Russia-Ukraine war LIVE: George Bush calls Zelenskyy 'the Winston Churchill of our time'

Former US President George W Bush spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over a video call. Bush thanked Zelenskyy for his leadership and his commitment to liberty and saluted the courage of the Ukrainians. George Bush in an Instagram post stated that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy assured him they they will not become weak in their fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's "barbarism and thuggery." Former US President underscored that they will continue to support Ukraine and they have been inspired by the "fortitude and resilience." Bush called Zelenskyy "the Winston Churchill of our time." 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced that his country will diversify energy procurement as well as the use of nuclear reactors and renewables to lower dependency on Russian energy. Kishida made the remarks in his speech in London's financial district. He stated that they would raise an investment of 150 trillion yen (₹8,81,77,71,00,00,000) in the next 10 years to meet energy needs, APA reported citing CNN. It is to mention here that ever since the Russian military offensive in Ukraine started on February 24, Japan has been announcing sanctions against Moscow and offering support to Kyiv. 

The United Kingdom has announced sanctions against Evraz plc, a major manufacturer of Russian steel. According to the statement released by the UK government, Evraz plc produce 28% of all Russian railway wheels and 97% of rail-tracks in Russia. The UK government in the statement said, "Today’s asset freeze means no UK citizen or company can do business with them. Evraz plc’s core operations are in Russia where they are a major employer. These sanctions will further chip away at Putin’s financial reserves and siege economy, and support Ukraine’s continued resistance."

US President Joe Biden spoke to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. During the telephonic conversation, the two leaders underlined their commitment to continue holding Russia accountable for its brutal actions in Ukraine, according to the read out ot the phone call released by the White House. Biden and Scholz discussed their ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian and security assistance to Ukraine.  

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that United Nations has documented 180 possible kidnappings on occupied territories and 8 on the Ukrainian side, Nexta reported.  Bachelet asserted that the list of gross violations of international humanitarian law continues to rise every day. According to Michelle Bachelet, her office has  recorded 6,731 civilian casualties since the Russian military offensive in Ukraine started on February 24. She added that the real figures were considerably higher. She called on the parties to order their forces to protect civilians. 

"The list of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law continues to grow each day. We cannot let the number of victims continue to rise," Michelle Bachelet said in the statement. 

"It is vital that all parties give clear instructions to their combatants to protect civilians and persons hors de combat, as well as to distinguish between civilian and military objects," Michelle Bachelet added. 

Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, has announced that the Ukrainian government would continue to evacuate civilians from Mariupol on May 6 at noon. Taking to her Facebook account, Vereshchuk stated that the evacuated civilians will be taken to Zaporizhzhia. Earlier on 5 May, Iryna Vereshchuk stated that 344 people had been evacuated from Mariupol and they arrived in Zaporizhzhia. 

US Defence Department Spokesperson John Kirby has said that Russian armed forces have made "some small progress" in the northern part of Donbass, The Kyiv Independent reported. He stressed that Ukrainian armed forces continue to put up a "stiff resistance" against Russian troops. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decided to create an honorary award for "courage" to celebrate the military victories of the armed forces. The award will be presented to honour the bravery and heroism shown by the soldiers in the Ukrainian armed forces, National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Security Service of Ukraine, and State Special Communications Service in the fight for the independence of Ukraine. Zelenskyy has taken the decision of establishing the honorary award based on the proposal presented by the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces. 

"Establish an honorary award "For Courage and Courage" to honor special military merits, courage, bravery and heroism of personnel of military units (units) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Security Service of Ukraine, State Special Communications Service and protection of information of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, identified during the defense of state sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of Ukraine, hostilities and combat (special) tasks," according to the statement released on Ukrainian President's website. 

The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Information Policy has announced that they are working on removing "Russian propaganda literature from Ukrainian libraries. The Ukrainian Culture Ministry further said that they will replace them with Ukrainian-language literature and books that have been published by Ukrainian publishers, as per the statement released by the ministry on Facebook. Larisa Petasyuk, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, has called "propaganda" a "dangerous weapon" and added, "Russian lies are poisons all around today."  The Ukrainian Ministry has stated that the process of removal of "propaganda Russian literature" will be based on relevant technical guidelines.

“Propaganda is a dangerous weapon. Russian lies are poisons all around today. We have all ways to deal with this phenomenon. At present, the Ministry has defined clear criteria by which Russian literature will be removed from Ukrainian library funds. We approach this issue carefully and carefully. We hope that all of this will positively affect the development of the Ukrainian bookstore," Larisa Petasyuk said in the statement released on Facebook. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. During the telephonic conversation, the two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine. Bennett and Putin talked about humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, including the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal steel plant, in cooperation with the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. According to the statement released by Kremlin, Russian armed forces are willing to ensure the safe passage of civilians, however, Ukrainian authorities need to order the "militants" at the Azovstal plant to lay down their arms. Both the leaders stressed the special significance of May 9 for citizens of Russia and Israel, who honour the memory of all the fallen, including the victims of the Holocaust. Furthermore, Putin apologised to Bennett over the remarks made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about Jews. 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to travel to Ukraine. The announcement has been made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Twitter. The decision regarding the visit of Annalena Baerbock was taken after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and "cleared up irritations." Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called his talks with Steinmeier "constructive and good." Zelenskyy thanked his German counterpart for the strong support to Ukraine and expected the support from Germany to be "intensified." Ukrainian President informed Frank-Walter Steinmeier about the situation in Mariupol. 

The Russian armed forces have ordered to use Russian-language sign for the name of the city in Mariupol, Nexta reported.

Zaporizhzhia Mayor Anatolii Kurtiev announced full-day curfew for May 9, The Kyiv Independent reported. The curfew will remain in effect from 7 pm on May 8 to 5 am on May 10. 

Japan has announced additional sanctions against Russia, Nexta reported. Furthermore, the Japanese government has frozen assets of 140 people. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin is aiming to draft a "more reliable" Russian version of Wikipedia with Ukraine war details. 

US has learned a great deal about Russian military shortfalls and capabilities in the first two months of the war in Ukraine, top Pentagon leaders told Congress. But Moscow is also learning from its mistakes as the war shifts to a new phase, and that will shape the artillery and other weapons systems the US will provide, they warned. 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that if Congress approves funding, the most critical things that Ukraine needs are anti-tank, anti-aircraft and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles. Milley added that with the fighting now concentrated in the eastern Donbas region, Ukrainian forces also need more tanks and other mechanized vehicles, which the US and other nations are providing.

Credit: AP

Associated Press Report

The British military has warend that the ongoing military drill in Belarus “not currently anticipated” to threaten Ukraine might "nflate the threat posed to Ukraine."  The British Defense Ministry, in a statement on Thursday said that Belarus' snap military drills may flare the threats of the war as via these exercises Russia might seek to "fix Ukrainian forces in the north." 

“Russia will likely seek to inflate the threat posed to Ukraine by these exercises in order to fix Ukrainian forces in the north, preventing them from being committed to the battle for the Donbas,” the British military said.

It added: “Deviation from normal exercise activity that could pose a threat to allies and partners is not currently anticipated.”

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France’s ecology minister says she is confident that the European Union’s 27 nations will quickly agree to a proposed ban on oil imports from Russia. Speaking to FranceInfo radio Thursday, the minister, Barbara Pompili, said the embargo could be agreed upon within days.

“I am confident,” she said. “It is normal that there are discussions because some countries are more dependent than others on Russian oil, so we have to try to find solutions so they can get on board with these sanctions.”

She added: “I think we’ll get there perhaps by the end of the week or at least as soon as possible.”

The European Union’s top official, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, proposed Wednesday that EU member nations phase out imports of Russian crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year. The proposals must be unanimously approved to take effect. Von der Leyen said that getting all 27 member countries — some of them landlocked and highly dependent on Russia for energy supplies — to agree on oil sanctions “will not be easy.”

Pompili said the embargo would be “for everyone” in the bloc and that “is to show Russia that Europe, from the end of this year, will completely do without its oil.”

Credit: AP

Source: Associated Press

A deputy commander of the Azov volunteer regiment Sviatoslav Palamar has appealed to the Ukraine's Presdient Zelenskyy to rescue the trapped Ukrainian soldiers from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. In a recorded video address, Palamar said that wounded Ukrainian soldiers at the besieged Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol “are dying in terrible agony from inadequate (medical) treatment.” He then asked the Ukrainian leader to evacuate the bodies of dead soldiers so they could be entitled to the military honours and Ukrainians can say "proper goodbye" to them. 

The prime minister of Luxembourg says the European Union should carefully weigh a total embargo on all Russian oil gas imports given that some member nations “have no alternative” supply for energy generation. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said after talks Thursday with the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades that “just to say no to the gas today when we know that some countries then will have no alternative tomorrow is something we should put on the balance.”

What’s paramount at this time is to maintain EU solidarity and for all 27 members to find ways of becoming energy self-sufficient and less dependent on energy from third countries, Bettel said. He said one option is solar energy, referring to the east Mediterranean island nation’s potential to generate much more than Luxembourg.

Anastasiades said the war in Ukraine has refocused attention on discovered and potential natural gas reserves found in east Mediterranean waters off Cyprus and elsewhere as an alternative source of energy for Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on the EU member states to ban oil imports from Russia and target the country’s biggest bank and major broadcasters in a sixth package of sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

Credit: AP

Source: Associated Press

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said Thursday that Russia has decided to expel four diplomats with Denmark’s Embassy in Moscow.

“They have wrongfully become pieces in Putin’s cynical power play,” Kofod said. “It is a completely unjustified and deeply problematic decision, which underscores that Russia no longer wants real dialogue and diplomacy.”

Moscow said seven Danish diplomats were expelled. Danish media said that those expelled include four diplomats and three others without diplomatic status. They must leave within two weeks. Moscow’s tit-for-tat decision came after Denmark last month expelled 15 Russian intelligence officers who worked at Russia’s Embassy in Copenhagen. Several other European countries also expelled Russian intelligence officers.

