Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin ‘accidentally’ bombs own city

A Russian supersonic warplane accidentally fired on its own city late last night, causing a large blast and damaging buildings.

“As a Sukhoi Su-34 air force plane was flying over the city of Belgorod there was an accidental discharge of aviation ammunition,” the Russian defence ministry said, according to Tass news agency. It was not immediately clear what kind of munition was released from the jet.

Local authorities confirmed two women were injured in the incident and some buildings have been damaged.

The city of Belgorod lies just east of the border with Ukraine and has previously been hit by Russian misfire.

On the battlefield, a video has been shared by Ukrainian battalion DaVinci Wolves showing an armed fight from trenches in Bakhmut between its soldiers and Russian troops.

The 11-minute long video captures scenes from the bloodied battle with bullets being fired into dug up trenches as the soldiers fire back on Russian positions.

Key Points

• Three injured in Russian misfire on own city

• Fighting in Ukraine slowed by severe mud – UK

• Zelensky says now is the time for Ukraine to join Nato

• Blinding flash over Kyiv as Nasa denies involvement

Three injured in Russian misfire on own city

Friday 21 April 2023 09:16 , Liam James

Three people were injured in a Russian misfire on Belgorod, local officials said, revising the total up from two.

Video footage from the site showed piles of concrete on the street, several damaged cars and a building with broken windows. One shot showed what appeared to be car upside down on the roof of a store.

Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced a state of emergency overnight and said there was a crater measuring 20 metres across on one of the main streets. Four cars and four apartment buildings were damaged, he added.

“Thank God there are no dead,” Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a statement on Telegram, adding that an apartment building had been evacuated overnight.

A handout photo made available by Mr Gladkov shows a damaged apartment after the blast

Mayor of the city of Belgorod Valentin Demidov speaks with a local resident in a damaged apartment

Exterior of damaged apartment block, in picture released by Mr Gladkov

Ukraine war latest

08:10 , Sam Rkaina

* The U.S. decision to provide Ukraine with 31 advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks will make a difference in the war but is no silver bullet, U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Friday.

* Six German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks destined for Ukraine left Spain by ship, according to a naval monitoring website.

* Ukraine pressed allies for long-range weapons, jets and ammunition as the U.S. hosted a meeting at the Ramstein air base in Germany on Friday to discuss stepped up support to repel the Russian invasion.

* Russia’s Defence Ministry said assault troops were fighting in western parts of Bakhmut, the last part of the embattled Ukrainian city still held by Kyiv’s forces.

* Ukraine said Russian forces had made some advances in their fight for Bakhmut but the situation was under control.

Minister: Ukraine will win war of technologies

06:00 , Emily Atkinson

As Ukrainian and Russian troops fight conventional battles on the front lines, Europe’s first major war of the internet age has also sparked a war of technology as both sides vie for advantage with their drones and satellite communications.

While the two sides have kept pace with one another thus far, Ukraine’s minister in charge of technology told The Associated Press in an interview Friday that he was confident his country had the motivation and abilities to out-innovate Russia in the end.

More on this story here:

Minister: Ukraine will win war of technologies

Zelensky says Kyiv preparing new units for front line

04:00 , Emily Atkinson

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address that Kyiv was actively preparing new units that had yet to appear on the front line amid heavy fighting in Bakhmut.

Russia’s assault on Bakhmut relies heavily on the Wagner Group private army, whose commander Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday expressed concern about a Ukrainian counter attack.

“Today we are killing those who were trained in Ukraine but the ones coming from Germany will be technologically educated,” he said in an audio recording released on Telegram, an apparent reference to Ukrainians who will be trained in Germany to use Abrams tanks provided by the United States.

“The West has handed over 230 tanks and 1,500 other armoured vehicles. This, too, is enough to provide serious opposition.”

Ukraine, he predicted, would strike when the ground had firmed up after spring rains.

“They will attack ... they will come and try to tear us apart, and we must resist,” he said.

Photo of pregnant woman in bombed-out Mariupol maternity hospital wins World Press Photo award

02:00 , Emily Atkinson

A gut-wrenching photo of a pregnant woman in a bombed-out Mariupol maternity hospital has won the World Press Photo award this year.

The winning photo shows 32-year-old Iryna Kalinina, an injured pregnant woman being carried from a maternity hospital that was damaged during a Russian airstrike in Mariupol in March last year.

Her baby – named Miron after the word for “peace” – was stillborn. The World Press Photo website said Kalinina died half an hour after giving birth.

My colleague Maroosha Muzaffar reports:

Photo of pregnant woman in bombed-out Mariupol hospital wins World Press Photo award

Six Leopard tanks leave Spain en route to Ukraine

Saturday 22 April 2023 00:00 , Emily Atkinson

Six Leopard 2A4 tanks destined for Ukraine left Spain by ship on Friday, according to a naval monitoring website, part of Western military aid for Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s invasion.

The German-made Leopard tanks and armoured personnel carriers were driven onto a cargo vessel, Reuters witnesses said. The ship will go to Poland and the hardware transferred to Ukraine, which is expected to launch a spring counteroffensive. It was unclear when the equipment would arrive.

Spanish defence minister Margarita Robles said this month that Spain will send 10 Leopard 2A4 tanks. The military is repairing the remaining four. Spain has also trained 40 tank crew members and 15 mechanics.

Aftermath of explosion as Russian warplane accidentally fires into city near Ukraine

Friday 21 April 2023 22:00 , Emily Atkinson

Aftermath of explosion as Russian warplane accidentally fires into city near Ukraine

Watch: All Nato members agree Ukraine will join, Stoltenberg says

Friday 21 April 2023 20:00 , Emily Atkinson

Abrams tanks will make difference in Ukraine war but no silver bullet, says US general

Friday 21 April 2023 19:00 , Emily Atkinson

The US decision to provide Ukraine with 31 advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks will make a difference in the war but is no silver bullet, US army general Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Friday.

Milley’s remarks came as the United States announced that Abrams tanks to be used to train the Ukrainians will arrive in Germany in the coming weeks.

“I’m biased, but I think the M1 tank’s the best tank in the world ... I do think the M1 tank, when it is delivered, will make a difference,” Milley, the top US general, said after a meeting of Ukraine‘s allies at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

“But I would also caution there’s no silver bullet in war.”

