Ukraine-Russia war latest: At least 23 injured in Kharkiv missile strike as Putin launches mass drone attack

WorldPolitics
26 Nov 2024 • 10:43 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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At least 23 people have been injured in missile strikes on Kharkiv and Odesa, as Vladimir Putin’s forces launched one of their largest drone attacks since invading Ukraine.

Kyiv’s military said its air defences shot down 71 of 145 drones launched by Russia at targets across Ukraine, and lost track of a further 71 drones likely due to active electronic warfare.

The latest drone attack would be on par with an overnight assault earlier this month described by Kyiv as Russia’s largest of the war, which also saw Russia use 145 drones to attack Ukraine, a significant number of which were decoys and others Iranian-made Shahed attack drones.

Separately, authorities in Kharkiv said at least 23 people had been injured and 40 buildings damaged in a missile attack, while at least 10 people were wounded in a missile strike on Odesa.

Ukraine, meanwhile, said it attacked an oil depot in Russia’s western Kaluga region, along with targets in Bryansk and Kursk.

It came as Russian state media reported that a British man fighting with the Ukrainian army had been captured in Kursk.

Key Points

  • Russia launches one of largest overnight drone attacks of Ukraine war
  • ‘At least 23 injured in Russian missile attacks’ on Kharkiv and Odesa
  • Russian forces capture British man fighting with Ukraine – reports
  • Father of ‘ex-British soldier’ captured in Russia fears son will be tortured
  • UK will offer ‘all the support we can’ to captured Briton, says foreign secretary
  • Britain warns of ‘hidden cyber war’ being waged by Russia against Nato

Pentagon says no signs of North Korean troops inside Ukraine

03:13

Arpan Rai

The US has seen no signs of North Korean troops inside Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine or that they are heading in that direction, the Pentagon said.

Sabrina Singh, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, told a briefing that the US Department of Defense does not “have any indications that there are DPRK soldiers in Ukraine,” referring to North Korea’s official name of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“Don’t have any indications that there are DPRK soldiers in Ukraine. What we’ve said is that, you know, what we’re seeing is that they’re positioned around the Kursk region, but you know, not moving into Ukraine at the moment,” she said last night.

Europe will step up defence for Ukraine, says German minister

03:06

Arpan Rai

Europeans will step up military support for Ukraine, Germany’s defence minister pledged after talks with his British, French, Italian and Polish counterparts on how to foster defence efforts as Donald Trump is set to return to the White House.

“Our target must be to enable Ukraine to act out of a position of strength,” Boris Pistorius told reporters in Berlin after hosting a meeting of the Group of Five leading nations in European defence.

His remarks were echoed by the Polish defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz who vowed to pledge more aid for Kyiv.

“Europe must coordinate its efforts more, it must harmonise its actions, it must aim higher, in order also to be a good partner for the United States,” he said.

“We are obliged today to say it clearly – Europe must increase its efforts when it comes to helping Ukraine but above all... when it comes to its own security. Without higher spending, without awareness in every European society of the times we are living in, everything is nothing,” he said.

The election of Mr Trump – who is sceptical of US support for Ukraine – has added pressure on Europe to step up its role in arming Kyiv should Washington, the biggest donor so far, reduce its aid.

'Elite’ Russian units becoming ‘obsolete’ due to Putin’s strategy in Ukraine, war analysts say

03:00

Andy Gregory

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Explosions in Kyiv as multi-wave Russian drone attacks underway

02:55

Arpan Rai

Kyiv is under a sustained Russian drone attack, mayor Vitali Klitschko said early today.

“The UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) attack on the capital continues,” Mr Klitschko said on his Telegram channel. “Air defence forces are operating in different areas of the city. (Drones) are entering the capital from different directions.”

Witnesses described a series of explosions in what sounded like air defence systems in operation, reported Reuters.

Kyiv, its surrounding region and the vast majority of Ukrainian territory was under air raid alerts. In Kyiv, the air raid sirens started at around 7pm GMT.

Nobody can stop the juggernaut of war – not even Putin

02:00

Andy Gregory

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Listen | Starmer denies UK at war after Ukraine fires British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia

00:58

Andy Gregory

Five injured in drone attack as humanitarian aid distributed in Mykolaiv, governor says

Monday 25 November 2024 23:59

Andy Gregory

Five people have been injured in a Russian drone attack while humanitarian aid was being distributed in the the village of Solonchaky, the governor of Mykolaiv has said.

