Key points
- State of emergency in Russian village after shelling by 'Ukrainian nationalists'
- Bakhmut 'road of life' in Kyiv's control
- Russian troops likely being placed in hole in ground as punishment
- Ukrainian officials hint at successful strike in Crimea
- Atrocity shows Russia lies when it says it does not target civilians | Alex Rossi
- Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel, with Russia correspondent Diana Magnay in Moscow
Russian forces take four blocks in Bakhmut - report
Russian forces have taken four blocks in western Bakhmut, the Russian state-owned news agency RIA reports, citing the Kremlin's ministry of defence.
Sky News has not been able to verify the claim.
Once home to more than 70,000 civilians, the eastern city of Bakhmut now has fewer than 12,000 residents in the region.
In recent months, the battle in the city has become one of the fiercest in the war so far, with residents forced to shelter underground and in freezing conditions.
More countries should 'acquire nuclear weapons', Kremlin official says
If Gaddafi or Saddam Hussein had nuclear weapons they would still be leaders of their countries, a State Duma deputy has said.
During a clip, which was shared by columnist for the Daily Beast Julia Davis, Andrey Isayev asks why the US is yet to openly get involved with Ukraine and being cautious with weapon deliveries.
"It is because we have nuclear weapons," he says on Russian state television.
"Why are they yet to attack China? It's because China has nuclear weapons. All observers understand - if Gaddafi or Saddam Hussein had nuclear weapons they would still be leaders of their countries."
He goes on to say if countries want to "maintain their sovereignty" they should "acquire nuclear weapons".
"In a few years, a number of countries will join the nuclear club. There will be more of them," he says.
State of emergency declared in Russian village after shelling by 'Ukrainian nationalists'
Four civilians have died as a result of Ukrainian shelling on a village just over the border in Russia's Bryansk region last night, a local governor has said.
In a statement, the region's governor Alexander Bogomaz said two other citizens were being treated in hospital.
Mr Bogomaz earlier said that one residential building had been completely destroyed and two other houses partially destroyed.
He blamed the incident on "Ukrainian nationalists".
"Work is continuing at the site of the incident to remove rubble and clear the area," he added.
"A state of emergency has been introduced in the village."
Ukraine almost never publicly claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia and on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the 14-month-old Russian invasion on Ukraine.
Zelenskyy says he 'would have been there to the last' had Russians attacked his Kyiv headquarters
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he would have fought to the death with his inner circle had the Russians stormed his Kyiv headquarters at the start of the war.
In an interview with Ukraine's 1+1 television channel, the Ukrainian leader said: "I know how to shoot. Could you imagine (a headline like) 'the president of Ukraine is taken captive by Russians'. This is a disgrace.
"I believe this would be a disgrace."
During the early days of the war, Ukrainian officials said Russian intelligence units tried to break into Kyiv but were defeated and failed to reach Bankova Street in the centre, home to the presidential offices.
Other Russian units launched an attack on the outskirts of Kyiv, but were unable to advance.
Officials also reported several unsuccessful sabotage attempts inside the city.
"I think if they had gone inside, into the administration, we would not be here," Mr Zelenskyy added.
"No one would have been taken prisoner because we had a very seriously prepared defence of Bankova Street. We would have been there to the last."
Asked whether he carried a pistol and practiced using it, he replied that he did, while dismissing a suggestion he might have used it to kill himself rather than be captured.
"No, no, no. It's not (to shoot) myself. To shoot back, surely," he said.
Aftermath of missile strike in Donetsk region
Images are emerging today of destroyed homes and rubble-strewn streets after a Russian drone strike in the village of Malotaranivka, in the eastern Donetsk region.
The eastern flank is where Russia is now concentrating all of its efforts.
The region has been controlledby Russian proxies since 2014.
Russia promises 'harsh reaction' after embassy school 'seizure'
Russia has promised it will respond harshly to what is says is Poland's illegal seizure of its embassy school.
