Ukraine news latest — Russia suffers ‘30,000 casualties’ in Bakhmut as desperate Putin meets China’s Xi Jinping today
VLADIMIR Putin's brutal forces have lost up to 30,000 soldiers in their efforts to take the city of Bakhmut, the British Ministry of Defence reports.
The city in eastern Ukraine has been the centre of some of the most intense and brutal fighting in recent months, as Ukrainian soldiers desperately defend their position.
Now, the British MoD has revealed the Kremlin faced between 20,000 and 30,000 losses in the town, with the vast majority being Wagner mercenaries.
As a result, the bloodthirsty mercenary outfit has publically questioned Putin's "betrayal" of them in recent weeks.
This comes as the desperate dictator meets with China's Xi Jinping today, in a bid to strengthen Russia's ties with the superpower.
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This blog is now closed - but we've started a brand new live coverage feed
This live coverage feed has now closed.
But you can follow the arrival of China's Xi Jinping in Moscow to meet Putin today with our brand new Ukraine war blog here.
China and Russia are 'good neighbours and reliable partners'
China's President reportedly declared China and Russia are "good neighbours" upon his arrival in Moscow this morning.
Russian state media reported: "China and Russia are good neighbours and reliable partners, Xi Jinping said upon his arrival in Moscow on a state visit.
"He noted that China is ready, together with Russia, to guard the world order based on international law.
"The Chinese President expects that the visit to Russia will give a new impetus to the development of Russian-Chinese relations and strategic cooperation."
Inside the UK-led training programme for Ukrainian recruits
Known as Operation Interflex, the UK-led training programme for Ukrainian recruits provides them with battlefield skills, enabling them to defend their homeland against Russian aggression.
The training is for new volunteer recruits who have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine with little to no previous military experience to teach them the skills required to survive and be effective in frontline combat.
Since the start of the training programme back in June 2022, over 10,000 recruits have taken part in training – which has been extended with an aim of training up to 20,000 in 2023.
Ukraine repels 69 missiles in 24 hours
Ukraine has reportedly repelled 69 Russian missiles in the last 24 hours.
The general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces confirmed Russia had launched assaults on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Mariinka, and Shakhtarsk in the Donetsk other the last day.
Fighting continues to rage in Bakhmut.
Russian losses pass 165,000 as fighting rages on
Russian losses have reportedly soared past 165,000 as Putin continues his brutal invasion of Ukraine.
According to Ukraine's military, Russia has suffered 700 casualties in the last 24 hours, bringing total losses to 165,610.
This comes amid a report by the British Ministry of Defence claiming Russia has lost up to 30,000 soldiers in its attempts to take Bakhmut.
Russia's spring offensive has 'failed', claims think tank
Russia's spring offensive has hit a wall before reaching full steam, a military think tank has claimed.
Putin's attempt to give his army an advantage by recruiting 300,000 extra troops has had little impact, the Institute for the Study of War reports.
"If 300,000 Russian soldiers have been unable to give Russia a decisive offensive edge in Ukraine it is highly unlikely that the commitment of additional forces in future mobilization waves will produce a dramatically different outcome this year," said the think tank.
Russia has only made incremental gains across the frontline in recent months, with Ukraine's defensive position holding strong.
'Complex problems do not have simple solutions,' claims Xi Jinping ahead of Russia visit
In an article published ahead of his visit to Moscow today, China's President Xi Jinping claimed the world agrees with his "impartial" plan for peace.
Writing for the Russian government's Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Mr Xi said China "has made active efforts to promote reconciliation and peace negotiations," between Russia and Ukraine.
In recent weeks President Zelensky has called on China to lead the way in promoting Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine.
However, this seems unlikely given the close ties between Moscow and Beijing.
Russian forces making slow progress in Donetsk
According to the British Ministry of Defence, Russia is making slow progress in the Donetsk region, despite Ukraine's best efforts to repel Putin's forces.
