Live
Ukraine war latest: Putin’s tactic ‘blunted’ by supplies shortfall – as Ukraine plans ‘tough countermeasures’
Vladimir Putin’s tactic of hitting critical infrastructure to knock out power in Ukraine during winter is being hampered by a lack of missiles, the MoD says; listen to the Daily podcast while you scroll, with Deborah Haynes describing life in Ukraine with constant blackouts.
LIVE
Russia
Ukraine
Why you can trust Sky News
Key points
Russian strategy to strike critical infrastructure ‘blunted’ due to shortfall in supplies View post
US considering ‘dramatic expansion’ of training Ukraine’s troops View post
Teenager ‘imprisoned in cold, dark room’ in occupied Kherson View post
Russia ‘has failed to learn from high casualty campaigns’ View post
Zelenskyy: Ukraine planning ‘tougher countermeasures’ on front lines View post
Live reporting by Faith Ridler. Updates from Deborah Haynes in Ukraine and Diana Magnay in Moscow
Sort by:
LatestSort by latest OldestSort by oldest
2m ago
05:25
‘US and NATO’ are involved in war, says Russia – as Kremlin claims it is ready for talks
The Kremlin said today it is “ready to listen” if anybody wants to hold talks on the war in Ukraine.
Talks have been halted between the sides for months, as Russia is pushed onto the back foot and Ukraine makes numerous significant gains.
Despite this, experts have claimed the war is unlikely to end on the battlefield – but rather around the negotiating table.
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said Ukrainian allegations that Russia wanted talks in order to win time to regroup and rebuild its armed forces were absurd.
He added that Russia would be willing to return to talks with the West if it changed its mind about the merit of discussing security proposals which Moscow floated in December.
In a news briefing, Mr Lavrov said the US and NATO were participants in the war because of the support they were providing to Kyiv.
He added that Washington and the Atlantic alliance were involved in the war because they were supplying arms to Ukraine and providing it with military training on their territory.
Copy link
14m ago
05:14
Ukraine accuses Zaporizhzhia deputy chief engineer of collaborating with Russia
The deputy chief engineer of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia power plant in southern Ukraine has been sacked by Kyiv for allegedly collaborating with Moscow.
The Zaporizhzhia NPP has been under Russian occupation since early in the war, but is still run by Ukrainian employees.
Today, the Energoatom state nuclear energy company said it had sacked the site’s deputy chief engineer.
He is accused of collaborating with Moscow’s forces and treason.
It comes a day after Russia said it had promoted the engineer, Yuriy Chernichuk, to serve as the director of the contested plant.
Copy link
58m ago
04:30
Six million without power as winter arrives in Ukraine
Around six million people were still without electricity in Ukraine as they woke up on the first official day of winter, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russia has targeted critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since October, at one point knocking out power for 10 million people and cutting water supplies to entire regions.
Rolling blackouts have been in place for months in a bid to conserve electricity supplies, but Russian strikes continue to hinder distribution.
In some regions of Ukraine, including the southern city of Kherson, local authorities have set up heating and electricity hubs to allow people to charge their electronics.
But Ukrainians have resorted to desperate measures to heat their homes, with a stark rise in fires noted in residential areas – killing nine people.
A total of 131 fires were noted in Ukraine in 24 hours.
The Ukrainian emergency service said: “Only in the last day there were 131 fires in Ukraine, 106 of them in the residential sector. Nine people died, eight were injured.”
Copy link
1h ago
04:10
Russia condemns Germany’s decision to recognise Soviet-era famine as genocide
Moscow has criticised Germany’s decision to recognise a Soviet-era famine in Ukraine as a Russian-imposed genocide this morning.
The Kremlin said the move amounted to an anti-Russian provocation by Germany, and an attempt to “whitewash” parts of its past.
It comes after German lawmakers passed a resolution on Wednesday declaring the death by starvation of millions of Ukrainians – the Holodomor – was genocide.
In November 1932, Josef Stalin dispatched police to seize all grain and livestock from newly collectivised Ukrainian farms, including the seed needed to plant the next crop.
