Russia-Ukraine war – live: Putin gives chilling warning to Poland as Moscow ready to defend Belarus

President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused Nato member Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russia‘s neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia.

Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus, which forms a loose “Union State” with Russia, “with all the means at our disposal”, Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks.

Warsaw’s Security Committee decided on Wednesday to move military units to eastern Poland after members of the Russian Wagner mercenary force arrived in Belarus, the state-run news agency PAP quoted its secretary as saying on Friday.

On Wednesday, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was shown in a video welcoming his fighters to Belarus, telling them they would take no further part for now in the war in Ukraine but ordering them to gather strength for Africa while they trained the Belarusian army.

It comes as US-supplied cluster bombs are now being deployed by Ukraine in the battle against Russia, according to the White House.

Key Points

• Putin gives chilling warning to Poland as Moscow ready to defend Belarus

• Ukraine using US cluster bombs ‘effectively,’ White House says

• Putin buying time to strike back Wagner group leader, says CIA chief

• Russia restricts movements of British diplomats in response to 'hostile actions'

• Russian navy conducts live fire exercise in Black Sea

Putin gives chilling warning to Poland as Moscow ready to defend Belarus

13:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused NATO member Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russia‘s neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia.

Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus, which forms a loose “Union State” with Russia, “with all the means at our disposal”, Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks.

Warsaw’s Security Committee decided on Wednesday to move military units to eastern Poland after members of the Russian Wagner mercenary force arrived in Belarus, the state-run news agency PAP quoted its secretary as saying on Friday.

On Wednesday, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was shown in a video welcoming his fighters to Belarus, telling them they would take no further part for now in the war in Ukraine but ordering them to gather strength for Africa while they trained the Belarusian army.

Russian investigators detain pro-war nationalist and Putin critic Igor Girkin

12:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian investigators have detained prominent Russian nationalist Igor Girkin, his wife said on Friday, a move which suggests authorities may have wearied of his criticism of how Moscow is running its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Girkin, who is also known as Igor Strelkov, helped Russia annex Crimea in 2014 and then organise pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine.

A former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, he said earlier this year that he was entering politics and has been increasingly critical of President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu over what he has called the incompetent way Moscow is running what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

In a message posted on Girkin’s official Telegram account, his wife, Miroslava Reginskaya, said:

“Today, at about 11.30, representatives of the Investigative Committee came to our house. I was not at home. Soon, according to the concierge, they took my husband out by his arms and in an unknown direction.”

She said friends had told her that Girkin had been charged with extremism.

“I do not know anything about my husband’s whereabouts, he has not contacted me,” she said.

There was no immediate comment from the authorities.

Putin says Moscow would regard any aggression against Belarus as attack on Russia

11:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russia‘s neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered aggression against Russia.

Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus “with all means at our disposal”, Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks.

Russia hits Ukraine's grain for fourth day and practises seizing ships in Black Sea

11:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia pounded Ukrainian food export facilities for a fourth day in a row on Friday and practised seizing ships in the Black Sea in an escalation of what Western leaders say is an attempt to wriggle out of sanctions by threatening a global food crisis.

The direct attacks on Ukraine‘s grain, a key part of the global food chain, followed a vow by Kyiv to defy Russia‘s naval blockade on its grain export ports following Moscow’s withdrawal this week from a UN-brokered safe sea corridor agreement.

“Unfortunately, the grain terminals of an agricultural enterprise in Odesa region were hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley,” regional governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app.

Two people had been injured, he said. Photographs released by the emergencies ministry showed a fire burning among crumpled metal buildings that appeared to be storehouses, and a badly damaged fire-fighting vehicle.

Belarus Red Cross sparks outcry after its chief says it brought Ukrainian children to Belarus

10:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Belarus Red Cross has sparked international outrage after its chief told Belarusian state television that the organization is actively involved in bringing Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied areas to Belarus.

Both Ukraine and the Belarusian opposition have decried the transfer as unlawful deportations, and there have been calls for international war crimes charges for the authoritarian Belarus leader, similar to the charges against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The actions of the Belarus Red Cross drew stern criticism from the International Federation of Red and Red Crescent Societies.

Belarus Red Cross sparks outcry after its chief says it brought Ukrainian children to Belarus

Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin? The Wagner Group mercenary chief who rebelled against Putin

09:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Once a low-profile businessman who profitted from having Russian president Vladimir Putin as a powerful patron, Yevgeny Prigozhin has moved into the global spotlight since the onset of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Now the owner of the Kremlin-allied Wagner Group, the mercenary force seen fighting some of the Russian military’s toughest battles in Ukraine, most notably the drawn-out pursuit of Bakhmut, the 62-year-old has since stepped into his most dangerous role yet: preaching open rebellion against his country’s military leadership.

On Friday 23 June, Mr Prigozhin finally escalated what had been months of scathing criticism of Russia’s conduct of the war when he called for an armed uprising to oust Russia’s defence minister.

Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?

Zelensky dismisses Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain

09:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Vadym Prystaiko as Ukraine‘s ambassador to Britain on Friday.

A presidential order gave no reason for the dismissal but said Prystaiko had also been removed as Ukraine‘s representative to the International Maritime Organization.

Britain has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since Russia‘s invasion last year.

Wagner mercenaries training Belarus special forces just miles from border with Nato-member Poland

09:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In case you missed it...

Wagner mercenaries are training Belarusian special forces just a few miles from the border with Nato-member Poland.

