A Russian missile exploded in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa early Wednesday, just hundreds of feet from where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, according to sources and officials.

"It hit in a couple of hundred of meters (about 300 feet) from us, while the meeting was going," a source said.

The source also added that this was "the closest call ever," excluding Zelenskyy's trips to visit troops on the front lines.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attend a joint press conference in Odesa on Wednesday.

Zelenskyy had shown the Greek prime minister around the port, the two got back in the car, and then as they were in the car preparing to leave, they heard the air raid siren go off followed shortly by the missile striking and hitting the port.

However, according to the source, it is unlikely that Zelenskyy was the target, with the source saying Russians were likely just launching missiles at their usual targets.

"Yes, a missile strike was carried out in Odesa, probably by a ballistic weapon, hitting one of the buildings in the port infrastructure. But this is not in any way related to a specific visit. It is related to the terror that the enemy is carrying out quite methodically," a Ukrainian spokesperson for the joint press center of the Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces said Wednesday after the attack.

Zelenskyy's trip was not announced before Wednesday but his location was known by the time the strike hit his location.

Neither of the leaders was harmed.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said they successfully struck a hangar in a port in Odesa where unmanned boats of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were being prepared in a statement Wednesday.

A source with the Biden administration told ABC News it doesn't seem like Zelenskyy was the target of the Russian missile strike in Odesa but said it was certainly a very dangerous and reckless attack.

The strike was "yet another reminder of how Russia is continuing to attack Ukraine recklessly every single day and of Ukraine's urgent needs, in particular, for air defense interceptors," a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said.

At least five people were killed in the Russian strike on Odesa, a Ukrainian navy spokesman said.

"We saw this attack today," Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference. "You see who we're dealing with, they don't care where to hit. I know that there were victims today. I don't know all the details yet, but I know that there are dead, there are wounded."

Russia-Ukraine war live: Putin’s forces launch missile that nearly hits Zelensky’s motorcade in Odesa

A Russian missile nearly hit Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s motorcade during an incident near the Black Sea, according to reports.

The president was in Odesa to meet Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, when the incident happened.

It comes after Ukrainian drones struck one of Russia’s largest iron ore plants, with the attack claimed by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.

A source in Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency said it was responsible for the attack. Ukraine has stepped up long-range drones to strike targets deep inside Russia.

Russia also carried out an overnight attack on Ukrainian regions on Wednesday with 42 drones, Ukrainian officials said. At least seven people were injured.

Meanwhile, Germany’s ambassador to the UK has said there is “no need to apologise” for the security breaches which led to a call between top military officials being leaked by Russian sources.

Miguel Berger told BBC Radio 4's Today programme one of the participants had likely dialled in via an insecure line.

Key Points

• Zelensky’s motorcade nearly hit by Russian missile

• German ambassador says no apology needed over military leak

• Drone attacks on Crimea continue, power outage reported

• Video shows moment Ukraine sinks $65m Russian warship off Crimea

• Russia scrambles warplane to escort French military planes crossing Black Sea

No evidence to support Russia strike targeted Zelensky, says military

03:19 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Ukraine has no evidence to suggest that the Russian airstrike near Volodymyr Zelensky’s motorcade in Odesa targeted the Ukrainian president, said Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the operational command south.

The president was in Odesa to meet Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, when the incident happened.

“What is happening is that Russia is a terrorist [state], and obviously, it continues its attacks on port infrastructure,” the spokesperson told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

“It in no way relates to any specific visit [by foreign officials] ... it’s connected with the enemy’s methodical terror campaign.”

Wednesday’s strike hit one of the port infrastructure buildings in Odesa, she added.

Russia launched more than 880 drone attacks on Black Sea port, Ukraine says

03:00 , Lydia Patrick

Russia launched over 880 attack drones and over 170 missiles on the Black Sea port infrastructure in Ukraine‘s Odesa region since July last year, a Ukrainian navy commander said on Wednesday.

Moscow has stepped up attacks on port infrastructure since mid-July, when it quit a U.N.-brokered deal that allowed safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments via the Black Sea.

Zelensky’s motorcade nearly hit by Russian missile

02:58 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Volodymyr Zelensky’s motorcade was nearly hit by a Russian missile on Wednesday as the Ukrainian President visited the Black Sea port of Odessa.

