Russia-Ukraine Updates: Moscow gets suspended from World Tourism Organisation

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called for the creation of an international tribunal to investigate crimes committed by the Russian leadership, as well as the use of confiscated assets of Russian oligarchs for the needs of Ukrainian refugees. This comes as the EU leaders mull the sixth package of sanctions against Moscow. 

UK State Secretary Antony Blinken spoke to his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday. In the aftermath, took to Twitter to state, "France remains a steadfast partner in supporting Ukraine and confronting Moscow’s brutal, unprovoked war".

The World Tourism Organisation has suspended Russia after member countries voted in the first extraordinary UNWTO General Assembly on April 27. "The Russian delegation declined to step up and defend its position, and instead announced its withdrawal from UNWTO before the debate took place", the WTO said in a statement. 

"The Assembly voted in favor of suspension, far exceeding the two-third majority required. The decision is effective immediately, while voluntary withdrawal is only effective one year after a Member submits an official communication through the appropriate channels", WTO said further.

The Monument of People's Friendship, a statue overlooking the Dnieper River in Kyiv was dismantled by Ukrainian authorities on April 27. According to The Associated Press (AP), the statue was gifted to Ukraine by the Soviet government in 1982 to symbolise the relationship between the two countries. "It should have been removed 30 years ago but now is also fine. It is better to do it later than never. We waited for so long", a Kyiv resident told AP. 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed his recent conversation with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and briefed him about "on the progress of reversing aggression of Russia". Thanking Draghi for the sanctions imposed on Russia, Zelenskyy also extended his gratitude for Italy's acceptance of more than 1,00,000 Ukrainian refugees. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned of a 'swift response' against nations that have been attempting to interfere in the Ukrainian conflict. Addressing lawmakers in St Petersburg, Putin asserted that the West intended to destroy Russia and split it into different pieces, but did not succeed. 

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[Credit: AP]

What is Transdniester?

Trans-Dniester extends some 400 kilometers (249 miles) between the eastern bank of the Dniester River in Moldova and the country’s border with Ukraine. Most of the breakaway region’s population of 470,000 speaks Russian, although residents identify themselves as ethnically Moldovan, Ukrainian or Russian. Region declared independence in 1990 and clashes broke out. Fighting intensified in March 1992 and lasted until a July cease-fire; more than 700 people are estimated to have died in the conflict. As part of the cease-fire agreement, a contingent of Russian troops stayed in Trans-Dniester as nominal peacekeepers. Since then, the region has insisted it is not part of Moldova, which declared independence in 1991.

What happened in Transdniester region this week? 

Explosions rocked the headquarters of the region’s state security ministry. The building reportedly was empty due to the Orthodox Easter holiday, and no casualties were reported. Officials said the attack was committed with rocket-propelled grenades. Local media showed what appeared to be firing tubes lying on a street. On Tuesday morning, a pair of explosions at a broadcasting facility knocked two powerful antennas out of service. No claims of responsibility for the attacks have been made. Trans-Dniester’s president, Vadim Krasnoselsky, called Tuesday for imposing anti-terrorist security measures at a “red level” for 15 days, including setting up blockposts at the entrances to cities.

How is Moldova's region related to Russia-Ukraine war?

Russia does not recognize Trans-Dniester as independent, as it does with other breakaway areas, such as South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. It recognition of those areas came either after Russia and Georgia fought a 2008 war or as justification for Moscow’s February invasion of Ukraine. An outburst of fighting in Trans-Dniester could change the Kremlin’s political calculus; Russia’s security policy states it has the right to protect ethnic Russian populations throughout the world.

A senior Russian military official, Rustam Minnekayev, said last week that Russian forces were aiming to take full control of southern Ukraine, saying such a move would also open a land corridor between Russia and Trans-Dniester. Achieving that military objective would require significant battles to capture Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, including the major port city of Odesa. Russian soldiers would surely encounter enormous resistance.

Source: Associated Press

European Commission has proposed suspending import duties on all Ukrainian products in move similar to Britain.  In a statement on Wednesday, EU said that this “far-reaching step is designed to help boost Ukraine’s exports to the EU."

"It will help alleviate the difficult situation of Ukrainian producers and exporters in the face of Russia’s military invasion. The bloc’s economy commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis, said the move was “vital to win the war and recover post-war”.

Russia has expelled eight Japanese diplomats, Kremlin's foreign ministry informed. The move came after Moscow asked at least three Norwegin envoys to leave the country. Russian foreing ministry has summoned a representative of the Japanese embassy to declare eight diplomats persona non grata. It has asked the envoys to leave Moscow by 10 May. 

Russia's recent expulsion was in a retaliatory move to Japanese expulsion of at least eight Russian diplomats in response to Kremlin's brutal invasion of Ukraine. 

Canada has imposed new sanctions on 11 senior officials and 192 other members of the People’s Councils of the so-called Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics under the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations in response to Russia's President Putin’s "illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine." The sanctioned individuals are complicit in the Russian regime’s ongoing violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Canadian foreign ministry. 

Russian regime’s attempted annexation of certain areas of Donbass "is a blatant violation of international law," Canadian government asserted on Wednesday. "Today’s measures apply further pressure on President Putin and those complicit in the horrific events occurring in Ukraine," it added in a statement. 

"Canada continues to call for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian soil. Canada will coordinate further actions with its partners in the international community and will continue to hold President Putin and his accomplices accountable for this senseless war," said the Canadian government in a statement. 

At least one civilian, reportedly a woman was killed in Russian shelling of a hospital in the east Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk, the regional governor said on Telegram. The hospital was one of the few still operating since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Serhiy Gaidai said, adding that one other has been operating in Lysychansk.

“The Russians knew that the hospital was not empty, there were patients in different conditions with doctors - and that did not stop them,” Gaidai wrote on Telegram. “The destruction of the building is significant. Several floors were damaged at once,” he added. 

Gazprom halting gas supply to Bulgaria and Poland is "another provocation from the Kremlin" and an "attempt to blackmail" European nations, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. 

"This latest aggressive move by Russia is another reminder that we need to work with reliable partners, and build our energy independence. The Commission is in contact with the French presidency. And I welcome their plans to convene a meeting of EU Energy Ministers as soon as possible," Ursula von der Leyen said. 

Russian troops have used phosphorus munitions on the city of Avdiivka via an airstrike at least "twice" injuring one civilian, Head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Telegram. "The Russians hit Avdiivka with phosphorus munitions twice. First they attacked last night in the vicinity of the Avdiivka Coke Plant, and this morning - the city centre. As a result of the two rounds of shelling, several fires broke out in the city," the post informed. After the second round of shelling, the Russians launched an airstrike on Avdiivka targeting the high rise residential building. 

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The UN World Tourism Organization on Wednesday announced that Russia has decided to withdraw from the United Nations Tourism body. UN World Tourism Organization Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili took to his official Twitter handle to announce Russia's decision. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, Russia has announced its intention to withdraw from the body ahead of a vote to suspend Moscow for its military offensive in Ukraine. The development comes amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine which continues for day 63. 

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Russia's leader Vladimir Putin on wednesday warned that there will be 'swift response' against any countries attempting to interfere in Ukrainian conflict. Addressing lawmakers in St Petersburg, Putin said the West intended to destroy Russia and split it into different pieces, but did not succeed. Putin accused the West of "pushing Ukraine into conflict with Russia." Russia's Presdient cited the Rubles rising value against the Euros, as he reiterated that Moscow has "withstood" sanctions imposed by West to cripple Russia's economy. 

Credit: AP

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday asserted that the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe "will come to an end" as she stressed that member states will explore the alternative sources. "Gazprom's announcement that it is unilaterally stopping gas delivery to certain EU Member States is another provocation from the Kremlin," said Ursula von der Leyen. "This is something the European Commission has been preparing for, in close coordination and solidarity with Member States and international partners. Our response will be immediate, united and coordinated," she went on to add in a hardened tone. 

EU Commission President informed that the EU member States met in the Gas Coordination Group. Poland and Bulgaria updated the EU on the situation. "Both Poland and Bulgaria are now receiving gas from their EU neighbours. This shows first of all the immense solidarity among us but it also shows the effectiveness of past investments, for example in interconnectors and other gas infrastructure," Ursula von der Leyen said. 

"Our action plan REPowerEU will help to significantly reduce our dependency on Russian fossil fuels already this year. We have also reached an agreement with the US to provide additional LNG imports this year and the following ones," said the EU Commission president. 

Describing the situation in Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria as “extremely critical," Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock in a parliamentary address questioned who is behind the recent attacks in the Russian occupied region. She had also travelled to Chisinau and the Moldovan-Ukrainian border in March to express solidarity with Moldova. Transnistria’s interior ministry had said in a statement that shots were fired from Ukrainian territory towards a village in the Russia-backed breakaway region on the ammunition depot.

Kremlin will not have talks about exchanging Oligrach Viktor Medvedchuk to swap with the prisoner of war Ukrainian soldiers, Kremlin's press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said. “There is no talk of this,” he said at a briefing. He further stated that in the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and UN Secretary General António Guterres, the Russian leader invited UN and Red Cross officials to visit Ukrainian prisoners of war. Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC), said that Ukraine has been interrogating Medvedchuk rogorously. Several criminal cases have also been initiated against the detained pro-Russian politician in Ukraine. 