Russian official warns of ‘uncontrollable’ arms race

Friday 21 April 2023 18:11 , Emily Atkinson

A Russian official warned on Friday of an “uncontrollable” arms race involving multiple nuclear powers, the state-owned RIA news agency said.

“In essence, we are witnessing a missile arms race with consequences that are hard to predict. Tens of billions of dollars are being invested in improving missile technology. This process is taking on an uncontrollable character,” Grigory Mashkov, ambassador-at-large, was quoted as saying.

RIA said Mashkov referred in a magazine interview to China’s rapid expansion of its missile systems and to the nuclear capabilities of Israel, India and Pakistan.

Atomic scientists said in January that the “Doomsday Clock” - a notional measure of the risk of mankind’s extinction - had ticked closer to midnight than ever before as a result of rising nuclear tensions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has claimed four regions of Ukraine as its own territory and placed them under its nuclear umbrella, in moves condemned as illegal by most countries at the United Nations. President Vladimir Putin has said repeatedly that Russia would use all means at its disposal to defend its “territorial integrity”.

In February, Putin announced Moscow was suspending the New START treaty with the United States, which limits each side’s deployed nuclear warheads, saying Washington was trying to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia in Ukraine.

Earlier, RIA quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying a “vacuum” could arise in strategic stability once New START expires in 2026. It was not clear whether this was a ministry statement or a comment from Mashkov’s interview.

RIA also quoted the ministry as saying Moscow needed to build up its tactical missile capabilities including in its Kaliningrad region, which borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

Analysis: How ‘Putin’s chef’ and his Wagner Group cronies are cashing in on conflict around the world

Friday 21 April 2023 17:00 , Emily Atkinson

They’ve drawn most attention in eastern Ukraine, but it seems wherever war breaks out – from Syria to Sudan – this group of mercenaries can be found profiting from bloodshed. Now, leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rift with the Kremlin could make them even more dangerous, writes World Affairs Editor Kim Sengupta.

How ‘Putin’s chef’ and his Wagner Group cronies are cashing in on conflict

Five people sanctioned over imprisonment of British-Russian dissident

Friday 21 April 2023 16:05 , Emily Atkinson

The UK has sanctioned five people including two Russian spies following the imprisonment of a British-Russian dissident for 25 years in Moscow.

Vladimir Kara-Murza was jailed on Monday after being convicted of treason and spreading false information about the Russian army in a process he described as a “show trial”.

The Kremlin critic, a close ally of murdered opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, has already survived two poisonings that left him in a coma in 2015 and 2017.

More on this story here:

Five people sanctioned over imprisonment of British-Russian dissident

Kyiv says situation in city of Bakhmut 'under control'

Friday 21 April 2023 15:00 , Emily Atkinson

Ukraine said on Friday Russian forces had made some advances in fierce fighting for the eastern city of Bakhmut but that the situation was under control.

Deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar made her comments shortly before Russia’s defence ministry said its assault troops were now fighting in western parts of Bakhmut, the last part of the city held by Ukrainian forces.

“The situation is tense, but under control,” Malyar wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “Decisions are being made according to military expediency.”

Moscow court seeks arrest of Ukrainian spy chief Budanov

Friday 21 April 2023 13:53 , Emily Atkinson

A Moscow court on Friday issued a warrant for the arrest of the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, accusing the spy chief of organising “terrorist attacks” inside Russia, state-owned news agency RIA reported.

RIA cited the court as saying that Budanov was accused of offences related to terrorism and arms smuggling. The move against him was announced “in absentia”, in an apparent acknowledgement that Budanov cannot be immediately detained.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine last year, a number of explosions have hit Russian infrastructure, arms dumps and military facilities. Russia has blamed Ukraine for many of the strikes, while Kyiv has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) previously named Budanov as the organiser of an explosion that damaged the bridge linking Russia to the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in October. Russia has also blamed Ukrainian spies for bombings that killed the daughter of a nationalist writer near Moscow, and a pro-war blogger in St Petersburg.

Mariupol pregnant victim pic wins top photo prize

Friday 21 April 2023 13:20 , Liam James

Associated Press photographer Evgeniy Maloletka won the World Press Photo of the Year award on Thursday for his harrowing image of emergency workers carrying a pregnant woman through the shattered grounds of a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, in the chaotic aftermath of a Russian attack.

The Ukrainian photographer’s 9 March, 2022, image of the fatally wounded woman, her left hand on her bloodied lower left abdomen, drove home the horror of Russia’s brutal onslaught in the eastern port city early in the war.

The 32-year-old woman, Iryna Kalinina, died of her injuries a half-hour after giving birth to the lifeless body of her baby, named Miron.

Brazil's Lula visits Portugal amid Ukraine tensions with EU

Friday 21 April 2023 12:51 , Liam James

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was set to arrive in Portugal today amid heightened tensions with the European Union over his position on the war in Ukraine, following statements suggesting the invaded country and the West share responsibility for the conflict.

Mr Lula said last weekend while traveling in the United Arab Emirates and China that both Ukraine and Russia had decided to go to war, and that the US was “stimulating” the fighting.

Earlier in the month, he irked Ukraine, the US and the EU by suggesting that Ukraine cede Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014, to end the current conflict.

Mr Lula also welcomed Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov to Brasilia on Monday. The following day, Mr Lula condemned the “violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity” while promoting his proposal for a club of nations, including Brazil, to mediate a peaceful resolution to the war.

Brazil's Lula visits Portugal amid Ukraine tensions with EU

US tank training for Ukrainians set to start soon

Friday 21 April 2023 12:00 , Liam James

The US will start training Ukrainian forces on how to use and maintain Abrams tanks in the coming weeks.

It comes as it continues to speed up its effort to get them on to the battlefield as quickly as possible, American officials said.

The decision was announced as defence leaders from around Europe and the world met at Ramstein Air Base in Germany in the ongoing effort to co-ordinate the delivery of weapons and other equipment to Ukraine.

An official announcement is expected later on Friday.

Kremlin ‘watching reports’ of G7 export ban

Friday 21 April 2023 11:28 , Liam James

The Kremlin said it was monitoring reports of a possible ban on exports to Russia by Western countries, and that new sanctions would hit the global economy.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency said the G7 countries are considering a near-total ban on exports to Russia, citing Japanese government sources.

