Ukraine war – live: War ‘returning to Russia’, Zelensky says after Moscow drone attacks
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War is “gradually returning to Russia’s territory”, Volodymyr Zelensky has said, as Russia blames Ukraine for drone attacks on Moscow.
A security guard was injured and Vnukovo airport on the southern outskirts of the capital was forced to close, according to Russia’s state news agency, while one of the buildings damaged was home to three government ministries as well as residential apartments, local media reported.
The Russian Defence Ministry referred to the incident as an “attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime” and said three drones targeted the city. There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials, who rarely if ever take responsibility for attacks on Russian soil.
Kyiv does not typically claim responsibility for incidents on Russian soil and did not admit involvement in the attacks, but Mr Zelensky said such strikes were “inevitable” in war.
It is the third attempt on the capital this week, fuelling concerns about Moscow’s vulnerability to attacks.
It comes after the head of Ukraine’s intelligence directorate told Ukrainian news site TSN that Kyiv’s forces are set to enter Crimea “soon”.
Key Points
Putin blames Kyiv for early morning drone attacks on Moscow
Russia carried out preventive strikes after attack on Crimean bridge, Putin claims
Ukrainian forces set to enter Russian-occupied Crimea ‘soon’, says top defence official
Zelensky moves Christmas to 25 December
At least 9 injured in missile attack in Dnipro, Ukrainian military official says
Wagner mercenaries in Belarus move closer to the Polish border, Poland's prime minister says
War ‘returning to Russia’, Zelensky says
19:19 , Jonathan Kanengoni
War is returning to Russia, Ukraine‘s president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned, after early morning drone attacks rocked Moscow.
Although Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the strikes on Sunday, Mr Zelensky said such attacks were an “inevitable, natural, and absolutely fair process” of the war between the nations.
Earlier on Sunday, Russia blamed Ukraine for what it called an “attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime” and said three drones targeted the capital, damaging two buildings in the Moskva-Citi business district.
Putin is downplaying skipping South Africa summit amid ICC warrant controversy
18:14 , Jonathan Kanengoni
Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to downplay not attending an economic summit in Johannesburg next month, following an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Cour, with Putin saying he doesn’t think his presence there is “more important than my presence here, in Russia.”
Putin’s remarks come more than a week after South African authorities said Putin would not attend the gathering on August 22-24 bringing together developing economies, known as BRICS, because of the warrant, even though he was initially invited.
The Kremlin said the Russian president will take part in the summit via video link, but didn’t provide a reason for the decision and didn’t say whether Putin had ever intended to attend in person.
Asked about his reasons for not going, Putin told Russian journalists Saturday that he’s “in contact with all colleagues,” referring to the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa, which together with Russia constitute the BRICS bloc, and that he doesn’t “think my presence at the BRICS summit is more important that my presence here, in Russia, right now.”
Read more here:
Putin is downplaying skipping South Africa summit amid ICC warrant controversy
President Zelensky expects Russia to resume attack on Ukraine’s national grid
17:00 , Jonathan Kanengoni
President Zelensky says he expects Russia to resume its attacks on Ukraine’s energy system once cold weather returns later this year, and has vowed to do everything possible to protect the power grid.
Nearly 40 per cent of the Ukrainian energy system was damaged in Russian missile and drone strikes over the past winter, which plunged Ukrainian cities into darkness and cold. Moscow says it launched the attacks to reduce Ukraine’s ability to fight.
Strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have subsided since warm weather returned, in place of attacks on other targets, but Zelensky said he expected attacks on energy to resume during a visit to the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk on Sunday.
“It is obvious that this fall and...in the winter the enemy will try to repeat the terror against the Ukrainian energy industry. We should be ready for this in any case,” Zelenskiy told senior government, security and regional officials.
“At the government and security level, we will do everything possible.”
Zelensky said the government, security officials and energy workers were working to protect the energy system from physical damage, sabotage or cyberattacks. Every city and town in Ukraine should be ready to handle energy sector emergencies, he added.
Fast repairs, often relying on backup energy equipment sent by Kyiv’s Western partners, helped the country get through the past winter. Energy Minister German Galushchenko expressed confidence this week that Ukraine could meet its generation needs during the cold months.
Storm weather in Russia kills 10 people - including three children
16:26 , Jonathan Kanengoni
Ten people - including three children - have been killed as high winds ripped through central Russia, emergency services and a local official reported on Sunday.
Eight of the dead were part of a group of tourists camping close to Lake Yalchik in the Mari-El region when the storm weather hit the area on Saturday, Russia’s emergencies ministry said.
High winds caused a number of trees to fall in the area, including where the group’s tents had been pitched on a stretch of wild beach inside the Mariy Chodra National Park, regional leader Yuri Zaitsev wrote on social media. He said that three children were among the dead.
Russia’s investigative committee has opened a criminal case to determine whether unsafe or sub-standard services provided by the park’s management company contributed to the deaths.Across the wider Volga Federal District, 76 people were injured in the storm, with thousands of households losing power, emergency services said.