Zelensky was with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis when the missile hit infrastructure close enough for the leaders to see the strike, with sources estimating the attack happened a mere 500 to 800 metre distance from the delegations.

“You see who we’re dealing with, they don’t care where to hit,” Zelensky told reporters in the wake of the incident, which killed five people, according to a Ukrainian navy spokesperson.

Tara Cobham reports.

Ukraine aims to conduct counter-offensive actions in 2024, top commander says

02:00 , Lydia Patrick

The Ukrainian military will stabilize the battlefield situation shortly and aims to form units for counter-offensive actions later this year, a top military commander said on Wednesday.

Ukrainian forces experienced a setback following nine months of mostly stable front lines, when the eastern city of Avdiivka fell into Russian hands earlier in February after months of devastating attacks.

Ukrainian troops were forced to leave several settlements neighboring the city due to Russia’s continued offensive amid its own depleting stockpiles of munitions. Meanwhile, a vital aid package from the U.S. has been stalled by Republicans in Congress.

“We will stabilize the situation shortly,” Oleksandr Pavliuk, appointed as ground force commander during the recent top military reshuffle, said in televised comments, “and do everything possible to prepare the troops for more active actions, and to seize the initiative.”

He added that current work was aimed at withdrawing military units that lost their potential and restoring them to later form a force for counter-offensive actions this year.

Nuclear chief Grossi meets Putin to discuss Zaporizhzhia plant

01:00 , Lydia Patrick

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday after talks with energy officials over safety at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

The Kremlin published introductory remarks by Putin and Grossi at the meeting in Sochi in southern Russia but gave no details of the closed-door meeting that followed.

Putin told Grossi he was prepared to discuss “particularly sensitive and important issues on the agenda ... and do everything to ensure security anywhere we are in one or another involved in nuclear energy”, the Kremlin said.

Grossi met the head of state nuclear power company Rosatom Alexei Likhachev alongside Putin.

Russian forces seized Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in their 2022 invasion of Ukraine and have occupied it since. Grossi is due to meet Putin in the southern Russian city of Sochi later on Wednesday.

Zaporizhzhia lies close to the front lines in a part of southern Ukraine which Moscow claims to have annexed. All six of its reactors are shut down, but it requires constant power and a water supply to keep it cool and prevent a potentially catastrophic meltdown.

It was damaged by fire when it was taken over in March 2022, and Russian and Ukrainian troops continue to clash nearby, accusing each other of shelling around the station. The IAEA has been trying to set up a safety mechanism to prevent accidents.

International court seeks the arrest of 2 Russian officers over attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure

00:00 , Lydia Patrick

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Tuesday for two high-ranking Russian military officers on charges linked to attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine that judges said happened “pursuant to a state policy.”

It’s only the second time the global court has publicly announced arrest warrants linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. In March 2023, the court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.

On Tuesday, the court announced warrants for Russian Lt. Gen. Sergei Ivanovich Kobylash, who was commander of the Long-Range Aviation of the Aerospace Force at the times of the alleged crimes. Also wanted is Russian navy Adm. Viktor Kinolayevich Sokolov, who was the commander of the Black Sea Fleet.

A timeline of restrictive laws that authorities have used to crack down on dissent in Putin's Russia

Wednesday 6 March 2024 23:00 , Lydia Patrick

As part of Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s ever-increasing clampdown on dissent, authorities in recent years have adopted a slew of laws restricting fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, as well as the rights of minorities and religious groups.

These laws have taken aim at “foreign agents” allegedly seeking to exert influence on Russia, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and organizations spreading information critical of the Kremlin or contrary to official narratives, especially regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Taurus missiles: What are the stealth weapons at heart of leaked audio and Russian German tension?

Wednesday 6 March 2024 22:00 , Lydia Patrick

On the day that Alexei Navalny was laid to rest in Moscow, Putin’s state media leaked an audio recording of German military officers discussing the hypothetical use of Taurus long-range missiles in Ukraine.

The conversation was never meant to be public, and the leak embarrassed Germany and raised concerns about security.

Furious with Germany, Moscow leveled threats in response.

“If nothing is done, and the German people do not stop this, then there will be dire consequences first and foremost for Germany itself,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Monday.