Credit: Nexta

US Marine Trevor Reed who was held by Russia in captivity has been released from jail in a prisoner swap for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, Russia's Foreign Ministry said, according to TASS. "Our family has been living a nightmare. Today, our prayers have been answered and Trevor is safely on his way back to the United States," the family said in a statement. "We’d respectfully ask for some privacy while we address the myriad of health issues brought on by the squalid conditions he was subjected to in his Russian gulag," the family added not specifying how long Reed was detained.

US President Joe biden confimred the US Marine's release, saying: “Today, we welcome home Trevor Reed and celebrate his return to the family that missed him dearly. Trevor, a former US Marine, is free from Russian detention. I heard in the voices of Trevor’s parents how much they’ve worried about his health and missed his presence. And I was delighted to be able to share with them the good news about Trevor’s freedom."

Credit: Twitter/@freetrevorreed

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday told the sanctioned MPs by Moscow that they must consider the move as "badge of honour."  Russian foreign ministry had imposed sanctions on 287 members of the House of Commons who are now banned from entering Russia. Moscow accused the British MPs of  "whipping up of Russophobic hysteria in the UK".

Speaking in the House of Commons at PMQs, UK PM Boris Johnson said: "It's, I think, no disrespect to those who haven't been sanctioned, when I say that all those 287 should regard it as a badge of honour. And what we will do is keep up our robust and principled support for the Ukrainian people and their right to protect their lives, their families, and to defend themselves." 

Johsnon went on to add: "That's what this country [UK] is doing, and that has the overwhelming support, I think, of the whole House."

Credit: AP

Russia has expelled at least three Norwegian diplomats, the Norwegian foreign ministry said. Kremlin retaliated to Oslo's expulsion of similar number of Russian diplomats last week. Both Greece and Norway become the latest EU countries to ask the Russina embassy workers to leave the EU. Norway had said that Russian diplomats conducted activities that were incompatible with their diplomatic status.

“It is not by chance that these expulsions take place now,” Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt had said in a statement.

In response to UK's sanctions adopted March 11 this year against the Russian entities, Russian Duma on Wednesday sanctioned 287 members of the House of Commons of the British Parliament.

"These persons, who are no longer allowed to enter the Russian Federation, took the most active part in the establishment of anti-Russian sanctions instruments in London, and contribute to the groundless whipping up of Russophobic hysteria in the UK," a statement from the Russian ministry of foreing affairs read. 

"The hostile rhetoric and far-fetched accusations coming from the mouths of British parliamentarians not only condone the hostile course of London, aimed at demonizing our country and its international isolation, but are also used by opponents of mutually respectful dialogue with Russia to undermine the foundation of bilateral cooperation," the statement further added. 

Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Mykhailo Podolyak on Wednesday denied that there may be a possibility of a talk between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "despite Turkey's efforts.' “The time of a meeting of the two countries’ presidents and the context of the meeting have not yet been determined”, Podolyak reportedly stated. 

Turkey has said that it is likely a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelenskyy will take place in the next few days. Speaking after the consultaion meeting held by the US at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said: "We hope that despite some difficulties, the two leaders will be able to meet in the coming days thanks to the proposals of our president [Recep Tayyip Erdogan]." 

"Turkey continues to contribute, to do everything necessary, including playing a mediating role, so that the humanitarian situation in Ukraine does not deteriorate and a cease-fire is reached as soon as possible," said Akar. 

Credit: AP

After Russia's defence ministry said that the Russian forces have captured the entire Kherson region in the south of Ukraine, the civilian protests witnessed clashes and Russian soldiers using tear gas in Kherson to disperse the crowd. 

Russia on Wednesday agreed to swap the US Marine Trevor Reed for a Russian prisoner held in the United States, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram. 

"As a result of a lengthy negotiation process, on April 27, 2022, US citizen Trevor Rowdy Reid, previously convicted in the Russian Federation, was exchanged for Russian citizen Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison by an American court in 2010," Zakharova said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. 

US had repeatedly called for Reed to be released calling his conviction "patently ridiculous." "This conviction, and a sentence of nine years, for an alleged crime that so obviously did not occur, is ridiculous. I cannot even say 'miscarriage of justice,' because clearly 'justice' was not even considered. This was theater of the absurd," US Ambassador John J. Sullivan said in a July 2020 statement. Reed had served as a Marine presidential guard during the Obama administration. He was sentenced to nine-year jail term by Moscow after being convicted for endangering the lives of two Russian policemen while drunk during his visit to Moscow.  

Joey and Paula Reed pose for a photo with a portrait of their son Marine veteran and Russian prisoner Trevor Reed at their home in Fort Worth, Texas. Credit: AP

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has warned that Rssia will cut off gas supply to other European Union if they refuse to pay in rubles. Peskov's remarks came after it halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria a move that the EU labelled as “blackmail”. Russian giant Gazprom said in a statement that it is cutting the natural gas to some nations that have refused to pay for Russian gas in rubles. 

In a remark made to the Russian reporters, Peskov said that the state gas gian thad remained committed to its contractual obligations as announced by Moscow's leader Valdimir Putin. "When the payment deadlines approach, if some consumers decline to pay under the new system, then the president’s decree of course will be applied," said Peskov.  Peskov said that all risks have been calculated if the other European countries declined to pay for gas in roubles, indicating that the gas supply will be cut as Russia might take necessary measures. 

Chemicals maker BASF says it will wind down most of its business in Russia and Belarus by the beginning of July. The Ludwigshafen, Germany-based company said Wednesday that it “has not conducted new business” in the two countries in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has now decided to exit most of its existing activities there.

It said that it is exempting business to support food production “as the war risks triggering a global food crisis.” BASF said it currently has 684 employees in Russia and Belarus and plans to “continue its support” for them until the end of this year. It said the two countries accounted for about 1% of its total sales last year. 

"The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE has now decided to also wind down the company’s remaining business activities in Russia and Belarus by the beginning of July 2022. Exempt from this decision is business to support food production, as the war risks triggering a global food crisis. This decision is driven by the recent developments of the war and in international law, including the fifth E.U. sanctions package," a statement from the German chemicals company read on Wednesday. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday has denied that Russia is blackmailing EU by cutting off the gas supply. The latter highlighted that the countries were supposed to switch to the new payment system with the gas company in roubles as announced by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. He did not name the nations that have failed to comply to the Russian demands. Czech Republic’s prime minister, Petr Fiala, said there were no information about any interruption of its gas supplies.

Russian troops have captured two towns in Donbass, the town of Zarichne in the northern Donetsk region, and the town of Novotoshkivske situated near road that links links separatist-controlled Luhansk region, Russian General Staff of Armed Forces said in Facebook post. 

Russia claims that it liberated the eastern Donbass region [Credit: Alexei Alexandrov/AP]

Transnistria’s interior ministry has said that shots were fired from Ukrainian territory that taregtted the village in the Russia-backed breakaway region which houses ammunition depot of Russia. Moldova has also claimed that Ukraine drones were launched inside its territory in the breakaway region of Transnistria that has been under the control of Russian backed separatist  since 1992, and where at least 1,500 Russian troops have been stationed. Ukraine fears that Moldovan territory could be used as a launchpad by Russian forces to attack Ukraine.

Germany’s influential ADAC auto club is calling on its 21 million members to help reduce the country’s oil imports from Russia by driving less and taking their foot off the gas where possible. In an open letter posted on its website Wednesday, the club’s leadership said driving more slowly and anticipating stops were among the ways drivers could reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%.

They also urged drivers to consider whether they really need to take the car or could switch to walking, cycling or public transport instead. The German government says it wants to wean the country off Russian oil imports by the end of the year.

Source: Associated Press

Greece has stepped up to offer help to Bulgaria after gas supply cut off by Russia, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told his Bulgarian counterpart, according to local news agencies. The Greek leader spoke to Bulgarian counterpart over the phone and pledged to offer assistance. "The prime minister said that Greece will help Bulgaria to deal with the new situation caused by the Russian decisions on energy," Mitsotakis' office said in a statement. 

Poland's prime minister has said that his country will not succumb to the Russian "blackmail" after the latter cut off gas supply to the country. Mateusz Morawiecki said in the parliament, Warsaw that Moscow has been taking revenge in retaliation to the coordinated sanctions imposed on Moscow for its Ukraine invasion. Poland's new sanctions have targetted at least 50 Russian oligarchs and companies, including Gazprom, Russia's state owned oil coorportation.  Poland said it has got a notice that Gazprom was cutting off the gas as the country did not comply to pay in Russian roubles. 

Credit: AP 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea Osman Saleh is in Russia on a working visit and is holding discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 

Russia’s defence ministry has claimed that its forces hit the arms depot in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region with Kalibr missiles provided by United States and the European countries. At least 59 Ukrainian military targets overnight, said the Russian MoD. 

A Ukrainian presidential aide on Wednesday called the explosions in at least three Russian provinces as the "karma" for waging the war inside Ukraine.  Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak called the blasts in Russia as "payback" on the Telegram messaging app. He although stopped short of claiming that Ukraine was responsible for the recent attacks inside Moscow. 

