.

US envoy says Russian ship picked up arms in South Africa

Thursday 11 May 2023 16:58 , Martha Mchardy

The United States envoy to South Africa said on Thursday he was confident that a Russian ship had picked up weapons in South Africa, in a possible breach of Pretoria’s declared neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.

The rand and South Africa’s 2030 government bond extended losses after the U.S statement as currency traders said they were worried that South Africa could now face Western sanctions.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa did not confirm or deny the shipment took place but said his government was looking into the matter, when an opposition leader asked him about the issue in parliament.

The U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, told local journalists in a briefing earlier on Thursday that Washington was confident a Russian vessel had uploaded weapons and ammunition from South Africa in December.

“Amongst the things we noted were the docking of the Russian cargo ship Lady R in Simon’s Town between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8, 2022, which we are confident uploaded weapons, ammunitions ... as it made its way back to Russia,” Brigety said.

Senior U.S. officials had “profound concerns” Brigety added, in a recording of the briefing heard by Reuters. This “does not suggest to us the actions of a non-aligned country.”

Washington has repeatedly warned countries against providing material support to Russia, cautioning that those who do may be denied access to the world’s most important markets.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. embassy in South Africa and the U.S. Treasury Department declined to comment.

Brigety made the remarks to journalists following his return to Pretoria after accompanying a high-level South African delegation to the United States to address concerns about South Africa’s relationship with Russia.

“The matter is being looked into and in time we will be able to speak about it,” Ramaphosa told lawmakers in parliament.

In Bakhmut's ruins, Ukraine says intensity of Wagner attacks growing

Thursday 11 May 2023 16:30 , Martha Mchardy

A Ukrainian brigade commander fighting in the ruins of Bakhmut said Russian mercenary forces have stepped up shelling and artillery attacks in recent days and were not facing a munitions shortage, despite its chief’s claims to the contrary.

Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has complained for weeks that Russia’s army is depriving his Wagner troops of enough ammunition to capture the eastern Ukrainian city, where months of fierce fighting have been dubbed the “meat grinder”.

The claims have not been independently verified.

Ukrainian colonel Roman Hryshchenko, the commander of Ukraine’s 127th Territorial Defence Brigade, rejected Prigozhin’s claims in an interview by video link.

“They haven’t had anything even close to a munitions deficit. In the last few days, the intensity of shelling and rocket artillery has increased,” Hryshchenko said.

He said Russian forces were conducting constant assaults in the city - and that Ukrainian troops were beating them back.

“The situation is difficult. The enemy is throwing a great deal of its forces at us, constant waves of assaults,” he told Reuters late on Wednesday.

He and the rest of his brigade have inhabited the ruins of Bakhmut for nearly two months, he said.

He messaged shortly after the interview to say the positions where had spoken from had been set ablaze by a strike.

He said Russian forces were suffering casualties several times higher than his unit, but declined to give numbers.

“(Russia) is losing a great deal of its troops… Bakhmut has already fulfilled its main task, and continues to fulfil it. Here, we are butchering the enemy’s manpower,” he said.

The former military prosecutor said only 30% of his brigade, which was originally recruited as a local territorial unit in March 2022 when their home city of Kharkiv was attacked, had previous combat experience but they were now seasoned soldiers.

“They (Russian forces) don’t just retreat by themselves. It’s a big, arduous task, and we need to work very hard to drive them out,” he said. “For every metre, ten metres, section of trench, for every building, we need to try very hard.”

He suggested that news from Bakhmut, of an unspecified nature, would be coming “soon”, smiling but declining to expand.

“I ask everyone to have a little bit of patience, and you will see,” he said.

In pictures: Aftermath of Sloviansk missile strike that killed one

Thursday 11 May 2023 16:27 , Martha Mchardy

Russian woman gets 2-year suspended sentence for ‘insulting' note on Putin’s parents’ grave

Thursday 11 May 2023 16:18 , Martha Mchardy

A 60-year-old Russian woman was given a two-year suspended sentence on Thursday for leaving a note with an “insulting inscription” on the grave of President Vladimir Putin’s parents, independent news sites reported on Thursday.

Prosecutors had sought a three-year suspended sentence for Irina Tsybaneva, who in October was charged with desecrating the grave in St Petersburg with a note referring to Putin’s mother and father as “the parents of a maniac”.

“Death to Putin, you raised a freak and a murderer,” the note said, urging the deceased parents to “take him with you”.