Yesterday, Polish state-run news channel TVP Info reported that police had showed up outside the Russian embassy school in Warsaw.
Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that the Polish authorities had burst onto the embassy school's grounds with the aim of seizing it.
"We regard this latest hostile act by the Polish authorities as a blatant violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and as an encroachment on Russian diplomatic property in Poland," the ministry said.
"Such an insolent step by Warsaw, which goes beyond the framework of civilised inter-state relations, will not remain without a harsh reaction and consequences for the Polish authorities and Polish interests in Russia," it said.
Meanwhile, Russia's Investigative Committee said late on Saturday on the Telegram messaging app that it would give "a legal assessment" of the "seizure," but it did not provide any further details.
When asked about the incident, a Polish foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters the building housing the embassy school belonged to the Polish state.
Lukasz Jasina, a Polish foreign ministry spokesman, said that it was Russia's right to protest but that Poland was acting within the law.
"Our opinion, which has been confirmed by the courts, is that this property belongs to the Polish state and was taken by Russia illegally," he said.
Russian troops 'likely being placed in hole in ground as punishment'
The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has released its latest intelligence update on the crisis in Ukraine.
It states that in recent months, Russian commanders have likely started "punishing breaches in discipline" for Russian soldiers.
It states the punishments include detaining the offending troops in "zindans", which are improvised cells consisting of holes in the ground covered with a metal grille.
"Multiple recent reports from Russian personnel give similar accounts of being placed in zindans for misdemeanours including drunkenness and attempting to terminate their contracts," the update states.
The report goes on to say that in the early months of the war, many Russian commanders took a relatively light touch in enforcing discipline, allowing those who refused to soldier to quietly return home.
But since Autumn 2022, there have been "multiple increasingly draconian initiatives to improve discipline in the force".
Bakhmut 'road of life' in Kyiv's control
Ukraine remains in control of a key supply route into the eastern city of Bakhmut, a military spokesperson has said.
Russian forces have been trying for 10 months to punch their way into the shattered remains of what was once a city of 70,000.
But Kyiv has pledged to defend Bakhmut, which Russia sees as a stepping stone to attacking other cities.
Speaking on the situation, Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, told the local news website Dzerkalo Tyzhnia: "For several weeks, the Russians have been talking about seizing the 'road of life,' as well as about constant fire control over it.
"Yes, it is really difficult there but the defence forces have not allowed the Russians to 'cut off' our logistics."
The "road of life" is a vital road between the ruined Bakhmut and the nearby town Chasiv Yar to the west.
If Bakhmut fell, Chasiv Yar would probably be next to come under Russian attack according to military analysts, though it is on higher ground and Ukrainian forces are believed to have built defensive fortifications nearby.
Good morning and welcome back
Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.
Here are the key things you need to know this morning:
- There was a fire at an oil reservoir in Crimean city of Sevastopol yesterday after an apparent drone strike;
- A Ukrainian military intelligence official said more than 10 tanks of oil products were destroyed in the explosion in Crimea. He did not claim Ukraine was responsible but described the blast as "God's punishment";
- Mass evacuation plans are under way in the southern region of Kherson as Russian forces continue to intensify shelling in the area;
- Russians found guilty of treason will now be given life sentences after Vladimir Putin signed a decree formally increasing the maximum sentence;
- Russia said it would lodge an official diplomatic protest over what it said was the illegal seizure by the Polish authorities of its embassy school in Warsaw.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates from the conflict throughout the day.
Ukrainian officials hint at Crimea strike success
Ukraine does not usually claim responsibility for attacks on Crimea.
But as we’ve reported today, an apparent drone strike is thought to have started an enormous fire in the region.
Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of Crimea, said on Telegram that air defence and electronic warfare forces on Saturday shot down two drones over the region.
And Ukrainian officials have hinted at a successful strike on Russian targets, while being coy as usual.
In a daily update on Facebook, the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said units had hit "two depots of fuel and lubricants, two air defence systems, one artillery unit and another important enemy target," but gave no more details, Reuters reported.