“The reasons for the destruction of the military infrastructure in border areas can be quite varied and sooner or later the debts will have to be repaid” he wrote on Telegram. 

Fire at an oil depot in Belgorod region in Russia. Credit: AP 

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said that she will ask the Western allies to send Ukraine warplanes and other heavy weapons, a statement from the UK’s Foreign Office informed. UK's FM said that she will double down on not not providing fighter jets and instead supports Ukraine military to have adeqaute means to fend off the Russians. In a speech that Truss will deliver at London’s Madison House on Thursday, she will say: “We cannot be complacent -- the fate of Ukraine remains in the balance. And let’s be clear -- if Putin succeeds there will be untold further misery across Europe and terrible consequences across the globe. We would never feel safe again. So we must be prepared for the long haul and double down on our support for Ukraine."

“Heavy weapons, tanks, aeroplanes -- digging deep into our inventories, ramping up production. We need to do all of this,” Truss will assert. 

Austria is sticking payments for Russian gas in euros, said Federal Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer. Refuting report of the country shifting to payment in rubles, Nehammer added that Austria will not deflect the jointly agreed EU sanctions and continue to pay the deliveries in euros. 

Amid the relentless war between Russia and Ukraine, Belarus has expressed dissatisfaction with Western nations' opposition to Minsk's participation in the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Anatoly Glaz said on state television, “The West does not want to involve Belarus in the process of reaching an agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine,” ZN.UA reported.  

Further, the comment of Glaz came after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko remarked on April 7 that Russia-Ukraine talks cannot take place without Minsk's participation. Belarus' viewpoint must be voiced during these discussions, according to Lukashenko, because Belarus has been "dragged into this by countries including the West." According to media reports, he went on to say that without Belarus, the two nations would be unable to sign an agreement. 

In addition to this, Belarus' President stated that he has been "convinced" that the Russian government is aware of Belarus' position. He even added that Belarus' stance had been communicated to the Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministries, and that both institutions had been requested to carry it out. It is worth noting that the peace talks between Russia's and Ukraine's delegations began on February 28, four days after Russia commenced a military operation against Ukraine. 

On Wednesday morning, a series of explosions were heard in the Russian city of Belgorod, which is close to the Ukrainian border. An ammunition depot in the area was set on fire by the explosion. The authorities are looking into the situation as the cause of the explosions remains unknown. The governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov shared a message on Telegram stating that at 3:35 am, he woke up by a loud explosion-like sound. He further claimed that three more explosions occurred while he was drafting the message.

Gladkov noted in a follow-up post that an ammunition depot caught fire near the village of Staraya Nelidovka. He also claimed that there is no destruction of residential buildings and houses and that there were no casualties among the civilian population. The governor also stated that the open burning of the fire near was eventually put out. Ukraine has not acknowledged or denied responsibility for any attack.

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The head of the breakaway Moldavian region of Transnistria has accused Ukraine of the recent explosions at a government building. On Monday, several unknown attackers fired hand grenades at the building of the Transnistria Ministry of State Security in the capital Tiraspol.

A day later, two separate explosions sabotaged Soviet-era radio masts in village of Maiac. On Tuesday, Head of State Vadym Krasnosilsky spoke about the same stressing that “traces of terrorist attacks are leading to Ukraine."

“As the first findings of urgent operational and investigative measures have shown, traces of these attacks are leading to Ukraine. After the start of hostilities in Ukraine, Transnistria maintained neutrality and openly stated that we are not aggressors, that Transnistria did not plan attack on our neighbors… I assume that those who organized this attack aim to involve Transnistria in the conflict,” Krasnosilsky said.

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US Defense Chief, on Tuesday, said the world was galvanized against Russia's “imperial aggression “ against Ukraine as he hosted more than 40 countries for defence talks in Germany that sought to speed and synchronize the delivery of arms to Kyiv. During the forum meeting, several countries agreed to bolster supplies far beyond what they were already to safeguard Kyiv’s sovereignty. Applauding the move, General Lloyd Austin III said that there was no time and that Ukraine’s allies need to move at the speed of war.

"We're all coming away with a transparent and shared understanding of the challenge that the Ukrainians face," Austin said during a press briefing that followed the conference. "I know that we're all determined to help Ukraine win today and build strength for tomorrow. The work that we've done together in record time has made a huge difference on the battlefield,” he added.

Gazprom's announcement is another attempt by Russia to blackmail us with gas, said European Union President Ursula von der Leyen. Shortly after Russian state-owned gas supplier Gazprom suspended supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, the EU chief said, "We are prepared for this scenario. We are mapping out our coordinated EU response. Europeans can trust that we stand united and in solidarity with the Member States impacted."

The burgeoning Ukraine war will eventually lead to a massive "commodity shock" since the 1970s, World Bank said in its latest analysis noting the economic development under the Russian invasion. In the worrisome forecast, the apex financial body also warned that the escalation of the conflict could also lead to peaking prices of food and energy for the next three years, which will mostly impact the low-income households since their large part of earnings is spent on such purchases. The persistent high commodity prices could last up to 2024 gradually leading to stagflation- a situation where the economic growth rate is slower due to inflation and unemployment remains steadily high. 

Owing to disagreement over payment in rubles, Russian state-owned agency Gazprom on Wednesday completely suspended gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. 

As the Russian war gains momentum in east Europe, UK the deputy prime minister Dominic Raab warned Russia to give up its "bullying behavior." In an interview with Sky News, Raab said, "We cannot allow his bullying behaviour, whether it is economic warfare, or it is military warfare, to succeed."

"We need to show solidarity. Clearly what we’re seeing is the need to wean ourselves off reliance on Russia. We have been warning about this for a while, but yes, we’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with our Polish friends and allies," Raab added, futher accusing Russian President Putin of  trabsitioning into an "economic pariah" from being a "political pariah."

British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss on Tuesday called on her allies to "double down" support for Ukraine and subsequently "ramp up" military production of tanks and planes. Noting the "barbaric" Russian aggression in Ukraine, the UK minister told the House of Commons that “We cannot be complacent - the fate of Ukraine remains in the balance."

In a major development, a China-based drone manufacturing company on Tuesday announced a suspension of operations in Russia. DJI Technology Co Ltd based in China Shenzen province became the first to stop selling its products to Russia after the outbreak of the invasion of Ukraine.

According to a UK Defense Ministry update on April 27, Russia has failed to effectively destroy Ukraine's Air Force or its air defenses, while Ukraine continues to hold Russian air assets at risk.

As part of a A$26.7m package announced by the Australian government, Canberra is set to dispatch six M777 howitzers and ammunition to Ukraine in its response to “Russia’s brutal, unrelenting and illegal invasion,” Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said on Wednesday.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on Tuesday announced that it will relocate the 2023 World Championship from St. Petersberg in Russia. The alternative host will be declared next month. 

“The decision to relocate the event was taken primarily out of concern for the safety and well-being of all participating players, officials, media, and fans,” the IIHF said in a statement.
“As was the case with Council’s earlier decision to withdraw the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship that was to be held in Omsk and Novosibirsk, Russia, the Council expressed significant concerns over the safe freedom of movement of players and officials to, from, and within Russia.”

Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration on Tuesday claimed that Russian troops attempt to gain a foothold in the region. "Russian troops were preparing defensive positions around the area, including by digging trenches and mining fields," the administration said, as quoted by Kyiv Independent. 

The barrage of unexplained attacks in the Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria inside Moldova suggests that Russia is trying to expand its war to a "new front", said a Ukrainian official under conditions of anonymity, as quoted by CNN. His comments came after a rocket attack in the region damaged a security building and mowed down two communications tower in the breakaway region of Transnistria. According to reports, at least 1,500 Russian troops are deployed in Transnistria. 

Russian state-owned agency Gazprom on April 26 said that it will "entirely suspend deliveries under the Yamal contract" Poland after they refused to pay in rubles. In a major upscale of violence, Poland's state-run gas firm PGNiG said the suspension will begin on April 27, CNN reported. However, there is no confirmation from Gazprom about the current status of supplies. The statement by Poland shot up gas futures by 3% on Tuesday. 

In response to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's nuclear war threats, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "Russia has no right to turn nuclear energy into weapons and blackmail the world with the use of nuclear weapons." Addressing the joint news conference in Kyiv with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi, Zelenskyy further added shed light on the potential threats posed by the occupation of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and alleged that Russian troops are operating with little regard to nuclear danger in case of damage to the plant. 

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday said that he "does not expect" Russian President Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Johnson's remarks came amid the stir caused by Russian FM Sergei Lavrov's comments warning that "the danger (of nuclear war) is serious, it is real, it cannot be underestimated.”

After three months of the all-out Russian war in Ukraine, Germany on Tuesday finally agreed to send heavy weapons to Ukraine which will include anti-aircraft tanks. Underscoring the major shift in approach to help Ukraine, Berlin committed to delivering the Gepard anti-aircraft systems, which was announced by defense minister Christine Lambrecht during a meeting of international defense officials at the Ramstein US Air Force base in Germany on Tuesday. With the announcement, Germany effectively reversed its decades-long policy of not-supplying lethal weapons to crisis-hit regions.

Referring to the blasts that mowed down radio towers in Transnistria, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday accused of Russia trying to destabilize the region through military activity. 

