Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russia launches ‘massive’ missile attack on Christmas as Moscow cargo ship sinks

At least one person was killed and 15 injured in Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown after a ballistic missile struck an apartment building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.

“The monsters landed a direct hit on a four-storey residential block with 32 apartments,” the head of the city’s military administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, wrote on Telegram.

One man whose body had been pulled from under the rubble could not be revived by medics, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said.

Earlier, a Russian cargo ship that Kyiv says was intended to collect weapons from military bases in Syria sunk on route in the Mediterranean Sea.

Officials in Moscow said two crew members are missing after an engine room explosion sank the Ursa Major between Spain and Algeria. Fourteen other crew were rescued and taken to Spain.

The vessel left the Russian port city of St Petersburg on 11 December, according to ship tracking data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). It was last seen sending a signal at 10.04pm GMT on Monday between Algeria and Spain.

Ukraine’s military intelligence claimed on Monday that the ship had been sent to Syria to remove weapons and military materiel after the fall of Moscow-backed Bashar Al-Assad.

Key points

• Russia ship bound for Syria sinks in Mediterranean

• More than 3,000 North Koreans killed and wounded, Zelensky says

• Zelensky blasts Slovak’s Fico over reluctance to drop Russian gas

• South Korea detects signs of North Korea preparing more troops, drones for Russia

Six injured in Kharkiv as Russia launches major missile attack on Ukraine

07:32 , Namita Singh

Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy system and cities in its eastern region with cruise and ballistic missiles this morning, Ukraine’s energy minister and local officials said.

At least six people were wounded in a missile attack on Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on Wednesday morning, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Ukrainian air forces said Kharkiv was attacked by ballistic missiles and Syniehubov said on the Telegram messaging app that there were “damages to civilian non-residential infrastructure”.

Separately, Dnipropetrovsk governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram: “Since the morning, the Russian army has been massively attacking the Dnipro region. It is trying to destroy the region’s power system.”

Ukraine’s energy minister German Galushchenko said on Facebook that Russia “is massively attacking the power sector” and that the transmission system operator had imposed restrictions on electricity supply to minimise the impact.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Ukrainian military launched a countrywide air alert in response to Russian cruise missile launches.

The country’s largest private energy company DTEK said its generating facilities were attacked during the strike, causing “serious damages” to power equipment.

Russia attacked Ukraine’s DTEK power plants, says company

07:30 , Namita Singh

Russia attacked the power plants of Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, severely damaging equipment, the company said this morning.

“This year, it is the 13th massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector and the 10th massive attack on the company’s energy facilities,” it said on the Telegram messaging app.

Behind enemy lines: Ukraine’s deadly assassins have terrorised Russia

07:00 , Alexander Butler

Behind enemy lines: Ukraine’s deadly assassins have terrorised Russia

Russia attacks Ukraine energy system in major missile strike, Kyiv says

06:11 , Namita Singh

Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy system and cities in its eastern region with cruise and ballistic missiles on Christmas morning, Ukraine’s energy minister and local officials said.

At least three people were wounded in a missile attack on Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on Wednesday morning, mayor Ihor Terekhov said.Ukrainian air forces said Kharkiv was attacked by ballistic missiles and regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said on the Telegram messaging app that there were “damages to civilian non-residential infrastructure”.

Separately, Dnipropetrovsk governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram: “Since the morning, the Russian army has been massively attacking the Dnipro region. It is trying to destroy the region’s power system.”

Ukraine’s energy minister German Galushchenko said on Facebook that Russia “is massively attacking the power sector” and that the transmission system operator had imposed restrictions on electricity supply to minimise the impact.

North Korean troops in Russia pose limited impact, says Ukrainian official

05:30 , Namita Singh

The presence of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region has not substantially influenced the ongoing conflict, a Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson has stated.

Yevgen Yerin, representing Ukraine’s military intelligence service, told AFP: “The involvement of the North Koreans in the fighting has not had a significant impact on the situation. It is not such a significant number of personnel.”

However, Mr Yerin cautioned against complacency, noting that the troops are gaining experience. “But they are also learning. And we cannot underestimate the enemy. And we can see that they are already taking some things into account in their activities,” he added.

Three injured in Russian missile attack on Kharkiv

05:04 , Namita Singh

At least three people have been injured in a Russian missile attack on Kharkiv, says the mayor.

