Russia ukraine invasion

1. Russian forces claim control of Lysychansk Russia claimed control Sunday over the last Ukrainian stronghold in an eastern province that is key to achieving a major goal of its grinding war. Ukraine's General Staff of the military reported that its forces had withdrawn from Lysychansk in Luhansk province, but the president said the fight for the city was ongoing. If confirmed, Russia's complete seizure of Luhansk would provide its forces a stronger base from which to press their advance in neighboring Donetsk province and bring them one step closer to achieving one of President Vladimir Putin’s major goals: capturing the entire Donbas. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin that Russia’s troops, with members of a local separatist militia, “have established full control over the city of Lysychansk” and now hold all of Luhansk, according to a ministry statement published Sunday. As is typical with such descriptions, the Russian statement characterized … [Read more...] about Ukraine war: Five important developments to know for Sunday

Ukrainian fighters extracted from the last bastion of resistance in Mariupol have been taken to a former penal colony in Kremlin-controlled territory, with Kyiv officials saying they hope to exchange them for Russian prisoners of war. However, their fate appears up in the air. One Moscow lawmaker has said they should be brought to “justice,” as Russia threatened to put some of them on trial for war crimes. Russian news agencies are reporting that the Duma plans to take up a resolution on Wednesday to prevent the exchange of Azov Regiment fighters. Ending the siege Russia's Defence Ministry announced on Wednesday that 959 Ukrainian soldiers entrenched at the Azovstal steel site had surrendered since Monday. "In the last 24 hours 694 fighters, including 29 wounded, have been taken as prisoners. Since 16 May, fighters, including 80 wounded, have been taken prisoner," the ministry said in a statement, reiterated by Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor … [Read more...] about Ukraine war: Uncertainty over the fate of surrendered Mariupol defenders

Some 700,000 Ukrainian soldiers are now actively participating in defending the country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a televised interview on Saturday. In comparison, Russia deployed anywhere between 100,000 to 190,000 troops when it launched its invasion on 24 February, with the exact numbers of currently active units unclear. Meanwhile, the Moscow forces continued their assault in the east after claiming victory in Mariupol on Friday as the last Ukrainian defenders holed up in Azovstal laid down their arms. Read more about the day's developments in our live blog below. 05.21.2022 10:03 Saturday's key points: Russia suspended its gas delivery to Finland on Saturday morning in response to the country's NATO membership bid. The Russian military says it has fully taken over the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol after the last Ukrainian fighters gave themselves up. Earlier, Moscow said more than 1,900 Ukrainian fighters … [Read more...] about 700,000 soldiers defending Ukraine now, Zelenskyy says, as battles rage in the Donbas

THE RUSSIAN Grand Prix is in serious doubt after Russian forces invaded Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine after a surprise statement on TV. Formula One are now monitoring the situation after Ukraine that "Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine". An F1 spokesperson said: "Formula 1 is closely watching the very fluid developments like many others and at this time has no further comment on the race scheduled for September. "We will continue to monitor the situation very closely." Speaking the day before the invasion, Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin said he expected the race in Sochi to go ahead. Speaking on Wednesday, he said: "From the understanding that we’ve had with Formula 1 the race is going ahead. And you will surely see me there. “I have always been a big supporter of sport without politics." Most read in Sport CHICK THIS OUT Wimbledon fans' shock at eye-watering cost of a pint and … [Read more...] about Russian Grand Prix in serious doubt after Ukraine invasion with F1 ‘closely watching’ conflict

Russia’s brutal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine is causing enormous human suffering and destruction and is the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades. When Nato meets this week, its approach to Russia should be focused on strengthening our deterrence and defence posture in the eastern flank towards a modern forward defence, taking into account geographical and national specificities . We need to scale up the multi-domain Allied presence, in particular land troops, which should be boosted to the size of a brigade. We must also ensure we have interoperable combat-ready forces in place, with timely reinforcements by Allied forces, plus enhanced command-and-control arrangements, strengthened air and missile defence, prepositioning of ammunition, equipment and fuel, and  improved infrastructure and military mobility. Transatlantic links and the US presence is crucial to strengthen our security. Russia’s criminal war in Ukraine, started on February 24, is just … [Read more...] about Nato must strengthen its presence in Eastern Europe in response to Russia’s criminal aggression

