BORIS Johnson has pledged a further £1.3 billion to help Ukraine as Putin's 'brutal attack' is 'threatening' peace in Europe.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement on Saturday that he would be pledging more military aid to support Ukraine.
A further 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion), double its previous spending commitments will go to supporting Ukrainians.
Boris Johnson said: "Putin's brutal attack is not only causing untold devastation in Ukraine – it is also threatening peace and security across Europe."
The PM also stated that the UK was the first country to recognise the 'threat' and responded first.
The PM added: “The UK was the first country to recognise the scale of the threat and send arms to help the Ukrainians defend themselves.
“We will stand by that endeavour, working with our allies to ensure Ukraine can continue to push back the Russian invasion.”
Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up-to-the-minute updates…
- Milica Cosic
WHO says it stands with Ukraine
World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has told Ukrainians from Kyiv yesterday that the WHO stood by them in their conflict with Russia – and urged Moscow to stop waging war on its neighbour.
"My message to all the people of Ukraine is this," he said, speaking from the government media centre in the capital.
"WHO stands by you."
- Milica Cosic
Putin believes 'doubling down' will improve Ukraine war outcome
US CIA Director, William Burns, has said that Vladimir Putin believes doubling down on the military conflict in Ukraine will improve his outcome in the war.
“He’s in a frame of mind in which he doesn’t believe he can afford to lose,” Mr Burns said at a Financial Times event in Washington.
“I think he’s convinced right now that doubling down still will enable him to make progress.”
- Milica Cosic
Moment Ukrainian drone strike wipes out Russian targets on Snake Island
THIS is the dramatic moment a Ukrainian drone strike wiped out Russian targets on Snake Island.
Ukraine released a video yesterday of an alleged military drone hit on Kremlin landing ship supplying a TOR anti-aircraft missile system to the island in the Black Sea.
The aerial footage appears to show the destruction of a large Serna-type landing craft in an air strike.
In the video, a drone appears to be locking onto a target before unleashing its powerful cargo on the unsuspecting Russians.
Thick black smoke was seen rising overhead in satellite photos in the aftermath of the strike.
Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko said: “Enemy units remaining on Snake Island remain without air cover and will be destroyed and burned out like cockroaches or locusts."
- Milica Cosic
Chelsea sale agreed
Chelsea Football Club is being sold to a consortium fronted by American sports investor Todd Boehly.
The deal ends 19 years of ownership and lavish investment by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Chelsea confirmed that terms had been agreed for the new ownership group led by Mr Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss to acquire the club in a deal reportedly worth around £4.25bn.
Abramovich cannot receive the proceeds of the sale.
- Milica Cosic
Ukraine braces for escalated attacks ahead of Russia's Victory Day
Cities across Ukraine are preparing for an expected increase in attacks ahead of Russia celebrating Victory Day on Monday.
Russia's national holiday commemorates the former Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
Bracing for escalated attacks, Ukrainian troops are taking a stand to prevent a takeover and have also solidified their positions around the nation's second-largest city of Kharkiv, in the north east of the country.
Officials have urged residents to heed air raid warnings.
"These symbolic dates are to the Russian aggressor like red to a bull," Ukraine's first deputy interior minister Yevhen Yenin said.
"While the entire civilised world remembers the victims of terrible wars on these days, the Russian Federation wants parades and is preparing to dance over bones in Mariupol."
- Milica Cosic
Croatian citizen fighting for Ukraine detained by Russians
A Croatian citizen who fought alongside Ukrainian troops in Mariupol has been detained by the Russian army, Croatian state media reported Saturday.
Croatia's Foreign Ministry also confirmed that it has knowledge of a detained Croatian citizen," and is working with the Ukrainian authorities to resolve the situation. It offered no further information due to sensitivity of the situation.
The state HRT television reported that the Croatian man tried to flee Mariupol with other Ukrainian fighters but was caught by the Russians. No other details were immediately available.
The N1 regional television said the arrest was first reported by Russian media.
- Milica Cosic
Artworks go back up in Lviv
Artworks from Lviv's National Gallery are going back up on display in key buildings around the western Ukraine city.
Many of the artworks were removed for safekeeping at the outbreak of the Russian invasion.
Gallery director Taras Voznyak told the New York Times putting up the work was an act of resistance.
“Putin now has the goal of turning Ukrainians into nobody, into nothing,” he says.
“In order to show that we are alive, we have opened several branches," he adds.
- Milica Cosic
Putin’s fighter jets form sickening ‘Z’ symbol as troops prepare for huge parade
VLADIMIR Putin's fighter jets were captured forming a sickening Z symbol as his army prepared for a huge parade despite a massive death toll.
The dress rehearsal of the Victory Parade began in Moscow today with the event set to be attended by 11,000 troops.