Ukrainian air forces said Kharkiv was attacked by ballistic missiles, and local governor Oleh Syniehubov said on the Telegram messenger that there were “damages to civilian non-residential infrastructure”.

Zelensky celebrates Ukraine’s unity in Christmas message

04:15 , Namita Singh

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky marked Christmas with a message of unity, emphasising the strength and togetherness of his nation despite the ongoing challenges.

“For the second time, we celebrate Christmas on the same date as one big family, one country,” Mr Zelensky said in his address. “For the second time in modern history, Christmas unites all Ukrainians. Today, we stand side by side. And we will not be lost.”

Highlighting the enduring bonds among Ukrainians, Mr Zelensky called on citizens to connect with their loved ones, whether in person, through calls, or in spirit. “Whether in person or in our minds, we will greet each other, call our parents, kiss our children, hug our loved ones, and remember those we hold dear,” he stated.

He underscored the resilience and solidarity of Ukrainians, stressing that this unity is a powerful deterrent to adversity. “As long as we do this, evil has no chance,” Mr Zelensky declared, adding that the warmth shared among people is the essence of Christmas.

Concluding his message, Mr Zelensky extended his wishes to the nation, saying, “Merry Christmas to all of you! Christ is born! Glorify Him!”

Zelensky admits Ukraine does not have military strength to reclaim lost territories from Russia

04:00 , Alexander Butler

Zelensky admits Ukraine does not have military strength to reclaim lost territories

Russian missile strike kills one, injures 15 in Ukraine’s Kryvyi Rih

03:15 , Namita Singh

A ballistic missile struck an apartment building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih yesterday, killing one person and injuring 15, four of them seriously, officials said.

Ukrainian officials denounced the Christmas Eve attack on the city, president Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown.

“The monsters landed a direct hit on a four-storey residential block with 32 apartments,” the head of the city’s military administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, wrote on Telegram.

One man whose body had been pulled from under the rubble could not be revived by medics, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said.

Mr Vilkul later said that a woman had been rescued and taken to a hospital after spending four hours covered in rubble.

“While other countries of the world are celebrating Christmas, Ukrainians are continuing to suffer from endless Russian attacks,” Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets wrote on Telegram.

Governor Lysak posted photographs of rescuers trawling through a large pile of rubble, recovering a person covered in dust and loading them into an ambulance.

Kim Jong Un ‘personally overseeing’ North Korean training for Ukraine amid reports of heavy losses

03:00 , Alexander Butler

Kim Jong Un ‘personally overseeing’ North Korean training for Ukraine amid losses

Warning North Korea can produce ballistic missiles for Russia ‘in months’

02:00 , Alexander Butler

Warning North Korea can produce ballistic missiles for Russia ‘in months’

Vladimir Putin: Russia is ready to compromise with Trump on Ukraine war

01:00 , Alexander Butler

Vladimir Putin: I am ready to talk to Trump over Ukraine

Ukraine strikes in heart of Russia with drone attack 1,000km beyond frontline

Tuesday 24 December 2024 23:00 , Alexander Butler

Ukraine strikes in heart of Russia with drone attack 1,000km beyond frontline

British army tests ‘game-changing’ weapon in the war against drones

Tuesday 24 December 2024 22:00 , Alexander Butler

British army tests ‘game-changing’ weapon in the war against drones

North Korea suffers 1,100 casualties fighting for Russia, South Korea says

Tuesday 24 December 2024 21:00 , Alexander Butler

North Korea suffers 1,100 casualties fighting for Russia, South Korea says

Watch: Russian ship sinks after mysterious explosion

Tuesday 24 December 2024 20:00 , Alexander Butler

Watch: Russian ship sinks after mysterious explosion.

Nato cannot defend Europe from Russia without the US, warn alliance’s frontline leaders

Tuesday 24 December 2024 18:19 , Alexander Butler

Nato cannot defend Europe from Russia without the US, warns Baltic leaders

Update: One dead and 11 injured in Russian missile attack on Zelensky’s hometown

Tuesday 24 December 2024 16:45 , Tom Watling

One person was killed and 11 were wounded by a ballistic missile strike on an apartment block in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, local officials said on Tuesday, and Kyiv condemned the Christmas eve attack.

