Russia plans to take full control of southern Ukraine and establish a land corridor between Crimea and the Donbas, a leading Russian commander has said.
“Since the start of the second phase of the special operation… one of the tasks of the Russian army is to establish full control over the Donbas and southern Ukraine,” Rustam Minnekayev, the deputy commander of Russia’s central military district, was cited as saying by the TASS news agency.
He said such territorial gains would allow Russia to forge a land corridor between Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula which Russia annexed in 2014, and the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. He added that it would give Russia influence over Ukraine’s ports and key military facilities.
Minnekayev also said that “control over the south of Ukraine is another way to Transnistria, where there is also evidence that the Russian-speaking population is being oppressed”. Kyiv fears that Moldova’s pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria could be used as a launching pad for new attacks.
The statements represent an escalation in the rhetoric from Russia, which has previously only announced ambitions to control the eastern Donbas region.
Follow the latest updates below.
10:04 AM
Pictured: Ukrainian family gets in car after loading up belongings in Borodyanka
10:01 AM
Baltic nations not buying Russian gas at the moment, Latvia says
Baltic European Union members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are not buying Russian gas at the moment and aim to also avoid doing so in the future, Latvia’s Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said on Friday.
“We will cooperate for that, to ensure enough gas supplies, and we will use the underground gas storage in Latvia,” Mr Karins told a joint news conference following a meeting of the three Baltic prime ministers.
09:47 AM
Scholz says top priority is avoiding Nato confrontation with Russia
Nato must avoid a direct military confrontation with Russia that could lead to a third world war, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview with Der Spiegel when asked about Germany’s failure to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine.
Mr Scholz is facing growing criticism at home and abroad for his government’s apparent reluctance to deliver heavy battlefield weapons, such as tanks and howitzers, to Ukraine to help it fend off Russian attacks, even as other Western allies step up shipments.
Asked in an extensive interview published on Friday why he thought delivering tanks could lead to nuclear war, he said there was no rule book that stated when Germany could be considered a party to the war in Ukraine.
“That’s why it is all the more important that we consider each step very carefully and coordinate closely with one another,” he was quoted as saying. “To avoid an escalation towards Nato is a top priority for me.”
“That’s why I don’t focus on polls or let myself be irritated by shrill calls. The consequences of an error would be dramatic.”
09:41 AM
One dead in Ukraine transport plane crash
Ukraine said Friday that at least one person died and two were injured when a transport plane crashed over the centre of the country, the latest incident involving accident-prone Soviet-era aircraft.
“An AN-26 aircraft, which according to preliminary information belonged to Ukraine, crashed today in the vicinity of Mikhailovka in the Zaporizhzhia region,” the region’s administration wrote in a statement on social media.
“The aircraft was performing a technical flight. It has been established that one person was killed and two more were injured.”
Crew numbers and the cause of the crash were being investigated, the statement added.
The Soviet-designed Antonov aircraft, still widely used in military and civilian aviation across Russia and the former USSR, crash regularly.
09:29 AM
Russian actions in Ukraine ‘may amount to war crimes’, UN says
The United Nations on Friday accused Russia of taking action in Ukraine “that may amount to war crimes”, including indiscriminate bombing that killed civilians and destroyed schools and hospitals.
“Russian armed forces have indiscriminately shelled and bombed populated areas, killing civilians and wrecking hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure, actions that may amount to war crimes,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
09:21 AM
Kremlin condemns suspension of Olympic swimmer Rylov over Ukraine stance
The Kremlin on Friday condemned the nine-month suspension of Olympic champion swimmer Evgeny Rylov over his presence at a rally in support of Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
“We believe this is absolutely contrary to the ideas of sport,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the decision by swimming’s world governing body FINA to suspend Rylov. “When the strongest (competitors) lose the opportunity to participate, this ultimately harms international federations and international competitions.”
Mr Rylov, who won gold in the 100 and 200 metres backstroke events at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, was among several athletes who attended a massive rally at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium last month hosted by President Vladimir Putin.
08:51 AM
Ukraine says 21,200 Russian personnel killed since invasion started
Ukraine has said that 21,200 Russian personnel have been killed since the beginning of the invasion.
In its latest update, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported that Russia had lost 2162 armoured vehicles.
08:42 AM
Pope says June meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch is off
Plans for Pope Francis to meet in Jerusalem in June with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who has backed Russia’s war in Ukraine, have been suspended, the pope has told an Argentine newspaper.
Reuters reported on April 11 that the Vatican was considering extending the pope’s trip to Lebanon on June 12-13 by a day so that he could meet with Kirill on June 14 in Jerusalem.
Pope Francis told La Nacion in an interview that the plan was “suspended” because Vatican diplomats advised that such a meeting “could lend itself to much confusion at this moment”.
08:27 AM
Lithuania’s president calls for more Nato troops
Nato should increase its deployment of troops in Lithuania and elsewhere on Europe’s eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania’s president told Germany’s foreign minister during a meeting in Vilnius on Friday.
