Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin assassination attempt by Kyiv targeted Kremlin, Moscow claims
Russia accused Ukraine of attacking the Kremlin with drones overnight in a failed attempt to kill Vladimir Putin, according to state-run news agencies.
The Kremlin said it considered the attack to be a “planned terrorist action” and will retaliate “whenever and wherever it sees fit”, a Tass report said.
A Kremlin statement was cited as saying the Russian president was not injured, and two drones had been used in the alleged attack before being disabled by Russian defences.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky denied involvement in the attack. “We don’t attack Putin, or Moscow, we fight on our territory,” he claimed.
Speaking in Finland, Mr Zelensky said his forces would soon launch a counteroffensive against the Russian invasion. The president said he was sure Western allies would provide fighter jets for the assault.
Earlier, a Russian official said a fuel depot was on fire near a key bridge linking Russia’s mainland with Crimea. The claim followed days after Moscow blamed Ukraine for an attack on an oil depot in Sevastopol.
Key Points
Kremlin accuses Ukraine of attempt to kill Putin
Zelensky denies Putin assassination attempt
Ukrainian counteroffensive 'coming soon’ – Zelensky
US 'asked Ukraine to postpone Moscow strikes’
Fuel depot on fire near key Crimea bridge
Russia may have ‘staged’ Kremlin drone attack
04:15 , Arpan Rai
Russia may have staged an apparent drone strike on the Kremlin to bring the war home to domestic audiences, a US-based think-tank has said.
Several indicators suggest that a drone strike against the Kremlin on 3 May was internally conducted and purposefully staged by Russia, the Institute for the Study of War said.
“It is extremely unlikely that two drones could have penetrated multiple layers of air defence and detonated or been shot down just over the heart of the Kremlin in a way that provided spectacular imagery caught nicely on camera,” the think-tank monitoring the war said.
Zelensky denies Putin assassination attempt
Wednesday 3 May 2023 17:10 , Liam James
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his country had not attacked Russia or Vladimir Putin, after Moscow accused Kyiv of staging a failed assassination attempt on the Russian president with a drone attack on the Kremlin.
“We don’t attack Putin, or Moscow, we fight on our territory. We’re defending our villages and cities,” Mr Zelensky claimed at a news conference in Helsinki.
Ukraine presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied any involvement, saying: “Ukraine has nothing to do with drone attacks on the Kremlin.”
Explosions heard in Kyiv, other Ukrainian cities
03:49 , Arpan Rai
Explosions have been reported in Kyiv and other cities in the early hours today, officials and media outlets said, with some local authorities reporting that anti-aircraft defences were at work.
“Air defences are working in the Kyiv region,” the regional military administration said on Telegram. Reuters eyewitnesses in the city said there had been at least one loud blast.
Explosions have also been reported in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia. Yuri Malashko, the head of the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration, said on Telegram that anti-aircraft defences were at work.
Blasts have also been reported in the Black Sea port of Odesa. Air alerts have been sounded in most of the eastern half of the country, according to an official government map.
Moment of alleged Ukrainian drone strike on Kremlin captured on video
03:00 , Liam James
Footage posted to social media appears to show a drone flying over the Kremlin before exploding.
Russia claimed Kyiv launched a failed assassination attempt on Vladimir Putin with a drone which was shot down over the Kremlin.
The footage has been shared by Ukrainian government adviser Anton Geraschenko, as well as Russian military bloggers and state news agencies.
US announces £240m for Ukraine, incl. Hydra rockets
02:00 , Liam James
The United States said Wednesday it would send a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $300m (£240m), including for the first time Hydra-70 short-range air-launched rockets, taken from US excess stocks.
The security assistance package would be the 37th approved by the United States for Ukraine since Russian invaded its neighbor in February 2022, for a total of $35.7bn.
“The United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement announcing the aid package.
The rockets, munitions and 155mm howitzer cannons included in the package would help Ukraine weaken Russian ground positions for advancing Ukrainian ground forces as Kyiv plans a spring offensive.
