Ukraine: Putin breaks silence after school shooter kills 12 in 'inhuman attack'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a "partial-mobilisation" of 300,000 people to fight in Ukraine.
Putin likely to be 'glad' anti-war Russians are fleeing says expert
A Russian man drafted as part of Vladimir Putin's "partial mobilisation" has reportedly set himself on fire to avoid military duty. Video footage circulating online shows him being taken away by officials to hospital where he was treated for burns. The extreme action follows dozens of incidents of unrest since Putin made the announcement last week. This morning, a 25-year-old man in Ust-Ilimsk, the Irkutsk region of Russia shot a drafting office commander at point blank range, shouting that "nobody will go fighting". Meanwhile, in Uryupinsk, Volgograd region, a 35-year-old man threw Molotov cocktails at the local drafting office building. The resistance comes amid heavy losses for the Russian troops. According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, some 57,200 Russian personnel are estimated to have been killed since the war began February 24.
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Ukraine and Russia engage in intense fighting as annexation vote draws to a close
Russia has organised a range of sham referendums in occupied regions of Ukraine in an attempt to take over the areas.
Fighting between Russia and Ukraine has intensified in the regions as voting on annexation draws to a close.
Moscow hopes to annexe four regions of Ukraine in its latest attempt to tighten its grip on Ukraine. The voting began on Friday and is due to conclude on Tuesday with Russia expected to approve annexation in days.
Putin hints at locking Russian border after mobilisation as lawmakers insist on travel ban
Vladimir Putin has hinted at locking down the Russian border after mobilising 300,000 reservists in Ukraine.
The Russian leader last week called the first mobilisation since the Second World War.
Following the announcement, one-way tickets out of Moscow sold out in hours.
Russians flew to Ankara, Turkey, among other locations where they do not require visas.
But reports today suggest Russians are being prevented from leaving their country.
Some fighting-age men are understood to have been sent back from the border to their local draft offices.
Putin plans rocked as polling station and bases blown up in Russia-occupied area
Illegal referendums are underway in several Ukrainian regions as Vladimir Putin attempts to consolidate his grip on power in the occupied territories.
However, things in Ukraine do not appear to be going to Putin's plan.
Massive explosions have rocked Russian bases in the occupied Luhansk Oblast in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Governor of the region has said that a Russian "storage point" and barracks were were hit.
Reports have emerged which suggest at least one of the explosions was caused by a HIMARS strike directed by Ukrainian special forces behind enemy lines.
A polling station was burned down in an area Russia has occupied since the first day of the invasion. The news comes as Putin doubles down on his invasion mobilising hundreds of thousands of Russians to fight.
Recruitment offices burn as Russia resists Putin's Ukraine war draft
Vladimir Putin is desperately trying to find men to fight his war in Ukraine, however the move has seen significant resistance inside Russia.
Several Russian recruitment offices have been attacked in recent days, as Russians revolt against Putin's mobilisation.
A number of administrative buildings have also been set alight.
Protests across Russia have erupted against the move which has been seen as a huge gamble for Vladimir Putin.
Good evening!
Good evening. I'm Jack Walters. I will be bringing you the latest Ukraine developments over the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @JTWalters99
Control of terrain MAPPED
Below is a map detailing the latest developments for Russian and Ukrainian forces in terms of terrain, courtesy of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Zelensky says Donbas is Ukraine's number one priority because it is Russia's number one priority
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the occupied Donbas region is Ukraine's top priority because it is Russia's top priority.
In a nightly address, he said: "The situation in the Donetsk region is particularly severe.
"We are doing everything to contain enemy activity. This is our No. 1 goal right now because Donbas is still the No. 1 goal for the occupiers."
What is a HIMARS?
The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) has been credited with stopping Russia in its tracks, with retired US Army General Mark Hertling last month describing the missile system as a “game changer”.
Built by Lockheed Martin, the mobile platform can either be equipped with six guided rockets which have a range of roughly 40 miles, or one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of about 185 miles.
Russia descends into chaos as protests and violence break out amid drafting resistance
Violence and protests have broken out in Russia following Vladimir Putin's announcement of partial mobilisation last week.
