Putin ‘likely didn’t order Navalny killing’
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US intelligence agencies have reportedly determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably did not order the killing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny at an Arctic prison camp in February.
“The finding is broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department’s intelligence unit,” the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.
It said Washington had not absolved the Russian leader of overall responsibility for Navalny’s death however, given the opposition politician had been targeted by Russian authorities for years, jailed on charges the West said were politically motivated, and had been poisoned in 2020 with a nerve agent.
Those who assert that Putin wasn’t aware “clearly do not understand anything about how modern day Russia runs,” Leonid Volkov, a longtime Navalny ally, said in a statement. “The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous.”
05:00 PM BST
Today’s live blog is now closed
That is all from us today. Here is a recap of the most significant developments of the day:
The Russian Defence Ministry said today that over the past week its forces had carried out 35 strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities, defence factories, railway infrastructure, air defences, and ammunition stocks. The strikes, which happened between April 20-27, were “in response to attempts by the Kyiv regime to damage Russian energy and industrial facilities,” it said in a statement.
The British defence ministry estimates that Russia has suffered around 450,000 casualties since its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has sent more troops to Ocheretyne in eastern Ukraine to reinforce an offensive there, but Kyiv’s forces largely hold the village and expect U.S. arms deliveries to turn the tide in their favour, the Ukrainian military said on Saturday.
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President, appealed for air defences and fast weapons deliveries after Russian missiles struck four Ukrainian power plants. Mr Zelensky said Ukraine needed sufficient quantities of air defence and other weapons to protect its cities and prevail on the frontline.
The Kremlin shrugged off a trip to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during which he raised concerns about Chinese support for Russia’s military, saying Moscow and Beijing would continue to develop their own ties.
Ukrainian drones hit two Russian oil refineries early on Saturday, as the warring countries again exchanged fire on energy facilities. The Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries in Russia’s Krasnodar region were targeted by Ukrainian drones, causing fires at both and partially rendering the Slavyansk plant unoperational. Meanwhile Russia launched its own barrage of missiles at Ukrainian power facilities in the early hours of Saturday, hitting locations in the centre and west of the country, damaging equipment and injuring at least one energy worker.
04:53 PM BST
Surveying the damage in Donetsk
04:17 PM BST
No grounds for peace with Ukraine, Kremlin says
There are currently no grounds for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine due to Kyiv’s formal refusal to negotiate with Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a decree in 2022 formally declaring the prospect of any Ukrainian talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin “impossible”, while leaving the door open to talks with what he called “another president of Russia.
03:57 PM BST
Russia says it struck Ukrainian energy plants in response to Kyiv targeting its own energy sector
The Russian Defence Ministry said today that over the past week its forces had carried out 35 strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities, defence factories, railway infrastructure, air defences, and ammunition stocks.
The strikes, which happened between April 20-27, were “in response to attempts by the Kyiv regime to damage Russian energy and industrial facilities,” it said in a statement.
Ukraine has systematically targeted Russian oil refineries and other facilities in drone attacks in recent weeks, ignoring US requests not to do so.
Ukrainian officials said Russian missiles had pounded power facilities in central and western Ukraine on Saturday, increasing pressure on the ailing energy system as the country faces a shortage of air defences despite a breakthrough in US military aid.
The campaign had been conducted using sea- and air-launched long-range precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and drones, the Russian defence ministry said.
It said it had also targeted and hit Ukrainian troop formations as well as what it described as foreign mercenaries.
03:22 PM BST
UK estimates 450,000 Russian casualties in Ukraine war
The British defence ministry estimates that Russia has suffered around 450,000 casualties since its invasion of Ukraine.
Responding to a parliamentary question by Labour, armed forces minister Leo Dochery said:
“We estimate that approximately 450,000 Russian military personnel have been killed or wounded, and tens of thousands more have already deserted since the start of the conflict.
“The number of personnel killed serving in Russian private military companies (PMCs) is not clear.
“We also estimate that over 10,000 Russian armoured vehicles, including nearly 3,000 main battle tanks, 109 fixed wing aircraft, 136 helicopters, 346 unmanned aerial vehicles, 23 naval vessels of all classes, and over 1,500 artillery systems of all types have been destroyed, abandoned, or captured by Ukraine since the start of the conflict.”
02:54 PM BST
Watch: Ukrainian Air Force use iPads in Soviet-era jets to control modern Western weaponry
02:28 PM BST
Russia steps up offensive on east Ukraine village, Kyiv says its forces holding out
Russia has sent more troops to Ocheretyne in eastern Ukraine to reinforce an offensive there, but Kyiv’s forces largely hold the village and expect U.S. arms deliveries to turn the tide in their favour, the Ukrainian military said on Saturday.