Source: Associated Press 

Ukraine’s government has launched a global fundraising platform so individuals can donate to help rebuild Ukraine, offer humanitarian aid, and raise money for demining. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the initiative, called United24, on Thursday.

The United States and Europe, among others, have offered billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Last week, US President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Ukraine’s newest fundraising drive is intended to give individuals a way to donate on their own with a single click, Zelenskyy said.

Credit: AP

A 500-million-euro ($530 million) Lithuanian-Polish natural gas transmission pipeline was inaugurated Thursday, completing another stage of regional independence from Russian energy sources. The Gas Interconnection Poland-Lithuania pipeline that runs more than 500 kilometers (310 miles), comes “at a time when Russia has once again tried to blackmail us using gas,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said at the inauguration.

Lithuania’s Prime Minister Ingridas Simonyte added that “any reduction or disappearance of this source of funding would have a very significant impact on the Russian economy and the ability to continue financing the war in Ukraine.”

The Lithuania-Poland leg is integrated with pipelines in the other two Baltic states — Estonia and Latvia — and Finland, and into the European Union gas transmission system. Before the pipeline was built, the four countries could only receive pipeline gas from Russia.

Germany has started to build its first terminal for importing liquefied natural gas from the United States and the Middle East in an effort to phase out the Russian energy reliance. Berlin has imported an estimated 55 percent of its total energy needs from Moscow, close to 35 percent of its oil were supplied by the Russian state owned oil corporation. Germany is building the liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals in Wilhelmshaven on the port located in Lower Saxony on the North Sea coast.

Habeck announced a €3 billion deal in order to lease at least four ships to “regasify” LNG for the German pipeline system. each of those vessels are estimated to have the capacity of five billion cubic metres per year. 

"We have a good chance to do what is actually normally impossible in Germany: To build an LNG terminal within about 10 months, and to connect it to the German gas supply," Germany's Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck reportedly said. 

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Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said that an estimated $6.5 billion has been raised at an international donors’ conference in Warsaw for providing aid to Ukraine. The conference on Thursday was co-hosted by Poland and Sweden and attended by prime ministers and ambassadors representing many European countries, as well as countries further afield and some businesses.

Much of the world has responded to the war in Ukraine with an outpouring of humanitarian support. But as the war drags on for weeks, the humanitarian needs in Ukraine have grown more acute. In addition to the thousands killed, millions of people have been displaced, and there are increasing reports of people being tortured and raped.

Credit: AP

Source: AP

Russia has been firing a barrage of missiles on central Kirovohrad Oblast from the Caspian sea that has hit a railway infrastructure in Dolinskaya, Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command said in an update. There were several deaths and injuries reported, said the Ukraine's military, although the exact number of the casualties was not known. At least two missiles were shot down over the southwestern city of Vinnytsia, Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Interior Ministry of Ukraine further informed in the update. 

European Union's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has warned that the ongoing war in Ukraine is posing increased risks to the civilian airlines, that could be accidently targetted. EASA also warned that there is an ncreased risk of a potential cyber attack that could jeopardize the safety of the passengers of the airplanes. The "misidentification is easy in confused arenas of warfare," said the EASA. 

"The development of this risk is common to all combatants. If we add in the likelihood of jamming of electronic aids that may be involved with navigation and or identification tools, then it is easy to see the potential for innocent aircraft being subject to missiles or radar-laid weapons," it added. 

"Military drones and aircraft operating in the conflict zone may inadvertently infringe adjacent civil airspace."

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova has testified at Russian war crimes hearings held by the Helsinki Commission In a Fcaebook post, Venediktova informed, "The Helsinki Commission of the US Congress held a hearing on Russia's war crimes in Ukraine. I testified at the hearings about the horrific atrocities committed by the Russian army on our land: the deliberate bombing of civilian objects, killings and torture, the use of rape as a weapon." Further she added, that at the hearing "the red lining were signs of genocide of the Ukrainian people and the prosecution of the main serial war criminal of the 21st century." 

A judge in Spain on Thursday ordered the provisional release of Anatoly Shariy, a Ukrainian politician-blogger accused of treason in his home country. Shariy was arrested on Wednesday in the coastal city of Tarragona on an international arrest warrant issued by Ukraine, according to Spain’s National Court. Court documents said Shariy is accused of “high treason and incitement of hatred.”

Shariy, who has reportedly lived in Spain since 2019, was ordered to turn in his passport and remain in the country. The court said officials in Ukraine now have 40 days to formally present a request for Shariy’s extradition. His arrest was announced by Ukraine’s security services on Thursday, who said there was reason to believe Shariy “was acting on behalf of foreign entities.” Shariy, the founder of a political party considered by many Ukrainians to be pro-Russian, has been a vocal and active critic of Ukraine’s government.

Source: Associated Press

A Ukrainian commander trapped inside the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol accused Russia of violating the truce and ensuing intense battle inside the plant. In a recorded message, Sviatoslav Palamar, the Azov regiment’s deputy commander said: "It's been the third day that the enemy has broken through to the territory of Azovstal. Fierce bloody combat is ongoing." 

"The defenders of the city have been fighting alone for 71 days with the overwhelming forces of the enemy and show such endurance and heroism that the country must know what it means to be loyal to the motherland," Palamar said in the video posted on Telegram.

Russia has said that it is "impossible" to hold the Victory Parade and the “Immortal Regiment” in Donetsk or Luhansk on May 9. Putin’s deputy chief of staff, Sergei Kiriyenko told Russian state-owned news agency RIA that it is unlikely to hold military parade in the contentious breakaway territories. Ukraine however claimed earlier yesterday that Russian troops were planning to organize a military parade in the beseiged city of Mariupol where Russia's leader Putin decalred victory weeks ago. 

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on Thursday thanked his Israeli counterpart, Yair Lapid, for sending the humanitarian aid and supporting Ukraine during the war during Israel's Indeoendence day. Israel will “stand by” Ukraine said Kuleba, adding that he has been assured by the Israeli counterpart of assistance. israel will ensure the prevention of the sanctions evasion and will help rebuild Ukraine, Kuleba informed. 

According to the Israeli press, Israeli government officials are slated to expand militry and humanitarian aid to Ukraine on request of the United States. A diplomatic official told Times of Israel that Tel Aviv will not send the offensive arms or advanced defensive technology, such as the Iron Dome anti-missile system, but will still send the military equipment to help Ukraine's military to fight the invading Russian forces. 

Ukraine's military will not launch counter-offensive before the mid-June, Kyiv's presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said in an update. No Ukraine counter-offensive is expected before mid-June as Ukraine is expecting more foreign weaponry  more weapons from the allies to deter the Russian troop assault. Meanwhile Arestovych reiterated that there won't be any significant results from Russia’s offensive in Ukraine by May 9 when moscow will celebbrate its ‘Victory Day’ over Nazi Germany during the WWII, that it calls 'Great Patriotic war.'

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday that his country would start the use of the nuclear reactors and renewables to help reduce dependence on Russian energy. Tokyo had shut down the nuclear reactors after the 2011 Fukushima disaster after an earthquake was triggered by the tsunami. 

"We will utilise nuclear reactors with safety assurances to contribute to worldwide reduction of dependence on Russian energy," Kishida told reporters in London. 

"Restarting just one existing nuclear reactor would have the same effect as supplying 1 million tonnes of new LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) per year to the global market."

Credit: AP

Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday said it had declared seven employees of the Danish embassy in Moscow 'persona non grata' as a retaliatory move. Kremlin has largely criticised Copenhagen's stance on Ukraine war and its military assistance to Ukraine. Denmark's anti-Russian narratives have damaged the bilateral relations betweent the two nations. Denmark had expelled 15 Russian envoys at the embassy in Copenhagen, last month. 

Russia on Thursday stressed that all the Central Asian countries are linked to Moscow by strategic partnership, and strong alliance. On occassion of the 30th anniversary of Russian diplomatic relations with Central Asian countries --Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Moscow said that it aims to establish favorable external environment, maintaining good neighbourliness and constructive interaction neighboring states of Central Asia. 

 favorable external environment, maintaining good neighborliness and constructive interaction with all, but, above all, border and neighboring states. In this regard, we can't help but be glad that all the Central Asian countries are linked by strategic partnership, and with most of them by alliance.

"Our [Russia-Central Asia] cooperation is comprehensive. A saturated dialogue at the highest level, aimed at achieving practical results, across ministries and departments has been set up. A solid regulatory and legal base has been formed, including more than 900 bilateral agreements and inter-legal agreements.Even greater unity of our countries and peoples was contributed by joining efforts to fight the pandemic," said Kremlin on Thursday. 

Russian embassy in Estonia on Thursday accused Estonia of curtailing the freedom of the media citing the ratings published by by the non-governmental organization "Reporters Without Borders."

In a Facebook post, Moscow's embassy stated that since February this year, as Putin launched his special military operation in Ukraine, Estonia has introduced a ban on broadcasting of more than 20 Russian TV channels, and about 7 internet information resources have been blocked. "Due to an imposed commercial boycott, the newspaper 'Komsomolskaya Truth in Northern Europe' was squeezed out of the media market," Russia said. 

On the absurd "suspicion of a crime against peace and violation of international sanctions" a criminal case was fabricated against the editor-in-chief of the Estonian Russian-language publication Satellite Media Elena Cherysheva, it went on to add. The Russian embassy further said that due to these acts of "political censorship" Estonian citizens about 1/3 of the population were deprived of access to objective and truthful information about events happening in the world.

