Russian Putin Ukraine war

The Kremlin has rejected U.S. claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin is being misled by his advisers about Russia's failures on the battlefield.

"Several injured and dead residents could not be taken from the streets for hours," Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk region, said in a statement shared on the administration's Telegram page. Russian shelling over the past two days set fire to a school, an oil depot, and dozens of houses in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, the regional state administration has said. We call for the full evacuation of Mariupol. I appeal to all international partners to help and save every Mariupol resident by joint actions," Mayor Vadym Boychenko said in a statement. "Russia is trying to regroup, resupply and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas region," he said. We need weapons that will allow us to drive the occupiers out of our land," he said. The president and other administration officials made clear that they anticipated the move would lead to a rise in already-high gas prices. Energoatom said Thursday that the Russian decision to reallocate forces was influenced in part by soldiers' contact with radiation from the site and the resulting symptoms, which sparked concerns. Yet, they feel they received little response prior to the invasion of Ukraine. They realize it themselves that they are not able to cope with the intensity of the combat operations that they were able to secure in the first half of March. … They are leaving those directions where we are defeating them, so they could focus on other ones.” Since then, a limited number of Ukrainian personnel have remained at the plant to ensure it continues to function. "The IAEA is seeking further information in order to provide an independent assessment of the situation." The official estimated that the number 20 percent of the Russian forces arrayed just against Kyiv.

Focus on east as Ukraine says Russia has handed over control of Chernobyl nuclear plant and 'moved convoys of troops'.

“In Donbas, in Mariupol and in Kharkiv’s direction, Russian forces are amassing resources for powerful strikes. But he added that some troops had been seen in the “exclusion zone” outside the territory of the decommissioned power station. It will be the first in a series of such nuclear safety and security missions to #Ukraine. They lie all the time,” said Vladislav, a 22-year-old who is completing his studies and fears he could face the draft immediately after graduation. However, the question is what will Moscow do with current conscripts due to be released from service. “We are hopeful it [the safe passage operation] will commence today.” Discussed the negotiation process – the course and prospects, the importance of security guarantees. The majority are women, children or elderly, it added. “We have no intention of paying in roubles.” Humanity’s heritage is in danger [in Ukraine],” Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO’s assistant director-general for culture, told a news conference. Ninety-seven percent of the relevant contracts explicitly stipulate payment in euros or dollars. Humanity’s heritage is in danger [in Ukraine],” Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO’s assistant director-general for culture, said.

Also: Ukraine state nuclear firm says all Russian forces have left Chernobyl plant; at least one person dead after Russian shelling hits aid convoy.

The organization said it works with all sides in conflict zones to help those in need and always remains neutral. The issue of conscripts’ involvement in the war is highly sensitive. The Red Cross said its teams were headed for Mariupol with relief and medical supplies and hoped to help pull civilians out of the beleaguered city. Russian forces, meanwhile, shelled suburbs of the capital that Ukraine recently retook control of, a regional official said. And a new round of talks aimed at stopping the fighting was scheduled for Friday. The decree Putin signed and published by state news agency RIA Novosti says a designated bank will open two accounts for each buyer, one in foreign currency and one in rubles. The Russians seized the Chernobyl site in the opening stages of the Feb. 24 invasion, raising fears that they would cause damage or disruption that could spread radiation. “According to the staff of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, there are now no outsiders on site,” Energoatom said in an online post. “The entire fleet, meaning foreign aircraft, will remain in Russia,” Borisov said on Russian television. Energoatom, the operator, gave no immediate details on the condition of the troops or how many were affected. His initial plan was to serve free meals to pensioners – with the consent of the restaurant’s owners, who welcomed his gumption and kept in close contact. He noted that the standard U.S. military training mission that had existed in Ukraine for years was suspended shortly before Russia invaded.

NATO's chief says Russia isn't scaling back its military operations, while the Red Cross says attempts to evacuate Mariupol residents will resume Thursday.

“According to the staff of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, there are now no outsiders on site,” Energoatom said in an online post. There was no immediate comment from the Russian authorities. Its two trucks have arrived in the nearby city of Zaporizhzhia with aid items and medical supplies. It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas delivered starting from tomorrow,” Putin said. Repeated attempts to organize safe corridors have failed, with each side blaming the other. Earlier this week, Mariupol’s mayor said roughly 170,000 residents were trapped there with no power and limited supplies. He reiterated that Russia was building up forces near the besieged city of Mariupol. The Ukrainian state nuclear company said on Thursday that all of the Russian forces occupying the Chernobyl nuclear power station had withdrawn from the territory of the defunct plant. – Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies British military intelligence also said Thursday that Russia is redeploying elements of its forces from Georgia to reinforce its invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the head of the NATO military alliance said its intelligence shows Russia does not appear to be scaling back its military operations in northern Ukraine, but is instead redeploying forces to the eastern Donbas region. - Russia is redeploying elements of its forces from Georgia to reinforce its invasion of Ukraine, British military intelligence said on Thursday.

Support for President Vladimir Putin has surged among Russians following his invasion of Ukraine, according to the country's leading independent pollster, ...

Fresh efforts are under way to evacuate civilians trapped by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna ...

You can also get in touch in the following ways: "Mariupol was a safe city. It was scary to see destroyed streets and buildings. There was a park, and it was an amazing place just to sit and talk. "It's desperately important that this operation takes place. The lives of tens of thousands of people in Mariupol depend on it," the spokesperson added.

Russian attacks are continuing around the Ukrainian capital despite promises that Moscow would scale back its activity near Kyiv, officials say.

Since last week, Ukrainian forces began to report retaking towns close to the capital. Mariupol has been largely destroyed by Russian artillery and missiles. The British ministry said heavy fighting "will likely take place in the suburbs" of Kyiv in the coming days.

It comes despite a Friday deadline from President Vladimir Putin that Russian gas be paid for in rubles — a demand that has been rejected by European ...

The ministry's update follows the emergence of video purporting to show an aerial attack on the facility near the town of Belgorod. The Russian regional governor said Ukrainian helicopters carried out the attack. Just prior to Russia's invasion, images from satellite firm Maxar Technologies appeared to show a Russian troop and equipment buildup in the vicinity of Belgorod. A fire destroyed several Russian oil tanks at a supply depot located within the country near the border with Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defence confirmed on Friday night.