Ukraine news – Panic as Russian missiles pass CRITICALLY close to nuclear power plant, as Putin’s ‘grave health worsens’
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VLADIMIR PUTIN has been accused of "nuclear terrorism" by leading Ukrainian officials after Russian missiles passed "critically" close to a nuclear power station.
Ukraine's national nuclear company, Energoatom, accused Russia of committing “another act of nuclear terrorism."
Missiles were reportedly seen passing over the plant earlier today.
Meanwhile, according to the Daily Star, a Kremlin source has claimed the dictator only has "two years left to live" as his health enters a "grave" condition.
According to the paper, top Ukrainian intelligence official, Major General Kyrylo O. Budanov, said the despot "doesn't have a long life ahead of him.”
This comes after Budanov told Sky News that Putin was suffering from cancer.
Read our Ukraine war live blog below for the latest news & updates...
'Over 4,000 houses destroyed in Kharkiv'
A number of people have been left dead after Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region had recently been under heavy Russian bombardment.
Oleh Syniehubov, the regional head, says the area was shelled again overnight.
Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine troops have destroyed 4,019 residential homes, 97 medical facilities and 427 educational institutions.
Putin unleashes fresh onslaught on Kyiv
Russian missiles rained down on Kyiv in a fresh attack just hours after Vladimir Putin rushed to a sudden late-night meeting in Kremlin.
The Russian leader attacked the Ukrainian capital in the early hours of Sunday morning, striking at least two buildings, according to the city's mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Footage shows a massive cloud of smoke billowing in the air following the missile strike in the city.
A video shows one of the targeted buildings in the Shevchenkivskyi district, destroyed as rescue services are battling to rescue civilians.
Heart-breaking footage shared by mayor Klitschko shows emergency crews rescuing a seven-year-old girl from the rubble.
The strike on Kyiv is only one of the attacks in Ukraine as 48 cruise missiles were launched on civilian targets across the country.
Putin mocked over topless photos by Boris Johnson and Canada’s Justin Trudeau
BORIS Johnson and Canada's Justin Trudeau openly mocked Mad Vlad Putin as world leaders gathered in Germany for the G7.
With the situation in Ukraine top of the agenda at the annual talks high in the Bavarian mountains, the Kremlin tyrant was the butt of early jokes for his bizarre photo ops shooting bears and riding topless.
At the start of talks between the leaders of the industrial powers, the PM declared “we have to show that we’re tougher than Putin" as he took off jacket.
And the Canadian PM quipped back suggesting they go for a “bare chested horseback ride", with BoJo adding: "show our pecks".
Mr Johnson used his first meeting on the fringes of the Summit to warn France's President Macron not to go soft of Ukraine or urge Voldoymer Zelensky into an unfair peace settlement.
The PM warned “any attempt to settle the conflict now will only cause enduring instability and give Putin licence to manipulate both sovereign countries and international markets in perpetuity.”
'This should be a wake-up call to world leaders'
Save the Children charity has said that kids are being caused "unimaginable" physical and emotional harm by the war in Ukraine.
The charity have urged world leaders to help as the news of a child being hurt in the destroyed residential block in Kyiv broke.
Pete Walsh, country director for Save the Children in Ukraine, said: “Four months since the escalation of conflict started, children and families in Ukraine are still waking up to aerial bombardments.
"Children should wake up on a Sunday morning looking forward to spending the day with their families or playing with their friends.
"It is all the more worrying to see this in Kyiv, which has been a place of relative calm for several weeks.
"The immense physical and emotional harm this war is having on children is unimaginable. The number of civilian casualties has surpassed 10,000, including more than 800 children.
"As the G7 gathers in Germany today, this should be a wake-up call to world leaders not to look away. There is still no safe place for children in Ukraine, and leaders must do everything they can to end this conflict."
Boris heaps praise on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
Boris met with the G7 today, in order to discuss the world's approach to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
He was full of praise for the President, saying he would be happy to host the wartime hero at Downing Street.
“I think that Volodymyr Zelenskiy has done an absolutely amazing job of leading his country and leading world opinion in an appalling time,” Johnson told ITV News.
"If he ever becomes free to leave and it makes sense for him to leave Ukraine, then obviously the UK would be only too honoured to host him.
"But the most important thing is for us to continue to be united here at the G7. And we are."
Over half of Russian separatist forces dead, reports British intelligence
As Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine wages on, they continue to suffer heavy losses.
UK intelligence has reported that the Donetsk militia alone has lost 55% of its original force.
Other reports claim the invading force has lost over 30,000 soldiers since the war began.
Mayor of Kyiv pays tribute to fallen Ukrainians amid EU membership talks
Former boxer and mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has paid tribute to his fallen comrades as the EU announce Ukraine as been awarded candidate status.
“We paid a very high price for this chance,” he wrote on Telegram. “Yes, we still have a lot to do on the way to the European family.
“But I am sure that Ukraine will do everything necessary, fulfil all the conditions and pass the necessary laws. Because otherwise our state has no future. Indeed, our best defenders are dying for it.”
