Ukraine-Russia war – live: Second ‘sabotage’ attack across Russian border in two days as Moscow says four dead

Reports of a Ukrainian “sabotage” attack across the Russian border on Wednesday morning are coming in, as Moscow has claimed four people were killed in the incident.

According to Sky News, Bryansk regional governor Aleksandr Bogomaz wrote on Telegram that an “attempt by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group consisting of six militants to penetrate the territory of the Bryansk region was foiled at 7am today”.

Russia usually blames these attacks on Ukraine, who rarely claims responsibility for these increasingly frequent cross-border incursions.

Earlier today, Russian troops were reportedly seen fleeing cluster bombs as a Ukrainian drone was reportedly downed over Crimea.

Footage released by the Ukrainian defence ministry shows US-supplied cluster munitions, which spray “bomblets” across a wide area, hitting Russian forces amid Kyiv’s recapturing of the key strategic settlement of Urozhaine in the Donetsk region.

“Ukrainian troops have liberated Urozhaine village, Donetsk region!” the Ukrainian defence ministry posted on X on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday its forces had shot down a Ukrainian drone over Crimea, Interfax reported, the latest in a flurry of what Moscow calls "terrorist attacks".

Key Points

• Russian troops flee cluster bombs as Ukraine says recaptures settlement

• Ukraine hits out at ‘ridiculous’ suggestion it could give up land to Russia

• Captured Ukrainian soldiers ‘tortured’ in Russian prison

• US warns Russia and North Korea against military ties

• Russia ‘downs’ three alleged Ukrainian drones

• Putin’s exploding mines are washing up on busy tourist beaches

Russian troops flee cluster bombs as Ukraine says recaptures settlement

10:46 , Tara Cobham

Russian troops have been seen fleeing cluster bombs as Ukraine has said it has recaptured a key strategic settlement.

Footage released by the Ukrainian defence ministry shows US-supplied cluster munitions, which spray “bomblets” across a wide area, hitting Russian forces amid Kyiv’s recapturing of Urozhaine in the Donetsk region.

“Ukrainian troops have liberated Urozhaine village, Donetsk region!” the Ukrainian defence ministry posted on X on Wednesday.

Germany walks back plan to meet NATO spending target on annual basis

15:50 , Maanya Sachdeva

The German government has retreated from a plan to legally commit itself to meeting NATO’s two per cent military spending target on an annual basis, a government source told Reuters on Wednesday.

A corresponding clause in a draft of the budget financing law passed by the cabinet of Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday was deleted at short notice, the source said.

The change means that Germany will be able to stick to its current pledge of meeting the two per cent target on average over a five-year period.

This wording is softer than Scholz’s original pledge in a speech on 27 February 2022, in which he announced a “Zeitenwende” or sea change three days after Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine.

“From now on, we will invest more than two per cent of the GDP into our defence year after year,” Scholz said at the time.

A German government spokesperson declined to comment on the particulars of the draft law.

NATO allies have criticised Berlin strongly in the past for not meeting the annual defence spend target. on defence annually.

It is unclear whether Berlin will keep military spending over this threshold once a €100bn ($101bn) special fund to bring the country’s armed forces, Bundeswehr, back up to standard is used up.

Russia’s ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

15:20 , Maanya Sachdeva

The Russian ruble has fallen a long way in recent months, and the country’s central bank is stepping in to halt the slide.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Russia's ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

What are cluster bombs and why are they banned in some countries?

14:50 , Maanya Sachdeva

Earlier this year, the US made the decision to supply the weapons to Ukraine – even as human rights groups oppose their use.

Over the past few days, fierce fighting has been taking place in and around Urozhaine and Staromaiorske and according to reports Vladimir Putin’s soldiers have been seen fleeing the US-supplied cluster munitions.

Footage released by the Ukrainian defence ministry shows these cluster bombs hitting Russian forces amid Kyiv’s recapturing of Urozhaine in the Donetsk region on Wednesday.

Find out more about cluster munitions, why they’re controversial, and where they have been used:

What are cluster bombs and why are they banned in some countries?

Reports of a second ‘sabotage’ attack across Russian border in two days

14:20 , Maanya Sachdeva

Russian state media has reported a second “sabotage” attack across its border in two days.

Earlier this afternoon, Russian state news agency TASS claimed the country’s security service had “foiled an attempt by Ukrainian saboteurs” trying to cross into the Bryansk region.

Four people were reportedly killed in the incident, that reportedly occurred at 7am this morning.

Moscow blames Ukraine for such attacks, consistently claiming they are “foiled”.

There has been an increase in such cross-border incursions in recent months, but Ukraine rarely claims to be involved, often stating they are run by Russian partisans.

How many casualties has Russia suffered in Ukraine?

13:50 , Eleanor Noyce

Establishing accurate data on the number of military casualties sustained since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022 is difficult for two reasons. The severity of the fighting on the ground and the fact that both sides are inclined to keep their cards close to their chests to avoid damaging morale – especially at a time when the war is entering a pivotal new stage.

The Kremlin, in particular, is unlikely to admit to high fatality rates among its troops because to do so would amount to a confession that Vladimir Putin’s spurious war to “de-Nazify” Russia’s neighbour state is not going according to plan and, in fact, represents a monumental miscalculation on the part of its leader, who is already under pressure at home over the attempted uprising by Wagner Group mercenaries.

Moscow is more likely to downplay its own (rarely offered) numbers – putting the official number at around 6,000 – and accuse its enemies of dishonestly briefing against it whenever outside estimates are offered that imply significant Russian losses.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

How many casualties has Russia suffered in Ukraine?

Czechs ratify defense treaty with US that makes it easier to deploy US troops in Czech territory

13:30 , Eleanor Noyce

The Czech Republic on Wednesday completed the ratification of a defense treaty with the United States that deepens military cooperation and makes it easier to deploy U.S. troops in Czech territory.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s signature was the final step in the ratification process of the Defense Cooperation Agreement, which had been endorsed by both houses of Parliament in July and by President Petr Pavel on Aug 1.

The document sets a legal framework for possible deployment of U.S. troops in the country at a time of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Read more below:

Czechs ratify defense treaty with US that makes it easier to deploy US troops in Czech territory

Why did Russia invade Ukraine?

13:10 , Eleanor Noyce

Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians.

Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russia’s neighbour needed to be “demilitarised and de-Nazified”, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine has fought back courageously against Mr Putin’s warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by defending itself against Russian onslaughts with the help of Western military aid.