In her retort, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, “If Russia had not brutally attacked this country, Ukraine would not have to defend itself,” according to the dpa news agency.

Read the full story here...

Nuclear chief Grossi meets Putin to discuss Zaporizhzhia plant

Wednesday 6 March 2024 20:57 , Lydia Patrick

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday after talks with energy officials over safety at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

The Kremlin published introductory remarks by Putin and Grossi at the meeting in Sochi in southern Russia but gave no details of the closed-door meeting that followed.

Putin told Grossi he was prepared to discuss “particularly sensitive and important issues on the agenda ... and do everything to ensure security anywhere we are in one or another involved in nuclear energy”, the Kremlin said.

Grossi met the head of state nuclear power company Rosatom Alexei Likhachev alongside Putin.

Russian forces seized Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in their 2022 invasion of Ukraine and have occupied it since. Grossi is due to meet Putin in the southern Russian city of Sochi later on Wednesday.

Zaporizhzhia lies close to the front lines in a part of southern Ukraine which Moscow claims to have annexed. All six of its reactors are shut down, but it requires constant power and a water supply to keep it cool and prevent a potentially catastrophic meltdown.

It was damaged by fire when it was taken over in March 2022, and Russian and Ukrainian troops continue to clash nearby, accusing each other of shelling around the station. The IAEA has been trying to set up a safety mechanism to prevent accidents.

Ukraine aims to conduct counter-offensive actions in 2024, top commander says

Wednesday 6 March 2024 19:30 , Sam Rkaina

The Ukrainian military will stabilize the battlefield situation shortly and aims to form units for counter-offensive actions later this year, a top military commander said on Wednesday.

Ukrainian forces experienced a setback following nine months of mostly stable front lines, when the eastern city of Avdiivka fell into Russian hands earlier in February after months of devastating attacks.

Ukrainian troops were forced to leave several settlements neighboring the city due to Russia’s continued offensive amid its own depleting stockpiles of munitions. Meanwhile, a vital aid package from the U.S. has been stalled by Republicans in Congress.

“We will stabilize the situation shortly,” Oleksandr Pavliuk, appointed as ground force commander during the recent top military reshuffle, said in televised comments, “and do everything possible to prepare the troops for more active actions, and to seize the initiative.”

He added that current work was aimed at withdrawing military units that lost their potential and restoring them to later form a force for counter-offensive actions this year.

Russia launched more than 880 drone attacks on Black Sea port, Ukraine says

Wednesday 6 March 2024 18:30 , Sam Rkaina

Russia launched over 880 attack drones and over 170 missiles on the Black Sea port infrastructure in Ukraine‘s Odesa region since July last year, a Ukrainian navy commander said on Wednesday.

Moscow has stepped up attacks on port infrastructure since mid-July, when it quit a U.N.-brokered deal that allowed safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments via the Black Sea.

Russia says attack on Odessa ‘a success'

Wednesday 6 March 2024 18:00 , Sam Rkaina

Russia successfully attacked a hangar housing Ukrainian naval drones in a strike on the port of Odesa on Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

“The goal has been achieved. The target has been hit,” the ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine has made extensive use of naval drones to strike Russian ships in the Black Sea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that people had been killed and injured in a Russian attack on Odesa. Later a navy spokesperson told the Ukrainska Pravda media outlet that five people were killed.

Russian missile kills elderly man in Kharkiv, five die in Luhansk mine blast

Wednesday 6 March 2024 17:30 , Matt Mathers

A Russian missile strike on a village in Ukraine’s northern Kharkiv region killed a 70-year-old man and injured seven other people, including four teenagers, local officials said on Wednesday.

In a separate incident in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine, the top Moscow-installed official in the Luhansk region said five people were killed and three injured when a bus on its way to a cemetery was blown up by a mine.

It was not clear who was responsible for placing the mine. The official, Leonid Pasechnik, called it a tragedy and said an investigation was under way.

The United Nations said last month that its human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine had verified more than 10,000 civilian deaths and nearly 20,000 injuries in the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion. It said the actual numbers were likely to be significantly higher.

European Commission President condemns “new attempt at terror” by Russia

Wednesday 6 March 2024 17:00 , Sam Rkaina

President Zelensky has regularly visited cities and military units on the front line during the war, always in secrecy until after he has left.