Warsaw said that it was ready for “various scenarios as the situation develops” – having started moving around 1,000 of its own troops towards the border earlier this month.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was shown in a video on Wednesday welcoming his fighters to Belarus, telling them they would take no further part in the Ukraine war for now but ordering them to gather their strength for Africa while they trained the Belarusian army.

Mr Prigozhin, who agreed to move to Belarus as part of a deal to end a mutiny by his forces that rattled Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, said what is happening with Russian forces on the Ukraine frontline is a “disgrace” and that his group wants “no part of it”.

Wagner forces training Belarus troops just miles from border with Nato-member Poland

Russia steps up assault on Ukraine’s ports and threatens attack on ships

08:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia has stepped up its assault on Ukraine’s ports with a third night of air strikes and a threat it is now treating all ships heading for those ports as potential military targets.

Saying that Moscow was deliberately turning the Black Sea into a “danger zone”, Kyiv responded in kind by announcing that from Friday, ships heading for Russian ports – or Russian-occupied ports in Ukraine – would be treated in the same way, as if they are carrying weapons or other military cargo.

Washington called Russia’s threat a signal that Moscow might attack civilian shipping and said Moscow was also releasing new mines into the sea. “We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge had said.

Our international editor Chris Stevenson has more:

Russia steps up assault on Ukraine’s ports and threatens attack on ships

Russia hits grain terminals in southern Ukraine

08:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian missiles hit grain terminals at an agricultural enterprise in the Odesa region in a fourth successive night of air strikes on southern Ukraine, the regional governor said on Friday.

But Russia‘s attacks appeared less intense than on the three previous nights, when missiles and drones struck southern cities and ports after Moscow quit a U.N.-brokered deal allowing safe shipments of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

Odesa’s regional governor, Oleh Kiper, said two people had been hurt in the attack on an agricultural enterprise but did not say where in the region the enterprise was located.

“Unfortunately, the grain terminals of an agricultural enterprise in Odesa region were hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley,” he said on the Telegram messaging app.

Kiper said Russia had attacked with Kalibr cruise missiles that were fired from the Black Sea at low altitude to bypass air defence systems.

He said two missiles hit the grain storage facilities, causing a fire. Another missile struck the same enterprise as the blaze was being extinguished, damaging agricultural and rescue equipment.

Russia seeks another 20 years in prison for jailed Putin critic Navalny

08:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian prosecutors have called for Vladimir Putin‘s most prominent critic, Alexei Navalny, to be jailed for a further 20 years on extremism charges.

The 47-year-old has been on trial behind closed doors for a month at the IK-6 penal colony in Melekhovo, about 145 miles (235km) east of Moscow, where he is already serving sentences totalling more than 11 years on fraud and other charges which are widely seen as being trumped up to silence him.

In his closing statement released by his team, Mr Navalny bashed Russian authorities as being governed by “bargaining, power, bribery, deception, treachery... and not law.” Mr Navalny said: “Anyone in Russia knows that a person who seeks justice in a court of law is completely vulnerable. The case of that person is hopeless.”

Russia seeks another 20 years in prison for jailed Putin critic Navalny

Ukraine’s Zelensky calls for spending restraint, minister offers to resign

07:28 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his government on Thursday to keep a tight rein on spending in wartime, in a call that resulted in his culture minister, a proponent of several high-profile and costly projects, offering his resignation.

“In a time of war like this the maximum amount of state attention and therefore state resources should go to defence,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address, referring to a conversation he had earlier with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

He told Shmyhal to find alternative funding for projects “that are really necessary. This applies to various areas, including culture. Museums, cultural centres, symbols, television series are important, but we have other priorities.”

Zelensky, who was a television comedy star before entering politics, said he had appealed to local councils to show restraint so that “people feel that budget resources are used fairly and correctly...Cobblestones, city decorations, fountains will have to wait. Victory first.”

And he asked Shmyhal to “consider replacing” Culture and Information Policy Minister Olexander Tkachenko.

Within an hour, Tkachenko said he had tendered his resignation, while remaining unapologetic about his projects.

“Culture in wartime is important as this war is not just about territory but also people - our memory, history, language and creativity despite the war,” Tkachenko, who headed a television channel before entering politics, wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine ambassador to UK grilled by Kyiv after criticising Zelensky in Amazon row

07:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine’s ambassador in London has caused deep consternation in Kyiv after publicly criticising Volodymyr Zelensky’s conduct in a row with British defence secretary Ben Wallace, according to diplomatic sources.

Vadym Prystaiko, who has been a key point of contact for the British government during the Ukraine war, accused Mr Zelensky of “unhealthy sarcasm” in his response to Mr Wallace saying Kyiv should not view the UK and Western allies as an “Amazon” delivery service.

The Independent has been told that there were subsequently “very strong” telephone conversations between Mr Prystaiko and the government in Kyiv.

Kim Sengupta reports.

Ukraine ambassador to UK grilled by Kyiv after criticising Zelensky in Amazon row

Russian navy conducts live fire exercise in Black Sea

06:59 , Shweta Sharma

Russia’s defence ministry said that its navy conducted a live fire “exercise” in the northwest region of the Black Sea.

This exercise took place just days after the Kremlin stated that ships passing through the waterway to Ukraine could be seen as potential military targets.

During the exercise, the Black Sea Fleet engaged in live firing of anti-ship cruise missiles at a target ship within the combat training range in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

“The target ship was destroyed as a result of a missile strike,” it said.

