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Ukraine war – live updates: Cryptic message hints Ukraine planning something ‘very soon’ – as interview question prompts Putin’s defence minister to walk off
Analysts say the Russian offensive in Bakhmut is stalling, with the situation now “stabilised” – and there is a hint Ukraine could launch a counteroffensive “very soon”. Listen to a Daily podcast special on supersonic missiles and the frontline as you scroll.
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Situation ‘stabilised’ in Bakhmut as Russian forces have ‘achieved nothing’ View post
Russia’s defence minister walks off after being asked when the war will end View post
Cryptic message hints Ukraine planning something ‘very soon’ View post
West won’t leave Russia and China alone, claims former president View post
Summit has helped seal Russia’s fate as vassal state of China | Dominic Waghorn View post
Live reporting by Katie Williams and (earlier) Emily Mee, with updates from Diana Magnay, Russia correspondent in Moscow
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30m ago
12:55
World Athletics lifts Russia doping ban – but athletes still barred due to war
World Athletics has voted to end an eight-year ban of the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) – but Russian and Belarusian athletes will still be barred from competing internationally due to the Ukraine war.
RusAF was banned from international competition in 2015 over state-sponsored doping covered up by coaches, doctors and officials.
The ban remained place over a failure by Russia to meaningfully address the issue.
But Rune Andersen, head of World Athletics’ Russia task force, said in November last year that he was satisfied with the “new culture of good governance and zero tolerance for doping throughout the organisation”.
Though the WA Council has now voted to lift the suspension, president Lord Sebastian Coe says Russian and Belarusian athletes will remain barred “for the foreseeable future” because of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The International Olympic Committee has opened the door to let athletes from the two countries take part in next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
But it now looks unlikely that they’d be able to take part in what is arguably the most high-profile element of the games.
World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe
World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe
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43m ago
12:42
EU leaders endorse plan to send 1 million rounds of ammo to Ukraine
European Union leaders have endorsed a plan to jointly procure 1 million rounds of artillery ammo for Ukraine over the next year, the AP news agency reports.
The plan to ramp up the supply of shells to Ukraine was approved by EU foreign and defence ministers earlier this week, and has today been signed off by the bloc’s 27 member states at a summit in Brussels.
A statement setting out the meeting’s conclusions on Ukraine said: “Taking into account the security and defence interests of all member states, the European Council welcomes the agreement… to deliver ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition to Ukraine and, if requested, missiles.”
Joining the summit by video call earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the was thankful for the proposal.
Ukraine has emphasised how important the shells are to battles of attrition, with thousands being fired each day by both sides.
In an evening address earlier this week, Mr Zelenskyy said he was expecting an increase in ammo supply from western partners.
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1h ago
12:25
‘Putin will stop where we stop him,’ Irish premier says
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said peace in Ukraine will not be possible until Russia’s military objectives fail, as he urged Western countries to step up military support for Kyiv.
Speaking before a summit of EU leaders in Brussels today, Mr Varadkar said European countries must increase ammo supplies to Ukraine and ensure Russia’s efforts to capture its territory and “overthrow is government” fail.
Ireland won’t provide military aid for Kyiv due to its military neutrality, but it has given non-lethal equipment such as medical supplies, body armour and fuel.
Mr Varadkar was also critical of “failed” past attempts to appease Russia and its president Vladimir Putin.
“Putin was allowed to occupy part of Georgia, then allowed to seize Crimea,” he said.
“People often ask the question: Where will Putin stop? Putin will stop where we stop him,” he added.
“I don’t think peace will be possible until it’s very clear that Russia’s military objectives in Ukraine have failed.”
The Irish premier will tell European leaders that he has emphasised to US President Joe Biden that Washington must continue supporting Kyiv.
Leaders of several EU nations are expected to sign an agreement today to jointly procure 155mm artillery shells for Ukraine.
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1h ago
11:59
Russia ‘shuts down 20 bars in bid to prevent anti-war discussions’ – thinktank
Russian authorities may have shut down two-dozen bars in St Petersburg in a move to crack down on “internal dissent among Russian social circles”, analysts say.
Fontanka, a St Petersburg news outlet, said yesterday that 20 bars had been closed as part of an investigation into claims that they were fuelling anti-social behaviour in young people, including “systemic drinking” and drug use.
But the Institute for the Study of War says this claim is “implausible” given normal Russian attitudes towards heavy drinking.