UK bans Russian gold, amid escalating tensions
Britain will join Canada and Japan in banning gold imports from Russia.
The Russian gold industry was worth $15.2bn to Russia in 2021 alone, meaning this will deal a potent blow to their economy.
The ban will come into effect soon, as the west looks to hit Russia with more sanctions as they continue their brutal invasion of Ukraine.
Russian missile fails during launch and boomerangs back
Dramatic video captures the moment a Russian surface-to-air missile system fires on itself in a bizarre malfunction.
In the footage, the missile can be seen shooting into the sky – before turning mid-air and slamming back into where it came from in an enormous explosion.
The short clip was reportedly shot in the Ukrainian city of Alchevsk in the Luhansk region, which is under the occupation of pro-Russian separatist forces and is on the front line of the war in Ukraine.
It was filmed in the early hours of Friday morning when Russian troops reportedly launched a missile to intercept an oncoming Ukrainian plane.
However, seconds later, the missile was returned to sender after the tracking system went haywire.
The video shows a huge explosion as well as bright flashes shooting down from the crash site.
Russia promises Belarus Iskander-M nuclear-capable missiles
Russia will begin sending nukes to its ally in the coming months, as the war with Ukraine escalates.
The Iskander-M missile is a short-range nuclear capable weapon.
Putin stated that it "can fire ballistic and cruise missiles, both conventional and nuclear types".
It will take over 10 years to de-mine Ukraine, sources claim
Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine has featured a key tactic, laying mines across the country.
In newly released information it was revealed that it will take over a decade to remove these mines.
When asked if Britain would Ukraine in de-mining the nation, Johnson had this to say: “Yes, I don’t want to get into the technical or military details, but you can take it from what we have already done in supplying equipment to the Ukrainians to help themselves protect that we are certainly talking to them at a technical level to help de-mine Odesa.”
Russia Ukraine latest
Ukraine has been hit by a number of Russian missile attacks today with 14 hitting Kyiv.
An apartment block was destroyed by the shelling leaving one dead and several wounded.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said the attacks were Moscow's attempt to "intimidate" Ukraine, ahead of a meeting of G7 leaders.
Young Putin was ‘sneaky’ boy who would ‘pull out kids’ hair in a fight’
VLADIMIR Putin would "fight to the end" during scraps at school as a child, his former classmates and teachers claim.
The Russian tyrant was branded "sneaky" and a "problem causer" by those who knew him in his younger years - decades before he waged war in Ukraine.
According to his former pals, Putin would terrorise his school in Leningrad’s Dzerzhinsky district and would "get into a frenzy" should anyone pick a fight with him.
His newly qualified form teacher, 26-year-old Tamara Chizova, said she was driven to despair by the "disorganised" youngster who would "definitely cause problems", reports The Times.
With a rebellious streak in him, his childhood best friend Viktor Borisenko recalled Putin was the first to join a fight when one broke out.
He said: "He could get into a fight with anyone. He had no fear.
"It never occurred to him that the other boy was stronger and might beat him up.
"If some hulking guy offended him, he would jump straight at him — scratch him, bite him, pull out clumps of his hair.
"He wasn’t the strongest in our class, but in a fight he could beat anyone because he would get into a frenzy and fight to the end."
Inside sanctioned Russian billionaire’s £61m superyacht
A superyacht owned by a Russian tycoon boasting an eye-watering £61million price tag is set to be auctioned off after being seized.
The stunning 240ft vessel - named The Axioma - has a catalogue of bougie features including six decks, a pool with a swim-up bar and even a cinema.
Owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Pumpyansky, the mighty yacht was seized back in March amid Western sanctions over Vladimir Putin's bloody war in Ukraine.
It is now to be auctioned off for a huge sum of cash under the orders of Gibraltar's supreme court, reports YouTube channel ESysman SuperYachts.
And the winning bidder will be setting sail amid copious amounts of luxury, with six cabins able to accommodate up to 12 guests.
All rooms are set on the main deck - which has large windows for breath-taking panoramic views.
Ukrainian forces 'likely to have withdrawn from the remaining positions in the Donbas'
Ukrainian forces are likely to have withdrawn from the remaining defensive positions in Sieverodonetsk according to the UK's Ministry of Defence.
In their latest intelligence update the Ministry said: "Most Ukrainian forces have likely withdrawn from their remaining defensive positions in the Donbas city of Sieverodonetsk.
"In April 2022, Russia revised its immediate campaign plan from aiming to occupy the majority of Ukraine, to a more focused offensive in the Donbas.
"Russia’s capture of the city is a significant achievement within this reduced objective. The settlement was a major industrial centre and it occupies a strategic position on the Siverskyi Donets River.
"However, it is only one of several challenging objectives Russia will need to achieve to occupy the whole of the Donbas region.
"These include advancing on the major centre of Kramatorsk and securing the main supply routes to Donetsk city."
UK's Ministry of Defence latest intelligence
The UK's ministry of Defence have released their latest intelligence update.
The Ministry have released a map showing the latest developments.
Ukraine are likely to have made a couple of advances in the regions of Mykolaiv and Kharkiv.