“Also during the joint exercise, the ships and fleet aviation worked out actions to isolate the area temporarily closed to navigation, and also carried out a set of measures to detain the offending ship.”

Russia says military plane exposed to F-16s over Syria

06:44 , Shweta Sharma

A Russian military aircraft was exposed to “the guidance systems” of F-16 fighter jets of the US-led coalition during a routine patrol over Syria’s southern border, according to a military official quoted in Tass.

Rear Admiral Oleg Gurinov, who serves as the deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Centre for Syria, said the F-16s “affected” the Russian aircraft with their guidance systems. He provided no further details.

Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015, tipping the balance in president Bashar Al-Assad’s favour. Moscow has since expanded its military facilities in the country with a permanent air base and also has a naval base.

The US is leading a coalition against the Isis militant group and has carried out airstrikes in Syria this year.

Mr Gurinov also made fresh accusations that the pilots of the coalition had violated Syrian airspace several times over the past day.

Russia launched 70 missiles and nearly 90 Shahed drones in four days, Zelensky says

06:17 , Shweta Sharma

Russia has launched nearly 70 missiles and 90 Shahed drones in the Ukrainian cities of Odesa, Mykolaiv and others during the span of just four days, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“Of course, our warriors managed to shoot down some of the enemy missiles and drones, and I thank each of our defenders of the sky for this,” he said.

“But unfortunately, the capacity of Ukrainian air defence is not yet enough to protect the entire Ukrainian sky.”

He said Ukraine is “working with our partners as actively as possible to obtain additional air defence systems”.

Crimea bridge linking mainland Russia temporarily closed

05:56 , Shweta Sharma

The Crimean bridge that links to mainland Russia was temporarily closed late yesterday after air raid alarms went off following a reported Ukrainian strike, according to Russian news agencies.

The bridge was reopened for traffic shortly afterwards but no further details were provided.

On Monday, a Russian couple was killed and their 14-year-old daughter wounded in what Moscow said was a Ukrainian attack that knocked out the road part of the bridge linking Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

It was the second time in a week that the bridge had to be closed.

The bridge was also closed on Monday after aid raid sirens were activated.

US-cluster bombs deployed in Ukraine, Kirby says

05:39 , Shweta Sharma

Ukraine is now in possession of US-supplied cluster munitions, which they have deployed in their battle against Russia, according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

Mr Kirby said the Ukrainians have provided positive feedback, stating that they are utilizing these munitions effectively in the field.

“We have gotten some initial feedback from the Ukrainians, and they’re using them quite effectively,” Mr Kirby said at a news briefing.

The cluster munitions are reportedly impacting Russian defensive formations and maneuvering.

Ukraine has made a commitment to use the banned cluster bombs solely for the purpose of displacing concentrations of Russian enemy soldiers.

Cluster munitions are banned in over 100 countries due to their potential to cause indiscriminate casualties over a wide area. Unexploded bomblets from these munitions also pose a threat for many years after they are deployed.

Both sides involved in the conflict, Ukraine and Russia, have accused each other of using cluster bombs since the conflict began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Putin buying time to strike back Wagner group leader, says CIA chief

04:26 , Shweta Sharma

Russian president Vladimir Putin is likely buying time while working out how best to seek revenge against Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prighozin, CIA director William Burns said.

Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Mr Burns said the rebellion last month by the mercenary group exposed significant weaknesses in Mr Putin’s projected power on the world stage.

“What we are seeing is a very complicated dance,” the CIA chief said on Thursday.

“Putin is someone who generally thinks that revenge is a dish best served cold,” Mr Burns said. “In my experience, Putin is the ultimate apostle of payback so I would be surprised if Prigozhin escapes further retribution.”

Joe Biden earlier speculated that Mr Prigozhin could be poisoned, saying: “If I were he I’d be careful what I ate. I’d keep my eye on my menu.”

Mr Burns shared similar concerns, saying: “If I were Prigozhin, I wouldn’t fire my food taster.”

New round of US sanction target Russia’s ‘access to battlefield supplies'

04:12 , Shweta Sharma

The US on Thursday imposed a new round of sanctions against 120 people and entities to block Russia’s access to electronic and other goods that aid its war against Ukraine, the Treasury and State Department announced.

The new measures were designed to “reduce Russia’s revenue from the metals and mining sector, undermine its future energy capabilities and degrade Russia’s access to the international financial system,” the Treasury said.

“Today’s actions represent another step in our efforts to constrain Russia’s military capabilities, its access to battlefield supplies, and its economic bottom line,” deputy treasury secretary Wally Adeyemo said in the statement.

Russia’s embassy in Washington denounced the sanctions as “endless attacks” by US president Joe Biden’s administration “in the context of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against our country”.

The White House’s “destructive actions” confirmed Russia’s policy of boosting its “defence capability and financial and technological sovereignty” and leave no alternative “to speeding up the process of decoupling the dollar from worldwide economic relations,” an embassy statement said.

Sanctions were imposed on people, including a Russian and a North Korean national – Yong Hyok Rim – linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary organisation, for helping to supply munitions to Russia.

Two other private Russian military companies were targeted, including Okhrana, owned by Kremlin-controlled energy company Gazprom.

Ukrainian minister quits as Zelensky orders restraint on spending in wartime

03:57 , Shweta Sharma

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged his government on Thursday to show restraint over spending in wartime so the country can focus more resources on the defence department.

The call prompted his culture minister, who is a proponent of several high-profile and costly projects, to offer his resignation.

