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Ukraine war: Twelve dead as Russian missiles hit cities

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Russia has carried out a series of airstrikes in several cities across Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people, including a child. One of the attacks targeted a block of flats in Uman, where ten people were killed, and another attack in Dnipro claimed the lives of a woman and her three-year-old daughter.

The cities of Kremenchuk and Poltava also reported explosions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attacks damaged ten residential buildings in Uman, and called for further international action against Russia, including enhanced global sanctions.

The head of the Kyiv city military administration noted that it was the first missile attack on the capital in 51 days.

No civilian casualties have been reported in the capital city as a result of the missile strikes launched by Russia. According to Ukrainian officials, 21 out of 23 missiles and two attack drones were successfully shot down by the country’s air defense system.

However, a video shared by Ukraine’s State Border Service on Telegram showed an apartment building in Uman badly damaged by the attack. Witnesses described the chaos and destruction caused by the strikes, with one resident reporting blown-out windows and an ensuing explosion.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but Russia has previously targeted civilian infrastructure. The attacks come amid reports that Ukraine is preparing for a military offensive, with support from Western allies, and as Russia has struggled to gain control of Bakhmut in a long-running winter offensive.

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Ukraine’s Zelensky holds first war phone call with China’s Xi

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Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky announced that he had a significant and lengthy conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the phone, marking their first communication since the beginning of the Russian conflict. Zelensky expressed optimism that the call, coupled with the appointment of an ambassador to Beijing, will positively impact the relationship between the two nations.

China acknowledged the conversation and emphasized their commitment to peace, though they have previously maintained a neutral position regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Notably, President Xi visited Russia recently, indicating a close relationship between the two nations.

During a recent meeting, Ukrainian President Zelensky referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as his “dear friend” and presented a 12-point peace plan, but did not promise to supply Russia with weapons. Following the meeting, Zelensky invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Kyiv for further discussions, as they had not been in contact since the start of the war in February 2022. In a statement regarding their recent phone call, Xi emphasized China’s commitment to peace and stated that they would not take advantage of the crisis for profit or simply watch from afar.

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Ukraine war: Kyiv sets up positions across key Dnipro River – reports

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According to reports, Ukrainian troops have established positions on the east bank of the Dnipro River in southern Kherson region, which is partially held by Russia. The crossing of the river could be significant in future offensives, and Russian military bloggers have confirmed the advance.

While Ukraine’s military has not yet confirmed the movement, BBC Ukraine’s military sources have reported a “certain movement across [the] Dnipro” near Kherson city. If the reports are true, it could help Ukraine in pushing back Russian troops and possibly cutting the land corridor to Crimea. However, military experts warn that the area’s difficult terrain could make any troop movements a tough task.

Ukraine’s advances could be hindered by Russia’s advantage in the air. Although the Ukrainian military has announced preparations for a counter-offensive, it has not specified where or when it will occur. The Kherson region on the east bank of the Dnipro has been under Russian control until now, with the river serving as a natural barrier.

The Institute for the Study of War has confirmed that Ukrainian forces are operating in areas northwest of Oleshky on the east bank of the Dnipro. However, the scale of the reported advance and the Ukrainian military’s intentions are unclear. Russia’s WarGonzo military blogger reported that Ukrainian troops were trying to gain a foothold on Bolshoi Potemkin island, located between the new and old channels of the Dnipro.

Ukrainian military spokesperson Nataliya Humenyuk did not confirm or deny the reports but stated that “difficult work is continuing” and that operational information is kept confidential until it is safe for the military.

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Nikolai Peskov: Putin spokesman’s son ‘joined Wagner in Ukraine’

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Nikolai Peskov, the 33-year-old son of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, claimed to have served for nearly six months with the Wagner mercenary group in Ukraine. He stated that it was his duty and he could not sit back and watch as his friends went off to fight. His father confirmed his son’s claim but declined to give further details. However, several social media users in Russia questioned the authenticity of Nikolai’s claim.

The Wagner group, known for its alleged war crimes and other abuses in Ukraine, is described as a “private military company” in Russia and has recruited convicts from prisons after taking heavy losses. It is uncommon for a member of the Russian elite to join the group, as many have gone abroad to avoid conscription into the regular army. The BBC was unable to verify Nikolai’s claim.

Nikolai Peskov, who is also known as Nikolai Choles and speaks fluent English, has previously worked as a correspondent for Russian state broadcaster RT. He and his father are both under US sanctions. In an interview with the pro-Kremlin daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, Nikolai claimed that he decided to join the Wagner group himself but did not know how to do it, so he turned to his father for help.

He used a false ID to hide his Kremlin connections from his Wagner comrades, and he did not reveal that assumed name in the interview because he might need to use it again. His claim coincides with a new army recruitment drive in Russia, with state ads urging men to do their “patriotic duty” in the Ukraine war. Many men fled Russia last September to avoid conscription after President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilisation”.

