Ukraine-Russia war - live: Putin ‘loses entire brigade’ as Moscow suffer painful losses in latest battle

Russian troops have lost “at least a brigade of troops” during their latest offensive in the ruined city of Avdiivka, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky claiming they had suffered “painful losses”.

This comes as news emerged that Putin’s troops had been executed for retreating from the offensive in the eastern city in Donetsk, according to the White House.

“We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders,” White House spokesperson John Kirby told a media briefing on Thursday.

Ukrainian forces have been repelling the Russian onslaught on the frontline in Donetsk for several weeks since mid-October.

In a call to Rishi Sunak, Zelensky said: “The invaders made several attempts to surround Avdiivka, but each time our soldiers stopped them and threw them back, causing painful losses. In these cases, the enemy lost at least a brigade.”

Meanwhile, Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for Ukraine‘s southern groups of forces, said last week that Russian forces had suffered over 400 casualties a day in its campaign which has relied on small assault groups of 30 to 40 men.

Key Points

• US says executing own soldiers is ‘barbaric'

• Putin pushes more soldiers to frontline despite failing offensive

• North Korea on course to be ‘significant supplier’ of arms to Russia

• Russia tests its ability to deliver massive retaliatory nuclear strike

• Russian drone strike in Khmelnitskyi region was likely targeting nuclear power station

Latest pictures from Gaza

07:50 , Holly Evans

Experts reveal what the winter will bring for the Ukraine war – and why Putin will be banking on Trump

07:15 , Holly Evans

The Ukraine war may remain a “stalemate” throughout 2024, military experts have told The Independent, as hopes fade for a major breakthrough in this year’s counteroffensive against Russia.

Delays in Western military aid handed Moscow time to build heavily fortified defences which have largely held up against months of intense assaults – and constraints in ammunition and weaponry now mean both armies may struggle to sustain the current pace of the war, some analysts believe.

With the prospect of a Middle East conflict likely to further stretch Washington – Ukraine’s largest backer – ahead of a US presidential election in November 2024, Vladimir Putin’s strategy may now be to preserve the current state of the front line and “wait it out”, Western experts say.

Read the full article below

Experts on what winter brings for the Ukraine war – and why Putin is banking on Trump

Russia’s strike campaign ‘damaged 70 energy facilities last autumn and winter'

06:00 , Athena Stavrou

The head of Ukraine’s state grid operations said Russian strikes on energy systems damaged 70 large facilities last autumn and winter.

Volodymyr Kudrytskyi told Voice of America that about half of Ukraine’s power system was damaged in the campaign.

He said: “Any lower-level facilities were damaged in frontline areas by artillery strikes, small transformer points or regional substations. There are probably hundreds, thousands of them.”

On Avdiivka’s wretched battlefield, Russian soldiers who refuse to advance face an impossible decision

04:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Soldiers who don’t follow the suicidal Kremlin orders now risk gunfire from both sides of the war, says Askold Krushelnycky in Ukraine:

So brutal is the conflict in the heavily fortified battlefields around the city of Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine, that Western intelligence suggests some Russian commanders are now executing soldiers who refuse to advance into the tempest of rocket and gunfire.

Russian soldiers who refuse to advance face an impossible decision

Ukrainian drone struck Russian nuclear waste facility, ministry says

03:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Ukrainian drone crashed into a nuclear waste storage facility at the Kursk nuclear power plant in western Russia on Thursday, damaging its walls, Russia’s foreign ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry said in a statement that Kyiv must have known that its actions could have caused a full-scale nuclear catastrophe.

Moscow said on Friday that it had thwarted the drone attack in the country’s south, where two news outlets said an explosion had damaged the facade of a warehouse storing nuclear waste.

A Russia without Putin? Be careful what you wish for...

02:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

As rumours swirl about the health of the Russian president, Mary Dejevsky explains what the death of Putin could mean for Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the world:

As if there were not enough uncertainty in the world at the moment, the week opened with new speculation about the health of Vladimir Putin.

The Russian president, who recently turned 71, was said to have suffered a stroke at his residence outside Moscow and to be in intensive care or, at the very least, under the beady eye of his doctors.

A Russia without Putin? Be careful what you wish for... | Mary Dejevsky

Peace plan talks involving 65 countries - but not Russia

01:00 , Katy Clifton

Talks on Ukraine‘s plan for peace kicked off in Malta on Saturday, with the participation of more than 65 countries — but not Russia, Maltese and Ukrainian officials said.

The two-day meeting of national security delegates is the third round of such talks in recent months. Ukraine sees them as an opportunity to win support for president Volodymyr Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan from countries across the globe, especially as the conflict in the Middle East risks shifting the focus away from Ukraine.

Russia, which wasn’t invited to any of the meetings, has dismissed the initiative as biased.

“Ukraine‘s diplomatic efforts are paying off, as international support for the Ukrainian peace formula is growing,” the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, wrote on X — formerly known as Twitter — ahead of the opening session.

Russia recruits prisoners for Ukraine war as Putin replicates Wagner

00:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia has taken the wheel from Wagner as the Kremlin has recruited up to 100,000 prisoners to fight in Ukraine.

The practice was a trademark move of the late mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who filled his group’s ranks with convicted criminals.

The army unit, commonly known as Storm-Z, is reportedly seen as a disposable force in Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation”.

Russia recruits prisoners for Ukraine war as Putin replicates Wagner

On Avdiivka’s wretched battlefield, Russian soldiers who refuse to advance face an impossible decision

23:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Soldiers who don’t follow the suicidal Kremlin orders now risk gunfire from both sides of the war, says Askold Krushelnycky in Ukraine:

So brutal is the conflict in the heavily fortified battlefields around the city of Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine, that Western intelligence suggests some Russian commanders are now executing soldiers who refuse to advance into the tempest of rocket and gunfire.

Russian soldiers who refuse to advance face an impossible decision

From Stalin to Putin, abortion has had a complicated history in Russia

22:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

They were banned under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin but commonplace under later Kremlin leaders. Now, after less than a century, official attitudes about abortion in Russia are changing once again.

Although abortion is still legal and widely available, new restrictions are being considered as President Vladimir Putin takes an increasingly socially conservative turn and seeks to reverse Russia’s declining population.

Having embraced the Russian Orthodox Church, he is stressing “traditional family values” — often used as code words to differentiate his country from Western social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ rights and other policies.

From Stalin to Putin, abortion has had a complicated history in Russia

Dutch PM Rutte signals interest in NATO top job

20:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Saturday he would be interested in succeeding Jens Stoltenberg as secretary-general of NATO, although he only saw a small chance of being picked for the job.

“Such a role would be interesting as it would offer the chance to contribute for a few years on the international stage in a period of dramatic global changes,” Rutte said in an interview with radio station Den Haag FM.

“But there is a very big chance, given the political support for it, that this job will go to a European woman, which would also be very good.”

Rutte, who unexpectedly announced his departure from Dutch politics in July soon after handing in the resignation of his fourth cabinet, said he did not know if he was considered a front-runner for role as head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and would not start a personal campaign.

Stoltenberg has been in post since 2014 and is due to step down in October 2024.

His term was extended in July for a fourth time, as the alliance’s 31 member countries opted to stick with an experienced leader rather than try to agree on a successor with Russia‘s war in Ukraine raging on NATO’s doorstep.