“In a time of war like this the maximum amount of state attention and therefore state resources should go to defence,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address, referring to a conversation he had earlier with prime minister Denys Shmyhal.

He told Mr Shmyhal to find alternative funding for projects “that are really necessary. This applies to various areas, including culture. Museums, cultural centres, symbols, television series are important, but we have other priorities.”

He said he had appealed to local councils to show restraint so that “people feel that budget resources are used fairly and correctly... Cobblestones, city decorations, fountains will have to wait. Victory first.”

And he asked Mr Shmyhal to “consider replacing” culture and information policy minister Olexander Tkachenko.

Within an hour, Mr Tkachenko said he had tendered his resignation, while remaining unapologetic about his projects.

“Culture in wartime is important as this war is not just about territory but also people – our memory, history, language and creativity despite the war,” Mr Tkachenko, who headed a television channel before entering politics, wrote on Telegram.

“Private and state funding for culture in wartime is no less important than for drones. Culture is the shield for our identity and our borders.”

Cluster munitions in Ukrainian hands, being deployed in field -White House

Friday 21 July 2023 00:00 , William Mata

US-supplied cluster munitions are in Ukrainian hands and being deployed in the field as part of Kyiv’s battle against Russia, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, the country imposed sanctions on roughly 120 firms and people from Russia to the United Arab Emirates to Kyrgyzstan in an effort to choke off Moscow's access to products, money and financial channels that support its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine and Pakistan call for restoring the Black Sea grain deal after talks in Islamabad

Thursday 20 July 2023 23:00 , William Mata

The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Pakistan called Thursday for the restoration of the Black Sea grain initiative to ensure global food security, days after Russia halted the wartime deal that had allowed grain to flow from Ukraine.

The two sides made the demand at a news conference after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after arriving on his first visit to the Islamic nation.

Kuleba also met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a government statement. It quoted Sharif saying that the conflict in Ukraine has had a significant global impact that has hurt the economies of many countries.

US sanctions 120 firms and people from Russia to UAE to weaken Moscow’s access to products

Thursday 20 July 2023 22:00 , William Mata

The US has imposed sanctions on roughly 120 firms and people from Russia to the United Arab Emirates to Kyrgyzstan in an effort to choke off Moscow's access to products, money and financial channels that support its invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctions imposed by the Treasury and State departments target dozens of Russian mining, technology and munitions firms and commercial banks.

In addition, a group of Kyrgyzstan-based electronics firms and its leadership were targeted as exporters of components and other technology to Russia.

A UAE-based engineering company that sent dozens of shipments of electronics to Russia was also sanctioned.

The latest sanctions build on those imposed on Russia when the US and other G7 nations rolled out a wave of global actions during a Japan summit in May.

"Since Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States, working with our allies and partners, has taken unprecedented steps to impose costs on Russia and promote accountability for the individuals and entities who support its illegal war," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"We will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," he said.

Russia imposes travel restrictions on UK diplomats

Thursday 20 July 2023 21:00 , AP

Russia on Thursday imposed travel restrictions on most British diplomats in the country, a practice reminiscent of the Soviet Union's tight control over the movement of foreigners.

The Foreign Ministry summoned UK charge d'affaires Tom Dodd to announce the policy, saying it was "a response to the hostile actions of London, including hindering the normal functioning of Russian overseas missions in the UK."

The ministry also said it upbraided Dodd for the UK's support of "the terrorist actions of the Kyiv regime." Britain is among the countries most strongly supporting Ukraine in the fighting with Russia.

Under the restrictions, most UK diplomatic personnel will be required to give Russia five days' notice of intent to travel out a 120-kilometer (75-mile) radius and to state the purpose of the trip, the route, accommodations and planned contacts.

The ambassador, the consuls in Moscow and the deputy chief of mission are exempt from the order.

Russia has no plans to attack civilian ships in Black Sea - ambassador

Thursday 20 July 2023 20:30 , William Mata

Russia is not preparing to attack civilian ships in the Black Sea despite assertions by the United States, Russia's ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, said on Thursday, in comments posted by his embassy.

On Wednesday, Moscow said it would deem all ships travelling to Ukrainian ports to be potential carriers of military cargo and their flag countries to be parties to the conflict on the Ukrainian side, after quitting a year-old deal to give ships exporting Ukrainian grain safe passage despite the war.

Commenting on the decision, White House said Russia may expand its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea.

Russia has still not granted IAEA access to Zaporizhzhia reactor roofs

Thursday 20 July 2023 20:00 , William Mata

Russia has still not let the UN nuclear watchdog's team at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine have access to the rooftops of the occupied plant's reactors, the agency said on Thursday as it follows up on Ukrainian accusations of foul play.

"International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have carried out additional inspections and walkdowns at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) over the past week.

“So far without observing any heavy military equipment, explosives or mines, but they are still awaiting access to the rooftops of the reactor buildings," the IAEA said in a statement.

US ‘deeply concerned’ about Russian attacks

Thursday 20 July 2023 19:30 , William Mata

The United States is “deeply concerned” about Russian attacks in the Black Sea, the White House said Thursday.

“We’re deeply concerned about what we’re seeing in the Black Sea right now”, Olivia Dalton, White House deputy press secretary, told reporters on Air Force One, citing three straight days of Russian attacks on port cities and indications Russia could attack civilian ships in the area.

EU to create dedicated 20 billion Euros section for Ukraine defence

Thursday 20 July 2023 19:00 , Reuters

The European Union will provide up to five billion euros ($5.57 billion) a year for the next four years for Ukraine's defence needs via the means of a "dedicated section" under the European Peace facility, the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said on Thursday.