White House cannot confirm Putin assassination claims
01:00 , Liam James
The White House said on Wednesday it was aware of reports that Russia accused Ukraine of attacking the Kremlin with drones to try to kill President Vladimir Putin but could not authenticate or confirm the allegations.
“We are aware of the reports but are unable to confirm the ... authenticity of them at this time,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
Russia's Medvedev calls for 'elimination' of Zelensky
Thursday 4 May 2023 00:00 , Liam James
Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said that an alleged overnight drone attack on the Kremlin left Moscow with no options but to "eliminate" Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his “cabal” in Kyiv.
Mr Zelensky denied that Kyiv was behind the incident, which the Kremlin said was an attempt on President Vladimir Putin’s life but did not result in any casualties.
The Kremlin said Moscow would retaliate “whenever and wherever it sees fit”.
Mr Medvedev, who has a history of wild and hawkish public statements, said on Telegram: “After today's terrorist attack, there are no options left except for the physical elimination of Zelensky and his cabal.”
Russia may sabotage undersea cables to punish Western support for Ukraine – Nato
Wednesday 3 May 2023 23:00 , Liam James
Russia may sabotage undersea cables to punish Western nations for supporting Ukraine, Nato's intelligence chief warned on Wednesday, as the alliance boosts efforts to protect undersea infrastructure following the Nord Stream attacks.
"There are heightened concerns that Russia may target undersea cables and other critical infrastructure in an effort to disrupt Western life, to gain leverage against those nations that are providing security to Ukraine," David Cattler told reporters.
"The Russians are more active than we have seen them in years in this domain," he said, adding they were patrolling more throughout the Atlantic than in recent years and had also stepped up activities in the North and Baltic seas.
Threats to undersea cables and pipelines have become a focus of public attention since, in September 2022, as-yet unexplained explosions crippled the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, built to ship gas from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea.
Last month, public broadcasters from Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway reported that their national security services were concerned that Russia appeared to be planning to attack the countries' North Sea communication cables if war with Nato began.
Read more about that here:
Russian ships ‘plotting sabotage in the North Sea’
Donald Trump claims he could end war in Ukraine in a day if re-elected to White House
Wednesday 3 May 2023 22:00 , Liam James
Donald Trump said he would be able to end the war in Ukraine in a single day if re-elected president.
In an interview with Nigel Farage on GB News, the former White House resident said he “got along great” with Russian president Vladimir Putin and criticised Joe Biden’s handling of the war in Ukraine.
He said: “If I were president, I [would] end that war in one day. It’ll take 24 hours. I will get that ended. It would be easy.
“That deal would be easy. A lot of it has to do with the money. That war has to be stopped. It is a disaster.”
Read more on the 2024 hopeful’s interview here:
Donald Trump claims he could end war in Ukraine in a day if re-elected to White House
Nato eyes Japan office
Wednesday 3 May 2023 20:50 , Natalie Crockett
Nato is planning to open a liaison office in Japan, its first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region, the Nikkei Asia reported today, citing Japanese and Nato officials.
The liaison office will enable discussions with Nato’s security partners, such as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, with geopolitical challenges from China and Russia in mind, the media outlet reported.
Asked about the report, Nato spokesperson Oana Lungescu said the alliance would not go into details of Nato allies’ ongoing deliberations.
Japanese foreign ministry spokespeople were not available for comment. Today is a public holiday in Japan.
Japan and the West have been moving closer in recent years. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg visited Japan in January and pledged with prime minister Fumio Kishida to strengthen ties in the face off “historic” security challenges, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s rising military power.
The same month, Japan and the US extended their military alliance to counter threats in outer space, while jointly recognising China as “an unprecedented” threat to the international order.
Nordic nations back Ukraine EU, Nato bids
Wednesday 3 May 2023 20:20 , Natalie Crockett
Nordic nations support Ukraine in its efforts to eventually become a member of the European Union and Nato, leaders of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland said in a joint statement with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The Nordic countries will continue their political, financial, humanitarian and military support for as long as it takes,” the joint statement said.
Trump declares ‘I will end that war in one day’ if re-elected as US president
Wednesday 3 May 2023 19:50 , Natalie Crockett
Former US president Donald Trump said he would be able to put a stop to the war in Ukraine in a single day if he was re-elected to the White House.