Bloomberg News on Thursday also reported that the United States and Ukraine‘s allies were considering “an outright ban on most exports to Russia”. That report said officials from G7 nations were discussing the idea before a summit meeting in Japan next month.

Watch the moment Russia accidentally bombs its own city

Friday 21 April 2023 10:47 , Liam James

Russia accidentally fired on its own city last night.

Footage below shows the moment friendly fire rained down over Belgorod.

Czech Republic moves to 2% defence target

Friday 21 April 2023 10:45 , Liam James

The Czech Republic moved towards a defence spending target of 2 per cent of GDP.

European countries have accelerated their defence spending in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as many capitals have not yet met Nato’s 2 per cent financing commitment.

Canada announces £23m new Ukraine aid

Friday 21 April 2023 09:06 , Liam James

Canada has announced C$39m (£23m) in new military assistance for Ukraine that will include 40 sniper rifles, 16 radio sets and a donation to a Nato fund to help Kyiv in its war against Russia.

The latest round of Canadian aid, which also includes ammunition for the rifles, was announced by defence minister Anita Anand at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where Nato defence officials are meeting to discuss new military supplies for Ukraine.

The rifles and ammunition will be sourced from Canada-based Prairie Gun Works, while the radios will be from L3Harris Technologies, according to a statement from the Canadian defence ministry.

The contribution to the Nato fund, of about C$34.6m, will help to provide Ukraine with fuel supplies and other assets.

IOC stance on Russians is 'confusing', says Swiatek

Friday 21 April 2023 08:02 , Tara Cobham

The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) recommendation to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competition as neutrals is "confusing" because Ukraine is still under attack, tennis world number one Iga Swiatek said.

The IOC sanctioned both Russia and Belarus after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February last year.

However, it now wants to see athletes return across all sports and have a chance to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Russia struck Ukrainian city Bilopillia overnight

Friday 21 April 2023 07:37 , Tara Cobham

Russian forces struck Bilopillia, a city in northeastern Ukraine, three times overnight, according to Ukraine’s state broadcaster Suspilne.

But, citing the local authorities, it reported there were no casualties.

Fighting in Ukraine slowed by severe mud – UK MoD

Friday 21 April 2023 07:00 , Arpan Rai

Severe mud is highly likely slowing operations for both sides in the conflict with soft ground conditions seen across most of Ukraine, the British defence ministry said today.

“However, Russian online outlets are likely exaggerating the overall impact of mud on Ukrainian forces as part of an information operation aimed at raising Russian morale, and undermining Ukraine’s supporters, in light of an anticipated Ukrainian counter offensive,” the ministry said in its latest intelligence update.

It added that surface conditions can be expected to improve in the coming weeks but the threat from mines probably continues to be a more important factor in limiting the combatants’ off-road manoeuvres.

ICYMI: Mysterious flash in sky over Kyiv sparks bizarre theories after Nasa denies involvement

Friday 21 April 2023 07:00 , Emily Atkinson

A mysterious bright flash of light illuminated night skies above Kyiv on Wednesday, 19 April, sparking theories about what it could be.

The glow was observed in the capital at around 10pm local time (7pm GMT).

Kyiv city officials initially said it was a crashing Nasa satellite, citing “preliminary information,” but the space agency said the satellite was still in orbit.

Ukraine’s air force, who attempt to down missiles and drones from Russia, suggested the light may have come from a meteorite.

Flash in sky over Kyiv sparks bizarre theories after Nasa denies involvement

Ukrainian troops fire howitzers towards Russian targets in Donbas

Friday 21 April 2023 06:36 , Arpan Rai

Zelensky says now is the time for Ukraine to join Nato after chief’s visit

Friday 21 April 2023 06:14 , Arpan Rai

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has told Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg that it is time to let his country into the alliance – during Mr Stoltenberg’s first visit to Kyiv since Russia‘s invasion began.

Mr Stoltenberg said that the “rightful place is in the Euro-Atlantic family ... is in Nato”, inviting Mr Zelensky to a Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July. The Ukrainian president said that he believed the summit could be “historic” but that his nation needs a roadmap to membership.

“There is no objective barrier to the political decision to invite Ukraine into the alliance and now, when most people in Nato countries and the majority of Ukrainians support Nato accession, is the time for the corresponding decisions.” Mr Zelensky said.

Read the full story here:

Zelensky says now is the time for Ukraine to join Nato as alliance chief visits Kyiv

Russia regional governor quits after son dodges extradition to US

Friday 21 April 2023 06:00 , Emily Atkinson

The governor of the giant Russian territory of Krasnoyarsk has quit, authorities said on Thursday, shortly after his businessman son dodged Italian authorities trying to extradite him to the United States and fled to Russia.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree accepting the resignation of Alexander Uss but gave no details.

His son, Artem Uss, was due to face charges in the U.S. for shipping oil from Venezuela in breach of sanctions, and for bank fraud. An Italian court allowed him out on house arrest last month but he quickly fled.

In a video released on 9 April, after Artem Uss was back in Russia, Alexander Uss thanked those who had helped him return. He also said he was grateful to Putin, describing him as “a man with a big and open heart”.

Uss wrote on Telegram on Thursday that had talked to Putin recently and received an offer to continue working at the federal level, dealing with socio-economic development.

Italy’s justice minister has begun disciplinary action against three judges who granted Uss house arrest, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday.

Earlier this month Artem Uss told Russia’s RIA news agency that the U.S. charges against him were politically motivated.

The territory of Krasnoyarsk covers just under 2.4 million sq km (930,000 sq miles) in Siberia.

Grim video shows Bakhmut fighting from trenches

Friday 21 April 2023 05:36 , Arpan Rai

A video from the battlefield in Bakhmut has shown the deadly fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces with several close-call situations.

Ukrainian ground force battalion DaVinci Wolves shared an 11-minute video showing an armed fight where Russian forces are firing into the trenches used by Ukraine’s troops who are also firing back.

At one point, the Russian forces are also seen throwing a grenade into the trench but it does not explode in a near-death situation.