Humanitarian workers and local residents were among those injured, all of whom were taken to hospital, said governor Vitalli Kim.

Two men were in a serious condition, while two men and a woman were in moderate condition, the governor said.

UK targets Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ with ‘largest ever’ sanctions package

Monday 25 November 2024 23:00

Andy Gregory

The UK has announced sanctions against 30 ships in Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” which officials say were responsible for transporting billions of pounds of oil and oil products in the last year.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said this is the largest UK package of its kind, and alleged that half of the ships transported some £3.4bn of oil and oil products in the last 12 months. Two insurance companies have also been targeted with sanctions.

The shadow fleet is made up of ships engaged in illegal operations to evade sanctions.

North Korea expands plant making missile used by Russia in Ukraine, researchers say

Monday 25 November 2024 22:17

Andy Gregory

Satellite images show North Korea is expanding a key weapons manufacturing complex which assembles a type of short-range missile used by Russia in its war against Ukraine, researchers at a US-based think tank have said.

Sam Lair, a research associate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung was the only plant known to produce the Hwasong-11 class of solid-fuel ballistic missiles, which Ukrainian officials say have been used by Russia in the conflict.

The satellite images, taken in early October by the commercial satellite firm Planet Labs, show what appears to be an additional assembly building under construction as well as a new housing facility, likely intended for workers, according to the analysis by researchers at CNS.

“We see this as a suggestion that they’re massively increasing, or they’re trying to significantly increase, the throughput of this factory,” Mr Lair told Reuters.

Ukraine has lost over 40% of land it seized in Kursk, senior Kyiv military source says

Monday 25 November 2024 21:46

Andy Gregory

Ukraine has lost over 40 per cent of the territory in Russia’s Kursk region that it captured in a surprise incursion in August as Russian forces amass tens of thousands of troops and mount waves of counter-assaults, a senior Ukrainian military source has told Reuters.

The source, who is on Ukraine’s General Staff, said Russia had deployed 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Kyiv’s forces swept in and advanced swiftly, catching Moscow unprepared.

“At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometres, now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks,” the source said.

“Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres. We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate.”

Russia removes commander in Ukraine ‘for misleading reports'

Monday 25 November 2024 21:09

Andy Gregory

Russia has removed a senior general in Ukraine for giving misleading reports about the progress of the war as defence minister Andrei Belousov tries to clear out poor commanders, pro-Russian war bloggers and state media said.

Ahead of winter, Russian forces advanced at the fastest rate in Ukraine since the start of the 2022 invasion, though progress was much slower in some areas - particularly around Siversk in the eastern region of Donetsk.

Russian media cited unidentified sources as saying that Colonel General Gennady Anashkin, the commander of the Southern Grouping, had been removed from his command, though there was no official confirmation.

“Only the lazy did not write about the problems there: overall, it took the system about two months to react properly,” Rybar, a pro-Russian blogger said on Telegram.

“Anashkin, was removed from office for false reports in the Seversk direction,” Rybar added.

UN chief and the Pope call for nations to end the use of antipersonnel land mines

Monday 25 November 2024 20:01

Andy Gregory

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, Pope Francis and others have urged nations to end the production and use of anti-personnel land mines – just days after the US announced it would supply them to Ukraine.

In a message to delegates at the fifth review of the International Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention, Mr Guterres warned some parties were falling behind in their commitments to destroy the weapons, 25 years after it came into force.

“I call on states parties to meet their obligations and ensure compliance to the convention, while addressing humanitarian and developmental impacts through financial and technical support,” Mr Guterres said at the opening of the conference in Cambodia.

“I also encourage all states that have not yet acceded to the convention to join the 164 that have done so. A world without anti-personnel mines is not just possible. It is within reach.”

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Britain will not be intimidated by Russian cyberthreats, minister tells Nato

Monday 25 November 2024 19:30

Andy Gregory

Britain and its allies will not be intimidated by Russian cyberthreats into stopping supporting Ukraine, cabinet office minister Pat McFadden has told Nato, urging the military alliance to work together more closely to stay ahead in “the new AI arms race”.