Russian diplomats deny Moscow executed soldiers on battlefield

19:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian diplomats on Friday dismissed as lies a White House allegation that Moscow’s military was executing its own soldiers if they refused to carry out battlefield orders in Ukraine.

“Whoever came up with these other-worldly lies could only have been a person with an imagination far into overdrive,” the Russian embassy in Washington said in comments carried by the RIA Novosti news agency.

“And all this simply to justify the failed, much publicised counteroffensive of its (Ukrainian) ward. Let us say with full responsibility that all insinuations about this in comments by the White House spokesperson are a lie.”

White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Thursday that the U.S government had information the Russian military had been executing soldiers who refuse orders.

“We also have information that Russian commanders are threatening to execute entire units if they seek to retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire,” he said.

Kirby provided no evidence for his assertions.

War-weary mothers, wives and children of Ukrainian soldiers demand a cap on military service time

18:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Scores of protesters gathered on the streets of Ukrainian cities on Friday to demand a cap of 18 months on mandatory military service, amid new suggestions of possible Ukrainian and international weariness with the 20-month war.

Both the warring sides are striving to keep their military momentum, though neither side is able to land a knockout blow, and the fighting is expected to drag on deep into next year.

The 18-month service limit would be the same maximum as before the war. It is currently open-ended for draftees. The protesters, who are part of a loose national network, want the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, to consider possible alternatives on service time.

War-weary mothers, wives and children of Ukrainian soldiers demand a cap on military service time

Ukraine’s frontline troops say they are facing intensifying attacks by Putin’s forces – and ammo’s running out

17:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In case you missed it...

As all eyes are on Israel and Gaza, Askold Krushelnycky speaks to military officers in Ukraine about facing Russian forces from multiple sides in the northern and eastern battlegrounds – and their fears that US support for Israel’s war on Hamas could drain the flow of essential munitions for their fight:

Ukraine’s troops face intensifying attacks by Putin’s forces – and ammo’s running out

Moscow succession: What would happen if Putin dies?

16:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Thyroid cancer, Parkinson’s disease, leprosy or declining in the aftermath of a stroke - just a few of the many unproven ailments rumoured to have afflicted the Russian leader in recent years.

Just this week, the Kremlin were forced to deny rumours that Vladimir Putin had suffered a cardiac arrest in his bedroom, months after they were forced to deny that he had soiled himself.

Since gripping the reins of power in 1999, Putin has established himself as one of the most infamous politicians in modern history, with a vicelike grip over Russia.

If Putin dies, this is what would happen in Russia

Russia calls for condemnation after Ukrainian drone crashes into nuclear facility

14:54 , Holly Evans

Russia’s foreign ministry has called on other governments to condemn Kyiv after a Ukrainian drone crashed into a nuclear waste storage facility at the Kursk power plant in western Russia on Thursday, damaging its walls.

Ukraine must have known that its actions could have caused a full-scale nuclear catastrophe, the ministry’s statement said.

“We call on all governments to issue a strong condemnation of Kyiv’s barbaric actions, which are extremely dangerous and could lead to irreparable consequences,” said ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

“According to preliminary data, the drones used in the attack on the nuclear power plant used components supplied by Western countries,” she said, adding that such an attack must have had the permission or possibly of Ukraine’s allies or possibly been ordered by them.

EU summit turns its eyes away from Ukraine despite a commitment to stay the course with Zelenskyy

12:24 , Holly Evans

It was a good thing Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy had his videoconference address to the European Union summit pre-slotted for the opening session.

Immediately afterward, EU leaders switched off and went to the order of the day — the Israel-Hamas war. They didn’t come back to the issue of Russia‘s war in Ukraine again before Friday’s closing day of the summit.

After dominating summit after summit since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the timing alone, anecdotal as it was, underscored a deeper reality: Zelenskyy will be facing tougher times to get all the attention and political, economic and military aid that Ukraine wants.

Read more here

EU summit turns its eyes away from Ukraine despite a commitment to stay the course with Zelenskyy

Peace talks begin in Malta - without Russia

11:26 , Holly Evans

Peace talks that are being supported by Ukraine and representatives from more than 50 countries have begun in Malta, with Russia absteining from the discussions.

This follows similar summits in Jeddah and Copenhagen earlier this year, with Volodymyr Zelensky outlining 10-point plan to end the war.

“This meeting is a powerful signal that unity is preserved around Ukraine,” Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said this week.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the Malta talks have “nothing to do with the search for a peaceful resolution”.

Ukraine shot down three out of the four Iskander cruise missiles

10:18 , Holly Evans

Ukraine’s air force claimed it has shot down three out of the four Iskander cruise missiles that Russia launched overnight at Dnipropetrovsk oblast.

They wrote on Telegram that the launches were carried out from the Dzhankoi district of Russian-occupied Crimea and that the remaining missile did not reach its target. Explosions were heard around 1am with no casualties reported.

Ministry of Defence latest update

09:25 , Holly Evans

In their daily update on social media, the Ministry of Defence said that “heavy but inconclusive” fighting had been taking place around the town of Avdiivka, with Russian troops likely to have suffered some of their highest casualty rates in 2023.

War-weary mothers, wives and children of Ukrainian soldiers demand a cap on military service time

08:50 , Holly Evans

Scores of protesters gathered on the streets of Ukrainian cities on Friday to demand a cap of 18 months on mandatory military service, amid new suggestions of possible Ukrainian and international weariness with the 20-month war.

Both the warring sides are striving to keep their military momentum, though neither side is able to land a knockout blow, and the fighting is expected to drag on deep into next year.

The 18-month service limit would be the same maximum as before the war. It is currently open-ended for draftees. The protesters, who are part of a loose national network, want the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, to consider possible alternatives on service time.

Read more here

War-weary mothers, wives and children of Ukrainian soldiers demand a cap on military service time

French president Macron condemns Orban and Putin handshake

08:03 , Holly Evans

French president, Emmanuel Macron, has condemned the Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán’s recent meeting and handshake with Vladimir Putin.

“I want to condemn it [the meeting with the Russian president once again and make it very clear. I can tell you what I said to Viktor Orbán publicly around the table,” he said. “First of all, I respect all the heads of state and government around the table and they have this sovereignty.

There’s absolutely no need to prohibit a head of state or government from going in one direction or another. It doesn’t shock us. What I am asking, out of respect and loyalty, is that we coordinate beforehand and coordinate afterwards and that, especially in the situation we are in with Russia, we do not use these bilateral contacts to negotiate things about ourselves that would weaken our unity.

Russia shells Kherson injuring eight people and damaging buildings

07:00 , Sam Rkaina

Russian forces heavily shelled the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on Friday, injuring eight people and destroying or damaging at least 15 buildings, a senior city official said.

Pictures posted on social media showed at least three sites dotted with piles of rubble and the interior of one building strewn with shattered building materials and other debris.

Roman Mrochko, head of the city’s military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app that three of the injured were being treated in hospital. He said two buildings had been destroyed, three suffered heavy damage and 10 less damage.

“In the evening the entire city trembled,” Ukraine‘s Emergency Services said on Telegram. “The enemy targeted the very centre of Kherson.”

The posting said emergency workers had rescued two women, in their 70s and 80s, who had been blocked in a building, and brought a fire under control in a rubble-strewn area.

Ukraine‘s Suspilne public broadcaster said Russian forces had also shelled Beryslav, a town further north on the Dnipro River in Kherson Region, wounding one person.

