Ukraine news latest: Evil Vladimir Putin annexes more than 15% of Ukraine but Zelensky's forces push Russian troops back | The Sun
TODAY, Russia has formally completed the annexation of 15% of Ukrainian territory, marking the largest expansion to Russian land in 50 years.
The regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia have now been formally absorbed into Putin's regime, as the bloodthirsty dictator looks to legitimise his war in Ukraine.
"President Vladimir Putin has signed four federal constitutional laws on the entry of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions into the Russian Federation," Russia's lower house of parliament reported.
Despite this brutal invasion of Ukrainian land, Zelensky's troops continue to fight back against their invaders.
The steadfast President announced in his nightly address on Tuesday that his army has liberated "dozens" of Ukrainian settlements, as it continues its counter-offensive.
Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest updates…
- Henry Moore
Russian state media shares annexation statement signed by Putin
The Russian media outlet Tass has shared some of the documents signed by Putin today, officially absorbing Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson into his regime.
"The boundaries of the new subjects of the Federation, as follows from the treaties, will be determined by the boundaries that “existed on the day of their formation and acceptance into the Russian Federation,” the statement reads.
"Until the election of the heads of the new regions, in accordance with Russian law, they will be led by temporary acting officials appointed by Putin."
- Henry Moore
Russian losses hit 61,000, Ukrainian officials claim
Russian losses have hit 61,000, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.
On top of this, Putin's forces have lost 2,435 tanks and 266 planes.
This comes as Ukraine continues to push forward in the south.
- Henry Moore
Russia continues to attack regions near Europe's largest nuclear power station, official reports
Since announcing its annexation of the region last week, Russia has continued to attack Zaporizhzhia, a Ukrainian official has said.
The enemy fired rockets at the regional centre and the outskirts of the city," Oleksandr Starukh, Ukraine’s governor of Zaporizhzhia, said via Telegram.
"Infrastructure facilities were destroyed. Information about victims is being clarified. The anti-aircraft defence forces have worked. If you see unexploded munitions, don’t disturb it, do not come close, do not take pictures. Report the find to the rescuers."
- Henry Moore
Moscow heaps praise on Elon Musk, following 'peace' tweets
President Zelensky hit back at the Tesla mogul for his Kremlin sympathiser comments.
The Kremlins said: “Compared to many professional diplomats, Musk is still searching for ways to achieve peace.”
- Henry Moore
President Zelensky shares the devastating results of Russian occupation
In a tweet, President Zelensky shared a series of heartwrenching images of an occupied town in Ukraine.
The images, which depict the town of Lyman, show buildings, shops and infrastructure left in ruins.
"This can be stopped in 1 way only: liberate Ukraine, life, humanity, law and truth as soon as possible," the steadfast leader declared.
- Henry Moore
Ukraine continues to make gains, MoD reports
In its latest analysis, the Ministry of Defence noted that Ukraine has continued to liberate land from Putin's forces this week.
The statement reads: "Ukraine continues to make progress in offensive operations along both the north-eastern and southern fronts. In the northeast, in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine has now consolidated a substantial area of territory east of the Oskil River.
"Ukrainian formations have advanced up to 20 km beyond the river into Russia’s defensive zone towards the supply node of the town of Svatove.
"It is highly likely that Ukraine can now strike the key Svatove-Kremina road with most of its artillery systems, further straining Russia’s ability to resupply its units in the east.
"Politically, Russian leaders will highly likely be concerned that leading Ukrainian units are now approaching the borders of Luhansk Oblast, which Russia claimed to have formally annexed last Friday."
- Henry Moore
Zelensky’s advisor: ‘We want to liberate all of our territory’
Ukraine’s President Zelensky has vowed to reclaim all of his country’s territory that was taken by Russia.
Advisor for Zelensky told CNN: “We are for western values. We want to liberate all of our territory,” Mykhailo Podolyak said.
“All the threats by the Russian Federation will not stop Ukraine in order to liberate our territory … including the occupied territories from back in 2014.”
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Hundreds of thousands of Russians flee to Kazakhstan
After President Putin escalated his military efforts in Ukraine, a record number of Russias have fled to escape being enlisted.
More than 200,000 Russians have fled to Kazakhstan alone since 21 September.
7,000 arrived and 11,000 left, according to Kazinform and 68 Russians had applied for Kazakh citizenship reported CNN.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Putin supporter criticised military move
A strongman leader of Russia’s Chechnya Republic shared a post harshly criticising the latest military decisions.
Ramzan Kadyrov is a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin and was less than happy about the loss of Lyman to the Ukrainians.
In a post that’s been viewed 7.6m times, Kadyrov said: “Were it up to me, I would have demoted Lapin to private, stripped him of his awards, given him an assault rifle and sent him to the front to wash away his shame with blood.”
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
India’s financial lifeline to Russia, after condemning Ukraine’s invasion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Vladimir Putin “today’s era is not of war” a month ago, but the actions of India do not match its words.
Despite openinly condemning Putin’s regimen to his face, India has reportedly ramped up its imports of natural fuels from Russia, as almost the rest of the world turns it’s back on Russian imports.
