Russian forces have downed 73 Ukrainian drones over the previous 24 hours after an evening of mass assaults centred on Crimea, in keeping with the nation’s defence ministry.
Explosions hit a Russian base in Crimea on Friday, in keeping with reviews, following Kyiv’s largest-ever drone assault on the peninsula.
Russian air defences additionally shot down a drone and a modified S-200 missile over the Kaluga area southwest of Moscow on Friday morning.
The collection of assaults got here a day after a Ukrainian commando raid destroyed one in all Russia’s most superior air defence programs in Crimea.
Comply with the newest updates beneath.
02:46 PM BSTBelarus’s Lukashenko ‘cannot think about’ Putin behind demise of Wagner chief
The chief of Belarus mentioned Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin was possible not behind the demise of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who’s believed to have died this week in a airplane crash.
“He’s a calculating, very calm and even sluggish particular person, making choices on different, simpler points. So I can’t think about that Putin did it, that Putin is accountable. It’s too tough, unprofessional work, if something,” Alexander Lukashenko mentioned in feedback carried by state-run information company Belta.
02:23 PM BSTWagner channels say Russian citizen arrested in Finland is high fighter
Social media channels linked to Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries mentioned on Friday a high fighter in one of many group’s subunits had been detained in Finland at Ukraine’s request.
Rusich, a Wagner subunit, recognized him as Yan Petrovsky, a founding member and chief of the unit who has been underneath European Union and United States sanctions since final yr.
It mentioned on the messaging app Telegram that Petrovsky, who has fought in Ukraine since 2014, was arrested a month in the past and will now be extradited to Ukraine.
Wagner, which has fought for Russia in Ukraine and runs mercenary operations in a number of African nations, has had sanctions imposed on it by various Western international locations for alleged atrocities.
02:02 PM BSTUkraine in photos
Listed below are the newest photographs from Ukraine.
The daddy of Ihor Voyevodin cries as he holds a photograph of his son, a philology pupil of Kyiv Shevchenko College and an Azov volunteer soldier, who was killed in a battle – AP Photograph/Efrem Lukatsky
A person watches a destroyed Russian army car – Pierre Crom/Getty Photos
Ukrainian troopers put together 120mm mortar to fireside, within the route of Bakhmut frontline – Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Company through Getty Photos
A Ukrainian medic prepares drugs for a wounded Ukrainian soldier at a stabilization level, within the route of Bakhmut frontline – Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Company through Getty Photos
Troopers of the battalion ‘Wild Discipline’ are seen as they construct new positions within the forests of the Kremmina space – Jose Colon/Anadolu Company through Getty Photos
01:36 PM BSTGermany investigates tried homicide of ‘poisoned’ Russian journalist
German prosecutors mentioned they’re investigating the tried homicide of Berlin-based Russian journalist Elena Kostyuchenko after she was one in all three Russian exile journalists who skilled signs per poisoning.
Ms Kostyuchenko, a overseas correspondent who uncovered alleged Russian warfare crimes in Ukraine, final October skilled excessive disorientation, belly ache and swollen extremities on a practice journey from Munich to Berlin.
“Once I received out on the practice station, I spotted I couldn’t work out tips on how to get residence,” she wrote two weeks in the past within the literary journal n+1. “I knew that I wanted to switch to the subway, however I couldn’t work out how.”
Two weeks in the past, investigative portal The Insider reported that medical doctors that they had consulted had mentioned her signs have been per poisoning.
“We are able to verify that an investigation into the tried homicide of Elena Kostyuchenko is pending,” a spokesperson for Berlin prosecutors mentioned on Friday.
01:14 PM BSTRussian investigators verify demise of pilot of downed airplane
Russian authorities have confirmed the demise of the pilot of a airplane that crashed whereas carrying mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in keeping with reviews.
Alexei Levshin’s household have “documentary proof” he was on the crashed airplane, Reuters quoted an nameless supply as saying.
The pilot’s household are set to bear a DNA take a look at later in the present day to get genetic affirmation.
