Russia Ukraine war - live: Russian missile fired near RAF plane over Black Sea

A Russian fighter jet “released a missile” in the vicinity of a British aircraft over the Black Sea, the defence secretary has revealed.

The UK raised objections with Russian defence chiefs, who blamed a technical malfunction, Ben Wallace told MPs.

He said it happened in “international airspace over the Black Sea” three weeks ago, on 29 September.

He said an unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint plane was “interacted with” by two Russian SU-27s, one of which “released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range”.

He told the Commons it was not unusual for aircraft to be shadowed, but that day one of the SU-27 aircraft released a missile beyond visual range.

Elsewhere, the UK ministry of defence has said it is “likely” that Russian authorities are seriously considering a major withdrawal of their forces from the area west of the Dnipro river.

It comes after recently appointed commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin, told Russian media that ‘a difficult situation has emerged’ in the Kherson area.

Key Points

• 43 Russian troops killed as Ukraine pushes counterattack towards Kherson

• Russia attacks school in Zaporizhzhia - official

• Ukraine places nationwide restrictions on electricity

• ‘Without electricity or without them?’- Zelensky

• Putin may withdraw troops from Dnipro as Zelensky’s forces advance - MoD

• Russian fighter jet ‘released missile’ near RAF aircraft over Black Sea

Putin’s vodka gift to Berlusconi breaks EU sanctions and causes row in Rome

15:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A birthday present from Vladimir Putin to Silvio Berlusconi of 20 bottles of vodka breached European Union sanctions imposed after the Russian leader’s invasion of Ukraine - and has prompted fears about the make-up of Italy’s next government.

The ruling by the European Commission comes as the veteran, controversial Italian leader is, once again, a leading player in Italian politics, raising concerns over whether the West should share intelligence about the Ukraine war with Berlusconi who said earlier this week that he had “reconnected” with Putin.

“For my birthday he sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a very sweet letter,” said Berlusconi, who turned 86 last month.

He also said, in leaked tapes, that he had “reconnected” with the Russian leader. Previously, he had claimed that Putin was pushed into war in Ukraine, and now the comments are having repurcussions for Rome and the rest of Europe.

Putin’s vodka gift to Berlusconi breaks EU sanctions and causes row in Rome

EU agrees more sanctions against Iran for supplying Russia with ‘kamikaze’ drones

15:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

European Union members have agreed on new measures against Iran after the country was accused of supplying Russia with “kamikaze” drones.

Kyiv claims Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones were used in recent Russian missile strikes on Ukraine.

On Monday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his troops intercepted and shot down 37 Iranian drones and several cruise missiles in just 12 hours.

On Thursday, Brussels announced that “EU ambassadors agreed on measures against entities supplying Iranian drones that hit Ukraine”.

EU agrees more sanctions against Iran for supplying Russia with ‘kamikaze’ drones

Russia says Liz Truss was a ‘catastrophically illiterate disgrace’ of a PM

14:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia’s foreign ministry savaged outgoing British Prime Minister Liz Truss, calling her a disgrace of a leader who would be remembered for her “catastrophic illiteracy”.

Just minutes after Truss announced the end of her brief premiership, Moscow waded in.

“Britain has never known such a disgrace of a prime minister,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a social media post.

Truss has been the target of withering comments from Moscow since she visited in February as part of a fruitless drive by Western politicians to avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Our international editor David Harding has more:

Russia says Liz Truss was a ‘catastrophically illiterate disgrace’ of a PM

Arson suspected in Ukrainian refugee hotel fire, German police say

13:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Police suspect that a fire that broke out at a hotel housing Ukrainian refugees in northeastern Germany is a case of politically motivated arson.

Fourteen guests, most of them Ukrainians, and three staff were in the half-timbered thatch-roofed Hotel Schaefereck when the fire began on Wednesday evening, police in Rostock said on Thursday, adding that none of them was hurt.

“As things stand, arson is suspected and a political motivation is assumed,” the police said in a statement.