Read more:

Here’s why Putin really invaded Ukraine

Ukraine reports new attack on grain silos but cargo ship sets sail

13:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Ukraine said Russia had attacked its grain storage facilities overnight, but a container ship left the Black Sea port of Odesa on Wednesday despite Moscow’s threat to target shipping after it abandoned an export deal.

In the Russian capital, five sources said authorities were considering reimposing stringent capital controls as the rouble showed the strains of Russia’s invasion of its neighbour, which has brought huge military spending and Western sanctions.

The departure from Odesa of the Hong-Kong-flagged Joseph Schulte, trapped in the port since the day before Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February last year, followed the latest in a string of Russian attacks on the country’s grain export infrastructure.

Overnight air strikes damaged silos and warehouses at Reni on the Danube river, a vital wartime route for food exports, Ukrainian officials said. They posted photos of destroyed storage facilities and piles of scattered grain and sunflowers.

There was no comment from Moscow. An industry source said the port was continuing operations. Benchmark Chicago wheat futures were up about 1% after the news broke on Wednesday morning, adding to a slight earlier gain as they recovered from a two-month low on Tuesday.

Russia has made regular air strikes on Ukrainian ports and grain silos since mid-July, when it pulled out of the U.N.-backed deal for Ukraine to export grain. It has threatened to treat any ships leaving Ukraine as potential military targets. On Sunday it fired warning shots at a ship travelling towards Ukraine.

Despite the threats, Ukraine last week announced a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea to release cargo ships that have been trapped in its ports by a de facto Russian blockade, pledging full transparency to make clear they were serving no military purpose.

“A first vessel used the temporary corridor for merchant ships to/from the ports of Big Odesa,” Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Facebook.

Warning as unexploded Russian mines wash up on Europe’s tourist beaches

12:51 , Eleanor Noyce

Russian mines are washing up on busy Black Sea tourist beaches, frequently exploding, and sometimes even killing holidaymakers.

As recently as Monday, a Russian mine exploded in the Romanian Black Sea resort of Costinesti, although it caused no injuries or damage, according to local reports. Meanwhile, another mine was also discovered in the water there.

“It is believed that a Russian sea mine exploded,” said the spokesman of the Romanian Navy, Colonel Corneliu Pavel, Sofia News Agency reported. “These sea mines are a danger not only to shipping but also to shore-based activities.”

Tara Cobham has more:

Warning as unexploded Russian mines wash up on Europe’s tourist beaches

Romanian Black Sea port shipped 8.1 mln tonnes of Ukrainian grain in January-July

12:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Ukraine shipped 8.1 million tonnes of grain through the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta in the first seven months of the year, the port authority told Reuters, with the pace slowing in July when Russia began attacking infrastructure at its inland ports.

The Danube river is Ukraine‘s last waterborne route to export grain after access to its own Black Sea ports was cut off after Russia in mid-July left a safe passage grain corridor agreement brokered by the United Nations and Turkey. Since then, Russia has attacked Danube ports repeatedly.

Constanta Port Authority data showed 8.1 million metric tonnes of Ukrainian grain left port in the first seven months, compared with 7.5 million tonnes by end-June.

Ukrainian grain competes for space in Constanta, which traditionally handles Romania’s crop exports and those of its landlocked neighbours, including Hungary and Serbia.

Overall, it handled 18.9 million tonnes of grain in the first seven months of this year, the Constanta port authority told Reuters.

At its peak before the war in Ukraine, Constanta has handled 25 million tonnes in a year, but some port operators said the record will be topped as many have invested in boosting their capacity.

Ukraine‘s Danube ports accounted for around a quarter of grain exports before Russia withdrew from the U.N.-backed deal.

Its Danube ports have since become the main route out, with grain also sent on barges to Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta for shipment onwards.

Earlier this month, Romanian Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu said European Union and NATO state Romania aimed to double the monthly transit capacity of Ukrainian grain to Constanta to 4 million tonnes in the coming months.

Various EU-funded connecting infrastructure projects were underway or pending in Romania, Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova, Grindeanu and representatives from the European Commission and the U.S. State Department said.

Russia’s ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

12:15 , Eleanor Noyce

Russia‘s ruble has fallen a long way in recent months, and the country’s central bank has stepped in to try to halt the slide.

Until now, the government stood aside as the declining ruble helped its budget. But a weaker currency also poses the threat of higher prices for everyday people in Russia — and the government has finally moved to halt the drop.

David McHugh reports:

Russia's ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

What are cluster bombs and why are they banned in some countries?

12:02 , Eleanor Noyce

Cluster bombs have been banned by more than 120 countries, with many allies and humanitarian groups also opposing the use of the bomb.

However, the use of cluster bombs does not violate international law when used on the battlefield, but any use in populated areas is considered a war crime.

Earlier this year, Ukraine welcomed the Biden administration’s decision to provide the weapon and said it needed “weapons, more weapons, and more weapons, including cluster munitions” if it is to defeat Russia.

Over the past few days, fierce fighting has been taking place in and around Urozhaine and Staromaiorske and according to reports Vladimir Putin’s soldiers have been seen fleeing the US-supplied cluster munitions.

Read more:

What are cluster bombs and why are they banned in some countries?

Lithuania closes two Belarus border crossings after Wagner took refuge there

11:45 , Tara Cobham

The Lithuanian government said on Wednesday it had decided to close two of the country's six border crossing points with Belarus due to "geopolitical circumstances", weeks after Russian Wagner Group mercenaries took refuge in the country.

The two rural crossing points, which were not used by commercial vehicles, will be closed from Friday, Lithuania announced.

Neighbouring Poland has closed all but one border crossing point with Belarus this year following the imprisonment of a journalist of Polish origin and expulsions of Polish diplomats.

Poland announced plans last week to move 10,000 additional troops to the Belarus border to support existing guards.

Russia says Ukrainian drone downed over Crimea, according to agency

11:00 , Tara Cobham

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday its forces had shot down a Ukrainian drone over Crimea, Interfax reported, the latest in a flurry of what Moscow calls "terrorist attacks".

Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Cargo ship leaves Ukrainian port despite Russian threat of attack

10:07 , Tara Cobham

A container ship set off from Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa en route to Istanbul on Wednesday in a test of Russia's threat to attack shipping after it abandoned a deal last month allowing Ukraine to export grain.

The Joseph Schulte vessel, jointly owned by a Chinese bank and Bernhard Schulte, is using the established corridor and is travelling via territorial waters of Ukraine, Romania and Turkey "to allow for a safe passage of southbound vessels", Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said in a statement.

