Ukraine: Chechen soldiers appear to fire on Mariupol building
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been calling for measures to bolster their army and the first NATO country has answered his call. In a brutal blow to Putin and his forces, more than a dozen T-72 tanks and some BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles have been sent to Ukraine in a shipment as a gift agreed with NATO allies. Zelensky said the tanks were needed to aid the besieged cities “that are now dying.” Jana Cernochova, the Czech defence minister, told parliament: “I will only assure you that the Czech Republic is helping Ukraine as much as it can and will continue to help by (supplying) military equipment, both light and heavy.” Prague’s decision will likely increase pressure on NATO allies to follow their lead and announcements on the delivery of more weapons are expected at the landmark summit between nations this afternoon.
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KEY EVENTS
‘Plans have failed’ Putin’s focus may now turn to Donbas, says retired air vice-marshal
Vladimir Putin has initiated the next strategy for the invasion of Ukraine, after his troops “failed” to conquer the country in the initial plan, a former Air Vice-Marshal has said.
Outlining Putin’s plan, former Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell explained that briefings from experts now suggested he would focus on the Donbas region to the east of the country.
At least 1,563 civilians have been killed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The UN agency has recorded 3,776 civilian casualties in Ukraine so far with as many as 1,563 killed and 2,213 injured, it said in its latest update posted Wednesday.
Speaking about the Russian leader’s next move, Mr Bell said: “It looks like his initial plans of taking over Ukraine has failed. But what is his Plan B?
“MoD briefings and experts seem to reinforce the view that he is likely to focus in the east.
“Some of the troops are marching at Belgorod, ups, and north of Kyiv and were fully expecting that he will redeploy troops from Kyiv and also from Russia, and focus on the Donbas.”
‘Help Ukraine!’ Nikki Haley urges Biden ‘send planes’ amid call to ‘get his act together’
Joe Biden has been urged to “send the planes” by Nikki Haley after she blasted him over his inaction on Russian sanctions and claimed the US President could do more to ensure Ukraine emerges victorious against Russia.
Ms Haley, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations under Donald Trump, called on the 46th President to introduce sanctions against Russian energy companies as the leading Republican figure piled the pressure on Mr Biden.
The White House had announced new measures against Russian banks and elites on Wednesday in a new set of sanctions after Mr Biden condemned Vladimir Putin’s troops for committing “major war crimes”.
The ex-South Carolina Congresswoman said on Twitter: “It’s past time for Biden to get his act together and help Ukraine win.
“Send the planes, sanction the energy companies, and help Ukraine win this fight for freedom.”
The US had previously been involved in a squabble about sending fighter jets to Kyiv after the Pentagon rejected proposals from Warsaw to provide the Ukrainian Air Force with MiG-29 aircraft.
However, Washington has provided a military assistance package worth over £600million, which includes javelin missiles and anti-aircraft systems.
The US has also banned all imports of Russian oil in a bid to syphon off money from the Kremlin’s war chest.
President Biden said: “Responsible nations have to come together to hold these perpetrators accountable.
“And together with our allies and our partners, we’re going to keep raising economic costs and ratchet up the pain for Putin.”
Macron savaged by Polish PM over ‘disgraceful’ attempt to appease Putin -‘We should fight’
Emmanuel Macron has been criticised by Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki for negotiating with Vladimir Putin, who he likened to Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot, as global condemnation poured out over the mass killings in Bucha.
Ukraine on Sunday accused Russian forces of carrying out a “massacre” in Bucha and Western leaders reacted with outrage to images of bodies strewn across the streets of the town.
However, in contrast to other EU leaders, Paris has advocated maintaining an open channel of dialogue with the Russian president on top of EU sanctions.
According to the Elysée Palace, Macron has spoken to Putin at least 16 times since the start of the year.
But the Polish PM has described Russia under Putin as a “totalitarian-fascist state” and called for strong actions “that will finally break Putin’s war machine”.
Mr Morawiecki said: “President Macron, how many times have you negotiated with Putin? What have you achieved?
“We don’t discuss, we don’t negotiate with criminals. All we should do is to fight them.
“Nobody negotiated with Hitler. Would you really negotiate with Hitler, Stalin or Pol Pot?”