Russia have been making several advances and fighting continues in Donetsk.
'Over 4,000 houses destroyed in Kharkiv'
A number of people have been left dead after Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region had recently been under heavy Russian bombardment.
Oleh Syniehubov, the regional head, says the area was shelled again overnight.
Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine troops have destroyed 4,019 residential homes, 97 medical facilities and 427 educational institutions.
Putin unleashes fresh onslaught on Kyiv
Russian missiles rained down on Kyiv in a fresh attack just hours after Vladimir Putin rushed to a sudden late-night meeting in Kremlin.
The Russian leader attacked the Ukrainian capital in the early hours of Sunday morning, striking at least two buildings, according to the city's mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Footage shows a massive cloud of smoke billowing in the air following the missile strike in the city.
A video shows one of the targeted buildings in the Shevchenkivskyi district, destroyed as rescue services are battling to rescue civilians.
Heart-breaking footage shared by mayor Klitschko shows emergency crews rescuing a seven-year-old girl from the rubble.
The strike on Kyiv is only one of the attacks in Ukraine as 48 cruise missiles were launched on civilian targets across the country.
UK and US to ban imports of Russian gold
In an effort to prevent Moscow's funding of the war, the UK, US, Canada and Japan will ban imports of Russian gold.
The UK says the measure will "strike at the heart of Putin's war machine".
Gold exports were worth £12.6bn to Russia in 2021, and the UK says their importance has increased since the invasion.
UK and US to ban imports of Russian gold
In an effort to prevent Moscow's funding of the war, the UK, US, Canada and Japan will ban imports of Russian gold.
The UK says the measure will "strike at the heart of Putin's war machine".
Gold exports were worth £12.6bn to Russia in 2021, and the UK says their importance has increased since the invasion.
Putin mocked over topless photos by Boris Johnson and Canada’s Justin Trudeau
BORIS Johnson and Canada's Justin Trudeau openly mocked Mad Vlad Putin as world leaders gathered in Germany for the G7.
With the situation in Ukraine top of the agenda at the annual talks high in the Bavarian mountains, the Kremlin tyrant was the butt of early jokes for his bizarre photo ops shooting bears and riding topless.
At the start of talks between the leaders of the industrial powers, the PM declared “we have to show that we’re tougher than Putin" as he took off jacket.
And the Canadian PM quipped back suggesting they go for a “bare chested horseback ride", with BoJo adding: "show our pecks".
Mr Johnson used his first meeting on the fringes of the Summit to warn France's President Macron not to go soft of Ukraine or urge Voldoymer Zelensky into an unfair peace settlement.
The PM warned “any attempt to settle the conflict now will only cause enduring instability and give Putin licence to manipulate both sovereign countries and international markets in perpetuity.”
'This should be a wake-up call to world leaders'
Save the Children charity has said that kids are being caused "unimaginable" physical and emotional harm by the war in Ukraine.
The charity have urged world leaders to help as the news of a child being hurt in the destroyed residential block in Kyiv broke.
Pete Walsh, country director for Save the Children in Ukraine, said: “Four months since the escalation of conflict started, children and families in Ukraine are still waking up to aerial bombardments.
"Children should wake up on a Sunday morning looking forward to spending the day with their families or playing with their friends.
"It is all the more worrying to see this in Kyiv, which has been a place of relative calm for several weeks.
"The immense physical and emotional harm this war is having on children is unimaginable. The number of civilian casualties has surpassed 10,000, including more than 800 children.
"As the G7 gathers in Germany today, this should be a wake-up call to world leaders not to look away. There is still no safe place for children in Ukraine, and leaders must do everything they can to end this conflict."
Boris heaps praise on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
Boris met with the G7 today, in order to discuss the world's approach to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
He was full of praise for the President, saying he would be happy to host the wartime hero at Downing Street.
“I think that Volodymyr Zelenskiy has done an absolutely amazing job of leading his country and leading world opinion in an appalling time,” Johnson told ITV News.
"If he ever becomes free to leave and it makes sense for him to leave Ukraine, then obviously the UK would be only too honoured to host him.
"But the most important thing is for us to continue to be united here at the G7. And we are."
Kyiv under attack for the first time since June 5
At least five people have been injured including a seven-year-old girl, as Russia launched missiles at several residential buildings, including a nursery.
There are unofficial reports that the girls father was killed in the attacks.
This comes as the G7 meets to discuss the conflict, with PM Boris Johnson calling on world leaders to support Ukraine.
Boris calls on the world to help Ukraine
WORLD leaders will be asked by Boris Johnson today not to give up on Ukraine as he stumps up an extra £429million support for the war-torn country.
The PM will tell the G7 that any sign of fatigue or wavering will play right into Vladimir Putin’s hands.
Boris has been vocal in his support for Ukraine.
He said: "Future generations will be awed and inspired by the truly heroic Ukrainian resistance in the face of Putin’s barbarism.
“Ukraine can win and it will win. But they need our backing to do so.
"Now is not the time to give up on Ukraine.
“The UK will continue to back Ukraine every step of the way.”