Ukraine last week announced a "humanitarian corridor" in the Black Sea to release cargo ships that have been trapped in its ports since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 Feb, 2022.

The departure of the Hong-Kong-flagged Joseph Schulte, which had been in the port since 23 Feb, 2022, followed a new Russian attack on Ukraine's grain export infrastructure.

Russian air strikes damaged grain silos and warehouses at one of the Danube river ports, the governor of the Odesa region said, releasing photos showing destroyed storage facilities and piles of scattered grain and sunflowers.

Governor Oleh Kiper said it was a key facility for grains shipments and the president's chief of staff Andriy Yermak named the port as Reni. There was no immediate comment from Moscow. An industry source said the port was continuing operations.

Ukraine says it retakes southeast village of Urozhaine from Russian forces

09:38 , Tara Cobham

Ukrainian forces have recaptured the village of Urozhaine from Russian troops in the southeast and dug in on its outskirts, Kyiv's deputy defence minister said on Wednesday.

"Urozhaine liberated," Hanna Maliar said on Telegram. "Our defenders are entrenched on the outskirts."

The village in Donetsk region is part of a cluster of small rural settlements that Ukraine has declared liberated since early June when it started a push against Russian troops who control swathes of the south and east.

There was no immediate comment from Russia. Russian military bloggers said fierce fighting raged near the village and that Russian units were trying to prevent Ukraine strengthening its positions in Urozhaine.

The village's recapture would indicate Ukraine is pressing ahead with an offensive drive south towards the Sea of Azov that aims to cut Russian occupying forces in half. Urozhaine lies just over 90 km (55 miles) from the Sea of Azov.

In a sign of the difficulty of the battlefield operations, Urozhaine is the first village Ukraine says it has retaken since June 27 when it announced the recapture of neighbouring Staromaiorske. Kyiv says its counteroffensive push is progressing slower than it wanted because of vast Russian minefields and prepared Russian defensive lines.

The battlefield reports could not be independently verified.

Ukraine hits out at ‘ridiculous’ suggestion it could give up land to Russia

08:56 , Tara Cobham

Ukraine has hit out at a NATO official’s suggestion the country could give up land to Russia as “ridiculous” amid a brewing diplomatic row.

Stian Jenssen, who is chief of staff to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, suggested to reporters on Tuesday that Kyiv might have to cede territory occupied by Moscow in exchange for NATO membership, according to the Norwegian newspaper VG.

"There is significant movement in the question of future NATO membership for Ukraine," he said. "It is in everyone's interest that the war does not repeat itself.

"Russia is struggling enormously militarily, and it seems unrealistic that they can take new territories. Now it is rather a question of what Ukraine manages to take back.”

This provoked a strong reaction from Mykhailo Podolyak, who is an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on X. He wrote: “Trading territory for a NATO umbrella? It is ridiculous.”

"That means deliberately choosing the defeat of democracy, encouraging a global criminal, preserving the Russian regime, destroying international law, and passing the war on to other generations.”

Watch: Russian navy officers point guns at crew after ordering ship to halt

08:30 , Tara Cobham

This is the moment armed Russian naval inspectors storm a cargo ship in the Black Sea after the vessel allegedly failed to stop when told to by a Kremlin warship.

Moscow said it fired warning shots at the Sukru Okan after it failed to respond to a demand for it to halt on Sunday.

In the video, released by Moscow, the servicemen make their way down a corridor carrying automatic weapons. They enter the vessel’s bridge and question the captain on why the ship had not stopped.

It appears the vessel’s failure to stop may have been caused by a language barrier.

Lucy Leeson reports:

Watch: Russian navy officers point guns at crew after ordering cargo ship to halt

Russia’s rouble sinks to 16-month low amid invasion of Ukraine

08:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia’s central bank is due to hold an unscheduled meeting to discuss the level of its key interest rate – in the wake of the rouble falling to its lowest value for more than 16 months.

Pressure on the Russian economy is growing as the Kremlin continues pumping vast sums into its invasion of Ukraine. The country has been targeted with sanctions led by Western nations since the invasion began.

Imports are also rising faster than exports sending the rouble past 100 per US dollar.

The rouble plummeted as low as 119 per US dollar shortly after president Vladimir Putin launched his invasion in February 2002, but was later stabilised through capital controls and Russia’s lucrative oil and gas exports. The rouble has lost about a quarter of its value against the dollar tha start of the war.

Matt Mathers has more.

Russia’s rouble sinks to 16-month low against dollar amid invasion of Ukraine

Russia likely aiming for self-sufficiency in Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, says UK

07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia is likely aiming for self-sufficiency in Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (OWA-UAVs) in the coming months, the British military has said.

Russia has almost certainly started to deploy domestically produced one-way attack OWA-UAVs based on Iranian Shahed designs, the defence ministry said today in its daily intelligence.

“Indigenous manufacturing will likely allow Russia to establish a more reliable supply of OWA-UAVs,” it said, adding, “the performance of these weapons has been variable and Ukraine has proved effective in neutralising the majority of incoming OWA-UAVs.”

American band apologises for bringing Russian fan on stage

06:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Alternative rock band, the Killers, has apologised for bringing a Russian drummer on stage during a show in Georgia while describing fans as “brothers and sisters”.

The seven times Grammy nominated band performed yesterday in the Black Sea resort of Batumi during a European tour.

“Good people of Georgia, it was never our intention to offend anyone!” the band said in a statement on its Facebook page, adding that it had a longstanding tradition of inviting people to play the drums.

“We recognise that a comment, meant to suggest that all of the Killers’ audience and fans are ‘brothers and sisters,’ could be misconstrued,” it added.

The reference was to a remark band leader Brandon Flowers made to the crowd, saying he did not want the situation to turn “angry”.

“I see you as my brothers and my sisters,” he added to the sound of boos and whistles.

Russia ‘downs’ three alleged Ukrainian drones

06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia’s air defence systems destroyed three Ukrainian drones early this morning over the Kaluga region, the country’s defence ministry said.

There were no casualties and no damage in the attempted attack which took place at around 5am (local time), the ministry added, according to Reuters.

The Kaluga region borders the Moscow region to the north.

Poland holds massive military parade as war rages in Ukraine

06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Poland held its biggest military parade since the Cold War to showcase its state-of-the-art weapons as war rages in neighbouring Ukraine.

President Andrzej Duda, the commander in chief of the armed forces, said in his opening speech that the protection of Poland’s eastern border is a key element of state policy.