Russian forces captured Kherson in the early days of the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but abandoned the city and the western bank of the Dnipro late last year. They now regularly shell those areas from positions on the eastern bank.

EU summit turns its eyes away from Ukraine despite a commitment to stay the course with Zelensky

06:00 , Joe Middleton

It was a good thing Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky had his videoconference address to the European Union summit pre-slotted for the opening session.

Immediately afterward, EU leaders switched off and went to the order of the day — the Israel-Hamas war. They didn’t come back to the issue of Russia‘s war in Ukraine again before Friday’s closing day of the summit.

After dominating summit after summit since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the timing alone, anecdotal as it was, underscored a deeper reality: Zelensky will be facing tougher times to get all the attention and political, economic and military aid that Ukraine wants.

EU summit turns its eyes away from Ukraine despite a commitment to stay the course with Zelenskyy

A Russia without Putin? Be careful what you wish for...

05:00 , Joe Middleton

As rumours swirl about the health of the Russian president, Mary Dejevsky explains what the death of Putin could mean for Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the world

A Russia without Putin? Be careful what you wish for... | Mary Dejevsky

Russia is executing its own retreating soldiers as Ukraine offensive fails, says US

04:00 , Joe Middleton

The White House said it had information that Russia was executing its own soldiers who retreated from an offensive in Ukraine or refused to follow orders.

“We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders,” White House spokesperson John Kirby told a media briefing on Thursday.

“It’s reprehensible to think about that you would execute your own soldiers because they didn’t want to follow orders and now threatening to execute entire units, it’s barbaric,” Mr Kirby said.

Russia is executing its own retreating soldiers as Ukraine offensive fails, says US

Ukrainian drone struck Russian nuclear waste facility, ministry says

13:24 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Ukrainian drone crashed into a nuclear waste storage facility at the Kursk nuclear power plant in western Russia on Thursday, damaging its walls, Russia’s foreign ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry said in a statement that Kyiv must have known that its actions could have caused a full-scale nuclear catastrophe.

Moscow said on Friday that it had thwarted the drone attack in the country’s south, where two news outlets said an explosion had damaged the facade of a warehouse storing nuclear waste.

Abortion restrictions in Russia spark outrage as the country takes a conservative turn

03:00 , Joe Middleton

Despite its last-minute scheduling, the meeting at a bookstore in Russia’s westernmost city of Kaliningrad still drew about 60 people, with many outraged by a lawmaker’s efforts to ban abortions in local private clinics.

The weeknight turnout surprised and heartened Dasha Yakovleva, one of the organizers, amid recent crackdowns on political activism under President Vladimir Putin.

“Right now, there is no room for political action in Russia. The only place left is our kitchens,” Yakovleva, co-founder of the Feminitive Community women’s group, told The Associated Press. “And here, it was a public place, well-known in Kaliningrad, and everyone spoke out openly about how they see this measure, why they think it’s unjustified, inappropriate.”

Abortion restrictions in Russia spark outrage as the country takes a conservative turn

Moscow succession: What would happen if Putin dies?

02:00 , Joe Middleton

Thyroid cancer, Parkinson’s disease, leprosy or declining in the aftermath of a stroke - just a few of the many unproven ailments rumoured to have afflicted the Russian leader in recent years.

Just this week, the Kremlin were forced to deny rumours that Vladimir Putin had suffered a cardiac arrest in his bedroom, months after they were forced to deny that he had soiled himself.

Since gripping the reins of power in 1999, Putin has established himself as one of the most infamous politicians in modern history, with a vicelike grip over Russia.

His current term is set to expire next year, yet under sweeping changes to the constitution that were introduced in 2020, he could rule Russia until 2036.

Yet since his invasion of Ukraine and the loss of tens of thousands of his troops, the fallout of his military gamble has caused cracks to appear for the first time under his 20-year leadership. Speculation has also dogged the ageing tyrant that his health is failing, with the future of Russia uncertain upon his demise.

If Putin dies, this is what would happen in Russia

Putin loses ‘at least a brigade’ in offensive on Ukrainian town

01:00 , Joe Middleton

Vladimir Putin has lost “at least a brigdade” of troops in his offensive push towards the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“The invaders made several attempts to surround Avdiivka, but each time our soldiers stopped them and threw them back, causing painful losses. In these cases, the enemy lost at least a brigade,” Zelensky said.

Russia renewed the offensive on the embattled town in mid-October, trying to overwhelm Ukrainian positions with constant barrages of artillery and waves of troops and fighting vehicles, according to local and military authorities in Ukraine.

Brigades vary in size and can number between 1,500 and 8,000 troops. Battlefield losses are a state secret in Russia and Ukraine, though they are believed to run into the many tens of thousands on both sides since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Slovak coalition partner expects commercial military sales to Ukraine to continue

Friday 27 October 2023 23:59 , Joe Middleton

The new Slovak government’s pledge to stop military aid to Ukraine should only affect army supplies and not commercial sales, parliament’s speaker and leader of the second-biggest ruling party, Peter Pellegrini, was quoted as saying on Friday.

Prime Minister Robert Fico took part in a two-day European Union summit on Thursday and Friday where he said that Slovakia will stop supporting its neighbour Ukraine militarily while still being a backer of humanitarian aid.

Fico won last month’s election with pledge to stop military aid to Ukraine on his manifesto. He was appointed as prime minister for a fourth time this week, leading a three-party government.

Commenting on the message on Friday, Pellegrini, leader of the centre-left Hlas party, was quoted by media as saying he favoured allowing orders made on a commercial basis to continue.

“If someone orders and pays for these systems, then that is support for Slovak industry,” Dennik N quoted him saying.

Slovakia’s defence industry has seen a boost with others in central and eastern Europe amid efforts to aid Ukraine‘s battle against the Russian invasion.

Germany, Denmark and Norway said a year ago they would buy 16 Slovak-made Zuzana-2 howitzers for Ukraine.

Dennik N said the first was delivered in August.

Fico told a parliamentary committee ahead of the summit that he saw no military solution to the conflict, and said the army’s supplies were depleted and the army needed to concentrate on its own stocks.

Reuters

German prosecutors receive evidence regarding ‘Russian war crimes in Ukraine’

Friday 27 October 2023 23:00 , Joe Middleton

A non-governmental organisation founded by Amal and George Clooney handed over dossiers of evidence regarding Russia’s alleged war crimes in Ukraine to German federal prosecutors on Thursday.

At least three cases were filed by the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) which called on the German prosecutors to investigate Russia’s actions since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

CFJ said in a statement: “The organisation submitted detailed dossiers against the perpetrators and is representing 16 survivors and families of victims.” One of the cases was filed jointly with CFJ’s partner, the Ukrainian NGO Truth Hounds.

German prosecutors receive evidence regarding ‘Russian war crimes in Ukraine’

‘Essential not to lose focus’ on war in Ukraine, Varadkar warns

Friday 27 October 2023 22:00 , Joe Middleton

Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said it was “essential” to not “lose focus” on the war in Ukraine as global attention focuses on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The Taoiseach was speaking ahead of a two-day meeting of the EU’s 27 leaders in Brussels on Friday.

Mr Varadkar said on the first day of the summit that some countries wanted attention to be drawn away from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and towards the threat of an escalating conflict in the Middle East.

