Ukraine-Russia war news: Evil Vladimir Putin SLAMMED as G7 says despot RESPONSIBLE for mall 'war crime' leaving 18 dead | The Sun
VLADIMIR Putin has launched a sick "war crime" attack on a packed shopping mall yesterday – leaving several dead & scores injured.
The shopping mall located in the town of Kremenchuk in the Poltava region of Ukraine was hit by a missile causing massive flames to erupt from the building.
According to reports, at least 18 people have died and over 50 people have been injured.
The G7 labelled the attack a 'war crime", while president Voldodymyr Zelenskyy branded Russia "the world's largest terrorist organisation".
In a joint statement tweeted by the German government, the G7 said: “Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account."
At Ukraine's request, the United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting in New York to discuss the attack.
The UN called the strike “deplorable”, stressing that civilian infrastructure “should never ever be targeted”, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Read our Ukraine-Russia war blog below for the latest news…
- Louis Allwood
Leaders to discuss bolstering NATO's eastern flank
Leaders will also discuss plans to bolster the alliance’s eastern flank, outline a new force model, announce funding decisions and publish a “Strategic Compact” that lays out NATO’s strategy for the years ahead, according to NATO diplomats.
The NATO Response Force is currently around 40,000 soldiers, sailors and air personnel.
They are kept at varying degrees of readiness to mobilise, ranging from two days to six months.
It comes after The Sun reported that NATO is set to create a new 200,000 strong force to “wipe Russia off the earth” if Putin invades an ally country.
The new Allied Reaction Force (ARF) will be a six times larger than the current formation that stands ready to repel Russian aggression, the NATO Response Force (NRF).
- Louis Allwood
Putin will be dead in two years as he’s suffering from ‘several grave illnesses’
UKRAINIAN officials have claimed that Vladimir Putin is suffering from "grave" illnesses and could die within two years in the latest rumours about Putin's health.
Speaking to USA Today, Ukraine's intelligence chief, Major General Kyrylo O. Budanov said Putin "doesn't have a long life ahead of him".
In another interview with Sky News, the General insisted Putin was in "very bad psychological and physical condition and he is very sick".
It comes after a top oligarch reportedly claimed Putin is "very ill with blood cancer" in the audio recording obtained by New Lines Magazine.
It isn't clear exactly what type of cancer Putin may have.
Putin's health has been subject to huge scrutiny in the wake of the war in Ukraine, and rumours continued to mount in the wake of last month's military parade when the tyrant was seen with a blanket over his legs.
Footage of Putin's poor posture, shaking hands and apparent bloated face sparked speculation about the strongman's health.
There have also been rumours Putin may have Parkinson's and suffers from "schizophrenic symptoms", although there is no proof of this.
- Louis Allwood
Boris mocks Putin
BORIS Johnson and Canada's Justin Trudeau mocked evil despot Vladimir Putin as world leaders gathered in Germany for the G7.
With the war in Ukraine top of the agenda yesterday at the annual talks, high in the Bavarian mountains, it was Kremlin tyrant Vladimir Putin who was the butt of early jokes.
His bizarre past photo ops that involved shooting bears and riding around topless on horses were the target of humour as both Mr Johnson and the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau enjoyed some banter.
Mr Johnson declared in front of the cameras: "Jackets on? Jackets off? Do we take our coats off?"
Canada's PM Justin Trudeau then suggested that the leaders wait for the official picture to be taken before Johnson joked: "We have to show that we're tougher than Putin."
And Trudeau got in on the spirit of things as he quipped back: "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display".
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also joined in as she said: "Horseback riding is the best."
But Mr Johnson then joked: "We've got to show them our pecs."
The leaders later chose to pose with their jackets on for the official photos.
- Louis Allwood
'Russia is a terrorist state'
Dmytro Lunin, head of Poltava regional administration, said: “Missile strike on a shopping mall with people in Kremenchuk is yet another military crime by the Russians.
