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Russian forces will seize the strategically important Ukrainian port city of Mariupol today, a top ally of Vladimir Putin has claimed after Ukraine warned its forces are unable to “hold out for much longer”. The besieged southern city has been a key target for Russia since the war in Ukraine began almost two months ago.

Ukrainian forces are continuing to repel attacks by Russian forces in the east of the country, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said, as President Zelenskyy renewed calls for more military assistance.  Russia has recently started repositioning and reinforcing its troops in the east of Ukraine after failing to take control of the country’s

There is a ripple of excitement, a push from the crowd and then a cacophony of cheers. Marine Le Pen, smiling and waving, has arrived in town.  She is surrounded by a blend of well-wishers, reporters, security officers, curious shoppers, and flunkies. Slowly, she walks down the road of this Normandy town, normally a quiet

Russia has launched its long-awaited all-out assault on eastern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian government, unleashing thousands of troops in what Kyiv described as the Battle of the Donbas. The Kremlin has also now declared that its main goal is to capture the Donbas region, after it failed to overrun Ukraine’s capital. What is coming

Russia has started its expected major new offensive in eastern Ukraine, President Zelenskyy has said. “The Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time,” Ukraine’s leader said in a video address on Monday night. “A significant part of the entire Russian army is now

The first images of one of Russia’s most prestigious warships shortly before it sank are being shared online. Ukraine says it struck the Moskva in a missile attack. However, Russia says the damage to the flagship vessel was caused by a fire which detonated ammunition on board. It says the warship then sank during a

Two British fighters captured by Moscow’s forces in Ukraine have appeared on Russian state TV and asked to be exchanged for a pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk. It was unclear how freely the two men – Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin – were able to talk. Both spoke separately afterbeing prompted by an unidentified man in

We’d only been out with the police for a few minutes. The thud was distant. But close enough to abort the patrol. “Turn around, turn around…” Lieutenant Colonel Sasha Malysh said. “It’s shelling.” Then the police radio crackled. “Attention to all patrols… go to the shelter.” Pope condemns ‘Easter of war’ as Kharkiv hit by

Russia has demanded the surrender of the last remaining Ukrainian troops in Mariupol, with the city on the brink of falling. Moscow claimed it would spare the lives of the troops holding out in a blockaded steelworks plant – but only if they surrendered by 11am GMT. Earlier, Russia said it had cleared the urban

The Kremlin has banned Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Ben Wallace and 10 other UK politicians from entering Russia. The Russian foreign ministry said the action was taken “in view of the unprecedented hostile action by the British government, in particular the imposition of sanctions against senior Russian officials”. The list will be expanded soon, according

Finland is “highly likely” to join NATO following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, its Europe minister has told Sky News. Tytti Tuppurainen said that the “people of Finland have already made up their mind” and that polls show huge support for membership of the alliance. “At this point I would say it is highly, but

A Russian warship which was allegedly attacked by Ukraine has sunk, according to state-owned media. The missile cruiser Moskva is the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet and sank as it was towed back to a port during bad weather after an explosion and fire, according to reports. Earlier, Russia’s defence ministry said the Soviet-era

Russia has admitted that the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet – the Moskva – was in flames on Thursday, with Ukraine claiming to have hit it with missiles. Russia’s defence ministry said the Moskva missile cruiser had been badly damaged after ammunition on board was blown up by the fire. In comments reported by

The mayor of Mariupol has said Ukrainian forces in the city will continue to fight despite being short on ammunition and massively outnumbered.  Vadym Boichenko said: “Our heroic defenders are fighting, holding out with incredible valour and bravery, defending the city of Mariupol; defending our future and our homeland Ukraine.” “This has to be made

“We call on everyone who supports the actions of our president and the Russian army to join in creating and distributing truthful content!” This call to arms by a Russian website appears to be successfully recruiting ordinary Russians – 28,000 of them according to research by Sky News – to take part in the information

One image dominates Ukrainian news sites this morning. The photograph of a dishevelled, handcuffed man in his 60s wearing army camouflage was posted on Instagram by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last night. His name is Viktor Medvedchuk, he’s a central character in the story of Ukraine’s recent political history and he’s never been seen like

Russia is concentrating its firepower on the southeast of Ukraine in a new phase of the war that could see up to three times as many Russian troops in the Donbas region. Ukraine’s military, after defeating a Russian attempt to storm the capital Kyiv and forcing Russian soldiers to withdraw from across the north of

The UK is “working urgently” to verify details following unconfirmed reports of a Russian chemical attack in a besieged city in Ukraine, the foreign secretary has said. Liz Truss said any confirmed use of chemical weapons in Mariupol would be a “callous escalation” of the war. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, used his nightly video address

Those willing to squeeze into Yuri’s yellow school bus have made a choice not just to leave Russian-occupied Kherson, but also to leave nearly everything they have. Many stand for the 135km journey in the vehicle that is as crammed full as a lifeboat on the Titanic: There are few drivers, like Yuri, who are

Russia could launch a full-scale military offensive in the east of Ukraine within days, despite questions about the ability of its demoralised soldiers. Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukraine in the eastern Donbas region since 2014 and parts of the industrial region are under Russian control. Ukraine is believed to have tens of thousands of