Speaking to Nigel Farage on GB News in an interview recorded during his visit to Scotland, Mr Trump said: “If I were president, I will end that war in one day.
“It’ll take 24 hours. I will get that ended. It would be easy.
“That deal would be easy. A lot of it has to do with the money. That war has to be stopped. It is a disaster.”
Mr Trump said he “got along great” with Russian president Vladimir Putin, adding: “Putin never would have gotten into Ukraine if it weren’t for the incompetence of this administration, this current administration.
“Putin was not going in, it was never mentioned and I knew him very well.”
Germany announces Zelensky visit – but security concerns threaten trip
Wednesday 3 May 2023 19:30 , Liam James
German police said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky would travel to Berlin on 13 May, though a security source later told Reuters that the public disclosure of the visit was premature and it was now unclear if it would go ahead.
Police and local media had reported that Mr Zelensky would travel to Berlin on 13 May at the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then on to the western city of Aachen the next day to receive the 2023 Charlemagne prize.
According to a report by the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel, Mr Zelensky would be received by Mr Scholz with military honours.
“At the invitation of the Federal Chancellor, the President of Ukraine, Mr Volodymyr Zelensky, is expected to make an official visit to Berlin and Aachen from May 13 to 14,” the federal police said in a statement sent to Reuters.
However, a government spokesperson declined to confirm the visit, saying only that Mr Scholz’s appointments were announced every Friday for the following week.
Russian F1 star takes fight against sanctions to High Court
Wednesday 3 May 2023 19:00 , Liam James
Russian racing driver Nikita Mazepin has begun a High Court fight with British government ministers after being made subject to sanctions in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Mazepin, 24, who used to drive for the Haas Formula 1 Team, wants sanctions lifted and has taken legal action against Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
A judge considered preliminary issues at a High Court hearing in London on Wednesday.
Mr Justice Chamberlain heard that Mr Mazepin and his father Dmitry Mazepin – a Russian businessman – had been made subject to sanctions in mid-March 2022.
In September 2022, Mr Mazepin had requested “revocation of his designation” but ministers had decided to “take no action”.
A judge is due to oversee a further hearing in London in June.
Ex-UK defence head asks if Ukraine aid not immoral
Wednesday 3 May 2023 18:30 , Liam James
A former British defence chief has questioned the morality of the UK’s assistance to Ukraine.
Speaking at Westminster, Lord Houghton of Richmond said the support being provided by Britain and its allies appeared aimed at allowing the war-torn country “neither to lose badly nor to win decisively”.
The former chief of the defence staff argued this had led to a “sustained, mutually hurting stalemate”.
The UK has provided key military assistance to the Kyiv government following the Russian invasion, including missiles, artillery and tanks.
British troops have also given training to Ukrainian forces, to prepare them for frontline combat.
Zelensky ‘sure’ West will give warplanes to aid counteroffensive
Wednesday 3 May 2023 18:00 , Liam James
Volodymyr Zelensky said he was sure that Western allies would supply Kyiv with modern warplanes once a counteroffensive against the Russian invasion begins.
Ukraine has for months been pushing allies to provide fighter jets to help dominate its skies and open up new strategies against the Russian invasion.
So far, only Poland and Slovakia have met the call, ending MiG-29s, though Britain has strongly suggested it would provide jets, and the Netherlands said it was also open to such a move. Britain in February said it would train Ukrainian pilots to fly Nato jets.
Speaking at a news conference in Finland, Nato’s newest member, Mr Zelensky said one of the reasons he had travelled to Helsinki was to show Kyiv’s desire to become a fully fledged member of the military alliance.
Wednesday 3 May 2023 17:30 , Liam James
British defence secretary Ben Wallace said the UK would be assessing reports of a drone strike on the Kremlin, which Russia claimed was a foiled attack by Ukraine.
He said: “They are initial reports, I’ve seen the Kremlin’s statement, I haven’t seen a statement from Ukraine.
“We’ll obviously assess what we’ve seen in the open media and then we’ll probably issue a comment later but at the moment I’m not going to make a comment because it’s pretty much been a one-sided comment by the Russians and I think what we’ve learnt in this whole conflict is I wouldn’t take at face value comments by Russia.
