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Two Ukrainian drones have struck one of Russia’s largest iron ore plants, with the attack claimed by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.
A source in Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency told Reuters that it was responsible for the attack. Ukraine has stepped up long-range drones to strike targets deep inside Russia.
Russia also carried out an overnight attack on Ukrainian regions on Wednesday with 42 drones, Ukrainian officials said. At least seven people were injured.
Meanwhile, Germany’s ambassador to the UK has said there is “no need to apologise” for the security breaches which led to a call between top military officials being leaked by Russian sources.
Miguel Berger told BBC Radio 4's Today programme one of the participants had likely dialled in via an insecure line.
In the audio, army officers can be heard discussing details of British operations on the ground in Ukraine. Mr Berger said German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had called allies to explain Berlin's position over the leak.
"I think that is a good lesson for everybody: never use hotel internet if you want to do a secure call," Mr Berger advised listeners.
Recommended Ukraine says it has sunk another Russian warship in drone attack Escaping Russian capture: An ex-British soldier’s account of fighting for Ukraine detailed in our event War crime arrest warrants issued for top Russian commanders Sergei Kobylash and Viktor Sokolov Ukrainian attacks increasingly sap the power of Russia's Black Sea fleet
Key Points German ambassador says no apology needed over military leak Drone attacks on Crimea continue, power outage reported Video shows moment Ukraine sinks $65m Russian warship off Crimea Russia scrambles warplane to escort French military planes crossing Black Sea Olena Zelenska declines White House’s State of the Union address invite Ukraine says it has finally stopped Russia’s advance west of Avdiivka
Show latest update 4 minutes ago Russian jailed for seven years for articles about Ukraine war
A reporter for an independent Russian news outlet was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday for articles he wrote about alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine, his publication said.
Roman Ivanov, who works for the online RusNews, was convicted of publishing "fake news" about the Russian army under wartime censorship laws passed shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
Russia has used those laws to crack down on journalists and activists who report information that counters Kremlin narratives of what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine.
The charges against Ivanov stem from articles he wrote about a massacre in Bucha, Ukraine, a U.N. war crimes report and Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
Matt Mathers 6 March 2024 14:26
1 hour ago Escaping Russian capture: An ex-British soldier’s account of fighting for Ukraine detailed in our event
Former British Army soldier Shaun Pinner will be sharing the true story of his six months spent imprisoned in Russian-occupied Ukraine in this exclusive event.
Follow the link below to find details on how you can join the event:
Escaping Russian capture: Sign up to our exclusive event Former British Army soldier Shaun Pinner will be sharing the true story of his six months spent imprisoned in Russian-occupied Ukraine in this exclusive event
Matt Mathers 6 March 2024 13:30
1 hour ago A timeline of restrictive laws that authorities have used to crack down on dissent in Putin's Russia
As part of Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s ever-increasing clampdown on dissent, authorities in recent years have adopted a slew of laws restricting fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, as well as the rights of minorities and religious groups.
These laws have taken aim at “foreign agents” allegedly seeking to exert influence on Russia, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and organizations spreading information critical of the Kremlin or contrary to official narratives, especially regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Full report:
A timeline of restrictive laws that authorities have used to crack down on dissent in Putin's Russia Russian authorities have adopted a slew of laws restricting fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, as well as the rights of minorities and religious groups
Matt Mathers 6 March 2024 13:00
2 hours ago The UN atomic watchdog’s director arrives in Russia for talks on nuclear safety in Ukraine
The U.N. atomic watchdog agency’s director has arrived in Russia for talks on nuclear safety in Ukraine, where Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is at risk amid fighting.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly expressed alarm about the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant amid fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe. The plant has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire since Russia sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and seized the facility shortly after.
Full report:
The UN atomic watchdog’s director arrives in Russia for talks on nuclear safety in Ukraine The U.N. atomic watchdog agency’s director has arrived in Russia for talks on nuclear safety in Ukraine, where Europe's largest nuclear power plant is at risk amid fighting
Matt Mathers 6 March 2024 12:30
2 hours ago Ukraine drone attack
Two Ukrainian drones struck fuel facilities at one of Russia's largest iron ore plants.
