Ukraine-Russia war news: Putin’s weary forces make first gains in 3 WEEKS as Wagner mercenaries CAPTURE huge power plant
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RUSSIAN forces have taken over Ukraine's second biggest power plant as Putin advances in Donbas after three weeks of tactical deadlock.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it was likely Russian private military firm Wagner had advanced in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
The advances were made around the Vuhlehirska Power Plant and the nearby village of Novoluhanske, the Ministry of Defence said on Twitter.
And speaking of the capture, Ukrainian official said Oleksiy Arestovych: "They achieved a tiny tactical advantage - they captured Vuhlehirsk."
Seizing the Soviet-era coal-fired Vuhlehirsk power plant in eastern Ukraine, it is Putin's first strategic gain in more than three weeks in what it calls its "special operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour.
The MoD also added some Ukrainian forces have likely withdrawn from the area.
Read our Ukraine war live blog below for the latest up-to-date news...
Zelensky condemns Russia's widespread shelling
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the widespread Russian shelling on Saturday night.
"In just one day, Russia hit Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rig, the communities of the Zaporizhzhia region," he said.
He said the strikes "absolutely deliberately" and "purposefully" targeted residential areas, hitting "ordinary houses, civilian objects, people".
"Such terrorist actions can really only be stopped with weapons, modern and powerful," Zelensky added.
Latest intelligence
The UK's Ministry of Defence have released their latest intelligence update.
The map below is an update on the situation in Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces claim to have recaptured Kherson
Ukrainian forces claim to have recaptured a village named Ivanivka, in the region of Kherson.
“The only thing left of the Russian occupiers in Ivanivka are horrible memories and ‘dead’ military equipment,” a Ukrainian infantry brigade said.
Russia’s Lavrov heckled with ‘stop the war’ chants at G20 summit
Sergei Lavrov, has been heckled with shouts of “When will you stop the war“ and “Why don’t you stop the war“ at a G20 meeting on Friday.
Host Indonesia has urged the global gathering to help end the conflict in Ukraine.
Mr Lavrov chose to dismiss what he cast as the west’s “frenzied” criticism of the war.
Captured Brit aid worker Paul Urey dies after being taken hostage
A captured British aid worker has reportedly died after being held hostage in Ukraine as pro-Putin separatists blame his death on "stress".
Paul Urey, 45, from Manchester, was accused of being a spy after he was held with fellow Brit Dylan Healey on a mercy mission to rescue civilians.
He was reportedly charged with "mercenary activities" by officials in the Donetsk People's Republic's in eastern Ukraine before his death.
Putin stooge Daria Morozova claimed the Brit died "due to illness and stress".
She said Paul was suffering from “insulin dependent diabetes, damage to the respiratory system, kidneys and a number of diseases of the cardiovascular system” when he was captured.
"He was taken prisoner in April of this year while trying to break through a checkpoint controlled by the Donetsk People’s Republic servicemen," she added.
"In addition, he was in a depressed psychological state. Despite the severity of the alleged crime, Paul Urey was provided with appropriate medical assistance.
"However, given the diagnoses and stress, he passed away on July 10."
He is the first British national known to have died in Russian captivity.
Apartment strike death toll ‘rises to 18'
Emergency services have said that the death toll from a Russian rocket attack that hit an apartment block has risen to 18.
Three more bodies were found, with rescuers still racing to reach survivors in the rubble.
Rescuers were in voice contact with two people trapped in the ruins the service said.
Six people have been rescued from the building’s ruins, and some 137 tonnes of rubble were cleared, it added.
Three dead and 22 injured in Kharkiv shelling
the regional governor has said three people have been killed and 22 wounded on Monday after Russian shelling hit Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.
An official from the president's office said residential areas had been struck from multiple rocket launchers.
Zelensky visits hospital and the battle frontline
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a hospital to meet injured soldiers and civilians, along with doctors and nurses who are treating them.
Sky News reports that he has also delivered his nightly video address and speaks about having worked all day in Dnipro and Kryvy Rih.
Zelensky said: “I listened to the reports of the commanders, thanked our boys and girls who are defending the region on behalf of all Ukrainians.”
The President awarded a Golden Star to Lieutenant Colonel Oleh Hrudzevych – commander of the tank battalion.
Zelenskky praises America for delivering more arms
Ukraine’s President Voldymyr Zelensky has praised his counterpart Joe Biden for supplying Ukraine with HIMAR launchers, Al-Jazeera reports.
“It is what helps us press on the enemy. We appreciate the support! Let’s go to victory together!,” he said.
10,631 Ukrainian civilians killed so far
Roughly 10,631 civilians were confirmed killed as of June 26, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
But the actual number is understood to be significantly higher, claims Al-Jazeera.
‘Weapon accuracy is exactly as needed’
Zelensky has said that Western artillery weapons are “working very powerfully”.
He said: “The Western artillery – the weapons we received from our partners – started working very powerfully.
“Its accuracy is exactly as needed. Our defenders inflict very noticeable strikes on depots and other spots that are important for the logistics of the occupiers, and this significantly reduces the offensive potential of the Russian army.
“The losses of the occupiers will only increase every week, as will the difficulty of supplying them.”