Pope urges Russian 'brothers' to restore Black Sea grain deal
15:21 , Tara Cobham
Pope Francis on Sunday called on Russia to reverse its decision to abandon the Black Sea grain deal, under which it had allowed Ukraine to export grain from its seaports despite the ongoing war.
"I appeal to my brothers, the authorities of the Russian Federation, so that the Black Sea initiative may be resumed and grain may be transported safely," Francis said during his weekly Angelus message.
Global wheat prices have spiked since Russia on July 17 quit the pact, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022, and began targeting Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure on the Black Sea and Danube River.
Addressing crowds in St Peter's Square, the pope urged the faithful to continue praying "for martyred Ukraine, where war is destroying everything, even grain," calling this "a grave insult to God."
The leader of the world's nearly 1.4 billion Catholics said "the cry of millions of brothers and sisters who are suffering from hunger is rising up to the sky".
Russia walked out of the Black Sea deal after saying its demands to ease sanctions on its own grain and fertilizer exports had not been met. Moscow also complained that not enough grain had reached poor countries.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to supply Africa with grain, some of it for free, but the chair of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, responded that this "may be not quite enough".
Watch: Dramatic moment shows explosion hit Russian administration building in Donetsk
14:18 , Tara Cobham
This dramatic video shows the moment an explosion went off directly outside a Russian administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine.
In the video, we see a point-of-view from inside a vehicle driving along the road. Moments later, a huge explosion is triggered near the right side of the vehicle, outside a building.
This footage was allegedly shared on the social media website Telegram by a local journalist, showing the moment of the explosion.
As the explosion happens, the driver of the vehicle swerves around it and continues driving along the road.
The footage seems to indicate that something strikes at the location from above, dropping down and exploding on impact.
Jack Webb reports:
Dramatic moment explosion hits Russian administration building in Donetsk
‘We’d have to use nuclear weapon if Ukrainian offensive was success,’ says Russia’s Medvedev
13:21 , Tara Cobham
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who has sometimes raised the spectre of a nuclear conflict over Ukraine, said on Sunday that Moscow would have to use a nuclear weapon if Kyiv's ongoing counter-offensive was a success.
Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, a body chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said in a message on his official social media accounts that Russia would be forced to fall back on its own nuclear doctrine in such a scenario.
"Imagine if the.. offensive, which is backed by NATO, was a success and they tore off a part of our land then we would be forced to use a nuclear weapon according to the rules of a decree from the president of Russia. There would simply be no other option. So our enemies should pray for our warriors' (success). They are making sure that a global nuclear fire is not ignited," he said.
Medvedev, who has cast himself as one of Moscow's most hawkish voices, appeared to be referring to part of Russia's nuclear doctrine which sets out that nuclear weapons can be used in response to aggression against Russia carried out using conventional weapons which threatens the existence of the Russian state.
Putin said on Saturday that there were no serious battlefield changes to report in recent days and that Ukraine had lost large amounts of military equipment since 4 June. Kyiv says its forces are making some progress in their drive to retake territory, albeit at a slower pace than desired.
Kremlin critics have in the past accused Medvedev of making extreme statements in an effort to dissuade Western countries from continuing to supply Ukraine with arms.
In pictures: Reported Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow in early hours
12:30 , Tara Cobham
Watch: Moment explosion hits Russian administration building in Donetsk
12:00 , Tara Cobham
Face to face with a mercenary: Inside Wagner and its role in Ukraine
11:30 , Tara Cobham
Amid the ravages of war, Sergey, a seasoned Wagner mercenary, found himself grappling with the relentless violence that has become a way of life and death on the front line. The savage conflict, the sense of betrayal from the Kremlin, and rumours of plots, all combined to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and dread.
At the end he decided to abandon the Wagner group and the savage, meat-grinding combat of Donbas where corpses piled up, and towns and cities were razed.
With the future of the mercenary group in the balance after Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed march on Moscow and fear of future retribution, Sergey cannot forget the terrible things he witnessed in the months of bloody conflict.
Kim Sengupta reports:
Face to face with a mercenary: Inside Wagner and its bloody role in the Ukraine war
Watch: Life after the Kakhovka dam explosion
10:58 , Bel Trew in Ukraine
In June, a catastrophic explosion destroyed the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, flooding huge areas of land. As the flood waters recede, Bel Trew has travelled to the affected areas to find shellshocked Ukrainians trying to put their lives back together.
Homes and businesses have been destroyed by the floods, with many citizens displaced. It’s also destroyed huge swathes of agricultural land that Ukraine needed to grow grain and crops for worldwide distribution. And on the horizon, fears about the occupied nuclear power plant linger.
Life after the Kakhovka dam explosion | On The Ground
Putin says Russian Navy to receive 30 new ships this year
10:30 , Tara Cobham
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that the Russian Navy would receive 30 new ships this year.
Putin was speaking at a ceremony in St Petersburg to mark Russia's annual Navy Day after reviewing a parade of warships on the River Neva.
Putin blames Kyiv for early morning drone attacks on Moscow
10:10 , Tara Cobham
Russia is blaming Ukraine for three drone attacks on Moscow in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A security guard was injured and Vnukovo airport on the southern outskirts of the capital was forced to close, according to Russia’s state news agency, while one of the office buildings damaged was home to three government ministries as well as residential apartments, local media reported.
