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Ukraine’s Zelensky in Rome to meet Pope Francis

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently on a visit to Rome, where he is scheduled to meet with political leaders and have an audience with Pope Francis. Zelensky expressed his anticipation for the visit, calling it an important step towards Ukraine’s victory.

The visit includes meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella, followed by a visit to the Vatican on Saturday. In preparation for the visit, a significant security operation has been initiated, involving the deployment of over 1,000 police officers and the establishment of a no-fly zone over Rome.

Pope Francis has consistently expressed his willingness to act as a mediator in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Just a few weeks ago, he mentioned that the Vatican was working on a peace plan to end the war, although the details have not been made public yet.

The relationship between Ukraine and the Vatican has not always been smooth, as demonstrated by the Ukrainian ambassador’s rare criticism of the Pope in August. The ambassador took issue with the Pope referring to Darya Dugina, the daughter of a Russian ultra-nationalist, who was killed by a car bomb, as an “innocent” victim of war.

This meeting between President Zelensky and Pope Francis holds particular significance as it takes place in the context of Russia’s recent air strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. The attacks caused injuries and damage to critical infrastructure, residential areas, and government buildings. In response, Ukrainian forces reported progress near the city of Bakhmut.

Explosions were also reported in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk, with accusations that Kyiv used Storm Shadow missiles, which the UK claimed to have supplied to Ukraine earlier in the week. Further reports of blasts in Luhansk emerged on Saturday.

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Russia denies claims of Ukrainian front-line gain

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There are conflicting reports about the situation on the front line of the war between Ukraine and Russia. Pro-Russia sources, including Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group fighting on the Russian side, claimed that regular Russian troops had abandoned positions around Bakhmut.

Russian military bloggers also reported Ukrainian advances and troop movements. However, the Kremlin denied that Ukraine had made any significant advances and stated that the situation was under control.

The Institute for the Study of War suggested that Ukrainian forces had likely made gains in the city of Bakhmut, pushing Russian troops back by approximately two kilometers. They also noted that the Russian defense ministry’s quick denial of the Ukrainian counterattacks, despite acknowledging them, indicated increased panic.

On Friday morning, the exiled mayor of Melitopol reported a large explosion in the city, which has been occupied by Russia since the start of the war. The cause of the blast is unknown. The Ukrainian air force conducted 14 strikes on Russian forces and military equipment, while also destroying nine Russian drones and attacking multiple military targets, including artillery units, an ammunition warehouse, and air defense equipment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that it was too early to launch a counteroffensive and that they needed more time. He expressed concern about the potential loss of many lives and emphasized the need to wait.

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UK confirms supply of Storm Shadow long-range missiles in Ukraine

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The UK has confirmed its decision to supply Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which were requested by Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces. The Storm Shadow missile, with a range of over 250km (155 miles), offers a significant advantage compared to the US-supplied Himars missiles, which have a range of approximately 80km (50 miles). The UK Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, stated that these missiles would provide Ukraine with the best chance of defending itself, as they can be launched from aircraft, allowing Ukrainian pilots to operate at a safer distance from the frontlines.

The Storm Shadow missile operates by dropping to a low altitude to avoid detection by enemy radar and then uses an infrared seeker to lock onto its target. The announcement of this decision was made by Mr. Wallace in the House of Commons, following repeated requests from Ukraine for more support from Western nations. The UK’s decision to provide these missiles was prompted by Russia’s targeting of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, and the move aims to enable Ukraine to push back Russian forces from its sovereign territory.

Mr. Wallace emphasized that the donation of these missile systems was a response to Russia’s aggression and would not have been necessary if Russia had not invaded Ukraine. However, he acknowledged that the range of the Storm Shadow missiles provided by the UK is not comparable to Russia’s own missile systems, some of which have much greater reach. Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, assured that longer-range missiles would not be used to attack targets within Russia itself and offered guarantees that the weapons would not be involved in attacks on Russian territory.

The Kremlin responded to the UK’s decision by stating that it would take an appropriate military response if Ukrainian forces used the British-supplied Storm Shadow weapons. The Storm Shadow missile has previously been used by the British and French air forces in various conflicts, including the Gulf, Iraq, and Libya. It should be noted that while the British-supplied missiles can only be fired from aircraft, the French missiles can be launched from ships and submarines.