“The monsters landed a direct hit on a four-storey residential block with 32 apartments,” the head of the city’s military administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, wrote on Telegram.

One man whose body had been pulled from under the rubble could not be revived by medics, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said.

“While other countries of the world are celebrating Christmas, Ukrainians are continuing to suffer from endless Russian attacks,” Ukraine‘s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets wrote on Telegram.

Governor Lysak posted photographs of rescuers trawling through a large pile of rubble, recovering a person covered in dust and loading them into an ambulance.

“There may still be people under the rubble,” he wrote shortly before 18:00 local time (1600 GMT), more than two hours after the strike.

Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukraine‘s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is a steelmaking city with a pre-war population of more than 600,000.

Its southern outskirts lie about 40 miles (65 km) from the nearest Russian-occupied territory, and it has regularly been the target of Russian missile attacks throughout the war.

Watch: Russian ship sinks after mysterious explosion

Tuesday 24 December 2024 16:01 , Tom Watling

Watch: Russian ship sinks after mysterious explosion.

Russian missile attack injures six in Zelensky’s hometown

Tuesday 24 December 2024 15:05 , Tom Watling

A Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih has injured half a dozen people, locals have reported.

Footage reposted below shows the damage caused by the missile attack, which hit a residential building.

At least six people have been injured, three of whom were hospitalised. Two people were rescued from the rubble.

Behind enemy lines: Ukraine’s deadly assassins have terrorised Russia

Tuesday 24 December 2024 14:40 , Tom Watling

Behind enemy lines: Ukraine’s deadly assassins have terrorised Russia

Two AP journalists in Ukraine and the Mideast break down the wars they covered in 2024

Tuesday 24 December 2024 14:00 , Tom Watling

Two AP journalists in Ukraine and the Mideast break down the wars they covered in 2024

North Korean troops killed by Ukrainian drones in Russia’s Kursk region - video

Tuesday 24 December 2024 13:09 , Tom Watling

Zelensky renews call for Russia to return stolen children

Tuesday 24 December 2024 12:33 , Tom Watling

British army tests ‘game-changing’ weapon in the war against drones

Tuesday 24 December 2024 12:00 , Tom Watling

British army tests ‘game-changing’ weapon in the war against drones

Nato cannot defend Europe from Russia without the US, warn leaders

Tuesday 24 December 2024 11:16 , Tom Watling

The leaders of Finland, Latvia and Estonia tell The Independent that Ukraine’s victory against Russia is paramount to the defence of a poorly-armed Europe.

Nato cannot defend Europe from Russia without the US, warns Baltic leaders

Russia ship bound for Syria sinks in Mediterranean

Tuesday 24 December 2024 10:41 , Tom Watling

A Russian cargo ship that Kyiv says was intended to collect weapons from military bases in Syria has sunk on route in the Mediterranean Sea.

Officials in Moscow said two crew members are missing after an engine room explosion sank the Ursa Major between Spain and Algeria. Fourteen other crew were rescued and taken to Spain.

The vessel left the Russian port city of St Petersburg on 11 December, according to ship tracking data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). It was last seen sending a signal at 10.04pm GMT on Monday between Algeria and Spain.

Ukraine’s military intelligence claimed on Monday that the ship had been sent to Syria to remove weapons and military materiel after the fall of Moscow-backed Bashar Al-Assad.

Ukraine says Russia used 60 drones in overnight attack

Tuesday 24 December 2024 10:15 , Albert Toth

Ukraine said Russia had attacked it with 60 drones overnight, of which 36 were downed, 23 were jammed by electronic warfare and one was still in the air.

The Ukrainian air force said drones had been shot down in eight regions across the country in a statement posted on the Telegram app on Tuesday.

Moscow is pressing on the 1,000-km front line along Ukraine‘s east and south almost three years into its full-scale invasion. It has launched near-daily waves of drones in the past few months, seeking to exhaust Ukrainian air defences and hit key infrastructure.

Ukraine and South Korea disagree on North Korean losses

Tuesday 24 December 2024 09:45 , Albert Toth

Ukraine’s president Zelensky and South Korean officials have provided different estimates of North Korean troops killed or injured as they fight alongside Russian forces.

Seoul’s top military officials say that around 1,100 North Korean troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine’s Kursk region. Meanwhile, Zelensky put the figure much higher, at over 3,000.