Typically, the Ukrainian military will use euphemistic language – or vague descriptions like this – after a successful strike in Crimea.
But a military intelligence official went into a little more detail, according to RBC Ukraine.
The official, Andriy Yusov, did not say Ukraine was behind the explosion in Sevastopol.
However, he suggested 10 tanks of oil products with a capacity of about 40,000 tonnes intended for use by Russia's Black Sea Fleet were destroyed, RBC Ukraine reported.
Mr Yusov described the blast as "God's punishment" for a Russian strike on a Ukrainian city on Friday.
"This punishment will be long-lasting," RBC Ukraine quoted him as saying.
Mr Yusov is said to have added a warning to Crimea’s residents to help them stay safe from future fighting in the occupied area.
He said: “In the near future, it is better for all residents of temporarily occupied Crimea not to be near military facilities and facilities that provide for the aggressor's army."
Ukraine says control of all its legal territory, including Crimea, is a key condition for any peace deal.
FAQs
When did Russia annex Georgia? ›
The independent Democratic Republic of Georgia was invaded by the Red Army in 1921 and a Soviet government was installed. The government of Soviet Georgia created an autonomous administrative unit for Transcaucasian Ossetians in April 1922, called the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast.
Why is Crimea important? ›The Black Sea ports of Crimea provide quick access to the Eastern Mediterranean, Balkans and Middle East. Historically, possession of the southern coast of Crimea was sought after by most empires of the greater region since antiquity (Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Russian, British and French, Nazi German, Soviet).
What Ukrainian areas are affected by war? ›They had advanced to the suburbs of Kyiv, and controlled much of the north-east of the country around Sumy. Russian forces were bombarding Kharkiv, and they had taken territory in the east and south as far as Kherson, and surrounded the port city of Mariupol.
Who won the Crimean War? ›The Crimean War was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Sardinia-Piedmont. Russia loses the Danube Delta and Southern Bessarabia. Casualties include death by disease.
How many troops does Russia have in Georgia? ›Russia has built 5 permanent military bases in South Ossetia manned by approximately 5,000 security personnel.
How much of Georgia is controlled by Russia? ›August 2018 marks the ten-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia. A decade on, one-fifth of Georgian territory remains under Russian occupation.
How much land did Russia take from China? ›Thus, by pure diplomacy and only a few thousand troops, the Russians took advantage of Chinese weakness and the strength of the other European powers to annex 350,000 square miles (910,000 km2) of Chinese territory.
Do Crimeans want to be part of Russia? ›According to the Gallup's survey performed on April 21–27, 82.8% of Crimean people consider the referendum results reflecting most Crimeans' views, and 73.9% of Crimeans say Crimea's becoming part of Russia will make life better for themselves and their families, while 5.5% disagree.
What percentage of Crimea is Russian? ›Surveys of regional identities in Ukraine have shown that around 30% of Crimean residents claim to have retained a self-identified "Soviet identity".
How many tanks has Russia lost in Ukraine? ›Ukraine claims close to 3,300 Russian tank losses. Oryx, an independent team of analysts that has tracked open-source intelligence on equipment losses throughout the war, estimated that more than 1,700 Russian tanks have been destroyed, damaged or captured. An error occurred. Please try again later.
What cities are most affected in the Ukraine war? ›
The Kyiv region and the city of Kyiv have been most affected, while the Sumy region has continued to suffer from strikes throughout the year along border areas with Russia.
How much area has Russia captured in Ukraine? ›Before 2022, Russia occupied 42,000 km2 (16,000 sq mi) of Ukrainian territory (Crimea, and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk), and occupied an additional 119,000 km2 (46,000 sq mi) after its full-scale invasion by March 2022, a total of 161,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi) or almost 27% of Ukraine's territory.
Did any soldiers survive the charge of the Light Brigade? ›During the charge, Lord Cardigan's light cavalry brigade attacked Russian cannons in “the valley of death.” The brigade defeated the gunners, but was counter-attacked by roughly 2,160 Russian light cavalry. It lost 469 of its 664 cavalrymen. Outnumbered 11-to-1, the 195 survivors retreated.
