Ukraine war - latest: Kyiv vows to ‘hit back harder’ if Putin attacks Kakhovka dam
Moscow has resorted to the plot because “nuclear blackmail did not work”, the office of President Zelensky claims
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Ukraine has vowed it will “not succumb to peace by coercion” while threatening to hit back even harder if Putin blows up a hydroelectric dam in the Russian-occupied Kherson region.
Russia is reportedly planning to destroy the Kakhovka plant, an act that would result in a “catastrophe on a grand scale”, President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, tweeted that Moscow has resorted to the plot because “nuclear blackmail did not work”.
President Zelensky claims the Kremlin has planted mines at the frontline dam, which risks wiping out a 400km-long (250 miles) canal network.
“Russia is preparing [to attack] at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. According to our information, the aggregates and dam of the Kakhovka HPP were mined by Russian terrorists.
“If the dam is destroyed… the North Crimean canal will simply disappear.”
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West must warn Russia not to blow up dam, Zelensky says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the West to warn Russia not to blow up a huge dam that would flood a swath of southern Ukraine, as his forces prepare to push Moscow's troops from Kherson in one of the war's most important battles.
In a television address, Zelenskiy said Russian forces had planted explosives inside the huge Nova Kakhovka dam, which holds back an enormous reservoir that dominates much of southern Ukraine, and were planning to blow it up to cover their retreat.
"Now everyone in the world must act powerfully and quickly to prevent a new Russian terrorist attack. Destroying the dam would mean a large-scale disaster," he said.
Explainer: What is a kamikaze drone?
So-called “kamikaze drones” are believed to lie in the arsenals of both sides in Russia’s war on Ukraine, a conflict in which Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are playing a large role.
These drones are said by Kyiv to have been used in Russian attacks which killed 19 people last week, before a widespread and fatal assault on the Ukrainian capital and other cities on Monday sparked international condemnation
But what are they? My colleague Andy Gregory reports:
Russia-Ukraine war: What is a kamikaze drone?
Moscow is believed by the US to have sought hundreds of the vehicles from Iran
ICYMI: Putin’s vodka gift to Berlusconi breaks EU sanctions and causes row in Rome
A birthday present of 20 bottles of vodka from Vladimir Putin to Silvio Berlusconi breached European Union sanctions imposed after the Russian leader’s invasion of Ukraine – and has prompted fears about the make-up of Italy’s next government.
Our deputy politics editor David Harding reports:
Putin’s vodka gift to Berlusconi breaks EU sanctions and causes row in Rome
A birthday present of 20 bottles of vodka from Vladimir Putin to Silvio Berlusconi breached European Union sanctions imposed after the Russian leader’s invasion of Ukraine – and has prompted fears about the make-up of Italy’s next government.
Zelensky warns Russia is planning ‘catastrophic’ attack on hydroelectric dam
Russia is planning to destroy a hydroelectric dam in Ukraine’s Kherson region, an act that would result in a “catastrophe on a grand scale”, President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.
He claims Moscow has planted mines at the dam in the Russian-occupied region, which risks wiping out a 400km-long (250 miles) canal network.
Our international editor David Harding reports:
Zelensky warns Russia is planning ‘catastrophic’ attack on hydroelectric dam
It would be like ‘using weapons of mass destruction on a grand scale’, says Kyiv leader
Ukraine deletes ‘better call Boris’ tweet
Ukraine has deleted a tweet seemingly calling for Boris Johnson to return as UK prime minister.
An official Ukraine Twitter account posted "better call Boris" following the resignation of Liz Truss on Thursday.
It has since been removed.
Labour leader Keir Stamer said he was "rather surprised" by the tweet, which included a meme based on the Netflix show Better Call Saul, with a photo of Mr Johnson's face, amid speculation the former prime minister might attempt a political comeback.
My colleague Joe Middleton reports:
Ukraine backs Johnson for return as PM with ‘Better Call Boris’ meme
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer ‘rather surprised’ by tweet
History-maker Meloni inches closer to becoming Italy’s first female PM
Giorgia Meloni could be hours away from becoming Italy’s first female prime minister after holding talks with President Sergio Mattarella to discuss the formation of a new government.
Far-right Meloni, who heads the nationalist Brothers of Italy party, entered the president’s palace on Friday morning alongside her main polticial allies, Matteo Salvini, who leads the far-right League, and Silvio Berlusconi, founder of the conservative Forza Italia party - and Kremlin sympathiser.
Our international editor David Harding reports:
History-maker Meloni inches closer to becoming Italy’s first female PM
Far-right Meloni could be crowned leader at the weekend after talks about forming a government with president on Friday
Putin fires sniper rifle during Russian training base visit
Vladimir Putin was filmed firing a sniper rifle while on a visit to a training base for military reservists near Moscow.
The Russian president visited the base in Ryazan, southeast of capital Moscow on Thursday, in an appearance aimed at countering images posted by Russians posted on social media showing poorly equipped troops.
A video broadcast on state TV showed Mr Putin lying under a net in a field, wearing goggles and ear protection, shooting the weapon.
Putin fires sniper rifle during Russian training base visit
Vladimir Putin was filmed firing a sniper rifle while on a visit to a training base for military reservists near Moscow.
The Russian president visited the base in Ryazan, southeast of capital Moscow on Thursday, in an appearance aimed at countering images posted by Russians posted on social media showing poorly equipped troops.
A video broadcast on state TV showed Mr Putin lying under a net in a field, wearing goggles and ear protection, shooting the weapon.
Four killed in Kherson missile strike - Russian officials
Russian-installed officials accused Ukrainian forces on Friday of using US-supplied HIMARS missiles to attack people evacuating from the Russian-controlled city of Kherson, saying they had killed at least four civilians and wounded 13 others.
A Ukrainian official acknowledged an attack but said it occurred after a civilian curfew. He did not say what weapons were used.
Russian-installed authorities in the southern Ukrainian region which Moscow proclaimed as annexed last month are evacuating around 50,000-60,000 people across the Dnipro River ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Vladimir Rogov, an official in the Russian-installed administration of the neighbouring Zaporizhzhia region, said Ukraine had struck the civilians with American-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) missiles.
Ukrainian forces "launched a missile attack on a civilian crossing," said Kirill Stremousov, the Russian-installed deputy governor of Kherson.
Ukrainian refugees in theUK who fled Putin’s war are turning to food banks amid soaring inflation.
Ukrainian refugees in the UK are turning to food banks amid rising inflation and the struggle to find employment.
More than 148,300 Ukrainians have been granted sanctuary in the UK since the start of Vladimir Putin’s invasion, the latest government data up to June 2022 shows.
My colleague Holly Bancroft reports:
Ukrainian refugees in UK who fled war turning to food banks amid soaring inflation
Food prices in the UK have soared, with inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages currently at 14.6 per cent
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