Ukraine-Russia war: Wagner chief poses with 'body of US fighter' killed in Bakhmut
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The head of the Wagner mercenary group has claimed that Russian soldiers killed a US volunteer fighter in Bakhmut in a video posted on social media.
The footage shows Yevgeny Prigozhin inspecting a body and what he claims are Pentagon identification cards showing that the man was a former US Army special forces soldier from Boise, Idaho.
The Telegraph has not verified the authenticity of the documents or confirmed the man’s nationality, so is not using the name given by the Russian mercenaries.
Fighting has intensified over the past few months in Bakhmut, a small city in eastern Ukraine where Kyiv's forces have recently made advances.
In a video posted on the Wagner group’s Telegram channel, the pro-Kremlin military blogger Alexander Simonov reportedly says: “We are advancing to the advanced positions of the PMC Wagner in the western regions of Artyomovsk (the Russian name for Bakhmut).”
Prigozhin is shown inspecting the body and documents, before claiming that they will return the body to the US.
He says: “We'll put him in a coffin, cover him with the American flag with respect because he did not die in his bed as a grandpa but he died at war and most likely a worthy [death], right?”
According to CNN, Prigozhin says the deceased was “shooting back” when he was killed.
He adds: “He died in the battle, so we will hand over his documents tomorrow morning and pack everything.”
At least 12 Americans have died fighting in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country more than a year ago.
The US State Department said they were “aware of the reports” and “seeking additional information”.
“Our ability to verify reports of deaths of US citizens in Ukraine is extremely limited,” a spokesman said.
The Department offered its “condolences to the families of all whose lives have been lost as a result of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine”, and reiterated that Americans should not travel to the country.
The US State Department has separately condemned the arrest of a former employee of its consulate in Russia.
Robert Shonov was detained in the Russian city of Vladivostok on suspicion of “cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organisation”, according to Russia's Tass news agency.
Matthew Miller, spokesman for the State Department, said Mr Shonov is a Russian national who worked at the now-closed US consulate in Vladivostok for more than 25 years.
“Mr. Shonov’s only role at the time of his arrest was to compile media summaries of press items from publicly available Russian media sources,” Mr Miller said.
“His being targeted under the ‘confidential cooperation’ statute highlights the Russian Federation’s blatant use of increasingly repressive laws against its own citizens.”
03:01 PM
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02:58 PM
Ukraine in pictures:
02:53 PM
Ukraine claims forces make gains around Bakhmut
Ukrainian forces have taken back about 20 square km (7.5 square miles) of territory from Russian forces around the eastern city of Bakhmut in recent days, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar has claimed.
She said that Russian forces had advanced "somewhat" in the city of Bakhmut itself, and that heavy fighting continued.
02:48 PM
Georgian Airways to resume direct flights to Russia from May 20
Georgia's flag carrier, Georgian Airways, will resume direct flights to Russia from May 20, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency said on Tuesday, after Russia lifted a flight ban last week.
The European Union criticised the resumption, which comes amid a sharp warming in relations between Russia and Georgia, countries that have had no formal diplomatic ties since Russia routed Tbilisi's forces in a brief war in 2008.
Tbilisi has in recent months tried to balance rapprochement with its giant neighbour and its aspirations to join the European Union.
Georgia was rocked by protests in March after lawmakers moved to adopt a Russian-style bill requiring non-government organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as "agents of foreign influence".
Brussels said the plan was incompatible with EU membership and the bill was later withdrawn.
02:37 PM
Russia ‘destroys’ key US-supplied air defence system in largest bombardment of Kyiv
Russia’s defence ministry claimed it had destroyed a key US-supplied Patriot air defence system in what would be a costly blow to Ukraine, reports Joe Barnes.
The Kremlin said it struck the missile battery with a hypersonic Kinzhal missile during one of the most intense rocket barrages on the capital since the war broke out.
However, Ukraine claimed it had downed all six “unstoppable” Kinzhal missiles fired overnight, which would raise major doubts about Russia’s long-range missile threat.
02:36 PM
Top Russian official in coma after grenade attack on Ukrainian barber shop
A senior separatist official is in a coma in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine after being targeted with a grenade while in a barber shop.
Igor Kornet, the “acting” interior minister of Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Luhansk region, was severely injured along with seven other people as he stopped in Luhansk for a haircut.
A former adviser of Mr Kornet told the Tass news agency that the separatist official is in a grave but stable condition.