A Ukrainian soldier is also heard shouting that he has killed a Russian soldier, saying “we killed them”, but another replies that the enemy is alive and moving.

The Independent has not verified the authenticity of the video.

Badminton keeps barring Russia as Olympic qualifying begins

Friday 21 April 2023 05:00 , Emily Atkinson

Badminton upheld its ban on Russian and Belarusian players in international competitions on Thursday, days before Olympic qualifying begins.

Badminton’s qualifying period for next year’s Paris Olympics starts on May 1 and uses a calendar-year ranking.

Meanwhile, modern pentathlon said it would set up a “pathway” for athletes from the two countries to return but didn’t commit to a date.

More on this story here:

Badminton keeps barring Russia as Olympic qualifying begins

Two injured after Russia warplane accidentally fires into city near Ukraine

Friday 21 April 2023 04:01 , Arpan Rai

At least two people have been injured after a Russian warplane accidentally fired a weapon into its own city of Belgorod near Ukraine late last night, causing an explosion and damaging buildings, the Russian defence ministry said.

“As a Sukhoi Su-34 air force plane was flying over the city of Belgorod there was an accidental discharge of aviation ammunition,” the defence ministry said, reported Tass news agency. It is not immediately clear what kind of weapon was fired from the supersonic warplane.

A large blast was reported by local authorities in Belgorod, just across the border from Ukraine.

Two women have been injured in the blast and some buildings have been damaged, regional governor said.

Officials have launched a probe into the accidental firing.

Video footage from the site showed piles of concrete on the street, several damaged cars and a building with broken windows. One shot showed what appeared to be car upside down on the roof of a store.

In pictures: Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg destroyed Russian military vehicles

Friday 21 April 2023 04:00 , Emily Atkinson

G7 nations mulls near-total ban on exports to Russia

Friday 21 April 2023 03:52 , Arpan Rai

The Group of Seven (G7) countries are thinking of imposing a near-total ban on exports to Russia, sources in the Japanese government said, reported Kyodo news agency.

Japanese chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the government was aware of a news report that the US and Ukraine’s allies are considering “an outright ban on most exports to Russia”.

But he refrained from commenting on exchanges among G7 countries and like-minded nations about possible further sanctions against Russia.

“What is important for ending Russian aggression as soon as possible is that G7 remains united for severe sanctions against Russia and strong support for Ukraine,” the official told a press briefing.

G7 nations are discussing the idea of all-out ban on exports to Russia before a summit meeting in Japan next month, Bloomberg reported.

China not fanning Ukraine situation, says Chinese foreign minister

Friday 21 April 2023 03:46 , Arpan Rai

China is not inflaming the situation in Ukraine, the country’s foreign minister Qin Gang said today.

The Chinese minister said that Beijing will continue to advocate peaceful resolution of international disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.

He added that Beijing has no intention to engage in a major power competition, but it opposes attempts to build walls and barriers to interrupt international supply chains.

Mr Qin was speaking at the Lanting Forum in Shanghai.

Hungary adds honey, other products to Ukraine import ban

Friday 21 April 2023 03:00 , Emily Atkinson

Hungary will add honey and certain meat products to a list of food items it has temporarily banned from being imported from Ukraine in an effort to relieve market pressures on Hungarian farmers, a government minister said Thursday.

Along with honey and meat, Hungary’s government has banned the import of 25 Ukrainian products including grains, oil seeds, flour, and cooking oil until June 30, minister Gergely Gulyás told a news conference. The government will also require shipments of those products coming from third countries to be monitored as they enter Hungary to make sure they aren’t coming from Ukraine, he said.

More on this here:

Hungary adds honey, other products to Ukraine import ban

Macron 'discussed Ukraine, China and Sudan with Biden’

Friday 21 April 2023 02:00 , Emily Atkinson

French president Emmanuel Macron discussed topics including Ukraine, China and Sudan during a phone call on Thursday with US president Joe Biden, the Élysée office said .

“At a time when Ukraine continues to be a victim of Russian aggression, the two presidents exchanged views on the recent developments on the ground as well as support given to help the Ukraine war effort. They reaffirmed their determination to keep up this support for the long-term,” added the Élysée.

Lockheed and Rheinmetall to develop German version of HIMARS rocket launchers

Friday 21 April 2023 01:00 , Emily Atkinson

Arms makers Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall will team up to develop a German rocket artillery system, a weapon in the same category as the HIMARS rocket launchers Lockheed has been supplying to Ukraine.

HIMARS is a missile launcher mounted on a truck that can fire multiple guided missiles in quick succession. Missiles supplied to Ukraine have a range of up to 50 miles (80 km) and Ukrainian forces have had great success using them to target Russian positions.

Rheinmetall and Lockheed said in a statement they had signed a memorandum of understanding and that the new weapon would integrate existing German components.

“The combination of proven capabilities and comprehensive know-how of Lockheed Martin with the expertise of Rheinmetall on the production side will provide unique opportunities for both sides,” Rheinmetall Chief Executive Armin Papperger said.

The agreement provides the chance to secure key technological know-how and significant added value for Germany, he added.

“Lockheed Martin is looking forward to the cooperation and the optimisation of our joint resources to meet the immediate needs for deterrence,” said Paula Hartley, Lockheed’s vice president of tactical missiles.

Kyiv says it terminates land lease deal with Russian Embassy

Friday 21 April 2023 00:00 , Emily Atkinson

Kyiv has terminated the Russian Embassy’s deal to lease land in the capital and wants the property to be returned to the Ukrainian state, mayor Vitali Klitschko has said.

Ukraine broke off relations with Russia after the February 2022 invasion. There are no Russian diplomats in the embassy building, which lies to the west of the city centre.

“Today, Kyiv city council terminated the land lease agreement with the embassy of the aggressor-state - Russia,” Klitschko wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

“It also appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine regarding the return of the property of the ‘diplomatic establishment’ of the Russian barbarians to the Ukrainian state,” he said.

In response, Russia’s RIA news agency cited a Moscow source as saying that if Ukraine did nationalise the embassy building, Kyiv would automatically lose ownership rights to its diplomatic missions in Russia.