He also noted that Poland, a Nato member, is supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russia’s aggression of almost 18 months.

“The defence of our eastern border, the border of the EU and of Nato is today a key element of Poland’s state interest,” Mr Duda said.

Some 2,000 troops, 200 vehicles and almost 100 aircraft took part in the parade to mark the 103rd anniversary of Poland’s victory over the Soviet Union’s Red Army in the Battle of Warsaw in 1920.

Poland’s armed forces have more than 175,000 troops, up from some 100,000 eight years ago, Mr Duda said.

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Poland’s conservative government has focused on strengthening the armed forces and has spent more than $16bn on tanks, missile interceptor systems and fighter jets, many purchased from the US and South Korea.

Captured Ukrainian soldiers ‘tortured’ in Russian prison

06:07 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Former Ukrainian captives have alleged they were subjected to torture, including electric shocks, while they were held at a detention facility in Russia.

Speaking to the BBC over a dozen former detainees detailed the alleged physical and psychological abuse they suffered at the hands of Russian officers and guards at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility Number Two in Taganrog.

They have since been released in prisoner exchanges.

Guards at the facility carry black batons and metal bars to beat the captives in the legs, arms, or “anywhere they wanted”, senior lieutenant Artem Seredniak was quoted as saying. “It’s what they call ‘reception’,” he said.

The captives were left under-nourished and the injured were not provided appropriate medical assistance, according to the report, which details a number of potential serious violations of international law.

Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, told BBC that nine in every 10 former detainees claimed they had been tortured while in Russian captivity. "This is the biggest challenge for me now: how to protect our people on the Russian side," Mr Lubinets said. "Nobody knows how we can do it."

US warns Russia and North Korea against military ties

06:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The US has warned Russia and North Korea against military cooperation between the countries, arguing it would violate UN resolutions aimed at restricting Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.

“Our concerns persist as North Korea continues its assistance to Russia’s invasive war against Ukraine,” US state department official Vedant Patel said yesterday.

He said Moscow is compelled to rely on countries such as North Korea and Iran for military support. “Any security cooperation or arms trade between North Korea and Russia will violate a series of UN Security Council resolutions,” he added.

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un and Russian president Vladimir Putin exchanged letters yesterday pledging to develop their ties into what Mr Kim called a “long-standing strategic relationship”, according to Pyongyang’s state media KCNA.

In his letter to Mr Putin, North Korea’s leader said the two countries’ friendship was forged in the Second World War with victory over Japan and is now “fully demonstrating their invincibility and might in the struggle to smash the imperialists’ arbitrary practices and hegemony”.

Putin’s exploding mines are washing up on busy tourist beaches

05:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russian mines are washing up on busy Black Sea tourist beaches, frequently exploding, and sometimes even killing holidaymakers.

A Russian mine exploded in the Romanian Black Sea resort of Costinesti as recently as Monday, although it caused no injuries or damage, according to local reports.

Another mine was also discovered in the water there.

“It is believed that a Russian sea mine exploded,” said the spokesman of the Romanian Navy, Colonel Corneliu Pavel, Sofia News Agency reported. “These sea mines are a danger not only to shipping but also to shore-based activities.”

Tara Cobham has more.

Putin’s exploding mines are washing up on busy tourist beaches

Aftermath of the Russian missile attack in Lviv

05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia's ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

05:05 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia's ruble has fallen a long way in recent months, and the country’s central bank has stepped in to try to halt the slide.

Until now, the government stood aside as the declining ruble helped its budget. But a weaker currency also poses the threat of higher prices for everyday people in Russia — and the government has finally moved to halt the drop.

Here are key things to know about the ruble:

Why is the ruble falling?

Economic fundamentals play a role, though they aren't the whole story. Russia is selling less abroad — mainly reflected in falling revenue from oil and natural gas — and it's importing more.

More here.

Russia's ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

Kindergarten and residential building hit in overnight Russian strike

05:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A kindergarten and a residential building were damaged as a result of the overnight missile attack in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv.

The multi-story residential building caught fire due to the falling missile debris yesterday, according to regional governor Maxim Kozytskyi.

Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi said one of the strikes hit the yard of a local nursery, injuring four people.

“Two hours ago, this place was a children’s pavilion of our kindergarten. A missile directly hit the pavilion, creating a crater that is nine meters deep and 20 meters wide,” he claimed, in a video message from the site.

Kindergarten and residential building hit in overnight Russian strike on Lviv

Russian drones threaten key port for grains export, says Ukraine

04:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A large group of Russian army drones entered the mouth of the Danube River and headed toward the Izmail river port near the border with Romania, the Ukrainian armed forces said today.

Social media groups reported hearing air defence systems firing in the area near two Danube ports - Izmail and Reni.

The governor of the southern Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, asked residents of Izmail district to take shelter at around 1.30am (local time) and cancelled the air raid alert one hour later.

The Danube port accounted for around a quarter of grain exports before Russia pulled out of a UN-backed deal to provide safe passage for the export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea.

Russia launches air strikes on Ukraine regions bordering Nato

03:58 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia has launched its largest aerial attack on regions bordering Nato in western Ukraine since the beginning of its invasion nearly 18 months ago.

Russian air strikes hit two western regions of Ukraine bordering Poland – a Nato member – and other areas yesterday, killing three people in a factory and wounding more than a dozen, according to officials.

The deaths were reported in the northwestern region of Volyn. Officials said an industrial enterprise in the regional capital Lutsk was struck in the overnight attack. Several people also needed hospital treatment, governor Yuriy Pohulyaiko said.

Swedish industrial bearings maker SKF said its factory in Lutsk was hit by a missile overnight, killing three employees. Footage released by Ukraine’s state emergency service showed rescuers pulling a man from the rubble.

More here.

Putin’s forces step up air strikes on Ukraine regions bordering Nato

Ukraine pushes back Putin’s troops around Bakhmut – as Zelensky visits eastern frontline

02:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday visited troops close to the frontline in eastern Ukraine, with his military reporting gains around the town of Bakhmut.

The deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, said that Kyiv’s troops had managed to retake nearly 2 square miles during the past week around the ruined Bakhmut – the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of Russia’s near 18-month war, which has gained symbolic significance for both nations.

Mr Zelensky visited brigades involved in attacks on the section of the frontline facing Soledar, the Russian-held town north of Bakhmut.

