Ex-Russian president defends Putin’s right to use nuclear weapons sparking fears of WW3

Ukraine’s Armed Forces post update

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have also posted an update on Facebook, with these key points:

• Russia has continued to attack civilian and military infrastructure in the besieged south-eastern city Mariupol
• It has also continued to target the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, firing on suburban areas and directly into the city
• Armed forces in neighbouring country Belarus, which is an ally of Russia, have been conducting training activities in Brest, Minsk and Grodno regions

Sky News crew come under Russian artillery fire

Sky News crew came under fire from Russian artillery as they dived to the ground for cover in Ukraine.

Special correspondent Alex Crawford and her team were attempting to cross a bridge being used by civilians desperately trying to flee the northern city of Chernihiv when “a salvo of rockets came raining down”.

It comes just weeks after another Sky crew were shot in a hail of bullets near the capital Kyiv, with reporter Stuart Ramsay and cameraman Richie Mockler both hit.

In the latest incident, chilling footage shows the crew being to get “get down” as they dive to the ground amid screaming as shelling strikes near the bridge over the Desna River.

As a calm Crawford tries to describe the scene, the team quickly scramble back into the vehicle as they are warned of further incoming shelling.

“The shelling is very close,” Crawford says while on the ground before they are told to “get out” by a panicked rescue worker.

MoD: Russia continues to strike targets across Ukraine

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given it’s latest update on the latest fighting in Ukraine.

Among the update, they’ve said that ‘Russian forces continue to strike targets across Ukraine, including targeting many densely populated civilian areas’

Putin’s forces are also continuing ‘to rely on munitions launched from within Russian airspace’

The White House has back-peddled on Joe Biden’s declaration that Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power”, insisting he was not calling for a regime change.

A White House official has tried to argue that the US president’s point was that the Russian leader “cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbours or the region”.

“He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change,” the official added.

Reports in the US suggested the remarks in question from Biden had not been scripted.

This came after the US president, in an impassioned speech in Warsaw, said: “For God’s sake this man cannot remain in power”. He earlier also described Putin as a “butcher”.

Ex-Russian president defends Putin’s right to use nuclear weapons

RUSSIA has re-asserted its right to use nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine, which started over a month ago.

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who is deputy chairman of the country’s security council, said Moscow could respond to an enemy that uses conventional weapons.

Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world – approximately 6,000 nuclear warheads.

On Saturday, Medvedev said: “We have a special document on nuclear deterrence. This document clearly indicates the grounds on which the Russian Federation is entitled to use nuclear weapons. There are a few of them, let me remind them to you.

“Number one is the situation, when Russia is struck by a nuclear missile. The second case is any use of other nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies.

“The third is an attack on a critical infrastructure that will have paralysed our nuclear deterrent forces.

“And the fourth case is when an act of aggression is committed against Russia and its allies, which jeopardised the existence of the country itself, even without the use of nuclear weapons, that is, with the use of conventional weapons.”

It comes as Vladimir Putin’s defence minster claimed nuclear “readiness” was a priority.

Good morning! Milica Cosic logging on and I’ll be bringing you the latest news and updates on the Russia-Ukraine war.

Biden gives message to Russian people

Biden Said: “I have worked with Russian leaders for decades… I have always spoken directly and honestly to you, the Russian people.

“You the Russian people are not our enemy… Millions of families are being driven from their homes, including half of all Ukraine’s children…

“Of all people, you the Russian people, still have the memory of being in the same situation… Whatever your generation experienced… These are not memories of the past because it’s exactly what the Russian army is doing right now.”

‘He’s a butcher’

Putin has been described as a butcher by Joe Biden, during a meeting with Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

Biden made the comment at a televised event at the national stadium in Warsaw.

He was on a visit to show support for Poland over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A reporter asked the president “You’re dealing every day with Vladimir Putin, look at what he’s done to these people. What does it make you think?”

Biden responded whilst walking away saying: “He’s a butcher.”

Lviv rocked by cruise missile blasts

Earlier we reported that three missiles had been heard hitting Lviv.

At least five people were injured after the blasts in Lviv, which is just 45 miles from Nato member Poland’s border. 

Thick black smoke was seen rising from a TV tower as the city’s air raid sirens were activated.

TV towers across Ukraine’s other cities have also been a target of missile strikes throughout the war.

It is the first time Putin’s military might has been seen from the centre of the city, which has been a safer destination in the country for refugees.

Lviv’s mayor Andriy Sadovyi said a fuel storage facility is on fire as a result of the shelling. He urged everyone to stay in shelters.

