Ukraine It accused Russia of using strategic bombers to attack a civilian grain ship on Thursday. Black Sea area near NATO member Romaniatensions between Moscow and its military allies have risen. It is the first time a missile has hit a civilian ship transporting grain at sea since Moscow launched its aggression in February 2022. Some of the vessels have been damaged during Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports where they were docked. Zelenskiy said the vessels transporting Ukrainian grain to Egypt were hit by Russian missiles at night shortly after leaving Ukrainian territorial waters. There were no casualties, he said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha called the attack a “brazen attack on freedom of navigation and global food security.” The Ukrainian Navy said Russian Tupolev Tu-22 bombers fired several cruise missiles at the vessels at 11:02 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
The US ambassador to Ukraine “strongly condemned” the attack and said Russia was responsible.A UN spokesman said the incident was a “stark reminder” of the threats civilian ships still face in the Black Sea. There was no immediate comment from Russia.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is heading to Washington for “strategic talks” with US President Joe Biden on Ukraine and the Middle East. The discussion included: It would allow Ukraine to use some British-made Storm Shadow missiles to launch long-range attacks inside Russia. Starmer added that he was not trying to force a peace deal on Ukraine. “Ultimately, that's a discussion that President Zelensky is leading,” Starmer said. Rather, he said, “it's really important that two key allies have a forum to discuss foreign policy issues.” Ukraine has been lobbying for months for the use of Storm Shadow and U.S.-made Atakum missiles.
Starmer told Vladimir Putin that the Russian president started the war in Ukraine and could end it at any time. The Russian leader warned that the use of British long-range missiles on Russian territory could lead to a war between NATO and Russia. The Prime Minister made the remarks on his way to Washington to meet President Biden.
Russia has launched a counter-offensive in the Kursk region, announcing it has recaptured 10 settlements. The Russian Defense Ministry listed 10 villages it said it had recaptured as fighting raged across the border, a major blow to Kiev, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged that a Russian counter-offensive had begun.
More than $30m (£23m) worth of aircraft tyres made by Western manufacturers were imported into Russia last year. Ukrainian government agencies say the trade is taking place through intermediaries despite attempts to ban it.
Russian artillery fire has killed three people and wounded nine in a village in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine.The regional prosecutor's office said one person wounded in the attack died in hospital. The statement said one person wounded died in hospital after the attack on the village of Borova, southeast of Kharkiv. Kharkiv is Ukraine's second-largest city and is a frequent target of Russian military attacks. The interior ministry had earlier reported that emergency services were working at the scene of the first attack when Moscow opened fire again. Three rescue workers were among the injured.
On Thursday, 100 people gathered at Kyiv's Central Synagogue to pay tribute to Matityahu Anton Samborsky, the son of Ukraine's chief rabbi, who was killed in fighting with Russian forces.Mourners laid flowers, touched the coffin and shook hands with the father of the deceased, Chief Rabbi Moshe Azman, who was fighting back tears. “I hope that God will avenge him and all the other innocent people, soldiers and civilians who are dying in this war,” Azman said.
UK counter-terrorism police are assisting the investigation into the death of a Daily Telegraph journalist in Gibraltar.David Knowles died on holiday on Sunday from what his employer said was an apparent cardiac arrest. The 32-year-old audio journalist joined The Telegraph in 2020 and Ukraine: latest updates Podcast.