“It's still the same tool, the European Peace facility, which has been working very well and we will continue using it but with a dedicated chapter inside it, with a specific funding which can be estimated on the figures I mentioned," Mr Borrell told reporters during a press conference after convening with EU member states' foreign ministers.

Tinkoff investigating impact of US and Canadian sanctions

Thursday 20 July 2023 18:30 , William Mata

Tinkoff has said it is investigating the impact of US and Canadian sanctions, imposed on Thursday.

The statement comes after Britain removed sanctions on serial entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov on Thursday, days after an appeal by British billionaire Richard Branson and nine months after Tinkov, critical of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, renounced his Russian citizenship.

Britain sanctioned Tinkov, the founder of digital bank Tinkoff, a month after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, naming him as "a prominent Russian businessman" who had been involved in an area of strategic significance to the Russian government.

The United States targeted 18 individuals and dozens of organisations, including Tinkoff Bank, in its latest Russia-related sanctions on Thursday.

Russia steps up assault on Ukraine’s ports and threatens attack on ships

Thursday 20 July 2023 18:00 , William Mata / Chris Stevenson

Russia has stepped up its assault on Ukraine's ports with a third night of air strikes and a threat it is now treating all ships heading for those ports as potential military targets.

Saying that Moscow was deliberately turning the Black Sea into a "danger zone", Kyiv responded in kind by saying that from Friday they would treat ships heading for Russian ports – or Russian-occupied ports in Ukraine – would be treated the same way, as if they are carrying weapons or other military cargo.

Read Chris Stevenson’s story here.

Labour call for Wagner group to be ‘terror’ organisation

Thursday 20 July 2023 17:30 , PA

Senior Labour figures, including shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, have called on the Government to proscribe the Wagner group as a terror organisation for its role in the Ukraine conflict.

Wagner forces played a major part, albeit with reports of heavy casualties during fierce fighting, in capturing the salt mining city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region for Moscow earlier this year.

Ministers have so far refused to proscribe the organisation, pointing instead to the extensive sanctions applied by Britain on the group's leadership.

Downing Street says it is ‘too early’ to say what impact Black Sea grain deal with have on UK

Thursday 20 July 2023 17:00 , William Mata

Downing Street said it was "too early" to say what impact the Russia decision to end the Black Sea grain deal would have on the UK and inflation rates.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Russia pulling out of the grain deal is going to affect vulnerable countries the most."

He added that the UK was "speaking to other partners to seek to find a way forward for this".

Confirmation that three died in attack on southern cities

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:47 , William Mata / Reuters

Three people have been confirmed to have died in an attack on Thursday night in southern Ukrainian port cities which damaged a Chinese consular building.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper posted a photograph showing at least one broken window at the Chinese consulate in the Black Sea city of Odesa, but there was no sign of any other damage.

Beijing, a Russian ally, did not immediately comment on the incident, one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 60,000 tons of agricultural products destined for China had been destroyed in an attack on another Ukrainian port city.

Belarus defence ministry release video said to show joint Wagner drills - video

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:23 , William Mata

The Belarus defence ministry has released a video said to show joint Wagner drills.

Ryanair eyes Ukraine tourism after Russia’s war ends

Thursday 20 July 2023 16:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ryanair’s boss has pledged to “charge back into Ukraine” once commercial flying reopens and promised investment worth $3 billion in the war-torn country.

Michael O’Leary visited Kyiv on Thursday and said that he soon hoped to reconnect Ukraine’s Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa airports with more than 20 European Union capital cities within eight weeks of the reopening of air space with around 600 weekly flights.

“The fastest way to rebuild and restore the Ukrainian economy will be with low fare air travel,” the chief executive said.

“Ryanair intends to invest heavily in Ukraine and lead this aviation recovery by investing up to $3 billion and basing up to 30 Boeing MAX aircraft at Ukraine’s three main airports in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa.

Ryanair eyes Ukraine tourism after Russia’s war ends

UK sanctions ‘despicable’ Wagner leaders linked to African killings and torture

Thursday 20 July 2023 15:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

UK sanctions have been announced against “despicable” individuals linked to massacre, rape and torture carried out by the Wagner Group across Africa.

Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said the Russian mercenary unit, as well as assisting the Kremlin with its invasion of Ukraine, was “acting with impunity” in countries such as Mali, Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan.

Mr Mitchell on Thursday announced 13 sanctions in a package aimed at individuals and businesses.

Officials said Wagner has operated in Mali, CAR and Sudan for several years where it is “aggressively pursuing Russian foreign policy interests” and providing military support to counter-terrorism operations which have seen hundreds of civilians killed.

UK sanctions ‘despicable’ Wagner leaders linked to African killings and torture

UK removes sanctions on businessman Tinkov after Branson plea

Thursday 20 July 2023 15:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Britain removed sanctions on serial entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov on Thursday, days after an appeal by British billionaire Richard Branson and around nine months after Tinkov, critical of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, had renounced his Russian citizenship.

The United Kingdom sanctioned Tinkov, the founder of digital bank Tinkoff, a month after Russia invaded Ukraine last February, naming him as “a prominent Russian businessman” who had been involved in an area of strategic significance to the Russian government.

Tinkov contested that designation, routinely criticising Russia‘s actions in Ukraine, offloading his stake in Tinkoff Bank and ultimately renouncing his Russian citizenship last October, saying he did not want to be associated with “fascism” or people who collaborate with “killers”.

