PUTIN”s forces continue to attack the Ukraine frontline as the tyrant’s secret police detain eight over the Crimea bridge bomb.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement how Russian offensives in the Ukraine war had been halted in Mykolaivka, Soledar, Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, Mayorsk, Pervomaiske and Krasnohorivka.
Meanwhile, state news agency Tass reports Putin’s secret police force detained eight people in connection with the Crimea bridge bomb on the weekend.
A statement from the FSS reads: “The Federal Security Service, together with the Investigative Committee, established that the organiser of the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge was the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, its head Kyrylo Budanov, employees and agents.
“Currently, five citizens of Russia, three citizens of Ukraine and Armenia, who participated in the preparation of the crime, have been detained within the framework of the criminal case.”
Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest updates…
-
Russian judge among the dead in Crimea bridge blast
The top judge, Sergey Maslov, was driving a black Cadillac next to the truck believed to have been at the epicentre of the explosion.
According to major Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets the well-respected and “independent” judge had been overseeing cases involving state-run energy giant Gazprom and the Moscow city council when his luxury car was taken out in the blast.
-
Soldiers freed in prisoner swap
Ukraine have confirmed that 32 soldiers have been released following a prisoner swap deal with Russia.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office Tweeted: “All of them had been in places where fierce fighting was raging on. Many of these people had been considered missing.”
Russia have made no public comments on the reported swap.
-
Russia face heavy losses
According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, Russia have lost a further 240 soldiers taking the total number of losses to 63,110.
46 missiles were also eliminated following Russia’s recent attacks in Ukraine.
-
‘There can be no dialogue with this leader of Russia’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed Ukraine will not negotiate with Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky said today: “We must also recognise the obvious fact: there can be no dialogue with this leader of Russia, who has no future.
“Talks can be either with another head of Russia – who will comply with the UN Charter, the basic principles of humanity and territorial integrity of Ukraine – or in a different configuration, so that the key terrorist does not have the opportunity to influence key decisions through terror.
“Now one person is blocking peace – and this person is in Moscow.”
-
‘Millions will be grateful’
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, urged member countries from the Group of Seven to help Kyiv buy and deploy air defence systems.
Zelensky said in a video address to G7 leaders: “I am asking you to strengthen the overall effort to help financially with the creation of an air shield for Ukraine.
“Millions of people will be grateful to the Group of Seven for such assistance.”
-
Crimea bridge explosion death toll rises
Four people have now died following Saturday’s explosion on the Crimea bridge, reports the Russian state agency Tass as the death toll rises.
The bridge is the longest in Europe but was destroyed following huge explosions at the weekend.
-
NATO ‘closely monitoring’ Russia’s nuclear forces
NATO is “closely monitoring” Russia’s nuclear forces, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has confirmed.
Mr Stoltenberg said that Vladimir Putin’s actions surrounding nuclear threats are “dangerous and irresponsible”.
He said: “Allies are also increasing security around key installations and stepping up intelligence and intelligence sharing.
“We will take further steps to strengthen our resilience and protect our critical infrastructure and the deliberate attack against allies’ critical infrastructure will be met with united and determined response.”
-
A visual look at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The Ministry of Defence has given Brits a look at the current situation in Ukraine.
As things stand, Ukraine has continued its counter-offensive in Kherson Oblast, taking back thousands of square kilometres.
Yesterday, Russia began a brutal bombing campaign targeting civilian areas, at least 19 are dead.
-
Ukraine claims deputy head of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been kidnapped
Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company Energoatom has said that the deputy head of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been kidnapped by Russian forces.
Energoatom said that Valeriy Martynyuk had been seized on Monday in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
-
Ukraine’s foreign minister accuses Russia of ‘war crimes’
Following the devastating attacks that have rocked Ukraine in the last 48 hours, the country’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has accused Putin’s regime of war crimes.
At least 19 are dead from yesterday’s attacks, with more sure to be announced in the coming hours.
“These are war crimes planned well in advance and aimed at creating unbearable conditions for civilians — Russia’s deliberate strategy since months,” Mr Kuleba said.
-
Zelensky speaks with Joe Biden, following Russia’s brutal bombing campaign
President Zelensky of Ukraine discussed the west’s response to Putin’s attacks on civilian areas with Joe Biden yesterday.
Mr Biden was quick to condemn the attacks, which have left at least 11 people dead across Ukraine.
The US President said: “These attacks killed and injured civilians and destroyed targets with no military purpose. They once again demonstrate the utter brutality of Mr Putin’s illegal war on the Ukrainian people.”
-
In pictures: The devastating impact of Russia’s strikes on Zaporizhzhia
Russia sent a series of missiles to the occupied region of Zaporizhzhia this morning, causing devastation.