How did Russia lose Crimea? ›The transfer of the Crimean oblast in the Soviet Union in 1954 was an administrative action of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet that transferred the government of Crimea from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR.
Who are the two sides fighting the Crimean War? ›The Crimean War (1854-56) was fought by an alliance of Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia against Russia. It was the only major European conflict the Army engaged in between 1816 and 1914.
Does Russia have military bases in Georgia? ›Russia maintains two military bases in the secessionist Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which Moscow recognized as “independent states” and occupied since the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war.
Does Georgia have a big army? ›...
Defence Forces of Georgia | |
---|---|
Active personnel | 37,000 (2023) |
Like others, Georgia joined the NATO-run North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1992 and the Partnership for Peace, signing their agreement on March 23, 1994. Georgia was a founding member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, an alternative Russian-led military alliance, in 1994, but withdrew in 1999.
Is Georgia friends with Russia? ›Georgia-Russia relations have been strained for centuries, despite their historical and religious ties. The countries' first formal alliance occurred in 1783, but Russia failed to protect Georgia when Persia invaded in 1795.
Who controls Georgia? ›The President of Georgia is the ceremonial head of state and the Prime Minister of Georgia is the head of government. The Prime Minister and the Government wield executive power. Legislative power is vested in both the Government and the unicameral Parliament of Georgia.
Is Georgia in Europe independent of Russia? ›
From 1918 to 1921 Georgia was independent, and then was part of the Soviet Union. In 1991 most people from Georgia voted to be a free nation again, and Georgia declared their independence from the Soviet Union.
Why did Russia sell Alaska? ›Defeat in the Crimean War further reduced Russian interest in this region. Russia offered to sell Alaska to the United States in 1859, believing the United States would off-set the designs of Russia's greatest rival in the Pacific, Great Britain.
Who is Russia's largest trading partner? ›The value of total exports from Russia to its major trade partner — China — amounted to nearly 69 billion U.S. dollars in 2021.
How much of the world's land does Russia own? ›The largest country in the world is Russia with a total area of 17,098,242 Km² (6,601,665 mi²) and a land area of 16,376,870 Km² (6,323,142 mi²), equivalent to 11% of the total world's landmass of 148,940,000 Km² (57,510,000 square miles). See also: Most Populous Countries.
Why did Russia take Crimea? ›Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu said the country's military actions in Crimea were undertaken by forces of the Black Sea Fleet and were justified by "threat to lives of Crimean civilians" and danger of "takeover of Russian military infrastructure by extremists".
What did the US do when Russia invaded Crimea? ›The United States and the European Union responded by enacting sanctions against Russia for its role in the crisis, and urged Russia to withdraw.
Was Crimea ever part of Russia? ›Crimea became part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on 18 October 1921 as the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, The Russian SFSR founded the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922, with the Crimean ASSR retaining a degree of nominal autonomy and run as a Crimean Tatar enclave.
What language do Crimeans speak? ›Crimean Tatar (qırımtatar tili, къырымтатар тили) also called Crimean (qırım tili, къырым тили), is a Kipchak Turkic language spoken in Crimea and the Crimean Tatar diasporas of Uzbekistan, Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria, as well as small communities in the United States and Canada.
Why is Ukraine so important to Russia? ›Russia has deep cultural, economic, and political bonds with Ukraine, and in many ways Ukraine is central to Russia's identity and vision for itself in the world. Family ties. Russia and Ukraine have strong familial bonds that go back centuries.
What is the main language spoken in Crimea? ›In Crimea, which has an autonomous status within Ukraine and where there is a Russian-speaking majority, Russian and Crimean Tatar are the official languages.
How many fighter jets does Russia have? ›
Russia, on the other hand, has roughly 370 MiG-29, -31 and -35 fighters as well as 350 Su-27, -30 and -35 fighters, according to Flight International's almanac.
