Moscow said Monday that Ukraine had nearly completed developing a “dirty bomb,” after Russia’s defence minister in calls with NATO counterparts claimed Kyiv’s forces were planning to deploy the weapon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow was conducting its nearly eight-month invasion of Ukraine correctly, despite his forces’ early failure to topple Kyiv and a string of recent embarrassing battlefield defeats.
Russian forces launched a barrage of fatal bombardments across Ukraine early Monday, in an apparent retaliation for an explosion that damaged a key bridge to Moscow-annexed Crimea.
President Vladimir Putin called up Russian military reservists on Wednesday, saying his promise to use all military means in Ukraine was “no bluff,” and hinting that Moscow was prepared to use nuclear weapons.
The Philippines has scrapped an order for 16 Russian military helicopters, an official confirmed Wednesday, following reports former president Rodrigo Duterte decided to cancel it due to US sanctions on Moscow.
Top US officials hosted emergency talks with allies in Germany on Tuesday on supplying Kyiv with more weapons to fend off Russia’s assault, as the UN’s chief headed to Moscow in a bid to avert further escalation of the conflict.
Moscow on Friday accused Kyiv of carrying out its first air strike on Russian soil, in a new blow to hopes of any deescalation in President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on European leaders Monday to cease all trade with Russia in an effort to pressure Moscow to halt its nearly month-long military assault on his country.
Russia said Monday that an attack by Kyiv’s forces on the separatist stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine had left 23 people dead, with the military accusing Kyiv of committing a “war crime”.
China stressed on Monday that the friendship between Beijing and Moscow was still “rock solid”, despite international condemnation of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, as Beijing said it was open to helping mediate peace.