“This is just one of the steps of the Russian federation. This is happening to destabilize the region and threaten Moldova. This is showing that if Moldova supports Ukraine this is what’s going to happen,” Zelenskyy said when asked by a journalist during a joint press conference in Kyiv with IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi on Tuesday, as quoted by CNN. 

Ukraine Operational Command South on Tuesday reportedly hit the Russian positions on Snake Island, which is off the coast of Ukraine located in the Black Sea, near the Danube Delta. The defending forces hit a Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system. 

One of President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, said on Tuesday, that Ukraine was spiralling towards a collapse into several states because of what he cast as a US attempt to use Kyiv to undermine the Russian Federation. In an interview published on Tuesday, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Nikolai Patrushev blamed Washington for using its “henchmen” to divide essentially the same people.

Notably, Putin’s all-out war against the former Soviet state is now focused around the eastern Donbass region, which is held by separatists since the Russian invasion of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

"Using their henchmen in Kyiv, the Americans, in an attempt to suppress Russia, decided to create an antipode of our country, cynically choosing Ukraine for this, trying to divide essentially a single people," Patrushev told state controlled newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta. The result of the policy of the West and the regime in Kyiv can only be the disintegration of Ukraine into several states.

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On day 63 of the ongoing war, Russia has beefed up its shelling in Donbass region. Donetsk Ilbast governor Pavlo Kyrylenko stated that at least 3 civilians were killed last night and 6 others were injured after Russin troops bombed Lyman, New York and May in the Oblast. 

In a bid to bolster support to Ukraine, Canada is set to purchase 8 armoured vehicles manufactured by Roshel to deliver them to Kyiv. "We will supply them to our Ukrainian friends as soon as possible," Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand wrote in a Twitter post. 

US Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The result came in after her return from a week-long trip to California. Harris "will isolate and continue to work from the vice president's residence," said Kirsten Allen, the vice president's press secretary. 

Zelensky said at a press conference on April 26 that no other country in the world since 1986 has posed such a large-scale threat to nuclear security as Russia has with its aggression against Ukraine. His remarks on April 26 came as the country marked the 36th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster.

Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, said that “the policies of the West and the Kyiv regime controlled by it would only be the breakup of Ukraine into several states.” He also blamed the US for instilling hated in Ukrainian society. "Using their henchmen in Kyiv, the Americans, in an attempt to suppress Russia, decided to create an antipode of our country, cynically choosing Ukraine for this, trying to divide essentially a single people," Patrushev told Rossiyskaya Gazeta. 

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) stated that it has taken note of comments made by UK Armed Forces Minister James Heappey about the use of British-manufactured weapons against targets inside Russia. The Russian MoD also warned that London's direct provocation will be met with a 'proportional response.' "We would like to emphasize that London's direct provoking of the Kyiv regime for such actions, in the event that they are implemented, will lead to an immediate and proportional response by Russia," the MoD said, Sputnik reported. 

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Ukraine's Foreign Ministry revealed that Russia carried out dozens of airstrikes in Mariupol's Azovstal steelworks where many residents are hiding in bomb shelters. "Russia disrupts all the efforts aimed at establishing safe and reliable humanitarian corridors to provide humanitarian relief and evacuation. Moscow treats people in the Azovstal steelworks as hostages", the ministry tweeted.

Ukraine also accused Russia of taking Ukrainians into concentration camps and called on the United Nations for its help to stop the 'war crimes'.

German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, during his visit to Poland's Warsaw, said that Germany is just 'days away' from ending reliance on Russian oil. According to The Kyiv Independent, Germany imported 35% of its oil from Russia in 2021 and despite his country's reluctance of oil embargo, Habeck agreed that “we must quickly free ourselves from the grip of Russian imports". Moreover, the Vice-Chancellor said that Germany's independence from Russian oil will be a result of diverse suppliers and support from Poland.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry on Tuesday said that it "strongly supports the territorial integrity of Moldova in its internationally recognised borders." It condmened "attempts to involve the Transdniestrian region of Moldova in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and calls for a de-escalation of the situation." Mykhaylo Podolyak, a top Ukrainian presidential adviser blamed Russia for creating the unrest inside the Moldovan territory and warned that Moldova has been fragged into Russia's war. 

UK has been "scouring the earth" for 152mm artillery ammunition, which is the NATO standard, for the Ukraine's armed forces for their existing guns to counter Russian assaults, UK's Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said.  UK has also been working with allies to source 155mm artillery ammunition, he told Sky news. 

"That means 100,000s more artillery rounds are flowing in, from the US particularly, to Ukraine," he said.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general, Rafael Grossi who arrived at Chernobyl nuclear power plant has reportedly lambasted Russian forces for occupying the hazardous site of the former nuclear power plant for several weeks.  Grossi is visiting the Chornobyl plant to “deliver equipment, conduct radiological assessments & restore safeguards monitoring systems”, according to IAEA. He called the act of Russian troops "absolutely abnormal and very, very dangerous”.

Ukraine has begun destroying the statue known as the “Friendship of Peoples” installed in the 1980s symbolic of the unity of the Ukrainians and Russians from the Soviet Union era. In a Facebook post, mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko said: " Friends! The dismantling has started today and we plan to finish it in the evening. Russia “marked” its attitude to Ukraine with a barbaric desire to destroy our state and peaceful Ukrainians. We are dismantling 8 meters of metal of the so-called “friendship of two peoples”. And what is symbolic - when they tried to lift the sculpture with a crane, the head of a Russian worker fell off. Let’s rename the arch – old symbols take on a new meaning! And we will highlight it with the colours of the Ukrainian flag."

Russia has expelled three Swedish diplomats citing the "unfriendly" actions of Stockholm, a statement by the Russia’s foreign ministry read on Tuesday. Sweden’s ambassador to Moscow, Malena Mard, was also summoned by Russian officials to the foreign office to declare the Swedish embassy representatives as persona non grata. Moscow claims that Sweden “groundlessly” asked at least three Russian diplomats to leave the EU.  

Russian foreign ministry said that “the provision of military support by Sweden to the Kyiv regime and covering up the crimes of Ukrainian nationalists against the civilian population of Donbas and Ukraine” governed its recent decision. 

Secretary of Defense for the United States, Lloyd Austin strated historic meeting involving defense officials from more than 40 countries to help Ukraine win the fight against Russia’s unjust invasion. "Our goal is to leave here with a common, transparent understanding of Ukraine’s short-term and long-term security requirements," he said. 

Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk are witnessing heavy fighting as Russian troops have launched missile attacks on city of Avdiivka, close to the frontlines, Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of Donetsk regional military administration said in a Telegram post. "The Central City Hospital, a school, and high-rise buildings were affected," he stressed, adding that Russia's offensives in the town of Mariinka have been met with strong resistance from the Ukrainian forces. At least three civilians died in the town of Popasna from Russian firing from heavy weapons.

"Today the shelling continues almost along the entire front line. At least two civilians are currently known to have died," Kyrylenko said.

 

In response to Erdogan's concern over the situation in Mariupol, Russian President Putin stated that the city had been liberated and that no military activities were taking place there. The Kremlin said in a statement that the Kyiv authorities should accept political responsibility for the Ukrainian servicemen and militants of nationalist battalions stranded in the Azovstal plant's complex and, guided by humanitarian considerations, compel them to lay down their arms. It further stated that prisoners of war are guaranteed life, medical care and treatment in accordance with international legal standards. 

UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres during his Moscow visit said that UN is ready to "fully mobilise" to save lives in the beseiged port city of Mariupol. He also noted that a "voilent battle" has been underway in Donbas region with “tremendous death and destruction”.

"We recognise that we face a crisis in Mariupol. Thousands of civilians are in dire need of live-saving humanitarian assistance, and many of evacuation.The United Nations is ready to fully mobilise its human and logistical resources to help save lives in Mariupol," said UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres. 

China on Tuesday asserted that it is “not interested” in a third world war [WWIII] as it also lambasted the Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton's recent provocations comparing China to ‘Nazi Germany.’ Speaking about the need of finding a resolution to the Ukraine war following Russia's warning about significant 'nuclear war threat,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin launched a verbal attack on Australia's defense minister. Wenbin reacted to Defense Minister Peter Dutton's remarks as he labelled them “disgusting.” He then threatened that such what he described "crazy statements" are aimed at denigrating the PRC, and “promoting war.”

Moldova’s president has convened an urgent security meeting on Tuesday after two rockets flew into the territory and damaged Soviet-era radio masts in the breakaway region of Transnistria. A military unit was targeted, the Moldovan authorities had said. Since the collapse of the USSR, Russia has troops permanently stationed breakaway region of Transnistria and also plans to establish a direct corridor after taking full control of Donbass region in Ukraine. Moldovan president Maia Sandu on Tuesday started the meeting of the country’s Supreme Security Council. Moldova had applied to the EU membership just last week. 

“In the early morning of April 26th, two explosions occurred in the village of Maiac, Grigoriopol district: the first at 6.40am and the second at 7.05am,” Transnistria’s interior ministry said. No residents were hurt, but two radio antennae that broadcast Russian radio were knocked out, it went on to add. 