White House says no determination on Wagner being 'foreign terrorist' group

Thursday 20 April 2023 23:00 , Emily Atkinson

The US has made no determination the Russian private military Wagner Group is a “foreign terrorist organisation” despite its ongoing actions in Ukraine, White House spokesperson John Kirby has said.

“We’ve made no such determination, and I have nothing for you to preview for you on that,” Kirby told reporters at a White House briefing.

He added the paramilitary group was continuing to try to take control of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, and was continuing to “throw a lot of prisoner bodies at that fight.”

Lavrov in Havana on drive to shore up support

Thursday 20 April 2023 22:00 , Emily Atkinson

Russia’s foreign minister met with Cuban counterpart and president in Havana today,the latest in a series of visits to shore up support among Russia’s closest allies in Latin America.

Serigei Lavrov told reporters that Russia and Cuba, both facing sanctions from the United States, understood one another.

“We cannot agree that the world should continue to live permanently according to these American ‘rules,’” Lavrov said in the televised conference.

“Tensions are being escalated in the international arena, and the West’s attempts to dictate its will and ignore the legitimate positions of others not only persist, but are growing.”

Cuba, which has been under a US economic embargo since shortly after Fidel Castro´s 1959 revolution, has repeatedly expressed support for Russia in Ukraine and a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

“I do not believe that Putin provoked the conflict with Ukraine,” president Miguel Diaz-Canel told Arab news outlet Al Mayadeen in March, referring to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

He characterised Cuba’s relationship with Russia as “magnificent.”

Large blast reported in Russian city close to border with Ukraine

Thursday 20 April 2023 21:49 , Emily Atkinson

A large blast rocked a street in the Russian city of Belgorod, which lies just across the border from Ukraine, late on Thursday but there were no initial reports of injuries, local authorities said.

Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, announcing a state of emergency, said on Telegram that there was a crater measuring 20 metres across (65 feet) on one of the main streets in the city. He did not say what the cause was.

Video footage from the site showed piles of concrete on the street, several damaged cars and a building with broken windows. One shot showed what appeared to be car upside down on the roof of a store.

Watch: Zelensky visits 'post-apocalyptic' Avdiivka frontline

Thursday 20 April 2023 21:30 , Emily Atkinson

Lavrov to meet UN chief on Monday

Thursday 20 April 2023 21:00 , Emily Atkinson

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will hold a meeting with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres in New York on Monday, UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said.

The diplomat said earlier this week that Lavrov and Guterres would discuss the Black Sea grain deal.

Russia’s ad campaign to recruit more soldiers after losses in Ukraine invasion: ‘Be a man’

Thursday 20 April 2023 20:00 , Emily Atkinson

Russia’s military has launched a video campaign to lure more professional soldiers to fight in Ukraine – by challenging potential applicants to be “a real man” and swap civilian life for the battlefield.

The ad, set to stirring music, follows a report from British military intelligence that suggest Moscow is seeking to recruit up to 400,000 professional soldiers – on a volunteer basis – to bolster its forces in Ukraine.

The advert has so far been released on major Russian social networking sites.

Andrew Osborn reports from Moscow:

Russia’s ad campaign to recruit more soldiers after Ukraine losses: ‘Be a man’

Thursday 20 April 2023 19:30 , Emily Atkinson

Servicemen belonging to the assault brigade “Spartan” of National Guard of Ukraine take part in military exercises in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.

Zelensky says now is the time for Ukraine to joint Nato as alliance chief visits Kyiv

Thursday 20 April 2023 19:00 , Emily Atkinson

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has told Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg that it is time to let his country into the alliance – during Mr Stoltenberg’s first visit to Kyiv since Russia‘s invasion began.

Mr Stoltenberg said that “rightful place is in the Euro-Atlantic family... is in Nato”, inviting Mr Zelensky to a Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July. The Ukrainian president said that he believed the summit could be “historic” but that his nation needs a roadmap to membership.

“There is no objective barrier to the political decision to invite Ukraine into the alliance and now, when most people in Nato countries and the majority of Ukrainians support Nato accession, is the time for the corresponding decisions.” Mr Zelensky said.

Chris Stevenson reports:

Zelensky says now is the time for Ukraine to joint Nato as alliance chief visits Kyiv

Biden and EU’s von der Leyen discuss her Beijing trip in call

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:30 , Emily Atkinson

US president Joe Biden held a call on Thursday with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and discussed her recent trip to Beijing, the White House said.

The two leaders discussed “the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the White House said in a statement, which added that they also spoke about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and efforts to transition to clean technology.

The European Commission president visited China earlier this month to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Russia finishes surprise inspection of Pacific Fleet

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:00 , Emily Atkinson

Moscow has finished a surprise inspection of its Pacific naval fleet, Russia’s defence ministry says.

All the troops of the Pacific Fleet involved in the surprise inspection were returning to their bases, the ministry said.

According to the ministry, the drills involved over 25,000 servicemen, 89 planes and helicopters, 167 ships, including 12 submarines.

“The surprise inspection confirmed the high readiness of the forces to repel the aggression of a possible enemy from the ocean and sea,” it said in a statement.

The drills came amid heightened tension in the Asia-Pacific region, as the United States and South Korea conducted joint air exercises following an intercontinental ballistic missile test by North Korea

Zelensky to address Mexican congress today

Thursday 20 April 2023 17:30 , Liam James

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will address Mexico’s congress today by video, as he seeks support to defend against the Russian invasion.

The Mexican government has said it wants to remain neutral in the conflict, and some supporters of Ukraine have criticised leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for taking issue with European arms shipments to Kyiv.

Still, Mexico has voted alongside the United States and other Western countries on a number of major UN resolutions critical of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

More Patriot missile systems arrive in Ukraine

Thursday 20 April 2023 16:59 , Liam James

More American-made Patriot missiles have arrived in Ukraine, according to the country’s defence minister.

The US agreed in October to supply the surface-to-air systems, which can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles which Russia has used to bombard residential areas and the Ukrainian power grid.

Defence minister Oleksi Reznikov tweeted: “Today, our beautiful Ukrainian sky becomes more secure.”

Mr Reznikov thanked the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, without saying how many missile systems had been delivered or when they arrived. Germany yesterday confirmed it had delivered Patriots.