GB News: Farage blasts EU hypocrisy over Ukraine aid – ’Thank goodness we’ve left’
Nigel Farage has blasted EU hypocrisy over Ukraine as he laid bare the bloc is spending more importing Russian energy than it is sending aid to Ukraine.
The former UKIP leader said Brussels had spent $35 billion (£27bn) importing oil, gas and coal from Moscow while only sending $1 billion (£765m) in aid to Kyiv, leading the former Brexit party leader to proclaim “thank goodness we’ve left”.
Mr Farage also argued that Brexit Britain “freed” from EU foreign policy has now “taken the lead” on sending aid to Ukraine.
He said: “Since the invasion EU countries have paid 35 billion dollars to Russia for oil, gas and coal and wait for it a grand total of 1 billion US dollars to Ukraine in the form of aid.
“In many ways Brexit Britain freed from the European Union, freed from the EU foreign policy has taken a lead.
“Which is why President Zelensky is constantly praising Boris Johnson’s efforts.“But for all the talk of sanctions, for all the talk of war crime trials, everything we hear from the leaders of France, Germany and Italy.
“I’m asking you the question: how hypocritical is the EU?
“It’s episodes like this that say to me thank goodness we’ve left.
“Common foreign policies emerging and common energy policies. I’m sure we can do it much, much better.”
Mr Farage added that despite threats of further sanctions against Moscow the Russian ruble has risen in value.
Ted Cruz blasted after claiming Biden started war in Ukraine -‘Putin alone is responsible’
Ted Cruz has been blasted after he told Fox News that US President Joe Biden was responsible for starting the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to Sean Hannity the Texas Governor claimed that Mr Biden started the war when he “waived” sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Mr Cruz claimed that former President Donald Trump had also supported sanctions over the pipeline linking Russia and Germany.
He said: “Joe Biden caused this war with Ukraine. How did he do it?
“When he waived sanctions on Nord Stream 2, sanctions that I authored, that I wrote, that Donald Trump signed into law.”
Mr Cruz went on to argue that the Nord Stream 2 project had been completed to “to let Putin get his gas to Europe”.
GB News: Ann Widdecombe slams ‘toothless’ UN after Zelensky calls for dissolution
Ann Widdecombe has slammed the United Nations for being ineffective and “toothless” following President Zelensky’s call to dissolve the organisation.
President Zelensky addressed the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday about the horrors in Bucha and other regions of Ukraine where war crimes have been committed.
In the powerful video address, he questioned the usefulness and value of the UN.
He said: “Please show how we can reform or change and work for peace.“Or if there is no alternative and no option, then the next option would be to dissolve yourself altogether.”
Mr Zelensky addressed the genocide in Bucha by Russian troops where the bodies of Ukrainian civilians littered the streets, some grossly tortured and others with their legs or hands bound with bullet wounds to the chest or head.
GB News host Dan Wootton asked Ms Widdecombe her thoughts on the claim that the UN is “toothless”.
The former MEP replied: “I think it’s a paper tiger quite honestly, talks a great deal, it’s a wonderful talk shop but when it actually comes to effective action, it can be remarkably toothless.
“I’m not saying it’s utterly useless, you have such things as UN sanctions, you can occasionally get something out of them, but it doesn’t stop wars.”
Ms Widdecombe later added: “It doesn’t actually stop anything when it’s up against a leader who is determined, which Putin is.”
Good Evening
Good evening I’m Emma Crabtree, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on Ukraine for the next few hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @emmacrabtree98
Poland arrests two citizens of Belarus on charges of spying
Two Belarusian citizens have been arrested in Poland on charges of spying for Minsk.
A regional prosecutor’s office in Poznan, west Poland, said in a statement said: “The suspects heard charges of espionage on behalf of the Belarus intelligence services.
“They are suspected, among others, of conducting reconnaissance of military and civilian facilities of critical importance for the defense of the Republic of Poland.”
Both face up to 10 years in prison.
Britain not doing enough to help Ukraine, says chairman of Common Defence Select Committee
The UK is not doing enough to help Ukraine, the chairman of the Commons Defense Select committee has said.
