THE British Army's newly appointed chief has warned of the dangers of heading to war with Vladimir Putin in his first official speech.
General Sir Patrick Sanders has warned Russia will likely be an "even greater threat" to Europe after the invasion in Ukraine and the UK must act "rapidly" to make sure it is not drawn into war.
"Let me be clear, the British Army is not mobilizing to provoke war. It is mobilising to prevent war," he explained of Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine..
The general said he has not seen "such a clear threat to the principles of sovereignty and democracy and the freedom to live without fear of violence" in all his years in the army.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that the British Army plays its part in averting war," he said.
Read our Ukraine-Russia war blog below for the latest news…
- henry moore
British forces must be more prepared for war, Army chief claims
Speaking on the conflict with Russia, General Sir Patrick Sanders, the head of British army, warned that more of our forces need to be ready for war at any moment.
He said: “This is not the rush to war at the speed of the railway timetables of 1914”.
Instead, he warned that deterring Russia means: "More of the Army ready more of the time".
- henry moore
Army chief claims the UK is on the brink of war in chilling warning
The head of the UK army has compared our current situation to that of 1937, just two years before the outbreak of World War Two.
General Sir Patrick Sanders gave a stark warning that our armed forces must be prepared to directly engage Putin in order to prevent the spread of further conflict in Europe – and ward off the threat from Moscow.
“This is our 1937 moment. We are not at war – but must act rapidly so that we aren’t drawn into one through a failure to contain territorial expansion.
“I will do everything in my power to ensure that the British Army plays its part in averting war.”
Continuing his speech at the The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), he said: “If this battle came, we would likely be outnumbered at the point of attack and fighting like hell.
"Standoff air, maritime or cyber fires are unlikely to dominate on their own – Land will still be the decisive domain.
"And though I bow to no one in my advocacy for the need for game changing digital transformation, to put it bluntly, you can’t cyber your way across a river.
"No single platform, capability, or tactic will unlock the problem.
"Success will be determined by combined arms and multi-domain competence. And mass.”
- henry moore
‘Russia has committed a war crime’
More now on the missile attack on a shopping centre in Ukraine today. The regional head of Poltava, Dmytro Lunin, has said that Russia has committed a war crime by carrying out the attack in the city of Kremenchuk.
Dmytro Lunin said: “The missile strike at a shopping centre with people inside in Kremenchuk is another Russian war crime.
“A crime against humanity. This is an open and cynical act of terror against the civilian population.”
- henry moore
Russia's losses as of June 28
Russia has continued to lose troops, equipment and weapons as it continues its brutal invasion of Ukraine.
As of June 28, the Ukrainian military reports that Russia has lost over 35,000 troops.
On top of this the country as lost approximately 217 planes, 1,567 tanks and 185 helicopters.
- henry moore
The world outraged by Putin
Putin launched a deadly attack on a shopping centre in Kremenchuk today leading world leaders to criticise his actions.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “The world is horrified by Russia’s missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall”.
He added that the US will “continue to support Ukraine” and hold Russia to account.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the attack had shown the cruelty and barbarism of Russia’s president.
- Joseph Gamp
G7 leaders agree to work on price cap for Russian oil
G7 leaders have agreed to work on a price cap for Russian oil, a US official said on Tuesday, as part of efforts to cut the Kremlin's revenues.
Group of Seven leaders will "task ministers to work urgently towards developing, consulting with third countries and the private sector in an effort to develop a price cap around oil", the senior official told reporters.
- Joseph Gamp
‘Russia is a terrorist state’
Dmytro Lunin, head of Poltava regional administration, said: “Missile strike on a shopping mall with people in Kremenchuk is yet another military crime by the Russians.
“A crime against humanity. This is an obvious, cynical act of terror against peaceful civilians.
“Russia is a terrorist state.”
Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said: “They said they would be hitting centres of decision making.
“But even the most sick imagination would not have guessed they mean shopping centres by this.”
