Latest news about Russia and the war in Ukraine

The British Ministry of Defense believes that the only Russian operating company of BMP-T Terminator tank support vehicles has likely been deployed to Severodonetsk in the Donbass of eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are heavily concentrating strikes to gain territory.

The ministry said in a tweet on Twitter, that the use of these vehicles indicates that a body called the Central Grouping of Forces (CGF) is part of the attack, because it is the only formation that has these vehicles. “The Canadian Air Force previously suffered heavy losses while failing to penetrate eastern Kyiv in the initial phase of the invasion,” the department’s latest daily intelligence update said.

“The Severodonetsk region remains one of Russia’s immediate tactical priorities. However, with a maximum of ten Terminators deployed, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the campaign,” she added.

– Natasha Turak

Ukraine has ruled out a ceasefire or concessions to Moscow as Russia intensified its offensive in the eastern Donbass region and halted gas supplies to Finland.

After ending weeks of resistance by the last Ukrainian fighters in the strategic southeastern city of Mariupol, Russia is launching what appears to be a major offensive in Luhansk, one of two Donbass provinces.

The Russian-backed separatists were already in control of swathes of territory in Luhansk and the neighboring Donetsk region before the February 24 invasion, but Moscow wants to seize the last remaining Ukrainian-controlled territory in the Donbass.

“The situation in Donbass is very difficult,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly speech. He said that the Russian army was trying to attack the cities of Sloviansk and Severodonetsk, but that Ukrainian forces were blocking their advance.

Earlier, Zelensky told local television that while the fighting would be bloody, the end would only be achieved through diplomacy and that the Russian occupation of Ukrainian lands would be temporary.

Zelensky’s adviser, Mikhailo Podolak, ruled out agreeing to a ceasefire and said Kyiv would not accept any agreement with Moscow that would include territorial concessions. He said that making concessions would backfire on Ukraine because Russia would respond more forcefully after any pause in fighting.

“The war will not stop (after concessions). It will stop for a while,” Podolyak, Ukraine’s chief negotiator, told Reuters in an interview in a heavily guarded presidential office.

“They will start a new attack, which will be more bloody and extensive.”

– Reuters

president Joe Biden He tweeted a video of him signing legislation authorizing An additional $40 billion in US aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Biden signed off on the aid increase, which Congress overwhelmingly approved this week, during his state visit to Seoul, South Korea.

“This bill will allow us to continue sending security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine as they continue to defend their democracy and freedom,” said a tweet from Biden’s official Twitter account at the White House.

Biden also signed during his visit the Infant Milk Access Act, which is designed to alleviate a nationwide shortage of formula in the United States.

A White House official told NBC News that both bills were passed on to South Korea by a US government official on a commercial airliner that was already planning to fly to Asia for work-related assignments.

– Dan Mangan

Russia on Saturday released a list Nearly 1,000 Americans are permanently barred from entering the country. A measure likely in response to sanctions imposed on the nation in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine in February.

The list includes President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Hillary Clinton and George Soros. It also names 211 Republicans and 224 Democrats from both the House and Senate.

There are also a few notable omissions. Former President Donald Trump and Mike Pence, who served as Vice President, were not included. Former President Barack Obama is also not on the list.

A Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more here.

– Carmen Renick