Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 611
White House says Russia is executing soldiers who fail to follow orders; Moscow criticises Ukraine-backed peace talks in Malta
The White House has claimed Russia was executing soldiers who failed to follow orders and threatening entire units with death if they retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire. White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby said it was a development that security officials believe reflects Russia's morale problems 20 months into its invasion.
Russia has said it thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack near a nuclear plant in the south of the country, where two news outlets said an explosion had damaged the facade of a warehouse storing nuclear waste. The defence ministry said air defences foiled an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack" when they intercepted a drone late on Thursday near the settlement of Kurchatov in the southern region of Kursk. Kurchatov is home to the Kursk nuclear power station, which said in a separate statement that an attempt to attack it with three drones had been thwarted.
A fire station has been struck in the Ukrainian city of Izyum, damaging equipment and injuring eight people.
Russian-installed official Vladimir Rogov has claimed Russia destroyed at least four" of the Leopard tanks supplied to Ukraine by the west in the Zaporizhzhia region within the past 24 hours.
Arriving at the EU's summit in Brussels, the European Council president, Charles Michel, said he expected leaders to discuss Ukraine, adding that there was broad support for financial assistance to the country.
Irish leader, Leo Varadkar, said Because of all the other things that are happening in the world, and not least in the Middle East, it would be very easy to lose focus on the war in Ukraine - and essential that we don't do that."
Viktor Orban, has told Hungarian state radio that the EU's strategy over the war in Ukraine has failed", and the bloc should create a plan B, as the Ukrainians will not win on the frontline. In comments likely to infuriate Kyiv, Orban said he saw no reason for Hungary, which shares a border with Ukraine, sending any taxpayers' money to the EU budget for financial support for Ukraine.
The UK's Ministry of Defence has noted that The Russian airforce's long range aviation fleet of heavy bombers has not conducted air launched cruise missile strikes into Ukraine for over a month, one of the longest gaps in such strikes since the conflict began". It suggests this may be because operationally the Russian air force needed to replenish cruise missiles stocks.
The Russian ambassador to the US has criticised Washington for its latest round of support for Ukraine. Anatoly Antonov said The provocative and inflammatory actions of the US in the international arena are more like adding fuel to the fire than efforts to counter the further incitement and spread of bloody conflicts. It's high time to stop senseless multibillion-dollar injections into the bankrupt Kyiv regime."
Newly elected US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said that funding to support Ukraine and Israel should be handled separately, suggesting he will not back President Joe Biden's $106 billion aid package for both countries. Johnson, speaking in an interview on Fox News, said he had concerns about Ukraine funding in general. We want to know what the object is there, what is the end game in Ukraine."
Continue reading...