Vladimir Putin’s forces are bombing stations along their own crucial gas pipeline in an effort to sabotage any ceasefire deal with Ukraine, Kyiv’s military has said.
A gas pumping station in Sudzha, in the Russian border region of Kursk was on fire on Friday morning after being rocked by a major explosion. Ukraine’s general staff has denied that his forces struck the pipeline and instead said it had been “repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves”.
The army accused Russia of seeking to pin the blame on Ukraine with “groundless” accusations its military was involved – all to undermine any truce and longer peace deal currently being negotiated by Donald Trump and the US.
The Sudzha pipeline has been a critical hub for Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has warned Putin will face “severe consequences” if he breaches any peace deal with Ukraine, as western military planners begin drawing up plans to enforce any agreement between the two countries that Mr Trump and the US is trying to secure.
In Ukraine, a mass drone attack launched by Russia on Odesa overnight caused fires in three different parts of the city.
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Key Points
- Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up own gas pipeline
- Trump seeking to seize control of nuclear plants via minerals deal
- Putin would face 'severe consequences' for breaching ceasefire deal, warns Starmer
- Russian drone strikes spark huge fires in Odesa
- France will host summit with Zelensky next week, Macron says
- Russia's Shoigu arrives in North Korea today
Pictured: Russian gas station engulfed in flames
09:14
,
Athena Stavrou
Where is the Sudzha gas station?
09:13
A huge fire has broken out at a Russian gas and pumping station after it was rocked by a major explosion.
The facility in Sudzha is in Russia’s Kursk region near the border with Ukraine.
It was once used by Gazprom to export gas to Europe from Russia visa Ukraine, until Kyiv decided to end the agreement in January this year.
The Kursk region has been a key area in the war between Russia in Ukraine.
In August 2024, Ukraine launched an incursion into the region and captured an estimated 1,300 square kilometers of land, including the town of Sudzha.
However in recent weeks, Putin’s troops have re-captured much of the region.
Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up own gas pipeline
08:59
,
Athena Stavrou
Ukraine has accused Russia of repeatedly bombing its own gas pipeline in order to blame Kyiv amid a proposed energy ceasefire.
A large cloud of smoke has gathered above a pipeline in Sudzha, in Russia’s Kurk region.
The gas pumping and measuring station has been used as a hub to transport Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine.
A huge fire broke out at the facility following a major explosion, but Ukraine has called accusations it carried out the attack “baseless”. .
“On the contrary, the mentioned station has been repeatedly shelled by the russians themselves,” Ukraine’s general staff said.
It added: “Russians continue to create numerous fakes and seek to mislead the international community.
“We urge you to trust only official sources, verify information and do not succumb to manipulation.”
Czech president was in Odesa during Russian attack
08:35
,
Athena Stavrou
The Czech President was in Odesa when the city was pounded by Russian drones.
Ukrainian officials said Petr Pavel has visited the country’s Black Sea port on Thursday prior to the attacks, which have sparked fires across the city.
"Significantly, it was during our meeting that the enemy once again massively attacked the Odesa region," Odesa Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messenger app.
"This is another reminder for the whole world: the war is on and Ukraine continues to fight."
Sun rises on Odesa as firefighters work to put out blazes
08:17
,
Athena Stavrou
Russia launches 214 drones in overnight attack, Kyiv says
08:10
,
Athena Stavrou
Russia launched 214 drones in an overnight attack on Thursday, Ukraine has said.
Kyiv’s air force said its defences shot down 114 of the drones, and said another 81 were “lost”, in reference to the Ukrainian military using electronic warfare to redirect them.
Miliband says Starmer still committed to sending troops to Ukraine
08:04
Ed Miliband has been asked by Sky News whether a new focus on air and sea forces by the Prime Minister as he met military planners on Thursday signalled he was withdrawing from his pledge to place British boots on the ground in Ukraine.