Millions of Ukrainians starved to death in the following months from what has widely been called “clearly premeditated mass murder”.
Russia again rejected the claim that this was a genocide and said millions of people across other parts of the Soviet Union, including in Russia, also suffered.
“There is another attempt to justify and push forward a campaign – being planted in Ukraine and sponsored by the West – to demonise Russia and to pit ethnic Ukrainians against Russians,” Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The Germans are trying to rewrite their history … downplay their own guilt and muddy the memory of the unprecedented nature of the countless crimes committed by Nazi Germany during World War II.”
The ministry accused Germany of “reviving the fascist ideology of racial hatred and discrimination and attempting to absolve itself of responsibility for war crimes” by passing the declaration.
Copy link
1h ago
03:52
Liberated Kherson without power after heavy shelling
The recently liberated Ukrainian city of Kherson has lost its power supply after heavy shelling by Russian forces, the regional governor said today.
Kherson, which had endured weeks without basic utilities such as running water and electricity, partially regained its power supply last week.
Yaroslav Yanushevych, the governor of the Kherson region, blamed Russian shelling for the new power cut and said energy workers were working to fix the problem.
After living under Russian occupation for almost nine months, Kherson residents now face the danger of regular shelling in some parts of the city from Russian troops who retreated only to the opposite side of the Dnipro River.
Other Ukrainian cities are suffering power cuts after Russian air strikes.
The Ukrainian armed forces said today that the number of Russian soldiers had decreased in Oleshky, a town not far from Kherson on the Russian-controlled side of the Dnipro.
“Enemy troops were withdrawn from certain settlements of the Kherson (region) and dispersed in forest strips along the section of the Oleshky – Hola Prystan highway,” it said, referring to a highway that runs roughly parallel to the river on Russian-held territory.
“The main part of the troops are mobilised personnel.”
Copy link
1h ago
03:40
‘Almost 90,000’ Russian troops killed in Ukraine
Ukraine has estimated that almost 90,000 Russian troops have died in the conflict so far, 560 of which were allegedly killed in the last 24 hours.
In its latest estimate, the Ukrainian armed forces claimed a total of 89,440 Russians have been killed since the war erupted in February.
As ever, it is worth noting that Ukrainian estimates of losses tend to be much higher than those published by Russia and by Western agencies.
Copy link
2h ago
03:22
Third ‘letter bomb’ found in Spain – reports
A third explosive device hidden in a parcel was sent to an air force base in Torrejon de Ardoz near the Spanish capital of Madrid, local reports claimed this morning.
Two letter bombs were found on Wednesday addressed to the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid and a weapons manufacturer in the north, Spanish police said.
The first exploded and caused minor injuries to a Ukrainian official.
It is thought the initial two incidents were connected, as the same email address was written on the back of both parcels.
Copy link
2h ago
03:14
Restoration under way in newly liberated Kherson
The photograph below is a stark reminder of the situation in southern Ukraine, where millions of people remain without electricity as winter approaches.
In Kherson, which was liberated from Russian control just weeks ago, Ukrainians are still working to restore power lines that were damaged by military strikes.
Although the city of Kherson is now back in the hands of Ukraine, it still remains within Russian artillery range – and is vulnerable to further strikes.
Copy link
2h ago
02:48
Ukraine preparing ‘tough countermeasures’ on Russian troops, says Zelenskyy
Ukraine is preparing “tougher countermeasures” to Russia’s bombardment on the front lines, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last night.
In his nightly address, Mr Zelenskyy said these attacks would be more powerful than those that have previously been launched against Vladimir Putin’s forces.
He added: “We are analysing the intentions of the occupiers and preparing countermeasures – tougher countermeasures than is now the case.”
Mr Zelenskyy did not elaborate on what these countermeasures may consist of.
Ukrainian troops have made significant gains in recent weeks, retaking territory in Kharkiv and Kherson that was seized by Russia earlier in the war.
However, Western agencies have warned that although Russia appears to be on the back foot, the conflict will likely not end on the battlefield – but around the negotiating table.
Copy link
2h ago
02:29
Orphaned Ukrainian lion cubs arrive in US
Four lion cubs that were orphaned during the war in Ukraine have arrived at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota.
