‘Puffy-looking’ Putin is acting weirder than ever – and that should chill us to the bone
Ukraine hits St. Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky’s offer for talks
Russia threats to UK at highest level since the Cold War, military chief warns
It’s advantage Zelensky in Ukraine’s push for peace with Putin
Key Points
- Keir Starmer will host Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz in No 10 to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine
- Zelensky: 'An extremely vile Russian strike' struck special territory around Chernobyl
- Russian drone hits nuclear-fuel storage facility near Chornobyl, Ukraine says
- Ukraine targets St Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky's offer for direct talks
- Russian forces attack rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, deputy PM says
Zelensky, Starmer, Macron and Merz discuss defence from hypersonic missiles
21:50 , Tom BarnesLeaders of Ukraine, the UK, France and Germany discussed “the urgent need to scale up the production of interceptors and co-develop anti-ballistic missile and deep strike capabilities” after Russia fired Oreshnik weapons at Ukraine, Downing Street said.
Volodymyr Zelensky has left Downing Street.
21:46 , James ReynoldsKeir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky shook hands and briefly posed for photographs outside No 10 this evening.
Mr Zelensky left just over half an hour after Macron and Merz.
Leaders leave No10 after meeting
21:24 , James ReynoldsEmmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz have left Downing Street after a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky.
The four leaders shook hands warmly and posed for a group picture outside No 10.
The leaders smiled to reporters in Downing Street before the French president and German chancellor headed to their cars.
On his way to his car, Mr Macron greeted reporters in French saying “hello gentlemen and ladies”.
The Prime Minister and the Ukrainian leader then re-entered No 10.
Watch: Emergency crews extinguish fires after Russian strikes in Ukraine’s Sumy region
21:00 , James ReynoldsRussian drone hits nuclear-fuel storage facility near Chornobyl, Ukraine says
20:00 , James ReynoldsRussian forces deliberately struck a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Ukraine's Chornobyl power plant, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, in an "extremely vile" attack that did not lead to a spike in radiation.
The strike significantly damaged a fuel-reception building metres away from where "large amounts of nuclear material" are stored, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said it had been briefed by Ukraine.
Kyiv's state atomic agency Energoatom said no spent fuel had been stored in the building at the time of the attack. A resulting fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported.
Russia has not publicly commented on the alleged strike on the facility, which is located around 15 km from the decommissioned Chornobyl plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.
"An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike," Zelensky wrote on X, adding Russia had used a Shahed attack drone.
"As of now, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia's brazenness, which long ago went off the charts."
Pictured: Starmer greets Zelensky at the door
19:20 , James Reynolds
Breaking: Zelensky arrives at No 10 for talks with Starmer
19:19 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky has arrived at Downing Street for talks with Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Zelensky said earlier today the focus of the summit would be greater cooperation for the security of “all of Europe” in air defence, and the prospects for diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.
“Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong. A meeting with His Majesty King Charles III is also scheduled for tomorrow,” he said.
Zelensky said last week he was preparing meetings with key European partners to discuss “air defense for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia for the war, our joint weapons production with partners, political coordination, and real support for Ukrainians who are going through this full-scale war”.
The Ukrainian president has urged the importance of air defences for Ukraine and wider Europe in recent weeks.
Merz arrives at Downing Street
18:46 , James ReynoldsGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz has also arrived at No10 for the E3 summit with Ukraine.
Macron arrives at No10
18:42 , James ReynoldsFrench president Emmanuel Macron has just entered Downing Street, greeted at the door by Sir Keir Starmer.
Zelensky in UK for talks with Starmer, Macron and Merz
17:58 , Dan HaygarthVolodymyr Zelensky is in the UK for bilateral talks with Sir Keir Starmer, as well as an E3-plus-Ukraine format with French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and Sir Keir.
"The main focus is our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects," he wrote on X.
"Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong."
Today I am in Britain. We will have our bilateral talks with Keir and a meeting in the E3 plus Ukraine format: President of France Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer. Our teams have already done substantive… pic.twitter.com/tZrdxqh4Pp
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 7, 2026
Video: Starmer to host Zelensky and leaders of France and Germany for No 10 talks
17:42 , Dan HaygarthDowning Street prepares to host Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz
17:28 , Dan Haygarth
Full story: Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
16:50 , Dan HaygarthVolodymyr Zelensky invited former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to Kyiv in a bid to persuade him to pass pleas for direct peace talks to Vladimir Putin, according to reports.