Nato’s Enhanced Forward Presence Battalion should be transformed into “at least” the size of a brigade, while air defences should be improved, President Gitanas Nauseda said in a statement.
He also called for a reinforcement of the Baltics’ only overland connection to the rest of the European Union, a narrow strip of land between Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave known as the Suwalki corridor.
08:22 AM
Russia says it plans to take full control of Donbas and Southern Ukraine, Ifax reports
Russia plans to take full control of Donbas and Southern Ukraine as part of the second phase of the military operation, the deputy commander of Russia’s central military district said on Friday, the Interfax news agency reported.
He was also cited as saying that Russia planned to forge a land corridor between Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and Donbas.
08:04 AM
Russia says its air force struck 58 military targets in Ukraine overnight
Russia’s defence ministry said on Friday it had struck 58 military targets in Ukraine overnight, including sites where troops, fuel depots and military equipment were concentrated.
The ministry said it had also struck three targets using high-precision missiles in Ukraine, including an S-300 air defence system and a large concentration of Ukrainian troops with their equipment.
07:46 AM
Transport plane crashes in south Ukraine on technical flight, casualties reported
A Ukrainian AN-26 transport plane crashed during a “technical flight” in southern Ukraine on Friday and there were casualties, local authorities said.
Details of the crash, in the Zaporizhzhia region, were being verified.
07:31 AM
Swimming governing body suspends Olympic champion for nine months over Putin rally
Swimming’s world governing body FINA said on Friday it had suspended Russian Olympic gold medallist Evgeny Rylov for nine months after he attended a rally in Moscow in support of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Mr Rylov, who won gold in 100 and 200 metres backstroke events at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, was among several athletes who attended a massive rally at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium last month hosted by President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Rylov and other athletes wore the letter “Z” on their outfit, an identifying symbol used by supporters of what Russia calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
FINA said the suspension came “following Mr. Rylov’s attendance and conduct at an event held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow”.
There was no immediate reaction from Mr Rylov, who also lost his sponsorship deal with swimwear maker Speedo over his presence at the rally.
07:18 AM
Gazprom’s Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine edge up on Friday
Russian gas producer Gazprom was supplying natural gas to Europe via Ukraine on Friday in line with requests from European consumers, it said.
Requests stood at 58.2 million cubic metres for April 22, the company said, up from 57.3 million cubic metres for April 21.
07:17 AM
Russia’s Petropavlovsk applies for export licence amid struggle to sell gold
Russian gold miner Petropavlovsk said on Friday it has applied for a new export licence as the company struggles to sell its gold to sanctions-hit lender Gazprombank, the only buyer of the mining group’s entire gold output.
The sanctions imposed on several Russian companies prohibit any financial dealings with such firms and Petropavlovsk is even restricted from making debt repayment to Gazprombank, also its main lender.
The restrictions put the London-listed miner, which has not been targeted by sanctions, in a difficult position as it has an extensive commercial and financial relationship with Gazprombank.
Petropavlovsk said it continues to explore options for sale of its gold, including with other potential buyers, even as it cut its annual total gold production outlook, hurt by supply chain disruptions to output from third-party concentrate.
The company said it now expects an annual total gold production in the range of 375 kilo ounces (koz) to 405 koz, down from a previous outlook of 380-420 koz.
06:42 AM
Mariupol mayor appeals for ‘full evacuation’ of his southern Ukrainian city
The mayor of Mariupol issued a new appeal on Friday for the “full evacuation” of the southern Ukrainian city which President Vladimir Putin says is now controlled by Russian forces.
“We need only one thing – the full evacuation of the population. About 100,000 people remain in Mariupol,” Mayor Vadym Boichenko said on national television.
06:41 AM
No civilian evacuations to take place in Ukraine on Friday
No evacuations of civilians will take place in war-torn Ukraine on Friday as the situation on the roads is too dangerous, a senior official has said.
“Because of the insecurity along the routes, there will be no humanitarian corridors today, April 22,” Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
06:40 AM
The latest pictures from Ukraine
06:12 AM
Britain permits gas payments to Gazprombank until May 31
Britain has granted a licence for payments until May 31 to Russia’s Gazprombank and its subsidiaries, so as to ensure gas supplies to the European Union, a Treasury document showed.
The licence permits an individual or company to continue payments under contracts that began before April 21, and allows actions such as opening and closing bank accounts in order to make such payments, the document published online showed.
06:08 AM
Britain says Russia blockaded Azovstal plant to contain Ukraine resistance
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to blockade the Azovstal steel plant in Ukraine likely indicates a desire to contain resistance in Mariupol, a British military update said on Friday.
“A full ground assault by Russia on the plant would likely incur significant Russian casualties, further decreasing their overall combat effectiveness,” the update added.