Kursk governor Roman Starovoit said a second drone had hit the Mikhailovsky GOK iron ore plant which is owned by Metalloinvest, Russia's largest iron ore producer, around two hours after he announced a first strike. A source in Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency told Reuters that it was responsible for the attack.
"Today, as a result of a drone attack in the Zheleznogorsky district, a fuel tank at the fuel and lubricants warehouse of the Mikhailovsky Mining and Processing Plant caught fire," Metalloinvest said in a statement after the first attack.
Chris Stevenson 6 March 2024 12:02
2 hours ago ‘No apology’ over all
The Germany ambassador to the UK has said there is “no need to apologise” for the security breaches which led to a call between top military officials being leaked by Russian sources.
Miguel Berger told BBC Radio 4's Today programme one of the participants had likely dialled in via an insecure line.
In the audio, amry officers can be heard discussing details of British operations on the ground in Ukraine.
"I think that is a good lesson for everybody: never use hotel internet if you want to do a secure call," Mr Berger advised listeners.
Chris Stevenson 6 March 2024 11:45
3 hours ago Kyiv limiting Moscow operations in Black Sea as 3 navy vessels sunk in weeks - MoD
Ukraine continues to limit Russia’s operations in the Black Sea, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said after Kyiv sunk a third Russian navy vessel in five weeks.
In a statement on X, the MoD said: “This is the third [Sergei Kotov] Russian Black Sea Fleet vessel sunk in the past five weeks.
“Likely because of Black Sea Fleet losses, on 15 February 2024, the Black Sea Fleet Commander, Admiral Sokolov, was dismissed. Ukraine continues to limit the freedom of manoeuvre of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea.”
Read the state in full here:
Matt Mathers 6 March 2024 10:55
4 hours ago Moldova and France to sign defence and economic cooperation accords
Moldova and France will sign defence and economic cooperation accords during a visit by Moldovan President Maia Sandu to Paris on Thursday, the French presidency said in a statement.
Western powers are seeking to increase support for Moldova amid what they fear are increasing efforts by Russia to destabilise Moldova. In parallel to Sandu’s visit, Western states will hold an audio call hosted by France to discuss increasing support for Ukraine, but also Moldova.
To Ukraine’s west, fellow former Soviet republic Moldova has a tiny defence budget and has long had tense relations with Moscow. Russia has troops and peacekeepers based in Transdniestria, a breakaway statelet of Moldova that has maintained its autonomy for three decades with the Kremlin’s support.
The French presidency said Macron would "reiterate France’s support for the independence, sovereignty and security of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine" when he meets Sandu on Thursday.
It added that a defence cooperation agreement and a road map for cooperation in the economic field would be signed during the visit. It gave no further details.
The Transdniestria region asked Russia in February to help its economy withstand Moldovan "pressure", at a meeting of hundreds of officials dismissed by the pro-European Chisinau government as a propaganda event.
Matt Mathers 6 March 2024 10:05
4 hours ago ICYMI: War crime arrest warrants issued for top Russian commanders Sergei Kobylash and Viktor Sokolov
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for top Russian commanders Sergei Kobylash and Viktor Sokolov over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
The ICC, based in The Hague, said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the two suspects were responsible for “missile strikes carried out by the forces under their command against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure from at least 10 October 2022 until at least 9 March 2023”.
Full report:
War crime arrest warrants issued for two top Russian commanders An arrest warrant has previously been issued for Vladimir Putin
Matt Mathers 6 March 2024 09:35
5 hours ago Woman who fled Ukraine war reopens pub in Wales
A woman who fled the war in Ukraine has reopened a pub in Wales, saying she hopes the move will give the local economy a boost.
Vladyslava Krapyvka left her home in Kyiv along with her youngest son after Russia’s invasion in 2022, and has taken on the lease of The Lamb in Newport.
She said she liked Newport but that the city centre looks “abandoned” and wants to “change the situation”.
“There are lots of people working very hard here, and they need to have a place here in the centre of Newport, where they can come to a small pub and they can have good service,” she told the BBC.
Matt Mathers 6 March 2024 09:10
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1/ 1Drones hit Russian mining plant as Germany says no leak apology needed
Drones hit Russian mining plant as Germany says no leak apology needed
A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard checking for Russian drones in the sky in Zaporizhzhia region
AFP via Getty Images
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