The UK is sending more ambulances and fire engines to Ukraine as part of continued support to Ukraine.  New UK funding to help train Ukrainian doctors to deal with mass casualties and vital medicine following Russian attacks on Ukrainian hospitals Donations are in response to a request from Ukraine’s Government as they regain access to medical facilities in frontline cities. There have been more than 130 attacks on healthcare facilities since the invasion and the UN has recorded around 4,800 civilian casualties. More than 100 fire stations and 250 fire engines have been destroyed in Ukraine, according to British government. 

UK is supplying 22 new ambulances to Ukraine – in addition to those from NHS Trusts already announced – equipped with paramedic kits and medical grab bags. They are due to leave for Ukraine in the coming days. This is in direct response to a request from the Ukrainian government.  Two further convoys of more than 40 fire engines - packed with thousands of items of rescue equipment including 300 fire hoses and almost 10,000 items of protective clothing – have arrived in Ukraine and are already providing vital support to firefighters on the frontline. This is the largest fire deployment to ever leave the UK.

The UK has already committed up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to support Multilateral Development Banks, such as the World Bank, to bolster Ukraine’s economy and allow the government in Kyiv to continue providing basic services. The total offer of humanitarian support to the current Ukraine crisis is around £400 million.

"We have all been appalled by the abhorrent images of hospitals deliberately targeted by Russia since the invasion began over two months ago," said UK's Prime Minister Boris Johsnon.  "The new ambulances, fire engines and funding for health experts announced today will better equip the Ukrainian people to deliver vital health care and save lives. Together with our military support, we will help to strengthen Ukraine’s capability to make sure Putin’s brutal invasion fails."

Source: UK Gov. 

UN Chief Antonio Guterres has said that he has held a “very frank” discussion with Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov. He added that he was as a “messenger of peace” and that his objective is “strictly linked to save lives and reduce suffering” in Ukraine. Guterres reiterated that it was “clear that there are two different positions on what is happening in Ukraine”. As per the UN resolutions passed by the General Assembly, said Guterres, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a violation of its territorial integrity and against the charter of the United Nations.

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov has blamed NATO's intentions of starting a proxy war by supplying the advanced weaponry to Ukraine as ground of sparking the WWIII. In remarks to Russia’s state Channel One, Lavrov not only warned that there were significant risks of the WWIII but pushed blame on NATO defensive Alliance as being reposnible for it in the future. 

"The danger is serious, real. And we must not underestimate it," Lavrov said. "NATO, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is arming that proxy. War means war."

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba has said that Russia has lost last hope to scare the world off from supporting Ukraine. Therefore the talk of a ‘real’ danger of WWIII are being hurled, referring to the Russian defense ministry's warnings about the US provactions of weapons of mass destruction [WMD]. "This only means Moscow senses defeat in Ukraine. Therefore, the world must double down on supporting Ukraine so that we prevail and safeguard European and global security," said Kuleba. 

During his meeting with Russia's Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, UN Chief Guterres said that he will do "everything possible to end the war" in Ukraine.  "I know today we are facing a complex situation in Ukraine, different interpretations about what is happening in Ukraine, but that does not limit the possibility to have a very serious dialogue on how best we can work to minimize the suffering of people," Guterres said during a joint press briefing. 

"These are also very deep interests that I have in the present moment -- to do everything possible to end the war as soon as possible, and to do everything possible to minimize the suffering of the people and to address the impacts of the vulnerable populations" in other parts of the world impacted by war. It is very important to support all countries around the world in relation to food, in relation to energy, in relation to finance," Guterres added. 

Ukraine "has become a catalyst" for "a great number of problems," said Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday as he met with UN Chief Antonio Guterres. "We definitely appreciate your desire to have another round of talks at this hard time," Lavrov told Guterres. He then added that the meeting between Guterres and Russian President Vladimir Putin later Tuesday "emphasizes the significance that we attach to our contacts with the United Nations."

Credit: AP

During the Ukraine Defense Consultative Group meeting in Germany held on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin told a defense officials from more than 40 countries that the allies and partners of Kyiv will "keep moving heaven and earth so that we can meet” demands of Ukriane in being able to protect its sovereignity. 

“We’re all here because of Ukraine’s courage, because of the innocent civilians who have been killed, and because of the suffering that your people still endure," Austin said. “We’re here to help Ukraine win the fight against Russia’s unjust invasion, and to build up Ukraine’s defenses for tomorrow’s challenges,” he added. 

The meeting had defense officials from Albania, Australia, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey, EU and NATO.

In his first visit to Russia since the Feb. 24 invasion, UN Chief Guterres said: "We are extremely interested in finding ways in order to create the conditions for effective dialogue, create the conditions for a ceasefire as soon as possible, create the conditions for a peaceful solution." 

"I know that we have... different interpretations about what’s happening in Ukraine. That does not limit the possibility to have a very serious dialogue on how best we can work to minimise the suffering of people," said Guterres. 

Credit: AP

A third mass grave has been found in the beseiged port city of Mariupol, the mayor of the besieged southeastern city told Ukrainian television. He accused Russian forces of alluring the local population for mass burials of the Mariupol civilians in exchange for food. Earlier, the mass graves were found in villages of Mangush and Vynohradne, "now we see there is another one," said Vadym Boichenko in teelvised remarks. Trenches can be seen dug in the satellite imagery in the Old Crimean cemetery, the city council said on Telegram.

"New trenches were recorded on April 24. The length of the mass grave has increased to more than 200 meters," they said. 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on Moscow on Tuesday, April 26. The two discussed ways to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war. Ahead of the crucial meeting between the UN chief and Putin, Lavrov told a press briefing that the UN is “extremely interested in finding ways in order to create the conditions for effective dialogue, create the conditions for a ceasefire as soon as possible, create the conditions for a peaceful solution”. 

Lavrov went on to add Ukraine has “become a catalyst for a great number of problems” not mentioning the details of the threat but labelling the country as a bed of hostilities for the entire European and Atlantic regions. The Russian foreign minister also emphasised on the multilateralism and the functions of the United Nations to Forster global peace. “These principles of true multilateralism have for a number of years been flouted by the West that has undertook the tactics of instilling into the world arena the unilateral world order for it to stay for good,” said Lavrov on Tuesday via a translator. Meanwhile UN Chief Guterres stressed that the global body was, in fact, “very committed multilateralist based on the values of the UN Charter and international law.” Guterres who is in Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin will attempt to broker ceasefire and reach a truce in Ukraine. 

In a conversation with Putin, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that maintaining the positive momentum achieved in the talks between the delegations of the Russian Federation and Ukraine is in the best interests of all parties. 
Erdogan told Putin that Turkey will continue to do everything it can to help achieve long-term peace in Ukraine. Erdogan also reiterated his suggestion to hold a meeting of the presidents of the Russian Federation and Ukraine in Istanbul, according to the Turkish president's office, the TASS news agency reported.

Kyiv City Council has said that the number of city facilities that need to be renamed has been increased to 467 in order to complete the de-Russification process in the capital. It said in a statement that residents of Kyiv are actively proposing suggestions for new names for urban subordination objects. Volodymyr Bondarenko, Deputy Mayor and Secretary of the Kyiv City Council, stated that residents of the capital have an opportunity to get acquainted with the full list of city facilities to be renamed and send their recommendations to the council's official e-mail address i.e, name@kmr.gov.ua.

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Luxury car manufacturers, Volvo, Land Rover, and Jaguar are cutting off a number of offices in Russia, a Moscow-based Kommersant publication reported. Reduction in offices is expected to affect at least 80% of the staff of the automakers. While Volvo intends to continue warranty support and is ready to pay for spare parts imported bypassing the copyright holder, Land Rover and Jaguar will completely shut down from the Russian market. American automobile manufacturer General Motors has also announced a similar step to withdraw from Russian market. 

German government is discussing the potential supply of Gepard anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, as the war entered day 62. According to dpa agency and Süddeutsche Zeitung, manufacturing company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann must obtain government approval for supplying dozens of such tanks, NEXTA reported. 

Amid quite a stir over Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's "World War 3" statement, China on Tuesday remarked that it does not endorse the idea of a global conflict, but instead wants a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ukraine. 

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania has been providing support to Kyiv and imposing sanctions against Moscow. In the latest development, Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupsys, the commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces has stated that Russia will not change and will continue to remain a threat to Lithuania and NATO. Speaking to LRT.LT, he asserted that the threat posed by Russia might be even greater and stressed that NATO nations need to be ready to act as a "deterrent." He emphasized that Russia needs to be refrained from taking action as it did in initiating a military offensive in Ukraine. 

According to  Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupsys, the recovery of Russian forces will take around five to 10 years and it might again become a "conventional threat." Speaking to LRT.LT, the Lithuanian Chief of Defence believes that "Russian revanchism has not gone anywhere" and stressed Moscow lost all the battles as Ukraine was able to understand it. He highlighted that Russia's withdrawal of troops from Kyiv demonstrates its failure to implement its plan. General Rupsys pointed out that the Russian military attack was focused on overthrowing the political power in Ukraine and the armed forces of Moscow believed that encircling the defence potential in East Ukraine would help to destroy the state.

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Ukraine’s foreign minister on Monday urged the UN chief to press Russia for an evacuation of the besieged port of Mariupol, calling it something the world body is capable of achieving.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told The Associated Press in an interview he was concerned that by visiting Moscow on Tuesday before traveling to Kyiv, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres could be vulnerable to falling into a Kremlin “trap” in the war.