One drone was shot down in the surrounding Moscow region by air defence systems and two others crashed into the outsides of two buildings in the Moskva-Citi business district in the capital, which is several miles from the Kremlin, causing “insignificant damage”, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
The Russian Defence Ministry referred to the incident as an “attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime” and said three drones targeted the city. There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials, who rarely if ever take responsibility for attacks on Russian soil.
It was the fourth such attempt at a strike on the capital region this month and the third this week, fuelling concerns about Moscow’s vulnerability to attacks as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on into its eighteenth month.
Putin downplays skipping South Africa summit amid ICC warrant controversy
09:00 , Stuti Mishra
Russian president Vladimir Putin appeared to downplay not attending an economic summit in Johannesburg next month amid a controversy over an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court, saying he doesn't think his presence there is "more important than my presence here, in Russia.”
Mr Putin's remarks come more than a week after South African authorities said he will not attend the 22-24 August gathering, which brings together a bloc of developing economies known as BRICS, because of the warrant, even though he was initially invited.
Read more:
Putin is downplaying skipping South Africa summit amid ICC warrant controversy
Ukrainian troops fire UK-donated artillery to mark end of training
08:00 , Stuti Mishra
Ukrainian soldiers fired UK-donated AS90 self-propelled artillery guns to mark the end of their training in south-west England.
Uniformed troops wearing ear defenders blasted rounds into the air as Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag was pictured flying above one of the artillery units on Thursday.
British Army instructors taught the 72 Ukrainian army personnel how to operate and maintain the guns when in combat, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
Read more:
Ukrainian troops fire UK-donated artillery to mark end of training
Russia says it brought down three Ukrainian drones attempting to attack Moscow
07:36 , Stuti Mishra
Russia's defence ministry said it had brought down three Ukrainian drones in the early hours today that had been trying to carry out what it called "a terrorist attack" on Moscow.
Nobody was hurt and there was only minor damage to the façade of two office buildings in the Moskva-Citi business district, Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow's mayor, said.
The area, several miles from the Kremlin, is known for its modern high-rise towers.
The fact that hostile drones have in recent months begun reaching the heart of the Russian capital, even if they do not inflict serious damage, is uncomfortable for the authorities who have told the public that Russia is in full control of what they call its "special military operation" against Ukraine.
"There were no casualties or injuries," Mr Sobyanin said in a short statement on the incident.
The defence ministry said two drones had crashed in the Moskva-Citi district after being brought down using radio-electronic equipment. Air defences had shot down one more in the air over the Odintsovo area in the Moscow region, it said.
"On the morning of 30th July, an attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime using unmanned aerial vehicles against targets in the city of Moscow was foiled," the ministry said in its statement.
Saudi Arabia to host a Ukrainian-organised peace summit in August, official says
07:00 , Stuti Mishra
Saudi Arabia will host a Ukrainian-organised peace summit in early August seeking to find a way to start negotiations over Russia’s war on the country, an official said Saturday night, according to Associated Press.
The kingdom and Kyiv did not immediately acknowledge the planned talks.
The summit will be held in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as no authorisation had been given to publicly discuss the summit.
Those taking part in the summit will include Ukraine, as well as Brazil, India, South Africa and several other countries, the official said. A high-level official from US president Joe Biden’s administration also is expected to attend, the official said. Planning for the event is being overseen by Kyiv and Russia is not invited, the official said.
Moscow airport shut after drone attack
06:00 , Stuti Mishra
A drone attack in Moscow damaged two office blocks, its mayor said early morning today. Russia’s government officials alleged the attack was carried out by Ukraine.
The drone attack led to an airport in the Russian capital reportedly closed to traffic.
“Facades of two city office towers were slightly damaged. There are no victims or injured,” Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin posted on Telegram, AFP reported.
Russia does not reject African proposal of peace talks, Putin claims
05:00 , Stuti Mishra
Russian president Vladimir Putin said an initiative by African countries could be a basis for peace amid the war on Ukraine but claimed attacks from Kyiv made a cessation of hostilities “virtually impossible”.
Mr Putin was addressing a press conference yesterday after holding a meeting with African leaders in St Petersburg and listening to their calls for Moscow to take steps ahead with their plan.
“There are provisions of this peace initiative that are being implemented. But there are things that are difficult or impossible to implement,” he said.
He said the ceasefire was one of the points in the African initiative.
“But the Ukrainian army is on the offensive, they are attacking, they are implementing a large-scale strategic offensive operation... We cannot cease fire when we are under attack,” he said.
Ukrainian commandos train in UK for special exercises
04:00 , Matt Drake
Ukrainian special forces have received training on Dartmoor in Britain.
According to the Sunday Express, 2,000 soldiers arrived in a remote location for specialist exercises.
Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov confirmed forces would enter Crimea “soon”.
The operation will involve airstrikes we well as strikes on land and sea with Ukrainian commandos using technology to undermine and paralyse Russian troops.
Russian diplomat claims US position is blocking possibility of peace talks
03:00 , Matt Drake
Maria Zakharova said the US' position against Russia is blocking the possibility of peace talks on Ukraine.