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Ukraine war: Russian warplane accidentally bombs own city

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A Russian Sukhoi-34 fighter jet accidentally dropped a bomb on the city of Belgorod, which is near the Ukrainian border. The explosion caused extensive damage, including a 20m (60ft) crater, and blew a car onto the roof of a nearby shop. The regional governor ordered the evacuation of a damaged nine-storey block of flats as a precaution.

Three people were injured and several buildings were damaged. The Russian defence ministry acknowledged that one of its Su-34 fighter bombers had accidentally discharged aircraft ordnance at 22:15 local time on Thursday. Video footage on social media showed the blast’s impact, lifting a vehicle onto the roof of a supermarket while traffic was passing by.

The Russian defense ministry’s statement was a bureaucratic way of acknowledging that the fighter jet had accidentally fired a weapon, without specifying which one. The bomb landed at an intersection near the city center, next to residential buildings. Although two women were injured and taken to the hospital, the governor expressed relief that no one was killed in the incident, especially given the potential for greater harm with a bomber hitting a busy residential district. The governor conveyed his gratitude on social media for the absence of fatalities.

The CCTV footage of the incident indicates that local residents had a lucky escape. The video shows several cars passing a crossroads before an object falls to the ground nearby. Although there is no immediate explosion, the ordnance detonates approximately 18 seconds later, blowing up a section of the road and catching one of the passing cars, which sends a parked car flying into the air and landing on the roof of a supermarket.

Although the incident is embarrassing for the Russian military, the acknowledgement of an accident suggests that officials do not expect it to negatively impact public opinion of the Russian government’s ongoing military operations. In times of war and conflict, accidents can happen, sometimes with catastrophic consequences, as demonstrated by a Sukhoi fighter jet crash in the Russian city of Yeysk last October, which killed at least 13 people.

The military has initiated an investigation into the incident, according to reports. A former military pilot was quoted by pro-government news site Moskovsky Komsomolets, suggesting that the conclusions of the investigation would not be made public, but lessons would be learned.

Maintenance workers started repairing the damaged intersection in Belgorod by the morning, and the mayor stated that most of the repair work would occur over the weekend, with the road to be resurfaced on Monday. The regional governor acknowledged that Belgorod’s residents had a difficult night but would manage to get through it.

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Blinding flash over Kyiv was probably meteor, says Ukraine space agency

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There was a mysterious flash in the sky over Ukraine’s capital on Wednesday night, which led to various speculations. Initially, officials in Kyiv thought it might be a Nasa satellite falling to Earth, but Nasa denied it was still in orbit. Ukrainian space officials later speculated that it might be a meteor entering the atmosphere.

The air force ruled out a Russian air attack. The incident occurred at around 10 pm local time, and an air raid alert was activated, but no air defense measures were taken. The head of Kyiv’s military administration suggested it might be caused by a retired Nasa spacecraft that was supposed to re-enter the atmosphere that day.

According to Nasa’s Office of Communications, the RHESSI satellite, which was launched in 2002 and decommissioned in 2018, was still in orbit at the time of the flash and was expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere later that night. Satellite-tracking website Satflare showed that RHESSI was not near Ukraine when the incident occurred.

Despite many theories and memes on social media, the Ukrainian air force spokesman and the country’s space agency suggested that the flash was probably caused by a cosmic body entering the atmosphere. Kyiv officials stated that the priority was the safety of the city, and it was for experts to determine the cause of the flash.

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Ukraine war: The Russian ships accused of North Sea sabotage

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According to a joint investigation by public broadcasters in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, Russia has allegedly developed a program to disrupt wind farms and communication cables in the North Sea. The investigation claims that Russia has deployed a fleet of vessels disguised as fishing trawlers and research vessels that carry underwater surveillance equipment to map out key sites for potential sabotage.

UK officials are reportedly aware of Russian vessels moving around UK waters as part of this program. The first of a series of reports on this matter is scheduled to be aired on Wednesday by DR in Denmark, NRK in Norway, SVT in Sweden, and Yle in Finland.

According to a Danish counter-intelligence officer, the plans for sabotaging wind farms and communication cables in the North Sea are being prepared by Russia in case of a full-scale conflict with the West. The head of Norwegian intelligence has also reportedly said that the program is considered highly important for Russia and controlled directly from Moscow.

The broadcasters claim to have analyzed intercepted Russian communications, which reveal the presence of “ghost ships” sailing in Nordic waters with their transmitters turned off to avoid detection. The report highlights a vessel named the Admiral Vladimirsky, officially designated as an underwater research vessel but alleged to be a Russian spy ship.

The documentary cites an anonymous former UK Royal Navy expert who tracked the vessel’s movements around seven wind farms located off the coasts of the UK and the Netherlands during one mission.