Speaking on Channel 4 news, Tobias Ellwood said: “Britain has done well to support Ukraine prior to the war and providing weapons systems and indeed afterwards, but we’re not doing enough to allow Ukraine to push Russia back, we’re not doing enough to stop this sort of brutality.
“In fact, we’ve almost given a green light for this activity to take place through our hesitance, through our timidity, which is being exploited by Putin.”
“There’s nothing defensive about anti-tank weapons, there’s nothing defensive about a rifle. These are offensive weapons and I can’t believe we’re still having semantic debates about this.”
Mr Ellwood said the UK should provide a humanitarian corridor from the port of Odesa to international waters.
He said: “That would be a robust stance to take against Russia.”
Blinken announces restrictions on Russian officials and their relatives
As well as sanctioning Putin’s daughters, the US will sanction the wife and child of Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and 21 members of the Russian security council including former president Mebedov, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said.
Ukraine says 4,892 people evacuated from cities on Wednesday
A total of 4,892 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has said.
On Tuesday 3,846 people were evacuated.
George Galloway threatens legal action against Twitter
George Galloway has threatened legal action against Twitter for flagging his account as Russia state-affiliated media’.
The politician was a regular on the Russia Today news channel for many years.
In a tweet, he said: “Dear @TwitterSupport I am not “Russian State Affiliated media”. I work for NO #Russian media. I have 400,000 followers. I’m the leader of a British political party and spent nearly 30 years in the British parliament. If you do not remove this designation I will take legal action.”
Four civilians killed at aid distribution centre
Russian forces killed at least four civilians and injured four more at a humanitarian aid distribution site on Wednesday, local officials said.
The governor of Donetsk Pavlo Kyrylenko shared photos online of Vuhledar, the town where he said Russian artillery fire hit a humanitarian aid distribution point.
The photos show two women stretched out on the ground, another person with a serious leg wound and a fourth person with a bloodied leg, being helped into a rescue vehicle.
In an online post, the governor said: “The enemy cynically fired on civilians from Vuhledar, who had come to receive humanitarian aid. As a result of the shelling there are 4 dead and 4 wounded.”
Protesters in Berlin demand ban on Russian oil, gas and coal imports
Protesters in Berlin today staged a “die in” outside the Bundesag – lower house of parliament – as part of a protest to call for an immediate ban on Russian oil, coal and gas imports.
At the time of the protest, a debate focusing on the atrocities found in Bucha was taking place.
Scotland sends 3,000 sandbags to Ukraine
Edinburgh has sent 3,000 sandbags to its twin city Kyiv to help protect historical monuments, memorials and statues.
The sandbags were donated to the Lord Provost by Falkirk Council, and the bags were then flown to Krakow, Poland, before being loaded onto a train to Kyiv.
Dorothy Reid, roads and grounds manager for Falkirk Council, said: “There’s already a massive humanitarian effort going on, however, this seemed something that was a bit different, and we were really happy to offer a hand with.
“We hope that some of the city’s historic landmarks can be protected with the sandbags and our small donation helps Kyiv and its citizens maintain its cultural identity.”
Biden says latest sanctions due to atrocities in Bucha
Joe Biden has highlighted in a tweet that the latest sanctions on Russia are due to the atrocities in Bucha.
Putin’s daughters targeted in fresh wave of US sanctions
Two of Vladimir Putin’s daughters, Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonovahave been targeted by a fresh wave of US sanctions on Russia.
In a statement, the White House said: “These individuals have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian people. Some of them are responsible for providing the support necessary to underpin Putin’s war on Ukraine.
“We believe that many of Putin’s assets are hidden with family members, and that’s why we’re targeting them.”
The White House also announced sanctions on Russia’s largest public and private financial institutions, Sberbank and Alfa Bank, and said all new US investment in Russia was now prohibited.
UK to ban exports of oil refining equipment and catalysts
The UK is set to ban exports of oil refining equipment in a bid to undermine Russia’s ability to reduce energy and export it around the world.
As well as this, the UK has announced that it will end the import of Russian oil and coal by the end of the year and of gas imports as soon as possible thereafter.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “Our latest wave of measures will bring an end to the UK’s imports of Russian energy and sanction yet more individuals and businesses, decimating (Vladimir) Putin’s war machine.