“I’ve seen the footage, we’ll make an assessment and then I can comment further at a later date.”
The US earlier said it could not validate Russia’s claims.
EU agrees to buy ammo for Ukraine as counteroffensive nears
Wednesday 3 May 2023 17:00 , Liam James
European Union countries finalised a scheme to jointly buy ammunition for Ukraine after weeks of wrangling that had frustrated leaders in Kyiv.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky had expressed concern over his army’s ammunition supplies ahead of a counteroffensive against the Russian invasion which he said would soon be launched.
Ambassadors from the EU’s member countries approved the deal at a meeting in Brussels, ending a dispute over how much of the business from the munitions contracts should stay in Europe.
Sweden, current holder of the EU’s rotating presidency, said the ambassadors approved the decision “to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces through €1bn (£0.9bn) for joint procurement of ammunition and missiles”.
Details of the compromise were not immediately available.
Russian attacks on Kherson kill 16, says Ukraine
Wednesday 3 May 2023 16:30 , Liam James
Russian attacks on Ukrainian-controlled parts of Kherson have killed 16 people, the Ukrainian prosecutors office said.
Twelve of those were killed in the regional capital, also called Kherson, where a further 22 people were wounded, it said. Russian forces have regularly shelled Kherson city from parts of the Kherson region that are occupied by Russia.
Reuters confirmed that the strikes were Russian, making the Kherson attack the latest in a resurgent series of mass strikes on Ukrainian cities, which saw 25 people killed across Ukraine last week.
Blinken says US can’t validate Putin assassination attempt claims
Wednesday 3 May 2023 16:00 , Liam James
US secretary of state Antony Blinken said he could not validate Russia’s accusation that Ukraine tried to assassinate Vladimir Putin in a drone attack, but said he would take anything coming from the Kremlin with a “very large shaker of salt.”
“We simply don’t know,” he said when asked about the incident alleged by the Kremlin.
Asked if Washington would criticise Ukraine if it decided on its own to strike back in Russian territory, Mr Blinken said those were decisions for Ukraine to make about how to defend itself.
US asked Ukraine to postpone Moscow strikes, leaked docs show
Wednesday 3 May 2023 15:45 , Liam James
Washington asked Kyiv to delay attacks on Moscow planned to coincide with the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, according to reports of leaked documents.
Russia today accused Kyiv of attempting to assassinate Vladimir Putin with a drone strike. Ukraine has denied the claim.
In documents released in a mass US military leak last month, the CIA said that Kyiv “had agreed, at Washington’s request, to postpone strikes” on Moscow that were planned for 24 February, the Washington Post reports.
Ukraine blames ‘Russian partisans' for Kremlin drone strike
Wednesday 3 May 2023 15:05 , Liam James
Ukraine has denied that it was involved in an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin which Moscow said was considered an attempt on Vladimir Putin’s life.
A spokesperson for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv had officially denied Moscow’s accusation of involvement.
Writing on Telegram, internal ministry adviser Anton Geraschenko blamed “Russian partisans” for the attack. “There are enough people in Russia who want to send Putin to hell,” he said.
Russia threatens retaliation over alleged Putin assassination attempt
Wednesday 3 May 2023 14:45 , Liam James
Russia will respond to what it claims was a Ukrainian plot to assassinate Vladimir Putin “whenever and wherever it sees fit”, state news agencies reported.
Tass said the Russian presidential press service put out a statement on what it claimed was a drone attack on the Kremlin, reading: “Last night, the [Kyiv] regime attempted to attack the Russian president’s Kremlin residence using unmanned aerial vehicles.”
The Kremlin said it was “a pre-planned act of terrorism and an attempt on the life of the Russian president, which took place just before the Victory Day and the May 9 Parade that will be attended by foreign guests.”
“Russia reserves the right to take retaliatory measures whenever and wherever it sees fit,” the statement read, according to Tass.
Moment of alleged Ukrainian drone strike on Kremlin captured on video
Wednesday 3 May 2023 14:26 , Liam James
Footage posted to social media appears to show a drone flying over the Kremlin before exploding.