On the day of the announcement of Russia’s first mobilisation since the Second World War, one-way tickets for flights out of the country sold out in hours.
Other reports suggest in the areas where losses in Ukraine have been hardest felt, including Siberia, crowds have been marching against the mobilisation, chanting: “I’m not going to die for you.”
Hundreds, if not thousands, of people have been detained across Russia at protests in the days following Putin’s announcement.
Independent protest monitoring group OVD-Info said it was aware of detentions in 32 different cities in Russia on Saturday.
Netherlands to step up support for Ukraine
The Netherlands is stepping up its support for Ukraine, Dutch PM Mark Rutte has announced.
Writing on Twitter, Mr Rutte said: "We are stepping up our support for Ukraine. More weapons, more sanctions, and more isolation for Russia. I stressed this once again when speaking to @ZelenskyyUa, in response to Russia’s mobilisation and illegitimate referenda. Protecting Europe is crucial for our security."
\ud83d\udcde: We are stepping up our support for Ukraine. More weapons, more sanctions, and more isolation for Russia. I stressed this once again when speaking to @ZelenskyyUa, in response to Russia\u2019s mobilisation and illegitimate referenda. Protecting Europe is crucial for our security. pic.twitter.com/3tyQLpCDDQ
\u2014 Mark Rutte (@MinPres) September 26, 2022
Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden
Vladimir Putin has granted US citizenship to whistleblower Edward Snowdon.
Mr Snowdon fled the United States in 2013 and was granted asylum in Russia after he exposed the scale of secret surveillance operations by the National Security Agency (NSA) where he worked.
US authorities have wanted Mr Snowdon to return to the US for years to face espionage charges.
He did not immediately comment on the announcement.
Britain imposes new sanctions on Russia over sham referendums
Britain has announced new sanctions on Russia after it conducted sham referendums on seized Ukrainian territories joining Russia, the Foreign Office has announced.
It said it is imposing travel bans and asset freezes on 33 officials and "collaborators" involved in organising the votes.
Announcing the move, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: "Sham referendums held at the barrel of a gun cannot be free or fair and we will never recognise their results.
"They follow a clear pattern of violence, intimidation, torture, and forced deportations in the areas of Ukraine Russia has seized.
"Today's sanctions will target those behind these sham votes, as well as the individuals that continue to prop up the Russian regime's war of aggression.
"We stand with the Ukrainian people and our support will continue as long as it takes to restore their sovereignty."
What is the Donbas?
The Donbas region of Ukraine refers to the old coal and steel-producing areas in the east.
The regions, Luhansk and Donetsk, run from outside Mariupol in the south all the way to the northern border.
Russia formally recognises these breakaway areas as independent from Ukraine.
Russian forces seized more than a third of the area after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Donbas is predominantly Russian-speaking and Putin has repeatedly spoken about "liberating" it completely.
Despite sharing a language, these areas are no longer pro-Russian.
Defence specialist Konrad Muzyka, head of Rochan Consulting, said: "Mariupol was one of the most pro-Russian cities in Ukraine and to level it is beyond my comprehension."
Latest Russian losses
Russia has lost 57,200 troops since February 24, according to the latest estimates from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Armed Forces also estimate that Russia has lost 2,290 tanks and 260 plane.
These are the indicative estimates of Russia\u2019s combat losses as of Sept. 26, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/mZ2VhzvGHt
\u2014 The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 26, 2022
Good afternoon
Good afternoon, I'm Olivia Stringer and I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Livstringer_
Democrats divided over whether to send Ukraine long-range weapons
Democrats are divided on whether to start providing Ukraine with more advanced weapon systems amid a blistering Ukrainian offensive.
Ukraine has been asking the US to provide longer-range systems for months.
This call has been resisted by the Biden administration because the weapons could make long range attacks on Russia possible.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warned that the US would “cross the red line and become a party to the conflict” if it sent longer-range missiles to Ukraine.
But some Democrats believe it is time to start meeting Ukraine's demands.