The Ukrainian president hosted the Russian billionaire last month and asked him to tell Mr Putin he was prepared to meet, multiple sources told the Financial Times. Any direct meeting between the two would be the first since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
It comes as Kyiv hopes to capitalise on a pivotal moment in the war, with Ukraine beginning to regain some leverage on the battlefield in part due to improved long-range strike capabilities.
Read more:
Zelensky asked Roman Abramovich to send peace talks plea to Putin, report says
Zelensky statement as he arrives in UK
16:17 , Daniel HaygarthUkraine’s president wrote on X on Sunday: “Today I am in Britain.
“We will have our bilateral talks with Keir and a meeting in the E3 plus Ukraine format: President of France Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer.
“Our teams have already done substantive work to prepare all the meetings. Now it is important to discuss everything and agree on the key things at the leaders’ level.
“The main focus is our defense in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defense, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects – Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong.
“A meeting with His Majesty King Charles III is also scheduled for tomorrow.
“I thank the United Kingdom and all our partners who, through real steps, are helping us strengthen the protection of life and increase pressure on Russia for its aggression. Russia must end its war.”
Zelensky invited Abramovich to Kyiv to push for direct talks with Putin: report
16:16 , James Reynolds
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky invited former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to Kyiv last month in a bid to encourage Russian president Vladimir Putin to sit down for direct talks to end the war, according to a report.
Four people with knowledge of the matter told the Financial Times that Zelensky asked the Russian businessman, also a former governor, to relay that he was ready to meet for what would have been the first bilateral talks since the invasion.
The sources said Ukraine wanted to show its seriousness in intent to settle the four-year conflict.
Zelensky in UK
16:07 , Dan HaygarthPresident Volodymyr Zelensky is in the UK for bilateral talks with Keir Starmer, as well as an E3-plus-Ukraine format with French president Emmanuel Macron, Germany chancellor Friedrich Merz and the prime minister.
"The main focus is our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects," he wrote on X.
"Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong."
Video: Starmer to host Zelensky and leaders of France and Germany for No 10 talks
15:20 , Dan HaygarthGovernment should apologise for delay to defence plan which has damaged Britain’s safety, MPs say
15:03 , Dan HaygarthThe government should apologise for the delay to a long-anticipated defence blueprint which has damaged Britain's safety and emboldened its enemies, an influential cross-party group of MPs has said.
In a scathing assessment they also accuse ministers of offering “excuses” which, they say, “simply do not cut it”.
On Friday, the chief of the defence staff Richard Knighton warned the UK is running out of time to boost its defences in response to the threat posed by Russia, after months of delays to the Defence Investment Plan (Dip).
Read more:
Delay to defence plan which has damaged Britain’s safety, MPs say
Armenians go to the polls under Russian pressure aimed at preventing a drift toward West
14:46 , Dan Haygarth
Armenians are today voting parliamentary elections as the incumbent government, under mounting Russian pressure, seeks to loosen ties with Moscow and deepen cooperation with the West.
Prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party are looking for a strong mandate for a new geopolitical course. The opposition they face includes some parties that are vocally pro-Russian.
Russian officials have hit Armenian exports with a barrage of restrictions in recent weeks, while high-ranking officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have made thinly veiled threats comparing Armenia's path to that already taken by Ukraine.
Armenian investigators said they issued six arrest warrants for members of the opposition Strong Armenia party the day before the vote, accusing them of buying votes.
The nation's Central Election Committee confirmed on Saturday that the party could run after a member of another opposition party, Republic, appealed for Strong Armenia to be barred over corruption allegations.
Recap: Ukraine hits St. Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky’s offer for talks
14:30 , Dan HaygarthA large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, on Saturday morning, with residents told to remain indoors .
The strike shows Kyiv's increasing capability to hit deep within Russian territory. St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov specifically warned of potential disruptions to mobile internet services.
The latest attacks came a day after Putin on Friday rejected a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a face-to-face meeting on the four-year-old conflict, saying he sees “no point” in it.
Read more below.
Ukraine hits St. Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky’s offer for talks
Russian drone strike kills three
14:15 , Dan HaygarthA Russian drone strike killed three people waiting at a bus stop in southeastern Ukraine on Sunday, an official said, as Keir Starmer hosts the leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany for talks on ongoing support for Kyiv.
Another person was wounded in the drone attack in Balabyne in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region, the head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, wrote on his Telegram channel.
Elsewhere, a Ukrainian attack killed one man and injured a woman in Russia's Kursk region, local Gov. Alexander Khinshtein said.