Moscow's foreign ministry spokeswoman told TASS that the Ukraine conflict is extremely profitable for the US.
Speaking at the Russia-Africa Summit, she said: "This is a principled stance by the US administration which not simply thinks about but made it its mission - the necessity of not simply achieving results but a strategic defeat of our country on the battlefield."
Putin says Russia not seeking to seize property, friendly to partners who stay
02:00 , Matt Drake
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia did not seek to seize property and that the country was friendly to partners who did not want to leave.
He was speaking at a press conference after meeting African leaders in St Petersburg on Friday.
Ukraine moves official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25, denouncing Russian-imposed traditions
01:00 , Matt Drake
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it.
The explanatory note attached to the law said its goal is to “abandon the Russian heritage,” including that of “imposing the celebration of Christmas” on Jan. 7, and cited Ukrainians’ “relentless, successful struggle for their identity” and “the desire of all Ukrainians to live their lives with their own traditions, holidays,” fueled by Russia’s 17-month-old aggression against the country.
Last year, some Ukrainians already observed Christmas on Dec. 25, in a gesture that represented separation from Russia, its culture and religious traditions.
The law also moves the Day of Ukrainian Statehood to July 15 from July 28, and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine to Oct. 1 from Oct. 14.
Ukraine moves official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25, denouncing Russian-imposed traditions
Ukrainian soldiers fired UK-donated AS90 self-propelled artillery guns to mark the end of their training in south-west England
Sunday 30 July 2023 00:00 , Matt Drake
Uniformed troops wearing ear defenders blasted rounds into the air as Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag was pictured flying above one of the artillery units on Thursday.
British Army instructors taught the 72 Ukrainian army personnel how to operate and maintain the guns when in combat, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
The photos were taken at the end of their seven-week training course and the troops will soon return home.
More than 1,000 UK service personnel have been involved in running the programme, taking place at MoD sites across the North West, South West and South East, as part of the UK Government’s support for Ukraine following its invasion by Russia in February 2022.
Russian rocket hits Sumy in north Ukraine, one killed, Kyiv says
Saturday 29 July 2023 23:50 , Matt Drake
A Russian rocket attack killed one civilian and injured five more in the northeastern city of Sumy late on Saturday, Ukraine‘s interior ministry said.
“During the evening of July 29, an enemy missile hit an educational institution,” the ministry said on Telegram. “At least one civilian was killed and 5 civilians were wounded.”
Russian forces crossed into the Sumy region shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year, but Ukrainian forces took back control of the region a few weeks later.
Ukraine‘s national police posted video on Telegram showing one person being carried away in a stretcher, a building in rubble and trees splintered.
Russia carried out preventive strikes after attack on Crimean bridge - Putin claims
Saturday 29 July 2023 23:08 , Matt Drake
Russia has carried out some preventive strikes after what Moscow called a Ukrainian “terrorist attack” that damaged the Crimean Bridge, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.
A Russian couple was killed and their 14-year-old daughter wounded last week in what Moscow said was a Ukrainian attack that knocked out the road part of the bridge linking Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Russian companies will get more profit thanks to withdrawal from Black Sea grain deal, Putin claims
Saturday 29 July 2023 23:00 , Matt Drake
Russian companies will get more profit thanks to Moscow's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal as grain prices have risen, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.
The president added that Russia will share the profit with the poorest countries thanks to free delivery of its grain.
Ukraine moves official Christmas Day holiday to December 25, denouncing Russian-imposed traditions
Saturday 29 July 2023 22:00 , Matt Drake
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to December 25 from January 7, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it.
The explanatory note attached to the law said its goal is to “abandon the Russian heritage,” including that of “imposing the celebration of Christmas” on January 7, and cited Ukrainians’ “relentless, successful struggle for their identity” and “the desire of all Ukrainians to live their lives with their own traditions, holidays,” fueled by Russia’s 17-month-old aggression against the country.
Last year, some Ukrainians already observed Christmas on December 25, in a gesture that represented separation from Russia, its culture and religious traditions.
The law also moves the Day of Ukrainian Statehood to July 15 from July 28, and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine to October 1 from October 14.
Putin said Russia did not reject talks on Ukraine
Saturday 29 July 2023 21:33 , Matt Drake
Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia did not reject talks on Ukraine and that an African peace initiative as well as a Chinese one could be a basis for peace.
He added that there were no serious changes and no intensification of actions on the Ukrainian front for now. He was speaking at a press conference after meeting African leaders in Moscow on Friday.
Putin claimed Ukraine had lost 415 tanks and 1,300 armoured vehicles since June 4. Reuters could not verify the numbers cited by Putin.
He also said that it was hard to implement a ceasefire when the Ukrainian army was on the offensive.
Guinea embassy staff member wears Vladimir Putin shirt
Saturday 29 July 2023 21:00 , Matt Drake
A staff member was pictured wearing a shirt with the Russian president's face on it at a summit in St Petersburg yesterday.
Lama Jacques Sevoba was seen taking selfies with people while wearing the controversial item of clothing.
