Russia-Ukraine war – latest: Putin’s ‘spy ships’ threaten to sabotage North Sea energy supply
Russian “spy ships” are mapping offshore wind turbines, underwater data cables and other pieces of infrastructure in the North Sea, according to a new investigation.
Moscow is collecting the information for a campaign of sabotage in the event of conflict with the West, according to a report by public broadcasters in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Danish counterintelligence chief Anders Henriksen told the investigation: “In the event of a conflict with the West, they will be ready and know where to intervene if they wish to paralyse Danish society”.
While Nils Andreas Stensones, the head of Norwegian intelligence, told the broadcasters the apparent programme was considered “highly important” to Russia and was likely controlled directly from Moscow.
The report focuses on a Russian vessel called the Admiral Vladimirsky, which is, officially, an oceanographic expedition ship, or underwater research vessel. But the report alleges it is being used as a Russian spy ship.
Key Points
Russian ships ‘plotting sabotage in the North Sea’
Putin evolves military group after heavy losses, claims UK
'Watch for signs Putin planning tactical nuke strike’
Kyiv mocks Putin’s visit: ‘Special tour of mass murders’
Russian ships ‘plotting sabotage in the North Sea’
09:52 , Liam James
Russian “ghost ships” are mapping offshore wind turbines, underwater data cables and other pieces of infrastructure in the North Sea – in preparation for a campaign of sabotage in the event of conflict with the West, according to a new investigation.
Moscow is alleged to have has deployed ships to carry out underwater surveillance and map key sites for possible disruption to European communications and energy supplies – infrastructure that is sometimes shared with Britain – according to a report by public broadcasters in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Up to 50 suspected Russian “spy ships” are said to have been identified sailing through the waters around the four nations and Britain. The investigation suggests that the ships, officially fishing trawlers or research vessels, often switch off their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders, rendering them invisible to conventional tracking. Their whereabouts must be monitored through other techniques such as sonar, satellite imagery or patrol boats.
Click here for the full story:
Russian ships ‘plotting sabotage in the North Sea’
Denmark and Netherlands to donate 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
08:46 , Liam James
Denmark and the Netherlands will jointly donate 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the two countries said on Thursday.
The Leopard 2A4 tanks, which will be bought from a third party and refurbished, are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2024, they said in a joint statement.
“It is absolutely crucial for the hope of a peaceful and secure Europe that we do not let the Ukrainians fight the battle alone,” Denmark’s acting Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.
Ukraine received its first deliveries of Western tanks a few weeks ago, with Britain sending Challenger 2s and Germany sending Leopard 2s.
Ukrainian defence minister asks for ‘Nato-style fighter jets'
07:48 , Arpan Rai
Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov has reiterated his administration’s plea this morning to seek modern fighter jets to fight against Russia’s “barbaric tactics”.
“Our top priority is to quickly build a multi-level air defence/anti-missile defence system. Patriots, IRIS-T, NASAMS, and MiG-29 are the most recent, but not the final, steps towards this goal. Given the Kremlin’s barbaric tactics, we need NATO-style fighter jets,” he said this morning.
He added: “We’ve heard ‘no, it’s impossible’ a lot. But I have seen firsthand how the impossible can become possible. We will never forget how, thanks to the compassion and assistance of our friends, we were able to keep the lights and heat on in our homes last winter.”
This comes as Ukraine is thought to be days away from beginning its spring counteroffensive, while Russia pushes to capture Bakhmut and other sectors in the eastern part of the country.
Putin evolves military group after heavy losses, claims UK
06:57 , Arpan Rai
Russia has likely formed a new group of forces which was visited by Vladimir Putin on Tuesday after possibly facing heavy losses, the British defence ministry said.
It referred to the press release by the Kremlin on Mr Putin’s visit to southern Ukraine.
“Using the Russian spelling of Ukraine’s Dnipro river, the release described the president as having visited the ‘Dnipr Group of Forces’,” the ministry said.