According to the SOTA news site, Tsybaneva does not plan to appeal the verdict. She said she wrote the note after she watched the news about the war in Ukraine and “understood that everything is very scary, everything is very sad, and there are many dead”, according to another news outlet, Mediazona.

Polish minister says army failed to inform government about missile

Thursday 11 May 2023 15:41 , Martha Mchardy

Poland’s defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Thursday that the army was aware of a possible missile heading towards the country in December but failed to inform the government.

Poland has been on alert for possible spillover of weaponry from the war in neighbouring Ukraine, especially since two people were killed near the border last November by what Warsaw concluded was a misfired Ukrainian air defence missile.

Polish media have reported in recent days that a military object found in a forest in northern Poland in April was a Russian KH-55 missile, and that Polish services had seen an object entering the country’s airspace in December but then lost track of it.

Blaszczak said an inspection he requested showed that Armed Forces Operational Command had received information from Ukraine about the object, but failed to take appropriate action.

“It was established that on December 16, the air operations center subordinate to the operational commander received information from the Ukrainian side about an object approaching Polish space, which may be a missile,” Blaszczak said.

“According to the findings of the inspection, the operational commander fail to perform his duties of informing me (...) and other services provided for in the procedures about the object that appeared in Polish airspace.”

Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki reiterated on Thursday that he heard about the existence of the military object found in a Polish forest for the first time in April.

Ukraine grain deal parties agree to engage on UN proposals

Thursday 11 May 2023 15:31 , Martha Mchardy

Officials from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations on Thursday discussed recent U.N. proposals on a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, which

It comes after Moscow threatened to quit the deal over obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports.

“The meeting discussed the recent proposals by the United Nations, namely the resumption of the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline, the longer extension of the deal, improvements at the Joint Coordination Centre for stable operations and exports, as well as other issues raised by the parties,” the U.N. said.

“The parties presented their views and agreed to engage with those elements going forward,” the U.N. said in a statement.

President Ramaphosa says looking into reports South Africa provided arms to Russia

Thursday 11 May 2023 15:17 , Martha Mchardy

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that his government was looking into news reports that South Africa provided weapons to Russia, when asked about the reports by an opposition leader in parliament.

U.S. ambassador Reuben Brigety told local journalists on Thursday that Washington believed a Russian vessel uploaded weapons and ammunition from South Africa in December.

Russia's Prigozhin says situation on flanks near Bakhmut is bad

Thursday 11 May 2023 15:11 , Martha Mchardy

Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Thursday that the situation on the flanks near the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was unfolding in line with the “worst of all expected scenarios”.

In an audio message, Prigozhin complained that territory captured over the course of many months was being “thrown away” by those who should be guarding the flanks - something he has said is the responsibility of regular Russian troops.

Looking at ways to restrict Russia’s finances a ‘good idea’ - Defence Sec

Thursday 11 May 2023 14:58 , Martha Mchardy

Defence secretary Ben Wallace said an international meeting to look at ways to restrict Russia’s finances would be a “good idea”.

Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns told the Commons: “I welcome the delivering of Storm Shadow because we must do all we can to even the odds for our Ukrainian friends who face a well-armed terrorist state.

“However, I am concerned that at this point we have not managed to suffocate Putin’s war machine. Yes, we need to deliver military aid, but we also need to make sure that we suffocate the finances that allow Putin to continue to wage this war.

“So can I urge (Mr Wallace) to lobby the Chancellor to establish an economic Ramstein of G7 Treasury ministers or allied nations who can come together and make sure that economically we are doing what is needed.”

Mr Wallace said: “I think it’s a good idea and I’ll definitely pass that on to the Chancellor.”

He also said the work has been done through the G7, adding: “We do see in the Russian industrial base it is now struggling in some of its rearming of its equipment because so much of its subsystems seem to have come from the west.”

Defence secretary refuses to say how many Storm Shadow missiles will be provided to Ukraine

Thursday 11 May 2023 14:54 , Martha Mchardy

Defence secretary Ben Wallace told MPs he would not, for operational reasons, say exactly how many Storm Shadow missiles would be provided to Ukraine.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Wallace also said: “As far as the use, or the donation, or gifting, of Storm Shadow, the United States have been incredibly supporting of the United Kingdom’s decision to do so.”

He added: “(It) is currently enough to satisfy the Ukrainian demand for that capability. We will keep that under review to make sure we can make the difference.