Addressing a Nato Cyber Defence Conference in London, Mr McFadden warned that Nato, businesses and institutions must do “everything they can to lock their own digital doors” to protect themselves from what he called an increasingly aggressive Russia.

And he called for Ukraine’s allies to double down on their support for Kyiv against Vladimir Putin, who he said was trying “to deter our support for Ukraine with his threats”.

“We will not join those voices of weakness who want to give Putin a veto over our help for Ukraine,” Mr McFadden said.

“While no one should underestimate the Russian aggressive and reckless cyber threat to Nato, we will not be intimidated by it and we will never allow it to dictate our decisions or policies. And we will do everything we can to defend our countries against it.”

It’s not yet World War Three – but ‘World War Z’ has begun

Monday 25 November 2024 18:58

Andy Gregory

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War with Russia won’t end quickly, says ex-Ukrainian minister

Monday 25 November 2024 18:31

Andy Gregory

Former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba believes that Mocow’s war with Kyiv will not end quickly even after US president-elect Donald Trump takes office next year.

“I do not expect any quick ending of the war,” Mr Kuleba told CNN.

“What I know for certain is that first: [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy will not leave under pressure,” he said. “Second, Ukraine will not agree to any quick solution. And third, most importantly, I would like to remind everyone that the key to peace lies in Moscow not in Kyiv.”

The Ukrainian president earlier this month said the war will end “faster” when Mr Trump takes over as US president.

Mr Trump had claimed repeatedly that the Ukraine-Russia war would not have started if he had been president and would settle the war in one day.

Trump’s pick for security advisor calls for end to war

Monday 25 November 2024 17:59

Andy Gregory

Donald Trump’s top security advisor has called for an end to the escalation of the war between Ukraine and Russia, urging both nations to come to the negotiating table.

“We need to bring this to a responsible end. We need to restore deterrence, restore peace, and get ahead of this escalation ladder, rather than responding to it,” said Mike Waltz, the president-elect’s pick for national security adviser.

“President Trump has been very clear about the need to end this conflict,” he told Fox News yesterday.

“We need to be discussing who’s at that table, whether it’s an agreement, an armistice, how to get both sides to the table and then what’s the framework of a deal?”

US Air Force says drones spotted near 3 bases in England last week

Monday 25 November 2024 17:32

Andy Gregory

The US Air Force has said that a number of small drones were detected last week around three bases in eastern England used by American forces.

The drones were spotted between Wednesday and Friday near RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell. They were actively monitored after they were seen in the vicinity of and over the three bases, U.S. Air Forces Europe said in a statement.

The Air Force didn’t identify who was behind the incursions, but said base officials determined there was no impact on residents or critical infrastructure.

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James Scott Rhys Anderson: Who is ex-British soldier captured in Russia’s Kursk region?

Monday 25 November 2024 17:07

Andy Gregory

James Scott Rhys Anderson, who says he is a former British soldier, has been captured in Russia’s Kursk region while fighting for Ukraine, according to Russian state media.

The 22-year-old man’s father told the Daily Mail he feared his son would be tortured, while the UK Foreign Office confirmed it was “supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention”.

His capture would mark one of the first known cases of a Western national being captured on Russian soil while fighting for Ukraine.

So, who is Mr Anderson, and how did this man come to be captured by Russian forces?

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Turkey’s Erdogan and Nato chief discuss ways to end Ukraine war, Ankara says

Monday 25 November 2024 16:44

Andy Gregory

Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan and Nato chief Mark Rutte discussed possible ways to end Russia’s war in Ukraine during talks in Ankara on Monday, the Turkish presidency has said.

“During the meeting, what can be done to end the Ukraine-Russia war and the massacre in Palestine were discussed,” the presidency said on X.

Watch: Ukrainian boxer Klitschko accuses Joe Rogan of pushing Russian propaganda

Monday 25 November 2024 16:25

Andy Gregory

Russia progressing in Donetsk ‘significantly faster’ than in whole of last year, analysts say

Monday 25 November 2024 15:57

Andy Gregory

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are straining to hold back Russian offensives in the eastern Donetsk region.

Russian forces recently have gained ground at “a significantly quicker rate” than they did in the whole of last year, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War think-tank.