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Ukraine war: French journalist killed near Bakhmut

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A French journalist, 32-year-old Arman Soldin, was fatally struck by rocket fire while reporting in the war-torn region of eastern Ukraine. He was working for the AFP news agency and was killed near Chasiv Yar, just west of Bakhmut.

Soldin was part of a group of journalists accompanying Ukrainian soldiers when they came under attack at around 16:30 local time. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences and praised Soldin’s work on the front lines of the conflict. The chairman of AFP, Fabrice Fries, described the news agency as “devastated” by the journalist’s death, emphasizing the risks faced by journalists covering the Ukrainian conflict.

Soldin had been living in Ukraine since September, having joined the first AFP team to report from the country after Russia’s invasion in February of the previous year. Tributes were paid to Soldin in France’s National Assembly, and Ukraine’s defense ministry offered its condolences, acknowledging his dedication to uncovering the truth.

The Kremlin expressed sadness and called for an investigation into the circumstances of Soldin’s death. The White House also honored the journalist and acknowledged the sacrifices made by journalists exposing the realities of Russia’s invasion.

Soldin, who was born in Bosnia, is the 15th journalist to be killed while reporting on the Ukrainian war since February 2022, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Bakhmut has been a focal point of the conflict in eastern Ukraine for several months.

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Ukraine says it downed Russian cruise missiles aimed at Kyiv

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Ukrainian officials claim that their air defences successfully shot down 15 Russian cruise missiles that were launched overnight towards the capital, Kyiv. No casualties were reported. Senior Kyiv military official, Serhiy Popko, believes that the missiles were launched by four bombers from the Caspian sea region.

The missile attack occurred just hours before Russia’s Victory Day holiday, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has compared the Ukraine war to Adolf Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union.

Ukraine’s air force accused Russia of attempting to kill as many civilians as possible on Victory Day. The missile attack comes after Ukraine reported that Russia had launched its biggest drone attack of the war on Sunday night, killing one person and injuring five.

In Moscow, there is a sense of nervousness due to a series of recent explosions, drone attacks, and sabotage, including an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin, for which Moscow blamed Ukrainian drones, while Kyiv denied involvement.

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Zakhar Prilepin: Russian pro-war writer defiant after car bomb attack

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Zakhar Prilepin, a Russian writer known for his support of Russia’s campaign in Ukraine, survived a car bombing that killed his friend Alexander Shubin. The bomb was placed under the passenger seat, but Prilepin was driving the car at the time.

He sustained injuries to both his legs but survived the blast, which he said occurred just after he had dropped off his daughter. Investigators claim that a suspect, Alexander Permyakov, has admitted working for Ukraine.

Prilepin, a veteran of Moscow’s wars in Chechnya, has become a strident supporter of the Ukraine invasion and has admitted to fighting alongside pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. He has also called for the “return of Kyiv to Russia” and has advocated for the “purge of the cultural space” of those who oppose the conflict.

The Russian Investigative Committee (SK) claims that a suspect, Alexander Permyakov, has been caught in a neighbouring village and has admitted to carrying out an assignment for the Ukrainian secret services.

A Ukrainian-Crimean Tatar group called Atesh claimed responsibility for the attack on Prilepin, but the BBC has been unable to verify their claims. The attack is the latest in a series targeting high-profile supporters of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, activist Darya Trepova, and Darya Dugina, the daughter of Alexander Dugin, a close ally of President Putin.

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Ukraine war: Russia accused of using phosphorus bombs in Bakhmut

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Ukraine has accused Russia of using phosphorus munitions to attack the city of Bakhmut. Drone footage released by Ukraine’s military shows the city ablaze as white phosphorus appears to rain down on it. The use of white phosphorus weapons is not banned but is considered a war crime when used in civilian areas.

Russia has been accused of using such weapons before. Moscow has been trying to capture Bakhmut for months, despite its questionable strategic value, and thousands of Russian troops are said to have died in the assault. White phosphorus causes severe injuries and burns at 800 degrees Celsius, making it difficult to remove and causing extreme burns on human flesh.