“Many other foreign officials were trapped visiting Moscow and played around just to show the supremacy of Russian diplomacy and how great they are and how they dictate the world how to behave,” he said.

Guterres “should focus primarily on one issue: evacuation of Mariupol,” Kuleba said, referring to the seaside city where an estimated 100,000 people are trapped while a contingent of Ukrainian fighters holds out against Russian forces in a steel mill where hundreds of civilians also are taking shelter.

Associated Press

As tensions continue in war-ravaged Ukraine, Ukrainian MP Vadym Halaichuk on Tuesday said that the situation in the country continues to remain ‘dangerous’. Speaking to Republic TV's team reporting live from Ukraine, MP Halaichuk said that Ukrainians were fighting back and were holding their ground despite increased pressure from Russian troops. He further informed that Kyiv had offered a ‘special arrangement’ with Russia to stop the war but got a ‘vague’ response for the same. The MP, who is also a member of the inter-parliament group of India, said that negotiation is still 'not out of the table' and it was going on.

Speaking exclusively to Republic TV's team reporting live amid the Russia Ukraine war, Ukrainian MP Vadym Halaichuk said that Russia underestimated Ukraine in its defence. He also informed that Russian troops are yet to take control of Mariupol as claimed by Moscow. Meanwhile, adding that Kyiv is ready for negotiation with Moscow, the MP said, “we are willing to give Russia a special place, a special arrangement when negotiations on Ukraine joining any alliance is concerned. A military arrangement with Russia can be worked out. We are free to choose our foreign policy. But Russian response to our proposals have been very vague,” he added.  

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Ukraine Armed Forces on Tuesday claimed that Russia lost 22,100 troops since the war began. Apart from this, Ukraine has destroyed 918 Russian tanks, 2308 armoured vehicles and 419 artillery systems. 

 "Weapon, weapons, weapons!" said Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko in a message to the defence ministers of 40 countries, including US defence secretary Llyod Austin in Germany's Ramstein Air Base. "We need weapons to keep standing and defending the values of humankind," she added. 

Amid the ongoing war, Russian and Belarusian armed forces have agreed to hold joint drills beginning on April 26. The exercises expected to continue until April 29 will see joint drills between the air force of both nations, The Guardian reported. The combined exercise come at a time when Russian attack in Donbass is gaining momentum. On the other hand, invading troops in Ukraine are also beefing up their attacks on key cities like Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Odesa. 

Police in the Moldovan separatist region of Transnistria said two explosions on Tuesday morning in a radio facility close to the Ukrainian border knocked two powerful antennas out of service.

The incident occurred in the small town of Maiac roughly 12 kilometers (7 miles) west of the border with Ukraine, according to the region’s Interior Ministry. It comes just a day after several explosions believed to be caused by rocket-propelled grenades were reported to hit the Ministry of State Security in the city of Tiraspol, the region’s capital.

No one was hurt in the explosions, officials said.

Associated Press

At least four people were killed and nine more injured in aggravated Russin bombings in the Donetsk region. Governor of the region, Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Tuesday said that among the deceased were a 9-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy. Governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Haidai, said the Russians have shelled civilians 17 times over the past 24 hours, with the cities of Popasna, Lysychansk and Girske suffering the most.

Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) in its latest operational briefing claimed that it has eliminated over 500 "enemy personnel" in last 24hours. 

• Russian troops hit Ukrainian military facilities with high-precision air-based missiles, including two ammunition depots in Kharkiv.
• At least 87 military facilities in Ukraine were struck along with 59 armoured vehicles, artillery pieces and vehicles destroyed.
• Russia also destroyed Ukrainian launchers of Buk-M1 and Osa AKM anti-aircraft missile systems
• In addition, Russia destructed an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, a Tochka-U tactical missile launcher, and an electronic warfare station were destroyed near the village of Barvinkove.
• About 13 Ukrainian drones were shot down.

Speaking to Times Radio, the UK Minister for Armed Forces James Haeppy endorsed that it is "completely legitimate" for Ukraine to target attacks on "depth and logistics" within Russian borders. Heappey also stated that the weapons the West is giving to Ukraine "have the range to be used over the border" of Russia. 

Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the Azovstal steel plant on Tuesday. The plant located in the besieged port city of Mariupol is reportedly holding the last contingent of 2,000 Ukrainian defendants fighting the Russian forces in the city. In addition, the plant is also sheltering over 1,000 civilians who were displaced by arbitrary Russian shelling. 

Global market analyst, SPGMarketIntel in a report on the impact of war and subsequent sanctions on the Russian economy predicted that Moscow will take at least 10 years to revive its economy to pre-war levels. Simultaneously, in a forecast for Ukraine the report said, Kyiv could take 5 years.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, reported the state-run Anadolu news agency. The telephone call will take place as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is already headed to Moscow in a bid to pause or end the three-month-long running war. 

The UN General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution that would require five permanent members of the UNSC to explain the use of veto power in the future. 193 members of the UN are expected to vote on the rare and controversial decree that has been revived in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The British Ministry of Defence on Tuesday claimed that the Russian forces are likely trying to encircle heavily fortified Ukrainian positions in the east of Ukraine.“Russian forces attempt to advance towards the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk from the north and the east," the intelligence agency said in its latest update. 

 Ukraine’s foreign minister on Monday urged the U.N. chief to press Russia for an evacuation of the besieged port of Mariupol, calling it something the world body is capable of achieving.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told The Associated Press in an interview he was concerned that by visiting Moscow on Tuesday before traveling to Kyiv, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres could be vulnerable to falling into a Kremlin “trap” in the war.

Kuleba said Guterres “should focus primarily on one issue: evacuation of Mariupol.

An estimated 100,000 people are trapped in the seaside city while a contingent of Ukrainian fighters hold out against Russian forces in a steel mill where hundreds of civilians also are taking shelter.

Associated Press

The sixth package of sanctions against Russia may include some form of an oil embargo, Executive Vice President of the European Commission (EC) Valdis Dombrovskis said. As the bloc moves forward to completely phase out Russian coal by August, the top EU official emphasized that it was necessary to make sure the damage to the European Union’s member states is minimized. The bloc has imposed five packages of sanctions on the Russian Federation till now, largely scaling down its business in Europe.

“We are working on a sixth sanctions package and one of the issues we are considering is some form of an oil embargo. When we are imposing sanctions, we need to do so in a way that maximizes pressure on Russia while minimizing collateral damage on ourselves," Dombrovskis told The Times. However, he stopped short of disclosing the details of the oil embargo but said that it could either include a gradual phase-out or imposition of tariffs beyond a certain price cap.

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Pentagon chief Llyod Austin on Monday hopes that Russian losses in Ukraine will ensure Moscow does not repeat its actions elsewhere. He also stated that he believes Ukraine has the potential to bog down Russia if it is provided with the "right equipment." Without clarifying what type of equipment he deemed fit for the war, Austin went on to add that Kyiv would also emerge victorious if it offered the "right support." The Pentagon chief made the deliberations while speaking to reporters from an undisclosed location in Poland. He was accompanied by US State Secretary Antony Blinken. 

The UK government on Monday announced that it has scrapped tariffs on all goods from Ukraine. In addition, it has also imposed a ban on the export of products and technology to Russia that could be used to repress Ukrainians, the UK's international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said in a statement.

The UK had reduced all tariffs on goods from Ukraine, including key Ukrainian exports like barley, honey, tinned tomatoes and poultry, Trevelyan said, asquoted by BBC.

"We stand unwaveringly with Ukraine in this ongoing fight and will work to ensure Ukraine survives and thrives as a free and sovereign nation," she said in a statement.

The US on Monday launched a new web portal that will allow a US-based sponsor to apply for Ukrainian refugees and their immediate family members to stay in the US for up to two years. The programme, named Uniting for Ukraine, was announced by US president Joe Biden last week. It foresees the arrival of up to 100,000 Ukrainians asylum seekers. 

The Governor of Belgorod on Tuesday claimed that Ukrainian forces shelled the residential region of the Zhuravlevka village. At least two people were reportedly injured in the shelling.

Russia on Tuesday informed that it is set to strengthen its border security and checkpoints that border with Ukraine-  the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions, Ukraine’s general staff has said in its morning update. The move comes after large fires broke out at two oil depots in the city of Bryansk, less than 100 miles from the border with Ukraine, in what was thought to be a potential act of sabotage by Kyiv.

Russian troops on Tuesday launched missile strikes on Ochakiv, said regional military head. The invaders also shelled Mykolaiv with multiple rocket launchers (MLRS). Russians also shelled a civilian infrastructure in Mykolaive, injuring one individual. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday said that Ukraine Armed Forces have liberated at least 930 settlements from Russian occupiers. In his usual late-night address, Zelenskyy also added that "it is only matter to time" before Ukrainians liberate all their lands. 

Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the former Chancellor of Germany, Gerhard Schröder has been asked to resign by the co-leader of Germany's largest party because of his links to Russia. After stating in an interview that Schröder had no intention of resigning from his seats on the boards of Russian energy firms due to the crisis in Ukraine, the co-leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) has urged the former chancellor to give up his SPD membership. 