Estonia meanwhile responded to Russia's comments, asserting that Estonia "has taken a leading role in protecting media freedom in the world." Eva-Maria Liimets, Estonia's FM said, "I did not forget to accuse Russia of hiding and distorting the truth in the coverage of events in Ukraine." 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands Estonia's President Kersti Kaljulaid at the Kremlin in Moscow. Credit: AP

One of the famous pregnant Ukrainian women who was pictured escaping the damaged Mariupol maternity ward which was reportedly bombed by Russian forces appeared in footage on Thursday shared by Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the video posted on Telegram, woman named Marianna from the Mariupol maternity hospital, was heard saying that she had relocated to the Russian occupied Donestsk region where she feels "completely safe." 

Mariana Vishegirskaya at bombed maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine. Credit: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

In a shocking claim Mariana Vishegirskaya is heard saying that "people who move to Russia and Donetsk do it on their own will," adding that "nobody is displacing civilians against their will." 

Kremlin had completely denied that Russian forces had bombed the Mariupol maternity hospital, alleging it as an "elaborate propaganda" by the West.

On Thursday as the Russian MFA shared the visuals of the woman, it wrote: "She [Mariana Vishegirskaya] has a message for everyone who believes in 'kidnapping', 'held at gunpoint' and other boogeyman stories about Russia the West and its 'free press' want people to believe." 

Germany's CDU leader Friedrich Merz has called for reopening of the German embassy in Ukraine. "30 embassies have already been reopened in Kyiv," Merz told German newspaper "Rheinische Post". The German embassy is the last one which is still closed.

“We're never ahead. That's understandable when it comes to arms deliveries, but we could have sent a signal to the embassy," said Merz.

European Union should confiscate and sell Russian assets that it seized and use the funds for rebuilding Ukraine, EU Council President Charles Michel, said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine news agency. "I’m absolutely convinced that this is extremely important not only to freeze assets, but also to make possible to confiscate it, to make it available for the rebuilding of the country (Ukraine)," said Michel. " In my opinion, this is question of fairness, not only idea to freeze the assets, but the confiscation to make this money available for Ukrainian authorities for trust found and for the all this goals that I mentioned, especially for the rebuilding of the country, is a question of fairness, question of justice."

UK has revoked Moscow's Stock Exchange's (MOEX) status as a recognised stock exchange and has scrapped the tax relief for new Russian investors. British Ministry of Finance announced that the move was aimed at the Russian investors that fund Russian President Vladimir Putin's war. The UK grants recognised status to some exchanges, including Russia that provides the investors in those nations specific tax reliefs. 

"With the Moscow stock exchange failing to withdraw their restrictions on foreign investors, the UK had no choice but to remove its recognised status," said Lucy Frazer, Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

"This will stop further money being channelled into Russian assets and send a clear message that there is no case for new investment in Russia."

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday responded to the report that the United States had provided "intelligence" to  Ukraine military that helped them kill Russian generals. Peskov said he was "well aware" that the United States, Britain and other NATO countries have been providing intelligence to the Ukrainian military but asserted that "this will not prevent Russia from achieving its goals."

United States has provided the intelligence to the Ukrainian forces that helped them kill the Russian generals. Pentagon provided sensitive intelligence that included information about the Russian troop movement, their locations of operation, as well as details about their military headquarters, that helped the Ukrainian forces to thwart Moscow’s invasion efforts, a New York Times report noted on Wednesday, May 4. United States’ intelligence helped the Ukrainian forces to conduct artillery strikes that killed Russian officers, the newspaper claimed. 

Read full report here 

Kremlin on Thursday responded to Ukraine military's claims that its troops have stormed  Azovstal steel plant in the beseiged city of Mariupol. It categorically rejected those claims saying that Russian troops were instead ensuring the safe pssage for thr civlilians to evacuate the steel plant where Ukraine forces had taken many people hostage. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reminded the reporters in Moscow that President Vladimir Putin had "ordered" the defense ministry to ask troops not to storm the plant as it would lead to military casualties. Those orders, he stressed, were being adhered. 

An assessment by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said Russian forces were struggling to gain traction in the eastern Ukraine as they intensified the attacks and shellings. 

“Ukrainian defenses have largely stalled Russian advances in eastern Ukraine,” it said. “Russian forces intensified airstrikes against transportation infrastructure in western Ukraine (on Wednesday) but remain unable to interdict Western aid shipments to Ukraine,” the institute's report added.

In the most searing example of how Ukrainian forces have slowed Russia’s progress, Ukrainian fighters held out at the sprawling Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol — the last pocket of resistance in a city that is otherwise controlled by Moscow’s forces.

Kremlin has accused the West of preventing a “quick end” to so called Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov lambasted US, EU and the allied nations for supplying the weaponry and intelligence to Kyiv and exacerbating the conflict. 

Peskov responded to the report that the US intelligence to Ukraine helped its forces to kill a dozen Russian generals.  "Our military is well aware that the United States, Britain and Nato as a whole are constantly transmitting intelligence and other parameters to the Ukrainian armed forces," said Peskov.  "Coupled with the flow of weapons that these countries are sending to Ukraine, these are all actions that do not contribute to the quick completion of the operation," he asserted. 

Kremlin spokesperson also blamed the West for slowing the pace of the military operation and prohibiting Russia from achieving its military objectives in Ukraine sooner. 

Credit: AP

Ukrainian forces said Thursday that they made some gains on the border of the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv and repelled 11 Russian attacks in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbass region. As many as five people were killed and at least 25 more wounded in shelling of cities in the Donbass over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian officials said in an update. The attacks damaged houses and a school as well.

Air raid sirens went off in the cities as Russian attacks were reported near Kyiv, the capital; in Cherkasy and Dnipro in central Ukraine; and in Zaporizhzhia in the southeast. 

Ukraine’s biggest thermal power plant, Zaporizhzhia, has halted operations due to the coal shortage. Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov said in a telegram post that the largest thermal plant situated near the city of Enerhodar stopped operating after Russians occupied the city of Enerhodar, and caused widespread infrastructure damage that has disrupted coal supplies. 

"I want to explain to the residents of Energodar the situation regarding the shutdown of Zaporizhzhya TPP. Unfortunately, this is a forced step - the company has run out of coal. And it is not possible to organize its regular deliveries," said Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov.

"This is due to the occupation of our city, as well as logistical difficulties due to constant fighting in the south of Ukraine, destroyed infrastructure, bridges and sections of the railway."

This image made from a video released by Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant shows bright flaring object landing in grounds of the nuclear plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine. Credit: AP

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a nightly address that civilians will need to be dug from bunkers "by hand" under the Azovstal steelworks as heavy equipment cannot be used to retrieve them. Gis remark came as Ukraine completed second evacuation operation from Mariupol rescuing close to 344 people. Those vacated were transported to safety to the city of Zaporizhzhia. "They all receive the necessary help. All of them will receive the most caring treatment from our state,' Zelesnkyy said. He appealed for all those trapped in the steelwork facility to be evacuated, many of whom, he stated, are "women and children." 

“The lives of the people who remain there are in danger. Everyone is important to us. We ask for your help in saving them,” Zelenskyy said appealing for help from UN. 

UK has deployed Trooper Charmaine Cochrane from the Queen's Royal Hussars at the Niinisalo Training Camp, Finland for two-week military exercise. On Thursday, an array of military personnel, armoured vehicles and equipment forms a steady and purposeful manoeuvre into the Finnish garrison. The largest of the fighting vehicles seen are the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank, belonging to the Queen’s Royal Hussars (QRH), that arrived in Finland to take part in Exercise Arrow.

"There is plenty of interest in the vehicle from our Finnish bilateral partner soldiers who got to meet the British Army personnel during an integration day at Niinisalo," British Royal Army said in a statement. 

“Being in Finland is fantastic for the regiment,” said Charmaine, who lives in Tidworth, has been in the Army for four years and is also a qualified gunner and loader. "This exercise has been in the planning for the last six months and we’ve never had Challenger 2 here before, so it’s an exciting prospect."

Exercise Arrow is a two-week long training Exercise that aims to develop Finnish Defence Forces’ ground combat capabilities and the ability to operate joint fires, alongside international Allies. The exercise will test and develop mechanised units operating in a multinational environment, with more than 3,000 soldiers in total taking part. 

The Ukrainian armed forces  have said that the Russian troops have been trying to completely destroy Ukrainian units at Azovstal steel plant in the beseiged souther port city of Mariupol. It added that the Russian soldiers have been shelling the steel plant non stop since the night. 

"The Russian occupiers are focusing their efforts on blocking and trying to destroy our units in the Azovstal area. The enemy resumed the offensive with the support of aircraft in order to take control of the plant," the military said in an update. 

Ukrainian forces have claimed that they have repelled some of the attacks by the Russian troops in the east and recaptured some territory. This coems as Moscow said its troops have targetted the facilities storing the weapons supplied by the Western nations. Russian troops also bombarded rail stations and other supply-line targets. 

Heavy fighting has been raging at the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol the final holdout of the Ukrainian resistance in the southern port city, the Ukrainian military has said Russian official had earlier denied that the troops were storming the plant. 

“With the support of aircraft, the enemy resumed the offensive in order to take control of the plant,” the General Staff in Kyiv said, adding that the Russians were “trying to destroy Ukrainian units.”

Smoke rises from the Metallurgical Combine Azovstal in Mariupol, in territory under the government of the Donetsk People's Republic, eastern Ukraine. Credit; AP Photo/Alexei Alexandrov

Belarus’ authoritarian leader said that he didn’t expect Russia’s “operation” in Ukraine to drag on for so long and claimed he was doing “everything” to stop the war, in a sit-down interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. President Alexander Lukashenko defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24. However, he said he didn’t think it would “drag on this way.”

“But I am not immersed in this problem enough to say whether it goes according to plan, like the Russians say, or like I feel it. I want to stress one more time, I feel like this operation has dragged on,” Lukashenko said during the nearly 90-minute interview at the Independence Palace in Minsk.

He also alleged that Ukraine was “provoking Russia” and insisted that Belarus stands for peace.