Representative Jason Crow told The Hill: “The Ukrainians now are transitioning their force — they are starting to look more like a NATO military than a former Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact military.
"And what’s more is they’ve actually shown their ability to do that — to both fight and make that transition, and learn new systems at the same time.
“So now it is time to start providing those more advanced systems — which the administration is doing — and continue to push them to do more of, and to do it on a faster timeline."
UN to start talks with Russia and Ukraine on nuclear protection zone this week
UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi has said he is ready to hold talks in Ukraine and Russia this week on setting up a protection zone at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Mr Grossi said: "There is a plan on the table to do it. Last week, I had an opportunity to start consultations with Ukraine and with the Russian Federation.
"I am ready to continue these consultations in both countries this week."
The IAEA recently carried out an inspection of the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is the largest in Europe, and warned there was an "urgent need" for interim measures to prevent a nuclear accident.
More than 260,000 Russians flee since 'partial-mobilisation' announcement
More than 260,000 men have left Russia since Vladimir Putin announced the "partial-mobilisation" of troops, according to the Kremlin.
Tensions are reportedly running high within the Presidential Administration (PA) which is debating whether to close borders to men of conscription age.
Putin denounces 'inhuman terrorist attack' at school
Vladimir Putin has broken his silence following a school shooting in Russia's Izhevsk region which left at least 13 people dead, including children.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "President Putin deeply mourns the deaths of people, children at a school where there was a terrorist attack by a person, who apparently belongs to a neo-fascist group.
"The president wishes for the recovery of those injured as a result of this inhuman terrorist attack."
More than 40 towns hit by Russia in last 24 hours
More than 40 towns were hit by Russian shelling in the 24 hours to Monday morning, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces.
Russia reportedly launched five missiles, 12 airstrikes and more than 83 attacks from rocket-propelled grenades.
Ukraine's air forces launched 33 strikes in response, hitting 25 enemy areas, the general staff added.
Russia arrests 100 in Dagestan call-up protest
Russian police have arrested more than 100 people in Dagestan, a poor Muslim-majority republic in the North Caucasus, according to human rights monitor OVD-Info.
Unrest broke out over the weekend in response to Russia's "partial-mobilisation".
Dagestan has seen more men killed in the Kremlin's military offensive in Ukraine than any other part of Russia, according to independent Russian media.
OVD-Info said that police had arrested at least 101 people in Makhatchkala, the capital of Dagestan in southwestern Russia.
Women in Makhachkala, Dagestan are desperately protesting against the war and mobilization: \u201cWhy are you taking our children? Who attacked whom? Who attacked Russia? We are the ones who attacked Ukraine. Russia attacked Ukraine. No to war!"https://t.co/S5T4QxhQ3g
\u2014 Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) September 25, 2022
Wagner mercenary boss 'dead man walking' as depth of failures exposed
A Russian mercenary boss has landed himself in hot water after "thousands" of prisoners sent to fight in Ukraine were killed or seriously injured.
Igor Shushko of the Wind of Change Research Group has described a Russian mercenary boss as a "dead man walking" after the extent of his failures were exposed.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner group, has repeatedly defended recruiting convicts for his private army sending soldiers into Ukraine.
Leaked footage showed him telling inmates in a prison yard that they would be freed if they served six months with his group, which is believed to have been fighting in Ukraine since 2014.
In a statement published on social media after the video went viral, Mr Prigozhin said that if he were in prison he would "dream of" joining the Wagner group to "pay my debt to the Motherland".
But thousands of Russian convicts are now reportedly dead and "more maimed without arms and legs", according to Mr Shushko, who added that his failure is attributed to the needs of mobilisation.
"Prisoners' effectiveness on the front was evaluated as zero," he added.
Aiden Aslin thanks Elon Musk for help to contact family
British prisoner of war Aiden Aslin has released the last video he made before being captured by Russian forces and thanked entrepreneur Elon Musk for his help.
Mr Aslin said: "Before I surrendered, I made this video I was so scared at this moment but the fact I was able to get this out truly is down to Elon Musk and I want to take a moment to thank you because of your starlink satellite I could inform the world and managed to call my family one last time."