The MoD statement read: "Over the past three weeks, Russian forces have made creeping gains around the Ukrainian-held Donbas town of Avdiivka, immediately north of Donetsk city.
"The Russian operation has largely been carried out by the 1st Army Corps of the Donetsk People’s Republic; local personnel who will know the terrain well. Avdiivka has been on the front line of the Donbas conflict since 2014; the city is now largely destroyed.
"The sprawling Avdiivka Coke Plant complex is likely to be seen as particularly defendable key terrain as the battle progresses.
"Tactically, the situation is similar to that in the larger town of Bakhmut, further north. Ukrainian forces continue organised defence, but their supply lines to the west are increasingly threatened by the Russian envelopment operation."
Justice ministers to meet in London today to boost support for ICC Putin arrest
Justice ministers from across the globe will meet in London today, as they look to boost support for the International Criminal Court.
This comes after the ICC published an arrest warrant for Russia's Vladimir Putin, branding him a war criminal.
“We are gathering in London today united by one cause: to hold war criminals to account for the atrocities committed in Ukraine during this unjust, unprovoked and unlawful invasion,” British deputy prime minister Dominic Raab said.
Kremlin dismisses aircraft support for Ukraine
A Putin lackey has laughed off the decisions by Poland and Slovakia to send fighter jets to Ukraine.
“It seems that these countries are thus engaged in the disposal of old unnecessary equipment,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday, reports CNN.
The Kremlin mouthpiece reportedly claimed this is “yet another example” of NATO members “increasing their level of direct involvement in the conflict.”
Both Poland and Ukraine have agreed to send MiG-29 fighter jets to aid in Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
Why did Russia annex Crimea?
Nine years ago, Russia invaded and then annexed Crimea.
Vladimir Putin said that the troops were sent there to ensure proper conditions for the nationals to freely express their will, however, the annexation was met with international outcry over the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The 2014 conflict escalated after Ukraine’s pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych was driven from power by violent protests.
Russia and Ukraine had been contesting for Crimea for centuries and it remained part of Russia until 1954 when Sovier leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred it back to Ukraine.
Ever since 2014, tensions between Russia and Ukraine increased.
Putin to meet Xi Jinping today
China’s President Xi Jinping will visit Russia today for a series of negotiations with Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin announced the meeting in a statement on Friday, raising tensions between Ukraine’s western allies and China.
“During the talks, they will discuss topical issues of further development of comprehensive partnership relations and strategic cooperation between Russia and China,” the Kremlin said.
“A number of important bilateral documents will be signed,” Reuters reports it added.
Putin visits occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol
Vladimir Putin visited the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol last week, according to Russian media.
It comes just days after an arrest warrant was issued for the tyrant over alleged war crimes in the war-torn country.
The report described the president’s visit as a “working trip” to the city, which he annexed in September last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Putin arrived in a helicopter, making stops and talking to residents, according to Russia’s TASS state-owned news agency, citing the Kremlin.
In one trip to a new apartment building, Putin told the Ukrainian citizens: “We need to start getting to know each other better.”
Mariupol has been under Russian occupation for more than 10 months.
Why did Russia annex Crimea?
In 2014, Russia invaded and then annexed Crimea.
Vladimir Putin said that the troops were sent there to ensure proper conditions for the nationals to freely express their will, however, the annexation was met with international outcry over the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The 2014 conflict escalated after Ukraine’s pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych was driven from power by violent protests.
Russia and Ukraine had been contesting for Crimea for centuries and it remained part of Russia until 1954 when Sovier leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred it back to Ukraine.
Ever since 2014, tensions between Russia and Ukraine increased.
Putin can receive a life in prison sentence for his crimes
Dr Miracle Chinwenmeri Uche, from the University of Exeter Law School spoke with The Sun Online about the ICC warrent for the arrest of Vladimir Putin.
Around 123 member countries are obliged to hand him over to the court if he steps foot on their border.
The ICC gained its foundations from the trials that took place of the Nazi leaders in the city of Nuremberg after WW2.