The Ukrainian president has warned that more North Korean troops will likely join the invading Russian forces, criticising world leaders for doing “almost nothing” to curb collaboration between the two nations.

South Korean military sources have corroborated his claim, saying there is evidence that North Korea is preparing to send more resources to Russia.

“Fighting for money”: What did Zelensky say about Slovakia PM Robert Fico?

Tuesday 24 December 2024 09:15 , Albert Toth

Ukraine’s president Zelensky has expressed his dismay at the meeting between Slovakian PM Robert Fico and Putin over gas exports.

Taking to Twitter / X, he wrote: “There have been many questions from journalists today about Fico’s trip to Moscow. In fact, after our conversation in Brussels in the presence of all European leaders, nothing surprises anymore.

“We are fighting for our lives, Fico is fighting for money, and it’s unlikely that money is for Slovakia. Shadow agreements with Putin are either a trade of state interests or working for personal gain.

“We offered him solutions regarding potential compensation for Slovaks – the Slovaks specifically – for losses from Russian transit, as well as alternatives for transit – any other gas, not Russian, at the request of the European Commission. We were ready to do this. Fico did not want compensation for the Slovaks. And he does not want to cooperate with the European Commission. For some reason, he finds Moscow more profitable.

“Everyone in Europe understands why. There’s no one who doesn’t.”

Russian gas flows faster in face of Ukraine criticism

Tuesday 24 December 2024 08:45 , Albert Toth

Russia’s Gazprom said that it would send 42.4 million cubic metres of gas to Europe via Ukraine on Tuesday, up from 42.1 mcm on Monday.

The slight uptick in distribution comes after Zelensky said he would not allow contracts for gas exports which flow from Russia to Europe through Ukraine to be renewed.

In reaction to the announcement, Slovakia PM Robert Fico met with Putin on Monday for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Gazprom’s exports to Europe and beyond decreased sharply following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, dropping by 90 billion cubic metres (bcm) in a single year to 63.8 billion over the year.

This dropped again in 2023 to 28.3 bcm, and is estimated to reach 32 bcm overall for 2024.

However, these figures are all staggeringly low compared to Gazprom’s pre-war exports, with the 2018/19 peak of 180 bmc remaining far out of reach.

Ukraine launches first robot-only assault on Russia

Tuesday 24 December 2024 08:13 , Albert Toth

Ukraine has successfully mounted its first robot-only assault against Russia, its the military says, as unmanned vehicles pushed back Moscow’s forces over the weekend.

In a display of modern warfare, Kyiv used dozens of remote-controlled vehicles mounted with machine guns, as well as unmanned kamikaze drones, in a raid near the Ukrainian-held town of Lyptsi, the Ukrainian military said.

Volodymyr Dehtiarov, a representative for Ukraine’s Khartiia Brigade, said: “We are talking about dozens of units of robotic and unmanned equipment simultaneously on a small section of the front.”

The assault took place between Russian-held Hlyboke and Ukrainian-held Lyptsi, in the Kharkiv region near Ukraine’s north-western border.

Kyiv has struggled with a shortage of manpower as the fight against invadin Russian troops continues into 2025. Ukranian officials have said the nation’s military consists of around 800,000 while Russia has committed 1.7 million troops to its war so far.

Modern assaults such as Ukraine’s robot only attack may prove to be crucial in the coming year as the officials look to tackle the imbalance of troops.

Protests and anger as Slovakia PM meets Putin

Tuesday 24 December 2024 07:52 , Albert Toth

Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico has drawn criticism from the European community and Slovakian citizens after he met face-to-face with Vladimir Putin the day before Christmas Eve (23 December).

Mr Fico became only the third European leader to visit the Russian president in Moscow since its invasion of Ukraine was ordered in February 2022.

The pair discussed “the international situation” and the delivery of Russian natural gas, according to the Kremlin.

Mr Fico says his visit was a reaction to Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement that he would no longer allow Russian natural gas to flow to other European countries through pipes in Ukrainian soil.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry slammed the “weakness, dependence and short-sightedness” of Mr Fico’s energy policy in a statement, calling it a “threat to the whole of Europe.”

Meanwhile, protests have taken place in Bratislavia, Slovakia’s capital, as citizens show their support for Ukraine and disappointment at Mr Fico’s meeting.