Zelensky's statement in full after Russian drone hits facilty near Chernobly
14:00 , Dan HaygarthThe Ukrainian president wrote on X on Sunday: “Today, the Russians again struck the special territory around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
“A ‘shahed’ hit one of the buildings of the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility. An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy, and all our services are already working to ensure that each of our partners knows what has happened. Russia deliberately struck this particular nuclear infrastructure facility.
“As of now, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia’s brazenness, which long ago went off the charts. Ukrainian first responders extinguished the fire at this facility after the strike.
“And real new steps by the world are needed so that the Russians feel that this terrorist war of theirs is a blow to Russia itself.
“Last night, there were also Russian strikes on other civilian facilities in 13 of our regions. In total, over the course of this past week, Russia launched 88 missiles, more than 3,250 attack drones, and around 1,800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine.
“Pressure on Russia must be increased. Thank you to everyone who’s helping!”
Ex-military chief warns it is going to be ‘difficult’ for Starmer to look Zelensky in the eye amid defence delays
13:47 , Kate DevlinGeneral Sir Richard Shirreff, who chairs an advisory council for Ukraine's armed forces, has hit out at the PM, accusing him of having "failed to put together" a long-promised defence investment plan.
An influential group of MPs has said the government should apologise for the delay, which has damaged Britain’s safety.
The UK has pledged support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Sir Richard told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House "it's going to be very difficult for the prime minister to look President Zelensky in the eye and indeed his other allies, particularly Germany" when he has "failed to put together" the promised defence investment plan.
Starmer, Macron and Merz to meet Zelensky in Downing Street to discuss ramping up pressure on Russia
13:10 , Analysis by Kate Devlin, Whitehall EditorThe PM, alongside the leaders of France and Germany, will hold talks with the Ukrainian President on how to increase pressure on Moscow later.
It comes after Russia suffered a series of military setbacks.
Ukraine has recaptured more territory than it lost to Russian forces in May for two straight months, an analysis by the AFP news agency shows.
Today’s meeting will allow the leaders to “continue their close coordination on our shared agenda of continuing support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia’s war effort", France has said.
Earlier this week President Zelenskyy proposed a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in an open letter.
But the Russian leader has rejected the idea. Could another push bring him to the negotiating table?
Zelensky: 'An extremely vile Russian strike' struck special territory around Chernobyl
12:48 , Dan HaygarthToday, the Russians again struck the special territory around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. A “shahed” hit one of the buildings of the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility. An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike. The Ministry… pic.twitter.com/94I0YncYpD
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 7, 2026
Russia says it downed 500 Ukrainian drones in past 24 hours, IFX reports
12:00 , Dan HaygarthRussia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday its air defences had downed 500 Ukrainian drones in the past 24 hours, Interfax news agency reported.
In full: Armenia arrests six candidates for pro-Russian opposition party day before vote
11:45 , Dan HaygarthArmenian authorities have arrested six candidates from a pro-Russian opposition party, state media reported, just a day before they were due to stand in general elections. No official reason was given for the Saturday detentions.
The candidates belong to the Strong Armenia party, led by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan. Mr Karapetyan is currently under house arrest himself, facing charges of calling for the overthrow of the government – accusations he dismisses as politically motivated.
These arrests occur as Armenia's relationship with its traditional patron, Russia, has become a central electoral issue. Moscow recently imposed restrictions on Armenian exports, widely interpreted as a response to Yerevan's warming ties with Western countries.
Read more:
Armenia arrests six candidates for pro-Russian opposition party day before vote
Russian drone hits nuclear-fuel storage facility near Chernobyl, Ukraine says
11:29 , Dan HaygarthRussian forces deliberately struck a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Ukraine's Chernobyl power plant, president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, in an "extremely vile" attack that did not lead to a spike in radiation.
The strike significantly damaged a fuel-reception building metres away from where "large amounts of nuclear material" is stored, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said it had been briefed by Ukraine.
Kyiv's state atomic agency Energoatom said no spent fuel had been stored in the building at the time of the attack. A resulting fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported.
Russia has not publicly commented on the alleged strike on the facility, which is located around 15 km (9 miles) from the Chernobyl plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.
"An extremely critical infrastructure facility – and an extremely vile Russian strike," Zelensky wrote on X, adding that Russia had used a Shahed attack drone.
"As of now, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia's brazenness, which long ago went off the charts."
In a statement, the IAEA said a team would soon visit the site "to inspect the impact".