Wagner mercenaries in Belarus move closer to the Polish border, Poland's prime minister says
Saturday 29 July 2023 20:00 , Matt Drake
Over 100 mercenaries belonging to the Russian-linked Wagner group in Belarus have moved close to the border with Poland, the Polish prime minister said Saturday.
Mateusz Morawiecki said at a news conference that the mercenaries had moved close to the Suwalki Gap, a strategic stretch of Polish territory situated between Belarus and Kaliningrad, a Russian territory separated from the mainland.
Poland is a member of both the European Union and NATO, and it has worried about its security with Russian ally Belarus and Ukraine on its eastern border.
Wagner mercenaries in Belarus move closer to the Polish border, Poland's prime minister says
Ukrainian president Zelenskyy shares message on anniversary of Russia crime
Saturday 29 July 2023 19:30 , Matt Drake
Mr Zelenskyy tweeted on the year anniversary of the Olenivka prison attack.
Around 50 people were killed after Ukrainian prisoners of war being held in the facility were hit by a blast.
Kyiv accused Russia of intentionally destroying it to cover up its ill-treatment of them.
Speaking on Twitter, he said: "Let every loss of Russia be retribution for its evil and let every occupier, every Russian murderer, all those responsible for this terror against Ukraine and Ukrainians know – while they are still alive – that justice wins. Ukraine will win."
Today is the anniversary of Olenivka, one of the most vile and cruel crimes of 🇷🇺. The deliberate, pre-planned killing of captured Azov warriors.
Let every loss of 🇷🇺 be retribution for its evil, and let every occupier, every Russian murderer, all those responsible for this… pic.twitter.com/k8yS3MP0KB— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 29, 2023
Saudi Arabia to host Ukraine peace talks
Saturday 29 July 2023 19:00 , Matt Drake
Saudi Arabia announced that it will host peace talks among Western countries, Ukraine and key developing countries including India and Brazil next month.
It comes as Europe and Washington Intensify efforts to consolidate international support for Ukraine's peace demands, the Wallstreet Journal reported.
The meeting would bring senior officials from up to 30 countries to Jeddah on Aug 5 and 6.
Wagner mercenaries in Belarus move closer to the Polish border, Poland's prime minister says
Saturday 29 July 2023 18:28 , Matt Drake
Over 100 mercenaries belonging to the Russian-linked Wagner group in Belarus have moved close to the border with Poland, the Polish prime minister said Saturday.
Mateusz Morawiecki said at a news conference that the mercenaries had moved close to the Suwalki Gap, a strategic stretch of Polish territory situated between Belarus and Kaliningrad, a Russian territory separated from the mainland.
Poland is a member of both the European Union and NATO, and it has worried about its security with Russian ally Belarus and Ukraine on its eastern border.
Those fears have grown since Wagner group mercenaries arrived in Belarus since the group's short-lived rebellion earlier this summer.
Face to face with a mercenary: Inside Wagner and its blood-soaked role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Saturday 29 July 2023 17:32 , Matt Drake
Amid the ravages of war, Sergey, a seasoned Wagner mercenary, found himself grappling with the relentless violence that has become a way of life and death on the front line. The savage conflict, the sense of betrayal from the Kremlin, and rumours of plots, all combined to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and dread.
At the end he decided to abandon the Wagner group and the savage, meat-grinding combat of Donbas where corpses piled up, and towns and cities were razed.
With the future of the mercenary group in the balance after Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed march on Moscow and fear of future retribution, Sergey cannot forget the terrible things he witnessed in the months of bloody conflict.
Face to face with a mercenary: Inside Wagner and its bloody role in the Ukraine war
Russia-appointed official accuses Ukraine of firing Storm Shadow Missiles at railroad
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:55 , Matt Drake
The railroad was between occupied Crimea and the Kherson region.
Around 12 Storm Shadow long-range missiles were intercepted by air defences, according to Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed acting head of the Kherson region administration.
He said on Telegram: "All the missiles were shot down by our air defence.
"Once again, it is the civilian infrastructure that is being struck by the enemies.”
Why is Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin back in Russia?
Saturday 29 July 2023 16:26 , Tara Cobham
A month on from the Wagner Group’s extraordinary attempted mutiny against Russia’s military establishment – which saw its fighters leave their posts in eastern Ukraine, occupy the city of Rostov-on-Don and march on Moscow before a last minute peace deal was agreed – the mercenary group’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, appears to be back in his homeland.
Under the terms of the truce brokered between Mr Prigozhin and Vladimir Putin by Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko on 24 June, the former was said to have agreed to resettle in Belarus while his troops were ordered to report to camps in that country before either rejoining the Russian military or stepping away altogether without fear of prosecution.
It subsequently emerged that Mr Prigozhin – a former felon who emerged from prison to build up a lucrative catering business and was nicknamed “Putin’s chef” before he formed Wagner – had attended a face-to-face meeting with Mr Putin at the Kremlin five days after the aborted coup, rather than making his way to Minsk as agreed, deepening the mystery surrounding the affair.
Joe Sommerlad reports:
Why is Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin back in Russia?
Ukraine’s newest attack on Russia? Moving Christmas
Saturday 29 July 2023 15:32 , Tara Cobham
The official state holiday for Christmas Day in Ukraine has been changed from 7 January to 25 December, in an effort to move away from Russian tradition.