The ISW says the Russian Federal Security Service recently raided two popular bars in the city and “forced patrons to conduct pro-war activities” – prompting at least one Russian businessman to step away from his role in managing the bars.
The actions by Russian authorities might encourage self-censorship among rich Russian businessman and bar-goers by displaying the consequences of anti-war rhetoric, the ISW adds.
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1h ago
11:32
Finland to send three more Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
Finland’s defence ministry has announced a new €161m (£142m) package of military support for Ukraine – including the provision of three more Leopard 2 tanks.
The country has already pledged to send three of the German-made tanks to Ukraine, with the latest announcement bringing the total to six.
Finland will fund training on the tanks as well as their maintenance, its defence ministry said today.
Heavy weapons and ammo will also be sent to Kyiv for its fight against the Russian invasion.
Defence minister Antti Kaikkonen said: “We will continue our determined efforts to support Ukraine in repelling Russia’s brutal invasion.”
Finland is among several countries to have pledged tanks for Ukraine – Germany announced in January that it would send 14 of the Leopard 2s, while the US says it will hand over M1 Abrams tanks to bolster Ukraine’s defence.
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2h ago
11:11
Russia spokeswoman questions if royal ‘brought depleted uranium shells’ to Poland
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has bizarrely questioned if whether Prince William brought shells containing depleted uranium on his visit to Poland this week.
The comments are thought to be a reference to the decision by the UK to provide the armour-piercing rounds to Ukraine.
The move has angered Russia, which says it amounts to a nuclear escalation in the war.
Vladimir Putin warned Moscow would have to “respond accordingly”, while Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the move brought the conflict “to new and dangerous levels”.
While depleted uranium munitions are not deemed to be nuclear weapons under international standards, their emission of low levels of radiation has prompted the UN nuclear watchdog to urge caution when handling and warn of the possible dangers of exposure.
Ms Zakharova also claims Prince William’s visit to Poland “removes any doubt” as to whether Britain and Poland are involved in the conflict.
“I wonder if William Karlovich brought any depleted uranium shells to his troops,” she said in a Telegram post.
“Karl” is the Russian term for Charles – following a tradition in Russia of translating names of English monarchs into Russian from their Latin equivalents.
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2h ago
10:35
Prince William’s Poland visit a ‘personal mission’ for royal
Laura Bundock, Sky News royal correspondent
The dialogue was friendly, the discussion mostly about Ukraine.
Prince William and Polish President Andrzej Duda spoke at length about the Polish efforts to help Ukraine, with the prince offering his gratitude and reiterating the “profound relationship” shared between Poland the UK.
Of course, we’ve long known his support for Ukraine, but this level of engagement, coming within miles of the Ukrainian border, went one step further.
These visits are chosen by the government, but always in collaboration with Kensington Palace. We’re told the trip was, in part, a “personal mission” for Prince William.
That was certainly reflected by his engagements meeting Ukrainian refugees forced to flee the war.
He sat down, he chatted and he listened.
Prince William listens to young Ukrainian refugees and hears about their experiences of settling into life in Poland
Prince William listens to young Ukrainian refugees and hears about their experiences of settling into life in Poland
We’re told he made a personal donation of bikes and scooters for the children based in one of Warsaw’s vast accommodation centres.
And he took time meeting young Ukrainians who’ve resettled in Poland, many to continue their studies.
One young student told us his visit one year on from the war was an important reminder for the rest of the world that the suffering, the fighting continues.
His presence and influence, she said, makes a big difference.
This was only a short visit, but one which perhaps says a great deal about Prince William’s international role within the royal family.
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3h ago
10:14
Two Ukrainian refugees driving car back to ‘warzone’ due to UK registration costs, MP says
Two refugees who fled to the UK from Ukraine last year are planning to drive their car from Manchester to Dnipro due to the high cost of keeping it registered in the UK, an MP has said.
Labour MP Jeff Smith told the House of Commons that the refugees – who are being hosted by a family in his Manchester Withington constituency – face having to fork out high fees to keep their car in the UK after their 12-month temporary registration lapses.
“In order to avoid some very high and complicated UK and Ukraine registration charges and import taxes, they are planning to drive back to Dnipro next month to leave their car in the warzone,” he said.
He called the situation “ridiculous” and called for a “swift resolution” to the problem.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt said the situation Mr Smith described was “crackers”, and that it was an issue being looked at by the UK’s Conservative government.
Google Maps says the trip from Manchester to the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnirpo would take 38 hours, covering more than 2,000 miles through six countries.