In February 2025, a Russian Shahed drone damaged a containment arch over the Chernobyl reactor that was destroyed in the April 1986 explosion and meltdown. Russia, which regularly attacks Ukrainian cities and infrastructure with drones and missiles, denied responsibility.
Kyiv and Moscow have also traded accusations of attacking the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, Europe's largest.
One killed and three wounded overnight
10:10 , Dan HaygarthIn Ukraine, one person was killed and three wounded overnight into Saturday in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as Russian forces struck three districts nearly 30 times with drones and artillery, regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said.
Vladimir Putin on Friday rejected a proposal by Mr Zelensky for face-to-face talks on the four-year-old war, claiming he saw “no point” in a meeting.
The so-called E3 group of nations meeting the Ukrainian leader are some of Kyiv’s staunchest allies, with the UK and France leading the “coalition of the willing” initiative to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace process.
Armenians face choice between East and West in key election
09:30 , Adam WithnallArmenians are going to the polls today in a key parliamentary election, faced with a choice between an incumbent government seeking to deepen its ties with the West and several opposition parties that are vocally pro-Russian.
Prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party have advocated for a balanced foreign policy ensuring Armenia maintains good relations with the United States, Europe and Russia, as well as regional powers such as Turkey and Iran.
Trump has endorsed Pashinyan, while Russian officials have hit Armenian exports with a barrage of restrictions in recent weeks, and high-ranking officials, including Vladimir Putin, have made thinly veiled threats comparing Armenia’s path to that already taken by Ukraine.
Putin also has stressed that Armenia cannot join the EU and remain within the Eurasian Economic Union, a Russian-led customs bloc.
“Being in a customs union with the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union is impossible,” Putin said. “It’s simply impossible by definition.”
Other potential contenders include former President Robert Kocharyan, who leads the Hayastan bloc and has accused Pashinyan of “seriously undermining” relations with Russia, and the Prosperous Armenia Party led by pro-Russian business owner Gagik Tsarukyan.
Polls opened at 8am local time this morning, with first results expected this evening or early Monday morning.
Cycling-UCI lifts Belarus ban, eases restrictions for junior Russian riders
09:00 , Namita SinghCycling's world governing body (UCI) has lifted its blanket ban on Belarus and relaxed some restrictions on Russian junior riders, amending regulations it first adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The UCI said the changes follow updated recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which lifted all restrictions on Belarusian athletes.
Belarusian national teams and athletes may enter UCI events, including UCI World Cups and UCI World Championships, with all restrictions on protocol matters, symbols and emblems lifted.
Russian junior riders and their support staff are now exempt from the requirement to apply for Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status to enter UCI International Calendar events.
Any reference to Russia is still prohibited on start lists, results sheets and television graphics. Russian national emblems and symbols on jerseys and equipment continue to be prohibited. Riders holding AIN status are now authorised to compete together in team events whose format requires collective participation.
Ukraine targets St Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky's offer for direct talks
08:30 , Namita SinghResidents of St Petersburg were told not to leave their homes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russia’s second-largest city yesterday morning, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.
The attack came a day after Russian president Vladimir Putin refused an offer to meet his Ukrainian counterpart.
St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov said three people sustained minor injuries in the attack. He advised residents not to go outside and warned of possible disruptions to mobile internet service, while regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said 141 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region in what he called an “unprecedented attack”.
Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences shot down 376 Ukrainian drones.
“Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometers to the St. Petersburg region – to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, adding that drones also hit an oil depot in Russia's southern Krasnodar region.
The renewed attack on St Petersburg is the latest embarrassing blow to Putin’s efforts to cast the conflict as a distant event that doesn’t affect Russian daily life.
A Ukrainian drone strike set ablaze an oil terminal in the city and hit a nearby naval base on Wednesday, hours before the opening of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin’s annual showcase for investment.
Russian-run Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant says power supply has been restored
08:00 , Namita SinghThe Russian-installed management of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant said on Saturday that it had restored the Ferrosplavnaya-1 power line, which supplies electricity to the plant."All systems and equipment at the ZNPP are operating normally," the management said via its Telegram channel.
A temporary local ceasefire, brokered by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was declared on Friday to allow repairs to the power line.
A few hours after the incident was reported, the Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom accused Ukraine of deliberately violating the ceasefire through a drone attack that left at least three people injured.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, was seized by Russian troops in the early weeks of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Each side has since accused the other of undertaking military actions to compromise nuclear safety. The plant generates no electricity, but needs external power to ensure that nuclear fuel at the site does not overheat.
The latest ceasefire was the sixth negotiated since late last year to carry out repairs to the power lines.