‘Essential not to lose focus’ on war in Ukraine, Varadkar warns

ICYMI: Ukraine’s frontline troops say they’re surrounded by Putin’s forces – and ammo’s running out

Friday 27 October 2023 21:00 , Joe Middleton

As all eyes are on Israel and Gaza, Askold Krushelnycky speaks to military officers in Ukraine about facing Russian forces from multiple sides in the northern and eastern battlegrounds – and their fears that US support for Israel’s war on Hamas could drain the flow of essential munitions for their fight

Ukraine’s troops face intensifying attacks by Putin’s forces – and ammo’s running out

Separatist lined up to be Putin’s puppet leader in Ukraine ‘is shot in Crimea home’

Friday 27 October 2023 20:00 , Joe Middleton

A pro-Russian former politician in Ukraine is fighting for his life after being shot in his Crimea home, an official has said.

Oleg Tsaryov, who was reportedly being lined up to lead a puppet administration in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after Russia’s invasion, is in intensive care, Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in southern Ukraine, said.

He was reportedly shot twice at around midnight at his home in Crimea.

“Oleg’s condition is very serious. He is currently in intensive care,” Mr Rogov wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Separatist lined up to be Putin’s puppet leader in Ukraine ‘is shot in Crimea home’

ICYMI: Republican senators want to separate Israel funding from Ukraine aid

Friday 27 October 2023 19:00 , Joe Middleton

A group of conservatives in the US Senate are pushing to drive a wedge between military aid for Ukraine and Israel at a time when passing legislation to support the former seems more uncertain than ever.

The senators, including JD Vance, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Roger Marshall, are hoping to force Senate leadership to separate a planned funding package for Ukraine and Israel into two pieces of legislation. Opposition to aid for Ukraine is sharply growing among conservatives in the Senate and House in particular, with some arguing that continued support for such a cause risks further escalating the conflict into a global war.

Last week, the White House submitted a supplemental budget request to Congress requesting $105bn in funding for three areas: Ukraine, Israel, and security measures along the US-Mexico border. Republicans have long been urging the Biden administration to act on border security, making a combined bill all the more politically risky for GOP lawmakers to oppose.

Republican senators want to separate Israel funding from Ukraine aid

British support for Ukraine remains ‘unshakeable’, Sunak says

Friday 27 October 2023 18:00 , Alexander Butler

British support for Ukraine remains “unshakeable”, prime minister Rishi Sunak said.

“Good conversation with President Zelensky this morning on the latest military situation and the importance of getting grain out of Ukrainian ports.

“Our support for Ukraine and the defence of its freedom remains unshakeable. As I said earlier this week: Putin will fail,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.

Zelensky gives out posthumous awards to ‘heroes'

Friday 27 October 2023 17:00 , Alexander Butler

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has given posthumous awards to 21 soldiers.

It is an honor for me to award Golden Stars to the families of our heroes. Twenty-one Heroes of Ukraine. Posthumously,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“I very much want these state awards to serve as a reminder that our heroes will never be forgotten. That their names and stories will be known. That Ukraine will always be grateful to them.”

Putin loses ‘at least a brigade’ in offensive on Ukrainian town

Friday 27 October 2023 14:41 , Alexander Butler

Vladimir Putin has lost “at least a brigdade” of troops in his offensive push towards the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“The invaders made several attempts to surround Avdiivka, but each time our soldiers stopped them and threw them back, causing painful losses. In these cases, the enemy lost at least a brigade,” Zelensky said.

Russia renewed the offensive on the embattled town in mid-October, trying to overwhelm Ukrainian positions with constant barrages of artillery and waves of troops and fighting vehicles, according to local and military authorities in Ukraine.

Brigades vary in size and can number between 1,500 and 8,000 troops. Battlefield losses are a state secret in Russia and Ukraine, though they are believed to run into the many tens of thousands on both sides since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Hungary following “peace strategy” for Ukraine, Orban says

Friday 27 October 2023 14:00 , Alexander Butler

Hungary is following a “peace strategy” for Ukraine, Viktor Orban said.

“Hungary is following a peace strategy. We will do everything in order to make peace. My meeting with the President of Russia served this purpose,” the prime minister said.

It comes after Mr Orban said the European Union’s Ukraine strategy has “failed” and Ukraine will not win on the front line.

He added that he saw no reason for Hungary, which shares a border with Ukraine, sending any taxpayers’ money to the EU budget for financial support for Ukraine.

Putin’s meeting with North Korea and Hamas ‘humiliating’, UK defence secretary says

Friday 27 October 2023 12:26 , Alexander Butler

Vladimir Putin’s meeting with terror group Hamas shows how far “Russia has fallen” since its invasion of Ukraine, the UK defence secretary said.

“Tyranny meets terrorism. Pariah meets proscribed, as Russia sits down with Hamas,” defence secretary Grant Shapps said on X, formerly Twitter.

“Putin’s humiliating search for friends, from North Korea to Hamas, has shown how far Russia has fallen & proven the disastrous cost of his failing invasion of Ukraine.”

Slovakia calls for guarantees on EU aid to Ukraine

Friday 27 October 2023 11:45 , Alexander Butler

Slovakia’s new prime minister Robert Fico has told other European Union leaders that 50bn euros in EU aid to Ukraine should include guarantees that the funds would not be misappropriated.

“Ukraine is among the most corrupt countries in the world and we are conditioning what is excessive financial support on guarantees that European money will not be embezzled,” Mr Fico said.

Mr Fico was appointed prime minister on Wednesday for the fourth time after pledging in his election campaign to end military support for Ukraine and criticising sanctions on Russia.

Israel-Hamas conflict won’t affect UK’s support for Ukraine, Sunak says

Friday 27 October 2023 11:27 , Alexander Butler

Rishi Sunak has spoken to Volodymyr Zelensky, to reassure him the UK’s support for Ukraine will not change despite the Israel-Hamas war.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said the Prime Minister spoke to the Ukrainian President this morning “to reiterate the UK’s support for Ukraine.

“The Prime Minister underscored the UK’s long term and unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and reiterated that the conflict in the Middle East would not change that.”

Mr Sunak added that “the principle of a rules based order, in which people could live in peace and stability, needed to be protected both in Ukraine and the Middle East”.

Pro-Russian Ukrainian politician is shot and wounded

Friday 27 October 2023 10:25 , Alexander Butler

Former Ukrainian lawmaker Oleg Tsaryov, a pro-Russian figure who was reported to have been lined up by Moscow to lead a puppet administration in Kyiv after Russia’s invasion, is in intensive care after being shot, a Russian official said.

The official, Vladimir Rogov, did not say where the shooting had taken place. “Oleg’s condition is very serious. He is currently in intensive care,” said Rogov, a senior Russian-installed official in southern Ukraine.

“Oleg was shot,” he added on Telegram, asking Orthodox Christian believers to pray for Tsaryov.

Previously Tsaryov had been a member of the Ukrainian parliament and then speaker of the parliament of “Novorossiya” an entity formed after Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine broke away in 2014 and began fighting Ukrainian forces.

Russian missile injures eight, Kyiv says

Friday 27 October 2023 10:05 , Alexander Butler

A Russian missile hit a fire department building in the northern region of Kharkiv, injuring at least eight rescuers, Ukraine’s interior minister said.

The attack targeted the town of Izium, the minister, Ihor Klymenko, said in a post on the Telegram messaging app that was accompanied by images of the wrecked building and fire trucks.