“We categorically do not accept any war. We have done and are doing everything now so that there isn’t a war. Thanks to yours truly, me that is, negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have begun,” he said.

Credit: AP

Source: Associated Press

Social media networks including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, and the internet connection has disappeared in the city of Kherson and several other districts of the southern Ukrainian oblast. Serhiy Khlan, a deputy of the regional council, said that the reason behind the shutdown was not yet clear.

Mariupol’s mayor Vadym Boychenko has praised the work of Ukraine’s president and deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk in evacuating residents of the beseiged port city. In a Facebook Post, he also thanked interantional organisations for organising humantiarian corridors for evacuation. This comes as Zelenskyy administration claimed that Rusisans have increased attacks on Azovstal Steel Plant. 

"Now we are fighting together for the salvation of every person, every Mariupol resident. Thank you to the international partners involved in organizing the humanitarian corridors. Special thanks to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Iryna Vereshchuk for saving the lives of Mariupol residents. The evacuation should be continued and maximum diplomatic efforts should be made along the way," Boychenko wrote in a post. 

In an bid to showcase the adverse effects of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba shared a diary entry of a 8 year old Ukrainian boy. "Since Feb 24, my two dogs have died, and my grandma Halya, and my beloved Mariupol," the little boy named Yehor wrote in his diary while hiding from Russian bombs. Kuleba, in a tweet also spilled out further details saying " His grandpa died too. He, his sister, and their mother were wounded."

Belarusian forces were deployed from garrison to the field for exercises, UK intelligence said in its latest update. However, Russia is likely to use these exercises to fix Ukrainian forces in the north, thereby preventing them from being committed to the battle in Donbas.

Russian villages of Zhuravlevka and Nekhoteevka were helled by Ukrianian troops, the region’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. However, no casualities have been reported as of now. In a telegram post, he wrote, "a house and a garage were destroyed in Nekhoteevka. There were no casualties among the civilian population. The shelling continues.”

Air raid alarm were sounded in capital city of Kyiv as well as Kharkiv region of Ukraine. Similiar warning calls were issued in the western regions of the country as well. Notably, western part is considered NATO's doorstep into Ukraine any escalation in the region stands the risk of triggering west's intervention in the war. 

Ukraine's Azov Regiment Commander Denis Prokopenko on Wednesday asserted that the country's defenders are fighting "difficult and bloody battles" inside Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol. In a video message released on Telegram, the defence official hailed the soldiers who are "making superhuman efforts to contain pressure or the enemy under the situation that is extremely difficult." Prokopenko's message came shortly after Mariupol's mayor informed regional media that the invading forces have launched devasting missile raids around the steelwork, which is the last holdout of the "remnant" Ukrainian defenders fighting to protect the besieged port city.

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Ukraine's Prosecutor General’s Office has said that the war with Russia has killed 221 children and left more than 408 children dead. The figures are expected to be higher as they do not include child casualties in areas where hostilities are ongoing and in temporarily occupied or recently liberated areas, according to Kyiv Independent.

According to the latest operations update by the General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine, defenders on Thursday regained control of residential settlements surrounding Mykolayiv and Kherson in the country’s south. "In the Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy has continued to shell the city of Kharkiv and reconnoiter the positions of units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine. In the area north of the city of Izyum continues artillery and mortar shelling," the report said. Meanwhile, the Russian occupiers are focusing their efforts on blocking and trying to destroy Ukrainian units in the Azovstal area. With the support of aircraft, the enemy resumed the offensive in order to take control of the plant, it added. 

In a key development, Russia decided to boycott the UN Security Council meeting with the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) in retaliation for the EU's "Russophobic policies", stated Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russian permanent representative to the council, on Wednesday. Taking to his Telegram channel, Polyanskiy claimed that the "informal" meeting is an attempt to "put out the fire of the Ukrainian crisis by adding gasoline," Tass news agency reported. The move is anticipated to add to the already widened rift between Russia, United Nations, and its allies.

"We made this decision in connection with the clearly hostile and Russophobic policy of the EU, which is actively trying to ‘put out’ the fire of the Ukrainian crisis by adding gasoline to it," the Russian diplomat said. Polyanskiy further lashed out at the EU leadership, accusing them of gaslighting the Ukraine war by dispatching more weapons to Kyiv. The meeting between the UN and EU PSC is the first since 2019 after it was suspended due to COVID-19.  The interaction between both organisations is expected to address the atrocities in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion that began on February 24.

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Russian troops on Wednesday night launched an attack on the Kramatorsk area of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. At least six residents were injured after arbitrary Russian strikes on residential neighbourhoods. 

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday discussed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's "scandalous" remarks with Israel PM Naftali Bennett. For a recap, Lavrov had claimed Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler had "Jewish blood" prompting fury from Tel Aviv. Lavrov had also attempted to justify "denazification" of Ukraine by comparing Hitler to Zelenskyy. "We discussed the scandalous and absolutely inadmissible statements by the Russian Foreign Minister who insulted the whole world," the Ukrainian President said during his nightly address, as quoted by CNN. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed new ambassadors to Slovenia, Romania, Montenegro and Northern Macedonia. According to ‘European Truth’, Zelenskyy signed three decrees on the dismissal of the ambassadors and seven on the appointment of the new ones. The relevant documents have been published on the website of the head of state. 

The Minister of Defense until November 2021, Andriy Taran replaced Mykhailo Brodovych as the Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia. Natalia Zadorozhnyuk was replaced by Larisa Deer for the post of Ambassador of Ukraine to Northern Macedonia. With Zelenksyy’s decree, Oleg Gerasimenko was appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Montenegro while Igor Prokopchuk became Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania.

Irina Kostyuk was appointed as the Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba. Ambassador of Ukraine to Senegal Yuriy Pivovarov was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and the Republic of Guinea. Dmytro Senyk was appointed as Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

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As the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has entered its 71st day, Oil prices on Wednesday have jumped sharply after the European Union (EU) announced a plan to eliminate Russian oil, further causing supply concerns. According to an ANI report, on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for June supply gained 5.4 dollars, or 5.3%, to close at 107.81 dollars a barrel. While, on the London ICE Futures Exchange, Brent crude for July shipment rose 5.17 dollars, or 4.9%, to settle at 110.14 dollars per barrel. 

This spike in oil prices came after President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen suggested a fresh set of sanctions on Russia on May 9, including a total oil embargo on Russian oil imports, with the goal of reducing Europe's energy dependency on Moscow by the end of 2022. Von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the EU will phase out Russian crude oil supplies in six months and also refined products by the end of this year. The proposal is a part of the sixth round of sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its military intervention in Ukraine. 

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The UK is set to deliver 570 generators to Ukraine in order to ensure a steady electric supply to hospitals and other facilities sheltering displaced Ukrainians. The first batch of 200 generators has already reached Ukraine and is in use, NEXTA reported. 

 Russia on Wednesday bombarded rail stations and other supply-line targets across the country in a bid to hinder the "flow" of western weapons supply to Ukraine, the Associated Press reported. The Russian military said it used sea- and air-launched missiles to destroy electric power facilities at five railway stations across Ukraine. Meanwhile, heavy fighting raged in the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol. Ukrainian military unit commander claimed that Russian troops stormed the mill which is the last holdout of the Ukrainian defenders. Ukraine FM Dmytro Kuleba claimed that Russia was creating "missile terrorism" to spread fear among Ukrainians. 

Since the beginning of the all-out Russian war, as many as 36,425 babies were born in Ukraine, the Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. On the contrary, 227 children were reportedly dead by the Un Human Rights Committee in the embattled nation since the war began.

According to a report by the New York Times, intelligence provided by the US has helped Ukraine kill 12 Russian generals since the war began on February 24. 

Satellite images captured by Planet Labs PBC showed heavy damage and smoke billowing from the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol. The steelworks held over thousand of Ukrainian defenders and civilians sheltering from Russian bombings. The invaders stormed the plant earlier last month despite orders by Russian President Vladimir Putin against it. After weeks of heavy shelling on Tuesday around 157 civilians were evacuated from the steel plant and sent to Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. 

The UK on Wednesday pledged to offer $56 million to help the most vulnerable Ukrainians waiting at its borders, The Guardian reported. The funding will go to UN agencies and charities delivering vital aid. It will also provide support to survivors of sexual violence in Ukraine. 

"Britain has stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine throughout this conflict. As one of the largest humanitarian donors, we will continue to make sure those bearing the brunt of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s vile war have the lifesaving aid they need. British aid is supporting the most vulnerable in Ukraine, particularly women and children, who are facing increased risk of sexual violence and exploitation," UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said. 

Russia on Wednesday boycotted UN Security Council Meeting with European Union  Political and Security Committee, citing "Russophobic policies." Russia’s UN representative Dmitry Polyanskiy alleged that the EU nations are engaged in “warmongering” and are  “actively trying to extinguish the fire of the Ukrainian crisis by pouring gasoline on it,” Kyiv Independent reported. 

U.N. humanitarian chief in Ukraine, Osnat Lubrani on Wednesday informed the Associated Press that over 300 civilians from the besieged southeastern city of Mariupol and four other towns have been evacuated to Ukrainian-held Zaporizhzhia. The stranded civilians were moved from Manhush, Berdiansk, Tokmak, and Vasylivka towns. The evacuees have been given humanitarian assistance and will “much-needed psychological support.” As many as 344 people have been evacuated on Wednesday, in addition to the more than 150 people who were evacuated earlier this week from the bunkers under the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. 

Ukrainian journalist Oleksandr Makhov on Wednesday was killed by Russian bombings in the Izium area of Kharkiv Oblast. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences in a televised address: “Eternal memory to him and all our heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine,” Kyiv Independent reported. A former war reporter, Makhov had joined Ukrainian Armed Forces shortly after the Russian invasion began on Feb 24.