Mr Miliband said: “I think people are over-interpreting what the Prime Minister said yesterday.
“Look, I think work is obviously ongoing on the terms of a ceasefire and the protection that will be put in place to protect that ceasefire and to protect the people of Ukraine. That operational planning, that military planning, is ongoing.
“You wouldn’t expect me to get into the detail of that, but I don’t think people should jump to conclusions.
“That planning is an ongoing process and obviously is one going on in concert with our allies, and indeed in concert with Ukraine and the government of Ukraine.”
Fires in Ukrainian port city after Russian strikes
07:52
,
Athena Stavrou
Ukrainian emergency services are battling blazes in Ukraine’s port city of Odesa after overnight Russian drone strikes.
Three people have been injured in the attack which sparked fires in three locations.
The regional governor said a high-rise apartment building and a shopping centre had also been damaged in the attack which triggered power cuts across the city.
Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian attacks in the more than three-year-old war, particularly the city's port facilities.
Harmful chemicals detected after explosion at Russian oil depot
07:32
Authorities in Russia's Krasnodar region said they have detected high levels of harmful chemicals in the air near where workers are scrambling to extinguish a blaze, Interfax news agency said.
An explosion rocked an oil depot after a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week, regional authorities said on Friday.
The fire spread to another tank, and the fire area increased to 10,000 square metres (108,000 square feet), they added – more than twice the original area of the blaze.
More than 450 firefighters were trying to tackle it, and two had been injured.
"During the extinguishing process, due to depressurisation of the burning tank, there was an explosion of oil products and release of burning oil," officials said on the Telegram messaging app.
Mapped: Which Ukrainian nuclear power plants could Trump take as part of ceasefire deal?
07:00
,
Tara Cobham
Donald Trump has floated the idea of taking control of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, in a phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The conversation on Wednesday was described as positive by both sides and was mainly aimed at securing a truce between Ukraine and Russia on aerial attacks against one another’s energy infrastructure.
Mr Zelensky suggested the call had focused on the US takeover of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is under Russian control.
My colleague Tom Watling takes a look:
Putin’s top security adviser arrives in North Korea amid dramatic advances in security ties
06:45
,
Shweta Sharma
Russian president Vladimir Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu has landed in North Korea and plans to meet its leader Kim Jong Un, the TASS news agency reported on Friday, his latest visit amid dramatic advances in security relations between the two countries.
The TASS report did not provide further details and North Korea's state media did not report on Mr Shoigu's arrival.
Mr Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister until last May and secretary of the Security Council since then, had earlier made visits to Pyongyang as North Korea allegedly geared up to deploy soldiers to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
US pushing Ukraine to agree new terms on minerals deal - report
06:24
,
Shweta Sharma
Donald Trump is seeking to reopen negotiations on a deal for the US access to critical minerals and energy assets in Ukraine, after earlier talks collapsed following a public clash between the leaders of the two countries.
Volodymyr Zelensky had said he was ready to sign the previous agreement, but the US is now expanding its economic demands, the Financial Times reported citing Ukrainian officials.
Washington is seeking assurances from Kyiv on the ownership and control structure of a joint investment fund, as well as broader provisions that could extend to US ownership of other key economic assets, including Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, according to two Ukrainian officials.
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Mr Trump stated that the US was actively pursuing deals on rare earths and minerals worldwide, with Ukraine being a particular priority.
Ukrainian officials expressed concern about being pressured into accepting unfavourable terms in a wider agreement, particularly following Washington's temporary suspension of weapons deliveries and intelligence sharing with Kyiv earlier this month.
It comes after Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump said they held a "positive" but "frank" phone call after their public spat at the White House.
Explosion shakes burning Russian oil depot after Ukrainian strike
06:08
An explosion rocked an oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region where firefighters are trying to extinguish a blaze that broke out after a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week, regional authorities said on Friday.