“The building itself and 13 pieces of equipment were also damaged,” he added, but did not say what type of missile had been used.

Five of six drones were destroyed in two waves of Shahed drone attacks that Russia launched overnight on the southern regions of Mykolaiv and Kherson, said Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the southern military command.

Ukraine attempted to attack Kursk nuclear plant with drones, Russia claims

Friday 27 October 2023 09:24 , Alexander Butler

Russia said it had thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack near a nuclear plant in the country’s south, where two news outlets said an explosion had damaged the facade of a warehouse storing nuclear waste.

Air defences foiled “an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack” when they intercepted a drone near the settlement of Kurchatov in the southern region of Kursk, Russia’s defence ministry said.

Kurchatov is the location of the Kursk nuclear power station, which said in a separate statement that an attempt to attack it with not one but three drones had been thwarted.

It said there were no casualties or damage, and that radiation levels were normal and the plant was operating as usual.

Russia likely to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure over winter long range munitions

Friday 27 October 2023 08:39 , Alexander Butler

Russia will “likely use” its airforce’s long range aviation fleet of heavy bombers to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure over winter, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said.

“The Russian airforce’s long range aviation fleet (LRA) of heavy bombers has not conducted air launched cruise missile strikes into Ukraine for over a month, one of the longest gaps in such strikes since the conflict began.

“Russia will likely use any recently produced inventory LRA munitions to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure over the winter.

“Russia will highly likely continue to supplement any such campaign with Iranian-designed one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicle attacks,” it said.

EU strategy on Ukraine has failed, Orban says

Friday 27 October 2023 07:51 , Alexander Butler

The European Union’s Ukraine strategy has “failed” and Ukraine will not win on the front line, Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban said.

Mr Orban said he saw no reason for Hungary, which shares a border with Ukraine, sending any taxpayers’ money to the EU budget for financial support for Ukraine.

It comes after the new Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico said his country would no longer be providing military aid to Ukraine, but it would continue to send humanitarian assistance.

German prosecutors receive evidence of Russian war crimes

Friday 27 October 2023 07:20 , Alexander Butler

A non-governmental organisation founded by Amal and George Clooney handed over dossiers of evidence regarding Russia’s alleged war crimes in Ukraine to German federal prosecutors on Thursday.

At least three cases were filed by the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) which called on the German prosecutors to investigate Russia’s actions since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“The organisation submitted detailed dossiers against the perpetrators and is representing 16 survivors and families of victims,” CFJ said in a statement. One of the cases was filed jointly with CFJ’s partner, the Ukrainian NGO Truth Hounds.

German prosecutors receive evidence regarding ‘Russian war crimes in Ukraine’

Moscow succession: What would happen if Putin dies?

Friday 27 October 2023 06:00 , Sam Rkaina

Thyroid cancer, Parkinson’s disease, leprosy or declining in the aftermath of a stroke - just a few of the many unproven ailments rumoured to have afflicted the Russian leader in recent years.

Just this week, the Kremlin were forced to deny rumours that Vladimir Putin had suffered a cardiac arrest in his bedroom, months after they were forced to deny that he had soiled himself.

Since gripping the reins of power in 1999, Putin has established himself as one of the most infamous politicians in modern history, with a vicelike grip over Russia.

His current term is set to expire next year, yet under sweeping changes to the constitution that were introduced in 2020, he could rule Russia until 2036.

Click here for the full story.

‘If Western weapons to Ukraine stop, Ukraine would have a week to live'

Friday 27 October 2023 05:00 , Sam Rkaina

Kirby pointed to the information as he renewed a plea for Congress to pass a nearly $106 billion supplemental funding request that Biden unveiled last week. The funding request includes more than $61 billion for Ukraine.

“President Putin is not giving up on his aspirations to take all of Ukraine and as long as Russia continues its brutal assault we have to continue to support the Ukrainian people and their self defence, because his intentions are clear,” Kirby said.

Putin “basically said that if Western weapons to Ukraine stop, Ukraine would have a week to live. So to ensure that we can continue to do that it’s critical that Congress step up and pass the supplemental requests that the president put forward last week.”

Kirby did not provide any details on how many Russian troops have been executed for failing to follow orders or any specific examples of units threatened with execution for retreating from Ukrainian fire.

The Wagner Group military contractor was reported to have had a practice of executing those who fled. The contract soldiers were pulled out of Ukraine after their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, mounted an armed rebellion in June.

There also have been reports, including from the British Defence Ministry, that the regular Russian military has deployed “barrier troops” that threaten to shoot any deserters.

“They are in such desperate need to make some kind of progress, particularly in the Donbas, the Donetsk areas, that they are literally throwing young men into the fight who haven’t been properly trained, haven’t been properly equipped, and certainly are not being properly led,” Kirby said.

US says executing own soldiers is ‘barbaric'

Friday 27 October 2023 04:00 , Sam Rkaina

The White House on Thursday said Russia is executing soldiers who have failed to follow orders and threatening entire units with death if they retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire.

It’s a development that U.S. national security officials believe reflects Russia’s morale problems 20 months into its grinding invasion of Ukraine, said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

“It’s reprehensible to think about that you would execute your own soldiers because they didn’t want to follow orders and now threatening to execute entire units, it’s barbaric,” Kirby told reporters. “But I think it’s a symptom of how poorly Russia’s military leaders know they’re doing and how bad they have handled this from a military perspective.”

The White House has downgraded and released intelligence findings about Russian action over the course of the war. In the past, the administration has said it has acted to disclose the intelligence to highlight plans for Russian misinformation and other activity so allies remain clear-eyed about Moscow’s intent and Russia thinks twice before carrying out an operation.

This latest unveiling of intelligence about Russia’s struggles comes as President Joe Biden is pressing the Republican-controlled House to go along with providing more funding for Ukraine as Kyiv tries to repel Russia in a war that has no end in sight.

700,000 tons of grain have left Ukraine via new route since August

Friday 27 October 2023 03:00 , Sam Rkaina

Ukraine launched a “humanitarian corridor” for ships bound for African and Asian markets in August to try to circumvent a de facto blockade in the Black Sea after Russia quit the deal that had guaranteed Kyiv’s seaborne exports during the war.

Later, a senior agricultural official said the route - which runs along Ukraine‘s southwest Black Sea coast, into Romanian territorial waters and onwards to Turkey, would also be used for grain shipments.

About 700,000 tons of grain have left Ukrainian ports via the new route since it began operating in August. Ukraine shipped up to six million tons of grain a month from its Black Sea ports before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Kubrakov said 23 ships were loading in the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.

“A total of 51 vessels used the entrance corridor. 33 vessels exported more than 1.3 million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products and other cargo,” he said.

Wheat futures pressured by hopes Ukraine would expand grain exports

Friday 27 October 2023 02:00 , Sam Rkaina

Wheat futures had been pressured this week by hopes that Ukraine would expand grain exports, as well as rain relief in dry crop belts worldwide.

Barva Invest, which specialises in Ukraine‘s agriculture sector, said a de facto suspension had already been in place for two days at the behest of Kyiv’s military, which had cited a threat from increased Russian air force activity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that he had ordered Russian warplanes armed with Kinzhal missiles to patrol the Black Sea.