- Louis Allwood
Leaders to discuss bolstering NATO's eastern flank
Leaders will also discuss plans to bolster the alliance’s eastern flank, outline a new force model, announce funding decisions and publish a “Strategic Compact” that lays out NATO’s strategy for the years ahead, according to NATO diplomats.
The NATO Response Force is currently around 40,000 soldiers, sailors and air personnel.
They are kept at varying degrees of readiness to mobilise, ranging from two days to six months.
It comes after The Sun reported that NATO is set to create a new 200,000 strong force to “wipe Russia off the earth” if Putin invades an ally country.
The new Allied Reaction Force (ARF) will be a six times larger than the current formation that stands ready to repel Russian aggression, the NATO Response Force (NRF).
- Louis Allwood
Putin will be dead in two years as he’s suffering from ‘several grave illnesses’
UKRAINIAN officials have claimed that Vladimir Putin is suffering from "grave" illnesses and could die within two years in the latest rumours about Putin's health.
Speaking to USA Today, Ukraine's intelligence chief, Major General Kyrylo O. Budanov said Putin "doesn't have a long life ahead of him".
In another interview with Sky News, the General insisted Putin was in "very bad psychological and physical condition and he is very sick".
It comes after a top oligarch reportedly claimed Putin is "very ill with blood cancer" in the audio recording obtained by New Lines Magazine.
It isn't clear exactly what type of cancer Putin may have.
Putin's health has been subject to huge scrutiny in the wake of the war in Ukraine, and rumours continued to mount in the wake of last month's military parade when the tyrant was seen with a blanket over his legs.
Footage of Putin's poor posture, shaking hands and apparent bloated face sparked speculation about the strongman's health.
There have also been rumours Putin may have Parkinson's and suffers from "schizophrenic symptoms", although there is no proof of this.
- Louis Allwood
Boris mocks Putin
BORIS Johnson and Canada's Justin Trudeau mocked evil despot Vladimir Putin as world leaders gathered in Germany for the G7.
With the war in Ukraine top of the agenda yesterday at the annual talks, high in the Bavarian mountains, it was Kremlin tyrant Vladimir Putin who was the butt of early jokes.
His bizarre past photo ops that involved shooting bears and riding around topless on horses were the target of humour as both Mr Johnson and the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau enjoyed some banter.
Mr Johnson declared in front of the cameras: "Jackets on? Jackets off? Do we take our coats off?"
Canada's PM Justin Trudeau then suggested that the leaders wait for the official picture to be taken before Johnson joked: "We have to show that we're tougher than Putin."
And Trudeau got in on the spirit of things as he quipped back: "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display".
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also joined in as she said: "Horseback riding is the best."
But Mr Johnson then joked: "We've got to show them our pecs."
The leaders later chose to pose with their jackets on for the official photos.
- Louis Allwood
'Russia is a terrorist state'
Dmytro Lunin, head of Poltava regional administration, said: “Missile strike on a shopping mall with people in Kremenchuk is yet another military crime by the Russians.
"A crime against humanity. This is an obvious, cynical act of terror against peaceful civilians.
"Russia is a terrorist state."
Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said: “They said they would be hitting centres of decision making.
“But even the most sick imagination would not have guessed they mean shopping centres by this."
- Louis Allwood
'The number of victims is impossible to imagine'
Zelensky said on Telegram: "The occupiers have hit a shopping centre with over a thousand civilians inside.
"It is on fire, and rescue workers are trying to put out the fire, the number of victims is impossible to imagine."
"It posed no threat to the Russian army. No strategic value. People only wanted to live a normal life, which is what angers the occupiers so much.
"Out of helplessness, Russia continues to hit ordinary people. It is vain to expect it to be reasonable or humane."
- Louis Allwood
Putin’s 56th colonel and ‘40 soldiers’ killed in first strikes on Russian targets
Putin has lost his 56th colonel and 40 soldiers after they were hit by missiles supplied by the US.