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Ukraine war: Putin visits occupied Kherson region in Ukraine

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Russian President Vladimir Putin recently made a surprise visit to the occupied regions of Kherson and Luhansk in Ukraine, attending a military meeting to hear reports from commanders. This is a rare move by the Russian leader, who made a similar visit to Mariupol in March.

Although the date of the visit to Kherson is unknown, in footage released of the trip, Putin mentions the upcoming Orthodox Easter holiday, which was last Sunday. The Kremlin stated that the visits were not pre-planned.

During his visit, Putin also enquired about the situation in the Zaporizhzhia region, which Russia has also claimed as part of its territory. The international community has condemned Putin’s visit to the occupied territories.

During the military meeting in Kherson, Putin emphasized the importance of hearing the opinions and exchanging information with the commanders while acknowledging that he did not want to distract them from their duties. Russian forces had retreated from the city of Kherson towards the end of last year, losing the only regional capital they had captured since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Nonetheless, Russia still controls some parts of the region. In a video released by the Kremlin, Putin is seen disembarking from a helicopter and being greeted by a man in military uniform, believed to be military commander Col Gen Oleg Makarevich.

Later in the video, Putin is shown sitting in a control room between Col Gen Makarevich and Col Gen Mikhail Teplinsky, the head of Russia’s airborne forces. Col Gen Teplinsky was reportedly removed in January but has now returned to the front line, as reported by American military experts and British intelligence.

“Teplinsky is likely one of the few senior Russian generals widely respected by the rank-and-file,” the UK Ministry of Defence wrote on social media on Sunday.

“His recent turbulent career suggests intense tensions between factions within the Russian General Staff about Russia’s military approach in Ukraine.”

In the video, Putin is also shown presenting what is claimed to be a copy of an icon belonging to one of the most successful defense ministers of the Russian Empire. The footage then shows a road sign with the words “see you later in the Kherson region” and aerial shots of a coastal village, followed by Putin getting off a helicopter once again.

In a subsequent scene, Putin is seen wearing different clothes as he is taken into a bunker and is shown speaking with Col Gen Alexander Lapin, chief of staff of Russia’s ground forces. The Kremlin stated that Putin also visited the Vostok headquarters, which is a part of Russia’s National Guard, in occupied Luhansk. As of now, there has been no comment from Ukrainian authorities on the footage.

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Vladimir Kara-Murza: Russian opposition figure jailed for 25 years

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Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is a former journalist and politician of Russian-British descent, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in Russia. He has been convicted of charges related to treason and criticism of the war in Ukraine. Kara-Murza has denied the charges and has been openly critical of his trial.

He played a crucial role in persuading Western governments to impose sanctions on Russian officials for corruption and human rights abuses. His arrest took place a year ago in Moscow, initially for disobeying a police officer, and more severe charges were levied against him once he was in custody. His sentence is the harshest given to an opposition figure to date.

During his trial, one of the charges against Vladimir Kara-Murza was related to a speech he gave in the US, where he accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine by using cluster bombs in residential areas and targeting schools and hospitals.

Although these claims were independently verified, Russian investigators dismissed them as false, stating that the defense ministry did not allow the use of prohibited methods in warfare and that Russia did not target Ukrainian civilians.

Another charge against Kara-Murza was related to an event for political prisoners, during which he criticized Russia’s alleged repressive policies, as deemed by investigators.

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Pentagon Leaks Reveal Discord Among Russian Officials Over Ukraine War’s Death Toll

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Recently leaked US documents have brought to light that disputes within Russia’s security apparatus have led to the country’s defence ministry being accused of intentionally undercounting the number of casualties resulting from the Ukraine conflict.

Publicly, Russia has been reticent about disclosing the extent of its losses during the conflict. However, according to the leaked files, the FSB security service claimed that officials were neglecting to include the deaths of various groups, including the Russian National Guard and Wagner mercenaries. The Russian government has dismissed the leaks as potentially fabricated and purposely disseminated by the US.

Nevertheless, the documents provide additional evidence to support the already established notion that there have been frequent disagreements between Russia’s military and security entities regarding the management of the Ukraine war and that Russia has refrained from publicising the actual figures regarding deaths and injuries.

The FSB’s estimation of nearly 110,000 casualties in February, as reported in the leaked documents, is still considerably lower than the figures disclosed in previous US leaks this week.

According to those documents, the number of Russian losses ranges between 189,500 and 223,000, with 35,500-43,000 men killed in action. Russia’s most recent official casualty count dates back to September 2022, when officials confirmed the deaths of 5,937 servicemen.

The leaked documents suggest that the military’s reluctance to communicate negative news to higher-ups is demonstrated by its underreporting of casualties within the system. This has led some commentators to speculate that President Vladimir Putin has been shielded from the true extent of Russia’s losses on the battlefield.

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