Foreign leaders have made numerous trips to Ukraine, and they occasionally have had to take refuge in shelters when air raid sirens sound.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned on X, formerly Twitter, what she called the “vile attack” during the Greek visit. She called it a “new attempt at terror” by Russia.

Mr Zelensky showed Mitsotakis around the destruction in Odesa, where in the most recent major Russian attack 12 people — including five children — were killed when debris from a Russian drone hit an apartment block on March 2.

Mr Mitsotakis said Odesa held a special place in Greek history as the place where the Filiki Etairia organization was founded that fought for Greek independence from Ottoman rule in the 19th century.

‘Large explosion’ heard during motorcade attack

Wednesday 6 March 2024 16:36 , Sam Rkaina

The sound of a large explosion reverberated around the Ukrainian port of Odesa as President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greece’s prime minister ended a tour of the war-ravaged southern city Wednesday.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the delegations were getting into their vehicles when they heard the blast, which he called a “vivid reminder” that Odesa is gripped by the war with Russia. It is one thing to hear about the war and “quite another to experience war firsthand,” Mitsotakis said.

Zelensky said the explosion caused an unknown number of dead and wounded. “You see who we’re dealing with, they don’t care where to hit,” he told reporters. Russian officials made no immediate comment.

ICYMI: Ukraine says it has sunk another Russian warship in drone attack

Wednesday 6 March 2024 16:30 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine has sunk another Russian warship off the coast of occupied Crimea, Kyiv has said.

The Ukrainian military intelligence agency said a special unit called Group 13 had fired Magura V5 maritime kamikaze drones at the Sergey Kotov – a patrol ship Kyiv has said was worth $65m (£51m) – near the Kerch Strait, which connects the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea. The loss is another significant and embarrassing blow to Moscow’s naval power.

Full report:

Russian missile nearly hits Zelensky motorcade

Wednesday 6 March 2024 16:07 , Sam Rkaina

A Russian missile nearly hit Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s motorcade during an attack on Odessa today, it has been reported.

The president was in the Black Sea port to meet Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis when the incident happened.

“We saw this strike today,” Mr Zelensky said. “You see who we are dealing with, they do not care where they hit. I know there were casualties today, I don’t know all the details yet, but I know there are dead and wounded.

“We need to defend ourselves first and foremost. The best way to do that is with an air defense system.”

Taurus missiles: What are the stealth weapons at heart of leaked audio and Russian German tension?

Wednesday 6 March 2024 15:30 , Matt Mathers

On the day that Alexei Navalny was laid to rest in Moscow, Putin’s state media leaked an audio recording of German military officers discussing the hypothetical use of Taurus long-range missiles in Ukraine.

The conversation was never meant to be public, and the leak embarrassed Germany and raised concerns about security.

Taurus missiles: Stealth weapon at heart of leaked audio and Russian German tension

Russian jailed for seven years for articles about Ukraine war

Wednesday 6 March 2024 14:26 , Matt Mathers

A reporter for an independent Russian news outlet was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday for articles he wrote about alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine, his publication said.

Roman Ivanov, who works for the online RusNews, was convicted of publishing "fake news" about the Russian army under wartime censorship laws passed shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

Russia has used those laws to crack down on journalists and activists who report information that counters Kremlin narratives of what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine.

The charges against Ivanov stem from articles he wrote about a massacre in Bucha, Ukraine, a U.N. war crimes report and Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.

Escaping Russian capture: An ex-British soldier’s account of fighting for Ukraine detailed in our event

Wednesday 6 March 2024 13:30 , Matt Mathers

Former British Army soldier Shaun Pinner will be sharing the true story of his six months spent imprisoned in Russian-occupied Ukraine in this exclusive event.

Follow the link below to find details on how you can join the event:

A timeline of restrictive laws that authorities have used to crack down on dissent in Putin's Russia

Wednesday 6 March 2024 13:00 , Matt Mathers

As part of Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s ever-increasing clampdown on dissent, authorities in recent years have adopted a slew of laws restricting fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, as well as the rights of minorities and religious groups.