It noted that this is one of the first references to the existence of a Dnipr Group of Forces (DGF).
“Russia uses the term ‘group of forces’ in a specific way, indicating a large, task-organised operational formation,” the MoD said.
“Early in the invasion, the Russian force was organised into groups of forces each aligned to their home military districts in Russia, for example, the Western and Central Groups of Forces. The existence of an apparently new DGF suggests that the original force organisation has evolved, probably due to heavy losses,” it said.
The defence ministry has said that DGF’s mission is likely to defend the southern sector of the occupied zone, and especially the south-western flank which is currently marked by the Dnipro river.
In photos: Ukraine frontline near Bakhmut
06:57 , Arpan Rai
Videos showing unexplained beam of light over Kyiv flood social media
06:29 , Arpan Rai
People living in Ukraine and beyond took to social media to share and discuss videos of the mysterious beam of light seen over the sky in Kyiv last night.
The incident has sparked curiosity in a city that has become used to looking to the skies in fear of a more obvious threat – Russian missile strikes.
Locals said the authorities had to sound an air raid alert over Kyiv for the first time in days yesterday after the incident.
“Something happened in Kyiv sky tonight. The whole city is at a loss, what it was. UFO” said the Ukrainian ambassador to Austria.
Something happened in Kyiv sky tonight. The whole city is at a loss, what it was. UFO? pic.twitter.com/DAic7QHae2
— olexander scherba🇺🇦 (@olex_scherba) April 19, 2023
“Update: NASA says not its satellite. Appears to have been a meteor falling over Kyiv last night,” Ukraine-based journalist Christopher Miller said today.
Update: NASA says not its satellite. Appears to have been a meteor falling over Kyiv last night. https://t.co/1M04sv8CmP
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 20, 2023
Russia's Bolshoi ballet drops 'Nureyev' after 'LGBT propaganda' law
06:00 , Emily Atkinson
Moscow’s Bolshoi theatre has dropped a contemporary ballet about the legendary Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev from its repertoire following the expansion of a ban on “LGBT propaganda”.
A law passed in November not only widened an existing prohibition on material considered to promote an LGBT lifestyle but also restricts the “demonstration” of LGBT behaviour.
This makes any portrayal of homosexuality - such as Nureyev’s relationships with men after his defection from the Soviet Union in 1961, which the ballet touches on - almost impossible.
The ballet, choreographed by Kirill Serebrennikov, has had a troubled history in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has long promoted conservative values as part of a nationalist agenda backed by the Russian Orthodox Church.
It premiered in December 2017, several months late, after the then-culture minister reportedly called it gay propaganda, and has not been performed since 2018. Performances scheduled for 2022 were abruptly cancelled after Serebrennikov publicly blamed Russia for the conflict in Ukraine.
“‘Nureyev’ was removed from the repertoire in connection with the law ... where issues related to the promotion of ‘non-traditional values’ are stipulated absolutely unequivocally,” Vladimir Urin, general director of the Bolshoi, told a news conference on Wednesday.
US sending $325m in more military aid to Ukraine
05:51 , Arpan Rai
The US is sending Ukraine about $325m in additional military aid, including an enormous amount of artillery rounds and ammunition as the launch of the spring offensive against Russian forces approaches, the Pentagon said yesterday.
The US has declined to say exactly how much munitions will be sent to Ukraine, but the latest package resembles other recent deliveries, which included rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and howitzers, as well as an array of other missiles and anti-tank ammunition.
It will all be pulled from Pentagon stocks, so it can go quickly to the front lines.
Read the full story here:
US sending $325 million in more military aid to Ukraine
Mozart's Requiem to raise funds for charity’s ‘amazing’ work in Ukraine
05:00 , Emily Atkinson
A former opera singer has organised a Mozart requiem to raise funds for a charity which provides medical professionals with the skills to work in hostile environments after being inspired by its “amazing” founder’s work.