Russia claimed Kyiv launched a failed assassination attempt on Vladimir Putin with a drone which was shot down over the Kremlin.
The footage has been shared by Ukrainian government adviser Anton Geraschenko, as well as Russian military bloggers and state news agencies.
Zelensky says counteroffensive coming soon
Wednesday 3 May 2023 13:44 , Liam James
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces would soon launch a counteroffensive against Russian forces.
Mr Zelensky made the remarks at a news conference in Finland after weeks of speculation over Ukraine’s plans to fight back against the invasion which has for months focused around grinding battles in the east with little progress on either side.
Russia has been hit with several drone attacks in recent days as Ukraine prepares to push to regain parts of its territory under occupation. Two goods trains in the Russian border region of Bryasnk have been derailed by explosive devices in recent days, according to local officials.
Attacks on Russian-held land followed a wave of missile strikes on Ukrainian cities last week which killed at least 25 people.
Kremlin accuses Ukraine of attempt to kill Putin
Wednesday 3 May 2023 13:14 , Liam James
Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of attempting to attack the Kremlin with two drones, according to state run news agencies.
The Kremlin branded the alleged overnight attack was a “terrorist act” and a failed bid to kill Vladimir Putin, an RIA report said.
A Tass report carried quotes from officials saying Russian military and security forces had disabled the drones before they could strike.
It said there had been no damage caused nor casualties incurred, and did not provide any other details.
The Kremlin added that President Vladimir Putin was safe and continued to work with his schedule unchanged.
There were no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities.
Huge fire rages at oil depot behind Russian lines
Wednesday 3 May 2023 13:00 , Matt Mathers
A massive blaze broke out at an oil depot behind Russian lines, local officials said Wednesday, while the Kremlin‘s forces used 26 Iranian-made drones in another nighttime attack on Ukraine as the war stretched into its 15th month.
The oil depot erupted in flames in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, located east of the Russian-held Crimean Peninsula, according to Krasnodar governor Veniamin Kondratyev.
David Rising reports:
Huge fire rages at oil depot behind Russian lines
Sweden's parliament hit by cyber attack
Wednesday 3 May 2023 12:40 , Matt Mathers
Sweden’s parliament has been hit by a cyber attack that has disrupted access to its web page, it said on Wednesday.
The web page was partially down on Tuesday and appeared slow on Wednesday.
"The analysis shows that it is a denial-of-service attack," a parliament spokesperson said. "Right now the web page can be slow and it can be difficult to watch our web casts."
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and other Nordic leaders are due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Finland’s capital on Wednesday.
Sweden applied for NATO membership in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and authorities have warned of increased cyber attacks against Swedish interests.
58-hour curfew to be introduced in Kherson
Wednesday 3 May 2023 12:20 , Matt Mathers
A round-the-clock curfew is to be introduced in Kherson from 8pm on Friday until 6am on Monday, Kherson governor Oleksandr Prokudin announced.
"During these 58 hours, it is forbidden to move around or stay on the streets of the city. Also, the city will be closed for entry and exit," Prokudin said.
The measure is necessary, he said in a video on social media, "so that law enforcement officers can do their job and not put you in danger," but did not provide further details.
Pope greets Russian orthodox envoy amid peace mission talk
Wednesday 3 May 2023 12:00 , Matt Mathers
Pope Francis has greeted the foreign envoy of the Russian Orthodox Church, just days after revealing a secret "mission" is underway to try to put an end to the war in Ukraine.
Metropolitan Anthony attended Francis’ weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square before greeting the Pope at the end.
He presented Francis with an icon, which the Pope blessed.
Anthony was later seen being led off the stage by one of Francis’ aides.
Francis devoted his remarks at the audience to a recap of his weekend visit to Hungary, during which he made repeated calls for an end to the war.
Zelensky to visit Berlin 13 May - report
Wednesday 3 May 2023 11:37 , Matt Mathers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is to travel to Berlin on 13 May, German newspaper Tagesspiegel reported, citing police.