Ukraine pushes back Putin’s troops around Bakhmut – as Zelensky visits frontline

Experts warn Ukraine’s frontline push is being damaged by West

01:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Western pressure on Ukraine’s counteroffensive to achieve a “Hollywood”-style breakthrough against Russia’s forces is “unrealistic” and Kyiv’s allies must be prepared for the war to “drag on far longer” than they imagined, experts have said.

Facing heavily fortified Russian defences, including vast minefields and heavy shelling during its summer counteroffensive, Ukraine has been forced to broaden its focus away from the front lines

With rains expected to muddy the battlefield in areas of the south and east of the country – including Zaporizhzhia – as soon as September, the “odds are getting longer” on the “triumphant breakthrough” many in the West were hoping for, analysts have told The Independent.

Experts warn Ukraine’s frontline push is being damaged by West

Fifteen wounded as Russian missiles hit Lviv

Wednesday 16 August 2023 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Fifteen people were also wounded in the Lviv region, Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said, as Russian strikes hit western Ukraine.

Six missiles damaged dozens of buildings and a kindergarten playground in and around the regional capital. Kozytskyi said the youngest victim was 10 years-old.

Both Volyn and Lviv border Poland and are hundreds of miles from the front line, where Ukraine‘s military is fending off Russian troops in the nearly 18-month-old war.

“The children are very scared. They were hysterical, they were shaking. One of them even vomited from fear,” said Lviv resident Dmytro Ivaschyshyn outside an apartment block as firemen dug through debris. “Thank God we are all alive.”

National grid operator Ukrenergo said power lines in the region were also damaged but that electricity was being restored to those affected.

“These are the parts of the country where millions of people are seeking safety and refuge after fleeing the horrors of Russia‘s invasion,” Denise Brown, the United Nations resident coordinator in Ukraine, said in a statement condemning the attacks.

“Russia‘s persistent attacks hitting essential infrastructure in populated areas cause immense human suffering.”

At least two people were also wounded in the southeastern city of Dnipro, where Governor Serhiy Lysak said a business enterprise and a sports complex had been hit.

Russian air strikes hit two Ukraine regions bordering Poland

Tuesday 15 August 2023 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian air strikes hit two western regions of Ukraine bordering NATO member Poland and other areas on Tuesday, killing three people in a factory and wounding more than a dozen, Ukrainian officials said.

Local media said the attacks were the largest air assault on the Lviv region since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

The fatalities were reported in the northwestern region of Volyn. Officials said an industrial enterprise in the regional capital Lutsk was struck in the overnight attack. Several people were also hospitalised, Governor Yuriy Pohulyaiko said.

Swedish industrial bearings maker SKF said its factory in Lutsk was hit by a missile overnight, killing three employees.

Footage released by Ukraine‘s state emergency service showed rescuers pulling a man from the rubble. Reuters was able to confirm the location as the SKF factory.

The ‘Russian spies’ next door: Neighbours reveal suburban lives of trio charged in police probe

Tuesday 15 August 2023 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Neighbours have revealed the suburban lives of suspected Russian spies who lived next door to a police officer for years.

Bulgarian nationals Orlin Roussev, 45, Biser Dzhambazov, 42, and Katrin Ivanova, 31, were arrested in February as part of a major police sting but before that appeared to have held down ordinary jobs.

The trio have been charged with possessing false passports and ID cards and other documents “with improper intention” after counterterrorism police swooped on homes in Harrow and Great Yarmouth.

The ‘Russian spies’ next door: Neighbours on lives of trio charged in police probe

Ex-FBI agent pleads guilty over illegal work for Russian oligarch under US sanctions

Tuesday 15 August 2023 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A former FBI agent admitted to working for Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska while he was under U.S. sanctions and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in a New York court on Tuesday, in exchange for prosecutors dropping other charges.

Prosecutors in January said Charles McGonigal, who led the FBI’s counterintelligence division in New York before retiring in 2018, received concealed payments from Deripaska in exchange for investigating a rival businessman and unsuccessfully pushed in 2019 to have Deripaska’s sanctions lifted.

At the time, McGonigal pleaded not guilty to four criminal counts including sanctions violations and money laundering.

McGonigal, 55, said in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday that he worked for Deripaska between spring and autumn of 2021 to find negative information on Vladimir Potanin in an attempt to have the Deripaska rival put on the U.S. sanctions list.

The former FBI agent received $17,500 for that work, which was routed from Russia through accounts in Cyprus and New Jersey in an attempt to mask the source of the payments, he said.

McGonigal told the court he was “deeply remorseful” for his actions. His attorney Seth DuCharme told reporters after the hearing that his client was treated fairly.

Kindergarten and residential building hit in overnight Russian strike on Lviv

Tuesday 15 August 2023 20:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A kindergarten and a residential building were damaged as a result of the overnight missile attack in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv.

The multi-story residential building caught fire due to the falling missile debris early Tuesday morning (15 August) according to regional governor Maxim Kozytskyi.

Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi said one of the strikes hit the yard of a local nursery, injuring four people.

“Two hours ago, this place was a children’s pavilion of our kindergarten. A missile directly hit the pavilion, creating a crater that is nine meters deep and 20 meters wide,” he claimed, in a video message from the site.

Kindergarten and residential building hit in overnight Russian strike on Lviv

Why tensions have been growing along NATO’s eastern border with Belarus

Tuesday 15 August 2023 19:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Poland is deploying thousands of troops to its border with Belarus, calling it a deterrent move as tensions between the two neighbors ratchet up.

Those tensions between Poland — a NATO and European Union country — and Belarus, which is Russia’s ally in its war on Ukraine, have been building up in recent months on the border. Here is why:

Poland has been backing the Belarusian opposition ever since the 2020 presidential elections, where pro-Russian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term in a vote that Poland and the wider Western community saw as rigged.

In 2021, Belarus began organising and pushing thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa across the border into Poland.

Read more:

Why tensions have been growing along NATO’s eastern border with Belarus

Russia's ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

Tuesday 15 August 2023 19:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s ruble has fallen a long way in recent months, and the country’s central bank has stepped in to try to halt the slide.

Until now, the government stood aside as the declining ruble helped its budget. But a weaker currency also poses the threat of higher prices for everyday people in Russia — and the government has finally moved to halt the drop.

Here are key things to know about the ruble:

Russia's ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

Russia says it damaged Ukrainian military sites in high-precision strike -Ifax

Tuesday 15 August 2023 18:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia‘s defence ministry on Tuesday said its forces had hit key military industrial facilities in Ukraine during the night with high-precision missiles, inflicting “significant damage”, the Interfax news agency reported.

