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Ukraine war latest: RAF fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft – as state of emergency called over ‘attack’ on city deep into Russia
Amid reports of heavy fighting in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, the Kremlin hits out at Kyiv over a purported drone strike on a Russian city – and it is claimed Vladimir Putin has delayed an annual news conference. Listen to our daily podcast on the war as you scroll.
Friday 9 June 2023 18:28, UK
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Key points
State of emergency called View post after reports of drone strike on Russian city – 110 miles over border View post
RAF scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft View post
Putin reportedly calls off annual news conference ‘in illustration of his decline’ View post
Intercepted phone call ‘proves Russia blew up dam’ View post
Alex Crawford in Kherson: Few foreign relief workers assisting in unfolding humanitarian crisis View post
Watch: Panic at evacuation point as sound of shelling rings out View post
Sean Bell analysis: What is happening between Putin and the Wagner Group? View post
Your questions answered: What makes Russia’s invasion illegal – as opposed to wars in countries like Iraq? View post
Live reporting by Brad Young and (earlier) Lara Keay
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16m ago
13:28
Putin says Ukrainian counteroffensive has started
Every attempted advance had failed, at a heavy cost in casualties, but Kyiv still preserves its “offensive potential”, said the president.
Russia has been making the claim since the start of the week, while Ukraine has said the start of the counteroffensive will not be announced.
Ukrainian forces attacked Russian lines four times with two battalions supported by tanks just south of Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk, but were pushed back, according to the Russian defence ministry.
It also said Russian forces repelled two attacks just south of the city of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region.
“All counteroffensive attempts made so far have failed. But the offensive potential of the troops of the Kyiv regime is still preserved,” said Mr Putin.
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24m ago
13:20
Critical air defences and ammunition in £1.6bn US military package
The US has announced £1.6bn ($2bn) more in military assistance for Ukraine, including critical air defences and ammunition.
Delivery depends on their availability and production timeline, as the Biden administration intends to purchase from industry rather than use up US stocks.
What is in the package?
Ammunition for Patriot air defence systems
Raytheon HAWK air defence systems
Missiles
105mm and 203mm artillery rounds
Small AeroVironment drones that can be launched by hand
Laser-guided rocket system munitions
Support for training and maintenance
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49m ago
12:55
Russian anti-Putin militia plans to demilitarise border by force – reports
It has been a few days since we’ve heard from the anti-Putin militias causing a headache for the leader inside Russia’s western border.
The Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russia Volunteer Corps have launched multiple incursions into Belgorod, even reportedly capturing Russian soldiers.
Now the political wing of the FRL has said it intends to forcefully demilitarise the Russian border, in an interview with the Kyiv Post.
Representative Aleksey Baranovsky said the group were 10km (0.6 miles) into Russia and intend to advance at least 40km so that tanks and Grad missiles cannot strike Ukrainian territory.
Should Ukraine liberate Crimea, the FRL plans to take advantage of the chaos to overthrow the Kremlin: “Unfortunately, the Russian people gave birth to Putin, and we must also finish him off. No one will do this job for us.”
He told the Kyiv Post the group of “military rebels” aim to seize power, before transitioning to a democratic state.
“Compared with post-Hitler Germany, where the first elections happened there four years after the fall of the reich, we expect to implement this plan in two years,” Mr Baranovsky told the Kyiv Post.
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1h ago
12:35
UK accuses Iran of supplying Russia with ammunition for first time
It comes after the US released new intelligence on how Tehran is providing hundreds of lethal drones to Moscow.
James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, said that the UK agreed with the US assessment and went on to make a specific reference to ammunition.
“Iran has provided Russia with a consistent stream of weapons and ammunition which is being used to kill civilians in Ukraine,” he said in a statement.
“In return, Russia is supplying Iran with sophisticated military technology, financial support and advice which the regime could use to threaten our partners in the Middle East and suppress protests.”
Sky News this week revealed a purported arms contract that a security source said offers the first hard evidence that Iran has sold ammunition to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
Arms contract shows Iran has sold Russia ammunition for Ukraine war, says security source
Sky News
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1h ago
12:08
Five dead, 13 missing and more than 3,200 evacuated
At least five people have died and 13 are missing as a result of the dam destruction.
More than 3,200 people have been evacuated from the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, according to the latest figures from Ukraine’s interior ministry.
The water level in Kherson has started to fall – but still remains above five metres high, according to its governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
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1h ago
11:56
Why seismic data is ‘a problem’ for Russia’s dam narrative
Returning to the Kakhovka dam disaster, and evidence continues to suggest Russia was the responsible party.
Readings released by a Norwegian seismic organisation spike at the same time explosions were reported at the reservoir.
The spike, recorded by a Norsar tracker 400 miles away, shows a “massive explosion” took place, defence analyst Michael Clarke said.
“Only big explosives right against the wall of the dam – a tonne or more – will actually breach the dam,” said Professor Clarke.
This appears to undermine Russian allegations that Ukraine shelled the dam, and lends credence to analysis by experts who suggested it is much more likely Russia used explosives.
“This [evidence] will be a problem for Russia to try to explain away. They can’t keep on blaming it on the war in general or artillery shelling or the Ukrainians, and the world will take note of that,” said the professor.
A barge in the dried up Kakhovka reservoir
A barge in the dried up Kakhovka reservoir