The blaze erupted at 9:20 p.m. in the hotel near the Baltic seashore in the village of Gross Stroemkendorf, which since April served as accommodation for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their country.

“People who sought refuge from (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war had to be rescued from the flames,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said.

“If arson is confirmed, then this is a hate crime that will be prosecuted with all vigour.”

Prosecutors have ordered specialist fire investigator to look into the cause of the blaze, police said, adding that they were now assessing the damage to the building.

Russian fighter jet ‘released missile’ near RAF aircraft over Black Sea

13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Russian fighter jet “released a missile” in the vicinity of a British aircraft over the Black Sea, the defence secretary has revealed.

Ben Wallace told MPs it happened in “international airspace over the Black Sea” three weeks ago, on 29 September.

He said an unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint plane was “interacted with” by two Russian SU-27s, one of which “released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range”.

Russian fighter jet ‘released missile’ near RAF aircraft over Black Sea

Russian aircraft missile launch not deliberate escalation - UK defence minister

12:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Britain’s defence minister Ben Wallace said on Thursday that he did not consider the release of a missile by a Russian aircraft near a British aircraft patrolling in international airspace to be a deliberate escalation.

“We don’t consider this a deliberate escalation by the Russians, our analysis would concur it was a malfunction,” Wallace told parliament.

“However, it is a reminder of quite how dangerous things can be when you choose to use your fighters in the manner that the Russians have done over many periods of time.”

UK defence minister says Russian aircraft fired missile near British plane over Black Sea

12:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Russian aircraft released a missile near a British aircraft patrolling in international airspace over the Black Sea on Sept. 29, defence minister Ben Wallace said on Thursday.

Wallace told parliament Britain had suspended patrols following the incident and expressed their concerns to Russia‘s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Russia said it was a technical malfunction and Wallace said Britain has now resumed patrols.

The patrols now have fighter aircraft escorts, he added.

Putin may withdraw troops from Dnipro as Zelensky’s forces advance, UK MoD suggests

12:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The UK ministry of defence has said it is “likely” that Russian authorities are seriously considering a major withdrawal of their forces from the area west of the Dnipro river.

It comes after recently appointed commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin, told Russian media that ‘a difficult situation has emerged’ in the Kherson area.

He endorsed the previously announced plans of the occupation authorities to evacuate the civilian population. As the overall operational commander, Surovikin’s announcement highlighting negative news about the ‘special military operation’ is highly unusual.

India urges its citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible

11:41 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

India has issued an advisory urging its citizens to leave Ukraine at the earliest due to the “deteriorating security situation” of the European country amid the nearly eight-month-long war.

“Indian citizens, including students, currently in Ukraine are advised to leave Ukraine at the earliest by available means,” the Indian embassy in Ukraine said in a statement on Wednesday.

India has also advised its citizens against travelling to the war-torn country, citing an escalation of hostilities as Kyiv counterattacks Russian forces in response to Moscow’s “kamikaze” drone strikes.

India urges its citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible

Russia says U.S. 'blackmail' over fertilizer exports threatens global food security

11:24 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s foreign ministry said on Thursday that Moscow was ready to boost exports of food and fertilizers to help avert a global food crisis, but was being blocked from doing so by the United States.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Washington was “blackmailing” and “persecuting” those that try to trade with Russia and was therefore compromising global food security.

The U.S. has not directly targeted Russian agricultural exports, but sanctions on Russia‘s shipping, insurance, logistics and payments infrastructure are thwarting Russia‘s ability to export crucial fertilizers and chemicals, Moscow says.

Russian air force patrols ally Belarus' borders

11:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s air force held scheduled patrol flights at the borders of its ally Belarus on Thursday, Minsk said, as concerns remain that it could take a more active role in the Ukraine war.

Russia has deployed an enhanced task force of 9,000 troops and hundreds of pieces of military hardware to its neighbour after President Alexander Lukashenko said last week Belarus was at threat of attack from Ukraine.

