Ukraine invasion latest: Biden says Russia planning to use chemical weapons with Putin’s ‘back against the wall’

Authorities have activated air raid sirens in nearly all components of Ukraine, reported The Kyiv Unbiased.

The areas embody Sumy, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattya, Chernivtsi, Dnipropetrovsk, Rivne, Volyn, Cherkasy, Khmelnytsky and Odesa oblasts.

A superyacht value $700 million (£500 million) belonging to the Russian president Vladimir Putin is moored off the west coast of Italy, in keeping with claims by the allies of opposition chief Alexei Navalny.

The yacht – a six-decked vessel named Scheherazade – reportedly boasts a spa, magnificence salon, gymnasium and two helipads. It additionally homes a swimming pool geared up with a retractable cowl, which turns right into a dance flooring.

Emily Atkinson has the complete report right here:

Japan has condemned Russia’s choice to cease peace treaty talks over the disputed Kuril islands and the transfer to withdraw from joint financial initiatives after Tokyo imposed sanctions over Moscow for invading Ukraine.

“The newest state of affairs has been all attributable to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” chief cupboard secretary Hirokazu Matsuno mentioned on Tuesday.

Russia’s response to tug out from peace talks is “extraordinarily unjustifiable and completely unacceptable”, Mr Matsuno mentioned.

Moscow and Tokyo have nonetheless not signed a peace treaty to formally recognise the top of hostilities after the Second World Conflict.

The 2 nations have been engaged in a dispute over Russia-controlled islands north of Hokkaido, which Moscow seized management of after the battle.

In sync with its western allies, Japan slapped a sequence of sanctions on Russia and froze particular person property, banning exports of luxurious items.

Tokyo additionally despatched non-lethal army support to Ukraine, like bullet-proof vests, in a present of solidarity.

Ukrainian officers mentioned that the Russian offensive is ongoing in key areas together with Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk.

“Enemy plane proceed to destroy missile and bombings of infrastructure in Ukraine in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts. On the similar time, the occupiers proceed to actively use the airfield community of the republic of Belarus,” Ukraine’s defence ministry mentioned in a press release.

Russia launched its invasion nearly a month in the past on 24 February.

The Ukrainian city of Makariv, which had been captured by Russian forces to the west of Kyiv, was taken again by troops from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, officers mentioned.

“… Through the day, due to the heroic actions of our defenders, the state flag of Ukraine was raised over the town of Makarov, the enemy was rejected,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.

Makariv is situated 60 kilometres west of Kyiv.

The Ukrainian army has repelled at the least 13 assaults from Russia and destroyed 14 tanks and eight infantry combating automobiles, amongst different damages inflicted on troops despatched by Moscow, Ukraine’s defence officers mentioned on Tuesday.

Additionally they destroyed two light-armoured multi-purpose towing car, three artillery techniques and 4 different miscellaneous automobiles.

Air defence models hit two enemy air targets, a press release from Ukrainian officers added.

It claimed that the the losses amongst Russian personnel amounted to about 300 individuals, including that the losses are being clarified.

“Defenders of Mariupol destroyed the patrol boat ‘Raptor’ and the digital warfare complicated ‘Leer-’. Within the South Buh route, the occupiers have taken defensive motion, are taking measures to revive fight functionality, making an attempt to revive broken armoured automobiles,” the assertion added.

The Pentagon will assist in amassing proof of Russian forces committing battle crimes in its neighbour Ukraine’s territory, defence division spokesperson John Kirby mentioned on Monday.

“We definitely see clear proof that Russian forces are committing battle crimes, and we’re serving to with the amassing of proof of that, however there’s investigative processes which are going to go on, and we’re going to let that occur,” Kirby acknowledged.

He added that the Pentagon has seen the proof, however didn’t share particulars on what acts will likely be deemed battle crimes.

In line with the White Home officers, focusing on of civilians and indiscriminate assaults are categorised as battle crimes.

A holocaust survivor residing at his residence in Ukraine’s Kharkiv metropolis was killed on Friday by a Russian airstrike, confirmed the Buchenwalk focus camp memorial institute.

“As we discovered from his family members, our pal Boris Romanchenko, who survived the Nazi camps #Buchenwald , #Peenemünde , #Dora and #BergenBelsen , was killed final Friday in a bomb blast at his residence in #Харькове . We’re deeply disturbed,” the institute mentioned in a tweet.

The 96-year-old Boris Romanchenko had labored “intensively on the reminiscence of Nazi crimes and was vice-president of the Buchenwald-Dora Worldwide Committee,” the institute mentioned.

In line with his granddaughter, Romanchenko lived in a multi-storey constructing which was hit by an artillery shell final week.

In 2012, the person had learn the Buchenwald oath “Creating a brand new world the place peace and freedom reign” through the celebration of the anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald focus camp, the institute mentioned.

India’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been “shaky”, US president Joe Biden mentioned on Monday, calling the Asian ally an exception within the united response in opposition to Vladimir Putin.

“The Quad is, with the doable exception of India being considerably shaky on a few of this, however Japan has been extraordinarily sturdy — so has Australia — when it comes to coping with Putin’s aggression,” Mr Biden mentioned, including that there had been a “united entrance all through Nato and within the Pacific”.

He was addressing a gathering of US enterprise leaders in Washington, days forward of a go to to Europe.

A Russian ally, India has not solely abstained from voting on the resolutions raised on the United Nations Safety Council meet, it has additionally bought tens of millions of barrels of Russian crude oil — a transfer that financially aids the limping Moscow economic system within the face of world sanctions.

Prince William and his spouse Kate paid tributes to the individuals of Ukraine dealing with a Russian invasion, throughout their go to to a British army coaching camp as a part of a tour of the Caribbean.

“Right this moment we consider these struggling in Ukraine and we stand with them in solidarity,” mentioned Prince William at a proper dinner with Belize’s prime minister on the grounds of the Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve.

The previous RAF pilot mentioned that Belize had joined many different nations in condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.