The Embraer govt jet crashed in Tver area north of Moscow on August 23, on which Prigozhin was listed as a passenger.
12:57 PM BSTRussia ‘transport residents to Zaporizhzhia’ forward of elections
Russia has rounded up Russian residents and brought them to Zaporizhzhia Oblast to allegedly assist them falsify elections, the Basic Employees of Ukraine’s Armed Forces has reported.
In response to the army, Russian officers have settled these folks within the deserted houses of native residents in a number of settlements throughout the world.
It’s thought that Russian officers will start gathering votes on August 30. The vote will probably be held each at polling stations and visits by the occupation authorities’ representatives to residences and homes.
12:46 PM BSTRussia says it shot down 73 Ukrainian drones over final 24 hours
Russia’s Defence Ministry mentioned on Friday that its forces had downed 73 Ukrainian drones over the previous 24 hours, after an evening of mass drone assaults centered on the Russian-held Crimea peninsula.
12:16 PM BSTRussia weighing US request for consular go to to jailed reporter
Russian Deputy Overseas Minister Sergei Ryabkov mentioned that Moscow is contemplating a US request to make a consular go to to jailed Wall Avenue Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich however has not but decided, state information company RIA reported on Friday.
US nationwide Gershkovich was detained on March 29 on fees of espionage, which each he and the Wall Avenue Journal deny.
11:56 AM BSTKremlin says Putin has no plans to attend G20 in India in particular person
The Kremlin mentioned on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had no plans to attend the G20 summit in India in September in particular person.
The Worldwide Legal Court docket (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin accusing him of warfare crimes in Ukraine, one thing the Kremlin strongly denies. This implies he dangers arrest when travelling overseas.
This week he attended a gathering of leaders from the BRICS group of rising economies in South Africa by video hyperlink, not in particular person.
11:37 AM BSTKremlin calls accusations it killed Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin an ‘absolute lie’
The Kremlin mentioned on Friday that Western solutions that Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin had been killed on its orders and what it known as different “hypothesis”, have been an “absolute lie”.
In a name with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned that an investigation into the airplane crash on Wednesday night through which President Vladimir Putin has mentioned that Prigozhin and his associates have been killed in keeping with preliminary data, is ongoing.
Putin had not met Prigozhin lately, Peskov added.
11:21 AM BSTDrone destroyed over Russia’s Kaluga area
Russian air defences shot down a drone over the Kaluga area southwest of Moscow on Friday, the area’s governor mentioned on the Telegram messaging app.
Earlier, the Russian defence ministry mentioned a modified S-200 missile had additionally been shot down over the Kaluga area, which borders the Moscow area. The town of Kaluga is lower than 200 km (124 miles) from Moscow.
11:03 AM BSTUkraine dismisses emergency service chief after inner inspection
Ukraine introduced the dismissal of the pinnacle of its State Emergency Service on Friday after an inner inspection of the company, which has had a outstanding position since Russia’s invasion.
“The federal government has determined to dismiss Serhiy Kruk from the put up of Head of the State Emergency Service,” Inside Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Mr Klymenko gave no causes for Mr Kruk’s dismissal, however mentioned it adopted an inner inspection of the service, of which he supplied few particulars. He mentioned Mr Kruk’s deputy, Volodymyr Demchuk, would function the company’s performing head.
The service has been enjoying an necessary position in making an attempt to save lots of lives, clear rubble and put out fires after frequent Russian air strikes and shelling.
Extra personnel choices will comply with the interior inspection, Mr Klymenko mentioned, including that the service was working as traditional.
10:41 AM BSTZelensky photographed for Independence Day
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a flag throughout an official ceremony on Thursday.
The visits from European leaders have been meant as a present of solidarity with Ukraine 18 months after Russia’s large-scale invasion of the nation.
Ukraine’s Independence Day commemorates its break with the Soviet Union in 1991.
Volodymyr Zelensky holds a flag – Alexey Furman/Getty Photos
10:17 AM BSTWagner Group since might be an indication of ‘chaos and confusion’
To this point there was radio silence from Wagner’s council of commanders since Prigozhin’s airplane crash. Specialists consider this might be an indication that the group is embroiled in “chaos and confusion inside their ranks”.