The Kametstal steel plant - a site which now boasts 9000 employees - produces several tonnes of steel every day More than 500 workers transferred here when the Azovstal complex became the target of Russian troops, the last Ukrainian strong-hold in the strategic port city of Mariupol. Kametstal plant was the busiest enterprise of the Metinvest Group. As of the end of March, the plant was operating at 80% capacity approximately. Despite the tense situation, the Kametstal plant continues to upgrade equipment and improve production. The Director of the Kametstal plant Dmytro Lyppa says "Azovstal became a symbol of our country, of our fight against the enemy. I am proud to work for Metinvest Holding which includes the Azovstal plant. Seeing that example, we do our job and that helps us to believe in the future. We believe in our victory." However, the plant has been forced to reduce its yields due to logistical issues and high transportation costs. "We are reducing … [Read more...] about Ukraine’s Kametstal steel plant faces challenges as Black Sea blockade continues

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron had an 80-minute telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Saturday. The two asked for the release of some 2,500 Ukrainian fighters who surrendered at the Azovstal steel mill, ending the siege of the southern port city of Mariupol. While Moscow claims to have taken the strategic town of Lyman and the fighting for Sievierodonetsk continues to rage, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia should not think that it will be holding the cities as they will eventually return to Ukraine. Follow Saturday's developments as they unfolded in our blog below: 05.28.2022 09:20 Saturday's key events: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Saturday, calling for "serious direct negotiations" with Kyiv and the release of Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered at Azovstal. "The Donbas will be Ukrainian", President … [Read more...] about Ukraine war: Macron, Scholz ask Putin to free captured Azovstal fighters

A US expert claims Russia is "withering" before our eyes, slamming the country's invasion of Ukraine as "pathetic" amid the assassination attempts against three pro-Russian officials in the last fortnight alone. The former US Defence Secretary, James Mattis, hit out at the "immoral" and "operationally stupid" war started by Vladimir Putin against Ukraine at the Seoul Forum 2022 on Friday (July 1). He said: “We have a saying in America, we say that nations with allies thrive, nations without allies wither and we’re watching Russia wither before our eyes right now. READ MORE: Anti-Putin campaigners 'using porn sites to show Russians the truth about Ukraine war' “The tragedy of our time is that Putin is a creature straight out of Dostoevsky. He goes to bed every night angry, he goes to bed every night fearful, he goes to bed every night thinking that Russia is surrounded by nightmares and this has guided him." Mr Mattis' comments were made after Russia made the … [Read more...] about Russia and Putin ‘withering’ amid three assassination plots, US expert claims

Russia claims to have taken Lysychansk and thus entire Lugansk region Zelenskyy said his country needed "colossal investments" so people can rebuild their lives German interior minister says Ukrainian refugees face better conditions in EU than Syrians did in 2015 The article was last updated 14:55 UTC/GMT Kremlin accuses Western countries of blocking peace talks with Ukraine Moscow has accused the Western nations of preventing peace negotiations with Ukraine and thus dragging out the war. "Now is the moment when Western countries are betting everything on a continuation of the war," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told state television. Under the leadership of the United States, the West was not allowing Ukrainians "to think about peace, nor to talk about it, nor to discuss it," Peskov said, referring to statements by Western politicians who had said they did not want to pressure Ukraine into negotiations. Nevertheless, the moment for negotiations will come, he … [Read more...] about Ukraine: Russia claims to have full control of Luhansk region — live updates

The head of the British Army has likened the country's current defence situation in the wake of Russia's "brutal aggression" to the lead up to the Second World War, warning Britain is facing its "1937 moment". In an address on Tuesday, Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders, is set to say that Britain's armed forces must be prepared to "fight and win" to prevent the war from expanding across Europe. It comes as Russia's relentless invasion of Ukraine becomes deadlier by the day, with Vladimir Putin posing one of the largest threats to peace and democracy ever known. Here is what the Army chief's comments mean. What happened in 1937? Neville Chamberlain became Britain's prime minister on May 28, 1937 and on the brink of the Second World War, pursued a policy of appeasement in a bid to prevent Adolf Hitler from dragging Europe into another world war. Mr Chamberlain hoped to prevent war at all costs. "I am myself a man of peace to the depths of my … [Read more...] about Why Britain faces a ‘1937 moment’ in Ukraine