The animal rescue pledged to provide the four-month-old cubs – named Taras, Stefania, Lesya and Prada – with a permanent home earlier this year.
They had spent the last three weeks at the Poznan Zoo in Poland, where they were cared for after surviving bombings and drone attacks in Ukraine.
Copy link
3h ago
02:08
Russian strategy to strike critical infrastructure ‘blunted’ due to shortfall in supplies
Moscow’s bombardment of critical infrastructure in Ukraine is “likely the first example” of Russia “attempting to implement a key component of its military doctrine,” the Ministry of Defence said today.
It said this doctrine, the Strategic Operation for the Destruction of Critically Important Targets (SODCIT), has been adopted by the Russian military in “recent years”.
But despite this, the MoD says “its effectiveness as a strategy has likely been blunted because Russia has already expended a large proportion of its suitable missiles against tactical targets”.
It added: “Russia envisioned SODCIT as using long-range missiles to strike an enemy state’s critical national infrastructure, rather than its military forces, to demoralise the population and ultimately force the state’s leaders to capitulate.
“Russia’s strikes continue to cause power shortages resulting in indiscriminate, widespread humanitarian suffering across Ukraine.”
Moscow has repeatedly bombarded energy and water supply infrastructure in Ukraine since October, leaving millions of people without power.
Copy link
3h ago
01:58
US considering ‘dramatic expansion’ in training for Ukraine
Washington is considering significantly expanding the training the US military provides to Ukrainian troops, multiple US officials told CNN.
This could amount to instructing as many as 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers a month at a US base in Germany, it said.
This would not only mark a substantial increase in the number of Ukrainians the US military trains, but also the type of training they ultimately receive.
At the moment, Ukrainian troops are largely trained in small groups on specific weapons systems.
But if this programme were to go ahead, it would involve “much larger groups of Ukrainian soldiers in more sophisticated battlefield tactics”, CNN reports.
A source said this would be “much more intense and comprehensive” than military training received in the UK or in Poland.
The proposal is under review by the Biden administration.
Copy link
3h ago
01:40
Ukraine facing toughest winter in post-Soviet history, says energy boss
This winter will be the toughest in Ukraine’s history as an independent state as Russia targets power and water supplies, worsening the impact of the war, an energy boss has said.
But Maksym Timchenko told Sky News that Moscow will fail to turn out the lights for too long with its missile strikes because of his country’s ability to repair the damage quickly.
The chief executive of DTEK, the biggest private Ukrainian energy firm, predicted that people will endure the next 125 days of wintertime “as brave Ukrainians” despite the threat of Russian attacks against the energy grid.
“We will survive and we will win,” he said.
Workers from DTEK and Ukrenergo, the national electricity company, have mobilised at great personal risk to repair power stations, substations and other parts of the network that have been targeted by Russian airstrikes since October in a new energy frontline.
“This has the same importance for Ukrainian victories as the military frontline,” Mr Timchenko said.
Four of his employees have so far been killed on duty since Russia launched its full-scale war in February. Three died in rocket strikes and the fourth was killed by a mine.
Read more from our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes below…
Ukraine faces toughest 125 days of winter in post-Soviet history, energy boss says
Sky News
Copy link
4h ago
01:28
Investigations continue in Spain after blast at arms company
Yesterday, we reported that an employee at the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid was injured in an apparent letter bomb blast that rocked the Spanish capital.
Later another incident was reported at the headquarters of an arms company that manufactures C90 rocket launchers donated to Kyiv.
The photographs below show a police cordon still in place outside Instalaza in the Spanish city of Zaragoza.
It is understood the two letters came from the same sender, with the same email written on the back of both.
Copy link
4h ago
01:19
Teenager ‘held in cold, dark room’ in occupied Kherson
A 14-year-old boy was held captive in the southern city of Kherson, the Ukrainian commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, has claimed.
The city and neighbouring settlements were under Russian occupation for months before being liberated after Vladimir Putin’s forces retreated.
Numerous reports of atrocities have since surfaced, the latest claiming a teenager was held captive with “almost no food” simply for photographing burnt Russian military equipment.