The video shows the marine in the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.
He explains the team had exhausted their resources, including ammunition and food.
Meanwhile, Russian forces were bombarding them with "everything they have".
Mr Aslin, along with others captured from the steelworks, has now been returned home to the UK.
before I surrendered, I made this video I was so scared at this moment but the fact I was able to get this out truly is down to @elonmusk & I want to take a moment to thank you because of your starlink satellite I could inform the world & managed to call my family one last time pic.twitter.com/f4Zxv2tzLO
\u2014 COSSACKGUNDI (@cossackgundi) September 25, 2022
Gunman detained after opening fire at Russian draft office
A 25-year-old mobilised man has killed a drafting office commander in Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk region, Russia.
Alexandr Yeliseev, the commander, was shot four times at almost point blank range.
The gunman identified himself as Ruslan Zinin, born in 1997.
Russian media reports claimed the man walked into the office saying: "No one will go fighting" and "We will all go home now".
The gunman was said to be upset a call-up notice was served on his best friend, who didn’t have any combat experience.
Lavrov vows 'full protection' to annexed Ukrainian areas
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has pledged "full protection" to any Ukrainian areas annexed by Moscow amid pseudo-referendums in four regions.
The areas where votes are ongoing are: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly over the weekend, Mr Lavrov repeated Moscow's false claim that the elected government in Kyiv was illegitimately installed and filled with neo-Nazis.
He told a news conference afterwards that the regions where votes are under way would be under Moscow's "full protection" if they are annexed by Russia.
Asked if Russia would have grounds for using nuclear weapons to defend the annexed regions, Mr Lavrov said Russian territory, including territory "further enshrined" in Russia's constitution in the future, "is under the full protection of the state".
Six killed in school shooting in Russia
At least six people have been killed, and 20 people have been wounded in a school shooting in Russia.
The gunman killed himself following the incident in Izhevsk, Udmurtia, the Russian Interior Ministry reported.
Governor of the region Alexander Brechalov told the RIA news agency that an unidentified man had entered the school and killed a security guard.
He added that some school students were among the dead and wounded.
Russian men called up under Putin's 'partial-mobilisation' have started arriving
Tranches of men called up under Russia’s partial mobilisation have started arriving at military bases, the UK's Ministry of Defence has said.
The latest intelligence briefing said: "The initial tranches of men called up under Russia’s partial mobilisation have started arriving at military bases.
"Many tens of thousands of call-up papers have already been issued.
"Russia will now face an administrative and logistical challenge to provide training for the troops.
"Unlike most Western armies, the Russian military provides low-level, initial training to soldiers within their designated operational units, rather than in dedicated training establishments.
"Typically, one battalion within each Russian brigade will remain in garrison if the other two deploy and can provide a cadre of instructors to train new recruits or augmentees.
"However, Russia has deployed many of these third battalions to Ukraine.
"Many of the drafted troops will not have had any military experience for some years.
"The lack of military trainers, and the haste with which Russia has started the mobilisation, suggests that many of the drafted troops will deploy to the front line with minimal relevant preparation.
"They are likely to suffer a high attrition rate."
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 26 September 2022
\u2014 Ministry of Defence \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 (@DefenceHQ) September 26, 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/qJ9KOiz3lB
\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 #StandWithUkraine \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 pic.twitter.com/a84C4tDfep
Prigozhin admits founding Wagner group
Yevgeny Prigozhin, also known as "Putin's chef", has admitted that he founded Russia's notorious Wagner mercenary group in 2014.
Mr Prigozhin had previously taken legal action against people who accused him of being behind the group.
He said: “Then I flew to one of the training grounds and did it myself. I cleaned the old weapons myself, figured out the bulletproof vests myself and found specialists who could help me with this.
"From that moment, on May 1 2014, and a group of patriots was born, which later acquired the name BTG 'Wagner'.
"Exclusively thanks to their courage and courage, the liberation of the Lugansk airport and many other territories became possible, and the fate of the LPR and the DPR changed radically."
Good morning
Good morning from London. I’m Tara Fair, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @TaraFair_