Displaying items by tag: Russia

France, Germany, and the UK have introduced new sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, which US secretary of state Antony Blinken said  will be used against Ukraine. The sanctions include restrictions on Iran Air and travel bans on military officials. UK foreign secretary David Lammy described Iran's actions as ‘a dangerous escalation’. Several individuals and organisations involved in the supply of the missiles face sanctions, and Russian cargo ships transporting these supplies have also been targeted. The Western nations have demanded that Iran halt its missile deliveries, citing security threats to Europe. Blinken and Lammy also flew to Ukraine to ‘hear directly from the leadership’ about their objectives. Volodymyr Zelensky has asked for authorisation to use Western-supplied missiles to strike targets inside Russia - a move the USA has so far resisted. Russia continues to make advances in eastern Ukraine.

This week has seen intensified Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and steady Russian advances in the Donbas region, balanced by Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region. Diplomatically, both sides continue to show a lack of willingness to compromise. China has reaffirmed its support for Russia through a high-profile visit by premier Li Qiang and a military delegation to Moscow. Meanwhile, India's prime minister Narendra Modi has made a significant visit to Kyiv, signalling India's complex position between its historical ties with Russia and growing relationships with Western nations. Although India has not condemned Russia's actions, Modi's visit to Ukraine and his emphasis on dialogue indicate a potential shift in India's stance. The USA also announced a new military aid package and additional sanctions targeting entities supporting Russia. The diplomatic landscape remains fluid, with all parties manoeuvring for strategic advantage on the global stage.

Volodymyr Zelensky says that his troops are still advancing into Russian territory, in a bold and surprising incursion. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj627x96gxxo This development marks a significant challenge to Vladimir Putin’s authority: the offensive, which has now lasted over a week, threatens his image as ‘Mr Security’. Despite initiating the ‘special military operation’ to enhance Russia's safety, the nation now faces an expanded NATO presence on its borders, frequent Ukrainian drone attacks, and territorial breaches. Putin minimises the situation through cautious language, referring to it as ‘the situation in the border area’ or ‘a provocation’, avoiding terms like ‘invasion’. He has dismissed the idea of peace talks, stating that his goal is ‘to force the enemy from Russian territory’. Despite these challenges, Putin shows no remorse for his decisions and remains convinced of Russia's eventual victory in the conflict.

Russia has reported ongoing fighting in the Kursk border region following a Ukrainian incursion. Its troops claim they have prevented pro-Kyiv forces from advancing deep into Russia, repelling aerial attacks overnight and destroying fifty armoured vehicles, including seven tanks. Ukraine has not confirmed the assault. Reports suggest Ukrainians occupied several settlements in Kursk. The incursion involved about 300 soldiers, eleven tanks, and over twenty armoured vehicles. Pro-Kyiv forces have made brief incursions into Russia since February 2022. A Russianspokeswoman has labelled Ukraine’s attack on Kursk a ‘terrorist act ‘against civilians. Five people were killed and 28 wounded, including six children. Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed a Russian missile, two drones, and a helicopter. Intense battles continue, with suggestions of a new front opening. Meanwhile, Mali has severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine: see world article below.

Journalist Evan Gershkovich and US marine Paul Whelan have been released from Russian jails in the largest prisoner swap with the West since the Cold War. The exchange, the result of months of complex negotiations, also freed British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who had been sentenced to 25 years for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Others released include Radio Free Europe editor Alsu Kurmasheva, anti-war artist Aleksandra Skochilenko, dissident politician Ilya Yashin, two former staffers for Alexei Navalny, and Russian-German dual citizen Kevin Lik. The swap, conducted in Turkey, involved the US, Russia, Germany, and other nations, led by Joe Biden and his national security team. Biden, speaking from the White House with the families of the released, called it ‘a very good afternoon’ and praised the diplomacy involved. He acknowledged Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey for their roles in the negotiation and logistical support.

On 31 July Ukraine repelled one of Russia's most massive attacks since the war began, shooting down 89 Iranian-designed explosive drones and a missile, primarily targeting Kyiv. Despite debris damage to buildings, there were no casualties. This attack comes 29 months into Russia's invasion, with daily bombardments straining Ukraine's air defences. Russia claims it only targets military and energy sites, but residential areas are frequently hit. Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need for sufficient air defence supplies to protect against Russian strikes and called for faster deliveries of systems like the US-made Patriots. Meanwhile, Ukraine struck a weapons depot in Russia's Kursk region, causing a fire. Russia's slow advance continues, with small gains reported in July, capturing eight villages in north-east, eastern, and southern Ukraine.

Recent Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea have compelled the Russian navy to rebase its ships, according to the Ukrainian navy. Dmytro Pletenchuk, a Ukrainian navy spokesman, confirmed that no Russian naval vessels remain in the Sea of Azov. Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kharkiv on Wednesday damaged the office of a Swiss mine-clearing NGO, injuring six people. Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that an industrial area was targeted. Kharkiv police head Volodymyr Tymoshko described a "double-tap" attack aimed at rescuers, who fortunately evacuated just before the second strike. Heavy Russian attacks have intensified around Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, making conditions "tense" and difficult. Ukrainian forces continue to defend the area. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted marginal Russian advances near Kharkiv and confirmed progress in Donetsk oblast. The ISW highlighted Russia's significant challenges in maintaining troop numbers and replacing heavy losses of equipment. Ukrainian authorities noted that Russia's current production is insufficient to cover these losses, with a British assessment indicating that Russia can only sustain operations until 2026-2027 by refurbishing Soviet-era stocks.

A Russian cruise missile has struck Okhmatdyt, Ukraine's largest children's hospital, in central Kyiv. The attack caused significant damage, including a collapsed roof that killed two hospital workers and injured 16 people, including seven children. Thousands of children, including those with cancer, undergo treatment at the hospital every year. The strike was one of forty launched against several Ukrainian cities, which resulted in at least 36 deaths and 125 injuries. Moscow, which habitually denies targeting civilian infrastructure, claimed the hospital was hit by a Ukrainian missile. The latest UN figures show over 30,000 civilian casualties since February 2022: see

In his first visit to Ukraine for ten years, Viktor Orban has called for a ceasefire. A longstanding critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, he suggested that a swift ceasefire could expedite peace talks. He also expressed a desire to improve ties with Ukraine and offered economic assistance. Zelensky appreciated his visit, but stressed the need for a ‘just peace’ after over two years of fighting. Orban’s visit coincides with Hungary’s assumption of the EU presidency, which has raised concerns due to Budapest’s warm ties with Moscow. In the past, Hungary has accused Ukraine of curbing the rights of ethnic Hungarians, which Kyiv denies. Zelensky has recently said he is preparing a comprehensive plan for ending the war.

At least twenty people have been killed in a series of shootings in Dagestan on 24 June. The attacks targeted a synagogue, an Orthodox church, and a traffic police post. Among the victims were fifteen law enforcement officers and civilians, including an Orthodox priest. The synagogue and church were set on fire before the attackers fled. The authorities say that five gunmen were later shot dead, and two sons of a local district head were arrested. The regional governor called it a ‘day of tragedy’ and declared three days of mourning in the predominantly Muslim region. Russia's national anti-terrorism committee attributed the attacks to ‘terrorists’, though no group claimed responsibility. This incident follows a major attack on a concert hall in Moscow three months ago, which killed 145 people​.