"During the extinguishing process, due to depressurisation of the burning tank, there was an explosion of oil products and release of burning oil," officials said on the Telegram messaging app.
The fire spread to another tank, and the fire area increased to 10,000 square metres, they added. Two firefighters were injured.
The depot, near the village of Kavkazskaya, is a rail terminal for Russian oil supplies to a pipeline linking Kazakhstan to the Black Sea.
Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday that Ukraine had already violated a proposed ceasefire on energy sites by attacking the depot
Ukrainian strike on closed Sudzha gas station 'damages pipeline'
05:59
,
Shweta Sharma
The Ukrainian military suggested it had carried out a "successful strike" in western Russia's Kursk region on the Sudzha gas station, through which Russia sends gas to Europe.
A picture showing a huge fireball rising skyward was shared on the Ukrainian military Telegram channel following the strike.
"Media are reporting a successful strike on the Sudzha gas transport system through which the enemy used to transport gas to Europe,” it said, citing media reports.
There was no official word on the incident from the government in Kyiv.
Authorities in Moscow also did not report the incident.
Ukrainian forces have faced pressure from the Russian army in the area for the last seven months.
The station at Sudzha was the only point through which Russian gas had passed on its way through Ukraine and on to Europe until Ukraine declined to prolong a transit agreement in January this year.
Ukrainian media also reported the strike and posted video footage of the blaze, as did Telegram channels in the Kursk region.
The Baza Telegram channel, close to the Russian security services, said the pipeline had been damaged.
Ukraine attacked Russia’s Sudzha gas transmission system. Zelensky wants to lose the last ally - Europe.
— Diana Panchenko (@Panchenko_X) March 21, 2025
The Sudzha GTS is a critical hub for Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine, the final supply route after others shut down. Its destruction will cut off Europe’s… pic.twitter.com/vS1OCSs0ty
Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday that Ukraine had already violated a proposed ceasefire on energy sites in the three-year-old war by attacking an oil depot in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar.
Russia launches drone strikes sparking huge fires in Odesa
05:38
,
Shweta Sharma
Three people were injured after Russia launched a drone attack on Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odesa late on Thursday.
Regional governor Oleh Kiper said drone strikes damaged high-rise buildings and a shopping centre, sparking huge fires.
Last night, as the civilized world observed from a safe distance, Russians tried to destroy our city of Odesa.
— Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) March 21, 2025
In an immense attack, dozens of Shahed drones targeted shopping malls, residential buildings, and civilians in the most populous areas of the city. pic.twitter.com/lLL9FhR5m8
The attacks happened in three locations, causing power outages in the area.
Public broadcaster Suspilne had earlier reported more than 18 explosions in the city after 10pm.
At least 10 injured in attack on Russian airfield
05:19
,
Shweta Sharma
Russia has imposed a state of emergency in the district of Engels in the Saratov region after 10 people were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airfield.
All those wounded are being treated in hospital and there is no threat to their lives, the head of the regional health ministry told a local TV channel.
Ukraine struck Russia's Engels strategic bomber base on Thursday with drones, triggering a major blast and fire.
Several buildings in the area were damaged following the strike.
France will host summit with Zelensky next week, Macron says
04:27
,
Arpan Rai
French president Emmanuel Macron said he will host a meeting of European leaders with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris next Thursday to discuss ways to help defend Ukraine.
He said his goal was to discuss ways to speed up immediate military support, how to make a possible ceasefire work, and draw up plans to beef up the Ukrainian military after a deal and possibly deploy troops there.
Russia's Shoigu arrives in North Korea today
03:02
,
Arpan Rai
Russian president Vladimir Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu has arrived in North Korea and plans to meet its leader Kim Jong Un today, Russian news agencies reported this morning.
Further details of the former Russian defence minister's visit to North Korea are not immediately clear. North Korea's state media have not reported on Shoigu's arrival.