Nasa says mysterious flash over Ukraine was not caused by its satellite

Thursday 20 April 2023 16:20 , Liam James

Nasa has said the strange flash of light seen over Kyiv was not caused by one of the space agency’s satellites scheduled to crash on Earth, as has been claimed by Ukraine’s military administration (Vishwam Sankaran writes).

Kyiv’s city military administration head Serhii Popko said citing “preliminary data” that a mysterious bright flash of light spotted in the sky over the city at about 10pm local time on 19 April was from falling Nasa satellite debris.

The city then turned on its air raid alert to prevent casualties from any of the suspected falling debris, but “air defence was not in operation,” Mr Popko noted.

“According to preliminary information, this phenomenon was the result of a Nasa space satellite falling to Earth,” he said in a post on Telegram.

Nasa says mysterious flash over Ukraine was not caused by its satellite

Ukrainian troops accused of treason over unauthorised mission

Thursday 20 April 2023 15:53 , Liam James

A number of Ukrainian troops have been accused of treason for giving away information during an unauthorised mission that enabled Russia to attack a military airfield, Ukraine‘s SBU security agency said on Thursday.

The SBU said in a statement that the servicemen had attempted, “without coordination with the relevant state authorities”, to seize a Russian plane last July after its pilot said he would defect.

During the “special operation”, they revealed details about the location of Ukrainian air force personnel and aircraft that made it possible for Russia to carry out a successful missile strike on the Kanatove airfield in central Ukraine, it said.

A Ukrainian commander was killed, 17 other personnel were wounded, two fighter jets were destroyed and the airstrip, buildings and equipment suffered significant damage, the SBU said in the statement posted on the Telegram messaging app.

The SBU did not say how many service personnel were involved, or identify them, but said they were accused of treason and abuse of their position.

Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre looks east

Thursday 20 April 2023 15:24 , Liam James

Much like the Russian government, the Bolshoi Theatre, home to two of the world’s greatest opera and ballet companies, is being shunned by the West over Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine and looking east to China instead.

The Bolshoi’s director, Vladimir Urin, told a news conference in Moscow to announce its 2023/24 programme that he was saddened by the loss of what had been regular creative cooperation with Western theatre companies and artists.

“I’m deeply convinced ... that only culture and art can truly help nations to understand each other,” he said. “Even in the complicated and difficult kind of situation that we have in the world now.”

The Bolshoi ballet is already set to go to China in July, and Urin said detailed discussions were underway about both the ballet and the opera going in 2024.

But he said the reasons for this were not financial, and that it was a myth that overseas tours brought in significant revenue.

“It’s more a question of image, of sharing the things we know how to do ... it’s about creativity, more than anything.”

Switzerland adds Wagner to sanctions list after criticism

Thursday 20 April 2023 15:00 , Liam James

Switzerland will add the private military Wagner Group and news agency RIA FAN to its list of sanctions against Russia, the government said today, after international criticism of its response to the Ukraine invasion.

The changes take effect from 4pm UK time, it added.

Switzerland has been under pressure to step up opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. EU member countries have expressed frustration that Bern has not authorised them to send Swiss-made weaponry to Ukraine, and Financial Times reports that the G7 privately rebuked Swiss leaders for failing to close loopholes which have allowed Russians to avoid sanctions.

Blinding flash over Kyiv as Nasa denies involvement

Thursday 20 April 2023 14:51 , Emily Atkinson

A blinding flash that illuminated the night sky above Kyiv has led to widespread confusion and speculation about what caused it.

Video clips posted on social media showed the sky over the Ukrainian capital suddenly illuminated by a bright light late on Wednesday. In one clip, a flaming object appeared to be crashing to the ground.

Kyiv authorities said an unknown aerial object had fallen from the sky at around 10pm local time on Wednesday, forcing them to announce an air alert in Kyiv and the surrounding region.

“After verification and clarification, the information regarding the possible use of enemy aircraft or an air strike with missile weapons was not confirmed,” the Kyiv City Military Administration wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Andriy Yermak, head of president Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, jokingly posted an emoji of a UFO.

One theory, that the flash was caused by a falling US satellite, was ruled out by NASA. Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force, suggested a meteorite may have entered Earth’s atmosphere.

He said the Ukrainian air force, in charge of air defences, was not involved.

Germany in talks to buy Israeli missile defence system

Thursday 20 April 2023 14:30 , Liam James

Israel is in advanced negotiations with Germany to sell its Arrow-3 missile defence system, Israel’s Defence Ministry said today.

Germany has ramped up its military spending – a decision prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Arrow-3 is designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside of the earth’s atmosphere.

It is the top layer of Israel’s missile defense array, which extends from Iron Dome that intercepts short-range rockets to Arrow-3’s long-range missiles that destroy any non-conventional warheads at a safe altitude.

Talks with the German defence ministry have been accelerated and the aim is to export the system in the near future, said Israel’s Defense Ministry.

Poland pushes for broader ban on Ukraine imports

Thursday 20 April 2023 14:10 , Liam James

Milk, poultry and other food products should be included on a list of Ukrainian imports to be temporarily banned by the European Union, the Polish agriculture minister said.

“We discussed our proposals, our list is much wider – milk, poultry meat, honey,” Robert Telus told a news conference.

European trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis discussed the plans on Wednesday with ministers from Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, as well as with Ukrainian counterparts.

The five European Union nations have imposed import bans to protect their markets from an influx of cheaper supplies due to logistical issues stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Nato chief in Ukraine for first time since invasion

Thursday 20 April 2023 13:35 , Liam James

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg is visiting Ukraine for the first time since last year’s invasion by Russia.

Pictures of Mr Stoltenberg paying tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv’s St Michael’s Square were published by local media before he met President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine’s rightful place is in Nato, says Stoltenberg in Kyiv visit

Thursday 20 April 2023 13:09 , Liam James

Ukraine’s future lies in Nato, the Western military alliance’s chief Jens Stoltenberg said during his first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion 14 months ago.

“Let me be clear: Ukraine’s rightful place is in the euro-Atlantic family. Ukraine’s rightful place is in Nato. And over time, our support will help you to make this possible,” Mr Stoltenberg told reporters during a joint press conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv.

He pledged continued military support for Ukraine, saying that, so far, Nato allies had trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops and provided €65bn (£57bn) of military aid alone.