Reuters could not immediately verify the battlefield report.

Russia also said it had for the first time intercepted SCALP cruise missiles supplied to Ukraine by France.

Putin accuses West of ‘adding fuel to fire’ with conflict in Ukraine

Tuesday 15 August 2023 18:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Vladimir Putin has accused Western countries of adding ‘fuel to the fire’ by funding the conflict in Ukraine.

Addressing participants of an international security forum, the Russian president shifted the blame for Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Putin said countries that were “pumping billions of dollars into the neo-Nazi regime” were “igniting the conflict even more, to draw other states into it.”

It comes as experts told The Independent that Western pressure on Ukraine’s counteroffensive to achieve a “Hollywood”-style breakthrough against Russia’s forces is “unrealistic.”

Putin accuses West of ‘adding fuel to fire’ with conflict in Ukraine

Putin’s forces step up air strikes on Ukraine regions bordering Nato

Tuesday 15 August 2023 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia has launched its largest aerial attack on regions bordering Nato in western Ukraine since the start of its invasion nearly 18 months ago.

Russian air strikes hit two western regions of Ukraine bordering Poland – a Nato member – and other areas on Tuesday, killing three people in a factory and wounding more than a dozen, according to officials.

The deaths were reported in the northwestern region of Volyn. Officials said an industrial enterprise in the regional capital Lutsk was struck in the overnight attack. Several people also needed hospital treatment, Governor Yuriy Pohulyaiko said.

Swedish industrial bearings maker SKF said its factory in Lutsk was hit by a missile overnight, killing three employees. Footage released by Ukraine’s state emergency service showed rescuers pulling a man from the rubble.

Putin’s forces step up air strikes on Ukraine regions bordering Nato

Latvia sends army to guard border with Belarus as illegal crossing attempts mount

Tuesday 15 August 2023 17:38 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Latvia’s defence minister ordered the army to help guard the Baltic country’s border with Russian ally Belarus on Tuesday, after 96 attempts by illegal immigrants to cross in 24 hours.

Border Guard officers have also been recalled from their holidays to help with patrols.

Latvia has “information about a possible increase in hybrid threats”, the Border Guard said in a statement. Belarusian authorities were increasingly involved in organising the flow of illegal immigrants, it said.

EU members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which share a border with Belarus, have worried increasingly about border crossings since hundreds of Russian battle-hardened Wagner mercenaries arrived Belarus last month at the invitation of President Alexander Lukashenko.

Lukashenko has said several times that he has been restraining Wagner fighters who want to attack Poland.

Poland has also seen an increase in the number of mainly Middle Eastern and African migrants trying to cross the border in recent months.

Poland is planning to move up to 10,000 additional troops to the border with Belarus to support the Border Guard, Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Thursday.

In 2021, Latvia, Poland and Lithuania faced an immigration crisis when thousands of people, mostly from the Middle East and Africa, sought to cross into Poland from Belarus but were pushed back.

Wagner tracker: Charting Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mercenary group through the Ukraine war

Tuesday 15 August 2023 17:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Since Vladimir Putin rose to power as Russia’s president 23 years ago, few things have rocked his leadership as much as Saturday 24 June when Wagner mercenaries barrelled towards Moscow.

The “army within an army” who had been ruthlessly grinding away for months at the vanguard of some of the bloodiest fighting in eastern flanks Ukraine were now on the verge of triggering a war within a war - this time, against the Kremlin.

Below we track Wagner’s involvement in the invasion of Ukraine and their infamous- but failed- march to Moscow:

Charting Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner mercenary group through the Ukraine war

Poland showcases military might in a parade as war rages in neighboring Ukraine

Tuesday 15 August 2023 16:53 , William Mata

Poland staged a massive military parade on Tuesday to showcase its state-of-the-art weapons and defence systems, as war rages in neighboring Ukraine.

With an eye on the October elections in Poland, president Andrzej Duda, the chief commander of the armed forces, said in his opening speech that the protection of Poland’s eastern border is a key element of state policy.

He also noted that Poland is supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russia‘s aggression of almost 18 months.

“The defense of our eastern border, the border of the European Union and of NATO is today a key element of Poland’s state interest,” Mr Duda said.Some 2,000 troops, 200 vehicles and almost 100 aircraft took part in the parade. Poland’s armed forces have more than 175,000 troops, up from some 100,000 eight years ago, Mr Duda said.

Latvia increases Belarus border protection after 96 illegal crossing attempts

Tuesday 15 August 2023 16:36 , William Mata

Latvia has recalled border guards from holidays on Tuesday to strengthen the patrol of its border with Belarus.

The update was given after 96 attempts to cross illegally in 24 hours, the border guard service said.

Border guard officers have also been recalled from their holidays to patrol the border, the service said in a statement.

Latvia has "information about a possible increase in hybrid threats" and that Belarus authorities are increasingly involved in organising the flow of illegal immigrants, the statement from the border guard service said.

Putin accuses West of ‘adding fuel to fire’ with conflict in Ukraine

Tuesday 15 August 2023 16:21 , William Mata

Vladimir Putin has accused Western countries of adding ‘fuel to the fire’ by funding the conflict in Ukraine.

Addressing participants of an international security forum, the Russian president shifted the blame for Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Mr Putin said countries that were “pumping billions of dollars into the neo-Nazi regime” were “igniting the conflict even more, to draw other states into it”.

Experts warn Ukraine’s frontline push is being damaged by West

Tuesday 15 August 2023 16:13 , William Mata

Western pressure on Ukraine’s counteroffensive to achieve a “Hollywood”-style breakthrough against Russia’s forces is “unrealistic” and Kyiv’s allies must be prepared for the war to “drag on far longer” than they imagined, experts have said.

Facing heavily fortified Russian defences, including vast minefields and heavy shelling during its summer counteroffensive, Ukraine has been forced to broaden its focus away from the front lines

With rains expected to muddy the battlefield in areas of the south and east of the country – including Zaporizhzhia – as soon as September, the “odds are getting longer” on the “triumphant breakthrough” many in the West were hoping for, analysts have told The Independent.

See Andy Gregory’s full story here.

‘Ukraine will boycott Olympics if Russia or Belarus take part’

Tuesday 15 August 2023 16:03 , William Mata

A member of Ukrainian Parliament has said her country will miss next year’s Olympics if Russia and Belarus take part.

Kira Rudik is the leader of the liberal Golos party and spoke after a Russian missile destroyed a sports hall in Dnipro.