At least 09% of the Howitzers pledged by the US have arrived in Ukraine, said Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby. Nearly 90,000 of the 1,44,000 munitions for the projectiles and 90 Howitzers reached Ukraine. The official however added, the US does not track the weapons on its arrival to Ukraine, CNN reported. 

Russian forces were “attempting to hit what we assess to be critical infrastructure" during their aggravated strikes on the western part of Ukraine, said Pentagon press secretary John Kirby. He stated that the invaders targetted  “electrical power, transportation hubs, that kind of thing." However, the attacks have not hindered the transfer of weapons to Kyiv, Kirby added. 

Lt. Col. Denys Prokopenko, commander of Azov Regiment on Wednesday stated that the Russian "enemy" breached perimeters into the Azovstal steel plant complex during heavy fighting. “For two days now, the enemy has broken into the territory of the plant. There are heavy bloody battles," he said, as quoted by CNN. He added that Ukrainian defenders are making "superhuman" efforts to contain the Russian onslaught.

As the Russian war rages in east Ukraine, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie on Wednesday told Ukrinform that Canada's ambassador to Kyiv will relocate from Poland. 

The Kremlin denied on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin intended to declare war on Ukraine and call for a national mobilisation on May 9, when Russia commemorates the Soviet Union's victory in World War II. It is worth mentioning here that so far, Putin has referred to Russia's involvement in Ukraine as a "special military operation," rather than a war.

However, some Western politicians and political analysts believe that Putin is planning a major announcement for next Monday, with scenarios ranging from an outright declaration of war to a declaration of victory. Tap here to read more. 

The Bulgarian Parliament on Wednesday passed a resolution to provide humanitarian, financial and military-technical, assistance to the war-torn country. In addition, it also decided to repair Ukrainian military equipment in Bulgaria. 'We Continue the Change' proposed the draft resolution, which was approved by a vote of 200-16 with one abstention, Bulgarian News Agency (BNA) reported.

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Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, on May 4, revealed that 36,425 children have been born in Ukraine since Russia launched an invasion on February 24. Laying some more numbers, it claimed that around 24,500 Russian soldiers have been killed so far and 194 aircraft, 155 helicopters and over one thousand Russian tanks have been destroyed. 

As for the casualties, 3,153 civilians have been killed and 3,316 were injured as of May 1, according to the United Nations. 

The Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Iryna Venediktova shared pictures of the attack by the Russian forces on Ukrainians waiting for public transport in Avdiivka. She claimed that the attack has killed 10 and injured 20 civilians. "Similar picture of premeditated killings of civilians by RF soldiers is documented throughout Ukraine", she tweeted.

British military believes Russia will make a push to try to seize the cities of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine. The British made the comment Wednesday in a daily briefing it posts on Twitter about the war. The Defense Ministry said Russia had some 22 battalion tactical groups near Izium in its attempt to advance in the area. Russia uses so-called battalion tactical groups — units of infantry typically reinforced with tanks, air defenses and artillery — in its operations. Each group typically has around 800 troops.

The British military said: “Despite struggling to break through Ukrainian defenses and build momentum, Russia highly likely intends to proceed beyond Izium to capture the cities of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk.”

Analysts have been watching eastern Ukraine, now the site of the country’s heaviest fighting, expecting Russia to try to encircle Ukrainian forces. However, the going has been slow as Ukrainian fighters dig in and use long-range weapons, like howitzers, to target the Russians, according to Associated Press report. 

Belarus has announced snap military exercises amid the Russian war in Ukraine, while insisting it would not threaten any neighbours.The Belarusian Defense Ministry said the exercises that began Wednesday would be used to assess the readiness and capability of the country’s armed forces, and the military’s ability to operate on “unknown terrain in a rapidly changing situation.”

The ministry did not say how many troops are involved in the exercises but noted that their number would be gradually increased. It said the maneuvers “do not threaten the European community in general and any neighboring countries in particular.” Belarus allowed its ally Russia to use its territory as a staging ground before Moscow launched its military action in Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Source: Associated Press

Russian defense minister has warned that Moscow will see any Western transports carrying weapons into Ukraine as legitimate targets. Sergei Shoigu’s statement Wednesday comes as the US and other Western allies have increased shipments of weapons to Ukraine. Speaking at a meeting with top military officials, Shoigu denounced the West for “stuffing Ukraine with weapons.”

“Any NATO transports carrying weapons or resources for the Ukrainian military that arrives in the country’s territory will be seen by us as a legitimate target to be destroyed,” said Russia's defense minister. 

The Russian military has repeatedly reported strikes on Ukrainian depots containing Western weapons. Striking Western transports delivering them would mark a significant escalation in the conflict.

European Commission has included Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church in the sixth round of sanctions against Russia that would mean his assets to be frozen. The 75-year-old Kirill is a renowned supporter of the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, and has often touted Putin's leadership as a miracle.  Russian Orthodox Church also recently criticised Vatican Pope Francis. 

"Patriarch Kirill is therefore responsible for supporting or implementing, actions or policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as stability and security in Ukraine," the EU document proposing the sanctions on the Russian patriarch titled European External Action Service read, as seen by Politico. 

Credit: AP

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace on Wednesday said that UK wants Finland and Sweden potentially joining NATO "quickly." Finland and Sweden are expected to announce next week whether to seek membership of the 30-nation alliance. Wallace also observed a military exercise in western Finland involving troops from the United Kingdom, Latvia, the United States and Estonia.

“I cannot conceive that we would not come to support,” Wallace told reporters. “We will do whatever we need to do.” Wallace said Finland was “in a pole position” to join NATO and the British Parliament would be able to ratify a Finnish membership “quickly.”

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the government is planning to make it easier for Russians fleeing their home country to find work in Germany but will tighten the security and background checks. “We can really use them,” he said about the skilled Russian immigrants but added that security procedures would be stepped up because “we don’t bring a lot of spies over here.”

 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Russian President Vladimir Putin has “completely miscalculated with his brutal war of aggression against Ukraine” because it has led NATO to strengthen its eastern flank, resulted in comprehensive sanctions against Russia, and prompted large-scale military support for the Ukrainian side.

Scholz said Wednesday that Germany is currently considering supplying Ukraine with howitzers, in addition to Gepard anti-aircraft guns and other equipment the government has already agreed to send.

He spoke to reporters in Meseberg, near Berlin, alongside German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who announced plans to require that Russians who are subject to sanctions have to disclose their assets in Germany or risk fines.

Credit: AP

Source: AP

UK on Wednesday has imposed sanctions on Russian journalists, accusing the state broadcasters of spreading 'war propaganda.'  The sanctioned individuals include three journalists embedded with Russian forces in Ukraine: Evgeny Poddubny, Alexander Kots and Dmitry Steshin.

The British government said the new sanctions would mean social media, internet services and app stores must take action to block content from two of Russia’s major sources of alleged disinformation, RT and Sputnik. Both have been pulled from British airwaves.

Tech and Digital Economy Minister Chris Philp said RT and Sputnik “have churned out dangerous nonsense dressed up as serious news to justify Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.”

With Asscoiated Press Inputs. 

Vehicles are on fire at an oil depot after missiles struck the facility in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces in Makiivka, 15 km (94 miles) east of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Credit: AP

Smoke rises from the oil depot as fire broke out after missiles struck the facility in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces in Makiivka, 15 km (94 miles) east of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. Credit: AP

Belarusian army has informed in a Telegram post that it started surprise  inspection of its Reaction Force. The Russia's ally has also started to mobilize the military equipment, as per the statement released by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense on its Telegram channel. 

"A surprise inspection of the Reaction Force has begun in the Armed Forces of Belarus, during which military units and subunits will have to work on the issues of getting ready, marching to designated areas and performing combat training tasks," the statement read.

"The purpose of the inspection is to assess the readiness and ability of personnel to quickly respond to a possible crisis situation."

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to address the Danish parliament on occassion of the anniversary of Denmark’s liberation from Nazi occupation on May 4. At least two events have been organized by Danish newspapers Politiken and Jyllands–Posten in Copenhagen and Aarhus and the Ukraine president will reportedly give a speech that will be broadcast on screens. 

Kremlin has dismissed the speculations that President Vladimir Putin has planned to declare a war against Ukraine and will declare a national mobilization on May 9. Speaking to Russia's state affiliated media, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:  “There is no chance of that. It’s nonsense.” Russia commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory in World War Two on May 9 which Moscow calls "Great Patriotic War." Russia will celebrate the  Soviet sacrifices made in defeating Nazi Germany during the WWII. 

“It is not true. It is nonsense,” Peskov told reporters when asked about the mass mobilization. 

Slovakia has said that while it supports EU's ban on oil imports from Russia, it would still need a 3-year transitional period and an exemption to be able to gradually phase out  of Russian oil dependency. Economy Minister Richard Sulik said on Wednesday that his country, even though it supports the alternative to Russian energy, is not yet "ready to join a European Union embargo on imports of Russian oil" as proposed in the EU's sixth round of sanction. 

Slovakia and Hungary import 100% of the oil from Russia and have been "fully dependent" on Moscow's supplies from the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline. Slovakia's Sulik iterated that currently his country has "no alternatives" and that it would take years for state's sole refiner, Slovnaft, to switch from Russian crude to some other source. 

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Hungary will not vote for any sanctions "that will make the transport of natural gas or oil from Russia to Hungary impossible."

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. Credit: AP

NATO's  Madrid summit  this year will be crucial as it the defensive Alliance will approve its next Strategic Concept for its mission in the coming decade. It will also come at a time when the EU's regional security is in tatters over the recent threat of Russia's aggression as it invaded the neighbouring Ukraine to challenge the Alliance's existence. 

NATO’s Madrid summit is expected to be held between June 29-30 this year and will be hosted by Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government. An estimated €37 million is being spent on the crucial summit that will, in 2022, draft the important war plans targeting nuclear-armed Russia and China.

Credit: AP

Russian Orthodox Church on Wednesday slammed Vatican pontiff Pope Francis for using what they described "wrong tone" in conveying the content of the conversation held on 16 March between Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and head of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby as well as Pope. 