“The child heard sounds and saw the consequences of torture,” Mr Lubinets said.
“The boy was kept in a cold and dark room for a long period of time and received almost no food for simply photographing the burned equipment of the Russian military.
“The boy also describes the small room in which they were kept. And although he was not subjected to violent torture, he was tortured by hunger and staying in a dark room.
“The parents say that after the release, the boy adapted to the usual life and bright light after a long time.
“With such actions, Russia violates international humanitarian law, namely the Geneva Convention regarding the civilian population of Ukraine, committing a war crime.”
Mr Lubinets said the teenager, named as Vitaly, is now at home.
Copy link
4h ago
01:09
Russia ‘has failed to learn from high casualty campaigns’ – ISW
Moscow’s efforts near the eastern city of Bakhmut indicate that Russia has “fundamentally failed to learn from previous high casualty campaigns”, a US-based think tank has said.
Vladimir Putin has “continually expended combat strength on small settlements around Bakhmut since the end of May” – but his forces have only “secured gains of a few kilometres at a time”, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
In its latest update, the ISW said: “Russian efforts to advance on Bakhmut have resulted in the continued attrition of Russian manpower and equipment, pinning troops on relatively insignificant settlements for weeks and months at a time.”
It said this “pattern of operations closely resembles the previous Russian effort to take Severodonetsk and Lysychansk earlier in the war”.
However, the ISW added that even if Russia continues to advance towards Bakhmut, the city will offer them “little operational benefit”.
It said: “The costs associated with six months of brutal, grinding, and attrition-based combat around Bakhmut far outweigh any operational advantage that the Russians can obtain from taking Bakhmut.
“Russian offensives around Bakhmut, on the other hand, are consuming a significant proportion of Russia’s available combat power, potentially facilitating continued Ukrainian counteroffensives elsewhere.”
Copy link
4h ago
01:02
Good morning – here’s your early run down
Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine, as the conflict with Russia shows no sign of slowing down.
If you’re joining us for the first time this morning, here’s what you missed:
An employee at the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid has been injured in an apparent letter bomb blast, according to Spanish police
Both Russia and NATO have stressed the need to avoid a direct confrontation, which would significantly escalate the war
The Security Service of Ukraine has carried out searches of properties linked to a pro-Russian former politician, the agency said
NATO has pledged to help Russia’s neighbours survive as independent nations, saying the outcome of the war is of “existential importance” for countries like Moldova and Georgia.
We’ll bring you updates on the war throughout the day.
Copy link
13h ago
15:50
Weapons and cash found in properties linked to pro-Russian politician
The Security Service of Ukraine has carried out searches of properties linked to a pro-Russian former politician, the agency said.
Weapons and Russian cash were found at homes and offices belonging to Yevhen Murayev, who it said was “hiding from justice abroad”.
Mr Murayev’s political party, Nashi, and a TV channel under his control had touted pro-Russian views before the invasion began.
Nashi was banned after the war started.
Weeks before the invasion began, the UK’s Foreign Office had warned Russia was considering installing Mr Murayev to lead a puppet government.
The claim was denied by both him and Moscow.
The Security Service has said the materials found in today’s searches will be examined further.
Copy link
14h ago
15:16
Watch: How Ukrainians are adapting to blackouts
Our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes has been speaking to families in Kyiv who have had to become self-sufficient during frequent energy blackouts.
Russian forces have continually targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing the country to ration its power supplies.
Copy link
14h ago
15:06
Germany recognises Ukraine’s Holodomor famine as genocide
The German parliament has approved a resolution recognising Ukraine’s 1930s Holodomor as genocide.
The famine was believed to have killed more than three million Ukrainians under the rule of Soviet leader Josef Stalin.
Following a debate attended by Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, the resolution was passed with the support of Berlin’s lower house.
It states that “the mass deaths from hunger were not a result of failed harvests; the political leadership of the Soviet Union under Josef Stalin was responsible for them.”
“From today’s perspective, a historical and political classification as genocide is obvious,” it says.
Ukrainians marked the 90th anniversary of the start of the famine just days ago.