British maritime security company Ambrey said in a report that the Ukrainian Seaport Authority issued a communique late on Wednesday, saying: “There would be no vessel movement along the corridor for entry and exit on 26th of October, 2023.”

The suspension was prompted by Russian Air Force operations in the region, it said.

“On October 25th, Ambrey informed its clients that the Russian Air Force had dropped at least four objects, likely acoustic and/or magnetic sea mines, into the Ukrainian grain corridor transit area near Snake Island, Ukraine,” it said.

Ukraine says its Black Sea grain corridor is working

Friday 27 October 2023 01:00 , Sam Rkaina

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov denied on Thursday reports by Ukrainian and British firms that the new Black Sea export corridor had been suspended.

“The information regarding the cancellation or unscheduled stoppage of the temporary #Ukrainian_corridor for the movement of civilian vessels from and to the ports of the Big Odesa (region) is false,” Kubrakov said on X, formerly Twitter.

“All available routes established by the Ukrainian Navy are valid and being used by civilian vessels.”

The Kyiv-based Barva Invest consultancy, British security firm Ambrey and a specialised outlet, Ukrainian Ports, reported that Ukraine had suspended use of the corridor due to a possible threat from Russian warplanes and sea mines.

Ukraine has been using the corridor to try to revive its seaborne exports without Russian approval, defying threats from Moscow which quit a U.N.-brokered deal in July that had allowed some food exports to flow despite the war.

“We would like to inform you of a temporary suspension of vessel traffic to and from (the ports). The current ban is in force on Oct. 26, but it is possible that it will be extended,” the consultancy said on the Telegram messaging app.

Chicago wheat futures, a global price benchmark, turned higher on the news to recover from an earlier two-week low. They later traded up about 1%.

Sanctioned Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman loses High Court battle over upkeep of mansion

Thursday 26 October 2023 23:59 , Sam Rkaina

Sanctioned Russian-Israeli billionaire Mikhail Fridman has lost a High Court challenge that would have allowed him extra funds to pay for the upkeep of his mansion.

The Ukrainian-born businessman took legal action after the Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (Ofsi) denied permission for £30,000 monthly payments to cover the running costs of Athlone House, a multimillion-pound Victorian property in Highgate, north London.

Mr Fridman’s lawyers argued the decisions were unlawful, saying the 168-year-old property that he bought in 2016, and houses a £44 million art collection, faces “risks of neglect”.

Ofsi said it refused spending requests that would enable Mr Fridman to enjoy his pre-sanctions “lifestyle” and that it rejected payments to Athlone House Limited (AHL), a company maintaining the property, because its sole director, Nigina Zairova, is also subject to sanctions.

Click here for the full story.

Ukraine awaits brutal winter with world attention focused on Middle East

Thursday 26 October 2023 23:00 , Sam Rkaina

With the world’s attention fixed on the Middle East, officials in Ukraine say they are facing a new threat: crude Russian drones that appear to be launched with the sole intention of exhausting Ukrainian rockets fired to shoot them down.

According to Ukrainian national television, the small drones carry reflectors to ensure they are detected, sometimes taking pictures to identify the sites of anti-aircraft radars and missile systems. Built from cheap components readily available online, each drone is estimated to cost around $1,500, less than each of the sometimes multiple rockets fired to bring them down.

Russian television pundits have reacted to the unexpected Oct. 7 Hamas assault against Israel with barely concealed glee, predicting conflict in the Middle East will dramatically reduce Western support for Kyiv.

Many Ukrainian commentators offer the same analysis, worrying in particular that outrage at mounting Palestinian casualties in Gaza and at the Hamas attacks will devastate already fragile support for Ukraine among poorer “Global South” nations and divert military aid the Kyiv government badly needs.

Earlier this month, Russia announced its defence spending for 2024 would be almost $110 billion, three times the level before its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and almost 30% of government spending.

Ukraine intends to spend around $40 billion on defence next year, roughly half the government budget and 20% of the country’s entire economic output but it is also counting on tens of billions more in foreign military aid, as long as Western donors are still willing to provide it.

Russia scrambles fighter jet to escort Norwegian patrol plane over Barents Sea

Thursday 26 October 2023 22:00 , Sam Rkaina

Russia sent up a MIG-31 fighter jet on Thursday to escort a Norwegian Poseidon patrol plane over the Barents Sea, state news agency RIA quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying.

There was no violation of the air border by the Norwegian patrol plane, the ministry said.

It was the latest of a series of recent incidents in which Russia sent fighter planes to intercept US, Norwegian or British military aircraft that it says came close to entering Russian airspace.

The incidents come at a time of high tension between Russia and NATO, which is arming Ukraine to defend against Russia’s invasion.

Russia recruits prisoners for Ukraine war as Putin replicates Wagner

Thursday 26 October 2023 21:00 , Sam Rkaina

Russia has taken the wheel from Wagner as the Kremlin has recruited up to 100,000 prisoners to fight in Ukraine.

The practice was a trademark move of the late mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who filled his group’s ranks with convicted criminals.

The army unit, commonly known as Storm-Z, is reportedly seen as a disposable force in Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation”.

It comes as the Russian prison population has dropped from an estimated 420,000 to around 266,000, according to deputy minister Vsevolod Vukolov, who disclosed the figures earlier this month.

Russian state-controlled media reported that Storm-Z squads exist, that they took part in intense battles and some of their members received medals for bravery, but it has not disclosed how they are formed, or the losses they take.

While the Russian defence ministry has never acknowledged creating Storm-Z units, the first reports of their existence emerged in April when the Institute for the Study of War cited what it said appeared to be a leaked Russian military report on the formation of the squads.

A Russia without Putin? Be careful what you wish for...

Thursday 26 October 2023 20:10 , Mary Dejevsky

As if there were not enough uncertainty in the world at the moment, the week opened with new speculation about the health of Vladimir Putin.

The Russian president, who recently turned 71, was said to have suffered a stroke at his residence outside Moscow and to be in intensive care or, at the very least, under the beady eye of his doctors.

Such rumours, it should be said, come around periodically, and in recent months and years, Putin has been reported as suffering from a whole range of chronic or terminal illnesses, from Parkinson’s disease to various types of cancer. As in this case, reports may be adorned with graphic accounts of the supposed emergency – a fall, spilt food, or convulsions.

Click here for the full view.

US claims Russia is executing soldiers who do not follow orders

Thursday 26 October 2023 19:18 , Sam Rkaina

The United States has information that the Russian military is executing soldiers who do not follow orders related to the war with Ukraine, the White House said on Thursday.

“We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders,” White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

“We also have information that Russian commanders are threatening to execute entire units if they seek to retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire.

Tanaiste Martin says he was not blindsided by Ukrainian refugees plan

Thursday 26 October 2023 18:20 , Sam Rkaina

Government figures have claimed that reports of a row in the Irish cabinet are “exaggerated” but admitted that the country’s system to house Ukrainian refugees needed to change.

The three coalition leaders have said that Ireland’s offering to people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine would need reassessment as tens of thousands more arrivals are expected next year.

At Cabinet this week, a proposal was discussed that would place a three-month limit on the period the state would be obliged to provide accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

In response to a question about whether he was blindsided on Tuesday by the proposal, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said that discussions had been held at Cabinet previously and informally between ministers.

“No, in fairness, there’s been ongoing discussion about this, before the Cabinet meeting, and there will be further discussions about this,” Mr Martin said.

