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Russian takeover of eastern city would give it full control of area surrounding Donetsk, which Moscow annexed in 2014Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the eastern city of Avdiivka to avoid encirclement, army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has said, marking the biggest change on the frontlines since Russian forces captured Bakhmut in May last year.In a Facebook post on Saturday, the recently appointed Syrskyi said he...

US president joins world leaders in outrage at Putin critic’s death in prison, while human rights observers report at least 73 arrestsThis live blog is now closed. Read more hereKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that Russia’s penitentiary service was making all checks regarding the death of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, but that he had no information about the matter, Reuters reports.The Russian...

President’s replacement of Zaluzhnyi with his land forces commander is not seen as a radical departurePresident Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s decision to replace his most senior military commander may solve a political problem, but it is not clear how it can improve Ukraine’s weakening position on the battlefield.It was clear that the outgoing Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi had lost the confidence of the Ukrainian leader, who had...

Valerii Zaluzhnyi to be replaced by land forces commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, in ‘renewal’ of armed forcesVolodymyr Zelenskiy has fired his top army commander, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, in Ukraine’s biggest military shake-up since Russia’s full-scale invasion began nearly two years ago.The two men met on Thursday, after which Zelenskiy posted a joint photograph thanking Zaluzhnyi for his service, but outlining the need for “renewal” in the...

Military says no casualties immediately apparent, while strike on industrial site in Kremenchuk sparks fireRussia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 704Russian forces attacked eight communities in the Sumy oblast overnight, causing more than 24 explosions, the Sumy regional military administration said.Shellings of the border territories and settlements of the Sumy oblast brought the Bilopolska, Shalyginska, Esmanska and Druzhbivska communities under fire. Russian mortar...

Unable to match Putin’s military might, Ukraine is engaging in ‘smart warfare’ to attack the enemy’s oil and gas supply linesLast week, a motorist driving in Russia’s Leningrad region came across something unusual. Men had blocked off the road. In front, a large olive-green military vehicle with cigar-shaped missiles on the back was reversing and then parked up on a snowy verge. “Fuck! It’s...

Ukrainian leader invited Trump to Ukraine but says if he returns to White House he could make unilateral concessions to RussiaThe Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, fears that if Donald Trump returns to the White House next year he could make unilateral concessions to Russia that override Ukraine’s interests and branded the former US president’s claims he could stop the war in 24 hours as...

British defence minister will send army, navy and RAF personnel to one of largest Nato exercises since cold war; UN says 8.5 million people need aidSee all our Ukraine coverageThe UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said that Russia has highly likely “substantially inflated” the number of people it says have joined the country’s armed forces, with new recruits being disproportionately drawn from some...

Friday’s trip comes as PM stresses Britain’s continued backing for Kyiv before meeting with Volodymyr ZelenskiyRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesThe UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is visiting Ukraine on Friday to meet his counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as the UK announced it would provide further military aid to the country over the coming year.The UK has been one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters since Russia’s...

The surprise visit to the Baltic Nato member country will see Zelenakiy travel to Tallinn and Riga after VilniusZelenskiy has posted an update via his X account. In the statement, he calls Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania “reliable friends and principled partners” to Ukraine.He has confirmed that while in Vilnius he will hold talks with the president, prime minister, speaker of the Seimas, as well...

Local governor says relocation of some Belgorod residents has already begunRussia says it downed four Ukrainian missiles over Moscow-annexed Crimea overnight, AFP reportsThe attack came a day after Russia said it repelled a Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea, downing 36 drones over the peninsula.Air defence on duty intercepted and destroyed four Ukrainian missiles over the Crimea peninsula.I see several appeals on social media where...

Breach of UN sanctions on Kim regime will be taken to security councilGermany has delivered more air defence for Ukraine, as well as ammunition and infantry fighting vehicles.The latest British defence intelligence update on Ukraine notes that “over the last week, ground combat has continued to be characterised by either a static front line or very gradual, local Russian advances in key sectors.” Continue...

Ukraine’s cyber spy chief says attack on Kyivstar should serve as a ‘big warning’ to the westPolish farmers blockaded the Medyka border crossing with Ukraine on Thursday, private broadcaster Polsat News reported, resuming a protest intended to secure government subsidies for corn and prevent tax increases.The farmers, who are demanding a written agreement with the government, had suspended their protest at the crossing in...