“Together with our allies, we are showing the Russian elite that they cannot wash their hands of the atrocities committed on Putin’s orders.
“We will not rest until Ukraine prevails.”
400 people missing in Hostomel
Ukraine’s ombudswoman has said that there are 400 people missing in the town of Hostomel, after 35 days of Russian occupation.
Lyudmyla Denisova quoted witnesses as saying that some of them has been killed.
She said: “More than 400 people have gone missing in 35 days of occupation in Hostomel. Witnesses say some were killed, but their whereabouts are still unknown.”
She did not give any evidence for her assertion or say who the witnesses were or give any further details.
Stoltenberg says war in Ukraine could be a ‘long haul’
NATO Secretary-General Jen Stoltenberg has said that the war in Ukraine could be a “long haul”, and that Russia’s main aim is still to capture the whole of Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of the summit in Brussels, he said: “We have all seen the atrocities that have been committed in Bucha and other places in Ukraine,” he said.
“This reveals the true nature of President Putin’s war. Any targeting and killing of civilians is a war crime and therefore Nato allies are supporting international efforts to establish all the facts, to investigate and to make sure that perpetrators are punished.”
“We have seen no indication that President Putin has changed his ambition to control the whole of Ukraine and also to rewrite the international order so we need to be prepared for a long haul.”
Good afternoon
Good afternoon, I’m Olivia Stringer and I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the conflict in Ukraine, for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Livstringer_
Russia’s war in Ukraine is also an attack on the security and freedom of Europe
Ian Stubbs, the UK delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe [OSCE] ) has criticised Russian delegates for repeatedly lying in the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation and for shattering trust that underpins the European Security Architecture.
He said Ukraine has taken up the fight to defend their homeland and shown the world the meaning of bravery and courage.
He continued: “An out-manoeuvred and out-classed Russian military has taken its frustrations out on civilians, unleashing horrendous amounts of violence. This is a great moral stain upon the Russian military, and one which will never be forgotten.
“The Russian government’s attempt to redraw the map of Europe in blood, and conquer an independent and democratic state by force of arms is an attack on the security and freedom of Europe.
It is also an attack on the Euro-Atlantic Security Architecture that was designed to increase security and stability in the region and, through trust, help prevent such appalling acts.”
Exiled oligarch says Putin’s conscription will ‘turn Russian cities into coffins’
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is an active member of Russia’s exiled opposition, said that a decision to send conscripts to Ukraine would be “politically extremely heavy”.
He said that the Russian President would face a major political backlash were he to send high numbers of conscripted soldiers from cities into Ukraine.
However, Mr Khodorkovsky said that the scenario is possible, as “the value of human life in Russia, is not as high as one would like to see it be.”
He continued: “Especially when we are talking about people who live in the North Caucasus or people who live in tiny villages and settlements.
“Knowing this, Putin is taking his soldiers specifically from those places.
“And he pays such money for their deaths, forcing their close relatives to keep their mouths shut.”
Russia has denied that it is deploying conscripts in Ukraine but it has acknowledged that some troops were mistakenly sent to fight after a number of them were captured.
Orban revolts against EU and West as he declares Hungary will pay Putin for gas in rubles
Hungarian Secretary of State for International Communication and Relations, Zoltan Kovacs, quoted Hungarian Prime Minister Orban saying: “We don’t have any difficulty paying in rubles, if the Russians ask us to, we pay in rubles.”
Putin had previously demanded that payments for Russian gas from “unfriendly countries” be made in rubles.
Mr Orban’s comments came after he secured a fourth consecutive term in power after a landslide election victory on Sunday.
Hungary, an EU member state, is heavily reliant on Russian energy and has so far avoided condemning Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
In his victory speech, Mr Orban described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as an “opponent” he had to overcome during the campaign.
Satellite images show Russian denials on Bucha ‘not tenable’
The German government has said that satellite pictures give strong counter evidence against Russian denials of involvement in civilian deaths in the Ukrainian town of Bucha.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said that the “evaluation of satellite images” led Berlin to conclude that “Russian declarations” of images of civilian deaths “were posed scenes or that they were not responsible for the murders are in our view not tenable”.