Russian forces attack rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, deputy PM says
07:30 , Namita SinghRussian forces have attacked two civilian search and rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, Ukrainian deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said yesterday.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, was seized by Russian troops in the early weeks of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Each side has since accused the other of undertaking military actions to compromise nuclear safety. The plant generates no electricity, but needs external power to ensure that nuclear fuel at the site does not overheat.
The latest ceasefire was the sixth negotiated since late last year to carry out repairs to the power lines.
Russian anti-aircraft units intercepted 339 Ukrainian drones over 13-hour period, says defence ministry
07:00 , Namita SinghRussia's anti-aircraft units intercepted and destroyed 339 Ukrainian drones over a 13-hour period in various Russian regions, including Moscow, claimed its defence ministry.
The ministry, posting on Telegram, listed 13 regions where the interceptions took place, plus areas over the Black Sea, between 7am and 8pm.
Several regions in central Russia were included in the defence ministry list of affected areas, which also extended to Leningrad and Pskov regions in the northwest.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin issued a series of announcements on Telegram outlining anti-aircraft action against drones. An unofficial count showed that 14 had been downed throughout the day.
Russia's civil aviation authority periodically announced the suspension of flights to different airports. Russian news agencies said four suspension orders had been issued at different times of the day for the Black Sea city of Sochi.
Russia claims to have captured Shevchenko in Ukraine's Kharkiv region
06:40 , Namita SinghThe Russian defence ministry said on Saturday that it had captured the settlement of Shevchenko in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported. Reuters could not immediately verify the battlefield report.
Turkish-flagged fishing boat is attacked in the Black Sea, leaving a sailor dead
06:20 , Namita SinghA Turkish-flagged fishing boat was attacked and sank off the northern Black Sea coast, leaving one sailor dead and four others wounded, the Turkish Coast Guard said late on Friday.
The Duru 67 was attacked west of Sevastopol in Crimea earlier in the day, according to a Coast Guard Command statement. The peninsula was illegally seized from Ukraine by Russia and annexed in March 2014. The statement did not provide further details of the attack.
Five injured sailors were rescued by another trawler, the Burak Kaya, but one died on the way back to Turkey.
A Coast Guard vessel carrying a medical team reached the Burak Kaya 115 nautical miles north of Turkey’s Inebolu port and the casualties were placed on board.
After a 15-hour return voyage, the injured were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital Kastamonu, state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Provincial health director Fevzi Yavuzyılmaz said they were suffering shrapnel wounds and one had undergone minor surgery aboard the Coast Guard ship.
“Two of our patients have relatively minor injuries and two have slightly more serious injuries,” he said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. The waters off Ukraine have seen regular attacks on shipping since Russia launched a war on Ukraine in February 2022.
In November, the Turkish government condemned Ukrainian drone attacks on two oil tankers in the Black Sea as posing “serious risks to navigation, life, property and environmental safety in the region.”
Ukraine's military says it hit oil depot and oil terminal in Russia's Leningrad region
06:00 , Namita SinghUkraine's military said on Saturday it had hit an oil depot and an oil terminal in Russia's Leningrad region overnight.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday said the military had also hit another Russian oil deport in Krasnodar region.
PM to host Zelensky and leaders of France and Germany for No 10 talks
05:41 , Namita SinghSir Keir Starmer will host Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz in No 10 to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader will visit the UK with the French president and German chancellor on Sunday, Downing Street said.
It comes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, on Saturday, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.
No casualties were immediately reported.
In Ukraine, one person was killed and three wounded overnight into Saturday in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as Russian forces struck three districts nearly 30 times with drones and artillery, regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said.
Vladimir Putin on Friday rejected a proposal by Mr Zelensky for face-to-face talks on the four-year-old war, claiming he saw “no point” in a meeting.
The so-called E3 group of nations meeting the Ukrainian leader are some of Kyiv’s staunchest allies, with the UK and France leading the so-called “coalition of the willing” initiative to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace process.
Cycling-UCI lifts Belarus ban, eases restrictions for junior Russian riders
05:40 , Namita SinghCycling's world governing body (UCI) has lifted its blanket ban on Belarus and relaxed some restrictions on Russian junior riders, amending regulations it first adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The UCI said the changes follow updated recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which lifted all restrictions on Belarusian athletes.
Belarusian national teams and athletes may enter UCI events, including UCI World Cups and UCI World Championships, with all restrictions on protocol matters, symbols and emblems lifted.