Paratrooper commander Col. Andrei Vasilyev, 49, was allegedly killed in the attack on Friday night.
And reports said that a newly-supplied US medium range HIMARS missile was responsible for taking out more Kremlin targets as the war rages on.
If confirmed, his death was one of the first from the new 43-mile-range weapons sent to Ukraine by President Joe Biden.
Vasilyev was reportedly in an advanced command post of the Russian army’s airborne assault troops, but the location was not specified.
He was commander of the 137th Guards Airborne Regiment of the 106th Guards Airborne Division, based in Ryazan.
Married with a daughter, he had been awarded the Russian Order of Courage on other honours.
- Louis Allwood
UK's Ministry of Defence latest intelligence
The UK's Ministry of Defence has said that Ukrainian forces continue to hold the line despite Russia trying to gain momentum on the northern Izium axis.
In their latest intelligence update the Ministry said: "While Russia’s main operational focus remains the Sieverodonetsk-Lysychansk pocket, a week of consistently heavy shelling suggests Russia is now trying to regain momentum on the northern Izium axis.
"Ukrainian forces continue to hold the line in that sector, making good use of forested terrain to assist their defence.
"Over the coming weeks, Russia’s campaign will highly likely increasingly rely on echelons of reserve forces.
"These consist of several distinct components which Russia has almost certainly already started to field."
- Louis Allwood
Civilians asked to evacuate
Civilians in the east of Ukraine are being asked to urgently evacuate the city of Lysychansk.
The city has been under fierce attack from Russian forces over the past couple of days.
It is the last major city still held by Ukrainian troops in the eastern province of Luhansk.
Ukraine’s governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Gaidai, has urged residents to leave.
He writes on the Telegram messaging app: "Dear residents of Lysychansk city territorial community and their relatives! Due to the real threat to life and health, we call on you to evacuate urgently."
- Louis Allwood
NATO announces increase of troops
Nato's military alliance's secretary general has announced that the number of troops available to its response force will be increasing from 40,000 to 300,000.
Jens Stoltenberg told reporters: "We will strengthen our forward defences. We will enhance our battle groups in the eastern part of the alliance, up to brigade levels.
"We will transform the Nato response force and increase the number of our high readiness forces to well over 300,000."
Stoltenberg went on to describe Russia as as the most significant and direct threat to the alliance's security and values.
- Louis Allwood
Russia says Ukraine at fault for missile landing on Kyiv residential building
Russia's defence ministry said on Monday that a missile hitting a Kyiv residential building over the weekend could have been the result of a failure of Ukraine's air defence system.
Ukraine said Russia struck the capital Kyiv for the first time in weeks over the weekend, with U.S. President Joe Biden saying the attacks were more evidence of Russia's "barbarism" in its offensive against Ukraine.
In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said it believes a Ukrainian Buk missile system intercepted a S-300 air defence missile which then "fell down to a residential building."
Russia said all four of its missiles launched against an arms factory in Kyiv hit their target.
Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilian areas.
- Louis Allwood
Zelenskyy tells G7: 'If Ukraine wins you all win'
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky is understood to have told G7 leaders not to let the conflict in his country "drag on over winter".
He told the leaders gathered in Germany that "if Ukraine wins you all win".
And in a sign he was not willing to back down and accept a peace deal that gave up swathes of Ukraine to Russia, the president said: "We will only negotiate from a position of strength."
- Louis Allwood
The world outraged by Putin
Putin launched a deadly attack on a shopping centre in Kremenchuk today leading world leaders to criticise his actions.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "The world is horrified by Russia's missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall".
He added that the US will "continue to support Ukraine" and hold Russia to account.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the attack had shown the cruelty and barbarism of Russia's president.
- Louis Allwood
This is not the first time Poltava has been targeted
During the early stages of the war, Russian missiles hit Kremenchuk's oil refinery as well as other infrastructure facilities.
Poltava's governor, Dmytro Lunin, said the oil refinery had been "completely destroyed" after the attack.