“I decided to renounce my Russian citizenship after Russia invasion of independent Ukraine,” he wrote on Instagram in November. “I am against this war, and the killing of peaceful people.”

The UK Treasury on Thursday said: “The following entry has been removed from the consolidated list and is no longer subject to an asset freeze or trust services sanctions.”

Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Virgin-founder Branson are among the high-profile figures to have come out in support of Tinkov.

The Times on Monday quoted Branson as writing: “I feel strongly that Mr Tinkov has been wrongly included on the list of sanctioned Russians.

“Whilst he was a wealthy Russian businessman he has never been an oligarch. I have always known him as a self-made dynamic entrepreneur. That is why I have liked and supported him and continue to do so.”

The British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office did not immediately comment on further questions about the decision to remove sanctions and whether Branson’s plea had played a role.

Law firm Corker Binning, which represented Tinkov, said it welcomed the FCDO’s decision.

Tinkov’s lawyers said his opposition to the invasion had led Russia‘s government to force him into selling his 35% stake in Tinkoff-owner TCS Group to Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin.

Russia restricts movements of British diplomats in response to 'hostile actions'

Thursday 20 July 2023 14:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia said on Thursday it was imposing restrictions on British diplomats, requiring them to give five days’ notice of any plans to travel beyond a 120-km (75-mile) radius, due to what it called London’s “hostile actions”.

Britain’s chargé d’affaires in Russia was summoned to the foreign ministry in Moscow to be scolded for what Moscow said was support for the “terrorist actions” of Ukraine and for obstruction of Russian diplomacy in Britain.

“The British side was also informed of the decision to introduce a notification procedure for the movement of employees of British diplomatic missions on the territory of our country as a response to London’s hostile actions,” the ministry said.

Britain is one of the loudest cheerleaders for concerted international opposition to what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine, and one of the leading Western suppliers of weaponry to help Ukraine defend itself.

British diplomats, with the exception of the ambassador and three other senior diplomats, will be required to send notification of any plans to travel beyond the 120-km (75-mile) “free movement zone” at least five working days ahead.

“Such a document should contain information about the timing, purpose, type of trip, planned business contacts, accompanying persons, type of transport, places of visit and accommodation, as well as the route of the trip,” the ministry said.

Kyiv condemns 'unfriendly' Polish decision to extend Ukrainian grain ban

Thursday 20 July 2023 14:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Thursday condemned a decision by Poland to extend a ban on Ukrainian grain exports to the European Union as an “unfriendly and populist move”.

“During this critical time, Poland intends to continue blocking the export of UA (Ukrainian) grain to the EU. This is an unfriendly and populist move that will severely impact global food security and Ukraine‘s economy,” he wrote on Twitter.

Five central European countries want a European Union ban on grain imports from Ukraine to be extended at least until the end of the year. The ban is set to expire on Sept. 15.

Poland will not lift the ban on Sept. 15 even if the EU does not agree on its extension, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday.

Shmyhal urged Ukraine‘s partners and the executive European Commission to ensure the unimpeded export of all Ukrainian agriculture products to the EU.

“This is an act of solidarity not only with Ukraine but with the world, which relies on our grain,” he said.

Maintaining the exports is important for Ukraine, especially after Russia quit a deal allowing safe shipments of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea.

Agricultural exports are crucial for Ukraine‘s economy, making up about 12% of gross domestic product before Russia‘s invasion in February 2022 and about 60% of all exports.

EU ministers discuss 20 bln euro plan for Ukraine military aid

Thursday 20 July 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

European Union foreign ministers met on Thursday to discuss their support for Ukraine, including a proposal to spend up to 20 billion euros ($22.4 billion) on weapons, ammunition and other military aid over four years.

The proposal, by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, is part of an effort to put European support for Kyiv on a longer-term footing, after more than a year of scrambling to respond to Ukraine‘s immediate needs following Russia‘s invasion.

The move would also be part of an international drive to give Ukraine long-term security assurances, as announced by members of the G7 bloc of wealthy nations on the sidelines of last week’s NATO military alliance summit in Vilnius.

“We’ll discuss how to continue supporting Ukraine in the long run,” Borrell said on arrival at the meeting in Brussels.

“I presented a plan in order to ensure financial support for Ukraine in the next years, which will amount to quite an important amount of money. I hope the ministers will support it,” he told reporters.

Borrell declined to provide figures before the meeting. But diplomats and officials said his proposal - first reported by Politico - is to add up to 5 billion euros a year for Ukraine into an EU-run fund named the European Peace Facility (EPF).

The Peace Facility has already allocated more than 5 billion euros in support for Ukraine since February last year.

The proposed extra funding would cover 2024 to 2027.

The Peace Facility is used to reimburse EU countries for at least part of the cost of weapons, ammunition and other military aid that they give to nations outside the bloc.

Borrell raised the prospect of a new cash pot for Kyiv last month and said it could be called the Ukraine Defence Fund.

White House says Russia is preparing for attacks on civilian ships in Black Sea

Thursday 20 July 2023 13:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Days after Russia suspended participation in a wartime deal that allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries around the world, the White House on Wednesday warned that the Russian military is preparing for possible attacks on civilian shipping vessels in the Black Sea.

Since leaving the Black Sea Grain Deal this week, Russia has already struck Ukraine’s grain export ports in Odesa with missile and drone attacks. Some 60,000 tons of grain were destroyed in the attacks.

“Our information indicates that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports,” White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said in a statement. “We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks.”

