Ukraine news latest — Joe Biden rules out sending F-16 fighter jets as West warned over Russia’s air-force capabilities

‘Every day there are new groups’

Zelensky has claimed that his requests for further support to Ukraine have come from the knowledge that Russia had “increased the number of militants”.

During his nightly address, Zelensky said: “Every day there are either new groups of career military, or an increase in the number of Wagner militants.

“Our military processed all this information. And the request to our partners to strengthen our army was based on this information.”

Pictured: This is the moment Russia soldiers destroyed by ‘death ray’

A group of Russian soldiers have been blown to bits by Ukrainians using an insane “death ray” weapon.

In the video, a group of Vladimir Putin’s soldiers are seen wandering through a field littered with detonated mines.

Russian losses hit 127,500

According to Ukraine’s armed forces, Russia have lost a further 850 troops taking the total number of losses to 127,500.

It comes as Russia look set to mobilise at least 200,000 soldiers for a massive new assault on Ukraine, Nato’s top official has warned.

Analyst claims Russia will be ‘much more effective’ during Spring offensive

Analyst professor Michael Clarke claimed that when Russia “comes back for their big spring offensive…they will be much more effective in the air” and the battle for “air superiority” will become key to the direction of the war for Vladimir Putin.

Michael Clarke said: “Escalation is built into this war and it is dangerous. This coming year, 2023, will be a lot more dangerous than 2022 was.

“It is going to get worse, it is going to get more fierce and more dangerous, and we will keep crossing thresholds, as will the Russians. That is what the F-16 decision looks like. It is another threshold that must be crossed.”

Speaking to the Express.co.uk he added: “The Ukrainians cannot just rely on ground-based defences or dogfights with their [Soviet-designed] Mig-29s because they will start to lose them, however skillful their pilots may be, so they will need the F-16s.”

Russian court has fined streaming service Twitch

According to reports, a Russian court has fined streaming service Twitch 4m roubles, £46,200, for failing to remove “fake” content from their site.

The Interfax news agency reported that the content was about Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.

Twitch is a live-streaming platform for gaming and entertainment owned by Amazon.

Ukrainian minister slams Croatia’s comments about Crimea

Ukraine’s foreign ministry has slammed Croatia over their comments made about Crimea.

Croatian President Zoran Milanović has said that Crimea will never return to Ukrainian control.

According to Reuters, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Facebook: “We consider as unacceptable the statements of the president of Croatia, who effectively cast doubt on the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

Joe Biden rules out sending F-16 fighter jets

Joe Biden has ruled out sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine despite the West being warned of Russia’s air-force potential.

The US President Joe Biden was asked by a reporter on Monday if he would be providing the F-16 planes, to which he simply replied “no”.

The refusal comes after analyst professor Michael Clarke claimed that when Russia “comes back for their big spring offensive…they will be much more effective in the air”.

Ukraine’s state run energy operator ‘cannot fully cover consumption’

Ukraine’s state run energy operator Ukrenergo has said there is a “significant” deficit in the country’s energy system following Russian strikes.

The statement said: “The power grid is still recovering from the previous series of hostile missile attacks that damaged power plant units.

“As a result, electricity production at the operating power plants cannot fully cover consumption.”

North Korea denies providing Russia with weaponry

Washington had accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia.

On Sunday, director general of the Department of US Affairs, Kwon Jong Gun said: “Trying to tarnish the image of (North Korea) by fabricating a non-existent thing is a grave provocation that can never be allowed and that cannot but trigger its reaction.”

The statement, released through the official Korean Central News Agency, added that the US would face “really undesirable result” if it kept spreading the “self-made rumour”.

Week long military training launched by Russia and Belarus

The Belarusian defence ministry confirmed this morning that they are conducting a joint military training with Russian forces.

The ministry added that the training is preparation for joint drills the two countries will hold in Russia in September.

Russia continues to use Iranian drones

Ukrainian officials confirmed on Monday that the Kremlin continues to use Iranian-made drones in its bloodthirsty invasion.

“Russia is still willing to receive UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and Fateh and Zolfaghar missiles from Iran,” Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Air Force Command, said on Monday.

“Those are ballistic missiles. We do not have means to defeat them.”

Russian losses hit 127,500

According to Ukraine’s armed forces, Russia has lost a further 850 troops taking the total number of losses to 127,500.

It comes as a top NATO official warns Putin could be set to mobilise a further 200,000 troops.

Ukraine calls for EU to provide further military aid

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Zelensky, has called on the EU to expand its military aid for Ukraine.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “Some EU states’ representatives believe Ukraine shouldn’t be given weapons as the war will spread to Europe.

“But 1.War is already in the center of Europe & RF kills people in the most anti-human way.

“2.If Ukraine doesn’t get weapons war will spread to the EU as RF won’t stop the expansion.”

Russian attack on Bakhmut kills two, including child

A Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut killed two today, including a 12-year-old boy.