“I mean, issues get discussed and teased out at Cabinet, and at Cabinet subcommittee level, and informally between ministers.

“So I think it’s a bit exaggerated to say there was a row.”

US announces additional $150 million for Ukraine

Thursday 26 October 2023 17:49 , Sam Rkaina

The United States on Thursday announced additional security assistance for Ukraine amid the Russian invasion valued at $150 million, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Pentagon has said.

The latest U.S. assistance includes additional munitions for national advanced surface-to-air missile systems, stinger anti- aircraft missiles, and additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The assistance also included Javelin anti-armor systems, over two million rounds of small arms ammunition and cold weather gear.

Ukrainian holds ‘productive’ talks with France

Thursday 26 October 2023 16:30 , Alexander Butler

Ukraine has held “productive” talks with France’s armed forces minister, Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov said.

“Held productive talks with Minister of the Armed Forces of France. Discussed the priority need: artillery and air defense systems.

“We must be fully prepared for this winter to protect our people, cities and infrastructure. Grateful to Minister Lecornu for his readiness to support us,” Mr Rumerov said.

Sixteen-year-old boy killed by Russian shelling, Ukraine says

Thursday 26 October 2023 15:42 , Alexander Butler

A 16-year-old boy has been killed in the Russian shelling of Pozhnia, Ukraine, according to the country’s interior minister.

The boy was on the porch of his house at the time of the shelling that damaged several homes, according to minister Ihor Klymenko.

“This is another attack on civilians. And Russia will definitely bear responsibility for it,” Mr Klymenko said on Telegram.

Over 500 Ukrainian children have been killed and 1,139 wounded since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, according to the government’s database.

Russia recruiting Cuban mercenaries, reports suggest

Thursday 26 October 2023 13:54 , Alexander Butler

Russia is “massively” recruiting Cuban mercenaries to fight in its war against Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s special forces.

The Cuban fighters are reported to be fighting around Bakhmut and Kupiansk and are scattered among existing Russian units.

Ukraine’s National Resistance Center, which was set up by the country’s special forces, said a cyber group hacked the emails of a Russian military official and discovered almost 200 Cubans had been recruited.

I’m proud of my relationship with Putin - Hungary’s Orban

Thursday 26 October 2023 13:30 , Matt Mathers

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that he was "proud" of his contacts with Russian president Vladimir Putin, whom he met in China this month despite European Union efforts to isolate Moscow for waging a war against Ukraine.

Orban spoke on arriving to a summit of the EU’s 27 national leaders in Brussels. He drew criticism for his talks with Putin, which had been organised with great pomp.

"We would like to do everything to have peace. Therefore we keep open all the communication lines to the Russians, otherwise there will be no chance for peace. This is a strategy, we are proud of it," Orban told reporters.

"We are the only ones to speak on behalf and in favour of peace, which would be in the interest of everybody in Europe."

Russia scrambles fighter jet to escort Norwegian patrol plane over Barents Sea - RIA

Thursday 26 October 2023 13:11 , Matt Mathers

Russia sent up a MIG-31 fighter jet on Thursday to escort a Norwegian Poseidon patrol plane over the Barents Sea, state news agency RIA quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying.

There was no violation of the air border by the Norwegian patrol plane, the ministry said.

It was the latest of a series of recent incidents in which Russia sent fighter planes to intercept US, Norwegian or British military aircraft that it says came close to entering Russian airspace.

The incidents come at a time of high tension between Russia and NATO, which is arming Ukraine to defend against Russia’s invasion.

Slovakia halts military aid to Ukraine

Thursday 26 October 2023 11:50 , Alexander Butler

Slovakia’s new populist prime minister Robert Fico has said he is ending military aid to Ukraine.

Mr Fico said he would “no longer supply weapons to Ukraine” but would continue to send humanitarian aid.

“I will support zero military aid to Ukraine … An immediate halt to military operations is the best solution we have for Ukraine. The EU should change from an arms supplier to a peacemaker,” he said.

Russia to build ties with North Korea in all areas, Kremlin says

Thursday 26 October 2023 10:38 , Alexander Butler

Russia will build ties with North Korea in all areas, the Kremlin said.

It comes after the UK Ministry of Defence said North Korea is on course to become one of Russia’s “most significant foreign arms suppliers” alongside Iran and Belarus.

The MoD added it was “almost certain” that recent North Korean munitions shipments had now reached depots in western Russia.

North Korea on course to be ‘significant supplier’ of arms to Russia, MoD says

Thursday 26 October 2023 09:37 , Alexander Butler

North Korea is on course to become one of Russia’s “most significant foreign arms suppliers” alongside Iran and Belarus, the UK Ministry of Defence said.

The MoD added it was “almost certain” that recent North Korean munitions shipments had now reached depots in western Russia.

“If North Korea sustains the recent scale and pace of military-related shipments (more than 1,000 containers over the last several weeks), it will be on course to become one of Russia’s most significant foreign arms suppliers, alongside Iran and Belarus,” it said on X, formerly Twitter.

Hungary says it won’t support EU budget proposal over Ukraine funds

Thursday 26 October 2023 09:00 , Alexander Butler

Hungary cannot support the European Union’s proposed modification of the EU budget, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff has said.

He said that giving funds to Ukraine from the budget for four years was unacceptable. Mr Orban is widely considered one of Vladimir Putin’s only allies in the EU.

On Wednesday, Slovakia’s president on Wednesday appointed a new coalition government led by pro-Russian leader Robert Fico, in a move widely seen to weaken the EU’s unified approach to Russia.

‘Anger’ at supply of North Korean weapons to Putin

Thursday 26 October 2023 07:39 , Alexander Butler

South Korea, Japan and the US have strongly condemned the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia, saying they have confirmed “several” deliveries.

“The Republic of Korea, United States, and Japan strongly condemn the provision of military equipment and munitions by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the Russian Federation for use against the government and people of Ukraine,” the statement issued by foreign ministers of the three countries said.

“Such weapons deliveries, several of which we now confirm have been completed, will significantly increase the human toll of Russia’s war of aggression.”

Study finds ‘deepfakes’ from Ukraine undermining trust in conflict footage

Thursday 26 October 2023 07:09 , Maira Butt

Researchers at University College Cork (UCC) have conducted a study which is the first of its kind to find evidence of online conspiracy theories which incorporate deepfakes. ‘Deepfakes’ are artificially manipulated audio-visual material.

The Russia-Ukraine war presented as the first real-life example of deepfakes being used in warfare.

The researchers highlight examples of deepfake videos during this war including the use of video game footage as evidence of the urban myth fighter pilot “The Ghost of Kyiv”, and a deepfake of Russian president Vladimir Putin, showing the Russian president announcing peace with Ukraine.

The study found deepfakes often undermined users’ trust in the footage they were receiving from the conflict to the point where they lost trust in any footage viewed.

As well as the threat coming from the fake content itself, researchers found genuine media contact was being labelled as deepfakes.

(PA)

Russian troop losses at an all-time high according to report

Thursday 26 October 2023 06:09 , Maira Butt

The Kyiv Post has reported that Russian troop losses are at an all-time high according to a new report on Wednesday.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine publishes full information on casualties and deaths following military actions.