Pope completely "misrepresented the last conversation he had with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow," said Russian Orthodox Church in a statement published on May 4. It added that Patriarch Kirill told Pope Francis that the war started in Ukraine "because of a coup in Ukraine in 2014." 

Russia’s RIA news agency carried the statement, that read:  The negotiations of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church with the Pope and the head of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby took place online on 16 March. They discussed the problems of helping refugees, the right of everyone to confess their faith and native language without political persecution, and the role of Christians in the search for peace in Ukraine.

It is regrettable that one and a half months after the conversation with Patriarch Kirill, Pope Francis chose the wrong tone to convey the content of this conversation. Such statements are unlikely to contribute to the establishment of a constructive dialogue between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches, which is especially necessary at the present time.

Credit: AP 

As the EU prepares to implement the sixth package of sanctions against Russian regime,  EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said "we are depriving the Russian economy from its ability to diversify and modernise." Furthermore at the press conference on Wednesday, Ursula von der Leyen asserted that Putin wanted to wipe Ukraine from the map.

"He will clearly not succeed. On the contrary: Ukraine has risen up in unity. And it is his own country, Russia, he is sinking,"  EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. 

Credit: AP

As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented  the sixth package of sanctions that includes the total oil embargo on Russia, she warned the Russian soldiers behind the Bucha and Irpin atrocities in Ukraine saying: "We know who you are." Further she asserted, "you will be held accountable." She then announced de-SWIFT of Sberbank – by far Russia's largest bank, and two other major banks.

By that, said Ursula von der Leyen "we hit banks that are systemically critical to the Russian financial system and Putin's ability to wage destruction." 

Credit: AP

EU on Wednesday announced sanctions on leading Russian banks that are systemically critical to the Russian financial system and "Putin's ability to wage destruction." As she announced the de-SWIFT of Moscow's Sberbank, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the measures will "solidify the complete isolation of the Russian financial sector from the global system."

UK has banned all service exports to Russia as it announced new sanctions against 63 Moscow individuals. In a tweet on Wednesday, Britain’s foreign secretary, Liz Truss, said that her country was cutting off  Russia’s access to the UK’s accounting, management consulting and PR services. 

"Doing business with Putin’s regime is morally bankrupt and helps fund a war machine that is causing untold suffering across Ukraine. Cutting Russia’s access to British services will put more pressure on the Kremlin and ultimately help ensure Putin fails in Ukraine," UK Foreign Secreatry Liz Truss said.

UK has also announced at least 63 new sanctions that freezes assets of the leading media houses, Russian broadcasters and newspapers including state affiliated Channel One, All Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting, UK also banned the  InfoRos saying that it spreads propaganda and  “destabilising disinformation about Ukraine." Other outlets facing sanctions are SouthFront and Strategic Culture Foundation. 

EU nations heavily reliant on the Russian oil imports such as Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria on Wednesday raised concerns about EU's total oil embargo. While the EU envoys held first discussions about the proposed  oil ban on Russia today, there was no decision reached and the bloc remained divided. Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister, Assen Vassilev, said his country will seek an exemption from the upcoming sanction that cut off Russian oil imports. Hungary and Slovakia have also sought exemption and will continue buying Russian crude oil until the end of 2023 under the existing contracts. 

Russian bombing of the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater in Mariupol on March 16 stands out as the single deadliest known attack against civilians to date. An Associated Press investigation has found evidence that the attack was in fact far deadlier than estimated, killing closer to 600 people inside and outside the building.

That’s almost double the death toll cited so far, and many survivors put the number even higher.

The AP investigation recreated what happened inside the theater on that day from the accounts of 23 survivors, rescuers, and people intimately familiar with its new life as a bomb shelter. The AP also drew on two sets of floor plans of the theater, photos and video taken inside before, during and after that day and feedback from experts who reviewed the methodology.

All the witnesses said at least 100 people were at a field kitchen just outside, and none survived. They also said the rooms and hallways inside the building were packed, with about one person for every 3 square meters of free space.

Credit: AP

Source: Associated Press Report

The planes take off almost daily from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware — hulking C-17s loaded up with Javelins, Stingers, howitzers and other material being hustled to Eastern Europe to resupply Ukraine’s military in its fight against Russia.

The game-changing impact of those arms is exactly what President Joe Biden hopes to spotlight as he visits a Lockheed Martin plant in Alabama that builds the portable Javelin anti-tank weapons that have played a crucial role in Ukraine.

Biden’s visit is also drawing attention to a growing concern as the war drags on: Can the US sustain the cadence of shipping vast amounts of arms to Ukraine while maintaining the healthy stockpile it may need if a new conflict erupts with North Korea, Iran or elsewhere?

US has already provided about 7,000 Javelins, including some that were delivered during the Trump administration, about one-third of its stockpile, to Ukraine, according to an analysis by Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies international security program. The Biden administration says it has committed to sending about 5,500 to Ukraine since the Russian invasion more than two months ago.

Analysts also estimate that the United States has sent about one-quarter of its stockpile of shoulder-fired Stinger missiles to Ukraine. Raytheon Technologies CEO Greg Hayes told investors last week during a quarterly call that his company, which makes the weapons system, wouldn’t be able to ramp up production until next year due to parts shortages.

“Could this be a problem? The short answer is, ‘Probably, yes,’” said Cancian, a retired Marine colonel and former government specialist on Pentagon budget strategy, war funding and procurement.

Credit: AP

Source: AP

German chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that there's a "problem" in Germany's relations with Ukraine as he addressed the cabinet, referring to German leaders being stopped from visiting Kyiv due to their pro Russian stance. "It is a problem for the German government and for the German people that the president was asked not to come," Scholz told reporters in Germany.

"It's unacceptable to tell the president of a country that provides so much military assistance, so much financial assistance, that is needed when it comes to the security guarantees that are important for Ukraine in the future that he can't come," Scholz said.

His comments came as a response to Ukraine officials who refused a visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Although, in a move that rattled German Chancellor, Germany’s conservative opposition leader Chairman of the German Christian Democratic Party (CDU) Friedrich Merz travelled to Kyiv. He visited Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made clear that he wouldn't now step into Ukraine. 

Olaf traded barbs with Ukraine after their refusal for the Germany's President to visit their country. German president Steinmeier had planned to visit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv with the heads of state of Poland and the Baltic republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. As tensions mounted between the two nations, Scholz emphasized that "Ukraine must also play its part" in maintaining good relations. 

Credit: AP

Australia has announced addtional travel bans and sanctions agianst the members of Russia’s parliament and Ukrainian separatists. In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Australia, at least 110 individuals, including 34 "senior members of the Russian-led movements" in Donetsk and Luhansk have been sanctioned by the Asutralian government. 

"These individuals have violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine through their assertion of governmental authority over areas of Ukraine without the Ukrainian Government’s authorization," the statement read. 

Credit: AP 

People of Moldova, and their institutions, are facing severe consequences from Russia’s war against Ukraine, EU Council President Charles said during a press conference. "In these difficult times, we must help our partners and friends to defend their security and their democratic values – our common democratic values." 

"Now, more than ever, it is time to join forces and show our unwavering solidarity with you and with the Moldovan people," said EU leader. 

Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik said that while as many as 156 civilians have managed to leave the besieged city of Mariupol into the Ukraine-controlled Zaporizhzhia, there are still nearly 30 kids trapped inside the Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant that Russia's MoD has "sealed securely." 

"You can imagine that we were all in tears once the first group reached out to safety. It is incredible progress that we have made in getting people out," said Ukrainian MP while speaking to Sky news. The main goal now is "to evaluate all the children who are still at the plant, alongside women, the elderly and injured soldiers," she continued. 

"So right now our main goal is to make sure we get out all the children, its about 30 children still there. The most complicated step would be with the wounded soldiers because Russia is not allowing them to get out." 

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EU Council President Charles Michel has said that the officials in Moldova and the EU have agreed that bloc'supcoming common platform for the purchase of energy resources "will be open to the associated partners, including Moldova." His remarks come as the EU announced sixth package of sanctions against Russia, that includes the total oil embargo and phasing out the Russian energy releiance by the end of 2022. 

"Moldovan electricity grid has been synchronised with the continental European grid to support the stability of its power systems," EU Council President Charles Michel informed during the press conference in Moldova. He stressed that EU has stepped up the financila assistance to the neighbouring nation to Russia and Ukraine. 

"EU has stepped up to help, providing €13 million of immediate funding for humanitarian programmes, followed by a further €15 million for migration management. We have also provided €15 million to reinforce the EU border assistance mission," said Michel.

"We will also provide support to counter disinformation, strengthen social cohesion, and withstand cyberattacks," he added. 

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EU Council President Charles Michel on Wednesday condemned the recent what he described "provocative security incidents" and cyberattacks in Moldova, saying that  Russia’s war against Ukraine has caused senseless suffering and pain. "The consequences do not stop at the Ukrainian borders. The consequences are global – from Russia’s attack on international law, to one of the biggest refugee crises since World War Two, to rising food and energy prices," said EU Council President Charles Michel speaking at a press conference during his visit in Moldova. 

"Moldova has been particularly impacted by this war in your neighbourhood," Charles Michel stressed. He went on to add, "The EU stands in full solidarity with you, with Moldova. It is our European duty to help and to support your country. And to increase our support for your stability, security, territorial integrity and sovereignty. Our economic and political support must continue hand in hand." 

President of Moldova Maia Sandu has said that she does not see any “imminent” threat of unrest spilling over from the war in Ukraine during the press conference with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. Her remakrs come despite the recent provocations and attacks by allegedly the pro-Russian separatists in the breakaway region of Transnistria. Russia's MoD bhlamed the Ukrainian forces for launching attacks inside the breakaway territory where as many as 1,500 to 2,000 Russian troops are stationed. 