White House says Russia is preparing for attacks on civilian ships in Black Sea

Thursday 20 July 2023 13:17 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Foreign Office has announced sanctions against 13 individuals and businesses linked to the actions of the Wagner Group in Mali, Sudan and the Central African Republic.

Three designations are targeted at the mercenary group’s top officials in Mali and Central African Republic, including Konstantin Aleksandrovitch Pikalov, the so-called ‘right-hand man’ of Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The UK Government said Mr Pikalov had been responsible for the torture and targeted killings of civilians.

Wagner leader Mr Prigozhin, who led a mutiny against Moscow last month, has already been sanctioned by Britain, along with several of his key commanders, for their part in Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine.

Andrew Mitchell, minister for development and Africa, said: “The Wagner Group is committing atrocities in Ukraine, as well as acting with impunity in countries like Mali, Central African Republic and Sudan. Wherever Wagner operates, it has a catastrophic effect on communities, worsens existing conflicts and damages the reputations of countries that host them.

“These sanctions expose despicable individuals who have commissioned violations of international humanitarian law, holding them to account for the severe harm they are inflicting on innocent civilians for financial gain.”

In a refugee camp in Kenya, food shortages left kids hungry even before Russia ended grain deal

Thursday 20 July 2023 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Abdikadir Omar was trapped in an extremist-controlled town in Somalia for years until May, when he slipped out to make a 12-day journey with his wife and seven children to neighboring Kenya in search of food and safety.

To his surprise, “I found peace but no food,” the 30-year-old told The Associated Press. He stood near the withered maize he tried to plant around his family’s makeshift shelter of branches and plastic sheeting outside one of the world’s largest refugee camps.

As global food insecurity suffers another shock with Russia’s termination of a deal to keep grain flowing from Ukraine, the hundreds of thousands of Somalis who have fled climate change and insecurity offer a stark example of what happens when aid runs low.

In a refugee camp in Kenya, food shortages left kids hungry even before Russia ended grain deal

At least 21 injured in third night of Russian air attacks

Thursday 20 July 2023 12:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A third night of Russian air attacks targeted Ukraine‘s southern cities, including the port city of Odesa, where at least two people were killed, Ukrainian officials have said.

Moscow vowed “retribution” earlier this week for an attack that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Russian officials blamed that strike on Ukraine.

Odesa governor Oleh Kiper said Ukrainian air defences destroyed all of the 12 Iranian-made Shahed drones and two Kalibr missiles that targeted Odesa.

But he said air defence systems were unable to shoot down some incoming missiles, in particular the X-22 and Onyx types.

The two people who died in Odesa were a 21-year-old security guard and another person who was found dead under rubble during a search and rescue operation, Mr Kiper said.

In Mykolaiv, another southern city close to the Black Sea, at least 19 people were injured overnight, the region’s governor Vitalii Kim said in a statement on Telegram.

Russian strikes partially destroyed a three-storey building and caused a fire that burned for hours.

Two people were admitted to hospital, including a child, according to the regional governor.

Ukraine urges restoration of Black Sea grain initiative

Thursday 20 July 2023 12:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday called for the restoration of the Black Sea grain initiative to meet the challenge of global food insecurity.

Kuleba is visiting Islamabad on a two-day trip.

His counterpart in Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari endorsed his comments, saying he planned to take the issue up with the secretary general of the United Nations.

The Black Sea grain deal expired on Monday after Russia quit it.

“We had to find the way to export our grain to the global market,” said Kuleba, adding, “land corridors cannot export the full amount of cereals available for export, this is the issue, which means prices will go up because of shortages of delivery.”

This is why it is so important to make everything possible to restore the Black Sea grain initiative, he said.

Chinese consular building damaged in Russian attack on Ukraine's Odesa

Thursday 20 July 2023 12:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A building at the Chinese consulate in Odesa was damaged in a Russian missile and drone attack on the southern Ukrainian port city, regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Thursday.

The damage appeared to be minor. Kiper posted a photograph online showing the building with broken windows.

Russia, which is an ally of China, attacked the port cities of Odesa and Mykolaiv overnight for the third successive night.

“The aggressor is deliberately hitting the port infrastructure - administrative and residential buildings nearby were damaged, also the consulate of the People’s Republic of China. It shows the enemy does not pay attention to anything,” Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his daily late-night video address on Wednesday that 60,000 tons of agricultural products destroyed in a Russian air strike on Odesa port had been intended for shipment to China.

Putin extends export restrictions until end of 2025

Thursday 20 July 2023 11:51 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday extended a March 2022 decree imposing restrictions on the export of manufactured goods and raw materials from Russia until Dec. 31 2025, according to the text of a decree published on a Russian government website.

Kremlin concerned about Poland reinforcing Belarus border as Wagner arrives

Thursday 20 July 2023 11:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Poland’s decision to bolster its forces along its border with Belarus in response to the presence of Russian Wagner mercenary fighters was “a cause for concern”.

Poland, a member of the Western Nato military alliance, began moving over 1,000 troops, along with military hardware, to the east this month.

Warsaw had previously announced it was also sending 500 police to shore up security on the border to cope with rising numbers of migrants crossing, as well as the prospect of a Wagner presence.

The Belarusian defence ministry said on Thursday that Wagner mercenaries had started to train Belarusian special forces at a military range just a few miles from the border with Poland.

Asked about Poland’s move, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “Of course it is a cause for concern. The aggressiveness of Poland is a reality.

“Such a hostile attitude towards Belarus and the Russian Federation requires heightened attention (from our side).”