Servicemen, cadets and representatives of military units will walk along the cobblestones of Red Square with nukes also paraded.
And eight jets were pictured in a "Z" formation with the letter becoming synonymous with the invasion of Ukraine.
The military parade has become an annual event on May 9, marking victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
Under Putin, Victory Day is not only to remember the sacrifices of World War Two but has become a show of strength of troops and military hardware
- Milica Cosic
Top news from this evening
Thank you for reading my coverage this evening. My colleague Louis Allwood will be back with you tomorrow morning.
Before I log off, I'll leave you with a summary of the top news from this evening:
- Ukraine's Deputy Prime, Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, has announced women, children and the elderly have been evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol
- Four missiles hit the port city of Odesa in the afternoon, with locations around the airport targeted and radar equipment destroyed.
- No casualties have been reported
- It is also gathering evidence for a possible war crimes investigation into attacks by Russia
- Milica Cosic
WHO: 200 healthcare facilities hit in Ukraine
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it has documented 200 attacks on healthcare centres in Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion.
WHO's emergencies director Mike Ryan told a news conference that it would pass its findings on to those who could assess whether crimes had been committed.
- Milica Cosic
WHO gathers evidence for possible war crimes investigation against Russia
The World Health Organization is gathering evidence for a possible war crimes investigation into attacks it says it has documented by Russia on healthcare facilities in Ukraine.
WHO Emergencies Director Mike Ryan told a news conference that WHO had already documented 200 attacks on hospitals and clinics in the country.
“Intentional attacks on healthcare facilities are a breach of international humanitarian law and as such – based on investigation and attribution of the attack – represent war crimes in any situation,” Mr Ryan said.
“We continue to document and bear witness to these attacks … and we trust that the U.N. system and the International Criminal Court and others will take the necessary investigations in order to assess the criminal intent behind these attacks.”
- Milica Cosic
China 'carefully' studying Ukraine war as it eyes Taiwan
China is closely studying Russian's invasion of Ukraine and is likely adjusting its long-term plans for gaining control of Taiwan based on the lessons from the war, CIA director Bill Burns has said today.
"Clearly the Chinese leadership is trying to look carefully at what lessons they should draw from Ukraine about their own ambitions and Taiwan," Burns said.
They have not given up that goal, he said, but factors including the Western response to the invasion and its impact on the global economy are "affecting their calculation about how and when they go about doing that."
- Milica Cosic
WHO says it stands with Ukraine
World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has told Ukrainians from Kyiv today that the WHO stood by them in their conflict with Russia – and urged Moscow to stop waging war on its neighbour.
"My message to all the people of Ukraine is this," he said, speaking from the government media centre in the capital.
"WHO stands by you."
- Milica Cosic
All women, children & elderly evacuated from steel plant
Ukraine's deputy prime minister has announced all women, children and elderly have been evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol.
Making the announcement, Iryna Vereshchuk said: "The president's order has been carried out: all women, children and the elderly have been evacuated from Azovstal. This part of the Mariupol humanitarian operation has been completed."
No further details were given.
- Milica Cosic
Putin believes 'doubling down' will improve Ukraine war outcome
US CIA Director, William Burns, has said that Vladimir Putin believes doubling down on the military conflict in Ukraine will improve his outcome in the war.
“He’s in a frame of mind in which he doesn’t believe he can afford to lose,” Mr Burns said at a Financial Times event in Washington.
“I think he’s convinced right now that doubling down still will enable him to make progress.”
- Milica Cosic
Moment Ukrainian drone strike wipes out Russian targets on Snake Island
THIS is the dramatic moment a Ukrainian drone strike wiped out Russian targets on Snake Island.
Ukraine released a video today of an alleged military drone hit on Kremlin landing ship supplying a TOR anti-aircraft missile system to the island in the Black Sea.
The aerial footage appears to show the destruction of a large Serna-type landing craft in an air strike.
In the video, a drone appears to be locking onto a target before unleashing its powerful cargo on the unsuspecting Russians.
Thick black smoke was seen rising overhead in satellite photos in the aftermath of the strike.
Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko said: “Enemy units remaining on Snake Island remain without air cover and will be destroyed and burned out like cockroaches or locusts."
An aerial view shows an explosion at Snake IslandCredit: Reuters This satellite image taken by Planet Labs shows thick black smoke rising after an alleged Ukrainian drone strikeCredit: AP - Milica Cosic
Odesa hit by Russian missiles for third weekend in a row
Four missiles hit the city of Odesa this afternoon. There are currently no reports of casualties.
Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that several locations around Odesa’s airport were hit. That includes the runway which was hit twice and a furniture production plant.