The Russians have detected and are exploiting weaknesses in the Ukrainian defenses, the think-tank said.

Russian charged with sending video of military equipment to Ukraine jailed for 14 years

Monday 25 November 2024 15:34

Andy Gregory

A Russian man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of high treason for a video he allegedly sent to Ukraine’s security services showing russian military equipment.

The Volgograd District Court said Nikita Zhuravel had been “in disagreement with the political course of the Russian Federation” and entered into correspondence with a representative from Ukraine’s security services online and carried out tasks for him. It did not give details on the tasks.

Mr Zhuravel is already serving a 42-month sentence for burning a Quran in front of a mosque, which was handed down in February.

Prosecutors said he filmed a trainload of military equipment and warplanes in 2023 and sent the video to a representative of Ukraine’s security agency.

But rights activists say Zhuravel is a political prisoner who was beaten while in custody, by the 15-year-old son of Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed strongman leader of the Muslim-majority region of Chechnya. The warlord posted the video on social media and praised his son, causing public outrage.

Treason and espionage cases have skyrocketed after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, with cases targeting a wide range of suspects, from Kremlin critics and independent journalists to scientists.

Putin showing ‘no sign of wanting to negotiate’, says Lammy

Monday 25 November 2024 14:56

Andy Gregory

Speaking at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Italy, foreign secretary David Lammy told reporters he was “announcing the biggest sanctions package of the Russian shadow fleet” and warned that Vladimir Putin was showing “no signs at all” of wanting to negotiate over Ukraine.

“We are supporting them by £3bn a year every year for as long as it lasts to support them militarily, and of course with both economic and humanitarian aid we continue to support Ukraine,” said Mr Lammy.

“It’s hugely important at this G7 that all colleagues across the G7 continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it lasts and we are confident that Ukraine can have the funds and the military equipment and kit to get through 2025.

“Our assessment is that Putin shows no signs at all of wanting a negotiation. We have to ensure that Ukrainians are equipped for the fight.”

Germany’s Olaf Scholz makes Ukraine support a key plank of election campaign

Monday 25 November 2024 14:30

Andy Gregory

Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz has said supporting Ukraine will be a key plank of his re-election campaign after his party named him as their lead candidate for February’s vote.

Popular defence Minister Boris Pistorius ruled himself out of the running last Thursday, putting an end to weeks of speculation over whether he should lead the centre-left SPD into the election instead of Scholz.

The party executive committee of the centre-left SPD unanimously voted for Scholz as chancellor candidate, allowing him to run for a second term despite overseeing the collapse of his three-way coalition earlier this month.

In his coronation speech, Scholz spelled out the key points for his election campaign: ensuring peace by cautiously supporting Ukraine against Russia’s full-scale invasion, reviving the ailing economy and taming the cost of living crisis.

Mr Scholz, the least popular chancellor since reunification in 1990, has an uphill battle ahead of him. His SPD is currently polling in third place, with a survey by INSA putting the party on 14 per cent, behind the opposition conservatives on 32 per cent and far-right Alternative for Germany on 19.

UK spies ‘watching’ Russia amid cyber warfare fears, minister to warn

Monday 25 November 2024 14:11

Andy Gregory

British spies will seek to counter Russian cyber warfare with a new laboratory for artificial intelligence, a minister will announce, warning Russia will not “think twice” about targeting the UK.

Vowing never to let Vladimir Putin deter the UK from supporting Ukraine, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden will say the UK and its Nato allies are “watching” Moscow and combatting its attacks both publicly and “behind the scenes”.

In a major speech on Monday, Mr McFadden will warn that Britain “learned long ago” not to appease dictators and that Mr Putin “will not be successful” in attempting to weaken backing for Ukraine.

And the minister, responsible for UK national security, will announce a new Laboratory for AI Security Research (LAISR) aimed at helping the UK stay ahead in “the new AI arms race”.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

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At least 23 people injured in Kharkiv

Monday 25 November 2024 13:16

Andy Gregory

Kharkiv authorities have revised the casualty toll following Russia’s missile attack in the northeastern city.

At least 23 people are now reported to have been injured, with the attack having damaged more than 40 buildings on Monday morning, the regional governor and national police said.