According to the report, the Ukrainian leader will be received by German chancellor Scholz with military honours on 14 May before flying to Aachen later in the day to receive the 2023 Charlemagne Prize.
Mr Zelensky was due to meet Nordic leaders in Finland on Wednesday.
Zelensky in Finland to meet with Nordic leaders
Wednesday 3 May 2023 11:12 , Matt Mathers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Finland on Wednesday for talks with Nordic leaders on his country’s war with Russia and its relations with Europe, governments of the region said.
Zelensky will hold bilateral talks with Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto followed by a news conference before joining a regional summit and a second meeting with media, Mr Niinisto’s office said in a statement.
The wider summit will include Mr Niinisto as well as the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.
"The theme of the summit is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Nordic countries’ continued support for Ukraine, Ukraine’s relationship with the EU and NATO, and Ukraine’s initiative for a just peace," Mr Niinisto’s office said.
Watch: Moment explosion at Ukraine ammunition depot captured on CCTV
Wednesday 3 May 2023 10:40 , Matt Mathers
A huge explosion at an ammunition depot in Ukraine has been captured on CCTV.
The blast happened after Russian missiles hit at targets in Pavhlorad, eastern Ukraine, on 1 May.
Russia has launched three consecutive nights of heavy attacks on Ukraine ahead of an expected counteroffensive by Kyiv.
‘It feels as though it’s coming together'
Wednesday 3 May 2023 10:20 , Matt Mathers
Ukraine’s spring counteroffensive against Russia is “close” to being launched, a retired British Army officer has suggested.
Rupert Jones, a former major general, said there were “indicators” suggesting that Kyiv was ready to attack.
“It feels as though it’s coming together,” he told Sky News earlier this morning - more comments below.
His remarks came after Ukraine’s interior minister said that eight “storm” brigades – comprising of up to 40,000 troops – are being re-equipped as Ukraine prepares to strike.
Reports about Ukraine’s spring counteroffensive have been circulating for months but the country has refused to confirm a date for its push back into territory gained by the Kremlin.
Retired senior British Army Officer, Major General Rupert Jones, suggests that there are "indicators" that the Ukraine Spring Offensive is "close."
"It feels as though it's coming together."https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602 pic.twitter.com/Uozt5u6DxL— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 3, 2023
NATO to open Japan office to enable Indo-Pacific consultation - report
Wednesday 3 May 2023 10:05 , Matt Mathers
NATO is planning to open a liaison office in Japan, its first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region, the Nikkei Asia reported on Wednesday, citing Japanese and NATO officials.
The liaison office will enable discussions with NATO’s security partners, such as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, with geopolitical challenges from China and Russia in mind, the media outlet reported.
NATO and Japanese foreign ministry spokespeople were not immediately available for comment. Wednesday is a public holiday in Japan.
The proposed one-person office is due to open next year in Tokyo but details such as whether Japan would provide the space or NATO would fund it were under negotiation, the news outlet said.
NATO has similar liaison offices in New York, Vienna, Ukraine and other places, it said.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg visited Japan in January and pledged with prime minister Fumio Kishida to strengthen ties in the face off "historic" security challenges, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s rising military power.
Japan and NATO are seeking to deepen cooperation on cyber threats, disruptive technologies and disinformation, aiming to sign an individually tailored partnership programme before a NATO summit in July, Nikkei Asia reported.
Ukraine equipping up to 40,000 ‘storm’ troops ahead of counter attack
Wednesday 3 May 2023 09:40 , Matt Mathers
Ukraine’s interior minister has said that eight “storm” brigades – comprising of up to 40,000 troops – are being re-equipped as Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive against Moscow’s invasion.
The brigades are “fully formed” but Ihor Klymenko said that they require two to three weeks of instruction before they are tasked with “appropriate offensive assault operations” alongside the Ukrainian army. Mr Klymenko said that Kyiv was also planning the “formation of additional units” in parallel with this training, during an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
Chris Stevenson reports:
Ukraine equipping up to 40,000 ‘storm’ troops ahead of counter attack
Russian defense chief wants wartime missile output doubled
Wednesday 3 May 2023 09:20 , Matt Mathers
Russia’s defense chief on Tuesday urged a state company to double its missile output, as a possible Ukrainian counteroffensive looms and both sides in the 14-month war reportedly feel an ammunition crunch.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, speaking at a meeting with top military brass, said the state-owned Tactical Missiles Corporation had been fulfilling its contracts in a timely manner.