“Right now, the Russian aviation component of the regional troop grouping is carrying out a scheduled patrol of the air borders of the Union State,” Belarus’ defence ministry said in a statement. The “Union State” is the name of a borderless customs-free zone between Russia and Belarus.

Russia used Belarus as a staging post for its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, deploying troops and equipment from there for its failed offensive on Kyiv in the early days of the war.

Belarus shares a 675-mile (1,085-kilometre) border with Ukraine and is less than 60 miles (100 kilometres) from the Ukrainian capital at its closest point.

While Lukashenko has repeatedly claimed Belarus is at risk of attack by Kyiv, he has so far not sent forces to fight alongside Russia, despite Ukrainian and Western concerns it may.

Ukraine denies it is a threat to Belarus.

Ukraine curbs power use as Russia continues all-out assault on energy infrastructure

10:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine has begun restricting electricity use following a devasatating series of attacks by Russian on its power facilities.

Government officials and grid operator Ukrenergo said power supplies will be curb usage between 7am and 11pm, and temporary blackouts were possible. The restriction is limited - for now - to Thursday but could be extended.

The announcement came after Moscow accelerated its attacks on “critical infrastructure” in Ukraine, targeting the country’s power and water supplies.

Ukraine curbs power use as Russia continues all-out assault on energy infrastructure

Ukraine says it seeks 20 per cent cut in energy use

10:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine‘s energy minister said on Thursday the government was seeking a 20 per cent reduction in energy use and that Ukrainians had responded to an appeal to limit their use of power.

The minister, Herman Halushchenko, said on Ukrainian television that Russia had launched more than 300 air strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities since Oct. 10.

“We see a drop in consumption,” he said. “We see a voluntary decrease. But when it is not enough, we are forced to bring in forced shutdowns.”

‘Without electricity or without them?’- Zelensky

10:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky encouraged the people of his country to save electricity amid increasing Russian strikes on power infrustracture.

He asked Ukrainians: “Without electricity or without them?” The official Ukraine Twitter account promptly replied: “Without them! Let’s bring our victory closer together.”

Zelensky responded: “This is why Ukraine will win this war. I thank all fellow Ukrainians for saving power at their homes today.”

Ukraine faces large-scale power outages as Russia targets energy infrastructure

09:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainians faced their first large-scale nationwide disruptions to electricity on Thursday as officials sought to restrict supply to allow energy companies to repair power facilities that have been pounded by Russian air strikes.

The president’s office told Ukrainians late on Wednesday that they should minimise their use of electricity from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and prepare for temporary blackouts if this was not done.

There was no schedule announced for outages but major cities such as the capital Kyiv and Kharkiv in the northeast announced curbs on the use of electric-powered public transport such as trolleybuses and reduced the frequency of trains on the metro.

DTEK, a major electricity supplier in Kyiv, told consumers it would do its best to make sure outages did not last longer than four hours.

The whole northeast region of Sumy which borders Russia said it would go the entire day - from 0700 to 2300 local time - without water, electric transport or street lighting.

“We need time to restore power plants, we need respite from our consumers,” Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, head of grid operator Ukrenergo, told Ukrainians during wartime television programming early on Thursday.

One of the facilities that was hit was a major, coal-fired thermal power station in the city of Burshtyn in western Ukraine.

“Unfortunately there is destruction, and it is quite serious,” Svitlana Onyshchuk, Ivano-Frankivsk’s governor, said on Ukrainian television, speaking about that strike.

Nato allies would act if Sweden, Finland come under pressure, Stoltenberg says

09:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Nato allies will act if Sweden or Finland come under pressure from Russia or another adversary before they become full members of the alliance, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

“It is inconceivable that allies would not act should Sweden and Finland come under any form of pressure,” Stoltenberg said at a news conference with Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson.

Ukraine's Burshtyn power plant seriously damaged - regional governor

09:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Russian air strike that hit a major thermal power station in the city of Burshtyn in western Ukraine on Wednesday has caused “quite serious” damage, the region’s governor said on Thursday.