Referring to Gerhard Schröder, one of two co-leaders of the SPD, Saskia Esken said, “(He) has been acting for many years now only as a businessman, and we should stop seeing him as an elder statesman, as a former chancellor," Euro News reported. During an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, Esken claimed, “He earns his money with work for Russian state companies". She further asserted that Schröder should leave. 

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According to a survey conducted by Ukraine Pravda, 93% of Ukrainians believe that Kyiv will defeat Russian Federation in the ongoing war. However, most of them expect the conflict to run over a long time. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has excoriated the ongoing US-led western crusade to ‘cancel’ Russia as “sanctions aggression.” As his ‘Special Military Operation’ in Ukraine continued for the 61st day on Monday, Putin opined that businesses needed to be safeguarded from unreasonable and unnecessary control. Led by the Biden administration and the European Union, western countries have not only imposed embargoes on Russian businesses but also slapped hitting sanctions on Russian officials and oligarchs. Several major consumer brands have also pulled out of the country, leaving residents in limbo.

Speaking at a meeting of the Board of Prosecutor General’s Office, he said, “Russian business has acted very respectably.” He continued, "Even though not all small and medium-sized companies had fully gotten over the consequences of the pandemic yet, they immediately came up against barriers associated with the sanctions aggression against Russia. In fact, there is no other name for it but sanctions aggression.”

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has blamed the West for orchestrating the assassination of a renowned Russian journalist. On April 25, Putin stated that the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation interrupted the actions of a terrorist organisation that planned to attack and kill a well-known Russian TV journalist Vladimir Solovyev. He further said that now the West has shifted to terror, preparing for the assassination of Russian journalists, as per the reports of RT.

However, Putin did not present any proof to back up his assertions. He also stated that the West will deny the accusations but they have the facts. He further said that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was leading efforts to destabilise Russia and providing advice to the Ukrainian administration. Putin also said that the West had utilised foreign news organisations and social media to incite aggression against Russia's armed troops, and further said that such behaviour should be avoided.

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 Russian troops on Monday have taken control of the Kherson City Council, weeks after occupying the region, said two members of the city government. "Armed men entered the building of the Kherson City Council, took the keys and replaced our guards with their own,"  Kherson Mayor Igor Kolykhaev wrote on his Facebook page. Kherson regional deputy, Yuri Sobolevsky, also described the incident on his Facebook page calling it an"unfortunate but quite expected seizure."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday stated that the risk of nuclear war 'is real and cannot be underestimated," however, he insisted that Moscow is trying to drive down the potential threat. He also blamed the West for the current fears, adding that it stems from "lack of trust" on Russia. According to RIA Novosti, Lavrov also claimed that the western nations were encouraging Ukraine to continue the fight. 

Head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration,  Oleksandr Pavliuk, on Monday informed that a nigh-time curfew has been declared in Ukraine's capital Kyiv in order to protect citizens from Russia's "provocative actions." The curfew will last from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time, CNN reported. 

"We remind you that during the curfew it is forbidden to be on the street and in other public places, to move by transport or on foot," Pavliuk said in his Telegram post. 

The International Skating Union (ISU) on Monday announced a ban on the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus. Additionally they also stripped off the countries the right to host Grand Prix. 

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace on Monday claimed that about 15,000 Russian servicemen have been killed in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Citing UK intelligence reports, he added, Russian losses of military equipment more than 2,000 armored vehicles were destroyed or captured. 

Ukraine's media house NEXTA shared a few images of what it claims to be a mass grave located about five kilometres from Mariupol. The graves have reportedly been found in the village of Stary Krym and Mayor Vadym Boychenko claimed that the Russians have buried the bodies of residents there.

Ukraine has rejected Russia's claims that the former was planning to assassinate Russian TV personality and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov. Calling Russian allegations "fantasies", the Security Service of Ukraine has said that Solovyov would be "tried by international courts for his Goebbels-style murderous propaganda". 

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba revealed that he discussed the 6th package of European Union sanctions against Russia in his latest conversation with his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra. "I discussed the preparation of the 6th EU sanctions package on Russia and the military-technical cooperation between our countries. I also raised the importance of granting Ukraine EU candidate status without delay", Kuleba wrote in a tweet. 

On May 5, an international donors' conference will be held in Poland's Warsaw to provide funding for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The Republic of Poland announced in a press release that the country's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson are holding a Donors' Conference in Warsaw to discuss joint efforts by Warsaw and Stockholm for embattled Ukraine.

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After announcing to remove a bronze structure symbolising Russia-Ukraine friendship in Kyiv, Ukraine will now change names of streets related to Russia and Ukraine. According to The Kyiv Independent, Volodymyr Bondarenko, the secretary of Kyiv city council said that 279 such names have been identified for renaming. Earlier, Kyiv city's mayor Vitali Klitschko said that they will remove an eight-meter tall structure from the capital city. 

According to Vinnytsya Oblast's administration, five people were killed in a Russian airstrike in the region on April 25. Besides, 18 people have been found to be injured after the attack on railway infrastructure near Zhmerynka and Kozyatyn, The Kyiv Independent reported. 

Russia's Federal Security Service has claimed to have arrested members of National Socialism/White Power, an alleged neo-Nazi group, who planned to assassinate Vladimir Solovyov, a TV personality. According to the Kyiv Independent, the assassination was ordered by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the arrested group is virtually unknown in Ukraine. 

Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, announced that a bronze sculpture symbolising Ukraine's friendship with Russia will be removed from the Ukrainian capital. "Eight meters of metal of the so-called friendship of the two nations will be removed from the center of Kyiv", Klitschko said as per NEXTA.

A video released by NEXTA revealed that a Russian plane was shot down by the Armed forces of Ukraine. Since the Russian pilots were able to eject themselves from the plane, Ukrainian soldiers are now searching for the Russian pilots.

Germany's opposition party Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union has urged more weapons supply to Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent reported. This comes after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz blocked the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, US representatives Anthony Blinken and Llyod Austin have promised support to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying he can win against Russia given the right equipment.

Ukrainian politician Lyudmyla Denisova has claimed that Russian forces are torturing Ukraine citizens in the concentration camps they have set up in a factory building in Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast. According to The Kyiv Independent, similar camps have been set up in Russian occupied Izyum.

On concluding the secretive visit to Kyiv, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday stated that he believes Ukraine has the potential to bog down Russia if it is provided with the "right equipment." Without clarifying what type of equipment he deemed fit for the war, Austin went on to add that Kyiv would also emerge victorious if it offered the "right support." 

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Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his best wishes to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on his re-election. Macron clocked in 58.2% of the votes and defeated far-right challenger Marine Le Pen, who won 41.8% of the vote share. According to the Kremlin's website, Putin said, "I sincerely wish you every success in state affairs, as well as good health and wellbeing". 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the US for its 'unprecedented' support in his meeting with American Foreign Secretary Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. According to The Kyiv Independent, Zelenskyy further said that the high-rank visit produced tangible results and that assistance from the US straightens not only Ukraine but “democracy worldwide.”

US State Secretary Antony Blinken concluded his first visit to Ukraine since Russia launched an invasion. He was accompanied by US Defence Secretary Antony Blinken on the secret-shrouded visit. Talking to Twitter on Monday, Blinken shared his "firsthand" experience of his trip to Kyiv. 

The entire Luhansk region was left without power as the Russian armed forces had disconnected the Kreminna substation, NEXTA reported citing head of the regional administration Serhiy Haidai. 

US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin on Monday stated that he believed that Ukraine can emerge victorious against Russia if it is provided with the "right equipment."

“In terms of their ability to win - the first step in winning is believing that you can win. And so, they believe that we can win. We believe that we - they - can win, if they have the right equipment, the right support, and we're going to do everything we can and continue to do everything we can,” Austin told during a press briefing, as quoted by CNN. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United States for "the unprecedented assistance" extended to Ukraine. 

"I would like to thank President (Joe) Biden personally and on behalf of the entire Ukrainian people for his leadership in supporting Ukraine, for his personal clear position. To thank all the American people, as well as the Congress for their bicameral and bipartisan support. We see it. We feel it," Ukraine Presidential office statement said. 

As orthodox Christians across the world gathered to celebrate Easter, Russian troops continued to bombard Ukrainian cities, the country's Deputy Prime Minister said. As a result, no humanitarian corridors were opened on Sunday. "We did not manage to open a humanitarian corridor. Russia did not confirm the ceasefire guarantee, so we will make another attempt tomorrow," Deputy PM and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk said during the nationwide telethon when asked whether people have been evacuated from Mariupol.

The ancient port city has gone from being Ukraine’s largest outlet on the sea of Azov to Russia’s most desperate win. While the crisis is only exacerbating, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenksyy is using his last remaining pocket of resistance to battle the ‘invaders’. On Sunday, he discussed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, plans to evacuate people trapped at the Azovstal Steel Plant as a potential troop exchange. 

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In the wake of the ongoing humanitarian conflict in Europe, Nasdaq Inc. said that its stock exchanges in the United States and Nordic countries will cease to operate with Russian investors. Starting April 29, the company will automatically cancel any active subscription to Nasdaq data, Danish Investment bank Saxo said to its customers. “New subscriptions will not be available from April 29,” the bank said in the letter published on Sunday.