Mayor of London attended the march

A large crowd, including the Mayor of London, gathered near Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon for a march and vigil to send a unified message of support to the people of Ukraine.

A sea protesters draped in the Ukrainian colours of yellow and blue then made their way towards Trafalgar Square.

Crowds held banners reading “stop Putin’s war”, “no fly zone” and “solidarity with Ukraine” and sang as police officers followed.

Chants of “we stand with Ukraine” rang out as traffic behind was brought to a standstill.

The city was a blur of blue and yellow as they marched in the beautiful 18 degree heat.

Zelensky: Russia ‘bragging’ about nuclear arms ‘fuelling dangerous arms race’

RUSSIA bragging about its nuclear capabilities is “fuelling a dangerous arms race”, President Zelensky said today.

Speaking to the Doha forum in a live video broadcast, the leader said: “They are bragging that they can destroy with nuclear weapons not only a certain country but the entire planet.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky also called on Qatar, which organises the annual meeting of international political and business leaders, to increase production of natural gas to counter Russian efforts to use energy as a weapon.

Joe Biden thinks Putin has been surprised with difficulty of dividing Nato allies

Joe Biden says he thinks Putin has been surprised in not being able to divide Nato allies.

The US President has been speaking during a trip to Warsaw, which has seen him meet Ukrainian government ministers.

Biden said: “I’m confident that Vladimir Putin was counting on being able to divide Nato, being able to separate the eastern flank from the west, being able to separate nations based on past histories.

“But he hasn’t been able to do it – we’ve all stayed together.

“I just think it’s so important that we, Poland and the United States, keep in lock step how we’re proceeding.”

Russia’s plummeting morale

Ukraine is now littered with the burnt out wrecks of Russian tanks and armoured vehicles, charred remains of downed aircraft, and the dead bodies of soldiers – many of who were teenage conscripts.

As the fighting takes its toll on Russian troops, stories are beginning to emerge of anger and plummeting morale.

One soldier allegedly drove his tank into his commanding officer as he protested horrific losses among his comrades.

Colonel Yuri Medvedev was hospitalised with severe leg injuries after the reported incident.

Russia accidentally revealed it has lost 10,000 troops, when the figure was disclosed by a pro-Kremlin newspaper.

Thousands march through London

THOUSANDS of people have today marched through London in a sea of blue and yellow in support of Ukraine.

Brits are today standing up to Vladimir Putin during a ‘London stands with Ukraine’ protest march and vigil to send a unified message of support to the Ukrainian people.

Strictly’s Russian dancer Pasha says pals in Russia ‘can’t make sense’ of invasion

STRICTLY Come Dancing star Pasha Kovalev has revealed his friends in Russia “can’t make sense” of the invasion on Ukraine.

The 42-year-old, who was born in Russia but has family links to Ukraine, spoke out about the ongoing situation during an appearance on Steph’s Packed Lunch yesterday.

He explained: “My family on my mum’s side goes back to Ukraine and I still have relatives there as well so this whole situation of Russia against Ukraine seems like a nonsense to me, and all of the people I know back in Russia cannot make sense of it either. I think it just shouldn’t be happening.

“It is depressing and the hardest thing for me to try to keep my mum cheered up a little bit, because since it started happening she kinda went inwards and closed up a little bit…

“She’s here with me in London, so we’re talking a lot, but those things cannot be fixed in one conversation.”

Several rockets strike Lviv

Lviv – which had been a safer destination for refugees – had so far been largely spared bombardment that has devastated cities across Ukraine since Putin ordered his troops into the country on February 24.

But today several rockets struck the city close to the NATO border while Joe Biden was visiting the capital of Poland.

Lviv’s mayor Andriy Sadovyi said a fuel storage facility was on fire as a result of the shelling.

Thick black smoke rose from the first blast site on the city’s northeastern outskirts for hours before a second set of explosions were reported.

The regional governor, Maxym Kozytsky, said on Facebook at least five people had been injured in the first attack. Hours later, he reported three more explosions outside the city.

Humiliated tyrant Putin yesterday vowed his troops would focus on “liberating” pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Donbas region. 

Russia and Ukraine latest

First time Biden calls for change of power

On Saturday, Biden said unequivocally that Russian President Vladimir Putin should step down as the country’s leader.

“For God’s sake, this man cannot stay in power,” Biden said at the end of his speech.

It was the farthest Biden has gone in pushing for Russian regime change, and it signals a dramatic shift in American policy toward Moscow.

Previously, US officials stated that deposing Putin was not their aim.

“For us, it’s not about regime change. The Russian people have to decide who they want to lead them,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, according to CNN.