Fiona MacDonald, a trustee of the Wilfred Owen Association and founder of military charity Bravehound, alongside members of McOpera – a collective of musicians from the Scottish Opera Orchestra – are to hold the requiem at 6pm on April 30 at Glasgow Cathedral, with funds raised going towards the David Nott Foundation’s work in Ukraine.
Mozart requiem to raise funds for charity’s ‘amazing’ work in Ukraine
Mysterious flash of light over Kyiv sparks rumours of aliens, UFO
04:39 , Arpan Rai
Speculations were rife in Ukraine after the night sky of the war-hit nation saw a flash of mysterious lights, prompting chatter of UFOs and aliens on social media.
Preliminary visuals showed the sky suddenly illuminated by a bright light, while another clip showed a flaming object crashing to the ground.
Shortly after, people took to social media to share several memes about aliens and unidentified flying objects.
The Kyiv city military administration said it was a crashing Nasa satellite based on preliminary information.
The Ukrainian air force, responsible for trying to down missiles and drones fired by Russia, said a satellite or a meteorite could be responsible.
“Please do not use official air force symbols to create memes for the enemy to enjoy!” it said in a message.
Minutes earlier, presidential adviser Andriy Yermak had posted an emoji of a UFO.
However, Nasa denied the reports of a crashing satellite and said that there appeared to be some confusion over an earlier announcement the agency had made about bringing a retired satellite out of orbit in the early hours yesterday morning Kyiv time.
Russia controls about 88% of Bakhmut — intelligence assessment
04:24 , Arpan Rai
The intelligence estimates show Russia controls about 87.9 per cent of Bakhmut as the battle for the mining city with little strategic value continues.
This comes as the Ukrainian general staff said that there is hevy fighting underway within Bakhmut with the Ukrainian forces repelling Russian ground attacks southwest of the town in Stupochky.
In the past day, Ukrainian and Russian troops engaged in 34 combat clashes in Bakhmut, the Ukrainian eastern group of forces spokesperson Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty said.
While Russian milbloggers have claimed that Wagner group is making significant progress in the urban warfare points, the US-based think-tank points out that the ground advances are not 90 per cent as claimed by Donetsk People’s Republic advisor Yan Gagin.
It is likely that Russian forces are using FAB air-dropped bombs to destroy Ukrainian fortified areas in Bakhmut, as claimed by a Russian milblogger.
The battle for Bakhmut — spanning about nine months now — is the longest and the bloodiest battle in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, dubbed “meat-grinder” which has witnessed heavy casualties on both sides.
In pictures: Zelensky visits troops in northwestern Ukraine
04:00 , Emily Atkinson
Zelensky to address Mexico’s Congress today
03:54 , Arpan Rai
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is set to virtually address Mexico’s Congress today, said two people familiar with the matter.
The speech is due to take place around midday today, sources said.
Mr Zelensky has continued his outreach efforts with allies to seek arms aid as it fights off Russian invasion.
He will address the lower house of Congress on an invite from a congressional friendship group between Mexico and Ukraine, according to the sources. There are other similar groups in the Mexican Congress, including one for Russia.
Mexico’s government has said it takes a neutral position on the war, even as some supporters of Ukraine have criticised the country’s leftist president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for taking issue with European arms shipments to Kyiv.
However, Mexico has voted alongside the United States and other Western powers on a number of major UN resolutions.
EU is still largest importer of Russian oil due to loophole in sanctions, report claims
03:00 , Emily Atkinson
The European Union is still the largest importer of oil products from Russia among the countries that have imposed some of the strictest sanctions on Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine, new data has revealed.
It is because the EU indirectly imported oil from countries that have become the main buyers of energy from Moscow undermining its own sanctions.
Five “laundromat” countries that export Russian crude to the EU were identified by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) in its new report.
