BODIES are continuing to be exhumed after an appalling mass grave was discovered in Kharkiv over the weekend.
So far the remnants of more than 450 civilians have been discovered in a sickening mass grave in the town of Izyum, Kharkiv, which was previously Russian occupied.
Ukrainian forces clawed back the territory in a fierce battle against Putin’s war-mongering Russian troops – before making the grisly discovery last Friday.
Forensic experts have so far exhumed around 148 bodies from the mass grave, where they have found signs of torture, while the bodies of two children were also discovered at the site.
Meanwhile Canadian PM Justin Trudeau slammed Russia’s actions, saying they were “increasingly, clearly include war crimes, include absolutely unacceptable crimes, whether we think of what we found in Bucha or the discovery of mass graves in the reclaimed territories by Ukraine,”
Read our Ukraine-Russia blog below for the latest updates…
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Ukraine optimistic as West grows fearful of nuclear attack (2/2)
Ukraine have managed to take back areas of the country as Russia has been forced to retreat.
What happens if Putin decides to use nuclear weapons?
It would be would be viewed as an act of war against the US and NATO, which would result in many more sanctions and international punishments against the Russian ruler.
It’s thought that Russia still has more tanks and artillery that could outnumber it’s opponents by Spring.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made clear to his people that now is the time to cut Putin off in order to avoid Russia getting to that point.
At the moment, Russia still controls a fifth of Ukraine and is reportedly mobilising 137,000 additional troops.
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Ukraine optimistic as West grows fearful of nuclear attack (1/2)
Ukraine have managed to take back areas of the country as Russia has been forced to retreat.
It’s thought that Russia was forced to retreat due to a lack of power, people and ammunition to keep up as the expectation of Ukraine‘s resistance was originally underestimated.
Ukraine has begun calling the displacement of Russia in the north-eastern areas as “de-occupation”, however as Russia’s pulled back, the West has grown more fearful of a nuclear attack.
Analyst Daniel Davis, a retired US army colonel, warned: “There is little he [Putin] won’t do when he feels it is necessary to win on the battlefield.”
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Russia’s much loved pop star condemns Ukraine invasion
Alla Pugacheva called Russian a “pariah” state.
The singer took to Instagram to share her views, after her husband Maxim Galkin, was accused of being a foreign agent after he publicly criticised the war.
She wrote: “I am in solidarity with my husband, an honest, decent, and sincere man, a true and incorruptible Russian patriot.”
Alla and her family moved to Israel around the same time the invasion was made in February this year.
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could trigger a long term rise in grain prices
A new study has revealed that the war could have a knock on effect to prices, which may rise as much as seven per cent.
Researchers from the United States and Uruguay believe that the price rise could last as long as a year, it has been reported.
Prices will remain high as long as restrictions remain on exports, it has been said.
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Russia rejects war crimes after more than 450 bodies were recovered
The bodies, found in a mass grave in Izyum, Kharkiv, presented signs of torture, said President Zelensky.
“Children and adults. Civilians and military. Tortured, shot, killed by shelling,” Mr Zelensky said.
“Even entire families are buried there: mother, father and daughter.”
Today the Kremlin have spoken out about these killings, calling it a “lie”.
More updates are to come on the Russian response to the gruesome discovery.
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Russian military strikes Zaporizhzhia district
In the early hours of the morning, the residential district came under fire from S-300 missiles, Ukrinform reported.
A total of 12 homes were destroyed as a result of the strikes, and an elderly woman was taken to hospital.
It has also been reported that healthcare facilities were under risk of losing power.
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UK intelligence says Russia is increasing attacks on civilians
The Ministry of Defence released a statement recently, showing an aggressive change in pattern of missile strikes on Ukrainians.
It is reported that Russian military efforts have increased attacks on civilians in the last week.
This is thought to “undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and government,” the MoD said.
It said: “Russia has launched several thousand long-range missiles against Ukraine since 24 February 2022.
“However, in the last seven days, Russia has increased its targeting of civilian infrastructure even where it probably perceives no immediate military effect.”
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Putin ‘failing on all his military objectives’ states UK military chief
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said that the Russian military does not have the resources or the man power to defeat Ukraine.
UK Intelligence said it is not known whether Russian military personnel are withstanding the Ukrainian counter attacks.
Sir Tony told the BBC: “At the very outset, we said that this was a strategic error by President Putin, and strategic errors lead to strategic consequences. And in this instance, it’s strategic failure.
“Putin is failing on all of his military strategic objectives. He wanted to subjugate Ukraine; that’s not going to happen.
“He wanted to take control of the capital; we saw that was defeated earlier on.
“We saw that he wanted to weaken Nato. Nato is now much stronger, and we have Finland and Sweden joining.”
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Russian proxy court sentences OSCE workers to 13 years in prison
The makeshift court in eastern Ukraine on Monday sentenced two former Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
They were sentenced to 13 years in prison by the breakaway Luhansk People’s Republic for “inhumane and repugnant” crimes.
Dmytro Shabanov and Maxim Petrov had been monitoring the war between pro-Russians and Ukrainians since 2014.
Both workers heard the verdict from behind black cages in the court room.
OSCE Secretary-General Helga Maria Schmid said the pair were “performing official duties” and demanded their “immediate and unconditional release”.
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Russian military targets another nuclear power plant
A nuclear power plant was reportedly struck by missiles, causing damage, but the reactors are unharmed.
Strikes were made in the early hours of this morning to the Pivdennoukrainsk power plant, owned by Energoatom.
The plant is located in the country’s southern Mykolaiv region, with strikes made 300m from the reactors.