As more Ukrainians began to celebrate Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar on 25 December, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law a parliamentary bill that made the cultural shift official.
The bill, signed by Zelensky on Friday (28 July), is said to “abandon the Russian heritage of imposing Christmas celebrations.”
Rachel Flynn reports:
Ukraine’s newest attack on Russia? Moving Christmas
Russia calls children as witnesses against own mother accused of discrediting army
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:59 , Tara Cobham
A 9-year-old girl and her 10-year-old brother have been called as witnesses in a criminal case against their mother after she was accused of repeatedly "discrediting" the Russian army.
Lidia Prudovskaya and her two children were summoned by investigators in the northern Russian region of Arkhangelsk on Friday to give testimony in the case, Russian news outlet Sota reported.
Prudovskaya previously faced administrative charges on similar allegations after sharing anti-war posts on Russian social media platform VKontakte in September 2022.
Discrediting the Russian military is a criminal offense under a law adopted after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. The law is regularly used against Kremlin critics.
In April, Russian authorities petitioned to restrict the parental rights of a single father convicted of discrediting the army following an anti-war sketch drawn by his daughter at school.
Alexei Moskalyov, 54, was sentenced to two years in prison for social media comments he had made criticizing Moscow's war in Ukraine, while his daughter Maria was placed in an orphanage.
The 13-year-old was later moved to live with her mother.
Putin thanks North Korea for ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine war
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:30 , Tara Cobham
Vladimir Putin lauded North Korea’s “unwavering support” for the “special military operation” in Ukraine as Russia joined China in Pyongyang to celebrate the hermit kingdom’s 70th anniversary of the Korean War truce.
Mr Putin sent defence minister Sergei Shoigu who was seen alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and held one-on-one talks with him, reported the Korean nation’s state media.
Mr Putin sent his congratulatory message wherein he lauded “the DPRK’s unwavering support for [Russia’s] special military operation” in Ukraine.
Arpan Rai reports:
Putin thanks North Korea for ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine war
Ukrainian forces set to enter Russian-occupied Crimea ‘soon’, says top defence official
Saturday 29 July 2023 14:21 , Tara Cobham
Kyiv’s forces are set to enter Russian-occupied Crimea “soon”, the head of Ukraine’s intelligence directorate has said.
Speaking to Ukrainian news site TSN, Kyrylo Budanov said that troops could begin their military operation to liberate Crimea shortly, although he did not give a specific timeframe.
Crimea has been under occupation by Moscow since 2014 and is a key target of Ukraine’s counteroffensive, which appears to be ramping up after months of slow progress.
Moscow has received 30 peace proposals on Ukraine, says Russia’s state news agency
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:30 , Tara Cobham
Russia has received around 30 peace initiatives on Ukraine through official and unofficial channels, the TASS news agency reported on Saturday, citing Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Ukraine's Zelenskiy visits positions near Bakhmut
Saturday 29 July 2023 13:00 , Tara Cobham
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Ukrainian troops near the eastern Bakhmut front line on Saturday.
Photos published by Zelenskiy on Twitter showed him meeting troops and looking at maps in a dimly lit, windowless concrete-walled room. He praised Ukraine's Special Operations Forces.
"The performance of tasks for the sake of Ukraine by you, guys, is truly heroic," Zelenskiy wrote.
Watch: Russian missiles hit apartment block and Ukrainian security service building in Dnipro
Saturday 29 July 2023 12:32 , Tara Cobham
In pictures: Russia’s missile strikes on Dnipro that left nine injured
Saturday 29 July 2023 11:04 , Tara Cobham
Four African heads of state to join Putin at Russia’s Navy Day Parade, says Kremlin
Saturday 29 July 2023 10:07 , Tara Cobham
Four African heads of state will attend Russia's annual Navy Day Parade in St Petersburg on Sunday, the Kremlin said on Saturday, with five more African countries also sending other representation.
African leaders pressed Putin on Friday to move ahead with their plan to end the Ukraine conflict and to renew a deal crucial to Africa on the safe export of Ukrainian grain, which Moscow tore up last week.
Zelenskiy holds emergency meetings after Russian missile strikes on Dnipro
Saturday 29 July 2023 09:14 , Tara Cobham
President Volodymr Zelenskiy said he had he had convened emergency meetings with the SBU, the interior ministry, emergency services and local officials following the missile strikes on Dnipro on Friday evening.
Posting on social media, he described the hits on an apartment block and a Ukrainian security services building as “Russian missile terror again”.
He said: “We will do everything to bring Russia to full punishment for aggression and terror against our people. These b*****ds will answer. We will do everything for justice.”
Dnipro. Friday evening. A high-rise building and the Security Service of Ukraine's building were hit. Russian missile terror again.
Promptly held conversations with the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Emergency Service, and the military… pic.twitter.com/UulEGKjQUj— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 28, 2023
Ukraine advances around Bakhmut despite fire from Russia, military say
Saturday 29 July 2023 08:35 , Tara Cobham
Kyiv’s troops are pushing through heavy intense artillery fire from Russian forces to advance in the east of Ukraine, the commander of the country’s armed forces has said.