Russian troops have slowly advanced through at least half a dozen villages on the eastern front since capturing the bastion town of Avdiivka in February as exhausted Ukrainian forces rationed dwindling artillery supplies.
Fierce fighting raged in Ocheretyne on Saturday but Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the eastern command, told Reuters that Ukrainian forces had the situation “under control” and controlled two-thirds of the village.
Ukrainian troops, he said, were able to shell the part of the village seized by Russian forces and that “the enemy is blocked and measures are being taken to kick them out.”
To the north on the eastern front, Russian forces were trying to capture the strategic town of Chasiv Yar at all costs, though they had not entered the town, he said.
Chasiv Yar, which lies on high ground, is seen as a gateway to the remaining important cities controlled by Ukraine in the Donbas, which Russia seeks to capture in full folllwing its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
02:11 PM BST
Twelfth person arrested over Moscow concert hall shooting
A 12th person has been arrested in connection with the Moscow concert hall massacre last month, according to a Moscow court ruling.
Dzhumakhon Kurbonov, reported to be from Tajikistan, is suspected of providing others involved in the attack with money and “telecommunications means”.
The court ruled that he should remain in custody until at least 22 May.
At the end of last month 11 people, including four gunmen, had been arrested in connection to the incident in which at least 133 people were killed. A branch of ISIS took responsibility for the attack.
01:42 PM BST
Footage claims to show aftermath of Ukrainian strike on Russian airfield
The Telegraph could not immediately verify the footage.
01:33 PM BST
Zelensky issues fresh plea for air defences and weapons
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a new appeal for air defences and fast weapons deliveries following the latest Russian strike on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure early this morning.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine needed sufficient quantities of air defence and other weapons to protect its cities and prevail on the frontline.
“Terror should always lose, and anyone who helps us stand against Russian terror is a true defender of life,” he said.
Pointing to the 34 missiles the Ukrainian army said Moscow fired today, Zelesnky said: “we managed to intercept a portion of them... However, the world has all of the resources to assist us in intercepting every missile and drone.”
Ukraine also fired on Russian energy infrastructure overnight, causing fires at two oil refineries and leaving one partially inoperational, despite American requests to avoid such attacks.
This night, 34 Russian missiles targeted Ukraine. We managed to intercept a portion of them. However, the world has all of the resources to assist us in intercepting every missile and drone fired by Russian terrorists. This is completely doable. All that is required is for the… pic.twitter.com/BLaKaed656
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 27, 2024
12:42 PM BST
Kremlin says Russia will seek to overcome any EU sanctions on its natural gas operations
Russia will look for ways to overcome what it regards as any illegal sanctions the European Union imposes on its liquified natural gas (LNG) operations, the Kremlin said on Saturday, saying any measures would backfire on European industry.
The European Commission’s next sanctions package is expected to propose restrictions on Russian liquefied natural gas for the first time, including a ban on trans-shipments in the EU and measures on three Russian LNG projects, three EU sources said on Thursday.
“Attempts to squeeze Russia out of energy markets and switch to more expensive markets are continuing,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
According to him, any new EU restrictions would benefit the United States and would mean European industry pays more for its gas.
“Of course, in any case, we will look for ways to overcome these illegal obstacles, unfair competition and illegal actions,” said Peskov.
12:15 PM BST
MoD points to PTSD in 900% rise in Russian military murder convictions
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 27 April 2024.
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/scUbq0JRWK #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/zJHgf0C9wS— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 27, 2024
12:05 PM BST
US intelligence reportedly concludes Putin probably did not order Navalny death
US intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably didn’t order opposition politician Alexei Navalny killed at an Arctic prison camp in February, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
“The finding is broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department’s intelligence unit,” the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
It said Washington had not absolved the Russian leader of overall responsibility for Navalny’s death however, given the opposition politician had been targeted by Russian authorities for years, jailed on charges the West said were politically motivated, and had been poisoned in 2020 with a nerve agent.
Those who assert that Putin wasn’t aware “clearly do not understand anything about how modern day Russia runs,” Leonid Volkov, a longtime Navalny ally, said in a statement. “The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous.”
11:01 AM BST
Energy rationing in Ukraine following ‘massive’ Russian infrastructure attack overnight
Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said equipment at four of its thermal power plants was “severely damaged” in the overnight strikes.