The same was reported by RBC, which said that all customers residing in Russia will not have access to current or pending market data from the Nasdaq exchanges in the United States and Europe if their account does not have a traded position on these sites. For such positions, the client will receive pending quotes until they are closed. However, the restrictions would not affect investments made through Russian brokers. Notably, amidst increasing western sanctions, Putin administration had banned foreigners to sell shares at the Moscow Stock Exchange until April 1.

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As Russian invaders continue to bombard the Azovstal steel plant in the southern port city of Mariupol. The US think tanks in their latest update reported that Russia may be preparing for renewed assaults on the facility. According to the Institute for the Study of War, the troops may launch a "hasty assault" in order to meet the Kremlin-imposed deadline. 

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in its latest operational briefing said that Russia is "yet to achieve a significant breakthrough" due to the lack of sufficient logistical and combat support enablers in place. In a statement, the intelligence official also claimed that Russia has "made minor advances in some areas since shifting its focus to fully occupying the Donbas".

The hushed visit by the American diplomats come as the war completed its second month with death and devastation evident across Ukraine. The humanitarian crisis and slug in the economy stemming from the all-out Russian invasion have pushed Zelenskyy and his administration to call for more military assistance from the Western nations. Responding to his calls, the visiting diplomats promised $300 million in foreign military financing to Kyiv, in addition to approval of a $165 million sale of ammunition, according to reports by the Associated Press. 

US State Department officials, under the condition of anonymity, told The Guardian that Blinken and Austin announced a total of $713 million in foreign military financing for Ukraine and 15 allied partner countries. The amount included some $322 million earmarked for Kyiv alone. The financial assistance is different from the ones allotted previously. This in particular will be cash disbursement, which will allow Kyiv to purchase the supplies that it needs. This financial aid brings total US assistance to Ukraine to some $3.7 billion since the Russian invasion began. 

Ukrainian believers light candles at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Odesa. IMAGE: Shutterstock.

A priest conducts services at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Borodyanka. Image: Shutterstock

The United Kingdom in its latest intelligence update stated that the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has proposed that compensation for the families of deceased military personnel be overseen by defence deparment rather than civilian officials. The move is believed to be an attempt to "hide the true scale of Russia’s losses from the domestic population," UK MoD said. 

Poland has announced it will assist Ukraine with weapons worth around 7 billion PLN (over Rs 12,422 crore). The latest announcement from Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki came after holding a meeting with Ukrainian Premier Denys Shmyhal on Saturday. 

Polish Cabinet spokesperson Piotr Muller said that the aid was a step towards defending the sovereignty of Ukraine, Poland, and Europe. "Poland has provided Ukraine with weapons worth around 7 billion PLN - announced Prime Minister @MorawieckiM during the conference for the initiative Stop Russia NOW. This is over 1.6 billion dollars to defend Ukrainian, Polish and European sovereignty!", he wrote.

 According to UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 1,151,000 Ukrainians have fled the embattled country so far. The UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on the other hand estimates more than 7.7 million people have been displaced within Ukraine.

The US State Department on Monday said that the US diplomats to Ukraine will begin returning this week. The announcement came after the secretary of state Antony Blinken and secretary of defense Lloyd Austin returned from a secretive visit to Ukraine to meet president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As reported by The Guardian, US President Joe Biden will also announce his nominee to be ambassador to Ukraine in the coming week.

FIRMS, NASA's fire monitoring service on Monday confirmed the massive fire in Bryansk, Russia. According to maps on its website, satellite imaging tracked two locations feared to be set alight. 

The United States announced new military assistance for Ukraine and a renewed diplomatic push in the war-ravaged nation as President Joe Biden's secretary of state and Pentagon chief completed a secrecy-shrouded trip to Kyiv.

In the highest-level American visit to the capital since Russia invaded in late February, top envoy Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Ukraine’s president, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, and his advisers that the U.S. would provide more than $300 million in foreign military financing and had approved a $165 million sale of ammunition.

They also said Biden would soon announce his nominee to be ambassador to Ukraine and that American diplomats who left Ukraine before the war would start returning to the country this coming week. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv will remain closed for the moment.

Zelenskyy had announced Saturday that he would meet with the U.S. officials in Kyiv on Sunday, but the Biden administration refused to confirm that and declined to discuss details of a possible visit even though planning had been underway for more than a week.

Journalists who traveled with Austin and Blinken to Poland were barred from reporting on the trip until it was over, were not allowed to accompany them on their overland journey into Ukraine, and were prohibited from specifying where in southeast Poland they waited for the Cabinet members to return. Officials at the State Department and the Pentagon cited security concerns.

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With the mass exodus fleeing from Ukraine, the risk of infections from COVID-19 has been heightened. Unvaccinated people may be vulnerable to diseases such as rubella, measles, diphtheria and more, the apex health agency warned. 

With Russia intensifying its onslaught on day 60 of its "unprovoked" invasion, sirens were activated in the Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Kharkiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk oblasts, as well as in Kyiv. (Kyiv Independent)

Advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Oleksiy Arestovich on Monday said that Russian invading troops have now tried to capture the Chornobaivka region for the 17th time. 

Russia on Monday accused Ukraine of shelling a village in its Belgorod region. The village is reportedly located at the bordering area between Ukraine and Russia. Russia's Tass Agency reported, citing Moscow officials, that the village was shelled from across the frontier.

The U.S. secretaries of state and defense met Sunday night with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the highest-level visit to the country's capital by an American delegation since the start of Russia's invasion.

The meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, which was confirmed by a senior Ukrainian official, came as Ukraine pressed the West for more powerful weapons against Russia's campaign in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Moscow's forces sought to dislodge the last Ukrainian troops in the battered port of Mariupol.

Associated Press

The German vice-chancellor  Robert Habeck on Monday said Berlin should have supported Ukraine militarily much earlier. In an interview with German public service broadcaster Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, Habeck pointed out it was a mistake that Germany waited this long. “We certainly should have supported Ukraine militarily much earlier, and I'm not just talking about days or weeks, but years," he said, as quoted by BBC.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lost interest in diplomatic efforts to end the war. “He wants to win big,” a source told Financial Times. Notably, the President considered a peace deal with Ukraine last month. On Sunday, Russia's 'Special Military Operation' entered 60th day.

UK human rights lawyer alleged that Russia is quietly allowing rape in Ukraine. "Russian troops have been given tacit permission to rape civilians during their invasion of Ukraine," Helena Kennedy, who is part of a legal task force helping to build cases of alleged war crimes in Ukraine, said, The Kyiv Independent reported.  

A massive fire broke out in an oil factory in Russia's Bryansk region. “The Emergency Situations Ministry has confirmed there’s a fire,” the government’s press office said. “There’s also a confirmation that it’s the fuel tanks.” The Ministry received the report of the blaze at 2 am on Monday (Moscow time.) The fire, however, has not been linked to the war although last week Russia said Ukrainian helicopters hit residential buildings in the area and injured seven people. 

Ina newly released video by Azov Battalion, which is among Ukrainian forces at the Azovstal steelworks where soldiers and civilians have been holed up under a Russian attack, shows a woman in the bunker begging world leaders to help evacuate her and others struck in the plant. “We want to live in our city, in our country. We are tired of these bombings, constant airstrikes on our land. How much longer will this continue?” she says. The video was shot Sunday at the plant, confirmed Sviatoslav Palamar,  deputy commander of the group. 

As many as nine Russian missiles struck the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk on Sunday, said Dmytro Lunin, head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration. "Already nine Russian missiles have hit Kremenchuk's infrastructure this evening," Lunin said adding, "The enemy has no regard, even on such a holy day."

As the all-out Russian war in Ukraine entered day 60, the situation in Mariupol has remained dire with at least a thousand civilians stranded in the Azovstal steel plant as invading troops continued to batter the city. Noting the deteriorating humanitarian situation, the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) on Sunday called for "unimpeded" access to the besieged city in order to facilitate the quick evacuation of civilians and those injured. In a statement, the humanitarian organisation also said that it is "deeply alarmed" by the extreme shortage of necessities in the war-ravaged port city.

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Days after comparing Mariupol to the Auschwitz camp, Ukraine has now said that Russia is mulling using prisoners of war for blood donation. “The state Duma of Russia proposes to force the captured Ukrainian military to donate blood for the wounded occupiers, this fact testifies to the analogy of atrocities, Nazis in concentration camps during World War II,”, Ukrainian ombudswoman for Human Rights Lyudmila Denisova said drawing parallels between Hitler and Putin's rules. In a Facebook post, she said that it was a direct violation of the principles of the Geneva Convention. 

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The Ukrainian army has claimed that Russian troops attached Ukraine’s flags to their tanks and fired at residential buildings in occupied parts of Kherson. In a statement, Operational Command “South” said that the enemy is using psychological warfare to attack civilians in Molodetske, on the outskirts of the village of Hrozove. As the battle for Kyiv’s sovereignty continued for day 60, Zelenskyy’s troops said that Russians were giving a “fake idea” to residents that they are being attacked by Ukraine.

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Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast on Sunday killed at least 5 civilians, said Donetsk Olabst governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. The series of brutal strikes also injured 5 others, he added.