How many tanks does Ukraine have left? ›The brigades each had a single company with 10 tanks. Ukraine's total T-80 inventory in February 2022 was just 88 tanks, according to a count by one open-source analyst. In a year of hard fighting, the Ukrainian brigades have lost at least 42 T-80BVs that analysts can confirm: nearly half the inventory.
How many jets does Ukraine have? ›According to Forbes, Ukrainians had around 105 MiG-29s, Su-24s and Su-25s before the Russians attacked — and, a year later, still have around 105 of these types. It is estimated Ukraine still has up to 50 Su-27s.
Which cities have Russia captured? ›Name | Pop. | More information |
---|---|---|
Kozelets | 7,646 | Captured by Russia 3 March 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 31 March 2022. |
Mena | 11,096 | |
Mykhailo-Kotsiubynske | 2,851 | Captured by Russia 25 February 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 2 April 2022. |
Nova Basan | 2,929 | Captured by Russia 4 March 2022. Recaptured by Ukraine 1 April 2022. |
The strikes – Russia's largest wave of attacks on Ukraine in two weeks – came as the country was observing the traditional New Year. Besides Dnipro, other cities hit on Saturday included Odesa in the south, Kharkiv in the east, Lviv in the west and the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
Has Russia taken Kharkiv? ›Russian forces failed to capture the capital of the oblast, Kharkiv. However, other major cities including Izium, Kupiansk, and Balakliia were captured by Russian forces.
How much land has Ukraine lost? ›A new Guardian analysis of Institute for the Study of War data shows that, after once having seized as much as 51,000 sq miles (132,000 sq km) of Ukrainian land, Russia has since lost a fifth of this. It now controls 40,000 sq miles of Ukrainian land, entirely in the south and east.
What language is spoken in Ukraine? ›Ukrainian, the official language, belongs with Russian and Belarusian to the East Slavic branch of the Slavic language family. Ukrainian is closely related to Russian but also has distinct similarities to the Polish language.
How many troops does Ukraine have? ›...
Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Armed Forces | |
---|---|
Active personnel | ~700,000 (2022) |
Reserve personnel | 1,000,000 (2022) |
Deployed personnel | 40,114 (2021) |
Expenditures |
The poem tells the story of a brigade consisting of 600 soldiers who rode on horseback into the “valley of death” for half a league (about one and a half miles). They were obeying a command to charge the enemy forces that had been seizing their guns.
Who was responsible for the loss of the Light Brigade? ›
Louis Edward Nolan (4 January 1818 – 25 October 1854) was a British Army officer and cavalry tactician best known for his role and death in the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War.
What was the fatal mistake in charge of Light Brigade? ›Charge of the Light Brigade
In response to their orders, the Light Brigade began their charge, but at the wrong gun batteries. They galloped through Russian artillery fire from three sides and on into the 'Valley of Death' suffering heavy losses in the process.
After the Maidan revolution and the subsequent Russian annexation of Crimea in March 2014, Ukrainian authorities greatly reduced the volume of water flowing to the peninsula by means of damming the canal south of Kalanchak, about 10 miles (16 km) north of the Crimean border, citing a large outstanding debt owed by ...
What country imported 30% of its oil from Russia before the war? ›Germany follows at 30 percent, joined by Norway (25 percent), Belgium (23 percent), Turkey (21 percent), Denmark (15 percent) and Spain (11 percent).
How many soldiers did Russia lose in Crimea? ›Breakdown | Casualties |
---|---|
Russian forces (VSRF, Rosgvardiya, FSB, FSO, PMCs Wagner & Redut, DPR & LPR) | 200,000–220,000+ casualties |
58,600+ killed, 205,100+ wounded | |
181,090 losses | |
Russian forces (VSRF, Rosgvardiya, FSB, FSO, PMCs Wagner & Redut) | 43,400+ killed (21,700 conf. by names), 151,600+ wounded |
Religious tensions helped trigger the war.