The assault, which hit a residential building, injured five others, the Kyiv Independent reports.

Ukrainian tank crews arrive in the UK

Ukrainian tank operators have arrived in the UK as they begin training on the Challenger 2 tank.

The UK will be providing Ukraine with an entire squadron of these modern machines.

The British Ministry of Defence has shared some footage of the Challenger 2 in action.

Belarus ‘ready’ to aid Russia in Ukraine

Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, has said his country is “ready” to support the Russian war effort if called upon.

“If our Russian brothers need help, we are always ready to offer such assistance,” he said.

However, the Kremlin ally did not confirm what this help would entail.

‘Lack of Western support’ to blame for Ukraine’s slowed advance, think-tank claims

A US-based think-tank has suggested the West’s delay in sending equipment to Ukraine is to blame for the country’s lack of advances since November.

The Institute for the Study of War think-tank said “the West’s failure to provide the necessary material” is to blame for Ukraine’s lack of gains.

This comes as Putin’s forces continue to gain territory in the east.

Russia hails decision to allow its athletes to compete in the 2024 Olympics

Russian officials have welcomed the decision to allow the country’s athletes to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Certainly, there is some attempt by the International Olympic Committee to allow our athletes to participate in international competitions,” Stanislav Pozdnyakov, head of Russia’s Olympic Committee, told reporters on Tuesday.

Ukraine’s leadership has slammed the International Olympic Committee’s decision, with President Zelensky claiming it shows “terror” is acceptable.

Ukraine calls for Russia to be banned from the 2024 Olympics

Ukraine’s minister for foreign affairs has called on Russia to be banned from the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Taking to Twitter, Dmytro Kuleba wrote: “Russia won 71 medals in Tokyo Olympics.

“45 of them were won by athletes who are also members of the Central Sports Club of the Russian Army.

“The army that commits atrocities, kills, rapes, and loots.

“This is whom the ignorant IOC wants to put under white flag allowing to compete.”

Zelensky calls for ‘strong’ and ‘timely’ decisions from allies

President Zelensky has called on his Western allies to make “strong decisions” in their support of Ukraine.

“There’s no time for continued reflections, we need to make decisions,” Zelensky said during a meeting with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen.

“The key issue is efficiency.

“Decisions were good, but it is crucial that strong decisions are timely. It is of great importance for us to react quickly.” 

Almost 460 children killed by Russia’s invasion, new report claims

459 children have been killed since the start of Russia’s invasion, according to a new report by the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office.

This new study, shared by the Ukrainian foreign ministry, claims that a staggering 67,145 “crimes of aggression and war crimes” have been committed by the Kremlin.

On top of this, the study outlines 17,000 “crimes against national security” committed by Putin’s forces.

Sending fighter jets to Ukraine ‘not practical’, UK claims

Sending fighter jets to Ukraine would be impractical, according to a spokesperson for Rishi Sunak.

“The UK’s … fighter jets are extremely sophisticated and take months to learn how to fly. Given that, we believe it is not practical to send those jets into Ukraine,” the PM’s spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday.

“We will continue to discuss with our allies about what we think what is the right approach.”

British MoD provides its latest update on Ukraine

The British Ministry of Defence has released its latest intel on the war in Ukraine.

The statement reads: “In the last three days, Russia has likely developed its probing attacks around the towns of Pavlivka and Vuhledar into a more concerted assault.

“The settlements lie 50km south-west of Donetsk city, and Russia previously used the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade in an unsuccessful assault on the same area in November 2022.

“Elements of the 155th are again involved as part of an at least brigade sized force which has likely advanced several hundred metres beyond the small Kashlahach River which marked the front line for several months.

“Russian commanders are likely aiming to develop a new axis of advance into Ukrainian-held Donetsk Oblast, and to divert Ukrainian forces from the heavily contested Bakhmut sector.

“There is a realistic possibility that Russia will continue to make local gains in the sector. However, it is unlikely that Russia has sufficient uncommitted troops in the area to achieve an operationally significant breakthrough.”

Russia has ‘levelled’ Bakhmut as brutal invasion continues

The city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, has been left in “total ruin” following a barrage of Russian attacks, one top official has said.

“Russians are levelling Bakhmut to the ground, killing everyone they can reach. We are carefully documenting all war crimes,” the Donetsk region military administration head Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote on Telegram.

“They will be held accountable for everything!,” he added.

Every tank Ukraine is set to receive this year

A new report has outlined every tank Ukraine will receive from its allies in 2023, including which countries will send them.

According to Dan Sabbagh at the Guardian, Ukraine will receive:

• 14 Leopard 2, plus 60 ‘modernised’ tanks from Poland
• 31 M1A1 Abrams from the United States
• Up to 18 Leopard 2 tanks from the Netherlands
• 14 Leopard 2 tanks from Germany
• 14 Challenger 2 tanks from the United Kingdom
• Up to 8 Leopard 2 tanks from Denmark.