Dr Uche told us: “The Nuremberg trials come to mind at a time like this. It’s a reminder that alleged perpetrators who occupy powerful positions are not immune from accountability.
“The relevance of the Nuremberg trials to the current Ukraine situation before the ICC as it relates to Mr Putin can be considered in two-fold.
“Firstly, the foundations of the work done by the ICC and other international criminal tribunals can be traced to the Nuremberg trials. Secondly, in relation to the principle of individual criminal responsibility – a very important concept arising out of the Nuremberg trials.
“Mr Putin and other alleged perpetrators may therefore be held individually responsible for crimes committed in the context of the war in accordance with the law no matter how long this may take.
“Therefore, one can foresee similar trials in so far as it relates to established international criminal law be it in the Hague, or elsewhere in the world.”
The ICC can give Putin a life imprisonment sentence if he’s ever taken to the court and charged.
Read the full interview with Dr Miracle Chinwenmeri Uche here.
Russia ‘open to really serious proposals’ on resolving Ukraine crisis
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Russia is open to discussing “serious proposals” about resolving issues with Ukraine.
According to Russia’s TASS news agency, she said: “We have repeatedly stated that we are open to really serious proposals from the West and Ukraine on finding a political and diplomatic solution to the crisis but we will not accept the language of ultimatums.
“In order to ensure sustainable peace, there is a need to demand that the provision of weapons and mercenaries to Ukraine should come to an end, military activities should stop, Ukraine should restore its neutral status, and the new situation on the ground, which stems from the right of peoples to self-determination, should be recognised at the international level.
“In addition, the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine needs to take place, all threats coming from its territory need to be eliminated and its non-nuclear status needs to be guaranteed along with respect for the rights of Russian speakers and ethnic minorities.”
What is a war crime?
A war crime is committed when combatants violate the laws of war as defined by international treaties or customary law.
Acts such as killing civilians, killing prisoners of war, torture, taking hostages, committing genocide and ethnic cleansing are considered war crimes.
They are often unwarranted acts of violence or brutality and violate the rules of military conflicts.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates breaches of The Rome Statute and tries people who are charged with the most substantial crimes of concern to international communities.
Wagner plans to recruit 30,000 soldiers by May
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said that they aim to recruit around 30,000 new fighters by May.
In an audio message on the Telegram, he said that Wagner recruitment centres have been hiring on average 500 to 800 people a day as they opened in 42 Russian cities.
Putin to meet Xi Jinping tomorrow
China's President Xi Jinping will visit Russia tomorrow for a series of negotiations with Russia's Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin announced the meeting in a statement on Friday, raising tensions between Ukraine's western allies and China.
“During the talks, they will discuss topical issues of further development of comprehensive partnership relations and strategic cooperation between Russia and China,” the Kremlin said.
“A number of important bilateral documents will be signed,” Reuters reports it added.
Putin visits Rostov-on-Don following surprise Mariupol trip
Putin continued his travels on Sunday as he visited the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
According to Russian state-owned news agency TASS, Putin held a meeting of his military command during the visit.
It comes after Putin visited both occupied Mariupol and Crimea over the weekend.
Ukrainian officials continue to blast 'genocidal' Putin amid Mariupol visit
Ukrainian politicians slammed Putin en-masse today, following the brutal dictator's visit to war-ravaged Mariupol.
Oleksii Honcharenko questioned if Putin simply visited the city to see the effects of his "genocidal" bombing campaign.
“Did the war criminal come to see with his own eyes the genocide he committed in Mariupol? Why at night? Is he afraid?” Honcharenko asked on Telegram.
Ukrainian residents slam Putin's visit to Mariupol
Ukrainian civilians are unimpressed by Putin's visit to the occupied city of Mariupol, with one person branding it nothing more than "PR."
One 25-year-old civilian told CNN: "It only makes us angry. My reaction is as negative as possible."
"I think it's just PR," he said.
"PR to show that they stand in some kind of position, but in fact, they are nobody, and they are weak. We will win. Victory will definitely be ours."