The publication reported: “Ragnar Gudmundsson, an Iceland-based analyst tracking losses of personnel and equipment on both sides of the Russo-Ukraine War since the early days of Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion, in a Wednesday situation update reported Russian service personnel dead hit a probable wartime record of more than 1,400 killed in combat in a single day on 20th October, and have averaged 900 men a day killed in combat from 10-20 October, a time window coinciding almost exactly with the launch of major Russian army attacks in the Avdiivka sector.”

US elects House Speaker sceptical of Ukraine support

Thursday 26 October 2023 05:09 , Maira Butt

Mike Johnson, a staunch conservative from Louisiana has been unanimously elected House speaker with broad GOP support on Wednesday. The more conservative but lesser known congressman who has backing from Donald Trump, initially supported Ukraine, sharing his support on X, formerly known as Twitter.

However, in May last year he was one of only 57 members of the House to vote against $40 billion of aid to Ukraine.

He released a statement saying: “‘We should not be sending another $40 billion abroad when our own border is in chaos, American mothers are struggling to find baby formula, gas prices are at record highs, and American families are struggling to make ends meet, without sufficient oversight over where the money will go.”

Since the statement, he has consistently voted against aid to Ukraine.

Russian strike on Kherson Oblast town kills child

Thursday 26 October 2023 04:09 , Maira Butt

Ukrainian Governor Oleksandr Prokudin has reported that a Russian stirke on Kherson Oblast’s town of Beryslav on Wednesday killed a 13 year old boy.

On his Telegram channel he wrote: “In the evening, the occupiers opened fire against a residential building in the city, as a result of the strike, a 13-year-old boy died.”

Governor Prokudin did not provide further details on potential damage caused by the attack or on the weaponry used by Russian forces.

Ukraine’s SSO reports $25 million damage to Russian equipment

Thursday 26 October 2023 03:09 , Maira Butt

The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) report they have inflicted over $25 million damage to Russian equipment in one week. In a message on their Telegram channel, they reported the destruction of heavy equipment including the Zoopark-1 surveillance and fire control radar complex, a prized possession for Russians.

Other equipment included a critical battlefield artillery fire coordination complex that directed Russian artillery and taregetd locations of Ukrainian surface-to-surface and surface-to-air fire.

Kyiv confirms creation of battalion of Russians who want to fight against Putin

Thursday 26 October 2023 02:09 , Maira Butt

A spokesperson from Ukrainian intelligence told Bloomberg that a “Siberian battalion” was being made up of entirely Russian citizens in support of Ukraine.

The group is made up of dozens of Russians and ethnic minorities from Russia who travelled through third countries to join the Ukrainian army.

Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) said Yusov said it was only the beginning and Ukraine would continue to recruit Russian citizens to similar battalions.

Welsh Parliament recognises Holodomor as genocide against Ukrainian people

Thursday 26 October 2023 01:09 , Maira Butt

On Wednesday the Welsh parliament recognised the 1932-1933 famine as a genocide against the Ukrainian people under Stalin and the Soviet government.

The Embassy of Ukraine said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “We are grateful to the Senedd for recognizing the 1932–1933 Holodomor in Ukraine as genocide committed against Ukrainians. It’s a significant milestone in restoring historical justice and raising awareness about the millions of innocent victims”

The University of Minnesota says between 3.5 million and 7 million Ukrainians died during the genocide.

Qatar calls out ‘double standard’ in international community on Ukraine versus Gaza

Thursday 26 October 2023 00:03 , Maira Butt

Speaking in Doha to Sky News, the Foreign Minister of Qatar, Abdulrahman al-Thani, questioned why the cutting off of food and water in Ukraine was seen as a war crime but not in Gaza.

“The children being killed in this war is exceeding the number killed in the other war between Ukraine and Russia, and yet we haven’t seen the same reaction.”

Russia shoots down two Ukraine missiles provided by US

Wednesday 25 October 2023 23:14 , Maira Butt

Russian military have reported they shot down two US-made missiles in a “special military operation. The ATACMS long-range missiles were given to Ukraine by the US with Russia stating it was the first downing of its kind.

Reuters were unable to confirm the incident and there has been no response from Kyiv or Washington. Last week, Ukraine reported success using the missiles inflicting heavy damage on two Russian airfields.

President Vladmir Putin said that the US was making a mistake by entering deeper into their conflict with Ukraine and said that the ATACMS missiles would not change the battlefield situation.

Zelensky: Russian drone strike in Khmelnitskyi region was likely targeting nuclear power station

Wednesday 25 October 2023 22:00 , Maira Butt

A Russian drone strike that hit near a nuclear power station in Khmelnitskyi on Wednesday was likely targeting the station according to Ukraine’s President Zelensky.

In his nightly address, he said the action was evidence stricter sanctions were needed against Russia.

Zelensky said every Russian strike, "especially those daring enough to target nuclear power stations and other critical facilities, serves as an argument that pressure on the terrorist state is insufficient."

Russian missiles produced using imported components from EU countries

Wednesday 25 October 2023 21:05 , Maira Butt

A report by Russian investigative news outlet, The Insider, has revealed that Russian Kh-47M2 Khinzal missiles are being produced using components imported from all across the EU.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion most of Russia’s defence productions has fallen under sanctions. However, company records show that equipment is still being imported via intermediaries in Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, and the U.K.

A single Khinzal missile costs the Russian state $10 million according to the publication.

Taioseach of Ireland denies claims of a Cabinet row over Ukrainian refugees

Wednesday 25 October 2023 20:02 , Maira Butt

Leo Varadakar, the Taioseach of Ireland, has downplayed claims of a Cabinet row over the accomodation of refugees.

The Irish Government is looking at moving from the current open-ended arrangements for Ukrainian refugees amid concerns the state will have no accommodation left for new Ukrainian arrivals next year.

When pressed to confirm the tensions, Varadkar said that “the rows in Government are much exaggerated”, but the wider issue was a “serious one”.

Mr Varadkar said he was very “proud” of Ireland’s efforts to house around 100,000 Ukrainians since the war broke out, with 20,000 international protection applicants arriving from elsewhere in the world during the same period.

Powerful explosions near Ukraine nuclear power plants

Wednesday 25 October 2023 19:06 , Maira Butt

Powerful blasts near the area of Ukraine‘s Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant damaged windows at the site overnight, but did not affect the plant’s operations or its connection to the grid, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday.

The explosions temporarily cut power to some off-site radiation monitoring stations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) added.

Officials say twenty people were wounded in the attacks.

Russian Defence Minister discusses test strikes with President Putin on state TV

Wednesday 25 October 2023 18:18 , Maira Butt

Russia has rehearsed the delivery of a retaliatory nuclear strike according to a Kremlin statement on Wednesday.

State TV showed Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and President Putin discussing the test strikes.

“Practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place during the training,” the statement said. The statement also said a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile had been fired from a test site in Russia’s far east, that a nuclear-powered submarine had launched a ballistic missile from the Barents Sea, and that Tu-95MS long-range bombers had test-fired air-launched cruise missiles.

The country recently revoked its ratification of a landmark nuclear testing treaty, bringing it in line with the US’s position in what some have called a stand-off with the West during its war with Ukraine.

Russia tests its ability to deliver massive retaliatory nuclear strike

Wednesday 25 October 2023 17:30 , Maira Butt

Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on state TV on Wednesday that the country had tested its ability to deliver a massive retaliatory nuclear strike. The Minister confirmed that the country had begun training for the possible event.