Read more from Nataliya Vasilyeva here
01:39 PM
Pictured: Olena Zelenska with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol
01:37 PM
Macron follows Britain by sending French 'Storm Shadow' missiles to Ukraine
France will follow Britain’s lead by supplying Ukraine with longer-range missiles days after the UK’s Storm Shadow munitions were used to devastating effect against Russian forces behind the front line.
France has so far delivered Caesar self-propelled howitzers, Milan anti-tank missiles and Mistral anti-aircraft missiles, as well as light armoured vehicles known as AMX-10 RCs.
But it had stopped short of longer-range missiles that would allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory.
Read more from Henry Samuel here
12:36 PM
Ukraine lifts barriers to exports of some farm goods
Ukraine has removed barriers to the export of some agricultural commodities, imposed last year to prevent food shortages, in a bid to boost foreign currency income, its government said on Tuesday.
The country introduced export licences in 2022 to protect food supplies after agricultural production was hit by Russia's invasion. While licensing did not ban exports, it made them much more difficult.
The government said it would lift the requirement for export licences for live cattle, frozen cattle meat, chicken meat, eggs, rye, oats, millet and some other commodities.
It said via the Telegram messaging app that the resolution was developed in response to numerous requests from associations, and would "help to optimise agricultural exports and increase foreign exchange earnings for Ukraine".
12:07 PM
South African president claims Putin and Zelensky will receive mission from African leaders on potential peace plan
Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African President, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky had agreed to receive a mission from African leaders on a potential peace plan for the conflict.
"My discussions with the two leaders demonstrated that they are both ready to receive the African leaders and to have discussion on how this conflict can be brought to an end," Mr Ramaphosa told a press briefing with the Singapore Prime Minister.
"Whether that will succeed or not is going to depend on the discussions that will be held," he said
11:53 AM
Head of Ukraine's Supreme Court detained
The head of Ukraine's Supreme Court has been detained over an alleged bribery scheme, a prosecutor from the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) has said.
The prosecutor did not name the official detained, but told a briefing that he was the head of the Supreme Court and had not yet been served with a formal "notice of suspicion".
The Supreme Court is headed by Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev, who could not be reached for comment.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and SAPO announced on Monday that they had "exposed large-scale corruption" at the court, and shared a photograph of piles of dollars neatly lined up on a sofa.
"You see that we are showing through real cases, real deeds, what our priority is: it's top corruption, it's criminal organisation at the highest levels of power," NABU director Semen Kryvonos told Tuesday's briefing.
11:32 AM
France to supply longer-range missiles and open to training fighter jet pilots
France will follow Britain’s lead by supplying Ukraine with longer-range missiles days after the UK’s Storm Shadow munitions were used to devastating effect against Russian forces behind the front line, reports Henry Samuel.
France has so far delivered Caesar self-propelled howitzers, MILAN anti-tank missiles and Mistral anti-aircraft missiles, as well as light armoured vehicles known as AMX-10 RCs.
But it has stopped short of longer-range missiles apparently not to provide Ukraine with weapons that could be used to strike deep into Russian territory.
However, in an interview on TF1 news on Monday night, Mr Macron confirmed: “We have decided to send over and above that, new munitions, new missiles that have a range that allows Ukraine to resist and to lead this (upcoming) counteroffensive”.
11:11 AM
Pictured: Police investigate fragments of a Russian rocket that landed in a city zoo
10:59 AM
Ukraine's first lady asks South Korea for non-lethal military aid
Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and asked for non-lethal military assistance for her country, South Korea's presidential office said.
Zelenska, the wife of President Volodymyr Zelensky, is visiting South Korea to participate in a media conference.
Zelenska, meeting Yoon in the role of a special presidential envoy, told him that she hoped to get support for Ukraine in the form of non-lethal military equipment such as mine detectors, Yoon's spokesperson, Lee Do-woon, told a briefing.
Yoon said South Korea would actively help the Ukrainian people, Lee said.
In an interview with South Korea's Yonhap news agency published on Tuesday, Zelenska raised the possibility of Yoon visiting Ukraine, saying a visit would be "very supportive".
She also called for "more radical" support for Ukraine to fight against Russian aggression.
South Korea, a major producer of artillery shells, has said it was not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing its relations with Russia.
But Yoon said in an interview last month his government might not "insist only on humanitarian or financial support" if civilians in Ukraine come under a large-scale attack or due to a "situation the international community cannot condone".
