Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kharkiv hit by Russian strike hours after Moscow airports closed by drone attack

Russia and Ukraine have swapped 205 prisoners of battle every, in response to the Russian defence ministry, in what would mark one of many largest such exchanges for the reason that begin of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale battle in February 2022.

The ministry stated that the United Arab Emirates had helped mediate the trade and that the freed Russian prisoners had been at the moment in Belarus receiving medical and psychological help.

It comes only a fortnight after the 2 sides carried out their largest prisoner swap of the battle thus far, reportedly exchanging greater than 500 prisoners. A month earlier, either side every returned an extra 175 prisoners.

Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash has resurfaced in Paris after escaping from home arrest in Moscow final month whereas dealing with a 10-year jail sentence for posts condemning Russia’s battle in Ukraine.

Reporters With out Borders (RSF) stated it helped Ms Barabash orchestrate her getaway, as she take away her monitoring tag and travelled greater than 2,800 kilometres “utilizing clandestine routes” to evade surveillance.

“Her escape was one of the perilous operations RSF has been concerned in since Russia’s draconian legal guidelines of March 2022,” the group’s director, Thibaut Bruttin, stated alongside Ms Barabash at a press convention in Paris.

“At one level, we thought she is likely to be lifeless.”

Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that “our persons are free” after Ukraine and Russia every exchanged 205 prisoners of battle, in one of many largest such exchanges of the battle.

It comes only a fortnight after the 2 sides carried out their largest prisoner swap of the battle thus far, reportedly exchanging greater than 500 prisoners. A month earlier, either side every returned an extra 175 prisoners.

“Our persons are free. Our persons are dwelling,” stated the Ukrainian president. “As we speak, Ukraine has introduced again 205 warriors. Younger and older males from nearly all sorts and branches of the Armed Forces. Defenders of Mariupol and your entire entrance line.

“They’ve been scattered throughout many Russian areas, imprisoned inside a system whose solely function was to torment them and destroy their humanity.

“We now have introduced them again. I’m grateful to everybody who labored on this trade. I thank our companions – before everything the United Arab Emirates – for his or her mediation and help. I thank all those that don’t remain detached and proceed to talk out about Ukrainians in captivity.

“On daily basis, we struggle for our folks. We are going to do every little thing to convey each one in all them dwelling.”

World affairs editor Sam Kiley examines the Ukrainian president’s targets in assaults in opposition to Russia forward of main World Warfare II commemorations.

The seventeenth package deal of European Fee sanctions in opposition to Russia is anticipated to comprise tighter controls on exports in addition to gross sales of expertise that can be utilized by the navy, in addition to restrictions on Russia’s shadow fleet, EU diplomats stated.

The draft package deal, as a consequence of be printed on Tuesday, just isn’t anticipated to comprise any main new restrictions, however one supply advised Reuters that the package deal reveals Russia that the 27-member bloc can “nonetheless agree on one thing in opposition to Russia” after repeated veto threats from Hungary.

France’s international minister advised information company AFP final week the EU would attempt to coordinate the timing of its subsequent package deal with the USA, which has just lately finalised new financial sanctions in opposition to Russia.

A Russian assault on the north-eastern Kharkiv area of Ukraine in a single day sparked an enormous fireplace, inflicting widespread harm within the Barabashovo market.

A Ukrainian Eurovision contestant says her dwelling has been destroyed in a Russian assault.

Khrystyna Starykov shared photos of her broken condominium constructing within the metropolis of Myrnograd on social media, in response to the BBC, saying her kin and associates had been fortunately alive and properly.

Starykov, 19, is at the moment rehearsing for Eurovision with the band Ziferblat in Switzerland, forward of the competition which begins subsequent week.

In an interview with Ukrainian outlet Suspilne, she stated: “We are going to take a stand. I’m holding on for us.”

The European Fee will suggest a ban on new Russian gasoline offers by the top of the yr, a draft doc seen by Reuters reveals.

The Fee may also suggest subsequent month to ban imports from present contracts by the top of 2027.

A draft of the European Fee’s roadmap for phasing out using Russian power, set to be printed on Tuesday, stated that the Fee will in June current a authorized proposal to ban remaining Russian gasoline and LNG imports underneath present contracts by end-2027.

The draft might change earlier than it’s printed.

The Kremlin says Russia nonetheless plans to carry to a ceasefire from Could 8-10, however it’ll reply if attacked.

Vladimir Putin declared a three-day ceasefire final week, to coincide with World Warfare II commemorations.

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Russia had thus far not heard aanything from Kyiv indicating it was able to abide by the three-day ceasefire, and stated the navy would reply if Ukrainian forces tried to strike Russian positions.

“President Putin’s initiative for a brief ceasefire at some stage in the vacations stays related, and the related directions have been issued by the supreme-commander-in-chief,” he stated, in response to Russian state media.

“Sadly … we nonetheless haven’t heard a single assertion from Kiev – from the regime’s officers or the pinnacle of the regime – that might specific their readiness to affix the Victory Day ceasefire,” Peskov added.

Final week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated the proposed 72-hour truce was not critical.

Russia has thus far rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire agreed to by Ukraine and pushed by the US.