State electricity operator Ukrenergo said it had disconnected its main overhead power line in the west of the country as a preventative measure.
“We ask all consumers to consume electricity sparingly. Industry is asked to maximise electricity imports and use alternative power sources,” Ukrenergo said in a statement.
The head of the western Lviv region called on residents not to use kettles, irons, washing machines and microwaves between 7:00pm and 10:00pm to preserve limited energy supplies.
Moscow has launched some of its largest ever strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities in recent months, knocking out a significant chunk of production, and triggering blackouts and energy rationing across the country.
10:51 AM BST
Moscow and Beijing ties to continue, Kremlin says
The Kremlin shrugged off a trip to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during which he raised concerns about Chinese support for Russia’s military, saying Moscow and Beijing would continue to develop their own ties.
Blinken raised concerns on Friday about China’s support for Russia’s military, one of the many issues threatening to sour the recent improvement in relations between the world’s biggest economies.
“China is an absolutely sovereign state, a powerful state that is able to defend and protect its interests,” press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Blinken’s trip and the US pressure on China.
“At the same time, it (China) is our close partner. We will further develop our co-operation.”
10:47 AM BST
US announced $6bn in new military aid for Ukraine overnight
US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, overnight announced $6bn in new military aid for Ukraine as Washington rushes to fill gaps left by months of stalled American assistance.
The new funding - the highest amount of Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) aid sent to date - is set to include an array of munitions for air defence.
The package is the second this week, following another valued at $1bn that was announced just after the US president, Joe Biden, signed a much-delayed bill to provide new funding for Ukraine as it struggles to hold back Russian advances.
10:34 AM BST
Social media footage purports to show Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries
Ukraine keeps targeting Russian refineries with drone attacks. Massive overnight raid on the Krasnodar region in the northern Caucasus, with the Slavyansk and Ilsk refineries hit among other targets. Footage from local social media channels. pic.twitter.com/J7P5y1s7vM
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) April 27, 2024
The Telegraph could not immediately verify the footage.
09:49 AM BST
Pictured: patients take cover during Russian attack on a Kharkiv hospital
09:47 AM BST
Forbes journalist placed under house arrest by Russian court
A Russian court has ordered a journalist for the Russian edition of Forbes, Sergei Mingazov, to be placed under house arrest, Russia’s state-owned RIA news agency reported on Saturday.
Mingazov was detained on Friday on suspicion of spreading false information about the Russian army, his magazine said at the time.
09:45 AM BST
Two wounded in ‘massive’ Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
Two people were wounded after Russia launched a “massive attack” on energy infrastructure in Ukraine overnight from Friday to Saturday, Kyiv’s armed forces and local authorities said.
An 82-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man were wounded, Oleksandr Vilkul, president of the defence council of the central city of Kryvyi Rih, said on Telegram.
“Russian armed forces staged another massive missile attack on Ukraine,” the Ukrainian army said in its regular morning update.
“The enemy has once again attacked the country’s energy infrastructure. In particular, facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv regions were attacked. There is damage to equipment,” Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in a Facebook post.
09:34 AM BST
Russian and Ukrainian air defences at work overnight with both reporting major attacks
The commander of the Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched combined overnight strikes using a total of 34 cruise and ballistic missiles of which Ukrainian air defence shot down 21.
Moscow said that its own air defences “destroyed 66 Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Krasnodar region, and two more drones were destroyed over the Crimean peninsula.”
09:31 AM BST
Good morning
Hello and welcome to the Telegraph’s daily live blog of the war in Ukraine. Follow along as we bring you the latest updates and join in the conversation in the comments section.
First up this morning:
Ukrainian drones strike oil refineries and airfield in major overnight attack
A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack hit two Russian oil refineries and a military airfield overnight, causing a large fire at one of the refineries that put it out of operation.
The strikes hit “key technological facilities” at two refineries in the southern Krasnodar region, a Ukrainian defence source told AFP.
“The work of the plant has been partially suspended. Exactly 10 UAVs (drones) flew exactly into the plant, there was a strong fire. There may be hidden damage,” Eduard Trudnev, the security director at Slavyansk ECO Group, which operates the Slavyansk plant, was quoted as saying in Russian state media.
Ukrainian drones also targeted the Kushchevsk military airfield, although it was not immediately clear what damage was caused.
Meanwhile Russia launched its own barrage of missiles at Ukrainian power facilities in the early hours of this morning, hitting locations in the centre and west of the country, damaging equipment and injuring at least one energy worker.
Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said its four thermal power stations were hit and “serious damage” was caused.