Though Russia is a signatory to a convention that bans the use of incendiary weapons in civilian areas, the chemical does not fall under the treaty as its primary purpose is to create a smokescreen to hide military operations.

The commander of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said his forces would withdraw from Bakhmut on 10 May in a dispute over ammunition supplies. However, Ukrainian officials claim that Wagner is redeploying fighters towards Bakhmut to capture the city before Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on 9 May.

The fighting comes amid reports that Ukraine is preparing a large-scale counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is largely controlled by Russia. The Russian-installed governor of the region has ordered the evacuation of villages near the front line. Russia regards the area as its own territory after illegal annexation and self-styled referendums last year.

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Yevgeny Prigozhin: Wagner Group boss says he will pull troops out of Bakhmut

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Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, has threatened to withdraw his troops from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut by Wednesday due to a lack of ammunition. He posted a video of himself walking among dead fighters’ bodies and directed his anger towards Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, accusing them of not providing enough supplies for his troops.

Prigozhin is known for his attention-seeking behavior and has previously made threats that he did not follow through on. He warned that if the ammunition shortages were not resolved, his mercenaries would be forced to retreat or stay and die.

The battle for Bakhmut between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed forces, including the Wagner Group, has been ongoing for months with thousands of casualties. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, has complained about a lack of ammunition and threatened to withdraw his troops from the city by May 10.

Military analysts suggest that Russia’s defence ministry may be rationing ammunition ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. Prigozhin has also hired former army general Mikhail Mizintsev, who was dismissed as logistics chief, as a deputy commander for Wagner. Mizintsev has been dubbed the “butcher of Mariupol” for his role in last year’s bombardment of the Ukrainian city. Prigozhin claims he has helped Wagner supply ammunition and recruit convicted prisoners to its ranks.

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Ukraine war: Zelensky visits The Hague after new strikes in Ukraine

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There have been reports of explosions in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa, a day after Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the Kremlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently in the Netherlands, where he is expected to address the International Criminal Court’s investigation into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky denied his country’s involvement in the attack on Putin, stating that they are only fighting to defend their own territory. During his visit, Mr. Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to discuss his request for more military support from the Netherlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had previously stated that supplying fighter jets to Ukraine was not out of the question but would be a significant step. Following Russia’s accusation of a drone attack by Ukraine on the Kremlin, Russia threatened to retaliate at their discretion. In response, Ukraine reported air raids in several cities, and Russia launched strikes on Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, causing 21 fatalities.

Some commentators have suggested that the alleged drone attack on the Kremlin was staged by Russia as it is unlikely for two drones to penetrate multiple layers of air defense and detonate over the heart of the Kremlin. They believe that Russia may have orchestrated the attack to mobilize societal support and prepare for wider conflict.

However, some experts dispute this theory, stating that Russia would not want to appear vulnerable by staging an attack on the Kremlin, which may lead to questions about the efficacy of their air defenses and Putin’s protection.

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Ukraine war: More than 20,000 Russian troops killed since December, US says

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According to newly declassified intelligence, the US estimates that over 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in fighting in Ukraine since December, with an additional 80,000 wounded. Half of the casualties are from the Wagner mercenary company, which has been attacking the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

The battle for Bakhmut has taken on significant symbolic importance for both sides, with Ukrainian officials stating that they are using it to wear down Russia’s reserves. Despite holding most of Bakhmut, Russia has been unable to seize any significant territory. The toll in Bakhmut accounts for losses since the start of December, according to the US figures.

According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, Russia’s attempted offensive in Ukraine has failed, with extraordinary losses suffered by Russian soldiers. The US estimates that over 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the fighting, with an additional 80,000 wounded.

Kirby did not give estimates of Ukrainian casualties, as he considers Ukraine to be the victim in the conflict. Bakhmut, the city being fought over, has little strategic value, but has become a focal point for Russian commanders who have struggled to deliver any positive news to the Kremlin. The Wagner mercenary group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has taken centre stage in the Russian assault on Bakhmut.

However, Prigozhin has threatened to pull his troops out of Bakhmut if they are not provided with much-needed ammunition by the Russian defence ministry, warning that Wagner fighters could be redeployed to Mali. It should be noted that the figures given by the US cannot be independently verified, and Moscow has not commented on them.

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