Shweta Sharma reports:
EU is still largest importer of Russian oil due to loophole in sanctions, report says
Watch: Russian spy vessel in North Sea approached by Danish journalists
02:00 , Emily Atkinson
Ukraine's top prosecutor speaks of 'evil' Russian atrocities
01:00 , Emily Atkinson
Russia’s invading forces are deliberately using rape, torture and kidnapping to try and sow terror among civilians in Ukraine, the top prosecutor in Ukraine told U.S. lawmakers in graphic testimony Wednesday.
Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that nearly 80,000 cases of war crimes have been registered in Ukraine since the war began in February 2022.
More on this story here:
Ukraine's top prosecutor speaks of 'evil' Russian atrocities
European Commission could enforce Ukrainian grain imports ban in five states
Thursday 20 April 2023 00:00 , Emily Atkinson
The European Commission aims to enforce a ban of Ukrainian imports of grains and oilseeds until 5 June in five EU states neighbouring Ukraine provided the states withdraw individual bans they have enforced, Romania’s agriculture minister said.
“The measure can be taken within 48 hours after states withdraw their unilateral measures,” minister Petre Daea told reporters late on Wednesday after talks with European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and ministers from Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Further talks will follow.
The four countries have all banned Ukrainian grain imports as central and eastern European states come under domestic pressure to shield local farmers. Romania has introduced restrictions but stopped short of a ban.
Biden to host Spain's leader at White House
Wednesday 19 April 2023 23:00 , Emily Atkinson
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit US president Joe Biden on 12 May, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced on Wednesday.
The leaders will coordinate on issues including climate change and expanded cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean, as Spain prepares to take on the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, she said.
“The two leaders will review our efforts as Nato allies and close partners to strengthen our bilateral defense relationship, transatlantic security, and economic prosperity,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
“They will discuss our unwavering support for Ukraine and our efforts to impose costs on the Kremlin as Russia continues its brutal war of aggression.”
Moldova summons Russian envoy to expel member of embassy
Wednesday 19 April 2023 22:00 , Emily Atkinson
Moldova has summoned the Russian ambassador to declare a member of embassy staff persona non grata, prompting Moscow to complain.
Government press secretary Daniel Voda told reporters the decision was connected to the actions of embassy staff towards Moldovan border guards who denied entry to a regional Russian politician at Chisinau airport this week.
Moldova, which applied to join the European Union last year alongside its neighbour Ukraine, has repeatedly accused Russia of trying to destabilise the country, something Moscow denies.
Moldova told Russian politicians not to meddle in its internal affairs on Monday after barring Rustam Minnikhanov, governor of Russia’s Tatarstan region. Police said he aimed to bolster support for a pro-Russian candidate standing in a regional election.
Russian ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov said he had not received answers to why the embassy employee was being kicked out and why Minnikhanov had been barred.
“We consider these actions to be unfriendly steps towards our country,” he told reporters.
US sending $325 million in more military aid to Ukraine
Wednesday 19 April 2023 21:00 , Emily Atkinson
The US is sending Ukraine about $325 million in additional military aid, including an enormous amount of artillery rounds and ammunition as the launch of the spring offensive against Russian forces approaches, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
The U.S has declined to say exactly how much munitions will be sent to Ukraine, but the latest package resembles other recent deliveries, which included rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and howitzers, as well as an array of other missiles and anti-tank ammunition. It will all be pulled from Pentagon stocks, so it can go quickly to the front lines.
More on this story here:
US sending $325 million in more military aid to Ukraine
Italian judges face disciplinary action over Russian fugitive
Wednesday 19 April 2023 20:00 , Emily Atkinson
Italy’s justice minister has begun disciplinary action against three judges who granted house arrest to a Russian businessman facing extradition to the US who later escaped and fled to Russia, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter have told Reuters.
Artem Uss was due to face charges in the US for shipping oil from Venezuela in breach of sanctions, and for bank fraud.