These laws have taken aim at “foreign agents” allegedly seeking to exert influence on Russia, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and organizations spreading information critical of the Kremlin or contrary to official narratives, especially regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Full report:

The UN atomic watchdog’s director arrives in Russia for talks on nuclear safety in Ukraine

Wednesday 6 March 2024 12:30 , Matt Mathers

The U.N. atomic watchdog agency’s director has arrived in Russia for talks on nuclear safety in Ukraine, where Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is at risk amid fighting.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly expressed alarm about the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant amid fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe. The plant has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire since Russia sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and seized the facility shortly after.

Full report:

Ukraine drone attack

Wednesday 6 March 2024 12:02 , Chris Stevenson

Two Ukrainian drones struck fuel facilities at one of Russia's largest iron ore plants.

Kursk governor Roman Starovoit said a second drone had hit the Mikhailovsky GOK iron ore plant which is owned by Metalloinvest, Russia's largest iron ore producer, around two hours after he announced a first strike.A source in Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency told Reuters that it was responsible for the attack.

"Today, as a result of a drone attack in the Zheleznogorsky district, a fuel tank at the fuel and lubricants warehouse of the Mikhailovsky Mining and Processing Plant caught fire," Metalloinvest said in a statement after the first attack.

‘No apology’ over all

Wednesday 6 March 2024 11:45 , Chris Stevenson

The Germany ambassador to the UK has said there is “no need to apologise” for the security breaches which led to a call between top military officials being leaked by Russian sources.

Miguel Berger told BBC Radio 4's Today programme one of the participants had likely dialled in via an insecure line.

In the audio, amry officers can be heard discussing details of British operations on the ground in Ukraine.

"I think that is a good lesson for everybody: never use hotel internet if you want to do a secure call," Mr Berger advised listeners.

Kyiv limiting Moscow operations in Black Sea as 3 navy vessels sunk in weeks - MoD

Wednesday 6 March 2024 10:55 , Matt Mathers

Ukraine continues to limit Russia’s operations in the Black Sea, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said after Kyiv sunk a third Russian navy vessel in five weeks.

In a statement on X, the MoD said: “This is the third [Sergei Kotov] Russian Black Sea Fleet vessel sunk in the past five weeks.

“Likely because of Black Sea Fleet losses, on 15 February 2024, the Black Sea Fleet Commander, Admiral Sokolov, was dismissed. Ukraine continues to limit the freedom of manoeuvre of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea.”

Read the state in full here:

Moldova and France to sign defence and economic cooperation accords

Wednesday 6 March 2024 10:05 , Matt Mathers

Moldova and France will sign defence and economic cooperation accords during a visit by Moldovan President Maia Sandu to Paris on Thursday, the French presidency said in a statement.

Western powers are seeking to increase support for Moldova amid what they fear are increasing efforts by Russia to destabilise Moldova. In parallel to Sandu’s visit, Western states will hold an audio call hosted by France to discuss increasing support for Ukraine, but also Moldova.

To Ukraine’s west, fellow former Soviet republic Moldova has a tiny defence budget and has long had tense relations with Moscow. Russia has troops and peacekeepers based in Transdniestria, a breakaway statelet of Moldova that has maintained its autonomy for three decades with the Kremlin’s support.

The French presidency said Macron would "reiterate France’s support for the independence, sovereignty and security of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine" when he meets Sandu on Thursday.

It added that a defence cooperation agreement and a road map for cooperation in the economic field would be signed during the visit. It gave no further details.

The Transdniestria region asked Russia in February to help its economy withstand Moldovan "pressure", at a meeting of hundreds of officials dismissed by the pro-European Chisinau government as a propaganda event.

ICYMI: War crime arrest warrants issued for top Russian commanders Sergei Kobylash and Viktor Sokolov

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:35 , Matt Mathers

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for top Russian commanders Sergei Kobylash and Viktor Sokolov over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

The ICC, based in The Hague, said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the two suspects were responsible for “missile strikes carried out by the forces under their command against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure from at least 10 October 2022 until at least 9 March 2023”.

Full report:

Woman who fled Ukraine war reopens pub in Wales

Wednesday 6 March 2024 09:10 , Matt Mathers

A woman who fled the war in Ukraine has reopened a pub in Wales, saying she hopes the move will give the local economy a boost.

Vladyslava Krapyvka left her home in Kyiv along with her youngest son after Russia’s invasion in 2022, and has taken on the lease of The Lamb in Newport.