“As far as the use, or the donation, or gifting, of Storm Shadow, the United States have been incredibly supporting of the United Kingdom’s decision to do so.”

Moscow threatens ‘adequate military response’ over UK missiles pledge

Thursday 11 May 2023 14:39 , Martha Mchardy

The Kremlin has threatened an ‘adequate military response’ over the UK’s pledge to supply Ukraine with Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles.

Defence minister Ben Wallace confirmed in Parliament on Thursday that the UK would donate Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine to help the country’s forces to hit Russian troops and supply dumps deep behind the front lines.

The Kremlin hit back at the announcement, saying that if Britain provided these missiles it would require “an adequate response from our military”.

Ukraine has been asking for months for long-range missiles, but support provided by Britain and other allies such as the United States has previously been limited to shorter-range weapons.

“We will simply not stand by as Russia kills civilians,” Ben Wallace told Parliament. “Russia must recognise that its actions alone have led to such systems being provided to Ukraine.”

Mr Wallace said Britain was supplying the weapons to Ukraine so they could be used within its sovereign territory, implying he has received assurances from Ukraine that they will not be used to target inside Russia.

The missiles “are now going into, or are in, the country itself,” he said.

Superyacht detained by Government after Ukraine invasion in High Court challenge

Thursday 11 May 2023 14:30 , Martha Mchardy

A superyacht detained by the Government following the Russian invasion of Ukraine is at the centre of a High Court litigation.

Owner Sergei Naumenko wants an order setting aside the decision to detain the Phi following the outbreak of war in February 2022

A judge has overseen a preliminary High Court hearing in London and heard arguments from lawyers representing Mr Naumenko and Transport Secretary Mark Harper.

Mr Justice Chamberlain was told that the Phi had been moored at Canary Wharf, in London, for more than a year.

Read the full story:

Superyacht detained by Government after Ukraine invasion in High Court challenge

Watch: UK to send Ukraine long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, defence secretary confirms

Thursday 11 May 2023 14:00 , Martha Mchardy

Shadow defence secretary: UK Storm Shadow missiles will ‘strengthen Ukraine’s fight’ against Russia

Thursday 11 May 2023 13:17 , Martha Mchardy

UK Storm Shadow missiles “will strengthen Ukraine’s fight to repel the Russian forces”, shadow defence secretary John Healey told MPs.

He said: “We are united in our determination to help in the defence of Ukraine and of our shared values ... we welcome this vital new military support as the Ukrainians prepare for their expected counter-offensive.

“Today’s announcement of UK Storm Shadow missiles will strengthen Ukraine’s fight to repel the Russian forces and to defend against the brutal attacks.”

He warned: “Russia is far from a spent military force and the next few weeks and few months will be critical. I’m really proud of British military leadership over the last year on Ukraine. I want in six months’ time to be able to say the same.

“We want the UK’s momentum for Ukraine to be maintained and accelerated ... we must and we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

Ukraine needs more time for counter-offensive, Zelensky says

Thursday 11 May 2023 09:28 , Martha Mchardy

Ukraine needs more time to launch a counter-offensive against Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Zelensky said in an interview broadcast Thursday by the BBC that it would be “unacceptable” to launch the assault now because too many lives would be lost.

“With (what we have) we can go forward and be successful,” the Ukrainian president said.

“But we’d lose a lot of people. I think that’s unacceptable,” he was quoted as saying. The interview was reportedly carried out in Kyiv with public service broadcasters who are members of Eurovision News, including the BBC.

“So we need to wait. We still need a bit more time.”

Ukraine is receiving advanced Western weapons, including tanks and other armoured vehicles, and Western training for its troops as it gears up for an expected assault.

Russia says ‘difficult operation’ continues amid counterattack in Bakhmut

Thursday 11 May 2023 04:11 , Arpan Rai

Russia says ‘difficult operation’ continues as Bakhmut will be captured

The Kremlin described the invasion as a "very difficult" military operation amid long-standing hope to capture Bakhmut and control the Ukrainian city.

"The special military operation continues. This is a very difficult operation, and, of course, certain goals have been achieved in a year," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a Bosnian Serb television channel.

"We managed to beat up the Ukrainian military machine quite a bit," he added, citing Russian missile strikes in Ukraine. "This work will continue".

He said he had no doubt that Bakhmut "will be captured and will be kept under control", defending the months-long grinding battle in the region as Russia “is not waging war".