Mr Shoigu had earlier made visits to Pyongyang as North Korea geared up to deploy troops to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
According to the US and South Korean officials, North Korea has deployed more than 10,000 troops who were sent into combat in Russia's eastern Kursk region and also shipped heavy weapons including artillery and ballistic missiles.
Analysis: Now Zelensky has his opportunity to beckon Trump back into Ukraine’s corner
03:00
,
Tara Cobham
Seizing the opportunity to drive a wedge between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Ukraine’s president has moved swiftly to usher the American president back towards his corner.
By respecting, vocally, Trump’s efforts to get a ceasefire with Russia, Ukraine has exposed Putin’s deep reluctance to agree to any lowering of hostilities until he can be sure of permanently mangling Ukraine’s sovereignty.
According to a briefing on a call between Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, the US president has calmed down, stopped calling him a “dictator”, and come up with an agreement to supply some badly needed air defences for Ukraine.
Sam Kiley writes from Odesa:
Starmer says time for Ukraine peacekeeping force planning is now
02:52
,
Arpan Rai
Prime minister Keir Starmer said he didn't know whether there would be a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, but "we are making steps in the right direction" as a "coalition of the willing" led by Britain and France moves into an "operational phase."
"We hope there will be a deal but what I do know is if there is a deal, the time for planning is now," he said during a visit to the meeting of military planners at a British base in Northwood, just outside London. "It's not after a deal is reached."
"It is vitally important we do that work, because we know one thing for certain which is a deal without anything behind it is something that (Russian president Vladimir) Putin will breach," he said.
His remarks come as senior military officers from more than 30 countries across Europe and beyond met in England yesterday to flesh out plans for an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine as details of a partial ceasefire are worked out.
Watch: Starmer makes rare nuclear submarine visit in show of strength
02:00
,
Tara Cobham
Editorial: Sir Keir’s ‘coalition of the willing’ is proving to be principled – and a rallying cry for Ukraine
01:00
,
Tara Cobham
After a week of frenetic activity on the war front, there has been a welcome return to peace – if only the idea of it. High-level meetings in London and Brussels have served to clarify a few basics.
Military leaders met behind closed doors in London for what was billed as operational planning for Sir Keir Starmer’s “coalition of the willing”. EU leaders, meanwhile, thrashed out preparations for closer defence cooperation and the eventuality, however distant, of peace in Ukraine; Volodymyr Zelensky reported from Norway on his recent “friendly” phone call with Donald Trump.
With much of the recent action happening between Washington and Moscow, and with diplomatic meetings taking place in Saudi Arabia, it has been all too possible to neglect the role that could and should be played by Europe and the Europeans. Here was an illustration of why they matter.
Read more here:
Watch emotional reunions in Ukraine as hundreds of prisoners of war return: ‘His birthday will be at home’
00:00
,
Tara Cobham
UPDATE: Russian drones hit civilian targets in Ukraine's Odesa injuring three, governor says
Thursday 20 March 2025 23:43
,
Tara Cobham
Russian forces launched a mass drone attack on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa late on Thursday, injuring three people and damaging a high-rise apartment building and a shopping centre, the regional governor said.
Oleh Kiper, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said there had been strikes in three locations that triggered fires, while three districts of the city were suffering from power cuts.
Public broadcaster Suspilne had earlier reported more than 18 explosions in the city after 10pm (8pm GMT).
Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian attacks in the more than three-year-old war, particularly the city's port facilities.
The governor of Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Ivan Fedorov, reported several strikes on areas near the city of Zaporizhzhia, including one guided bomb. He said five people were injured, including a child.
Russia says Ukrainian drone attack on oil depot already violates proposed ceasefire
Thursday 20 March 2025 23:24
,
Tara Cobham
Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday that Ukraine had already violated a proposed ceasefire on energy sites in the three-year-old war by attacking a Russian oil depot.
Russia's TASS news agency reported foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state television Channel One that it was up to the United States, which had proposed the ceasefire, to confront Ukraine over its actions.
