World

There’s absolutely nowhere here that’s been spared. Street after street it’s the same – shattered buildings and bomb craters. The frontline Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk is a key target for Russian forces. And it’s been under attack since day one of this invasion. Russia hits ‘hangar full of European/US weapons’ – live updates The people

Vladimir Putin has warned that any threats made by countries interfering in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be met with a “lightning-fast” reaction. In an address to the Council of Legislators in St Petersburg, the Russian leader said “all the objectives will definitely be carried out” in the Ukraine war. He said: “If someone intends

The US has urged its allies to move “heaven and earth” to keep Kyiv stocked with weapons – as Russian forces continue to rain fire on eastern and southern Ukraine. For the second day in a row, explosions also rocked the separatist region of Trans-Dniester in neighbouring Moldova, knocking out two powerful radio antennas close

The head of the United Nations has said his priority is to “minimise human suffering” in Ukraine as he begins talks in Russia today. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire “as soon as possible” ahead of a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with the two men due to hold a news conference

Moscow says it is effectively at war with NATO – and has warned that Western weapons are inflaming the conflict in Ukraine. Speaking on the 61st day of the war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said continual deliveries of supplies and weaponry to Ukraine means the NATO alliance has positioned itself as “in essence engaged

The first thing you notice driving into Kharkiv is that what little traffic is here is going the other way. This is a Ukrainian city largely emptied of life: deserted streets, destroyed buildings and the ever-present sounds of war. Two days before the Russians invaded, we walked through Freedom Square in the bustle of a

Emmanuel Macron is set to become the first French president in 20 years to win a second term after an official vote projection suggested he has seen off the challenge from Marine Le Pen. The projected result from Ipsos saw Mr Macron get 58.2% of the votes compared with Ms Le Pen’s 41.8%. The pair

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has visited Kyiv, according to a Ukrainian presidential adviser. He met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and was expected to discuss the country’s request for more weapons to repel the Russian invasion. This is the first visit by a senior US official since Russia invaded Ukraine 60 days ago – and

Five years after its last presidential election, France today opens its polling booths with the same two candidates on the ballot paper.  Emmanuel Macron, the sitting president, is pitched against Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement National party. They are candidates who could hardly bring a greater contrast – Mr Macron from the centre

The top investigative body in Russia is looking at whether the SAS is “organising sabotage” in Ukraine. The Investigative Committee – Moscow’s main federal investigating authority – said it would be following up a report from Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency. RIA quoted a Russian security source as saying around 20 members of the SAS

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was just the beginning – and Moscow has ambitions to capture other nations. It comes after Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu declared that the country intends to introduce new methods of warfare, with the conflict now entering its 59th day. The UK’s Ministry of Defence

Russia had a pre-hatched plan for its troops to torture, rape and execute civilians in Ukraine who refuse to capitulate, Ukraine’s top prosecutor has said. Iryna Venediktova said, as a Ukrainian citizen, she understood why political leaders like US President Joe Biden have accused Vladimir Putin’s forces of committing genocide in her country, but as

Newly released satellite images show what appear to be mass graves dug around the Ukrainian city of Mariupol – holding the bodies of thousands of civilians. The grim photographs, taken by satellite imaging firm Maxar Technologies, reportedly depict more than 200 mass graves dug in long rows stretching away from an existing cemetery in the

When Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in the early hours of 24 February, the first foreign leader Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called was Britain’s Boris Johnson. Asked why the UK prime minister was number one on the list, the president’s top security official told Sky News: “They are friends. Britain is our friend.” Oleksiy

Russian forces will seize the strategically important Ukrainian port city of Mariupol today, a top ally of Vladimir Putin has claimed after Ukraine warned its forces are unable to “hold out for much longer”. The besieged southern city has been a key target for Russia since the war in Ukraine began almost two months ago.

Ukrainian forces are continuing to repel attacks by Russian forces in the east of the country, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said, as President Zelenskyy renewed calls for more military assistance.  Russia has recently started repositioning and reinforcing its troops in the east of Ukraine after failing to take control of the country’s

Russia has launched its long-awaited all-out assault on eastern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian government, unleashing thousands of troops in what Kyiv described as the Battle of the Donbas. The Kremlin has also now declared that its main goal is to capture the Donbas region, after it failed to overrun Ukraine’s capital. What is coming

The world must brace itself for an economic slowdown, a burst in inflation and a potential wave of social unrest as energy and food prices rise to intolerable levels, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned in its first assessment of the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war. The IMF said that Ukraine’s economy would contract

Russia has started its expected major new offensive in eastern Ukraine, President Zelenskyy has said. “The Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time,” Ukraine’s leader said in a video address on Monday night. “A significant part of the entire Russian army is now

The first images of one of Russia’s most prestigious warships shortly before it sank are being shared online. Ukraine says it struck the Moskva in a missile attack. However, Russia says the damage to the flagship vessel was caused by a fire which detonated ammunition on board. It says the warship then sank during a