She said she liked Newport but that the city centre looks “abandoned” and wants to “change the situation”.

“There are lots of people working very hard here, and they need to have a place here in the centre of Newport, where they can come to a small pub and they can have good service,” she told the BBC.

Second Ukrainian drone hits iron ore refinery in Russia’s Kursk region - governor

Wednesday 6 March 2024 08:45 , Matt Mathers

A second Ukrainian drone struck the Mikhailovsky GOK iron ore refinery in Russia’s Kursk region on Wednesday, shortly after an earlier attack at the plant, regional governor Roman Starovoit said on Telegram.

He said there were no casualties from either of the strikes.

Zelensky thanks ‘warriors’ for fight against ‘Russian terrorists’ in Black Sea

Wednesday 6 March 2024 08:30 , Matt Mathers

Volodymyr Zelensky has praised his troops for the fight against “Russian terrorists” in the Black Sea.

The Ukraine president also said his army was restoring “security” and “control” over its skies.

Writing on X, he said: “Today, I would like to thank all of our warriors and units who are restoring security and Ukraine’s control over our skies and the Black Sea.

“Ukraine has already proven its capabilities and strength. The number of destroyed Russian aircraft, as well as our warriors’ achievements against the Russian fleet, serve as proof of this.

“There are no safe harbors for Russian terrorists in the Black Sea. And there will be none. Just as there will be no safe space in the skies for them if Ukraine has sufficient strength. This refers to both partner deliveries and domestic manufacturing.”

Ukraine’s small but lethal weapon lifting morale

Wednesday 6 March 2024 08:03 , Matt Mathers

Uncrewed, remote-controlled boats have been around since the end of World War II. Late last century, technological innovations broadened their potential uses.

Lethal, advanced sea drones developed and deployed by Ukraine in its war with Russia have opened a new chapter in that story.

Full report:

Argentine president to visit Kyiv in June and meet Zelensky

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:34 , Arpan Rai

The Argentine president Javier Milei says he will visit Kyiv as part of a diplomatic tour of Europe in June this year.

The South American leader said he will also meet Volodymyr Zelensky during the visit.

Mr Milei had previously announced his plans to hold a “summit of Latin America support” for Ukraine in late 2024.

ICYMI: Arrest warrants against Russian commanders issued by ICC over war crimes in Ukraine

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:29 , Arpan Rai

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for two Russian commanders over committing war crimes by attacking Ukrainian infrastructure, marking the second round of warrants issued for Russian leaders in the invasion of Ukraine.

The top global court said there are reasonable grounds to believe that the two top commanders were responsible for “missile strikes carried out by the forces under their command against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure from at least 10 October 2022 until at least 9 March 2023”.

As a result of these strikes, Ukraine’s electrical grid suffered civilian harm and damage that would have been clearly excessive to any expected military advantage, the court, at The Hague, said.

Even though Russia claims it does not deliberately target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, its troops have rained missiles on hospitals, schools, theatres-turned-shelter homes, villages, grocery stores and marketplaces far inside Ukraine during the course of its over two years of invasion.

Prosecutors in Kyiv said they were already investigating possible war crimes after the war-hit nation endured two bloodied winter campaigns under Russian attacks which hit Ukrainian energy and utilities infrastructure.

Escaping Russian capture: Sign up to our exclusive event

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:16 , Arpan Rai

To mark ten years of conflict in Ukraine, The Independent is hosting a Virtual Event that will explore the grim underbelly of the war - getting a first-hand perspective from a former British Army soldier captured by Russian forces.

Shaun Pinner will be joining journalist Tim White, to detail how he was detained in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic after the siege of Mariupol and later freed in a prisoner swap.

He will be sharing the true story of his six months spent imprisoned in Russian-occupied Ukraine in this exclusive event.

Sign up here.

Ukrainian drone attacks Russian fuel and lubricants warehouse, says official

Wednesday 6 March 2024 07:15 , Arpan Rai

A drone attack has sparked an explosion and fire in Russia’s Kursk at a local fuel and lubricants warehouse, with local officials describing it as an assault from Ukraine.

Local governor Roman Starovoit said that no one had been injured, and that a fuel tank was on fire.

The photos and videos of the attack on the petrol depot showed thick grey