The Kremlin said this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed in a call with his US counterpart Donald Trump to observe a 30-day ceasefire on energy targets. The accord fell short of a wider agreement that the U.S. had sought, and which was accepted by Ukraine, for a blanket 30-day truce.
Firefighters in southern Russia were still battling a blaze at an oil depot triggered by a Ukrainian drone attack, regional authorities said on the Telegram messaging app.
"We believe that the Kyiv regime has already broken the ceasefire proposed by the US president," Zakharova said on television, according to TASS.
Ukrainian officials have also accused Russia of failing to align their actions with their pledges by launching attacks on civilian targets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Russian attacks on infrastructure, including hospitals and rail equipment, showed "Putin's words are very different from reality".
Full story: Putin will breach peace deal unless it is defended, Starmer says
Thursday 20 March 2025 23:00
,
Tara Cobham
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Vladimir Putin “will breach” a peace in Ukraine unless any potential deal is defended, Sir Keir Starmer said as he attended a meeting of defence chiefs aimed at drawing up military plans for a peacekeeping force.
The Prime Minister said he was “certain” the Russian president would flout the terms of a truce unless security arrangements were in place to ensure sovereignty for the wartorn country.
Sir Keir and Defence Secretary John Healey are meeting military planners from the UK and allied countries gathering in London to firm up proposals for a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine.
Read the full story here:
France will host summit with Zelensky on Thursday, Macron says
Thursday 20 March 2025 22:35
,
Tara Cobham
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he will host a meeting of European leaders with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris next Thursday to discuss ways to help defend Ukraine.
He said his goal was to discuss ways to speed up immediate military support, how to make a possible ceasefire work, and draw up plans to beef up the Ukrainian military after a deal and possibly deploy troops there.
Costa says he believes EU member states will increase support for Ukraine
Thursday 20 March 2025 22:17
,
Tara Cobham
President of the European Council António Costa has said he believes EU member states will increase their pledges of support to Ukraine.
Macron says France to host coalition of the willing on Thursday
Thursday 20 March 2025 22:11
,
Tara Cobham
French president Emmanuel Macron has said France will host the coalition of the willing countries to discuss Ukraine in Paris on Thursday.
Russia launches mass drone attack on Odesa hitting civilian targets and causing injuries, officials say
Thursday 20 March 2025 22:00
,
Tara Cobham
Russian forces launched a mass drone attack on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa late on Thursday, causing injuries and hitting civilian targets, officials said.
Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, said the drones struck civilian targets and caused injuries, without giving further details.
Public broadcaster Suspilne said more than 18 explosions were recorded in the city after 10pm and a fire broke out. Suspilne quoted utility officials as saying power was cut in several districts.
Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian attacks in the more than three-year-old war, particularly the city's port facilities.
'We are doing well with Ukraine and Russia,' says Trump
Thursday 20 March 2025 21:30
,
Tara Cobham
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that “we are doing well with Ukraine and Russia”.
It comes after his high-stakes phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin this week.
Zelensky defies Trump, warning: Hands off my nuclear power stations
Thursday 20 March 2025 21:00
,
Tara Cobham
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that “all nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine” after reports that his US counterpart Donald Trump said an American takeover of the country’s nuclear power would offer the “best protection” for it.
In their first conversation since Mr Trump verbally attacked Mr Zelensky in the White House and had him thrown out, the US president reportedly suggested Washington take ownership of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
But Kyiv says the discussions referred only to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian occupation.
Jane Dalton has the full story:
Trump says US to sign minerals deal with Ukraine shortly
Thursday 20 March 2025 20:39
,
Tara Cobham
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States will sign a minerals and natural resources deal with Ukraine shortly.
He made the comment after signing an order to increase US production of critical minerals.