Urgent call for evacuation of Australian fighter after stepping on landmine in Ukraine

Tuesday 24 December 2024 06:55 , Namita Singh

The Australian government is being urged to urgently evacuate a 38-year-old citizen who sustained severe injuries after stepping on a landmine while fighting on Ukraine’s eastern front. Friends of the injured man, who is currently receiving treatment in a Ukrainian hospital, told The Guardian that without immediate specialist care, he risks losing his limbs.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that consular assistance is being provided but declined to comment further, citing privacy concerns.

The Australian fighter recounted his harrowing ordeal in a statement shared by a supporter. “I nearly bled out,” he said, describing the 20-hour evacuation and the lack of immediate first aid.

Glenn Kolomeitz, a former Australian army officer, has called on the government to arrange an urgent evacuation to ensure the man receives proper medical treatment. “He needs surgery very rapidly,” Mr Kolomeitz stressed.

How one man became a Ukrainian traitor and Russian spy

Tuesday 24 December 2024 06:30 , Namita Singh

Spying runs in the family for Oleh Kolesnikov.

The Ukrainian citizen said his father was a Soviet intelligence agent in Cuba during the Cold War, posing as a translator, and his cousin works with the Russian security service.

That made him a prime candidate for wartime espionage.

Kolesnikov told Reuters he agreed to supply the Russians with information about military sites and troop movements in his home city of Zaporizhzhia, and report back on where their missiles had landed.

He had supported the concept of the “Russian World”, a doctrine backed by president Vladimir Putin that emphasises Moscow’s historical and cultural ties to neighbouring nations, and one which some hardliners in Moscow have used to justify intervention abroad in defence of Russian speakers.

“I didn’t do this for money,” he said.

But he had regrets: That the inaccuracy of some missile strikes led to civilians being killed, and that the war - which he had assumed would be a swift, clinical affair - has dragged on for almost three years, devastating his homeland.

“I thought they (the Russians) would advance rapidly,” said the 52-year-old, a former state land manager who grew up in a Soviet Ukraine. “It turned out like it always does. They plan one thing and another thing happens entirely.”

His wife left him when he was arrested for treason, taking their 11-year-old child with her.

Reuters

North Korea suffers ‘1,100 casualties’ fighting for Russia

Tuesday 24 December 2024 06:09 , Tom Watling

North Korea suffers 1,100 casualties fighting for Russia, South Korea says

Nearly half of Ukrainians support joining Nato even as territories remain under Russian occupation

Tuesday 24 December 2024 05:30 , Namita Singh

Nearly 47 per cent of Ukrainians feel that the country should join Nato even if some of the territories are under Russian occupation, revealed a survey by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Center, published on 22 December, reported Kyiv Independent.

In case of an accession, the protection granted to Ukraine may be extended to occupied territories once liberated from Russian annexation.

The recent polls reveal an increase of 14 per centage point from a similar survey conducted in June 2023.

More than 3,000 North Koreans killed and wounded, Zelensky says

Tuesday 24 December 2024 04:55 , Namita Singh

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed and wounded in Russia’s Kursk region and warned that Pyongyang could send more personnel and equipment for Moscow’s army.

“There are risks of North Korea sending additional troops and military equipment to the Russian army,” Mr Zelenskiy said yesterday after receiving a report from his top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi.

“We will have tangible responses to this,” he added.

The estimate of North Korean losses is higher than that provided by Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), which said that at least 1,100 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded.

The assessment was in line with a briefing last week by South Korea’s spy agency, which reported some 100 deaths with another 1,000 wounded in the region.

Mr Zelensky said he cited preliminary data. However, the figures of combat casualties could not be independently verified.

Zelensky admits Ukraine is not capable of reclaiming lost territories

Tuesday 24 December 2024 04:30 , Tom Watling

Zelensky admits Ukraine does not have military strength to reclaim lost territories

Italy to extend war supplies to Ukraine until the end of 2025

Tuesday 24 December 2024 04:29 , Namita Singh

Italy’s cabinet on Monday passed a law decree that allows it to continue supplying until the end of 2025 “means, materials and equipment” to Ukraine to support its war effort against Russia, a government statement said.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Italy has approved 10 packages of military aid for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s government, including two Franco-Italian air defence systems known as SAMP/T.