While it's remembered as a clash of empires, the Crimean War was sparked by a seemingly minor religious dispute. For years, Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics had squabbled over access to holy sites within the borders of the majority-Muslim Ottoman Empire.
The major source of tension between Austria-Hungary and Russia was the so-called Eastern Question: what to do about the weakening Ottoman Empire and its rebellious Christian subjects.
Who eventually won the Crimean War? ›The Crimean War was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Sardinia-Piedmont. Russia loses the Danube Delta and Southern Bessarabia. Casualties include death by disease.
How long was Georgia under Russian rule? ›Until 1918, Georgia would be part of the Russian Empire. Russian rule offered the Georgians security from external threats, but it was also often heavy-handed and insensitive to locals. By the late 19th century, discontent with the Russian authorities led to a growing national movement.
Is Georgia a country or part of Russia? ›Since 1995 it is Georgia, as written in the Constitution. It was part of the Soviet Union between 1921 and 1991, but now it is an independent republic. The capital city is Tbilisi. Almost 4 million people live there.
When did Georgia join NATO? ›
In 1996, Georgia submitted their first Individual Partnership Plan, and in 1997 ratified the Status of Forces Agreement. Georgia opened official relations with NATO in 1998 by opening a diplomatic mission and presenting an ambassador. The first joint military exercises occurred in Poti in 2001, with more in 2002.
Was Georgia part of Ukraine? ›After the Russian Revolution of 1917, both Georgia and Ukraine declared independence as the Democratic Republic of Georgia and the Ukrainian People's Republic respectively. The two republics accorded each other de jure recognition and established diplomatic ties.
Is Georgia still independent from Russia? ›Following World War I, Georgia was invaded and annexed by the Soviet Union in 1922, becoming one of its constituent republics. In the 1980s, an independence movement emerged and grew quickly, leading to Georgia's secession from the Soviet Union in April 1991.
What were the Russian war crimes in Georgia? ›Russian warplanes bombed civilian population centres in Georgia and Georgian villages in South Ossetia. HRW said that ongoing looting, arson attacks, and abductions by South Ossetian militia was terrorizing the Georgian civilian population, forcing them to flee and preventing displaced people from returning.
What is Georgia called in Russia? ›In 1921, Georgia became part of the Soviet Socialist Republic until the collapse of the USSR. In 1991, Georgia regained its independence. The constitution of 1995 declared the official name of the nation as Sakartvelo, with the name Georgia as its English equivalent.
What does Sakartvelo mean? ›Georgians call their country “Sakartvelo,” meaning “a place for Kartvelians (Georgians).”
Is Georgia a rich country? ›The essential economic performance of a country is reflected by the gross domestic product, the total of all goods and services sold. Worldwide gross domestic product in 2021 was at about 12,183 USD per capita. GDP in Georgia, on the other hand, reached USD 5,023 per capita, or 18.63 billion USD for the whole country.
Why can't Ukraine join NATO? ›Plans for NATO membership were shelved by Ukraine following the 2010 presidential election in which Viktor Yanukovych, who preferred to keep the country non-aligned, was elected President. Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February 2014 during the Revolution of Dignity.
What countries are trying to join NATO right now? ›Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership in May 2022, and the ratification process for Sweden is in progress. Finland officially joined on 4 April 2023. Ukraine applied for NATO membership in September 2022 after Russia claimed to annex part of its territory.
Who is Georgia allies with? ›It signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with the European Union, participates in the Partnership for Peace, and encourages foreign investment. France, Germany, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States all have embassies in Tbilisi.
How many Ukrainians are there in Georgia? ›
Families have made unimaginably difficult journeys, crossing borders in just "flip-flops", leaving their lives and belongings behind and carrying only the hope of finding a safe place and survival for their children and themselves. Since Russia's invasion, more than 189,000 people from Ukraine have come to Georgia.
What language do Georgians speak? ›Yes – between the abundant sunshine, low cost of living, and great opportunities for outdoor recreation, Georgia is a good place to live!