The suspect left his home in Basiglio, on the outskirts of Milan, last month one day after a Milan court had agreed to transfer him to the US. His electronic tag did send out an alarm but Uss had fled by the time police reached the property.
Italian Minister Carlo Nordio, according to the sources, accused the Milan appeals court judges of “gross and inexcusable negligence” for granting the suspect house arrest last November despite opposition from the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Prosecutors, the sources said, had pointed out the deep financial resources of the suspect, who is the son of the Krasnoyarsk regional governor, and the real danger of flight.
Wednesday 19 April 2023 19:15 , Emily Atkinson
Sports shoes and flowers line the front of the Angels of Sports exhibition with portraits of Ukrainian athletes, who were killed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv.
UK says Russian hackers aim to attack key infrastructure
Wednesday 19 April 2023 18:30 , Emily Atkinson
Russian hackers are seeking to “disrupt or destroy” Britain’s critical infrastructure and not enough is being done to stop them, U.K. government officials said Wednesday.
Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre issued an official threat notice to operators of Britain’s electricity, water and other critical systems, telling them to boost their defenses.
“I don’t think we are yet doing enough to protect our infrastructure from the cyber threats emerging from Russia-aligning groups,” the center’s chief, Lindy Cameron, said.
More on this story here:
UK says Russian hackers aim to attack key infrastructure
US announces new military aid package for Ukraine
Wednesday 19 April 2023 17:46 , Emily Atkinson
The United States has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine to help the Ukrainian military in its war against Russia.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the package will include more ammunition and artillery rounds. It is the 36th security package since the war began in February 2022, she told reporters.
US-made patriot guided missiles arrive in Ukraine
Wednesday 19 April 2023 17:10 , Emily Atkinson
Ukraine‘s defence minister said his country has received the US-made Patriot surface-to-air guided missile systems it has long craved, and which Kyiv hopes will help shield it from Russian strikes during the war.
Oleksii Reznikov said in a tweet: “Today, our beautiful Ukrainian sky becomes more secure because Patriot air defence systems have arrived in Ukraine.”
“Patriots” for patriots
Do you know how to visualize a dream? We must tell about it to the world and give it life! This is exactly what happened with the Patriots, even before the large-scale war, even before my appointment to the most important position of my life at the most… pic.twitter.com/m6H63erV6Z— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) April 19, 2023
Ukrainian officials have previously said the arrival of Patriot systems, which Washington agreed to send last October, would be a major boost and a milestone in the war against Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
The Patriot can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles.
US 'looking forward to Sweden becoming Nato member before July summit’
Wednesday 19 April 2023 16:40 , Emily Atkinson
The US defence secretary said the country is looking forward to welcoming Sweden as a member of Nato before the alliance’s upcoming summit in July.
During a visit to Sweden on Wednesday, Lloyd Austin also said he would encourage Turkey and Hungary to ratify Stokholm’s accession to the defence bloc.
Along with Finland, Sweden applied to join ato in May last year. Finland’s application was processed in record time and it became the 31st member of the alliance earlier this month – more than doubling Nato’s border with Russia.
Sweden’s accession has been held up by Turkey and Hungary, who have yet to ratify Sweden as a member.
“We look forward to soon welcoming Sweden as the 32nd (member of Nato). To be clear, we look forward to that to happen before the summit in July,” Austin told a news conference.
“We encourage our allies, Turkey and Hungary, to ratify Sweden’s accession as soon as possible.”
Ukraine's military accuses Russia of 'provocation' over Bakhmut incident
Wednesday 19 April 2023 16:14 , Emily Atkinson
A Ukrainian military spokesperson has accused Moscow of a “provocation” after Russian proxy forces said Ukrainian forces had blown up four buildings in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, killing 20 civilians.
Russia’s state-run TASS news agency quoted an unnamed source in the Russian-backed “power structures” of Ukraine‘s eastern Donetsk region as saying Ukrainian forces had blown up the buildings as they pulled back from the outskirts of Bakhmut.