- Louis Allwood
'Russia has committed a war crime'
More now on the missile attack on a shopping centre in Ukraine today. The regional head of Poltava, Dmytro Lunin, has said that Russia has committed a war crime by carrying out the attack in the city of Kremenchuk.
Dmytro Lunin said: "The missile strike at a shopping centre with people inside in Kremenchuk is another Russian war crime.
"A crime against humanity. This is an open and cynical act of terror against the civilian population."
- Louis Allwood
Brittney Griner looks shaken as her detention in Russian jail is extended for 6 months
Brittney Griner looked shaken as she appeared in court on Monday to set a date for her trial in a case that could see her jailed for up to 10 years.
The US WNBA basketball superstar will start her criminal trial on July, 1 according to the Associated Press.
Griner was seen walking into the court in Moscow with handcuffs, wearing glasses and a gray t-shirt.
She was bracketed by four security officers and a dog as she was led down a stairwell to a courtroom for her hearing.
The athlete was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her trial, extending her detention for another six months.
Griner had previously been ordered to remain in pretrial detention until July 2.
The Phoenix Mercury could face 10 years in prison if she is convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs.
- Louis Allwood
Leaders to discuss bolstering NATO's eastern flank
Leaders will also discuss plans to bolster the alliance’s eastern flank, outline a new force model, announce funding decisions and publish a “Strategic Compact” that lays out NATO’s strategy for the years ahead, according to NATO diplomats.
The NATO Response Force is currently around 40,000 soldiers, sailors and air personnel.
They are kept at varying degrees of readiness to mobilise, ranging from two days to six months.
It comes after The Sun reported that NATO is set to create a new 200,000 strong force to “wipe Russia off the earth” if Putin invades an ally country.
The new Allied Reaction Force (ARF) will be a six times larger than the current formation that stands ready to repel Russian aggression, the NATO Response Force (NRF).
- Louis Allwood
Putin will be dead in two years as he’s suffering from ‘several grave illnesses’
UKRAINIAN officials have claimed that Vladimir Putin is suffering from "grave" illnesses and could die within two years in the latest rumours about Putin's health.
Speaking to USA Today, Ukraine's intelligence chief, Major General Kyrylo O. Budanov said Putin "doesn't have a long life ahead of him".
In another interview with Sky News, the General insisted Putin was in "very bad psychological and physical condition and he is very sick".
It comes after a top oligarch reportedly claimed Putin is "very ill with blood cancer" in the audio recording obtained by New Lines Magazine.
It isn't clear exactly what type of cancer Putin may have.
Putin's health has been subject to huge scrutiny in the wake of the war in Ukraine, and rumours continued to mount in the wake of last month's military parade when the tyrant was seen with a blanket over his legs.
Footage of Putin's poor posture, shaking hands and apparent bloated face sparked speculation about the strongman's health.
There have also been rumours Putin may have Parkinson's and suffers from "schizophrenic symptoms", although there is no proof of this.
- Louis Allwood
Boris mocks Putin
BORIS Johnson and Canada's Justin Trudeau mocked evil despot Vladimir Putin as world leaders gathered in Germany for the G7.
With the war in Ukraine top of the agenda yesterday at the annual talks, high in the Bavarian mountains, it was Kremlin tyrant Vladimir Putin who was the butt of early jokes.
His bizarre past photo ops that involved shooting bears and riding around topless on horses were the target of humour as both Mr Johnson and the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau enjoyed some banter.
Mr Johnson declared in front of the cameras: "Jackets on? Jackets off? Do we take our coats off?"
Canada's PM Justin Trudeau then suggested that the leaders wait for the official picture to be taken before Johnson joked: "We have to show that we're tougher than Putin."
And Trudeau got in on the spirit of things as he quipped back: "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display".
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also joined in as she said: "Horseback riding is the best."
But Mr Johnson then joked: "We've got to show them our pecs."
The leaders later chose to pose with their jackets on for the official photos.
Source: Read Full Article