Izium was decimated as Ukraine reclaims the city from Russian forces
Ukrainian officials have found mass graves of more than 400 unmarked burials in the Kharkiv city of Izium, just days after the country’s troops liberated the captured city from Russian soldiers, prompting them to flee the region battered by the war.
“Mass graves are being discovered in Izium after the liberation of the Russians. The largest burial sites today have 440 unmarked graves,” the Ukrainian defense ministry said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video overnight that Russia is “leaving death everywhere” and that it “must be held accountable.”
The wartime president also warned of a radiation disaster “worse even than Chernobyl” and said the world remained on the brink of nuclear catastrophe as long as Russian soldiers remained stationed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Vladimir Putin said Thursday he understands his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping’s concerns about the brewing crisis in Europe, in the first sign of friction with Beijing over the war in Ukraine.
key points
Show latest update 1663319933
Ukrainian mayor reunites with mother after his forces freed city from Russian forces
Ukrainian mayor reunites with mother after his forces freed city from Russian forces
Joe Middleton September 16, 2022 10:18 am
1663318544
Zelensky’s wife Olena will represent Ukraine at the Queen’s funeral
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s wife, Olena Zelenska, will attend the Queen’s funeral in London on Monday.
While the president will not join heads of state at the funeral, Ms Zelenska will be present at the Abby in Westminster, The Sun reported.
“Olena Zelenska’s presence is another sign of global support for Ukraine while Russia is isolated,” a source told the outlet.
Sravasti Dasgupta reports.
Zelensky’s wife Olena will represent Ukraine at the Queen’s funeral
Ukraine’s first lady will return to the war-torn country immediately after the ceremony
Joe Middleton 16 September 2022 09:55
1663315729
Ukraine counterattack ‘encouraging’ but ‘not beginning of end of war’, NATO chief warns
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that Ukraine’s counterattack against Russian troops had been very effective, but warned that nations should prepare for the long term as it did not indicate the beginning of the end of the war.
“Of course, it is very encouraging to see that the Ukrainian armed forces have been able to take back territory and also attack behind Russian lines,” Stoltenberg told BBC radio.
“At the same time, we must understand that this is not the beginning of the end of the war, we must be prepared for the long term.”
Joe Middleton 16 September 2022 09:08
1663313429
“Mass pit with 440 bodies” found in Ukrainian city recovered from Russian forces
A mass grave believed to contain 440 bodies has been discovered near a town recently retaken from Russian forces, a Ukrainian official said.
The site in the eastern city of Izium also included the bodies of people who had been killed by shelling and airstrikes, regional police chief Serhiy Bolvinov said Thursday.
Bolvinov, the chief investigator of the police in the Kharkiv region, told Sky News that forensic investigations would be carried out on all the bodies.
“I can say that it is one of the largest burial sites in a large city in the liberated areas… 440 bodies were buried in one place,” he said.
Mass grave found in city retaken from Russian forces, Zelensky says
‘Russia leaves death everywhere. And he must take responsibility for this,” says Volodymyr Zelensky
Joe Middleton September 16, 2022 8:30 am
1663311668
Izium was decimated as Ukraine reclaims the city from Russian forces
Izium was decimated as Ukraine reclaims the city from Russian forces
Joe Middleton September 16, 2022 8:01 am
1663308900
Putin tells Xi he understands China has “questions and concerns” about Ukraine war
Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he understood Xi Jinping had questions and concerns about the situation in Ukraine, but praised China’s leader for what he said was a “balanced” position on the conflict, Reuters reports.
In their first face-to-face meeting since the war, Xi said he was very happy to be reunited with “my old friend” after Putin said US attempts to create a unipolar world would fail.
“We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis,” Putin told Xi, whom he addressed as “Dear Comrade Xi Jinping, dear friend.”
“We understand your questions and concerns about this. During today’s meeting, of course, we will explain our position, we will explain in detail our position on this issue, although we have discussed it before.”
Putin’s first comments about Chinese concern about the war come just days after a landslide defeat of his forces in northeastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later told reporters that the closed-door talks had been excellent.
Joe Middleton September 16, 2022 7:15 am
1663306708
Russian prisoners are released for war in Ukraine amid heavy losses – British Ministry of Defence
Russian private military company Wagner group has been carrying out a campaign to deploy convicts and prisoners in Russian prisons since at least July this year, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence update today.
“The Kremlin-linked Russian private military company Wagner Group has been running a campaign to recruit Russian convicts for service in Ukraine since at least July. The prisoners have been offered commutations of their sentences, as well as incentives in effective,” the ministry said.
He added that this offer from Russia has been revived, and that a recently released video likely showed Wagner’s owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, “running a recruiting camp for prisoners.”
In the video, Prigozhin stresses that he is only looking for “fighters for assault units,” the ministry said.
He added that Russian military academies are shortening training courses and advancing cadet graduation dates.
“This is almost certain that the cadets can be deployed to support the Ukraine operation. The impact of the Russian manpower challenge has become increasingly serious,” the Ministry of British defense
“The acceleration of officer cadet training and Wagner’s demand for assault troops suggest that two of the most critical shortfalls within the military’s manning crisis are likely to be combat infantry and junior commanders,” added.
Arpan Rai September 16, 2022 6:38 am
1663306662
Pope says it is “morally legitimate” to supply arms to Ukraine
Pope Francis said it was morally legitimate for countries that support Ukraine to supply weapons to Ukraine to help the country against Russian invasion.
“This is a political decision that can be moral, morally acceptable, if it is made under conditions of morality,” the Pope told reporters while traveling from a trip to Kazakhstan.
He also urged the government in Kyiv to be open to eventual dialogue, although it may “smell” because it would be difficult for the Ukrainian side.
Arpan Rai September 16, 2022 6:37 am
1663305038
World on the brink of radiation disaster worse than Chernobyl – Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a nuclear catastrophe worse than Chernobyl if Russian soldiers remain stationed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
“As long as Russian soldiers remain at the nuclear power plant, the world will continue to be on the brink of a radiation disaster, worse even than Chernobyl,” Zelensky said in his late-night speech.
He pressed for “the joint responsibility of everyone in Europe and the world to remove the Russian presence from the territory” of the nuclear power plant.
Arpan Rai September 16, 2022 6:10 am
1663304327
Mass grave containing 440 bodies found in the city of Kharkiv – officials
Ukrainian officials found a mass grave containing 440 bodies in the northeastern city of Izium that was recovered from Russian soldiers, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said today.
“Mass graves are being discovered in Izium after the liberation of the Russians. The largest burial sites today have 440 unmarked graves,” the ministry said in a tweet, sharing photos of the site showing the marked graves.
Volodymyr Zelensky said that “necessary procedural actions have already begun there.”
“More information, clear, verified, should be available tomorrow,” he said, the ministry added.
Thousands of Russian troops were driven out of Izium last weekend after occupying the city and using it as a logistics hub in the Kharkiv region. They left behind large quantities of ammunition and equipment.
Arpan Rai September 16, 2022 5:58 am