Size of Putin's delegation in Belarus suggests 'something is up'
Updates from Dominic Waghorn in Ukraine and Diana Magnay in Moscow. Live reporting by Olive Enokido-LinehamMembers of Russia's Pussy Riot band were detained on Sunday after trying to storm the pitch at the World Cup final in Qatar in protest of the war, activists said.
Pussy Riot activists burst onto the pitch at the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow to draw attention to human rights abuses in Russia before being hauled off by stewards. Earlier, Ukraine's Air Force said Russia used a total of around 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones in attacks across Ukraine early on Monday, of which 30 were destroyed.On Monday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Western leaders to increase the supply of air defence systems.Russian President Vladimir Putin has been pictured arriving in Minsk ahead of his meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.
It suggests that something's up. The Kremlin press secretary, also in Minsk, dismissed speculation that the purpose of the trip was to tell the Belarusian leader to scale up his involvement in the war. Such reports were"groundless" and"stupid", Dmitry Peskov said. Mr Peskov also repeatedly denied in February that Russia had any intention of invading Ukraine.
Committing Belarusian troops to the battle would be extremely unpopular back home and could carry risks for President Alexander Lukashenko's regime. And Mr Shoigu's presence in Minsk is noteworthy. It all suggests, for better or for worse, that Mr Putin is taking an extremely active role in planning the next step in this offensive, whenever and whatever that may be.Ukrainian children are being taught about mine safety in the Kyiv region.
Speaking on Russian TV, Andrei Gurulyov talked about the situation on the frontline and the support Ukraine has received from the West when it comes to weapons and military aid. The United States has provided Ukraine with $19.3bn in military assistance since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Military analyst Mick Ryan, a retired Australian major general, says retaking these territories will be"challenging". , he says:"Taking Crimea would be particularly tricky, requiring that Ukraine carry out new kinds of naval operations to stop Russia's powerful Black Sea Fleet from hitting Ukrainian troops as they cross into the peninsula.
"The country... needs to find ways to quickly reconstruct and harden its power and heating network in the face of ongoing Russian attacks, including by getting more Western assistance," he says. Now to the southern city of Kherson, where images of damaged buildings have emerged. Russian troops were ordered to be on Kyiv's outskirts 13 hours after Moscow's invasion began, an investigation has suggested.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine war: Overnight strikes hit Kyiv as Putin visits BelarusThe unusual night attack causes blackouts across the city, but no one is killed, Kyiv officials say.
Read more »
Ukraine war latest: Kremlin responds to 'stupid' Belarus suggestions; Russian 'kamikaze drone' flies over nuclear plantVladimir Putin is heading to Belarus amid a claim Russian troops there will begin tactical exercises; a military analyst says relative silence from the Ukraine side suggests they are planning their next manoeuvre; listen to the latest episode of Ukraine War Diaries as you scroll.
Read more »
Putin Making Rare Trip to Ally Belarus, as Drones Hit KyivExplosive drones attacked Ukraine's capital before dawn, local authorities reported, as Putin prepared to visit ally Belarus. Belarus is believed to have Soviet-era weapons stockpiles that could be useful for Moscow
Read more »
Ukraine war: Putin meets generals as reports of offensive growSenior Ukrainian commanders say Russia could be planning a new attack on Kyiv early next year.
Read more »