At least 10 people were also injured in a missile attack on the southern city of Odesa, where residential buildings were also damaged, Ukraine’s interior ministry said.

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Russia claims to have shot down eight ballistic missiles fired by Ukraine

Monday 25 November 2024 13:10

Andy Gregory

Russia claims to have shot down eight ballistic missiles allegedly fired overnight by Ukraine.

“Russian air defence forces shot down eight ballistic missiles, as well as six guided US-made JDAM bombs and 45 aircraft-type drones in the past 24 hours,” Russia’s defence ministry was quoted as saying by state news.

While the veracity of the claims were unclear, Ukraine’s military said on Monday it had attacked an oil depot in Russia’s western Kaluga region, along with targets in Bryansk and Kursk.

Russia ‘will weigh deploying short and medium-range missiles in Asia’ if US does the same

Monday 25 November 2024 12:44

Andy Gregory

Russia will consider deploying short and intermediate-range missiles in Asia if the United States deploys such missiles to the same region, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov has been quoted as saying by state news.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday that Tokyo and Washington were aiming to put together a joint military plan for a possible Taiwan emergency, which would include the US deploying missiles to the Nansei Islands in Japan’s southwestern Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures, and to the Philippines.

UK will offer ‘all the support we can’ to British national captured in Russia’s Kursk region

Monday 25 November 2024 12:32

Andy Gregory

Britain’s foreign secretary David Lammy has said that “we will do all we can” to offer support to a British man who reportedly captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine.

Mr Lammy was asked about the reports regarding the man who identified himself as James Scott Rhys Anderson and said he was a former British Army soldier in footage that was widely circulated on Sunday.

Speaking in Italy, Mr Lammy told reporters: “I have been updated about that development in the last couple of days and of course we will do all we can to offer this UK national all the support we can.”

War crimes investigator probes site of Kharkiv missile attack

Monday 25 November 2024 12:01

Andy Gregory

A Ukrainian war crimes investigator was pictured photographing the site of the Russian missile attack on Kharkiv which left 10 people injured, the Associated Press reports.

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Russia’s army bigger than two years ago but quality has decreased, says top Nato official

Monday 25 November 2024 11:46

Andy Gregory

Russia’s land forces are now larger than when Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022 but their quality has decreased, a top Nato military official has said.

“The quality of those forces has gone down,” Nato’s highest-ranking military officer Admiral Rob Bauer said, pointing to the state of the force’s equipment and the level of training of its soldiers.

“At the moment, the Russians are not the same threat as in February 2022, so we have a bit of time to prepare ourselves,” he said, adding that this meant ramping up investments into the defence industry.

Pictures show aftermath of Kharkiv missile attack

Monday 25 November 2024 11:27

Andy Gregory

Photographs have emerged showing the aftermath of a Russian missile attack on Kharkiv, as at least 10 people were injured.

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Kremlin claims it ‘is not familiar’ with shock Romanian presidential frontrunner’s views on Russia

Monday 25 November 2024 11:12

Andy Gregory

The Kremlin has claimed not to be particularly familiar with the views on Russia of Calin Georgescu, the far-right Romanian presidential candidate who has emerged as the shock winner in the first round of the country’s elections.

The success of Mr Georgescu, a little-known independent candidate who has claimed that Romania’s best chance lies with “Russian wisdom” and who won 22.9 per cent of the first round vote, has surprised both pollsters and commentators alike.

Given his anti-Nato stance, one political commentator told Reuters that Russian meddling could not be ruled out. “Based on Georgescu’s stance towards Ukraine and the discrepancy between opinion surveys and the actual result, we cannot rule [that] out,” said Sergiu Miscoiu, a political scientist at Babes-Bolyai University.

But asked on Monday for the Kremlin’s take on Mr Georgescu and his electoral prospects ahead of the second round of voting on 8 December, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “I would not make any predictions yet.

“We probably cannot say that we are that familiar with the world view of this candidate as far as relations with our country are concerned. For now, we understand very clearly the current leadership of Romania, which is not a friendly country to us. We will of course watch how the electoral processes develop and who wins.”

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Ukraine says it struck oil depot in Russia’s western Kaluga region

Monday 25 November 2024 10:32

Andy Gregory

The Ukrainian military has said it had struck an oil depot overnight in a reported drone attack in Russia’s western Kaluga region, whose capital lies just 100 miles southwest of Moscow.