The group met on Wednesday night to organize a joint assertion and announce what would occur subsequent for Wagner, however it’s not but publicly obtainable, the Institute for the Research of Struggle mentioned.
“The Wagner Council of Commanders’ silence could also be because of chaos and confusion inside their ranks following Prigozhin’s and Utkin’s assassination or because of express directions from Russian authorities to stay silent,” they mentioned.
A person lays flowers on the makeshift memorial in honor of Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin – NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP
Any public assertion could also be considered by the Kremlin as an try to reconstitute an impartial Wagner drive posing a menace to Russia’s defence ministry, which, alongside “Putin’s willingness to publicly assassinate the Wagner management”, might be prompting a delay in saying a successor, the ISW defined.
“A member of the Wagner Council of Commanders personally chosen by Putin to interchange Prigozhin now would danger changing into the main target of the ire of Wagner rank and file upset in regards to the assassination of Wagner’s management,” the think-tank added.
09:57 AM BSTRussian citizen detained in Finland
The Russian embassy in Helsinki mentioned it had been knowledgeable of the detention of a Russian citizen in Finland on Ukraine’s request and was taking steps to supply consular help, Russian state information company RIA reported on Friday.
09:46 AM BSTPro-Kyiv Russian fighters name on Wagner forces to hitch them
Russian militants combating in assist of Ukraine have known as on Wagner Group mercenaries to modify sides following the obvious demise of their chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“You’re dealing with a severe selection now – you’ll be able to stand in a stall of Russia’s defence ministry and function watchdogs for executors of your commanders or take revenge,” commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) Denis Kapustin mentioned in a video revealed late on Thursday.
“To take revenge it is advisable swap to Ukraine’s aspect,” the commander added.
The group was based by RVC commander Kapustin, a far-right Russian nationwide, a yr in the past.
They battle on the Ukrainian aspect and are considered behind quite a few assaults alongside the Russian border.
09:24 AM BSTUK says ‘extremely possible’ Prigozhin is useless
The UK’s defence ministry has mentioned that it’s extremely possible that the Wagner group mercenary boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is useless, regardless of no definitive proof.
“The demise of Prigozhin would nearly definitely have a deeply destabilising impact on the Wagner group,” the ministry mentioned in a defence intelligence replace posted on social media platform X, previously generally known as Twitter.
09:01 AM BSTAnalysis: How Ukrainian F-16s may unravel Russia
For the reason that begin of the full-scale invasion final yr, neither aspect has been capable of dominate the sky, which says as a lot in regards to the weak point of the Russian air drive because it does in regards to the tenacity of Ukraine’s.
Though that’s unlikely to vary any time quickly, Kyiv would have been delighted final weekend when, after a whirlwind tour of European capitals, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, secured guarantees of dozens of recent fighter jets for his air drive.
08:35 AM BSTRussia’s spy chief Naryshkin says failure of Ukrainian counteroffensive ‘apparent’
Russia’s overseas intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, mentioned that the failure of Ukraine’s counteroffensive was “apparent”, Russian state information company RIA reported on Friday.
07:56 AM BSTUS imposes sanctions over pressured deportation and switch of Ukrainian kids
The US State Division on Thursday imposed sanctions on 13 folks and entities it mentioned are reportedly related to the pressured deportation and switch of Ukraine’s kids, as Washington ramps up strain on Moscow over its invasion.
America can be taking steps to impose visa restrictions on three Russia-installed purported authorities over their involvement in human rights abuses of Ukrainian minors, the State Division mentioned in an announcement.
The sanctions coincided with Ukraine’s Independence Day.
“America won’t stand by as Russia carries out these warfare crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield instructed a UN Safety Council assembly on Ukraine on Thursday.