But, Shoigu added, “right now it is necessary to double the production of high-precision weapons in the shortest possible time.”
David Rising reports:
Russian defense chief wants wartime missile output doubled
Officials: US to send Ukraine $300 million in military aid
Wednesday 3 May 2023 08:50 , Matt Mathers
The U.S. is sending Ukraine about $300 million in additional military aid, including an enormous amount of artillery rounds, howitzers, air-to-ground rockets and ammunition as the launch of a spring offensive against Russian forces approaches, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
The new package includes Hydra-70 rockets, which are unguided rockets that are fired from aircraft. It also includes an undisclosed number of rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, mortars, howitzer rounds, missiles and Carl Gustaf anti—tank rifles. The weapons will all be pulled from Pentagon stocks, so they can go quickly to the front lines. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid has not yet been formally announced.
Full report:
Officials: US to send Ukraine $300 million in military aid
Fuel depot fire caused by drone - Russian state media
Wednesday 3 May 2023 08:30 , Matt Mathers
A major fire at a fuel depot in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region broke out as a result of a drone falling on the facility, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported, citing emergency services.
No immediate casualties have been reported so far.
Preliminary visuals of the explosion showed flames and black smoke billowing over what appeared to be large tanks emblazoned with red warnings of “flammable” in videos posted on Russian social media.
The blaze broke out in the village of Volna, in the Temryuk administrative district, the governor said.
Russia says 7 Ukrainian agents arrested in Crimea - TASS cites FSB
Wednesday 3 May 2023 08:14 , Matt Mathers
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Wednesday that seven people connected with Ukrainian intelligence had been detained in Crimea, state-owned news agency TASS reported.
In a statement, the FSB said that attacks against Russian-backed Crimea governor Sergei Aksyonov and other officials had been thwarted.
Warplanes to patrol airspace during military checks in Belarus
Wednesday 3 May 2023 07:55 , Matt Mathers
Belarus will hold another round of checks of the combat readiness of its military in May, including joint patrols of its airspace by Belarusian and Russian warplanes, the country’s defence ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The checks will be mainly focused on units deployed in the Grodno, Brest and Minsk regions.
Belarus, an ally of Russia, allowed its country to be used as astaging post for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
Russian foreign ministry says May 5 grain deal talks not yet confirmed -RIA
Wednesday 3 May 2023 07:37 , Matt Mathers
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that talks between Russia, Ukraine and Turkey on the Black Sea grain deal on 5 May have not yet been agreed, state-owned news agency RIA reported.
The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, allows grain trapped by Russia’s invasion to be safely exported from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
Russia has signalled it will not allow the deal agreed last July to continue beyond 18 May because a list of demands to facilitate its own grain and fertiliser exports has not been met.
Russia ‘shifting away’ from targeting Ukraine energy supply - MoD
Wednesday 3 May 2023 07:22 , Matt Mathers
Russia is “shifting away” from targeting Ukraine’s electoral power network and attacking its military infrastructure instead, Britain’s Ministry of Defence has said.
The MoD added that the Kremlin had used “smaller numbers of missiles” in its latest attacks as it likely tries to rebuild its mounted air-launched cruise missile stocks.
Most Russian drones destroyed, Dnipro hit – Ukraine
Wednesday 3 May 2023 06:56 , Arpan Rai
Russia’s third nightly round of attacks by drones hit a building in the Dnipropetrovsk region overnight but no casualties have been reported, officials said.
Ukraine’s Air Force Command destroyed 21 of the 26 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia, while all drones fired over Kyiv were eliminated, officials in the capital’s military administration said.
“All enemy targets were identified and shot down in the airspace around the capital,” Kyiv’s military administration said on Telegram.
Air raid sirens blared for several hours in Kyiv, the surrounding region and most of eastern Ukraine, with the skies only clearing towards dawn.