India also did not vote in the UN over condemning Russia’s illegal referendums, said CNN analyst Rhea Mogul.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Ukrainian forces make further advances into Luhansk
Kremlin officials have confirmed that Ukrainian military forces are continuing their counter offensive on Russia’s invasion.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to cross the administrative border of the LPR and gain a foothold in the direction of the settlement of Lysychansk,” Andrey Marochko, a military leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), said on Telegram on Monday.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Uk sanctions deputy prime minister of Kaliningrad
Sergei Vladimirovich Yeliseyev has been added to the list of sanctioned individuals in the UK.
The 51-year-old is “involved in destabilizing Ukraine or undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine,” the UK government says.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Hundreds of thousands of Russians flee to Kazakhstan
After President Putin escalated his military efforts in Ukraine, a record number of Russias have fled to escape being enlisted.
More than 200,000 Russians have fled to Kazakhstan alone since 21 September.
7,000 arrived and 11,000 left, according to Kazinform and 68 Russians had applied for Kazakh citizenship reported CNN.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Putin ‘dangerous and reckless’ warns CIA boss
If Russian President Vladimir Putin is cornered, he could become “dangerous and reckless,” said Bill Burns.
Putin has “gotta be concerned, not just about what’s happening on the battlefield in Ukraine, [but] what’s happening at home and what’s happening internationally,” Burns told CBS.
He went on to discuss China backing out of its previous “friendship without limits” pledge after denying Russia military aide.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Uk will extend the deployment of it’s air defence system in Poland
British defence minister Ben Wallace revealed that it will stay in Poland for a loner period of time.
He told the Independent: “I am pleased to announce that we will extend the current posting of our medium air defence… for another period to make sure that as Poland helps continue that logistical support to Ukraine it is safe in doing so.”
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Moscow gives praise to Elon Musk after ‘peace’ tweets
President Zelensky hit back at the Tesla mogul for his Kremlin sympathiser comments.
The Kremlins said: “Compared to many professional diplomats, Musk is still searching for ways to achieve peace.”
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Zelensky hits back at Elon Musk
The Tesla owner seemingly attempted to pick a fight with Ukrainian president, Volodymr Zelensky.
Musk shared a poll focused on the annexed regions of Ukraine.
In response to the tweet, Zelensky asked Musk: “Which @elonmusk do you like more?”
Ukraine’s outspoken ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, didn’t hold back with his response.
“F*** off is my very diplomatic reply to you @elonmusk.”
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Ukrainian shares emaciated body
The head of the a regiment was held by Russian captives.
Dmytro Kozatskyi, head of the Azov Regiment press service, photographer and Mariupol defender, has a released an image after being released.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Russia lost 31 tanks on train in Ukrainian strikes
Ukrianian forces have been slowly but surely reclaiming settlements in Kherson bit by bit, and made a huge win after taking out a supply of Russian tanks.
A multiple rocket launcher annihilated the 31 tanks onboard a train.
President Zelensky said: “New population centres have been liberated in several regions,” he told his video address, and added that “heavy fighting is going on in several sectors of the front.”
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Zelensky's advisor: 'We want to liberate all of our territory'
Ukraine's President Zelensky has vowed to reclaim all of his country's territory that was taken by Russia.
Advisor for Zelensky told CNN: “We are for western values. We want to liberate all of our territory,” Mykhailo Podolyak said.
“All the threats by the Russian Federation will not stop Ukraine in order to liberate our territory … including the occupied territories from back in 2014.”
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Russian diplomat accuses the US of 'hastening' a 'direct military clash'
America has pledged to send $625 million to Ukraine in military aide which has been slammed by Russians.
Konstantin Vorontsov, head of the Russian delegation for the UN said: "The US continues to pump more weapons into Ukraine, facilitating the direct participation of its fighters and advisers in the conflict,” at the UN General Assembly’s First Committee.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant chief to be replaced
Ihor Murashov, the director general of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been released after being detained by Russians.
However, it has been announced by the UN that he wont be returning to duties.
A statement from the International Atomic Energy Agency was released that read: "The IAEA understands that Mr Murashov is now with his family in territory controlled by Ukraine and will not be continuing with his duties at the ZNPP.
"It is not yet clear who will replace him in this role."
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Russia attempts to find a state boarder at Zaporizhzhia
The Kremlin forces in Zaporizhzhia are trying to determine boarder lines dividing Ukraine from Russia control.
Oleksandr Starukh, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Authority told Russian state TV: “As a result, they are not allowing the men of the conscription age [to cross].
"The day before yesterday only eight people managed to get out by some side and goat trails.
"Otherwise, one can say that transit in both directions has been stopped,” he said.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
Leader of Belarus says his nation is 'participating' in Russian war but not actively
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus has been embroiled in the Russia and Ukraine war.
“As for our participation in a special military operation in Ukraine, we are participating. We do not hide it.
"But we are not killing anyone. We are not sending our military anywhere. We do not violate our obligations,” Lukashenko said during a military meeting, according to a video recording of the meeting by the state news agency Belta, CNN reported.
- Lauren Cole-Lomas
US to send $625 million of military aid to Ukraine
The United States has ramped up aid to Ukraine to help its counter offensive against Russia.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the US will send the help for a “successful counter-offensive to take back their lands seized illegally by Russia.”
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