Ukraine’s authorities estimates that Russian authorities have deported and/or forcibly displaced over 19,500 kids from their houses since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
07:30 AM BSTUkraine marks Independence Day and vows to maintain combating Russia
Ukraine on Thursday marked its second Independence Day since Russia’s full-scale invasion, with officers vowing to maintain up their battle to drive out the Kremlin’s forces and native folks remembering their fallen family members.
The nationwide vacation coincided with the warfare’s 18-month milestone, giving a somber temper to the commemorations.
“We keep in mind everybody who gave their lives for freedom and independence, for the free way forward for Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in a social media put up.
He mentioned that an impartial Ukraine is “what we’re combating for.”
07:11 AM BSTUS intelligence says an intentional explosion introduced down Prigozhin’s airplane
A preliminary US intelligence evaluation concluded that an intentional explosion precipitated the airplane crash presumed to have killed a mercenary chief who was eulogised on Thursday by Vladimir Putin.
One of many US and Western officers who described the preliminary evaluation mentioned it decided that Yevgeny Prigozhin was “very possible” focused and that the explosion falls according to Putin’s “lengthy historical past of making an attempt to silence his critics.”
The officers, who spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t authorised to remark, didn’t provide any particulars about what precipitated the explosion, which was extensively believed to be vengeance for the mutiny in June that posed the largest problem to the Russian chief’s 23-year rule. A number of of Prigozhin’s lieutenants have been additionally presumed useless.
06:13 AM BSTMercenary group among the many almost definitely successors to Wagner
A mercenary group managed by Russian army intelligence is among the many almost definitely successors to Wagner as Yevgeny Prigozhin’s group has been left leaderless, writes Roland Oliphant.
Wagner occupied a novel place amongst Russia’s personal “safety” corporations.
Though bankrolled by the Russian state and reliant on the ministry of defence for ammunition, it swelled to an infinite measurement and achieved a level of autonomy, notoriety, and battlefield success that few personal armies can boast of.
Below Yevgeny Prigozhin it additionally amassed a substantial enterprise portfolio, taking on oil, gold, and different mineral exploitation concessions in nearly each nation it operated in.
With Prigozhin useless, a number of rival Russian mercenary teams will search to take over its fight missions and its enterprise property.
Learn the complete story right here
05:33 AM BSTUS to start coaching Ukraine F-16 pilots
The Pentagon mentioned on Thursday it will start coaching Ukrainian F-16 pilots in the USA beginning subsequent month to allow them to use the superior plane in opposition to Russian forces.
Ukraine has lengthy sought these subtle fighter jets to higher battle the Russian invasion.
The US coaching will contain “a number of” pilots and “dozens” of personnel to keep up the plane, mentioned Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.
“These pilots will probably be conducting English language coaching at Lackland Air Pressure Base in San Antonio, Texas in September previous to attending F-16 flying coaching in Arizona,” he mentioned.
The Arizona coaching will happen at Morris Air Nationwide Guard Base, he added.
05:24 AM BSTPutin calls Prigozhin ‘a proficient man who made severe errors’
Vladimir Putin mentioned Yevgeny Prigozhin was a “proficient businessman” who made “severe errors”, as Western safety sources warned that the Russian president had been emboldened by the obvious assassination of the Wagner Group chief, writes James Crisp, Nataliya Vasilyeva and Ben Riley-Smith.
Putin broke his silence nearly 24 hours after Prigozhin’s personal jet was introduced down by what’s believed to be a bomb, killing the mercenary chief and his high deputies.
The West believes Putin ordered the killing, and on Thursday a British safety supply mentioned the incident had left the president with “a quasi personal military at hand”.
In brief speech from contained in the Kremlin on Thursday night time, Putin mentioned Prigozhin had made a “nice contribution” to the warfare in Ukraine. The president added that an investigation into the crash was underneath approach.
Learn the complete story right here
05:22 AM BSTWelcome to in the present day’s dwell weblog
Good morning.
We will probably be bringing you the newest information and developments in the present day on the Ukraine warfare and the personal jet crash that killed Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Strive The Telegraph free for 1 month, then get pleasure from 1 yr for simply $9 with our US-exclusive provide.