“Ukraine will be boycotting Olympic Games if Russia and Belarus take part in the competition.

“The fact that Russia has killed 340 Ukrainian athletes and coaches completely dispels the myth that sport is out politics.”

‘Step by step, we are resolutely moving towards the necessary result’ - Zelensky

Tuesday 15 August 2023 15:50 , William Mata

President Volodymyr Zelensky has commented on Ukraine’s progress in trying to win back settlements from Russian control.

Ukraine launched a counter-offensive against Russian forces in the south and southeast at the start of June, hoping to cut Russian forces in half by advancing south towards the Sea of Azov.

More than two months into the operation, Kyiv has retaken a string of villages but no major settlements.

The country has said that its progress has been slower than desired because of prepared Russian defences and what it says is a shortage of weapons.

“Step by step, they are resolutely moving towards the necessary result,” Mr Zelensky said of brigades trying to make headway towards the southern, occupied city of Melitopol.

Kyiv has repeatedly said that it needs more Western armoured vehicles, tanks and new aircraft.

“The military emphasised the need for electronic warfare and frontline air defence systems to counter enemy aircraft and drones.

“There is also a need for drones, as they are quickly consumed in offensive operations,” the office said.

Zelensky in Zaporizhzhia

Tuesday 15 August 2023 15:24 , William Mata

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky visited the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia and met troops involved in the counter-offensive in the south, the president’s office said on Tuesday.

“The president listened to reports by the commanders on the course of combat actions in frontline areas ... and discussed the most problematic issues of their units together with the brigades and combatants,” it said in a statement.

Kyiv to fortify borders with Russia and Belarus as Putin’s forces unleash missile barrage

Tuesday 15 August 2023 15:09 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Ukrainian government is set to build new fortifications and military infrastructure in northeast regions that border Russia and Belarus at a cost of nearly $35 million (£30 million), prime minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

“At the request of Kharkiv and Chernihiv...we are allocating 911.5 million hryvnias ($24.7 million) for Kharkiv and 363 million ($9.8 million) for Chernihiv to build military engineering and fortification structures,” Mr Shmyhal said on Telegram on Tuesday.

The Chernihiv region that borders Russia and Belarus was partially occupied at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, but it was later liberated.

Belarus, the Kremlin’s closest ally, initially supported the Russian invasion, opening its borders to Russian troops marching on Ukraine‘s capital Kyiv.

Minsk also provided its territory to fighters from the Wagner mercenary group whose move to Belarus was part of a deal that ended their attempted mutiny in June.

The eastern Kharkiv region, which borders the Russian region of Belgorod, is still partially occupied and has been the site of active fighting in recent weeks.

Since the liberation of its territories, Ukraine has been actively building defences on its borders to prevent being invaded again. It maintains a significant force in the north.

Moscow’s forces control a swathe of southern and eastern Ukraine.

Headlines from today

Tuesday 15 August 2023 14:58 , William Mata

Here are some of the main news stories from the Ukraine - Russia crisis on Tuesday.

Experts warn Ukraine’s frontline push is being damaged by West

Western pressure on Ukraine’s counteroffensive to achieve a “Hollywood”-style breakthrough against Russia’s forces is “unrealistic” and Kyiv’s allies must be prepared for the war to “drag on far longer” than they imagined, experts have said.

Putin’s exploding mines are washing up on busy tourist beaches

Russian mines are washing up on busy Black Sea tourist beaches, frequently exploding, and sometimes even killing holidaymakers.

Why tensions have been growing along NATO’s eastern border with Belarus

Poland is deploying thousands of troops to its border with Belarus, calling it a deterrent move as tensions between the two neighbors ratchet up. Those tensions between Poland — a NATO and European Union country — and Belarus, which is Russia’s ally in its war on Ukraine, have been building up in recent months on the border.

Russia's ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

Russia's ruble has fallen a long way in recent months, and the country’s central bank has stepped in to try to halt the slide.

Dnipro update: Two people wounded after business enterprise and a sports complex hit

Tuesday 15 August 2023 14:48 , William Mata

At least two people have been wounded in the southeastern city of Dnipro.

Governor Serhiy Lysak said a business enterprise and a sports complex had been hit in Russian attacks on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said civilian infrastructure including schools and a hospital had been damaged in a total of eight regions in Tuesday’s attacks.

Part of the central town of Smila was left without water after two missiles struck the Cherkassy region, the governor said.

“The daily terror of the Russians has a single goal: to break us, our spirit for fighting,” Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, wrote on Telegram.”This will not happen.”

‘Blast caused significant damage’

Tuesday 15 August 2023 14:25 , William Mata

The Ukraine ministry of defence has said a significant damage was caused to a nursery and nearby buildings after an attack in Lviv.

The account tweeted: “During today's Russian attack on Lviv, one of the missiles hit the yard of the "Kazka" kindergarten, creating a nine-meter-deep crater.

“The explosion caused significant damage to both the kindergarten and the surrounding buildings.”

Russia ‘damaged Ukrainian military sites in high-precision strike'

Tuesday 15 August 2023 14:00 , William Mata

Russia's defence ministry on Tuesday said its forces had hit key military industrial facilities in Ukraine during the night with high-precision missiles, inflicting "significant damage", the Interfax news agency reported.

Reuters reported that Russia also said it had for the first time intercepted SCALP cruise missiles supplied to Ukraine by France.

The battlefield report could not be independently verified.

Pictures: Ukraine conflict August 15

Tuesday 15 August 2023 13:40 , William Mata

Russia responds to ‘false flag’ claims - reports

Tuesday 15 August 2023 13:31 , William Mata

Vladimir Putin’s defence minister has reportedly claimed that Ukraine is subjecting its own Zaporizhzhia power plant to regular shelling.

The Mail Online reported that Sergei Shoigu said: “The actions by the Ukrainian armed forces could trigger a nuclear catastrophe.”

Mr Shoigu spoke after the West claimed that Russia is planning a “false flag operation” - in blaming Ukraine for a potentially deadly nuclear leak.

Kyiv has denied the reports, the Mail said.

Poland’s military show of force in parade

Tuesday 15 August 2023 13:20 , William Mata

Poland has staged a military parade to showcase its state-of-the-art weapons and defence systems as war rages across its south-eastern border in Ukraine.

The show of force is also ahead of parliamentary elections on October 15.