Military chiefs from more than 30 countries across Europe and beyond met to discuss peacekeeping force for Ukraine
Thursday 20 March 2025 20:30
,
Tara Cobham
Senior military officers from more than 30 countries across Europe and beyond met in England on Thursday to flesh out plans for an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine as details of a partial ceasefire are worked out.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer said he did not know whether there would be a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, but "we are making steps in the right direction" as a "coalition of the willing" led by Britain and France moves into an "operational phase”.
William pays tribute to ‘resilience’ of Ukrainians in Estonia
Thursday 20 March 2025 19:50
,
Tara Cobham
The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to the “resilience” of Ukrainians given refuge by Estonia after holding talks with the Baltic state’s president.
William described refugees who have fled Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “very smiley and very strong and very spiritual people” after meeting students and their teachers at school founded to educate Ukrainians in Estonia.
Earlier, the future King sat down with Estonia’s President Alar Karis as his two-day visit to the country began and heard his plea for some UK troops to remain in the Baltic state after the statesman suggested they may be redeployed as peacekeepers in Ukraine.
Read the full story here:
European leaders to meet in Paris next week to discuss Ukraine, Bloomberg News reports
Thursday 20 March 2025 19:15
,
Tara Cobham
Leaders from European countries including Germany, Italy and Poland, will meet in Paris next week to discuss their position on Ukraine and demands on the peace process, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.
Leaders from Britain and Canada will also be involved in the meeting, the Bloomberg News report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Starmer rules out UK pulling back from Nato commitments to provide Ukraine peacekeeping troops
Thursday 20 March 2025 18:53
,
Tara Cobham
The UK will not be pulling back from Nato commitments to other countries in order to provide troops for a Ukraine peacekeeping mission, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Prime Minister was asked after an international meeting of military planning chiefs in London about comments made by defence minister Luke Pollard, who suggested during the morning broadcast round on Thursday this could happen.
Sir Keir said: "No. There's no pulling back from our commitments to other countries.
"Obviously, we're deployed in Estonia - I've been up to see the troops a couple of times now on the front - and it's important to appreciate there are Nato planners here today as well, because one of the conditions or principles that I set from the very start is it had to be co-ordinated with Nato, and that's why we've got Nato planners here.
"The mood in the room - because this came up in the private briefing I had - was that this actually will help reinforce what we're doing in Nato in other countries, so they see it as an opportunity, rather than a question of moving troops around."
Starmer reveals details of military planning for coalition of the willing
Thursday 20 March 2025 18:48
,
Tara Cobham
Military planning for the coalition of the willing has been broken down into sea, air, land and borders, and the regeneration of Ukraine, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
He told reporters at Northwood military headquarters in north-west London: "What's happening here is, if you like, the political momentum that we've built up with the meeting I convened at the weekend and then the one two weeks before that at Lancaster House, is being translated here into military planning and operational planning, and broadly broken out into different areas.
"So we're looking at the sea in one scenario, the sky, obviously land and borders, and regeneration."
The Prime Minister earlier acknowledged there were "a lot of contingencies" in reaching peace in Ukraine, adding: "We don't yet know whether there will be a deal."
He also told reporters: "What it's reinforced in me is that now is the time for the planning because you don't start to plan after you've reached a deal. You've got to have plans before the deal.
"It means there has got to be a degree of optionality, because the likelihood is there'll be a ceasefire and then possibly a full deal after that, and therefore that's two different scenarios."
Putin would face 'severe consequences' for breaching ceasefire deal, warns Starmer
Thursday 20 March 2025 18:45
,
Tara Cobham
Vladimir Putin would face "severe consequences" for breaching a ceasefire deal, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Prime Minister, when asked if Russia breaching a future ceasefire in Ukraine could draw UK troops into the conflict, said: "The point of the security arrangements is to make it clear to Russia there will be severe consequences if they are to breach any deal.
"That's why we need a forward-leaning European element, which is what I've been working on intensely - obviously with the French - that bring these allied countries together, and beyond."