“A powerful explosion occurred just 300m from the SUNPP reactors. The shock wave damaged the NPP buildings as well as over 100 windows were broken,” the state agency said in a statement.
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Boarder nations stop entry to Russian citizens
Countries near to Russia are refusing entry to Russians in act of support to Ukraine.
Even if Russian travellers carry a valid visa, they will not be admitted into Poland, Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.
The ban enforced today, with the Lithuanian Interior Minister stating: “Russia is an unpredictable and aggressive state.
“Three-quarters of its citizens support the war. It is unacceptable that people who support the war can freely travel around the world, into Lithuania, the EU,” said Agne Bilotaite.
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Thirteen people have been killed by shelling in Donetsk today
The Russian backed mayor confirmed the details of the shelling that occurred in the separatist region.
Alexei Kulemzin wrote via Telegram that 13 civilians including two children had been killed in the strike on Donetsk’s Kuybyshevsky district.
The Ukrainian army is still holding onto positions in Donetsk in the city’s outskirts.
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President Zelensky’s army closing in on key river in fight against the Russians
The Ukrainian President has vowed that his military will persist as they push forward to reclaim territory from Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Armed Forces said “have pushed across the Oskil. From yesterday, Ukraine controls the east bank.”
Luhansk govennor, Serhiy Gaidai, wrote on Telegram: “Luhansk region is right next door. De-occupation is not far away.”
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Missiles explode just 1 kilometre from Ukrainian nuclear power plant
Videos have surfaced online of missiles encroaching closer to the site of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant.
It is thought the missiles hit between 300 metres and 900 metres away from a nuclear power plant in Ukraine owned by Energoatom.
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Death toll of children in Ukraine continues to climb
The Russian invasion has claimed more than 300 lives of Ukrainian children.
In a Tweet update sent by the Defense of Ukraine Twitter page, it is revealed that the victim toll for children in Ukraine has hit 1,147.
More than 757 are injured, and 390 have lost their lives.
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Russia’s ties with China an ‘unconditional priority’
A Russian security official has stated that Moscow’s strong ties with Beijing are a top goal.
The secretary of the national Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, said the “strengthening of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with Beijing as an unconditional priority of Russia’s foreign policy.”
Patrushev also said that “in the current conditions, our countries must show even greater readiness for mutual support and development of cooperation,” to Guo Shengkun, a high up official of China’s Communist Party,
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US response depends on what Putin does
The US president was asked in an interview about what he’d say to Putin if he were planning on using nuclear weapons.
The West are reportedly concerned that, should Putin feel backed into a corner and worried he’ll lose, he may choose to use nuclear weapons.
Joe Biden said: “Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. It would change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.
“Russia would become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been.
“Depending on the extent of what they do, will determine what response would occur.”
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Ukraine claims back more
Russia invaded Ukraine in February, but Ukraine are rapidly gaining back land as they push Russia out.
It’s been reported that Ukraine has managed to gain back key land.
Ukraine forces claim to have regained control of the River Oskil on the front line of the war in north-east Ukraine.
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Russia urges UEFA to ban Ukraine manager
The manager of Ukraine’s men’s national football team has been accused of discrimination by Russia
Oleksandr Petrakov has been accused of failing to remain politically neutral.
According to the Guardian, Petrakov said: “I thought, if they come to Kyiv, I will pick up a weapon and defend my city.
“I am 64 but I felt it was normal to do this. I think I could take two or three enemies out.”
Now 65, it’s been reported that though he offered his services, he was advised that it may not be the best idea, due to his age and lack of military experience.
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Ukraine power plant connected to power supply
Zaporizhzhia power plant was disconnected to Ukraine power by Russian forces.
The power plants main lines were previously disconnected, but one of the four main power lines was reconnected. The three other power lines were reportedly being held in reserve.
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Russian popstar condemns war
Alla Pugacheva is one of Russia’s most famed popular singers.
Her husband, Maxim Galkin, a comedian, TV Presenter and singer is publicly ant-war and Pugacheva, in line with anti-war sentiments, asked Russian authorities to label her a foreign agent.
This came after they referred to her husband as one.
On social media, the singer labelled her husband “a true incorruptible Russian patriot, who wants… an end to our lads dying for illusory aims”.
She said her husband wanted nothing but “prosperity for his motherland, peace, free speech.”
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Ukraine optimistic as West grows fearful of nuclear attack (2/2)
Ukraine have managed to take back areas of the country as Russia has been forced to retreat.
What happens if Putin decides to use nuclear weapons?
It would be would be viewed as an act of war against the US and NATO, which would result in many more sanctions and international punishments against the Russian ruler.
It’s thought that Russia still has more tanks and artillery that could outnumber it’s opponents by Spring.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made clear to his people that now is the time to cut Putin off in order to avoid Russia getting to that point.
At the moment, Russia still controls a fifth of Ukraine and is reportedly mobilising 137,000 additional troops.
-
Ukraine optimistic as West grows fearful of nuclear attack (1/2)
Ukraine have managed to take back areas of the country as Russia has been forced to retreat.
It’s thought that Russia was forced to retreat due to a lack of power, people and ammunition to keep up as the expectation of Ukraine‘s resistance was originally underestimated.
Ukraine has begun calling the displacement of Russia in the north-eastern areas as “de-occupation”, however as Russia’s pulled back, the West has grown more fearful of a nuclear attack.
Analyst Daniel Davis, a retired US army colonel, warned: “There is little he [Putin] won’t do when he feels it is necessary to win on the battlefield.”
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Good morning. I’m Ije Teunissen-Oligboh, bringing you the latest on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.