“Nato stands with you today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes,” Mr Stoltenberg stated, before inviting Mr Zelensky to the Nato summit in Vilnius in July.

Nord Stream no longer a danger to ships, says Denmark

Thursday 20 April 2023 12:00 , Liam James

The Nord Stream pipeline leaks are no longer dangerous to ships, the Danish Energy Agency said nearly seven months after a series of explosions damaged the major undersea gas conveyors.

Officials recommended Denmark’s maritime authority lift its sailing restrictions.

Investigations into the suspected sabotage of the pipelines, which run from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, have yet to find a culprit.

Kremlin ‘launches overhaul’ of security services

Thursday 20 April 2023 11:25 , Liam James

The Kremlin’s main intelligence arm, the Federal Security Service (FSB), appears to be conducting a large-scale overhaul of police and other domestic security bodies, the Institute for the Study of War reports in its latest update.

Russian state-controlled news agency Tass reported yesterday that the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) have been conducting mass checks at an MVD office in Moscow and several Moscow district police offices for the past several weeks due to “the leakage of data from Russian security forces at the request of Ukrainian citizens.

The ISW writes: “Another Russian source noted that the FSB and MVD have already detained police officers as part of this investigation.

“Russian outlets reported that the suspected police officers leaked personal data on Russian security forces to external individuals, some of whom are Ukrainian citizens.”

Mysterious light thought to be satellite flashes over Kyiv

Thursday 20 April 2023 10:41 , Liam James

People living in Ukraine and beyond took to social media to share and discuss a mysterious beam of light seen over the sky in Kyiv last night.

The incident has sparked curiosity in a city that has become used to looking to the skies in fear of a more obvious threat – Russian missile strikes.

Locals said the authorities had to sound an air raid alert over Kyiv for the first time in days yesterday after the incident.

Russian ships ‘plotting sabotage in the North Sea’

Thursday 20 April 2023 09:52 , Liam James

Russian “ghost ships” are mapping offshore wind turbines, underwater data cables and other pieces of infrastructure in the North Sea – in preparation for a campaign of sabotage in the event of conflict with the West, according to a new investigation.

Moscow is alleged to have has deployed ships to carry out underwater surveillance and map key sites for possible disruption to European communications and energy supplies – infrastructure that is sometimes shared with Britain – according to a report by public broadcasters in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Up to 50 suspected Russian “spy ships” are said to have been identified sailing through the waters around the four nations and Britain. The investigation suggests that the ships, officially fishing trawlers or research vessels, often switch off their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders, rendering them invisible to conventional tracking. Their whereabouts must be monitored through other techniques such as sonar, satellite imagery or patrol boats.

Click here for the full story:

Russian ships ‘plotting sabotage in the North Sea’

Denmark and Netherlands to donate 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine

Thursday 20 April 2023 08:46 , Liam James

Denmark and the Netherlands will jointly donate 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the two countries said on Thursday.

The Leopard 2A4 tanks, which will be bought from a third party and refurbished, are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2024, they said in a joint statement.

“It is absolutely crucial for the hope of a peaceful and secure Europe that we do not let the Ukrainians fight the battle alone,” Denmark’s acting Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

Ukraine received its first deliveries of Western tanks a few weeks ago, with Britain sending Challenger 2s and Germany sending Leopard 2s.

Ukrainian defence minister asks for ‘Nato-style fighter jets'

Thursday 20 April 2023 07:48 , Arpan Rai

Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov has reiterated his administration’s plea this morning to seek modern fighter jets to fight against Russia’s “barbaric tactics”.

“Our top priority is to quickly build a multi-level air defence/anti-missile defence system. Patriots, IRIS-T, NASAMS, and MiG-29 are the most recent, but not the final, steps towards this goal. Given the Kremlin’s barbaric tactics, we need NATO-style fighter jets,” he said this morning.

He added: “We’ve heard ‘no, it’s impossible’ a lot. But I have seen firsthand how the impossible can become possible. We will never forget how, thanks to the compassion and assistance of our friends, we were able to keep the lights and heat on in our homes last winter.”

This comes as Ukraine is thought to be days away from beginning its spring counteroffensive, while Russia pushes to capture Bakhmut and other sectors in the eastern part of the country.

Putin evolves military group after heavy losses, claims UK

Thursday 20 April 2023 06:57 , Arpan Rai

Russia has likely formed a new group of forces which was visited by Vladimir Putin on Tuesday after possibly facing heavy losses, the British defence ministry said.

It referred to the press release by the Kremlin on Mr Putin’s visit to southern Ukraine.

“Using the Russian spelling of Ukraine’s Dnipro river, the release described the president as having visited the ‘Dnipr Group of Forces’,” the ministry said.

It noted that this is one of the first references to the existence of a Dnipr Group of Forces (DGF).

“Russia uses the term ‘group of forces’ in a specific way, indicating a large, task-organised operational formation,” the MoD said.

“Early in the invasion, the Russian force was organised into groups of forces each aligned to their home military districts in Russia, for example, the Western and Central Groups of Forces. The existence of an apparently new DGF suggests that the original force organisation has evolved, probably due to heavy losses,” it said.

The defence ministry has said that DGF’s mission is likely to defend the southern sector of the occupied zone, and especially the south-western flank which is currently marked by the Dnipro river.

In photos: Ukraine frontline near Bakhmut

Thursday 20 April 2023 06:57 , Arpan Rai

Videos showing unexplained beam of light over Kyiv flood social media

Thursday 20 April 2023 06:29 , Arpan Rai

People living in Ukraine and beyond took to social media to share and discuss videos of the mysterious beam of light seen over the sky in Kyiv last night.

The incident has sparked curiosity in a city that has become used to looking to the skies in fear of a more obvious threat – Russian missile strikes.

Locals said the authorities had to sound an air raid alert over Kyiv for the first time in days yesterday after the incident.

“Something happened in Kyiv sky tonight. The whole city is at a loss, what it was. UFO” said the Ukrainian ambassador to Austria.

“Update: NASA says not its satellite. Appears to have been a meteor falling over Kyiv last night,” Ukraine-based journalist Christopher Miller said today.