“Unfortunately there is destruction, and it is quite serious,” Svitlana Onyshchuk, Ivano-Frankivsk’s governor, said on Ukrainian television.

Losses of Russia’s army, according to Ukraine

09:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs posted a tweet listing estimated losses of the Russian armed forces since the start of the war in February.

The ministry estimates that 66,650 Russian soldiers have so far been killed.

Moscow steps up attacks on Ukraine’s power and water infrastructure

08:44 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia has declared its intention to increase its targeting of Ukraine’s power, water and other vital infrastructure in the latest phase of the nearly eight-month-old war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow’s forces have destroyed 30% of the country’s power stations since October 10.

But Ukrainians are vowing to stand firm despite the attacks that threaten cuts in electricity, water and heat.

Many people in the country have stockpiled torches, candles and firewood, and also stored canned and preserved vegetables as well as bottled water and warm clothes.

One Ukrainian energy official said on Wednesday that 40% of the country’s electric power system had been severely damaged.

The attacks have come at a critical time, with winter approaching. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said that Thursday marks the start of the heating season for Kyiv, which like most urban centres in Ukraine and even Russia uses a Soviet-era central system controlled by the city that provides heat for apartment buildings and businesses.

Following a meeting between Mr Zelensky, government ministers, members of energy enterprises and some local officials, presidential adviser Kyrylo Tymoshenko said there would be power supply restrictions across Ukraine from 7am to 11am beginning on Thursday, along with the use of street lights being limited in some cities.

Kherson civilians evacuate as battle looms

08:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In Kherson, the only regional capital Russian forces have captured since their invasion eight months ago, the Russian-appointed administration prepared an evacuation.

Images of people using boats to flee the strategic southern city were broadcast by Russian state TV, which portrayed the exodus on the Dnipro river as an attempt to evacuate civilians before it became a combat zone.

About 50,000 to 60,000 people would be moved out in the next six days, said Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed chief of Kherson.

Staff at Kherson’s Russian-backed administration were also being relocated to the eastern side of the Dnipro, Saldo said, although he said Russia had the resources to hold the city and even counter-attack if necessary.

Kherson is arguably the most strategically important of four regions Russia claimed to have annexed in recent weeks. It controls both the only land route to the Crimea peninsula Russia seized in 2014, and the mouth of the Dnipro, the 2,200 km-long (1,367-mile) river that bisects Ukraine.

Eussia’s troops advance on the eastern front

08:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In eastern Ukraine bordering Russia, Moscow’s forces focused their main attempt to advance on the towns of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, the Ukrainian military said.

Bakhmut is the focus of Russia‘s slow advance through the Donetsk region. Forces trained tank and artillery fire on at least 10 towns in the area, including Bakhmut, Soledar and Bilohorivka, the Ukrainian military said.

Russian president Vladimir Putin demanded an all-Russia war effort and declared martial law on Wednesday in areas of Ukraine occupied by his forces.

Zelensky warned Ukrainians in occupied areas against any Russian attempts to draft them into the army, saying they should try to leave.

“If you cannot do this and find yourself in Russian military structures, at the first opportunity try to lay down your weapons and come to Ukrainian positions,” he said.

Putin will try to recruit you next, people in annexed regions told

07:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Russia’s military will try to recruit locals in more occupied Ukrainian territories in the coming days.

“In the near future, the occupiers will try to recruit men into their army. Everywhere is the same as in Donetsk and Luhansk,” the Ukrainian president said in his nightly address yesterday, referring to people in “temporarily” occupied areas of southern and eastern Ukraine.

“Please avoid it as much as you can. Try to leave the occupied territory,” he urged the population in the Russian-held territories which fell within the ambit of Moscow’s illegal referendum earlier this month.

Nationwide restrictions limited to one day for now

07:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Ukrainian government has placed restrictions on electricity usage nationwide for the first time since Russia‘s invasion following a barrage of attacks on power plants just before the winter sets in.