The military also said it had struck “a number of important targets” overnight in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions, which are adjacent to Ukraine.

Unverified footage appearing to show the aftermath was shared online, including by a Ukrainian ministerial adviser.

Romania in shock after far-right populist enters presidential election's runoff with most votes

Monday 25 November 2024 10:21

Andy Gregory

Romania’s political landscape is reeling after an obscure far-right populist secured the first round in its presidential election, beating the incumbent prime minister and threatening Romania’s pro-Ukraine stance.

Calin Georgescu, a hard-right critic of Nato who ran independently, will face off against reformist Elena Lasconi in a runoff in two weeks, after securing 22.95 per cent of the vote to her 19.17 per cent.

Ms Lasconi beat incument premier Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, marking the first time in Romania’s 35-year post-communist history for the party not to have a candidate in the second round of a presidential race.

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Ukraine’s air force says it downed 71 drones during mass overnight attack by Russia

Monday 25 November 2024 09:48

Andy Gregory

Ukraine’s air force claims to have shot down 71 out of 145 drones launched by Russia overnight, in what would mark one of the largest such attacks of the war so far.

The air force said that it had lost track of 71 more drones likely due to active electronic warfare, with one drone heading towards Belarus.

The latest attack would be on a par with a drone attack earlier this month described as Russia’s largest of the war so far by Kyiv, which also saw Russia use 145 drones to attack Ukraine, a significant number of which will be decoys and others Iranian-made Shahed attack drones.

Kremlin says Trump’s team talks of peace unlike Biden administration

Monday 25 November 2024 09:23

Andy Gregory

The Kremlin has said that US president-elect Donald Trump’s circle speaks of peace in Ukraine, while the current Biden Administration – which supports Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion – does not.

Repeating rhetoric regularly deployed by Russia throughout its war on Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on Monday that Vladimir Putin had repeatedly said that Moscow was ready for dialogue over Ukraine.

Mr Trump is “very concerned” about an escalation in fighting between Russia and Ukraine, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, Mike Waltz, told Fox News on Sunday, saying the war must be brought “to a responsible end”.

At least 10 people injured in Russian attack on Kharkiv, mayor says

Monday 25 November 2024 08:59

Andy Gregory

At least 10 people have been injured in a Russian attack on Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv, its mayor has said.

The Kharkiv regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said the attack caused a fire on one of the city’s central streets and damaged civilian infrastructure and cars.

Child injured in Russian overnight attacks on energy infrastructure and industrial facilities

Monday 25 November 2024 08:27

Andy Gregory

Russian forces have launch overnight attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s southern Mykolaiv region and on industrial facilities in Zaporizhzhia, authorities have said.

Mykolaiv governor Vitaliy Kim said there had been no casualties and engineers had restored power to most of the consumers facing power cuts after air defence’s downed two drones over the region.

Russia also launched “tens of drones” to attack Zaporizhzhia overnight, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said on national television.

The attack injured one child and dealt damage to multiple industrial facilities and a residential block.

Air defences also repelled a drone attack on the Ukrainian capital and the surrounding region overnight. Authorities reported no casualties or significant damage in the attack’s aftermath.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that Russia has used around 460 drones and over 20 missiles to attack Ukraine in the past week.

Tulsi Gabbard’s history with Russia is even more concerning than you think

Monday 25 November 2024 07:30

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Even before Gabbard left the Democratic Party, ingratiated herself with Donald Trump and secured his nomination to become director of National Intelligence, she was known as a prolific peddler of Russian propaganda.

In almost every foreign conflict in which Russia had a hand, Gabbard backed Moscow and railed against the US. Her past promotion of Kremlin propaganda has provoked significant opposition on both sides of the aisle to her nomination.

Her journey from anti-war Democrat to Moscow-friendly Maga warrior began in Syria.

The devastating conflict was sparked by pro-democracy uprisings in 2011, which were brutally crushed by the Assad regime. It descended into a complex web of factions that drew extremist Islamists from around the world and global powers into the fray.

Richard Hall and Andrew Feinberg write.