Content warning for the images below.
-
Defiant Ukraine warns Russia: ‘We are coming for you’
The Ukrainian ministry of defence wrote on Twitter: “So, russkies, you really think you can compensate for your impotence on the battlefield with missile strikes on peaceful cities?
“You just don’t get it do you – your terrorist strikes only make us stronger.
“We are coming after you.”
-
Red Cross temporarily halts work in Ukraine
The International Committee of the Red Cross has temporarily halted its work in Ukraine for security reasons.
It comes after Russia fired missiles at multiple cities across Ukraine.
“For security reasons, our teams have paused operations today,” a spokesperson said in an emailed response to a Reuters question.
-
Lviv temporarily without water and power following strikes
Today’s Lviv strikes – which fell within miles of NATO ally Poland’s border – left the city temporarily without water and power, according to the city’s mayor.
The head of Lviv’s military outpost, Maksym Kozytsky, said the rockets landed on a power plant.
“Lviv and the Lviv region: possible power outages. Once the alarm is over, we will engage all services to quickly resume network operation. Stay in shelters, the threat is still ongoing,” Kozytsky said.
-
Shameful warning
Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian President, warned “there will be others” following today’s missile attacks in Ukraine.
Taking to social media Putin’s all said: “Ukraine would be a constant, direct and clear threat to Russia.”
He added: “The aim of our future actions must be the full dismantling of the political regime in Ukraine.”
-
Missile strikes just 40 miles from Poland’s border
Putin’s brutal bombing campaign entered its second day today, as Russian missiles strike just 40 miles from Poland’s border.
Three explosions were recorded in the city, leaving 30% of its residents without electricity, according to a Telegram post by the city’s mayor Andriy Sadovyi.
These Russian strikes were directed at a local power facility mere miles from the NATO border, as reported by the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytsky.
“Lviv and the Lviv region: possible power outages. Once the alarm is over, we will engage all services to quickly resume network operation. Stay in shelters, the threat is still ongoing,” Kozytsky said.
This comes less than 24 hours after Putin’s regime sent deadly missiles to attack Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, killing at least 19 people. President Zelensky has condemned these strikes, calling on Western leaders to increase their support for the under-siege nation.
-
Pictured: Forensic teams remove bodies from mass grave
In the newly liberated town of Lyman in eastern Ukraine, forensics have been pictured digging out 55 bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers buried in one mass grave at a cemetery.
These pictures from Reuters show forensic teams uncovering more atrocities carried out by the Russian invaders.
Credit: AFP 
Credit: AP -
Russian judge among the dead in Crimea bridge blast
The top judge, Sergey Maslov, was driving a black Cadillac next to the truck believed to have been at the epicentre of the explosion.
According to major Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets the well-respected and “independent” judge had been overseeing cases involving state-run energy giant Gazprom and the Moscow city council when his luxury car was taken out in the blast.
-
Soldiers freed in prisoner swap
Ukraine have confirmed that 32 soldiers have been released following a prisoner swap deal with Russia.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office Tweeted: “All of them had been in places where fierce fighting was raging on. Many of these people had been considered missing.”
Russia have made no public comments on the reported swap.
-
Russia face heavy losses
According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, Russia have lost a further 240 soldiers taking the total number of losses to 63,110.
46 missiles were also eliminated following Russia’s recent attacks in Ukraine.
-
‘There can be no dialogue with this leader of Russia’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed Ukraine will not negotiate with Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky said today: “We must also recognise the obvious fact: there can be no dialogue with this leader of Russia, who has no future.
“Talks can be either with another head of Russia – who will comply with the UN Charter, the basic principles of humanity and territorial integrity of Ukraine – or in a different configuration, so that the key terrorist does not have the opportunity to influence key decisions through terror.
“Now one person is blocking peace – and this person is in Moscow.”
-
‘Millions will be grateful’
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, urged member countries from the Group of Seven to help Kyiv buy and deploy air defence systems.
Zelensky said in a video address to G7 leaders: “I am asking you to strengthen the overall effort to help financially with the creation of an air shield for Ukraine.
“Millions of people will be grateful to the Group of Seven for such assistance.”
-
G7 meeting finishes
The meeting of G7 leaders to discuss the Ukraine war has now come to an end.
Zelensky addressed the group, and asked for a response to Russia’s bombing of his country’s energy infrastructure.
He released a statement on the Telegram messaging app, saying there must be “zero profit for the terrorist state”.
-
Crimea bridge explosion death toll rises
Four people have now died following Saturday’s explosion on the Crimea bridge, reports the Russian state agency Tass as the death toll rises.
The bridge is the longest in Europe but was destroyed following huge explosions at the weekend.
Joseph Gamp
Source link