Power supply will be restricted between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., government officials and the grid operator Ukrenergo said, and temporary blackouts were possible if people did not minimise their use of electricity, a presidential aide said.

“We do not exclude that with the onset of cold weather we will be asking for your help even more frequently”, Ukrenergo said, referring to the restriction that is limited to Thursday.

Russia has intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine‘s power and water infrastructure in recent days.

“There is new damage to critical infrastructure. Three energy facilities were destroyed by the enemy today,” president Volodymyr Zelensky said in his Wednesday night video address.

“We assume that Russian terror will be directed at energy facilities until, with the help of partners, we are able to shoot down 100% of enemy missiles and drones,” said Zelensky, who earlier in the week said a third power stations had been hit by Russian air strikes.

Ukrainian forces push toward Kherson

07:24 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine‘s military tightened the noose around Russian forces occupying the southern city of Kherson on Thursday as the government ordered nationwide curbs on electricity use because of Russian missile and drone attacks on power plants.

In Kherson, the only regional capital Russian forces have captured since their invasion eight months ago, the Russian-appointed administration began an evacuation of a city that controls the only land route to the Crimea peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014, and the mouth of the Dnipro river.

On Wednesday, Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russia-backed administration in Kherson, wrote on Telegram that Ukraine had launched an offensive towards Novaya Kamianka and Berislav in the Kherson region.

While Ukraine remained tight-lipped about its operations, its military said in an early Thursday update on the Kherson region said 43 Russian servicemen had been killed and six tanks and other equipment destroyed.

Reuters was not able to verify battlefield reports.

Russia attacks school in Zaporizhzhia - official

07:05 , Arpan Rai

A Russian attack has struck a school in the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast, reported The Kyiv Independent citing an official.

The school in the Komyshuvakha settlement came under attack in the early hours today, said the deputy head of the president’s office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said.

The extent of damage from the attack and casualties are not immediately clear.

Russia seriously considering major exit from west of Dnipro river - MoD

06:57 , Arpan Rai

Russia is now likely looking to extract its troops and heavy equipment from the area west of Dnipro river in anticipation of a tough battle in the Kherson area.

“On 18 October 2022, recently appointed commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin, told Russian media that ‘a difficult situation has emerged’ in the Kherson area,” the British defence ministry said in its latest intelligence update.

It added that the top Russian official endorsed the previously announced plans of the occupation authorities to evacuate the civilian population.

“As the overall operational commander, Surovikin’s announcement highlighting negative news about the ‘special military operation’ is highly unusual,” it said.

The “negative news” likely indicates that the Russian authorities are seriously considering a major withdrawal of their forces from the area west of the Dnipro river, the ministry said.

“A key challenge of any Russian withdrawal operation would be extracting troops and their equipment across the 1000m wide river in good order,” it said.

With all the permanent bridges severely damaged, the ministry has claimed that “Russia would highly likely rely heavily on a temporary barge bridge it completed near Kherson in recent days, and military pontoon ferry units, which continue to operate at several locations.”

Putin places nuclear umbrella over annexed Ukraine regions

06:26 , Arpan Rai

Four Ukrainian cities recently illegally annexed by Russia will now fall under the protection of Moscow’s nuclear arsenal, the Kremlin has claimed.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “all these territories are inalienable parts of the Russian Federation”, and as such were “protected”.

“Their security is provided for at the same level as the rest of Russia’s territory,” he added.

Read the full story here:

Putin places nuclear umbrella over annexed Ukraine regions

43 Russian troops killed as Ukraine pushes counterattack towards Kherson

06:23 , Arpan Rai

Ukraine‘s forces have further amped up their counter attack on the Russian forces occupying the southern city of Kherson today.

At least 43 Russian servicemen had been killed and six tanks and other equipment destroyed, the Ukrainian military said early today in its update from the Kherson region while remaining tight-lipped on its operations.

This comes as thousands are being evacuated out of the battered city.

About 50,000 to 60,000 people will be moved out in the next six days, said Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed chief of Kherson, while maintaining that Russia had the resources to hold the city and even counter-attack if necessary.