Giorgia Meloni has been a supporter of Kyiv since taking office in late 2022 and has vowed to back Ukraine until the war ends, amid uncertainty over the future attitude of the United States once president-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

On Tuesday, Nato chief Mark Rutte urged members of the military alliance to step up military aid for Ukraine to strengthen its position should Kyiv enter into peace negotiations with Russia.

Under Italy’s presidency this year, the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies have repeatedly pledged support for Ukraine, condemned Russia’s war of aggression and pledged a $50bn loan for Kyiv backed by frozen Russian assets.

Zelensky blasts Slovak’s Fico over reluctance to drop Russian gas

Tuesday 24 December 2024 03:30 , Namita Singh

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday criticised Slovak prime minister Robert Fico for his reluctance to end Slovakia’s dependence on Russian gas, describing it as a “big security issue” for Europe and noting that Mr Fico had rejected compensation.

Mr Zelensky made the comments after the Slovak prime minister met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday. Mr Fico had accused Mr Zelensky of opposing any gas transit through Ukraine to Slovakia, which is dependent on gas supplies piped in via its neighbour.

Ukraine has repeatedly said it will not extend an existing transit deal for gas flows from Russia to Europe, which expires on 1 January. Payments for the gas have helped Russia to wage its almost three-year war in Ukraine, Kyiv says.

The Ukrainian leader said Mr Fico had been offered possible compensation for Slovakia for losses resulting from the expiry, as well as transit alternatives for non-Russian gas.

“Fico did not want compensation for the Slovaks,” Mr Zelensky said in his evening address.

Slovakia, which has a long-term contract with Russia’s Gazprom, has said buying in gas from elsewhere would cost it $229m more in transit expenses.

Mr Zelensky gave no further details on the compensation offer but earlier on Monday said that Mr Fico was interested only in Russian gas and that £398m per year was at stake.

Mr Fico said last week that Mr Zelensky had offered €500m (£414m), which he said had been tied to Nato membership and was from Russian assets that the Slovak leader said Ukraine did not possess.

“President (Zelensky) came back to the subject of gas and asked me if I would then vote for Nato membership if he gave me 500m euros of Russian assets, and of course, I said ‘never’,” said Mr Fico, who has opposed Ukraine’s bid for a place in the transatlantic security alliance.

Who was Igor Kirillov, Russian general killed by bomb in Moscow?

Tuesday 24 December 2024 03:01 , Tom Watling

Who was Igor Kirillov, senior Russian general killed by bombing in Moscow?

It’s difficult to feel festive, say Ukrainians marking third Christmas in UK

Tuesday 24 December 2024 02:57 , Namita Singh

Ukrainians in the UK, marking their third Christmas away from home and another milestone since Russia’s invasion, have said it can be “difficult to be in a festive mood”.

Maria Romanenko, 32, left the Kyiv region for Manchester shortly after the Russian invasion began on 24 February 2022, alongside her Mancunian partner Jez.

The couple made a perilous journey to the Polish border, where they had to wait four days for confirmation that Maria would be allowed to enter the UK with Jez. They arrived on 2 March 2022.

Ms Romanenko, a reporter who is spending her third Christmas away from home, told the PA news agency: “Christmas has not been what it used to be for me since 2022 because Christmas, of course to me at least, means friends and family, and it’s also a time for celebration and a time for reflection.”

Report:

It’s difficult to feel festive, say Ukrainians marking third Christmas in UK

What will it cost to defend Britain from a growing Russian threat?

Tuesday 24 December 2024 01:30 , Tom Watling

What will it cost to defend Britain from a growing Russian threat?

Where Putin’s forces are making gains on the frontline in east Ukraine

Tuesday 24 December 2024 00:01 , Tom Watling

Ukraine-Russia war map: Where Putin’s forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine

Ukraine’s scooter bomb killing could alter the course of the war

Monday 23 December 2024 22:30 , Tom Watling

Ukraine’s scooter bomb killing could alter the course of the war

Putin: I am ready to talk to Trump over Ukraine

Monday 23 December 2024 21:30 , Tom Watling

Vladimir Putin: I am ready to talk to Trump over Ukraine

Pope Francis calls for a ceasefire on all fronts in his prayer ahead of Christmas

Monday 23 December 2024 20:03 , Tom Watling

Pope Francis calls for a ceasefire on all fronts in his prayer ahead of Christmas