At least 45 people were killed in a Russian missile strike on the city in January, amid a massive wave of attacks targeting civilians and energy infrastructure alike.
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3h ago
09:40
Slovakia sends first four fighter jets to Ukraine
Slovakia has handed over the first four of 13 pledged fighter jets to Ukraine, its defence ministry has said.
The country was the second to approve providing Kyiv with MiG-29 jets last week, a day after Poland announced it would send four.
The Slovak Defence Ministry said the rest of the planes would be delivered in the coming weeks.
Ukraine’s government has made increasingly urgent requests for warplanes in recent months.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said his country needs jets to effectively fight back against Russia’s invasion.
Will the MiG-29 jets make a difference?
After Poland and Slovakia became the first NATO members to pledge fighter jets to Ukraine, Sky News spoke to military analyst Sean Bell about whether the ex-Soviet MiG-29 planes would make a significant difference.
His verdict – it’s unlikely.
“They’re an old aeroplane, they’re 40 years old, they’re not as good as the Russian aeroplanes,” he said.
But some positives come from the fact that Ukrainian pilots know how to fly them, he says, and they will be a welcome boost to the country’s quantity of jets.
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4h ago
09:16
Russia seen transporting ‘outdated tanks from the mid-20th century’
Experts have spotted a trainload of outdated Soviet-era tanks being transported from a Russian military repair base, according to reports.
Images and videos showed at least 14 of the tanks being carried in Russia’s Primorsky region – with some of the tanks thought to be from as far back as the 1940s.
The Georgia-based Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) said some of the tanks were clearly identifiable as the T-54B model as well as T-55s.
The earliest T-54 series tanks were adopted by the Soviet Army in the mid-to-late 1940s, while the T-55 series entered service in 1958.
The CIT said this was a “sign of a shortage of armoured vehicles in the RF Armed Force”.
Anatoly Shary, a blogger with millions of followers wanted by Ukrainian authorities for possible Kremlin links, took aim at Russia for sending T-55s to Ukraine.
“Gorgeous T-54s of the 1950s are going to the front,” he said.
“Soon the cavalry will be put into operation, and on [Russian state] Federal channels they will be assuring [viewers] with a straight face that the cavalry is inappropriately forgotten, that Russian cavalry gloriously smashed the enemy in the 17th century, that the traditions of the Russian army are directly related to horses, and so on.”
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4h ago
08:45
Hungary says it would not arrest Putin if he entered the country
An arrest warrant has been issued against Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which should mean the Russian president will be arrested if he sets foot in any ICC member states.
But Hungary has said that as things stand, it would not arrest Mr Putin.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff said the warrant does not have any legal grounds in Hungary.
“We can refer to the Hungarian law and based on that we cannot arrest the Russian president,… as the ICC’s statute has not been promulgated in Hungary,” Gergely Gulyas told a briefing.
He added his government had not “formed a stance” on the arrest warrant yet.
“These decisions are not the most fortunate as they take things towards further escalation and not towards peace – this is my personal subjective opinion,” he said.
Hungary signed and ratified the Rome Statute that created the International Criminal Court (ICC), but Mr Gulyas said this had not been built into the Hungarian legal system.
Mr Putin is only the third serving president to have been issued an arrest warrant by the ICC, but is unlikely to end up in court any time soon.
He has been accused of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine.
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5h ago
08:06
Prince William lays wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Poland
The royal is on the second day of a visit to Poland to thank troops and locals for their support for Ukraine.
William laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument dedicated to Polish soldiers who lost their lives in conflict, in a moment that echoed a similar gesture from his grandparents in 1996.
The Queen and Prince Philip had done the same during their state visit that year.
After the ceremony, Prince William held a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
“The Prince of Wales thanked the Poles for their generosity and hospitality,” Mr Duda’s office said.
Poland is the largest country on NATO’s eastern flank and is currently home to more than a million Ukrainian refugees.
The heir to the throne’s surprise trip is taking place under tight security.
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5h ago
07:50
Zelenskyy promises to ‘restore everything’ in visit to Kherson
The Ukrainian president has made a trip to the southern region of Kherson, which has been largely liberated from Russian control.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to “restore everything” and to help provide electricity to residents in the region.
The city of Kherson was under Russian occupation for eight months before being liberated by Ukrainian forces in November.
Since then, its residents have faced regular barrages from Russian forces and have struggled with limited electricity supplies.
