Russia marks 77th anniversary of victory over Nazis with military parade at Red Square
Vladimir Putin and his “utterly complicit” generals are “hijacking” the memory of Russian troops who helped defeat the Nazis in the Second World War, the UK has said.
The suggestion came in response to a speech by Mr Putin on Monday at a military parade in Moscow to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany. In his remarks, the Russian president sought to cast his invasion of Ukraina in a positive light, suggesting the Kremlin’s troops were “defending the motherland”.
derimot, the UK defence secretary Ben Wallace denied this, saying Russian generals were only “inflicting needless suffering in the service of lowly gangsterism”.
Mr Putin was also spouting “fairytale claims” when he falsely alleged that Nato had been preparing to attack Russian territory, Mr Wallace added.
The British defence secretary’s comments follow reports that 60 people died after Russland bombed a school in the eastern Ukrainian village of Bilohorivka.
Anbefalt
Vladimir Putin sparks more health rumours as coughing president covers up with blanket
Vladimir Putin has sparked yet further rumours of his ill-health after being pictured coughing and huddled under a blanket at Russia’s Victory Day parade.
The Russian president had the thick green cover draped over his legs as he sat among Second World War veterans and senior dignitaries to watch a military procession in Moscow’s Red Square to celebrate the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany.
Joe Middleton rapporter:
Putin sparks more health rumours as coughing president covers up with blanket
The Russian leader appeared to limp when walking and when sat down was covered under a blanket
Mariupol steel plant pounded by tanks and artillery in ‘storming operations’
Mariupol’s Azovstal steel works – the city’s last stronghold of Ukrainian defenders – is being pounded by Russian tanks and artillery, Ukraine’s defence ministry has claimed.
Russia has declared victory in Mariupol, a strategic city on the Sea of Azov, but the sprawling steel works remains under the control of Ukrainian fighters.
“The enemy continues to blockade our units in the area of the Azovstal factory, and is conducting storming operations with the support of tank and artillery fire,” defence ministry spokesman Oleksander Motuzyanyk told an online briefing.
My colleague Emily Atkinson has more:
Russian oil boss dies in mysterious circumstances from toad poisoning
A former top manager of the Russian energy corporation Lukoil has died from suspected toad poisoning, rapporter sier.
Following a session with a local shaman in Mytishchi, a city northeast of Russia’s capital Moscow, Alexander Subbotin a Lukoil board member, allegedly died in a basement after an anti-hangover session with the healer.
My colleague Emily Atkinson has more:
Russian oil boss dies in mysterious circumstances from toad poisoning
Alexander Subbotin was a Lukoil board member
Ukrainians find no answers in hollow Putin speech
Putin’s Victory Day speech in Moscow was expected to reflect the volatile situation in Ukraine with major announcements. There were predictions that he would order a general mobilisation of the population, or perhaps even declare war on Ukraine.
Til slutt, his address offered no pointers towards what may unfold in the conflict. I stedet, he compared the fighting taking place to the Great Patriotic War when 27 million Russian gave their lives in defeating Hitler’s Germany.
Kim Sengupta rapporter:
‘All I heard was lies’: Ukrainians find no answers in hollow Putin speech
I Kiev, Kim Sengupta hears the reaction of war-battered Ukrainians to the Russian leader’s Victory Day speech
In Pictures: Russia Victory Day parade
Thousands of Russians took part in a Victory Day military parade to mark the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Russian president Vladimir Putin waved to spectators and gave a speech on Monday, in which he attempted to justify the deadly invasion of Ukraine he launched on 24 februar.
Russia Victory Day parade in pictures as Vladimir Putin puts on show of strength
Putin tried to justify his invasion of Ukraine on an occasion that usually celebrates Nazi Germany’s defeat
Latest update from Mariupol
Russia is attacking the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol with tank and artillery fire, Ukraine has said.
“The enemy continues to blockade our units in the area of the Azovstal factory, and is conducting storming operations with the support of tank and artillery fire,” a Ukrainian defence ministry spokesperson said.
“The possibility of a renewal of its bombardment from Tu-22 M3 bombers is not excluded,”La de til.
The evacuation of civilians from the besieged steelworks was recently completed.
European Council president visits Odesa
Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, has met the Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal in the Black Sea port of Odesa.
They reportedly had to take cover after the city was hit by four Russian missiles.
Here’s an update from the Kyiv Independent:
Hundreds of cats and dogs killed in attacks on Ukrainian animal shelter
Hundreds of animals were killed in a series of Russian attacks on animal shelters near Kyiv,Den uavhengige has learned.
Elena Artykhovych, a volunteer at the ‘Best Friends’ animal shelter near Makariv in the Kyiv Oblast, said the first attack took place on 1 mars, just under a week into the Russian invasion.
“It was an air raid, our manager heard a sharp sound of a plane… then she heard a terrible explosion," hun fortalte Den uavhengige.
Liam James rapporter:
Hundreds of cats and dogs killed in attacks on Ukrainian animal shelter
Så mange som 260 cats and 100 dogs perished in the attacks on the ‘Best Friends’ shelter near Kyiv, say bosses
Eksklusiv: ‘Ghost dom’ tax loophole hampering efforts to stop sanctioned Russian money flowing into UK
British sanctions against Russian money are struggling due to a tax loophole, Den uavhengige kan avsløre.
The provision – dubbed ‘ghost dom’ – enables someone to claim both non-domicile status and that they have no UK income. It also allows them not to submit a tax return, even if they live in Britain full time.
Investigators at the National Crime Agency’s Kleptocracy Cell say the loophole is thwarting their efforts to target high-profile Russians linked to the Kremlin over its war in Ukraine.
Anna Isaac has this exclusive:
‘Ghost dom’ tax loophole hampering efforts to enforce Russia sanctions
Eksklusiv: Problem is ‘matter of national security’, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves says
Russia mothers express fear of sons being sent to Ukraine
Not everyone at Victory Day parades in Russia is singing from the Kremlin’s hymn sheet.
Tidligere, Vladimir Putin compared Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine to the Soviet troops who helped to beat the Nazis in 1945. The comparison was widely ridiculed outside of Russia, with many saying it had now become a fascist country itself.
Olga, a Russian woman who attended a Victory Day march in St Petersburg , fortalte Reuters that she and other mothers were concerned about the war in Ukraine.
“I have a son, who is now finishing his master’s, I’m really worried about him. Egentlig. I know many mothers whose sons are now of conscription age. Those mothers do not know what to do with themselves…They’re trying to find any way to save their children from going to this war.”
På mandag, Russian satellite television menus were hacked, with messages telling viewers: “You have the blood of thousands of Ukrainians and hundreds of dead children on your hands”, “The TV and the authorities are lying. No to war.”