10:23 AM
'Beautiful Kyiv at dawn'
The Telegraph's Heathcliff O'Malley has tweeted from Kyiv after a second air raid alarm went off.
Beautiful Kyiv at dawn after a second Air Raid Alarm .
Why would anyone attempt to pulverise this city and it’s 3 million civilians with regular missiles strikes ? pic.twitter.com/0fL8lqV8CT— Heathcliff O'Malley (@heathcliffom) May 16, 2023
10:17 AM
China's Ukraine envoy to visit Warsaw on Friday
China's special Ukraine envoy Li Hui will visit Warsaw on Friday following his two-day trip to Kyiv, Poland's ministry of foreign affairs said on Tuesday.
"That will be the case," spokesman for the ministry Lukasz Jasina told AFP, confirming earlier reports in Polish media and adding that the envoy will meet a Polish deputy foreign minister in Warsaw.
10:04 AM
Russia's attack on Kyiv by the numbers
09:53 AM
Watch: Ukrainian Air Defence attempt to intercept Russian missiles over Kyiv
Footage of Ukrainian Air Defenses attempting to Intercept Russian Missiles over the Capital City of Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/D77pIYhXfq
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 16, 2023
09:43 AM
Pictured: Aftermath of Kyiv attack
09:16 AM
More than 150,000 Russian troops deployed in preparation for Kyiv's counter-offensive, claims Ukraine
Russia has more than 150,000 troops deployed in defensive positions in southern Ukraine in preparation for Kyiv’s long-awaited counter-offensive, Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed, reports Joe Barnes.
“Approximately 152,000 enemy troops are currently concentrated in the occupied territories of these two regions, and all their actions indicate that they are preparing for defence,” according to its latest intelligence report.
While details of Ukraine’s counter-offensive have been kept secret, it is believed Kyiv’s forces will push south in a bid to split Russian units based in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as sever the land bridge between the Russian mainland and the occupied peninsula of Crimea.
08:52 AM
Ukraine's first lady meets with South Korea's Yoon
Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as a special presidential envoy, South Korea's presidential office said on Tuesday.
Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is visiting South Korea to participate in a media conference.
In an interview with South Korea's Yonhap news agency published on Tuesday, Zelenska expressed willingness to invite Yoon to her country, saying such a visit would be "very supportive" to Ukrainians.
She also warned against the risk of war fatigue and called for "more radical" support for Ukraine to fight against Russia's aggression.
08:27 AM
'Unbelievable success' for Ukrainian air forces, claims Ukraine
Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukraine's Defence Minister, has claimed that Ukraine's Air Forces shot down six hypersonic missiles last night.
Another unbelievable success for the Ukrainian Air Forces! Last night, our sky defenders shot down SIX russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and 12 other missiles.
80-1-6=❌
russian terrorists have no chance of prevailing over Ukraine. Their weapons can and should be countered by…— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) May 16, 2023
08:00 AM
Pictured: Explosion of missile seen in sky
07:48 AM
A 'super loud night' in Kyiv
Inna Sovsun, a Ukrainian MP, has tweeted about the overnight air attack launched on Kyiv.
So that was a SUPER loud night in #Kyiv!
Around 03:30 Russians attacked Ukraine from the north, south, and east directions with 18 (❗️) missiles of various types: air-launched, sea-launched, and ground-launched.
❗️All 18 missiles were destroyed by 🇺🇦 air defense forces!— Inna Sovsun (@InnaSovsun) May 16, 2023
07:38 AM
Britain to send Ukraine suicide drones with twice the range of Himars
The UK will send Ukraine hundreds of suicide drones it has had custom-built to support Kyiv on the battlefield.
The announcement came as Volodymyr Zelensky met with Rishi Sunak at Chequers to discuss what further support the UK could provide.
The kamikaze drones have a range of more than 125 miles – more than twice as far as the highly successfully Himars – and complement the long-range Storm Shadow missiles the UK donated to Ukraine last week.
Read more from The Telegraph's Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan here
07:36 AM
Ukraine in pictures:
07:22 AM
Ukraine says it shot down all 18 missiles that Russia launched overnight
Ukraine forces shot down all 18 missiles of various types that Russia launched in a concentrated overnight attack on Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said on Tuesday.
Russia launched six Kinzhal ballistic missiles from aircraft, nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three Iskander land-based missiles, Zaluzhnyi said on the Telegram messaging app.
Ukraine's Air Force said that six Iranian-made Shahed drones were also shot down and three reconnaissance drones.
07:19 AM
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