Crowds gathered in scorching temperatures, that are expected to reach 35C, to see US-made Abrams tanks, Himars mobile artillery systems and Patriot missile systems, as well as South Korean FA-50 fighter jets and K9 howitzers.

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Poland’s right-wing government has spent more than 16 billion dollars (£12.6bn) on tanks, missile interceptor systems and fighter jets, many purchased from the US and South Korea.

Poland, a Nato member, supports Kyiv in its war against Russia.

Live video: Poland stages military parade

Tuesday 15 August 2023 13:16 , William Mata

Watch live as Poland celebrates Armed Forces Day with military parade.

The parade is being held in Poland's capital on the anniversary of the 1920 Battle of Warsaw, in which Polish troops defeated Bolshevik forces advancing on Europe.

Follow the live video here.

Power line supplying Chornobyl power station shut down due to damage in Belarus - reports

Tuesday 15 August 2023 12:40 , William Mata

The power line that is supplying Chernobyl power station in central Ukraine has reportedly been shut down due to damage in Belarus.

The Kyiv Independent said on Tuesday that the 330 kV power line was stopped - and that this has been confirmed by the Ukraine Energy Ministry.

The report could not be independently verified.

Update: Three suspected Russian spies arrested in Britain

Tuesday 15 August 2023 12:16 , William Mata

British police have said they had charged two men and a woman with identity document offences after the BBC reported the group were accused of spying for Russia.

The individuals are Bulgarian nationals, who were alleged to be working for Russian security services, the BBC said in its report.

The broadcaster said they had been held as part of a major national security investigation.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed five people had been arrested by counter-terrorism officers in February under the Official Secrets Act and three had since been charged with possession of false identity documents with improper intention.

Orlin Roussev, 45, Biser Dzambazov, 42, and Katrin Ivanova, 31, appeared at the Old Bailey Court in July and were remanded in custody until a future date.

The police declined to comment on whether they were suspected of being Russian spies.

Sweden prepares military support package for Ukraine

Tuesday 15 August 2023 12:10 , William Mata

Sweden has announced a military support package worth 3.4 billion Kr (£240 million) to support Ukraine’s defence.

Defence minister Pal Jonson said on Tuesday the package would be consisting mainly of ammunition and spare parts to previously delivered weapon systems.

Mr Jonson told a news conference: “We have to prepare ourselves for the fact this could be a long-lasting war and we also have a long-term perspective so that we can support those platforms that we are sending to Ukraine in a lasting manner.”

The new military aid package will be Sweden’s 13th to Ukraine since the start of the war.

Problems for Germany - including Ukraine invasion - allowing China to catch up

Tuesday 15 August 2023 11:41 , William Mata

Germany’s economy is reportedly suffering as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - which is allowing Chinese manufacturers an increasing share of the market.

Reuters has reported that China is catching up with the Germans in the field of advanced industrial goods where Germany is a leader.

A study by the employers’ economic think tank IW found that in some sectors China’s share of EU imports had risen as much as or more in the two years to 2022 as they had in the preceding decade, prompting the think tank to warn that there was a risk of Germany’s economic motor stalling.

After years of growth, Germany’s economy entered recession in May as its champion exporters were battered by supply chain woes, inflation and rising energy costs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting much debate on the industrial future of Europe’s economic powerhouse.

“These findings give cause to worry given the challenges of the energy change and problems with Germany’s competitiveness,” said researcher Juergen Matthes.

Volodymyr Zelensky meets with brigades in Donetsk

Tuesday 15 August 2023 11:16 , William Mata

Volodymyr Zelensky has met with brigades in Donetsk to “speak with warriors” directly.

The president of Ukraine shared the video on Twitter on Monday.

Mr Zelensky tweeted: “Today, I visited our brigades in the Donetsk region to speak directly with our warriors.

“Third and 5th Assault, 80th Airborne, 57th Motorized, 22nd and 24th Mechanized, 26th Artillery, 92nd Mechanized.

“I was honored to thank each of them for their bravery and results for Ukraine.”

Hopes of ‘Hollywood’-style breakthrough in Ukraine ‘unrealistic’

Tuesday 15 August 2023 10:21 , Tara Cobham

Western pressure on Ukraine’s counteroffensive to achieve a “Hollywood”-style breakthrough against Russia was “unrealistic” from the outset, and Kyiv’s allies must be prepared for the war to “drag on far longer” than they imagined, analysts have said.

With rains expected to muddy the battlefield in Zaporizhzhia as soon as September, the “odds are getting longer” on the “triumphant breakthrough” many in the West were hoping for, experts told The Independent.

Facing heavily fortified Russian defences, including vast minefields, Ukraine has been forced to broaden its focus away from the frontlines to wider attacks, which are having “real successes” in degrading Russia’s military capabilities and zapping the morale of its increasingly stretched forces.

Andy Gregory reports:

Ukraine’s frontline push damaged by Western pressure for ‘Hollywood’ breakthrough

Putin and Kim Jong Un exchange letters pledging to develop ties

Tuesday 15 August 2023 09:15 , Tara Cobham

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters on Tuesday pledging to develop ties into what Kim called a "long-standing strategic relationship", Pyongyang's state media KCNA said.

The United States has accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, including artillery shells, shoulder-fired rockets and missiles. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied any arms transactions.

This comes as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Tuesday that this week’s summit with the leaders of the United States and Japan will set a new milestone in trilateral cooperation in the face of North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats.

Russian air strikes on western Ukraine kill at least three, say officials

Tuesday 15 August 2023 08:29 , Tara Cobham

Three people were killed and scores of others wounded in a large-scale air Russian attack on Ukraine's western region of Lviv and the northwestern region of Volyn, officials said.

Three people were killed and several hospitalised in Lutsk after a business enterprise was hit, Yuriy Pohulyaiko, governor the Volyn region of which Lutsk is the administrative centre, said on the Telegram messaging app.

The Volyn region borders NATO-member Poland to its west.

There were no casualties in Russia's air attack on the western region of Lviv, according to preliminary information, but more than 100 residential houses were damaged, 500 windows broken and a kindergarten playground was destroyed.

"Many missiles were shot down, but there were also hits in Lviv," city mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on the Telegram messaging app, adding that orders were given to evacuate at least one burning apartment building.

Sadovyi posted a video standing at a crater in front of a multi-storey building with all windows blasted out and scattered debris from what appearted to be a playground.

Ukraine's Air Force said that its forces had destroyed 16 of at least 28 Russia-launched air and sea-based missiles. It was not immediately clear how many missiles were launched at Lviv and Volyn.