Explosions hit a Russian base in Crimea on Friday, in keeping with reviews, following Kyiv’s largest-ever drone assault on the peninsula.
Russian troopers have been taken from the army base in Perevalne to a hospital in Simferopol, Melitopol mayor Ivan Fedorov stated.
Earlier, Kyiv’s assault noticed a barrage of 42 drones rain down on the island, 9 of which have been “destroyed” and thirty-three others “suppressed by digital warfare and crashed with out reaching the goal”, the Russian defence ministry stated.
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 sequence of assaults got here a day after a Ukrainian commando raid destroyed one among Russia’s most superior air defence programs in Crimea.
Observe the most recent updates beneath.
01:36 PM BSTGermany investigates tried homicide of ‘poisoned’ Russian journalist
German prosecutors stated they’re investigating the tried homicide of Berlin-based Russian journalist Elena Kostyuchenko after she was one among three Russian exile journalists who skilled signs in keeping with poisoning.
Ms Kostyuchenko, a international correspondent who uncovered alleged Russian conflict crimes in Ukraine, final October skilled excessive disorientation, belly ache and swollen extremities on a prepare journey from Munich to Berlin.
“After I received out on the prepare station, I noticed I couldn’t work out how you can get house,” 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 stated her signs have been in keeping with poisoning.
“We will affirm that an investigation into the tried homicide of Elena Kostyuchenko is pending,” a spokesperson for Berlin prosecutors stated on Friday.
01:14 PM BSTRussian investigators affirm demise of pilot of downed aircraft
Russian authorities have confirmed the demise of the pilot of a aircraft that crashed whereas carrying mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in keeping with reviews.
Alexei Levshin’s household have “documentary proof” he was on the crashed aircraft, Reuters quoted an nameless supply as saying.
The pilot’s household are set to bear a DNA check later right this moment to get genetic affirmation.
The Embraer government 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 keeping with the army, Russian officers have settled these individuals within the deserted houses of native residents in a number of settlements throughout the realm.
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 flats and homes.
12:46 PM BSTRussia says it shot down 73 Ukrainian drones over final 24 hours
Russia’s Defence Ministry stated 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 International Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Moscow is contemplating a US request to make a consular go to to jailed Wall Road 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 prices of espionage, which each he and the Wall Road Journal deny.
11:56 AM BSTKremlin says Putin has no plans to attend G20 in India in particular person
The Kremlin stated on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had no plans to attend the G20 summit in India in September in particular person.
The Worldwide Prison Court docket (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin accusing him of conflict 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 stated on Friday that Western strategies that Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin had been killed on its orders and what it referred to as different “hypothesis”, have been an “absolute lie”.
In a name with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that an investigation into the aircraft crash on Wednesday night during which President Vladimir Putin has stated that Prigozhin and his associates have been killed in keeping with preliminary data, is ongoing.
Putin had not met Prigozhin not too long ago, 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 stated on the Telegram messaging app.
Earlier, the Russian defence ministry stated a modified S-200 missile had additionally been shot down over the Kaluga area, which borders the Moscow area. Town of Kaluga is lower than 200 km (124 miles) from Moscow.
11:03 AM BSTUkraine dismisses emergency service chief after inside inspection
Ukraine introduced the dismissal of the pinnacle of its State Emergency Service on Friday after an inside inspection of the company, which has had a distinguished function since Russia’s invasion.
“The federal government has determined to dismiss Serhiy Kruk from the submit 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 stated it adopted an inside inspection of the service, of which he supplied few particulars. He stated Mr Kruk’s deputy, Volodymyr Demchuk, would function the company’s performing head.
The service has been enjoying an essential function in making an attempt to avoid wasting lives, clear rubble and put out fires after frequent Russian air strikes and shelling.
Extra personnel selections will comply with the inner inspection, Mr Klymenko stated, including that the service was working as normal.
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 Pictures
10:17 AM BSTWagner Group since could possibly be an indication of ‘chaos and confusion’
Up to now there was radio silence from Wagner’s council of commanders since Prigozhin’s aircraft crash. Consultants consider this could possibly be an indication that the group is embroiled in “chaos and confusion inside their ranks”.
The group met on Wednesday night to arrange 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 stated.
“The Wagner Council of Commanders’ silence could also be on account of chaos and confusion inside their ranks following Prigozhin’s and Utkin’s assassination or on account of specific directions from Russian authorities to stay silent,” they stated.