Heavy shelling continued in the eastern Donbas as Russia seeks to advance further towards settlements, including Krasnyy Lyman, Buhayikva, Barvinkove, Lyman and Popasna, the UK Ministry of Defence tweeted in a regular bulletin.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
04:55 AM
Mariupol ‘continues to resist’, Zelensky says
The devastated city of Mariupol “continues to resist” despite Russian claims to have captured it, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday as he welcomed fresh US aid to help confront Moscow’s eastern offensive.
Russia says it has “liberated” the city, with just a few thousand Ukrainian soldiers left in the Azovstal plant complex, where thousands more civilians are also believed to have taken refuge.
But Mr Zelensky said the battle continued.
“In the south and east of our country, the occupiers continue to do everything to have a reason to talk about at least some victories,” he said in a video address.
04:13 AM
Clearing Azovstal steel plant ‘pointless’, says Putin
Putin expressed concern for the lives of Russian troops in deciding against sending them in to clear out the sprawling Azovstal steel plant, where the die-hard defenders were hiding in a maze of underground passageways.
At a joint appearance with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin declared, “The completion of combat work to liberate Mariupol is a success,” and he offered congratulations to Shoigu.
Shoigu predicted the steel plant could be taken in three to four days, but Putin said that would be “pointless.”
“There is no need to climb into these catacombs and crawl underground through these industrial facilities,” the Russian leader said. “Block off this industrial area so that not even a fly comes through.”
03:50 AM
Local official in Kherson kidnapped by Russian troops, says Ukrainian deputy PM
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Russian troops kidnapped a local official heading up a humanitarian convoy in the southern Kherson region. She said the Russians offered to free him in exchange for Russian prisoners of war, but she characterized that as unacceptable.
Vereshchuk also said efforts to establish three humanitarian corridors in the Kherson region failed Thursday because Russian troops did not hold their fire
03:27 AM
Tennis-Wimbledon ban will ‘incite hatred,’ says Belarus federation
The decision to bar Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine will incite “hatred and intolerance”, the Belarus Tennis Federation (BTF) said, adding that they are seeking legal advice on the ban.
The grasscourt major announced on Wednesday that Russian and Belarusian competitors would be banned from this year’s tournament. Belarus is a key staging area for the invasion, which Russia calls a “special military operation”.
“The Belarusian Tennis Federation categorically condemns the decision of the Wimbledon organizers to suspend the Belarusian and Russian tennis players,” BTF said in a statement on Thursday.
03:16 AM
In pictures: Volunteer prepares dough for traditional Easter cakes in an old bakery that survived during Russia’s invasion of Bucha
02:32 AM
Biden bans Russian ships from US ports
President Joe Biden announced on Thursday the United States will ban Russian-affiliated ships from American ports, joining Canada and European nations in the latest step to pressure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Reuters first reported Biden’s planned action on Thursday and had reported in early March that the ban was under consideration by the White House.
“That means no ship, no ship that sails under the Russian flag or that is owned or operated by a Russian entity, will be allowed to dock in a United States port or access our shores. None,” Mr Biden said on Thursday.
02:10 AM
New satellite images show what appear to be mass graves near Mariupol
Satellite images released on Thursday showed what appeared to be mass graves near Mariupol, and local officials accused Russia of burying up to 9,000 Ukrainian civilians there in an effort to conceal the slaughter taking place in the siege of the port city.
Satellite image provider Maxar Technologies released the photos, which it said showed more than 200 mass graves in a town where Ukrainian officials say the Russians have been burying Mariupol residents killed in the fighting.
The imagery showed long rows of graves stretching away from an existing cemetery in the town of Manhush, outside Mariupol.
Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko accused the Russians of “hiding their military crimes” by taking the bodies of civilians from the city and burying them in Manhush.
01:49 AM
US to host Ukraine-focused defense talks in Germany
NEWS: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to Host Meeting in Germany to Discuss Ukraine’s Long-Term Defense Needs https://t.co/xsJbDi27tV
— Department of Defense ???????? (@DeptofDefense) April 22, 2022
01:27 AM
Today’s top stories
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Britain is training Ukrainians in the use of armoured vehicles on UK soil to help Kyiv’s forces launch counter-offensives against Vladimir Putin’s invading army in eastern Ukraine
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Working from home increases the risk of Russian cyber attacks, intelligence agencies have warned
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A video of Vladimir Putin tightly gripping a table during a televised meeting has sparked speculation over the Russian leader’s health
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The “Butcher of Bucha” has been sanctioned by the UK after committing “heinous” acts in Ukraine, as Liz Truss announced a crackdown on Vladimir Putin’s generals
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A deadly fire in Russia on Thursday destroyed the building of a top-secret military research institute working to develop Russia’s newest ballistic missiles
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Germany was accused of backtracking on its pledge to buy heavy weapons for Ukraine on Thursday, amid reports it vetoed key items requested by Kyiv
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The US will supply Ukraine with deadly so-called “ghost drones” developed specifically for Ukrainian forces to use against Russian troops