A Russian MP Vladimir Dzhabarov on Wednesday responded to EU's latest announcement of total oil embargo on Russia saying that  European leaders have "gone a little crazy". He added that EU will buy Russian oil via third countries if a ban on imports is imposed, according to RIA Novosti news agency. 

"They say we won't buy oil from us. Well, don't buy it, we don't push it to you. You will still buy it, only through third countries. Our oil is the same, only more expensive," Vladimir Dzhabarov told the RIA Novosti.

A tanker was seen exploded in city of Dzerzhinsk in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast in Russia. 

Pro Russian separatists of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) say that in the 24 hours they have evacuated a total of 517 civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol. Of these, as many as  61 evacuees were children the youngest being 6 month old. After the evacuation, the Russian forces began storming the steel mill said Ukraine's president Zelenskyy. 

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China's private refiners have been accused of secretly purchasing Russian oil at substantial discounts at a time when Western countries are contemplating an embargo on Moscow's oil for its unjustified invasion of Ukraine. As per the Financial Times, an official of an independent refinery in Shandong, Eastern China, stated the company had not publicly acknowledged dealings with Russian oil suppliers since the onset of war in an attempt to avoid US sanctions, Sputnik reported. According to the report, the refinery has taken over a portion of the Russian crude purchase quotas from state-owned commodity trading enterprises, which are seen as Beijing's face and have mostly refused to sign new supply contracts.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has told EU lawmakers that the sanctions should involve “a complete import ban on all Russian oil, seaborne and pipeline, crude and refined.” She says the aim is to “make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion, in a way that allows us and our partners to secure alternative supply routes and minimizes the impact on global markets.”

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Source: Associated Press 

Russian forces unleashed artillery fire on towns in eastern Ukraine, killing and wounding dozens of civilians, and began storming the bombed-out steel mill in Mariupol from where scores were evacuated after enduring weeks of shelling against the city’s last pocket of resistance. The governor of the eastern Donetsk region said Russian attacks left 21 dead, the highest number of known fatalities since April 8, when a missile attack on the railway station in Kramatorsk killed at least 59 people.

Adding pressure on Moscow, the European Union’s leader on Wednesday called on the 27-nation bloc to ban Russian oil imports in a new wave of sanctions.“We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion, in a way that allows us and our partners to secure alternative supply routes and minimizes the impact on global markets,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. She also proposed that Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, and two other major banks be disconnected from the SWIFT international banking payment system.

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Source: AP

As Russian missiles targtted and killed nearly 10 people at a chemical plant in the city of Avdiivka, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said that the Russian troops "know exactly where to aim missiles." Kyrylenko condemned the attack saying that the workers had just finished their shift and were "waiting for a bus at a bus stop to take them home." 

“Another cynical crime by Russians on our land,"  Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said in a Telegram post. 

Another two civilians were killed and two wounded in overnight shelling in the neighboring Luhansk region, Gov. Serhiy Haidai said, adding Russian attacks were intensifying.

EU Council President Charles Michel has said, "We will help Moldova strengthen its resilience." He also warned that there would be consequences of the spill-over from Russia's aggression in Ukraine. 

Moscow on Wednesday sent dire warnings to NATO for supplying military equipment to Ukraine. Russia's Ministry of defense said that its troops will start considering the arms depots of NATO supplied weapons as "legitimate target" in Ukraine, according to RIA Novosti. Russian cruise missiles hit  several facility storing foreign weapons. 

Shoigu warned that NATO's arms will be targetted and destroyed within Ukraine. 

"The United States and its NATO allies continue to pump weapons to Ukraine," Shoigu said. "I note that any transport of the North Atlantic Alliance that arrived on the territory of the country with weapons or materiel for the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces is considered by us as a legitimate target for destruction."

Russia’s foreign ministry has announced sanctions against 63 Japanese officials including the journalists and professors for Tokyo's unacceptable stance and “unacceptable rhetoric” against Russia during the war. Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida, foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and defence minister Nobuo Kishi are among those sanctioned. 

 Russia's pokeswoman for the foreign ministry has claimed that Israeli mercenaries were fighting alongside the far-right Azov Regiment in Ukraine. This has flared tensions between Israel and Russia. Moscow had suggested that Adolf Hitler had “Jewish blood" and that "Nazis" Israeli mercenaries had been flighting aongside Azov battalion that rose to prominence in 2014. 

“Israeli mercenaries are practically shoulder to shoulder with Azov militants in Ukraine,” Maria Zakharova told pro-Kremlin Sputnik radio in an interview. She added, that Israelis are fighting alongside the Ukrainian army against Russian troops. 

Some of the forces that have been "sealed securely" in Ukraine's port city Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant are Israeli mercenaries. Russia's claims that the  Israelis are fighting alongside Azov - viewed by Russia as “fascists” and “Nazis” - have escalated tensions between the two nations. 

After Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday that Hitler had “Jewish blood" Israel strongly reacted to his remakrs saying that it was “unforgivable and outrageous” and a “terrible historical error.”Russia lambasted Israel for backing “the neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv.”

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Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Ukrainian forces in the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol have been “securely blocked” after the evacuation of the civilians via the humanitarian  corridor. Russian President Vladimir Putin had directed his troops to block the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol where thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were still fighting in the final holdout of the beseiged port city. "In accordance with the instructions of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the remnants of the militants located in the industrial zone of the Azovstal plant are securely blocked along the entire perimeter of this territory,"  RIA news agency quoted Shoigu as saying. 

"Repeated proposals to the nationalists to release civilians and lay down their arms with a guarantee of saving lives and decent treatment in accordance with the norms of international law by them ignored. We continue these attempts," he added. 

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European Union (EU) has been considering to send additional military support to Moldova in the face of new attack threats, EU Council President Charles Michel said during his visit to Chisinau. President Charles Michel is travelling to Alexandroupolis, Greece, where he attended the inauguration of the construction works for a new LNG terminal, which will help phase out the EU’s dependence on Russian gas. On 4 May, he is in Chisinau, Moldova to meet with President Maia Sandu.

Speaking at a  a joint news conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu,  President of the European Council Michel said that EU will provide more military support to Moldova to deter external threats. Just recently,  "mysterious" multiple explosions rocked Transnistria, an unrecognised breakaway state that is internationally recognised as part of Moldova but controlled by Russia.  Separatist authorities blamed Ukrainian troops behind the explosions-- an accusation that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refuted. Zelenskyy blamed the Russian infiltrators for bombarding the region with lethal weapons, resulting in the killing of innocent civilians. 

Russia’s defence ministry has said that it has disabled at least six railway stations in Ukraine that were being used by the Ukrainians to transport weaponry supplied by the Western nations. During the night, said Russian MoD, troops targetted the high-precision air-based missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces at 4 military facilities of Ukraine. This included two facilities of manpower and military equipment concentrationas well as two ammunition depots near Kurulka and Novaya Dmitrovka of the Kharkiv region.

At least 2 Ukrainian launchers of Buk-M1 and Osa AKM anti-aircraft missile systems were destroyed near Veseloe and Prishib, as well as 2 ammunition depots near Novoselovka and Slavyansk. Russian troops also destroyed two Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, 1 Tochka-U tactical missile launcher and an electronic warfare station were destroyed near Barvenkovo.

Embattled Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday appealed to the European nations, as well as Russia to restore his war-ravaged country after the cessation of hostilities. In a recorded video address, at a meeting of executive directors, the Ukrainian leader asserted that while Kyiv "fights for the whole of Europe,” it becomes an obligation on part of the EU and Russia to partake in the rebuilding efforts and restoration of Ukraine after there’s a negotiation on reaching a ceasefire.

“Speaking about the restoration of Ukraine and who should do it, I think that Russia should [participate in this],” said Ukraine’s Zelenskyy on Tuesday. 

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An oil depot near Russian-occupied Makiivka, Donetsk region was reported on fire after it was allegedly hit by missiles.

Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba has claimed, "Russia struggles to advance and suffers terrible losses. Thus the desperate missile terror across Ukraine. But we are not afraid and the world should not be afraid either. More sanctions on Russia. More heavy weapons for Ukraine. Russia’s missile terrorism must be punished."

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said, "Finally, we now propose a ban on Russian oil. Let´s be clear: it will not be easy. But we simply have to work on it.

"We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion. To maximise pressure on Russia, while minimizing the impact on our economies," she said.

The European Union (EU) has imposed sanctions on Sberbank. Most likely, Moscow Credit Bank and Russian Agri Cultural Bank or Rosselkhozbank will also be disconnected from SWIFT.

In the latest operational update by the Ukrainian armed forces, Kyiv claimed on Wednesday that Russia lost about 24,500 soldiers, 1,077 tanks in the war which entered day 70 on May 4.

On Tuesday, at least three Russian airstrikes hit an electric substation in Lviv, west Ukraine, leading to a power outage. The attack was initially believed to be on a railway network. This is the first strike on the western part of Ukraine in weeks. Meanwhile, bombings have continued in the Azovstal steel plant, where 200 people are still holed up. Around 157 citizens were evacuated through humanitarian corridors yesterday from the metallurgical plant. 

Belarus Armed Forces on Wednesday began sudden army exercises to test the "combat readiness" of its forces against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war. The tests involve the movement of significant numbers of military vehicles. Belarus has remained a strong ally of Russia. Although it has not participated in the war against Ukraine directly, it has helped Russia by hosting 30,000 Russian troops before the invasion began, BBC reported. 

British Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday warned that Russia will make a push to try to seize the cities of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine. Russia's 22 battalion tactical groups with each group comprising 800 soldiers near Izium in its attempt to advance in the area, UK MoD said in a daily briefing on Twitter. 

“Despite struggling to break through Ukrainian defenses and build momentum, Russia highly likely intends to proceed beyond Izium to capture the cities of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk," British intelligence said in its statement. 