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 seen 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”, could possibly be prompting a delay in asserting a successor, the ISW defined.
“A member of the Wagner Council of Commanders personally chosen by Putin to switch 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 stated 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 affix them
Russian militants combating in help of Ukraine have referred to as on Wagner Group mercenaries to change sides following the obvious demise of their chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“You might be going through a critical 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 stated in a video revealed late on Thursday.
“To take revenge it’s essential to change to Ukraine’s aspect,” the commander added.
The group was based by RVC commander Kapustin, a far-right Russian nationwide, a 12 months in the past.
They combat on the Ukrainian aspect and are regarded as behind quite a few assaults alongside the Russian border.
09:24 AM BSTUK says ‘extremely doubtless’ Prigozhin is useless
The UK’s defence ministry has stated that it’s extremely doubtless that the Wagner group mercenary boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is useless, regardless of no definitive proof.
“The demise of Prigozhin would virtually actually have a deeply destabilising impact on the Wagner group,” the ministry stated in a defence intelligence replace posted on social media platform X, previously often called Twitter.
09:01 AM BSTAnalysis: How Ukrainian F-16s may unravel Russia
For the reason that begin of the full-scale invasion final 12 months, 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 international intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, stated that the failure of Ukraine’s counteroffensive was “apparent”, Russian state information company RIA reported on Friday.
07:56 AM BSTUS imposes sanctions over compelled deportation and switch of Ukrainian youngsters
The US State Division on Thursday imposed sanctions on 13 individuals and entities it stated are reportedly linked to the compelled deportation and switch of Ukraine’s youngsters, as Washington ramps up strain on Moscow over its invasion.
America can also 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 stated in a press release.
The sanctions coincided with Ukraine’s Independence Day.
“America won’t stand by as Russia carries out these conflict crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield advised 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 youngsters 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 combat to drive out the Kremlin’s forces and native individuals remembering their fallen family members.
The nationwide vacation coincided with the conflict’s 18-month milestone, giving a somber temper to the commemorations.
“We bear in mind everybody who gave their lives for freedom and independence, for the free way forward for Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a social media submit.
He stated that an impartial Ukraine is “what we’re combating for.”
07:11 AM BSTUS intelligence says an intentional explosion introduced down Prigozhin’s aircraft
A preliminary US intelligence evaluation concluded that an intentional explosion brought on the aircraft 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 stated it decided that Yevgeny Prigozhin was “very doubtless” focused and that the explosion falls consistent with 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 supply any particulars about what brought on the explosion, which was extensively believed to be vengeance for the mutiny in June that posed the most important 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 most definitely successors to Wagner
A mercenary group managed by Russian army intelligence is among the many most 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 dimension and achieved a level of autonomy, notoriety, and battlefield success that few personal armies can boast of.
Underneath Yevgeny Prigozhin it additionally amassed a substantial enterprise portfolio, taking on oil, gold, and different mineral exploitation concessions in virtually each nation it operated in.
With Prigozhin useless, a bunch of rival Russian mercenary teams will search to take over its fight missions and its enterprise belongings.
Learn the total story right here
05:33 AM BSTUS to start coaching Ukraine F-16 pilots
The Pentagon stated on Thursday it could start coaching Ukrainian F-16 pilots in america 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 raised combat the Russian invasion.
The US coaching will contain “a number of” pilots and “dozens” of personnel to keep up the plane, stated Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.
“These pilots will probably be conducting English language coaching at Lackland Air Drive Base in San Antonio, Texas in September previous to attending F-16 flying coaching in Arizona,” he stated.
The Arizona coaching will happen at Morris Air Nationwide Guard Base, he added.
05:24 AM BSTPutin calls Prigozhin ‘a gifted man who made critical errors’
Vladimir Putin stated Yevgeny Prigozhin was a “gifted businessman” who made “critical 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 virtually 24 hours after Prigozhin’s personal jet was introduced down by what’s believed to be a bomb, killing the mercenary chief and his prime deputies.
The West believes Putin ordered the killing, and on Thursday a British safety supply stated 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 stated Prigozhin had made a “nice contribution” to the conflict in Ukraine. The president added that an investigation into the crash was below manner.
Learn the total story right here
05:22 AM BSTWelcome to right this moment’s stay weblog
Good morning.
We will probably be bringing you the most recent information and developments right this moment on the Ukraine conflict and the personal jet crash that killed Yevgeny Prigozhin.
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