Some Russian soldiers in Ukraine have refused to carry out orders, sabotaged their equipment and accidentally shot down one of their own aircraft, new intelligence has shown.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had “massively misjudged” the capabilities of his armed forces while underestimating Ukraine’s resistance and the West’s resolve, the head of Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) spy service said.
GCHQ chief Sir Jeremy Fleming said: “We believe Putin’s advisers are afraid to tell him the truth.”
He said there was evidence of low morale among Russian soldiers, who were poorly equipped.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that his forces are preparing for new Russian attacks in the east of the country as Moscow builds up its troops there after suffering setbacks near Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Sir Jeremy warned China not to become “too closely aligned” with Moscow as it continues to pursue its path of aggression against Ukraine.
Follow the latest updates below.
02:26 AM
One-quarter of humanity live in conflict areas: UN
The United Nations chief said that one-quarter of humanity – two billion people – are living in conflict areas and the world is facing the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945 when the Second World War ended.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cited conflicts from Yemen, Syria, Myanmar and Sudan to Haiti, Africa’s Sahel, “and now the war in Ukraine – a catastrophe shaking the foundations of the international order, spilling across borders and causing skyrocketing food, fuel and fertiliser prices that spell disaster for developing countries”.
He told the UN Peacebuilding Commission that 84 million people were forced to leave their homes last year because of conflict, violence and human rights violations.
The Ukraine war has already seen four million people flee the country and displaced another 6.5 million within the country, according to UN agencies.
12:46 AM
China warned about being ‘too closely aligned’ with Kremlin
The head of Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters spy service has warned China not to become “too closely aligned” with the Kremlin.
Speaking at the Australian National University in Canberra, Sir Jeremy Fleming said western allies were making “deeply secret intelligence” public to get ahead of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s information war, while also tackling cyber threats.
On China, he said the country’s long-term interests were not well served by an alliance with a leader that “wilfully and illegally” ignores the international “rules of the road”.
12:41 AM
Innocent Ukrainians and Russians pay for Putin’s ‘personal war’
Vladimir Putin’s advisers are scared to tell him the truth about the progress of his Ukraine invasion but the extent of the Russian leader’s “misjudgements” must be “crystal clear to the regime”, the head of Britain’s GCHQ spy agency said.
In a rare public address during a visit to Australia, Sir Jeremy Fleming said Putin had “massively misjudged the situation”.
“It’s clear he misjudged the resistance of the Ukrainian people,” Sir Jeremy said.
“He underestimated the strength of the coalition his actions would galvanise. He under-played the economic consequences of the sanctions regime. He over-estimated the abilities of his military to secure a rapid victory.
“We’ve seen Russian soldiers – short of weapons and morale – refusing to carry out orders, sabotaging their own equipment and even accidentally shooting down their own aircraft.
“And even though we believe Putin’s advisers are afraid to tell him the truth, what’s going on and the extent of these misjudgements must be crystal clear to the regime.”
Sir Jeremy said it had become Putin’s personal war, “with the cost being paid by innocent people in Ukraine and increasingly, by ordinary Russians too”.
12:30 AM
Donetsk offensive operations intensifying
The leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, said offensive operations were intensifying.
“We are well aware that the longer it takes us to liberate our territory – those settlements that are now under control of Ukraine – the more victims and destruction there will be,” he said.
Donetsk includes the besieged port city of Mariupol, which has seen some of the war’s heaviest fighting and bombardment and where about 170,000 people are trapped with scarce food and water.
“We cook what we find among neighbours; a bit of cabbage, a bit more of potatoes, we’ve found tomato paste, some beetroot,” said former steel worker Viktor from Mariupol.
They cook using a rudimentary barbecue and sleep in a basement, which he termed their “peaceful oasis”.
Russian forces have taken half of the strategic port city, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
12:24 AM
Zelensky: Ukraine preparing for new Russian offensive
Ukrainian forces are preparing for new Russian attacks in the east of the country as Moscow builds up its troops there after suffering setbacks near the capital Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.
Tough resistance has prevented Russia from capturing any major city, including Kyiv.
At peace talks this week in Istanbul, Russia said it would curtail operations near Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to build trust.
But Ukraine and its Western allies, including the US, dismissed Russia’s pledge as a ploy to stem its losses and prepare for other attacks.
Just finished an hour-long conversation with @POTUS. Shared assessment of the situation on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. Talked about specific defensive support, a new package of enhanced sanctions, macro-financial and humanitarian aid.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 30, 2022
Russia said its forces were regrouping to focus on “liberating” the breakaway eastern Donbas region.
In an early morning video address on Thursday, Mr Zelensky referred to Russian troop movements away from Kyiv and Chernihiv and said that was not a withdrawal but rather “the consequence of our defenders’ work”.
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine is seeing “a build-up of Russian forces for new strikes on the Donbas and we are preparing for that”.
11:41 PM
Today’s top stories
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Vladimir Putin’s advisers “are afraid to tell him the truth” about Russia’s rapidly faltering campaign in Ukraine, according to the head of the UK’s intelligence, cyber and security agency
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Britain may send armoured Land Rovers on a mercy mission to the besieged city of Mariupol, Boris Johnson has said
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Russian spies are believed to be operating in the far north of Norway in an attempt to spread disinformation and turn the population against the Government
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Putin set out to capture Kyiv and topple its government at lightning speed when he launched his invasion of Ukraine under the guise of a “special operation”, but five weeks into the war, there is mounting evidence that the Russian president is turning on his own spy chiefs and military advisers as his invasion falters
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The leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya has foiled his own attempt to appear as though he is in Ukraine by posting a photo of himself at a petrol station outlet that only exists in Russia
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Russia shelled a clearly marked Red Cross hospital in the besieged city of Mariupol, the charity’s head said, comparing the strike to something from Hitler’s Germany
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Britain will not give Nato-style security guarantees to Ukraine to secure a peace settlement, Dominic Raab has said, despite a request from Ukrainian negotiators
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Eight Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the UK over their links to Putin were granted “golden visas” to live in Britain
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The refugees minister has blamed Home Office red tape for the “unacceptable” delays to Ukrainians’ applications for refuge in UK homes that have seen just 2,700 visas granted in two weeks