Vote on whether to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council
The 193-member UN General Assembly will vote tomorrow over suspending Russia from the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council.A two-thirds majority of voting members in New York would suspend Russia for committing gross and systematic violations of human rights.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on a visit to Romania that Russia’s membership was a “farce.”
Ten high-rise buildings on fire after shelling in Luhansk town
Ten high-rise buildings are on fire in the town of Sievierodonetsk following Russian shelling, the Luhansk governor has said.
Serhiy Haidai, the govenor, said earlier on that he expected a full-scale offensive in the region in “approximately a few days” which could be worse than those seen in Mariupol, Bucha and Irpin.
His prediction may well be coming true.
No casualties have been reported yet.
Bucha killings don’t ‘look far short of genocide’
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the atrocities in Bucha do not “look far short of genocide.”
He continued: “I’m afraid when you look at what’s happening in Bucha, the revelations that we are seeing from what (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has done in Ukraine, which doesn’t look far short of genocide to me, it is no wonder that people are responding in the way that they are.
“And I have no doubt that the international community – Britain very much in the front rank – will be moving again in lockstep to impose more sanctions and more penalties on Vladimir Putin’s regime.”
Truss makes fierce demands as leaders poised to announce more weapons
A hugely anticipated and extraordinary NATO Foreign Ministers meeting is happening today in Brussels with members poised to announce further military support to Ukraine.
Western nations have renewed outrage at Putin’s actions in Ukraine after a slew of executed bodies were found in suspected mass graves in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Ahead of the meeting, Ms Truss urged France and Germany to clamp down on Putin’s regime and issue new sanctions against Moscow. She said the only war to end the war was by “being tough.”
She called for Western leaders to end Russian-controlled oil, coal and gas imports in Europe — something Germany is yet to promise. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, has pre-empted that further lethal and non-lethal support including anti-tank weapons and air defence systems will be heading to Ukraine.
He said: “At a time when authoritarian powers are pushing back on the rules-based international order, it is even more important for democracies to stand together.”
EU countries ‘should consider offering asylum to Russian deserters’
European Council President Charles Michel has said EU countries should consider offering asylum to Russian soldiers who abandon the battlefield.
He said: “If you want no part in killing your Ukrainian brothers and sisters, if you don’t want to be a criminal, drop your arms, stop fighting, leave the battlefield.”
Ukraine previously said it would offer money to Russians who chose to desert the war.
Zelensky says Russia is hunger as a weapon of war
In an address to the Irish Parliament, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ireland’s political leaders to convince other EU countries to impose tougher sanctions on the Kremlin.
He said: “They also have blocked all of our sea ports, together with the vessels that had already agricultural cargoes for exports.
“Why are they doing this? Because for them hunger is a weapon against us, ordinary people as an instrument of domination.
“Ukraine is one of the leading food-supplying country in the world with exports.
“This is not just about the deficit and the threat of hunger.
“There will be a shortage of food and the prices will go up, and this is reality for the millions of people who are hungry, and it will be more difficult for them to feed their families.”
Refugees minister calls Ukrainian refugee scheme ’embarrassing’
Lord Harrington, the refugees minister, admitted on LBC Radio that the Home Office and the government has not been “geared up” to deal with the large number of refugee applications from Ukraine.
A caller on the radio show called the scheme a “disgrace”, saying it was “a slow and bureaucratic process, with sending information to different places, waiting for an answer, sending it, waiting for an answer”. To which Lord Harrington did not agree.
Lord Harrington said: “I promise you in my every waking hour – and you might say your waking hours are not good enough – that me and our very dedicated staff are here to deal with this.
“This is not your problem and you want it dealt with. I can but apologise, I’m trying to sort this out.”
He said the situation was “embarrassing”.
Russia says five British NGO’s ‘work to the detriment of Russia’s security’
The Russian Duma has asked for 14 NGOs to be declared “undesirable organisations”, including British think tank Chatham House.
This includes five from the UK, seven from Poland and two from Germany.
The Duma said the goals the NGO’s declare do not correspond to reality, and the NGOs themselves “work to the detriment of Russia’s security.”
Pope condemns ‘atrocities’
Pope Francis condemned the massacres in Bucha as he held up a Ukrainian flag.