Watch: UK broadcaster Jeremy Kyle cuts off caller who defends Putin during live interview

Monday 25 November 2024 17:14

Andy Gregory

The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine

Monday 25 November 2024 07:00

Alexander Butler

New AI lab for British spies to counter Russian cyber warfare

Monday 25 November 2024 06:30

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

British spies will seek to counter the threat of Russian cyber warfare with a new laboratory for artificial intelligence, a minister will announce.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will say the UK and its Nato allies are “watching” Moscow and combatting its attacks both publicly and “behind the scenes” in his speech today.

In an apparent reference to the lead-up to the Second World War, he will warn that Britain “learned long ago” to not appease dictators and that Mr Putin “will not be successful” in attempting to weaken backing for Ukraine.

Mr McFadden, whose brief includes national security, will also announce a new Laboratory for AI Security Research (LAISR) aimed at helping the UK stay ahead in “the new AI arms race”.

The centre will bring together GCHQ, Oxford University, the National Cyber Security Centre, the Alan Turing Institute and numerous Government departments, and be backed by an initial £8.22m in state funding.

Russia says it downed Ukrainian missiles over Kursk

Monday 25 November 2024 06:00

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russia says its air defence systems destroyed seven Ukrainian missiles and drones overnight over the border Kursk region.

A pro-Russian military analyst Roman Alyokhin, who serves as an adviser to the governor of the region, said on Telegram that “Kursk was subjected to a massive attack by foreign-made missiles” overnight.

Father of ‘ex-British soldier’ captured in Russia fears son will be tortured

Monday 25 November 2024 05:25

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The father of an alleged former British soldier has expressed his “complete shock” to hear his son had been captured by Russian troops.

“A mercenary from Great Britain, who called himself James Scott Rhys Anderson, was captured. He is now giving evidence,” a Russian source told RIA news agency.

Scott Anderson, father of the captured man, told the Daily Mail: “I’m hoping he’ll be used as a bargaining chip but my son told me they torture their prisoners and I’m so frightened he’ll be tortured.

“We spoke on WhatsApp almost every day until he went on his most recent operation. He was acting as a signalman. James last came home only a month and a half ago.

“He said his Ukrainian commander had made a promise that he’d contact me if he was ever killed or captured.”

Watch: Putin says Russia tested new intermediate range missile in strike on Ukraine

Monday 25 November 2024 05:00

Alexander Butler

Watch: Footage appears to show Russia's ICBM launch hitting Ukraine

Monday 25 November 2024 04:00

Alexander Butler

Russian forces capture British man fighting with Ukraine – reports

Monday 25 November 2024 03:15

Namita Singh

Russian forces captured a British mercenary fighting with the Ukrainian army in Russia’s Kursk region, which is still partially controlled by Kyiv forces, a security source told Russia’s RIA state news agency.

“A mercenary from Great Britain, who called himself James Scott Rhys Anderson, was captured. He is now giving evidence,” the Russian source told RIA in remarks published on Sunday.

In a video posted on unofficial pro-war Russian Telegram channels on Sunday, a young bearded man wearing military clothing with what appears to be his hands tied in the back, says in English that his name is James Scott Rhys Anderson and that he formerly served in the British Army.

Report:

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What is an intercontinental ballistic missile and how many does Russia have?

Monday 25 November 2024 01:00

Alexander Butler

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Nato countries are in a ‘hidden cyber war’ with Russia, minister says

Monday 25 November 2024 00:01

Alexander Butler

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Threat of world war is ‘serious and real’ Poland says as Putin steps up threats against West

Sunday 24 November 2024 23:00

Alexander Butler

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Revealed: How Donald Trump’s alleged assassin tapped up UK-trained Afghan commandos to fight in Ukraine

Sunday 24 November 2024 22:00

Alexander Butler

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What do we know about Putin’s ‘experimental’ ballistic missile?

Sunday 24 November 2024 21:00

Alexander Butler

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What is the Storm Shadow cruise missile?

Sunday 24 November 2024 20:00

Alexander Butler

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This is no time to surrender to Putin’s rockets – still less his words

Sunday 24 November 2024 19:00

Alexander Butler

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Pictured: Russian hypersonic ballistic missile debris

Sunday 24 November 2024 16:00

Alexander Butler

Fragments of the ‘experimental’ intermediate-range ballistic missile Russia launched at Ukraine last week (REUTERS)