“This is another Russian information provocation with the goal of ... distracting (attention) from the crimes of the Wagner terrorist organisation,” Serhiy Cherevatyi, a military spokesperson, told Reuters, referring to the Wagner private military company fighting alongside Russian forces.
“Ukrainian service members absolutely adhere to all rules and doctrines of war fighting (and) never violate either national nor international law, especially regarding civilians.”
Putin: Goods deliveries to regions annexed by Russia are ‘problematic’
Wednesday 19 April 2023 15:53 , Emily Atkinson
Vladimir Putin has conceded that delivering goods to regions of Ukraine that Russia unilaterally annexed last year was “problematic”, and has ordered the government to address the problem.
Putin visited Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine‘s Luhansk and Kherson regions on Monday, according to the Kremlin.
The Russian ships accused of plotting sabotage in the North Sea
Wednesday 19 April 2023 15:38 , Emily Atkinson
Russia is developing plans to sabotage wind farms, gas pipelines and power cables in the North Sea, according to a joint investigation.
Public broadcasters in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland report that Russia has deployed a fleet of ships to carry out underwater surveillance and map key sites for possible disruption to European communications and energy supply.
The boats are disguised as fishing trawlers and research vessels but are feeding information to the Kremlin which could be used to paralyse Nordic countries in the event of conflict between Russia and the West, intelligence sources are cited as saying.
My colleague Liam James has the details:
The Russian ships accused of plotting sabotage in the North Sea
Cyprus says will not tolerate sanctions-busting amid scrutiny
Wednesday 19 April 2023 15:26 , Emily Atkinson
Cyprus says it will not tolerate any deviation from EU sanctions on Russia, and said it was in touch with the UK and US after a number of its nationals were blacklisted last week as sanctions-busting enablers.
Britain sanctioned two Cypriots, and the US about a dozen Cypriots or dual-nationals on 12 April for alleged ties to people facing sanctions or entities sanctioned over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It alarmed Cyprus, which has a thriving services industry in part built on hosting an extensive network of businesses with links to Russia and a past reputation of light-touch regulation.
Cyprus has asked both the UK and the US for additional information to pass on to its own law enforcement agencies for assessment, officials said.
“The credibility of our country must be safeguarded and no deviation from EU sanctions will be tolerated,” government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said.
Romania to seal and monitor Ukraine grain in transit
Wednesday 19 April 2023 15:04 , Emily Atkinson
Romania will seal and monitor Ukrainian grain cargoes transiting the country and conduct quality controls on food products at border checkpoints, the agriculture ministry announced, while stopping short of banning imports.
On Wednesday, Bulgaria joined Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in temporarily banning Ukrainian grain imports as central and eastern European states come under domestic pressure to shield local farmers.
In Romania, Agriculture Minister Petre Daea held talks over video link with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solsky and asked him to “quickly identify solutions to restrict grain and oilseeds exports to Romania”. The two will meet in Bucharest on Friday.
Russian foreign minister says US ‘cheats more often than it keeps promises'
Wednesday 19 April 2023 14:32 , Liam James
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that “the United States can cheat at any moment,” claiming Russia had experienced this when the Western military alliance Nato expanded eastward.
“I want to emphasise that everyone knows very well that the United States can cheat at any moment, and much more often they cheat than they keep their own promises, their own proposals,” Mr Lavrov said as he addressed a press conference following talks with Venezuelan foreign minister Yvan Gil Pinto.
The pair held talks in Caracas hours after the Russian minister arrived in the country in the second stop of a tour of four Latin American nations. Both men vowed continued support for each other’s country and condemned the economic sanctions Washington has imposed on them.
“We fully support the position of our Venezuelan friends,” Mr Lavrov said. “It is their country ... and we are going to support it in any way so that the Venezuelan economy becomes an independent economy from the pressures of the United States and other western actors.”