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said that despite meeting stiff resistance, Ukraine’s ground forces are making “gradual advances in the direction of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region. The city, which is now occupied by Russian forces, has gained symbolic significance for both Kyiv and Moscow having been the scene for some of the most intense fighting of the war.
“The enemy fiercely clings to every centimetre, conducting intense artillery and mortar fire,” Col Gen Syrskyi said in a statement.
Chris Stevenson reports:
Ukraine’s troops advance around Bakhmut despite intense artillery fire, military say
Putin will be out of power within a year, predicts ex-spy
Saturday 29 July 2023 07:30 , Stuti Mishra
A British former spy who wrote a dossier on Russian interference in the US election says he believes Vladimir Putin will be out of power within a year.
Christopher Steele, who ran the Russia desk at MI6 in London between 2006 and 2009, told Sky News the West needed to prepare for the end of the Putin era.
He said scenarios include: Mr Putin dies from illness or is assassinated; he is toppled due to the failure of the Ukraine war; he stands down and endorses a successor; there is a military coup or there is a popular uprising.
"This war must end": African leaders call for peace in meeting with Putin
Saturday 29 July 2023 07:00 , Stuti Mishra
African leaders pressed Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday to move ahead with their plan to end the Ukraine conflict and to renew a deal crucial to Africa on the safe wartime export of Ukrainian grain, which Moscow tore up last week.
While not directly critical of Russia, their interventions on the second day of a summit were more concerted and forceful than those that African countries have voiced until now.
They served as reminders of the depth of African concern at the consequences of the war, especially rising food prices.
"This war must end. And it can only end on the basis of justice and reason," African Union commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat told Mr Putin and African leaders in St Petersburg.
"The disruptions of energy and grain supplies must end immediately. The grain deal must be extended for the benefit of all the peoples of the world, Africans in particular."
At least 9 injured in missile attack in Dnipro, Ukrainian military official says
Saturday 29 July 2023 06:30 , Stuti Mishra
A missile strike on Dnipro left at least nine people injured, according to Serhii Lysak, the head of the region's military administration.
Those injured include two teenagers between ages 14 and 17, two women who are around 20 years of age, a 77-year-old woman and four men between 18 and 53 years old.
Doctors said the injured victims are in "satisfactory condition" and will be treated at home, according to Mr Lysak.
Ukraine uses North Korean rockets to blast Russian forces, report says
Saturday 29 July 2023 06:06 , Stuti Mishra
Ukrainian soldiers have been observed using North Korean rockets which they claim were seized by a “friendly” country before reaching Ukraine, according to a new report.
Ukraine’s defence ministry suggested the arms were captured from the Russians, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.
The US has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia, including alleged shipments by sea, but North Korea and Russia deny conducting arms transactions.
The North Korean weapons were shown by Ukrainian troops operating Soviet-era Grad multiple-launch rocket systems near the destroyed eastern city of Bakhmut, the site of lengthy, brutal fighting, the report said.
Earlier this week, Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu had made a rare visit to Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, the first visit by Moscow's top defence official since the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union.
ICMYI: How significant are territorial advances made by Ukraine so far?
Saturday 29 July 2023 05:45 , Anuj Pant
Ukraine has reported regaining further ground from invading Russian forces along the eastern and southern fronts in July as its counteroffensive continues, following on from the liberation of a number of frontline villages in June.
Speaking during his latest nightly address on Thursday 27 July, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the recapture of another village.
That came after even his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was forced to admit the Ukrainians were making advances and that the fighting had escalated in recent days.
Joe Sommerlad reports.
Poland’s lawmakers approve divisive law on Russian influence
Saturday 29 July 2023 05:30 , Anuj Pant
Poland’s lawmakers voted Friday to approve an amended but divisive law on Russian influences believed to be targeting the opposition and criticised by the US and the European Union.
The law was proposed in May by Poland’s ruling right-wing Law and Justice party and critics see it as primarily targeting opposition leader and former prime minister Donald Tusk, before a parliamentary election scheduled for this fall. Following criticism, president Andrzej Duda proposed urgent amendments to tone it down.
Read more here.
Ukraine’s troops advance around Bakhmut despite intense artillery fire from Russia’s forces, military say
Saturday 29 July 2023 05:15 , Anuj Pant
Kyiv’s troops are pushing through heavy intense artillery fire from Russian forces to advance in the east of Ukraine, the commander of the country’s armed forces has said.
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said that despite meeting stiff resistance, Ukraine’s ground forces are making “gradual advances in the direction of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region. The city, which is now occupied by Russian forces, has gained symbolic significance for both Kyiv and Moscow having been the scene for some of the most intense fighting of the war.
“The enemy fiercely clings to every centimetre, conducting intense artillery and mortar fire,” Col Gen Syrskyi said in a statement.
Chris Stevenson has more.
ICYMI: Russian and Belarusian players banned from a women's tennis tournament in Prague
Saturday 29 July 2023 05:00 , Anuj Pant
Russian and Belarusian players will not be allowed to participate in next week’s Prague Open, the organizers of the women’s tennis event said Friday.
The announcement came a day after police prevented a Russian player from entering the country, organizers said.