"A crime against humanity. This is an obvious, cynical act of terror against peaceful civilians.
"Russia is a terrorist state."
Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said: “They said they would be hitting centres of decision making.
“But even the most sick imagination would not have guessed they mean shopping centres by this."
- Louis Allwood
'The number of victims is impossible to imagine'
Zelensky said on Telegram: "The occupiers have hit a shopping centre with over a thousand civilians inside.
"It is on fire, and rescue workers are trying to put out the fire, the number of victims is impossible to imagine."
"It posed no threat to the Russian army. No strategic value. People only wanted to live a normal life, which is what angers the occupiers so much.
"Out of helplessness, Russia continues to hit ordinary people. It is vain to expect it to be reasonable or humane."
- Louis Allwood
Putin’s 56th colonel and ‘40 soldiers’ killed in first strikes on Russian targets
Putin has lost his 56th colonel and 40 soldiers after they were hit by missiles supplied by the US.
Paratrooper commander Col. Andrei Vasilyev, 49, was allegedly killed in the attack on Friday night.
And reports said that a newly-supplied US medium range HIMARS missile was responsible for taking out more Kremlin targets as the war rages on.
If confirmed, his death was one of the first from the new 43-mile-range weapons sent to Ukraine by President Joe Biden.
Vasilyev was reportedly in an advanced command post of the Russian army’s airborne assault troops, but the location was not specified.
He was commander of the 137th Guards Airborne Regiment of the 106th Guards Airborne Division, based in Ryazan.
Married with a daughter, he had been awarded the Russian Order of Courage on other honours.
- Louis Allwood
UK's Ministry of Defence latest intelligence
The UK's Ministry of Defence has said that Ukrainian forces continue to hold the line despite Russia trying to gain momentum on the northern Izium axis.
In their latest intelligence update the Ministry said: "While Russia’s main operational focus remains the Sieverodonetsk-Lysychansk pocket, a week of consistently heavy shelling suggests Russia is now trying to regain momentum on the northern Izium axis.
"Ukrainian forces continue to hold the line in that sector, making good use of forested terrain to assist their defence.
"Over the coming weeks, Russia’s campaign will highly likely increasingly rely on echelons of reserve forces.
"These consist of several distinct components which Russia has almost certainly already started to field."
- Louis Allwood
Civilians asked to evacuate
Civilians in the east of Ukraine are being asked to urgently evacuate the city of Lysychansk.
The city has been under fierce attack from Russian forces over the past couple of days.
It is the last major city still held by Ukrainian troops in the eastern province of Luhansk.
Ukraine’s governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Gaidai, has urged residents to leave.
He writes on the Telegram messaging app: "Dear residents of Lysychansk city territorial community and their relatives! Due to the real threat to life and health, we call on you to evacuate urgently."
- Louis Allwood
NATO announces increase of troops
Nato's military alliance's secretary general has announced that the number of troops available to its response force will be increasing from 40,000 to 300,000.
Jens Stoltenberg told reporters: "We will strengthen our forward defences. We will enhance our battle groups in the eastern part of the alliance, up to brigade levels.
"We will transform the Nato response force and increase the number of our high readiness forces to well over 300,000."
Stoltenberg went on to describe Russia as as the most significant and direct threat to the alliance's security and values.
- Louis Allwood
Russia says Ukraine at fault for missile landing on Kyiv residential building
Russia's defence ministry said on Monday that a missile hitting a Kyiv residential building over the weekend could have been the result of a failure of Ukraine's air defence system.
Ukraine said Russia struck the capital Kyiv for the first time in weeks over the weekend, with U.S. President Joe Biden saying the attacks were more evidence of Russia's "barbarism" in its offensive against Ukraine.
In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said it believes a Ukrainian Buk missile system intercepted a S-300 air defence missile which then "fell down to a residential building."
Russia said all four of its missiles launched against an arms factory in Kyiv hit their target.
Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilian areas.
- Louis Allwood
Zelenskyy tells G7: 'If Ukraine wins you all win'
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky is understood to have told G7 leaders not to let the conflict in his country "drag on over winter".
He told the leaders gathered in Germany that "if Ukraine wins you all win".
And in a sign he was not willing to back down and accept a peace deal that gave up swathes of Ukraine to Russia, the president said: "We will only negotiate from a position of strength."
- Louis Allwood
The world outraged by Putin
Putin launched a deadly attack on a shopping centre in Kremenchuk today leading world leaders to criticise his actions.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "The world is horrified by Russia's missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall".
He added that the US will "continue to support Ukraine" and hold Russia to account.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the attack had shown the cruelty and barbarism of Russia's president.
- Louis Allwood
This is not the first time Poltava has been targeted
During the early stages of the war, Russian missiles hit Kremenchuk's oil refinery as well as other infrastructure facilities.
Poltava's governor, Dmytro Lunin, said the oil refinery had been "completely destroyed" after the attack.
- Louis Allwood
'Russia has committed a war crime'
More now on the missile attack on a shopping centre in Ukraine today. The regional head of Poltava, Dmytro Lunin, has said that Russia has committed a war crime by carrying out the attack in the city of Kremenchuk.
Dmytro Lunin said: "The missile strike at a shopping centre with people inside in Kremenchuk is another Russian war crime.
"A crime against humanity. This is an open and cynical act of terror against the civilian population."
- Louis Allwood
Brittney Griner looks shaken as her detention in Russian jail is extended for 6 months
Brittney Griner looked shaken as she appeared in court on Monday to set a date for her trial in a case that could see her jailed for up to 10 years.
The US WNBA basketball superstar will start her criminal trial on July, 1 according to the Associated Press.
Griner was seen walking into the court in Moscow with handcuffs, wearing glasses and a gray t-shirt.
She was bracketed by four security officers and a dog as she was led down a stairwell to a courtroom for her hearing.
The athlete was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her trial, extending her detention for another six months.
Griner had previously been ordered to remain in pretrial detention until July 2.
The Phoenix Mercury could face 10 years in prison if she is convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs.
- Louis Allwood
Leaders to discuss bolstering NATO's eastern flank
Leaders will also discuss plans to bolster the alliance’s eastern flank, outline a new force model, announce funding decisions and publish a “Strategic Compact” that lays out NATO’s strategy for the years ahead, according to NATO diplomats.
The NATO Response Force is currently around 40,000 soldiers, sailors and air personnel.
They are kept at varying degrees of readiness to mobilise, ranging from two days to six months.
It comes after The Sun reported that NATO is set to create a new 200,000 strong force to “wipe Russia off the earth” if Putin invades an ally country.
The new Allied Reaction Force (ARF) will be a six times larger than the current formation that stands ready to repel Russian aggression, the NATO Response Force (NRF).
- Louis Allwood
Putin will be dead in two years as he’s suffering from ‘several grave illnesses’
UKRAINIAN officials have claimed that Vladimir Putin is suffering from "grave" illnesses and could die within two years in the latest rumours about Putin's health.
Speaking to USA Today, Ukraine's intelligence chief, Major General Kyrylo O. Budanov said Putin "doesn't have a long life ahead of him".
In another interview with Sky News, the General insisted Putin was in "very bad psychological and physical condition and he is very sick".
It comes after a top oligarch reportedly claimed Putin is "very ill with blood cancer" in the audio recording obtained by New Lines Magazine.
It isn't clear exactly what type of cancer Putin may have.
Putin's health has been subject to huge scrutiny in the wake of the war in Ukraine, and rumours continued to mount in the wake of last month's military parade when the tyrant was seen with a blanket over his legs.
Footage of Putin's poor posture, shaking hands and apparent bloated face sparked speculation about the strongman's health.