Putin’s pal sends warning to Western leaders
One of Vladimir Putin’s most loyal allies has issued a chilling warning to the West that any attack on Russia would be a “threat to humanity”.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia‘s former president, threatened the West with an all-out attack if it punishes Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
“The idea of punishing a country that has one of the largest nuclear potentials is absurd,” said Medvedev, now deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council on Telegram
“And potentially poses a threat to the existence of humanity.”
Known as Putin‘s “yes man”, 56-year-old Medvedev was previously seen as more moderate than the Russian leader, although he has taken an increasingly hard line in recent years.
His warning comes amid heightened tension with the West over its involvement in the Ukraine war, and the near-daily threats by Putin’s propagandists to deploy atomic weapons.
These threats also come as Putin staged terrifying nuclear drills with ballistic missiles “capable of striking Britain” at 15,000mph.
Boris addresses Ukraine in his resignation speech
Boris Johnson resigned today but made reference to the war in Russia.
He said: “In parliament, getting us all through the pandemic, delivering the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe, the fastest exit from lockdown, and in the last few months, leading the West in standing up to Putin’s aggression in Ukraine.
“Let me say that to the people of Ukraine that I know that we in the UK will continue to back your fight for freedom for as long as it takes.”
Putin’s pal sends warning to Western leaders
One of Vladimir Putin’s most loyal allies has issued a chilling warning to the West that any attack on Russia would be a “threat to humanity”.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia‘s former president, threatened the West with an all-out attack if it punishes Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
“The idea of punishing a country that has one of the largest nuclear potentials is absurd,” said Medvedev, now deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council on Telegram
“And potentially poses a threat to the existence of humanity.”
Known as Putin‘s “yes man”, 56-year-old Medvedev was previously seen as more moderate than the Russian leader, although he has taken an increasingly hard line in recent years.
His warning comes amid heightened tension with the West over its involvement in the Ukraine war, and the near-daily threats by Putin’s propagandists to deploy atomic weapons.
These threats also come as Putin staged terrifying nuclear drills with ballistic missiles “capable of striking Britain” at 15,000mph.
Putin’s pal sends warning to Western leaders
One of Vladimir Putin’s most loyal allies has issued a chilling warning to the West that any attack on Russia would be a “threat to humanity”.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia‘s former president, threatened the West with an all-out attack if it punishes Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
“The idea of punishing a country that has one of the largest nuclear potentials is absurd,” said Medvedev, now deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council on Telegram
“And potentially poses a threat to the existence of humanity.”
Known as Putin‘s “yes man”, 56-year-old Medvedev was previously seen as more moderate than the Russian leader, although he has taken an increasingly hard line in recent years.
His warning comes amid heightened tension with the West over its involvement in the Ukraine war, and the near-daily threats by Putin’s propagandists to deploy atomic weapons.
These threats also come as Putin staged terrifying nuclear drills with ballistic missiles “capable of striking Britain” at 15,000mph.
Russia’s Lavrov heckled with ‘stop the war’ chants at G20 summit
Sergei Lavrov, has been heckled with shouts of “When will you stop the war“ and “Why don’t you stop the war“ at a G20 meeting on Friday.
Host Indonesia has urged the global gathering to help end the conflict in Ukraine.
Mr Lavrov chose to dismiss what he cast as the west’s “frenzied” criticism of the war.
FBI and M15 issue rare joint warning for all iPhone and Android users
Directors from the top intelligence agencies representing the United States and the United Kingdom have appeared together to make a forceful statement.
“Today is the first time the heads of the FBI and MI5 have shared a public platform,” MI5 general director Ken McCallum told reporters from the podium at the MI5 headquarters in London.
“We’re doing so to send the clearest signal we can on a massive shared challenge: China.”
The joint appearance denounced activity in China that could negatively impact the global economy.
Reporters pressed FBI Director Wray on China’s military strategy and asked if he thought the conflict in Ukraine has opened a window for China to invade Taiwan.
“I don’t have any reason to think their interest in Taiwan has abated in any fashion,” Wray said.
Taiwan is recognized as a self-governing nation independent of China by just 13 countries, according to .
Tawain’s proximity to an unfriendly global superpower and electrifying self-governance are comparable to the conditions preceding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Fresh recruits
HUNDREDS of fresh recruits from Ukraine have started Boot Camp in Britain — ready to take on the Russians.
Britain has pledged to train 10,000 volunteers with no military experience in four months.
The first batch arrived last week and are already blasting Kalashnikov rounds at secret beauty spot ranges.
They narrowly escaped an air attack days before they left.
A Ukrainian army instructor, who asked not to be named, said: “We think the Russian military knew we were preparing to come here.”
Troops from the UK’s 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade are delivering a six-month basic infantry course in just a few weeks.
Putin ridiculed by MoD for deploying tanks ‘designed to be TRACTORS’
VLADIMIR Putin has been ridiculed by the Ministry of Defence for deploying tanks “designed to be tractors” with just a machine gun for protection.
The MoD also slapped down Mad Vlad‘s claim that Russia had “not even started” in Ukraine.
Britain’s defence ministry confirmed Russia was deploying “worn out and lightly armed” MT-LB personnel carriers “long considered unsuitable for most front-line infantry transport roles”.
“It was originally designed in the Fifties as a tractor to pull artillery, has very limited armour and only mounts a machine gun for protection,” the intelligence update reported in the read.
The outdated tank was designed as a Cold War “amphibious tractor” capable of carrying 10 soldiers in its cramped and airless hold, as well as a driver and a gunner.