Miroslav Malý, the director of the hard-court tournament, didn’t identify the player. Malý said she was the first participant with a Russian passport to arrive in the country.
He said organizers approached other Russian and Belarusian players through the Women’s Tennis Association to tell them not to travel to Prague.
Why is Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin back in Russia after leading a 24-hour mutiny against Vladimir Putin?
Saturday 29 July 2023 04:45 , Anuj Pant
A month on from the Wagner Group’s extraordinary attempted mutiny against Russia’s military establishment – which saw its fighters leave their posts in eastern Ukraine, occupy the city of Rostov-on-Don and march on Moscow before a last minute peace deal was agreed – the mercenary group’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, appears to be back in his homeland.
Under the terms of the truce brokered between Mr Prigozhin and Vladimir Putin by Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko on 24 June, the former was said to have agreed to resettle in Belarus while his troops were ordered to report to camps in that country before either rejoining the Russian military or stepping away altogether without fear of prosecution.
Joe Sommerlad has more.
Ukrainian fencer disqualified for refusing handshake with Russian opponent
Saturday 29 July 2023 04:00 , Jane Dalton
In case you missed it:
Ukrainian fencer disqualified for refusing handshake with Russian opponent
Russia tortures nuclear engineer, Ukraine energy firm says
Saturday 29 July 2023 02:55 , Jane Dalton
Russia has been illegally holding Zaporizhia nuclear power plant engineer Serhii Potynh since June and subjects him to torture, Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company Energoatom has reported.
According to the company’s statement on Telegram, Mr Potynh was seen at a police station where the occupation authorities held other employees of the plant and local residents.
“Serhii, held in actual captivity by the Russians, is regularly subjected to torture and physical violence,” it said.
The Russians reportedly take him for hospital treatment after every round of torture so that he does not die, the statement said.
Significance of Ukraine’s territorial advances so far
Saturday 29 July 2023 01:50 , Jane Dalton
Ukraine has reported regaining further ground from invading Russian forces along the eastern and southern fronts in July as its counteroffensive continues. Joe Sommerlad reports:
How significant are the reported territorial advances made by Ukraine so far?
Moscow blames Ukraine for missiles that hurt 20 people
Saturday 29 July 2023 00:45 , Jane Dalton
Moscow has accused Kyiv of firing two missiles at southern Russia and wounding 20 people.
The Russian Defence Ministry said it shot down a Ukrainian missile in the city of Taganrog, about 24 miles east of the border with Ukraine, and local officials reported 20 people were injured, identifying the epicentre as an art museum.
Debris fell on the city, the ministry added, alleging the missile was part of a “terror attack” by Ukraine.
Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine’s secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, blamed Russian air defense systems for the explosion.
Russian defence chiefs said they also downed a second Ukrainian missile near the city of Azov, which like Taganrog is in the Rostov region, and debris fell in an unpopulated location.
Ukraine troops ‘advance around Bakhmut despite intense artillery fire'
Friday 28 July 2023 23:40 , Jane Dalton
Kyiv’s troops are pushing through heavy intense artillery fire from Russian forces to advance in the east of Ukraine, the commander of the country’s armed forces says.
The city, which is occupied by Russian forces, has gained symbolic significance for both Kyiv and Moscow:
Ukraine’s troops advance around Bakhmut despite intense artillery fire, military say
Russian missile 'hits Ukrainian security building and block of flats’
Friday 28 July 2023 22:36 , Jane Dalton
A Russian missile strike hit a residential complex and a building of Ukraine’s security service in the central city of Dnipro, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Interior minister Ihor Klymenko said five people were injured and emergency services had completed an apartment-by-apartment search of the area.
“Dnipro. Friday evening. Multi-storey apartment building and a building of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) hit,” Mr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “Again, Russian missile terror.”
Mr Zelensky offered no further details in his post. It was not clear how many missiles were involved or whether the security building was close to the apartments.
People on social media said the buildings were not far apart.
Unverified video on social media showed rubble strewn throughout a courtyard in a large complex of apartment buildings.
Mr Zelensky said he had held emergency meetings with the SBU, the interior ministry, emergency services and local officials.
Putin will be out of power within a year, predicts ex-spy
Friday 28 July 2023 21:30 , Jane Dalton
A British former spy who wrote a dossier on Russian interference in the US election says he believes Vladimir Putin will be out of power within a year.
Christopher Steele, who ran the Russia desk at MI6 in London between 2006 and 2009, told Sky News the West needed to prepare for the end of the Putin era.
He said scenarios include: Putin dies from illness or is assassinated; he is toppled due to the failure of the Ukraine war; he stands down and endorses a successor; there is a military coup or there is a popular uprising.
Why is Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin back in Russia after leading a 24-hour mutiny against Vladimir Putin?
Friday 28 July 2023 19:00 , Joe Sommerlad
A month on from the Wagner Group’s extraordinary attempted mutiny against Russia’s military establishment – which saw its fighters leave their posts in eastern Ukraine, occupy the city of Rostov-on-Don and march on Moscow before a last minute peace deal was agreed – the mercenary group’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, appears to be back in his homeland.
Find out why, in our full article here.