Writing on Telegram after the visit, Mr Zelenskyy said: “We have to ensure full restoration and protection of our energy sector!
“I am grateful to everyone who works for this and returns the light to our people!”
Yesterday, the Ukrainian president visited the regions of Donetsk and Kharkiv, stopping to speak to troops near the eastern frontline city of Bakhmut.
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5h ago
07:41
Police officer injured in car bomb in occupied territory – reports
Earlier today, a “loud explosion” was heard in the occupied territory of Melitopol in southeastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, who is no longer in the city, said a police officer working with Russian authorities was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED).
Footage from the scene showed emergency services dousing a burned-out car.
Mr Fedorov said the officer, Serhii Skovyrko, had been “cooperating with the enemy”.
“By the way, friends, have you noticed that traitors have been admitted to the hospital more often – maybe it’s time to allocate a separate ward for them?” he said.
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6h ago
07:01
‘We are not afraid’: Missile strike survivor says he won’t leave his home
We reported yesterday that twin missile strikes hit two apartment blocks in Zaporizhzhia, killing one person and injuring 34 others.
One of the residents, Kyrylo Chorine, said he was inside his flat at the time of the blast.
The 20-year-old student told CNN he “heard an explosion and saw a fire”.
The windows were blown out and his father – who was standing by one when the explosion happened – narrowly avoided being killed, Mr Chorine said.
Even so, he said he and his parents would not leave their home.
“We are mostly angry. We are not afraid. Why would we be? It is our home,” he said.
“I will sleep at my bed. My parents will sleep at their beds. It will be a little bit cold because we don’t have windows but we are not going anywhere.”
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6h ago
06:48
Deported children returned to parents in emotional moment
Seventeen Ukrainian children deported by Russian authorities have reportedly been returned to their parents.
A young boy had an emotional reunion with his parents, hugging his father tightly as he stepped off a bus carrying the children.
The children had all been deported from the regions of Kherson and Kharkiv and taken to Russian-occupied territory, according to Ukrainian media.
The Ukrainian government has claimed about 16,000 children have been unlawfully transferred and deported from Ukraine.
Russia has denied this and said it is evacuating people voluntarily.
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7h ago
06:20
Kherson shelled 11 times in one day
Russian forces have shelled the region of Kherson 11 times in just 24 hours, according to the Kherson City Military Administration.
One person has been killed in the shelling.
Kherson has faced repeated attacks from Russian forces since its liberation in November.
Russian troops were forced to withdraw to the other side of the Dnipro River and have been carrying out attacks ever since.
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7h ago
06:09
Watch moment shelling hits Bakhmut
Journalists from AFP news agency have captured the moment Russian shelling hit a multi-storey building in Bakhmut.
The team ducked for cover just before an explosion occurred, sending a cloud of black smoke into the air.
Russia has been carrying out round-the-clock attacks as it tries to capture the eastern town.
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7h ago
05:53
Ukraine to launch long-awaited counteroffensive ‘very soon’
For some months now, Ukraine has been trailing a counteroffensive aimed at recapturing its territory.
Ukraine’s top ground forces commander has now said in a somewhat cryptic message that the offensive is nearing.
Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russian forces “are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam” in the battle for Bakhmut.
“Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk,” he said, listing Ukrainian counteroffensives last year that proved turning points in the war.
The colonel-general was one of the top commanders behind Ukraine’s strategy last year that repelled Russia’s assault on Kyiv.
As we’ve been reporting this morning, Ukrainian officials and Western analysts have said the Russian offensive around Bakhmut appears to be stalling.
Russian forces have thrown a large amount of weapons and manpower at capturing the area but have not succeeded after months of fighting.
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7h ago
05:36
What will happen to all the weapons when the war ends?
When previous wars have ended, the weapons used have often fallen into the hands of criminal and insurgent groups.
A new report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime has been looking into what will happen to the weapons used in Ukraine when the conflict is over.
“When the current war ends, Ukraine’s battlefields could and will become the new arsenal of anarchy, arming everyone from insurgents in Africa to gangsters in the streets of Europe,” it warned.
On the first day of the war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would provide weapons to anyone who “wanted to defend the country”.
In the first two days alone, over 25,000 automatic rifles, 10 million rounds of ammunition and unknown numbers of rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers were handed out to civilians, Ukraine’s late interior minister Denis Monastyrskyy said.
Another major source of weapons has been those left behind by fallen and withdrawing Russian soldiers.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime is a non-profit based in Switzerland.