The European Union is set to announce its sixth sanctions package against Russia. The officials will meet with the ambassadors from the 27 member nations to outline the details before the final approval. The Guardian reported. The commission has reportedly proposed to phase out dependence on Russian oil within 6-8 months. 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Transnistria reported that a drone was spotted near the Mayak television and radio centre during the night of May 3. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the "attempt of a terrorist act" was prevented near the Mayak television and radio centre as it was heavily guarded, NewsMaker reported. The Ministry in the statement highlighted that an investigative-operational group of experts reached the spot and specialists conducted the probe of the location where the drone was spotted and its attached cargo. 

The Internal Affairs Ministry of Transnistria said that the five-litre plastic canister containing a brown liquid and a plastic box was estimated to be around 60 centimetres in length and 25 centimetres in diameter and contained 2 kilograms of plastid. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Transnistria, the explosives were loaded with detonators, as per the NewsMaker report. The department believes that the drone could have been allegedly launched from the Ukrainian side. Local media had reported that unidentified people using a drone were planning an explosion at a television and radio centre in Mayak. Transnistria has been under the control of separatist authorities since the war with Moldova in 1992. Last week, Police in Transnistria, where Russia has deployed its troops, had reported several explosions hit the Ministry of State Security building, according to AP. No injuries were reported in the alleged attack, which took place in Tiraspol. 

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Lieutenant-General Serhiy Nayev, commander of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, visited units of defending positions in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Nayev stressed that Ukrainian troops have been reinforced in dangerous areas, UKrinform reported. He called the situation of the territory where the fighting between the two nations is taking place "difficult,", particularly the Izium area in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions as well as Velyka Novosika. He claimed that Russian troops were each day trying to attack Ukrainian forces with battalion tactical groups. According to Nayev, Russian forces have been making use of missile strikes, MLRS fire and artillery fire in the military offensive against Russia. 

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Amidst the ravaging war in Eastern Europe, Ukrainian authorities have claimed that Russian shelling at the Avdiyivka Coke Plant has killed at least 10 people and wounded 15 others in the Donetsk region. Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk Regional Military administration, stated that 10 people died and 15 others were injured in the shelling by Russian armed forces on Avdiyivka Coke Plant, Interfax reported. Kyrylenko further warned that the victim toll would likely surge. 

Australia on Tuesday introduced another 110 Russian politicians and individuals to the sanctions lists. This comes atop 76 Russian politicians and 34 “puppet” Ukrainian government officials installed in the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, who are already sanctioned by Canberra, said Marise Payne, Australian Foreign Minister. In all, the Australian government has imposed bans on 812 individuals, including Russian businessmen, lawmakers, and more. 

Ukrainian Armed Forces pulled a significant counteroffensive in Kharkiv, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its latest intelligence report. "This Ukrainian counteroffensive is very unlikely to affect Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) to Izyum, as the Russians have not been relying on GLOCs from Kharkiv to support their operations in Izyum but have been using routes further to the east and well beyond the most recent Ukrainian counteroffensive’s limit of advance," the report said.

Russian oligarch, Oleg Tinkov, who had earlier slammed Moscow's "insane war" in Ukraine on Tuesday said, Russia is "slipping into archaism," The Guardian reported. In an Instagram post, Tinkov said, he has been punished by Putin's regime for his stance, adding that he was forced to sell off his stakes at Tinkoff Bank for "pennies."  

Russia has decided to boycott the UN Security Council meeting with the European Union’s Political and Security Committee (PSC) on Wednesday over the war in Ukraine, The Guardian reported. The boycott is a signal of further widening of rift between Russia and the UN. 

In the latest development pertaining to the Russia-Ukraine war, at least 17 people lost their lives on Tuesday after a bus collided with a fuel truck in western Ukraine, as per media reports. The president of war-torn Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated during his daily address to the country on late Tuesday that a "terrible road accident" had transpired in the western Rivne area. 

Zelenskyy, during his address, said, "A bus, a car and a fuel truck collided. As of now, there 17 are already dead, but there may be more victims." The president has further expressed his sympathies to the families who have died in the disaster. 

Meanwhile, according to media reports, the disaster did not appear to be connected to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, and Zelensky made no reference to the same in his address as well. 

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Russian war has led to an exodus of 5.5 million to flee from Ukraine. About hundreds of Ukrainians forced to displace amid the war on Tuesday camped out in Mexico City waiting for acceptance by the US government. Steep rise in refuge seekers comes the U.S. government in late March said it would accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. As of now, hundreds entered Mexico as tourists in Mexico City or Cancun and flew to Tijuana to wait for a few days to be admitted to the U.S. at a San Diego border crossing on humanitarian parole.

Ukraine Armed Forces on Tuesday hit two Russian military positions in Snake Island with a Bayraktar-2 drone. 

Russian shelling on Tuesday killed 1 and injured 4 others in Kherson Oblast.

As the Russian war aggravates in East Ukraine amid a barrage of sanctions imposed by the West, China has reportedly increased Russian gas imports by 60% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the amount of Russian gas pumped through the Power of Siberia pipeline at the same time last year, Russian energy giant Gazprom on Sunday announced that exports to Beijing have risen significantly under the agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Russia Today reported.

According to a Financial Times report, independent Chinese refineries have been discreetly purchasing Russian oil at a discounted rate. A Shandong-based refinery owner told FT that he has been under-reporting deals with Russian oil dealers in order to avert western sanctions. 

According to the Wall Street Journal, the European Union is set to announce its sixth targetted economic sanctions package against Russia. Citing two EU officials, the publication reported that the package involves a refusal to buy Russian oil within six months following a ban on the purchase of petroleum products, which will be implemented by the end of the year. 

 French President Emmanuel Macron, in a phone call Tuesday with Vladimir Putin, stressed the extreme gravity of the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, and called on the Russian leader to allow evacuations from the Mariupol steel mill to continue, the Elysee Palace said.

Macron urged Russia to rise to the level of its responsibility as a permanent member of the U.S. Security Council by ending this devastating aggression, an Elysee statement said.

It was the first time that the French president has had a conversation with Putin since March 29 — before the discovery of the exactions in the Ukrainian town of Bucha — after multiple telephone talks. The call came three days after Macron last spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Associated Press

Russian on Tuesday struck four different locations in the west Ukrainian city of Lviv. Taking to Telegram, Lviv Mayor  Andriy Sadovyi urged citizens to take shelter away from potential target areas. Air sirens and car alarms blared in the city, and power supplies were disrupted, Sadovyi wrote in his post. The missile strikes come shortly after reports of reopening foreign embassies in the city emerged. 

Hungary on Wednesday refuted reports which suggested that Russia had informed them regarding its plan of launching military aggression in Ukraine. The spokesman for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has dismissed the reports and called them "fake news", Euro News reported. The response of Viktor Orban's spokesperson comes as the local media of Ukraine had reported citing a senior official in Kyiv, who claimed that Hungary knew beforehand about Russia's planned invasion of Ukraine. 

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Amidst the ravaging war in Eastern Europe, Ukrainian authorities have claimed that Russian shelling at the Avdiyivka Coke Plant has killed at least 10 people and wounded 15 others in the Donetsk region. Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk Regional Military administration, stated that 10 people died and 15 others were injured in the shelling by Russian armed forces on Avdiyivka Coke Plant, Interfax reported. Kyrylenko further warned that the victim toll would likely surge. 

According to Pavlo Kyrylenko, the attack took place when the workers at the Coke plant were awaiting a shuttle at a bus stop after finishing their shift. Kyrylenko said, "The Russians knew where they were aiming." He further termed Russian shelling at the Avdiyivka Coke Plant a "cynical crime" and asserted that Kremlin will be held accountable for its acts. It is pertinent to note that earlier on April 24, the Avdiyivka Coke and Chemical Plant were damaged in the shelling. The Donetsk regional prosecutor's office had, in a Facebook post, announced that Russian armed forces used a multiple launch rocket system, and fired again at the city of Avdiyivka, Donetsk region. 

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Pope Francis on Wednesday said that NATO's 'barking' at Russia’s door might have resulted in President Vladimir Putin launching a military offensive in Ukraine. The pontiff stated that he does not think Russia's anger was 'provoked,' adding that it might have however been "facilitated" by the West's approach to initiating the invasion of Ukraine. In his interview with Corriere Della Sera, Pope Francis offered to visit Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring peace between the two warring nations. 

The pontiff further added that he is willing to travel to Moscow, however, he hasn't received any response from Kremlin on the same and continues to push for it. In his interview with Corriere Della Sera, the pontiff also noted that he did not plan to visit Ukraine for the time being and had, instead, sent two representatives - Cardinal Konrad Krajewski and Cardinal Michael Czerny, to the war-ravaged nation to indicate close proximity with civilians there. Speaking about his zoom conference with the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, Patriarch Kirill on March 16, Pope Francis said Kirill justified the war in the first 20 minutes of the conversation. In response, Pope Francis had said that they are not state clerics and they must not speak the language of politics. However, they must try to bring peace as well as told Kirill to not become "Putin's altar boy." He called the war "terrible" and stated that Russia has taken Donbass, Crimea, Odesa, and the ports on the Black Sea. 

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the war in Ukraine has worsened problems in the Western Hemisphere caused by the coronavirus pandemic, such as rising poverty. Concerns about the war decreasing the availability of food and increasing prices have sparked fears of increasing hunger and starvation in other nations. Blinken told the annual Conference of the Americas Luncheon on Tuesday that the effects of the war are being felt after the pandemic inflicted “massive economic harm throughout the region.”

“Now, with the Russian government’s brutal war of aggression on Ukraine, many of these preexisting problems, these preexisting conditions, have been made worse, raising the price of essential commodities throughout the Americas, from fertilizer to wheat to petroleum, cutting off key export markets for many industries in the Americas, and forcing households across the region to make very wrenching choices as the cost of living skyrockets,” Antony Blinken said. 

Associated Press