The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary

Thursday 20 July 2023 10:42 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

It was a month into Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces had withdrawn from around Kyiv and in their wake Bel Trew and her team stumbled on a body by an abandoned Russian camp.

His hands were tied. He had been burned and shot in the back. Soldiers said he was a teenager.

As Bel tried to find out who he was and what had happened, she uncovered a nightmare world: a nation struggling to find thousands of its missing and to identify its dead.

The Body in the Woods by Bel Trew is streaming now on Independent TV and on your smart TV.

The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary

Vladimir Putin to skip South Africa summit where he faced risk of arrest

Thursday 20 July 2023 10:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Vladimir Putin will not attend a summit in South Africa next month – allowing the hosts to avoid a decision whether or not to arrest the Russian leader thanks to an international warrant over war crime allegations.

As a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC) which issued the warrant, South Africa would be expected to detain Mr Putin once he sets foot in the country. Although it has refused to honour that obligation in the past, allowing safe passage to Sudan’s then-president Omar al-Bashir in 2015, who was facing allegations of war crimes against his own people.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mr Putin and Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights Maria Lvova-Belova in March in relation to the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.

Putin will not attend South Africa summit – where he faced risk of arrest

Russia preparing for attacks on civilian ships in Black Sea, White House claims

Thursday 20 July 2023 09:54 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Russian military is preparing for possible attacks on civilian shipping vessels in the Black Sea, the White House has warned.

It comes days after Russia suspended participation in a wartime deal allowing grain to flow from Ukraine to countries around the world.

Since quitting the Black Sea grain deal this week, Russia has already hit Ukraine‘s grain export ports in Odesa with missile and drone attacks.

Some 54,400 tonnes of groin were destroyed in the attacks.

White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said in a statement: “Our information indicates that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports.

“We believe that this is a co-ordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks.”

Poland says it is monitoring situation on Belarus border

Thursday 20 July 2023 09:37 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Poland’s defence ministry is monitoring the situation on the border with Belarus and is prepared for various scenarios, it said on Thursday, after Belarus said mercenaries from Russia‘s Wagner Group would take part in military exercises near the border.

“Poland’s borders are secure, we are monitoring the situation on our eastern border on an ongoing basis and we are prepared for various scenarios as the situation develops,” the defence ministry said in an emailed statement.

German foreign minister: Ukrainian grain cannot be left to rot in silos

Thursday 20 July 2023 09:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Germany is working with allies to ensure that Ukrainian grain is not left to rot in silos after Russia pulled out of an export deal, and will intensify work on getting the grain out by rail, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels, Baerbock accused Russia of blackmail and trying to use the grain as a weapon at the expense of the world’s poorest.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Western countries of “perverting” the grain deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

“Hundreds of thousands of people, not to say millions, urgently need the grain from Ukraine, which is why we are working with all our international partners so that the grain in Ukraine does not rot in silos in the next few weeks, but reaches the people of the world who urgently need it,” Baerbock said.

Russia fails to renew involvement in the Black Sea Grain Initiative

Thursday 20 July 2023 08:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In the latest intelligence update, the UK ministry of defence has said Russia “failed to renew its involvement in the Black Sea Grain Initiative”.

The ministry added: “This effectively nullified the security agreement which, despite the war, had ensured the safe passage of vessels exporting grain from Ukraine. Russia is aiming to deter all merchant shipping from Ukrainian ports.”

Teenage girl killed in Ukrainian drone strike on Crimea

Thursday 20 July 2023 08:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A teenage girl was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on a settlement in Crimea in which four administrative buildings were damaged, the Russian-installed head of Crimea said on Thursday.

Sergei Aksyonov, the official, said the strike took place in the northwestern part of the Black Sea peninsula where he said emergency and other services were working.

“Unfortunately, there were victims. A teenage girl was killed. I express my sincere and deep condolences to her family and friends. All necessary support will be provided to the family.”

There was no immediate reaction to his assertion from Ukraine.

Russia seized and annexed Crimea, where its Black Sea Fleet is based, from Ukraine in 2014.

Kyiv says Crimea is Ukrainian and that it intends to take it back by force as part of its drive to expel Russian troops from its territory.

The Kremlin on Wednesday accused the West of turning a blind eye to what it said were “terrorist attacks” committed by Ukraine inside Russia, noting what it said was the silence this week over a deadly attack on the Crimean Bridge which it blamed on Kyiv.

Belarus forces holding exercises with Wagner fighters on border with Poland

Thursday 20 July 2023 07:56 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Belarus’ Defence Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the country’s military were continuing exercises with fighters from Russia‘s Wagner Group mercenary force at a military base near the city of Brest, on the border with Poland.

On the ground in Ukraine, there’s one weapon troops want from the UK more than any other

Thursday 20 July 2023 07:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

On the frontline around Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, the scene of some of the war’s most intense fighting, soldiers are waiting for supplies from Britain. Without our missiles, they tell Askold Krushelnycky, advancing is more difficult – and every metre they take is “drenched in blood”.

I am standing outside a base – concealed by camouflage netting – for soldiers of the air defence units belonging to Ukraine’s 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade. Beside me, the commander, a captain, identified by his war name “Kamin” (which translates as “rock”), reels off the impressive amount of Russian hardware his men have shot out of the sky. Eight fighter jets, six helicopters, and more than three dozen drones of varying types – worth tens of millions of pounds.

On the ground in Ukraine, there’s a weapon troops really want from the UK