Russia's Bolshoi ballet drops 'Nureyev' after 'LGBT propaganda' law

Thursday 20 April 2023 06:00 , Emily Atkinson

Moscow’s Bolshoi theatre has dropped a contemporary ballet about the legendary Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev from its repertoire following the expansion of a ban on “LGBT propaganda”.

A law passed in November not only widened an existing prohibition on material considered to promote an LGBT lifestyle but also restricts the “demonstration” of LGBT behaviour.

This makes any portrayal of homosexuality - such as Nureyev’s relationships with men after his defection from the Soviet Union in 1961, which the ballet touches on - almost impossible.

The ballet, choreographed by Kirill Serebrennikov, has had a troubled history in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has long promoted conservative values as part of a nationalist agenda backed by the Russian Orthodox Church.

It premiered in December 2017, several months late, after the then-culture minister reportedly called it gay propaganda, and has not been performed since 2018. Performances scheduled for 2022 were abruptly cancelled after Serebrennikov publicly blamed Russia for the conflict in Ukraine.

“‘Nureyev’ was removed from the repertoire in connection with the law ... where issues related to the promotion of ‘non-traditional values’ are stipulated absolutely unequivocally,” Vladimir Urin, general director of the Bolshoi, told a news conference on Wednesday.

US sending $325m in more military aid to Ukraine

Thursday 20 April 2023 05:51 , Arpan Rai

The US is sending Ukraine about $325m in additional military aid, including an enormous amount of artillery rounds and ammunition as the launch of the spring offensive against Russian forces approaches, the Pentagon said yesterday.

The US has declined to say exactly how much munitions will be sent to Ukraine, but the latest package resembles other recent deliveries, which included rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and howitzers, as well as an array of other missiles and anti-tank ammunition.

It will all be pulled from Pentagon stocks, so it can go quickly to the front lines.

Read the full story here:

US sending $325 million in more military aid to Ukraine

Mozart's Requiem to raise funds for charity’s ‘amazing’ work in Ukraine

Thursday 20 April 2023 05:00 , Emily Atkinson

A former opera singer has organised a Mozart requiem to raise funds for a charity which provides medical professionals with the skills to work in hostile environments after being inspired by its “amazing” founder’s work.

Fiona MacDonald, a trustee of the Wilfred Owen Association and founder of military charity Bravehound, alongside members of McOpera – a collective of musicians from the Scottish Opera Orchestra – are to hold the requiem at 6pm on April 30 at Glasgow Cathedral, with funds raised going towards the David Nott Foundation’s work in Ukraine.

Mozart requiem to raise funds for charity’s ‘amazing’ work in Ukraine

Mysterious flash of light over Kyiv sparks rumours of aliens, UFO

Thursday 20 April 2023 04:39 , Arpan Rai

Speculations were rife in Ukraine after the night sky of the war-hit nation saw a flash of mysterious lights, prompting chatter of UFOs and aliens on social media.

Preliminary visuals showed the sky suddenly illuminated by a bright light, while another clip showed a flaming object crashing to the ground.

Shortly after, people took to social media to share several memes about aliens and unidentified flying objects.

The Kyiv city military administration said it was a crashing Nasa satellite based on preliminary information.

The Ukrainian air force, responsible for trying to down missiles and drones fired by Russia, said a satellite or a meteorite could be responsible.

“Please do not use official air force symbols to create memes for the enemy to enjoy!” it said in a message.

Minutes earlier, presidential adviser Andriy Yermak had posted an emoji of a UFO.

However, Nasa denied the reports of a crashing satellite and said that there appeared to be some confusion over an earlier announcement the agency had made about bringing a retired satellite out of orbit in the early hours yesterday morning Kyiv time.

Russia controls about 88% of Bakhmut — intelligence assessment

Thursday 20 April 2023 04:24 , Arpan Rai

The intelligence estimates show Russia controls about 87.9 per cent of Bakhmut as the battle for the mining city with little strategic value continues.

This comes as the Ukrainian general staff said that there is hevy fighting underway within Bakhmut with the Ukrainian forces repelling Russian ground attacks southwest of the town in Stupochky.

In the past day, Ukrainian and Russian troops engaged in 34 combat clashes in Bakhmut, the Ukrainian eastern group of forces spokesperson Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty said.

While Russian milbloggers have claimed that Wagner group is making significant progress in the urban warfare points, the US-based think-tank points out that the ground advances are not 90 per cent as claimed by Donetsk People’s Republic advisor Yan Gagin.

It is likely that Russian forces are using FAB air-dropped bombs to destroy Ukrainian fortified areas in Bakhmut, as claimed by a Russian milblogger.

The battle for Bakhmut — spanning about nine months now — is the longest and the bloodiest battle in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, dubbed “meat-grinder” which has witnessed heavy casualties on both sides.

In pictures: Zelensky visits troops in northwestern Ukraine

Thursday 20 April 2023 04:00 , Emily Atkinson

Zelensky to address Mexico’s Congress today

Thursday 20 April 2023 03:54 , Arpan Rai

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is set to virtually address Mexico’s Congress today, said two people familiar with the matter.

The speech is due to take place around midday today, sources said.

Mr Zelensky has continued his outreach efforts with allies to seek arms aid as it fights off Russian invasion.

He will address the lower house of Congress on an invite from a congressional friendship group between Mexico and Ukraine, according to the sources. There are other similar groups in the Mexican Congress, including one for Russia.

Mexico’s government has said it takes a neutral position on the war, even as some supporters of Ukraine have criticised the country’s leftist president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for taking issue with European arms shipments to Kyiv.

However, Mexico has voted alongside the United States and other Western powers on a number of major UN resolutions.

EU is still largest importer of Russian oil due to loophole in sanctions, report claims

Thursday 20 April 2023 03:00 , Emily Atkinson

The European Union is still the largest importer of oil products from Russia among the countries that have imposed some of the strictest sanctions on Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine, new data has revealed.

It is because the EU indirectly imported oil from countries that have become the main buyers of energy from Moscow undermining its own sanctions.

Five “laundromat” countries that export Russian crude to the EU were identified by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) in its new report.

Shweta Sharma reports:

EU is still largest importer of Russian oil due to loophole in sanctions, report says

Watch: Russian spy vessel in North Sea approached by Danish journalists

Thursday 20 April 2023 02:00 , Emily Atkinson