Zelensky meets troops on Belarus border
Wednesday 19 April 2023 14:01 , Liam James
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he had visited the border with Belarus and Poland, where he praised the work of border guards.
“It is an honour for me to be here today to thank our border guards for protecting the state border,” he wrote under video footage showing him meeting and addressing border guards.
Ukrainian troops have been conducting military exercises at the border with Belarus after fears were raised over President Alexander Lukashenko’s assistance to the Russian invasion, including potentially allowing Russian troops to enter the invasion from his territory.
Last month, Russian president Vladimir Putin said he was stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Bulgaria brings ban on Ukraine grain imports
Wednesday 19 April 2023 13:45 , Liam James
Bulgaria introduced a temporary ban on Ukraine grain imports, Radio Bulgaria reported on its website quoting caretaker prime minister Galab Donev.
Sofia would follow Poland and Hungary in bringing bans on Ukrainian imports to protect their local markets after an increase in supply from Kyic depressed prices in neighbouring countries.
“Over the past year, a significant amount of food has remained in the country and disrupted food chains,” the report quoted Mr Donev as saying.
“We are forced to adopt this national measure because the European authorities are still considering an adequate measure.”
The European Union is preparing €100m (£88m) of compensation for farmers in countries bordering Ukraine and plans to introduce restrictions on imports of Ukrainian cereals, a European Commission spokesperson saidtoday.
Russian opposition leader loses appeal against jail term
Wednesday 19 April 2023 13:15 , Liam James
Jailed Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin lost his appeal against an eight-and-a-half year prison sentence for discrediting the Russian army, according to a correspondent in the court.
Mr Yashin was jailed in December over charges of spreading false information about the military – a new offence added to the country’s criminal law after Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine.
The former municipal deputy of Moscow’s charges related to a series of posts about the murder and torture of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha.
Ukraine says it has received Patriot missile systems
Wednesday 19 April 2023 12:45 , Liam James
Ukraine’s defence minister confirmed Kyiv had received Patriot air defence systems.
Oleksi Reznikoz said the surface-to-air missile systems made Ukrainian skies more secure, after Kyiv’s air force earlier this week warned the country could lose control of its skies as soon as next month.
“Our air defenders have mastered them as fast as they could. And our partners have kept their word,” Mr Reznikov wrote on Twitter.
Mr Reznikov thanked Germany’s defence minister. Germany earlier said it had delivered Patriot systems with missiles to Ukraine.
Russia-linked hackers want to ‘destroy’ UK, Tory minister warns
Wednesday 19 April 2023 12:15 , Liam James
Britain is facing cyber threats from Russia-aligned groups who want to “to disrupt or destroy” critical infrastructure, senior Tory minister Oliver Dowden is warning (Adam Forrest writes).
The Cabinet Office minister will use a speech in Belfast to say Russia hackers are “ideologically motivated, rather than financially motivated” and have begun to target the UK this year.
Mr Dowden is set to confirm on Wednesday that the National Cyber Security Centre is issuing an “official threat notice” to operators of the UK’s critical national infrastructure.
The minister will reveal that in the last few months several Russia-aligned groups have focused on the UK – with Mr Dowden warning that “ideological” motivation means that they are less likely to show restraint.
Click here for the full story:
Russia-linked hackers want to ‘destroy’ UK, Tory minister warns
Jailed Russian opposition leader has appeal heard in Moscow
Wednesday 19 April 2023 11:50 , Liam James
Ilya Yashin, a jailed Russian opposition leader, has had an appeal against his sentence heard in a Moscow court.
In December, Mr Yashin was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison on charges of spreading false information about the military – a new offence added to the country’s criminal law after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine.
The former municipal deputy of Moscow’s charges related to a series of posts about the murder and torture of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha.
On Monday, a Russian court convicted top opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr of treason for publicly denouncing the invasion of Ukraine and sentenced him to 25 years in prison.