The spokesperson said that oils and chemicals used in the plant had caused black smoke and fumes that many filmed on social media.
It’s the third weekend in a row that Russian missiles have hit the port city.
- Milica Cosic
Kharkiv hit by three shelling attacks, says governor
Kharkiv’s governor has reported three shelling attacks overnight on the city and in the village of Skovorodinyvka.
It reportedly caused a fire that nearly destroyed the Hryhoriy Skovoroda Literary Memorial Museum.
Oleh Sinegubov said the museum’s collection was not damaged as it had been moved to a safer place.
Writing on social media, he said: “The occupiers can destroy the museum where Hryhoriy Skovoroda worked for the last years of his life and where he was buried. But they will not destroy our memory and our values.”
- Milica Cosic
Chelsea sale agreed
Chelsea Football Club is being sold to a consortium fronted by American sports investor Todd Boehly.
The deal ends 19 years of ownership and lavish investment by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Chelsea confirmed that terms had been agreed for the new ownership group led by Mr Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss to acquire the club in a deal reportedly worth around £4.25bn.
Abramovich cannot receive the proceeds of the sale.
- Milica Cosic
Ukraine braces for escalated attacks ahead of Russia's Victory Day
Cities across Ukraine are preparing for an expected increase in attacks ahead of Russia celebrating Victory Day on Monday.
Russia's national holiday commemorates the former Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
Bracing for escalated attacks, Ukrainian troops are taking a stand to prevent a takeover and have also solidified their positions around the nation's second-largest city of Kharkiv, in the north east of the country.
Officials have urged residents to heed air raid warnings.
"These symbolic dates are to the Russian aggressor like red to a bull," Ukraine's first deputy interior minister Yevhen Yenin said.
"While the entire civilised world remembers the victims of terrible wars on these days, the Russian Federation wants parades and is preparing to dance over bones in Mariupol."
- Milica Cosic
Jill Biden hears heartbreak of Ukrainian mums in Romania
Jill Biden today heard heartbreaking stories from Ukrainian women and children who fled Russias war and found safe haven across the border in Romania.
The American first lady praised the Romanian government and relief organisations for the range of humanitarian aid they are providing to refugees.
At a Romanian public school hosting refugee students, Mrs Biden saw firsthand the relief efforts to assist some of the 900,000 Ukrainians who have fled to Romania since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Most of those Ukrainians have moved on to other countries, but many mainly women and children have remained as the fighting rages.
US First Lady Jill Biden also hailed the "amazingly strong" refugees.
"You are amazingly strong," Biden said after listening to mothers and children recount how they fled Russia's invasion of their country.
"We stand with you, I hope you know that," Biden told mothers of some of the students after visiting classrooms where kids ages 5 to 15 attend school.
US First Lady Jill Biden (R) pictured during a meeting with Ukrainian teachers and refugees at the âUruguay Gymnasium Schoolâ, in Bucharest.Credit: AFP US First Lady Jill Biden at the âUruguay Gymnasium Schoolâ, in Bucharest, on May 7, 2022.Credit: AFP
- Milica Cosic
Russian missiles 'hit two locations near border'
Air-launched Russian missiles hit two locations near the Russian border in Ukraine's northern Sumy region on Saturday, local governor Dmytro Zhyvytskyi has said.
However, this report is yet to be verified.
A border guard was wounded by the strikes on the Myropilske and Khotin municipalities, Mr Zhyvytskyi wrote in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
The Reuters news agency has published the message and is trying to confirm details of the report.
- Milica Cosic
Senior Russian lawmaker says US directly involved in Ukraine fighting
Mowcow has accused Washington of coordinating military operations in Ukraine which has amounted to direct US involvement in military action against it.
According Russia‘s most senior lawmaker said on Telegram today: “Washington is essentially coordinating and developing military operations, thereby directly participating in military actions against our country.”
- Milica Cosic
Croatian citizen fighting for Ukraine detained by Russians
A Croatian citizen who fought alongside Ukrainian troops in Mariupol has been detained by the Russian army, Croatian state media reported Saturday.
Croatia's Foreign Ministry also confirmed that it has knowledge of a detained Croatian citizen," and is working with the Ukrainian authorities to resolve the situation. It offered no further information due to sensitivity of the situation.
The state HRT television reported that the Croatian man tried to flee Mariupol with other Ukrainian fighters but was caught by the Russians. No other details were immediately available.
The N1 regional television said the arrest was first reported by Russian media.
- Milica Cosic
Several missiles hit Odesa, regional administration says
Several missiles have hit Odesa today, a spokesman for the administration in the southern Ukrainian city says.
Serhiy Bratchuk did not give further detail about casualties or the extent of the damage cause by the missiles.
Images online showed plumes of black smoke rising over the city.
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