He said at the end of his weekly audience: “Recent news from the war in Ukraine, instead of bringing relief and hope, brought new atrocities, such as the massacre of Bucha.
“Cruelty that is increasingly horrendous, even against civilians, defenceless women and children. They are victims whose innocent blood cries out up to heaven and implores: ‘Stop this war!'”
Global Ukraine update
There has been a raft of global news updates from countries sending weaponry to Ukraine, sanctioning Russians and more…
So here is the latest:
Czech Republic government has sent T-72 tanks and BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
French Prosecutors opened three investigations into potential war crimes committed by Russian soldiers against French nationals in Ukraine.
Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Luigi Di Maio announced the expulsion of 30 Russian diplomats from Rome, prompting the Kremlin to promise retaliation.
The Dutch government is currently stopping 14 yachts from leaving the country due to sanctions on Russia, including 12 that were under construction for Russian owners.
Danish wind turbine maker Vestas has withdrawn from operating their two facilities in Russia. It has stopped new activities in the country and plans to halt its four wind farm projects.
Canada has sanctioned nine more Russians including oligarchs: Vladimir Potanin , Leonid Michelson, Viktor Vekselberg, Kirill Shamalov, Dmitry Pumpyansky and his wife Galina, Vadim Moshkovich and Alexandr Vinokurov.
The US Treasury Department has stopped sharing tax information with the Russian government and has unveiled new actions targeting the use of cryptocurrencies in Russian ransomware attacks and other financial crimes. Russia will no longer be able to make payments on its debt using dollars held at U.S. banks.
Ukraine defence update
The operational update regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence says that Russian forces are “regrouping troops and concentrating [their] efforts on preparing an offensive operation in the east of our country.”
It says they believe the Russian goal is to establish “full control over the territory of” the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.
Russian forces also are “trying to improve the position of units in the Tavriya and Pivdennobuzhsky operational areas.”
While they “continue to suffer losses”, they are having staffing problems with combat units and support units.
It continues: “The enemy’s personnel were demoralized, which led to an increase in the number of desertions and the refusal of servicemen … to take part in the war on the territory of Ukraine.”
Boris Johnson slams FIFA chief
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has slammed FIFA President Gianni Infantino over its stance on Russia.
In the letter, dated March 31, Johnson criticized Mr Infantino for inviting Russian delegates to the Congress and he branded the Russian Football Union “effectively a representative body” for the Kremlin.
The letter continued: “We would therefore urge you in the strongest possible terms to rethink your position on this matter, so that representatives of both the Russian Football Union, and also the Football Federation of Belarus, are unable to engage in future FIFA meetings and business.
“There is a clear need for football to continue to present a united front in the light of Russia’s abhorrent actions in Ukraine.
“Sport cannot be used as a platform to legitimise Russian aggression.”
Monument of poet shot
A monument of Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko — also known as Kobzar Taras, or simply Kobza — has been shot at by Russian forces.
The decorated writer is considered the national poet of Ukraine.
The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Archbishop Shevchuk once described him a “great prophet of the Ukrainian people.”
He said that the work of Shevchenko “has always helped us to regain our strength, and thus to realize God’s plan for our people.”
‘Don’t let Putin do this in your name’ says Boris Johnson
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Russians to not fall for Putin’s propaganda.
Speaking partly in Russian, he urged people to use VPN connections to access independent information about the war in Ukraine.
Mr Johnson said the crimes in Ukraine “betray the trust of every Russian mother who proudly waves goodbye to her son as he heads off to join the military” and were a “stain on the honour of Russia itself – a stain that will only grow larger and more indelible every day this war continues”.
He continued: “Don’t just take my word for it: all you need is VPN connection to access independent information from anywhere in the world.
“When you find the truth, share it. Your president stands accused of committing war crimes. But I cannot believe he is acting in your name.”
The U.K. will impose new sanctions against Russia today
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will announce new sanctions today, Politico reports. The measures are going to be focused on energy and there will also be new restrictions aimed at Moscow’s military ambitions.
The EU has also prepared new measures including phasing out Russian coal deliveries, banning Russian vessels and trucks entering the EU and tougher sanctions on four key Russian banks.
Good morning
Good morning from London. I’m Rachel Hagan, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: [email protected]
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