Putin threatens to review working with UN chief if he inspects drones in Ukraine

06:21 , Arpan Rai

Russian officials have threatened to suspend collaboration with the UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres if he inspects the drones being used to attack Ukraine.

Moscow’s deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy asked Mr Guterres and his staff to “abstain from engaging in any illegitimate investigation” at a closed door UN Security Council meeting on Russia’s use of drones.

“Otherwise, we will have to reassess our collaboration with them, which is hardly in anyone’s interests. We do not want to do it, but there will be no other choice,” Mr Polyanskiy told reporters.

Vladimir Putin imposes martial law on annexed regions of Ukraine

05:54 , Arpan Rai

Vladimir Putin has announced that he is imposing martial law on the four regions of Ukraine recently illegally annexed by Moscow, as thousands of Russians are evacuated from the city of Kherson ahead of advancing Kyiv forces.

The Russian president announced the move in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, none of which are fully under Russian control and whose annexation has not been recognised by the international community.

Mr Putin didn’t immediately spell out the measures that would be taken under the martial law. But Russian legislation envisages that it may involve restrictions on travel and public gatherings and tighter censorship, as well as giving broader powers to law enforcement agencies.

Read the full story here:

Putin imposes martial law on annexed regions of Ukraine

Ukraine begins curbs on power usage after attacks on infrastructure

05:48 , Arpan Rai

All Ukrainians have been asked to restrict their electricity usage today for the first time in a nationwide blackout, a move to conserve energy in the wake of repeated Russian missile and drone attacks that have damaged many of the besieged country’s power plants ahead of the winter.

“We have new damage to critical infrastructure. Today, three energy facilities were destroyed by the enemy. Of course, we will do everything possible to restore the normal energy capabilities of our country,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address.

He added that Ukrainians should in general be conscious of electricity consumption starting at 7am today.

“Please do not turn on unnecessary electrical appliances. Please limit your electricity consumption and use those appliances that consume a lot of energy. Tomorrow, it is very important that the consumption is as conscious as possible, and thus the schedules of stabilisation blackouts will be shorter,” he said.

Thousands flee as Ukraine forces descend on Kherson: ‘The battle is about to begin’

05:30 , Arpan Rai

Civilians have been asked to leave the Moscow-controlled Kherson “as fast as possible” as Ukrainian forces begin to advance upon the city.

The Russian-installed leader of the annexed Ukrainian region said on Wednesday that authorities plan to evacuate up to 60,000 people over the next six days amid escalating pressure from a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Speaking on an online broadcast of “Soloviev Live”, Russian-installed governor Vladimir Saldo said authorities were moving civilians to the left bank of the Dnipro in order to “keep people safe” and allow the military to “act resolutely”.

Putin imposes martial law on annexed regions of Ukraine

Putin could try to recruit locals in Russia’s army, warns Zelensky

05:00 , Arpan Rai

Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territories will try to recruit locals into their army, warned Volodymyr Zelensky.

“In the near future, the occupiers will try to recruit men into their army. Everywhere is the same as in Donetsk and Luhansk,” Mr Zelensky warned in his nightly address yesterday, specifically speaking to people in “temporarily” occupied areas of southern and eastern Ukraine.

“Please avoid it as much as you can. Try to leave the occupied territory,” he urged the population in the Russian-held territories which fell to Moscow’s illegal referendum earlier this month.

“If you cannot do this and find yourself in Russian military structures, at the first opportunity try to lay down your arms and come to Ukrainian positions. And most importantly, protect your life. And be sure to help our other people who are close to you. Our common task is to persevere. Stand against these weirdoes…,” he added.

Mr Zelensky said Russia had been avoiding “even the word ‘war’ for six months”. Moscow “punished its own people with criminal cases for it, and now it declares martial law in the occupied territory”, he said.

04:28 , Arpan Rai

Good morning, welcome to our coverage of the Ukraine war on Thursday, 20 October.