Russian junior riders and their support staff are now exempt from the requirement to apply for Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status to enter UCI International Calendar events.
Any reference to Russia is still prohibited on start lists, results sheets and television graphics. Russian national emblems and symbols on jerseys and equipment continue to be prohibited. Riders holding AIN status are now authorised to compete together in team events whose format requires collective participation.
Fire at oil refinery in Russia's Tyumen region extinguished, RIA reports
05:20 , Namita SinghA fire that broke out at the Antipinsky oil refinery, Russia's largest independent oil-processing plant, in Tyumen region has been extinguished, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Saturday, citing the emergency ministry.
Ukraine targets St Petersburg again after Putin rejects Zelensky's offer for direct talks
05:00 , Namita SinghResidents of St Petersburg were told not to leave their homes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russia’s second-largest city yesterday morning, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.
The attack came a day after Russian president Vladimir Putin refused an offer to meet his Ukrainian counterpart.
St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov said three people sustained minor injuries in the attack. He advised residents not to go outside and warned of possible disruptions to mobile internet service, while regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said 141 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region in what he called an “unprecedented attack”.
Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences shot down 376 Ukrainian drones.
“Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometers to the St. Petersburg region – to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, adding that drones also hit an oil depot in Russia's southern Krasnodar region.
The renewed attack on St Petersburg is the latest embarrassing blow to Putin’s efforts to cast the conflict as a distant event that doesn’t affect Russian daily life.
A Ukrainian drone strike set ablaze an oil terminal in the city and hit a nearby naval base on Wednesday, hours before the opening of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin’s annual showcase for investment.
Russian-run Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant says power supply has been restored
04:40 , Namita SinghThe Russian-installed management of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant said on Saturday that it had restored the Ferrosplavnaya-1 power line, which supplies electricity to the plant."All systems and equipment at the ZNPP are operating normally," the management said via its Telegram channel.
A temporary local ceasefire, brokered by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was declared on Friday to allow repairs to the power line.
A few hours after the incident was reported, the Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom accused Ukraine of deliberately violating the ceasefire through a drone attack that left at least three people injured.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, was seized by Russian troops in the early weeks of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Each side has since accused the other of undertaking military actions to compromise nuclear safety. The plant generates no electricity, but needs external power to ensure that nuclear fuel at the site does not overheat.
The latest ceasefire was the sixth negotiated since late last year to carry out repairs to the power lines.
Russian forces attack rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, deputy PM says
04:20 , Namita SinghRussian forces have attacked two civilian search and rescue vessels in Ukrainian waters, causing injuries, Ukrainian deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said yesterday.
"The enemy launched strikes on two boats of the maritime search and rescue service which were carrying out a humanitarian mission within the Ukrainian sea corridor," he wrote on Telegram, referring to a Black Sea route used to take vessels to Romanian ports.
"Unfortunately, there are injured. Evacuation by boats of the Ukrainian navy is currently underway."
Russian anti-aircraft units intercepted 339 Ukrainian drones over 13-hour period, says defence ministry
03:57 , Namita SinghRussia's anti-aircraft units intercepted and destroyed 339 Ukrainian drones over a 13-hour period in various Russian regions, including Moscow, claimed its defence ministry.
The ministry, posting on Telegram, listed 13 regions where the interceptions took place, plus areas over the Black Sea, between 7am and 8pm.
Several regions in central Russia were included in the defence ministry list of affected areas, which also extended to Leningrad and Pskov regions in the northwest.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin issued a series of announcements on Telegram outlining anti-aircraft action against drones. An unofficial count showed that 14 had been downed throughout the day.
Russia's civil aviation authority periodically announced the suspension of flights to different airports. Russian news agencies said four suspension orders had been issued at different times of the day for the Black Sea city of Sochi.
EU urged to tighten visa rules as Russians ‘enjoy sunshine while Ukrainians die on the battlefield’
03:00 , James ReynoldsSweden's migration minister has branded it "insane" that Russian citizens are enjoying European holidays and shopping trips while Ukrainians face death on the battlefield, urging the European Commission to impose stricter rules on tourist visas for Russians.
The call comes after Sweden, alongside ten other nations, sent a letter on Wednesday to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and migration commissioner Magnus Brunner.
The letter highlighted a concerning rise in the number of tourist visas issued to Russians, despite Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.
The signatory countries pressed the EU executive body to urgently tighten and harmonise these restrictions, warning that inconsistent regulations risk undermining both security and the sanctions policy implemented against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
EU urged to tighten visa rules as Russians ‘enjoy sunshine while Ukrainians die’