There have also been rumours Putin may have Parkinson's and suffers from "schizophrenic symptoms", although there is no proof of this.
- Louis Allwood
Boris mocks Putin
BORIS Johnson and Canada's Justin Trudeau mocked evil despot Vladimir Putin as world leaders gathered in Germany for the G7.
With the war in Ukraine top of the agenda yesterday at the annual talks, high in the Bavarian mountains, it was Kremlin tyrant Vladimir Putin who was the butt of early jokes.
His bizarre past photo ops that involved shooting bears and riding around topless on horses were the target of humour as both Mr Johnson and the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau enjoyed some banter.
Mr Johnson declared in front of the cameras: "Jackets on? Jackets off? Do we take our coats off?"
Canada's PM Justin Trudeau then suggested that the leaders wait for the official picture to be taken before Johnson joked: "We have to show that we're tougher than Putin."
And Trudeau got in on the spirit of things as he quipped back: "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display".
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also joined in as she said: "Horseback riding is the best."
But Mr Johnson then joked: "We've got to show them our pecs."
The leaders later chose to pose with their jackets on for the official photos.
- Louis Allwood
'Russia is a terrorist state'
Dmytro Lunin, head of Poltava regional administration, said: “Missile strike on a shopping mall with people in Kremenchuk is yet another military crime by the Russians.
"A crime against humanity. This is an obvious, cynical act of terror against peaceful civilians.
"Russia is a terrorist state."
Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said: “They said they would be hitting centres of decision making.
“But even the most sick imagination would not have guessed they mean shopping centres by this."
- Louis Allwood
People were pictured escaping the blaze
The Ukrainian president said Russia carried out the missile strike while more than 1,000 people were in the building.
- Louis Allwood
'Walls are collapsing'
In one harrowing video, a male voice is heard shouting: “Is anyone alive? Anyone alive here?”
And a man who films the mall from the outside: “This is it, the walls are collapsing.”
- Louis Allwood
'The number of victims is impossible to imagine'
Zelensky said on Telegram: "The occupiers have hit a shopping centre with over a thousand civilians inside.
"It is on fire, and rescue workers are trying to put out the fire, the number of victims is impossible to imagine."
"It posed no threat to the Russian army. No strategic value. People only wanted to live a normal life, which is what angers the occupiers so much.
"Out of helplessness, Russia continues to hit ordinary people. It is vain to expect it to be reasonable or humane."
- Louis Allwood
Two dead in shopping mall attack
According to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the office of the president, at least two people have been confirmed dead and 20 injured in the attack.
- Louis Allwood
Russian missile hits shopping centre packed with 1,000 people
Dozens of people are feared dead after a Russian missile hit a shopping centre containing over 1,000 civilians in Ukraine.
The missile struck in the city of Kremenchuk leaving many civilians still trapped inside – with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying the number of victims is "impossible to imagine".
Horrifying videos show the entire shopping centre in flames as firefighters battle the inferno.
People are seen gathered outside watching the horrifying scene unfold as shouts and screams can be heard.
And other footage shows people escaping from the shopping mall as they flee the blaze.
- Louis Allwood
Putin’s 56th colonel and ‘40 soldiers’ killed in first strikes on Russian targets
Putin has lost his 56th colonel and 40 soldiers after they were hit by missiles supplied by the US.
Paratrooper commander Col. Andrei Vasilyev, 49, was allegedly killed in the attack on Friday night.
And reports said that a newly-supplied US medium range HIMARS missile was responsible for taking out more Kremlin targets as the war rages on.
If confirmed, his death was one of the first from the new 43-mile-range weapons sent to Ukraine by President Joe Biden.
Vasilyev was reportedly in an advanced command post of the Russian army’s airborne assault troops, but the location was not specified.
He was commander of the 137th Guards Airborne Regiment of the 106th Guards Airborne Division, based in Ryazan.
Married with a daughter, he had been awarded the Russian Order of Courage on other honours.
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