What is included in Biden's latest military package to Ukraine
Wednesday 3 May 2023 06:33 , Arpan Rai
The Biden administration has packed fresh military aid for Ukraine as officials in Kyiv say they are readying a counteroffensive and are on the “home stretch”.
The new package includes Hydra-70 rockets, which are unguided rockets that are fired from aircraft. It also includes an undisclosed number of rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, mortars, howitzer rounds, missiles and Carl Gustaf anti-tank rifles.
The weapons will all be pulled from Pentagon stocks, so they can go quickly to the frontline. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid has not yet been formally announced.
Read the full story here:
Officials: US to send Ukraine $300 million in military aid
Ukraine monitoring evasion of sanctions by Russia, says Zelensky
Wednesday 3 May 2023 06:00 , Arpan Rai
Volodymyr Zelensky held an internal meeting on strengthening sanctions on Russia by Ukraine and its allies yesterday.
“We are closely monitoring how the terrorist state is trying to circumvent sanctions, recording each such direction, and working together with our partners to block it. We are preparing a large sanctions package. The decision will be made soon,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
Putin’s forces fail in attacking Kyiv overnight, all drones downed
Wednesday 3 May 2023 05:31 , Arpan Rai
Russia attempted to attack Kyiv using drones for the third time in six days last night but saw its efforts repelled, the city’s authorities said today.
“All enemy targets were identified and shot down in the airspace around the capital,” Kyiv’s military administration said on the Telegram messaging app, citing initial details.
Ukraine’s air defence systems destroyed all Russian drones, officials in Kyiv said. No immediate casualties or destruction have been reported.
Air raid sirens blared for several hours in Kyiv, the surrounding region and most of eastern Ukraine, with the skies clearing only at dawn.
The attack by Russia mostly included Iranian-made Shahed drones, it added. It was not immediately known how many drones were shot down.
White House did not inform Ukraine of Pentagon leaks, says Zelensky
Wednesday 3 May 2023 04:19 , Arpan Rai
Volodymyr Zelensky said the White House did not inform his administration or him about a leak of secret US documents that grabbed attention around the world last month.
“I did not receive information from the White House or the Pentagon beforehand,” Mr Zelensky was quoted as saying.
Calling it “unprofitable” for Ukraine, he said: “It is not beneficial to the reputation of the White House, and I believe it is not beneficial to the reputation of the United States.”
The materials posted online offered a partial, month-old snapshot of the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov has downplayed the negative impact of the Pentagon document leaks and said it contained a mixture of true and false information about his country’s military.
Fuel depot explodes in Russia’s Krasnodar
Wednesday 3 May 2023 04:04 , Matt Mathers
A fuel storage facility near a key bridge in Russia’s southwestern region of Krasnodar has been set ablaze in the early hours today, officials said.
“The fire has been classified as the highest rank of difficulty,” Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Krasnodar, which lies across the Sea of Azov from Ukraine, said on the Telegram messaging app.
No immediate casualties have been reported so far.
Preliminary visuals of the explosion showed flames and black smoke billowing over what appeared to be large tanks emblazoned with red warnings of “flammable” in videos posted on Russian social media.
The blaze broke out in the village of Volna, in the Temryuk administrative district, the governor said.
The facility lies close to the Crimean Bridge, or the Kerch Strait bridge, that links Russia’s mainland with the Crimea peninsula it annexed in 2014 from Ukraine.
“Every effort is being made to prevent the fire from spreading further,” Mr Kondratyev added. “There is no threat to residents of the village.”
The Murdochs chatted to Zelensky before firing Tucker Carlson
Wednesday 3 May 2023 03:00 , Joe Middleton
Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan both spoke to Volodymyr Zelensky in the months before Fox News fired Tucker Carlson, a major critic of the Ukrainian president, according to reports.
The 92-year-old News Corp executive chairman held an “unreported” call with Mr Zelensky earlier this spring, reported Semafor.
During the conversation, they reportedly discussed Ukraine’s conflict with Russia as well as the March 2022 deaths of Fox News Journalists Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra Kuvshynova in the country.
Graeme Massie reports.
The Murdochs chatted to Zelensky before firing Tucker Carlson
