RUSSIAN leader Vladamir Putin must be re-elected in 2024, and experts suggest he could be kicked out of his power position as anti-Ukraine invasion protests spark loss of confidence.
While the Kremlin government has continually sent stark warnings to the rest of the world that the war in Ukraine is just the very tip of the iceberg, experts suggest that this is not the case.
As the war rages on in Ukraine experts believe his messages show insecurity in his own system.
Former Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States, Fiona Hill, told the Foreign Policy publication that while Putin controls the Russia media, there are plenty Russians who would be glad to see him gone.
Fiona recalls his return to presidency: "In 2011 and 2012, where we had protests in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other major [Russian] cities.
"Putin knows that there is a lot of dissatisfaction hidden beneath the surface.
"People seem to be supportive of this special military operation as long as the children of the elite are not being sent off as cannon fodder to the front lines."
Read our Ukraine war live blog below for the latest up-to-date news…
- Lauren Lomas
Cause of death of British aid worker
Paul Urey is thought to have flown to Ukraine to help allies, but was captured by pro-Russian separatists.
Reports have been released that say he died of "illness and stress," on 10 July.
This is yet to be officially confirmed.
- Lauren Lomas
Bodies of civilians are yet to be identified after Vinnytsia strike
11 bodies, including two children were uncovered after the strike yesterday.
Speaking to Sky News, deputy head of office for President Zelenskiy said "more than 70 people are still in hospital," and it is thought around 18 are still missing.
The bodies discovered in the ongoing rescue operation are yet to be identified.
- Lauren Lomas
British aid worker dies in Russian imprisonment
Pro-Russian separatists reported that Paul Urey has passed away.
He was captured and accused of being a mercenary by pro-Russia forces.
Paul's mother since posted on Facebook, expressing how "devastated" she is to lose her son, branding the separatists "murders".
- Lauren Lomas
Sweden and Finland to join Nato as alliance to deploy massive 300,000 force for showdown with Russia
It comes as the alliance has said they will deploy more than 300,000 troops in a showdown with Vladimir Putin.
It'll be the biggest NATO force to gather since the Cold War.
Russian shares a land frontier with Finland and Sweden a sea border.
Finland first officially applied to join NATO the day after Russia threatened to nuke it in seconds.
Both countries faced strong objections from Turkey, which initially said it would block their applications.
Click here to read more.
- Louis Allwood
Putin’s separatist warlords ‘prepare execution site’ for captured Brits
Vladimir Putin’s separatist warlords in eastern Ukraine have said they are “preparing a place for the execution” of two captured Brits.
Hero fighters Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48 – both serving members of Ukraine’s army – were sentenced to death by a kangaroo court after reportedly being tricked to admit they are terrorists.
The pair were captured after running out of ammo during the brutal siege of Mariupol and convicted of being illegal mercenaries in a sham trial by Putin’s proxies in the occupied Donetsk region.
Separatist forces in eastern Ukraine have now accelerated plans to execute the two Brits.
A chilling statement from officials in the Donetsk region reportedly said they were “preparing a place for their execution” – which would be by firing squad and without any prior warning.
The date of their executions will not be released in advance.
- Louis Allwood
Russia could spend billions to protect its games
THE Russian government met with local game developers to discuss investment via grants for the country’s own game engine.
While many games are built on popular engines such as Unreal Engine 5 and Unity, Russian developers are reportedly scared that they will lose access to this software.
If Russia were to develop its own game engine, Russia’s large gaming industry could become self-sufficient.
This option is apparently being looked into by the government as many companies shut down access in Russia due to the war.
As reported by Kommersant, and translated by GLHF, developers were looking into grants worth “billions of Rubles” in order to build their own game engine.
A spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Digital Development told the source that it is: “Discussing with relevant market players the issue of the need for state support in terms of creating their own game engine and its relevant forms.”
So far, the plan is only in the discussion stages, and no money or development appears to have begun.
- Louis Allwood
Russia fails to get football ban overturned
RUSSIA has failed in its bid to get the country’s football ban overturned.
The Football Union of Russia and four leading clubs launched legal cases against Fifa and Uefa over the bans imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia was booted out of the scheduled World Cup play-off with Poland.
The nation was also banned from competing at this month's Women’s European Championship.
Uefa also ruled that clubs from the country could not take part in European competitions.
That means Russian giants are banned from the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
- Louis Allwood
Russian airstrike wiped out medical centre
The brutal Russian strike also wiped out a medical centre, killing two members of staff and wounding doctors.
Administrator Kateryna Hula, 24, and Tetyana Kharchenko, the centre's manager, both died.
And children's neurologist Pavlo Kovalchuk and neurologist Nataliya Falshtynska are said to be fighting for their lives.
Survivors at the centre told of "unspeakable pain and sadness for all those who suffered".
The Ukrainian Children’s Neurologists Association posted: "One of the best young paediatric neurologists in Ukraine, our colleague Pavlo Vasyliovych Kovalchuk, was severely affected.
“Now he is in the hospital with numerous burns and shrapnel wounds, and he needs your help."
- Louis Allwood
Captured Brit aid worker Paul Urey dies after being taken hostage
A captured British aid worker has reportedly died after being held hostage in Ukraine as pro-Putin separatists blame his death on "stress".
Paul Urey, 45, from Manchester, was accused of being a spy after he was held with fellow Brit Dylan Healey on a mercy mission to rescue civilians.
He was reportedly charged with "mercenary activities" by officials in the Donetsk People's Republic's in eastern Ukraine before his death.
Putin stooge Daria Morozova claimed the Brit died "due to illness and stress".
She said Paul was suffering from “insulin dependent diabetes, damage to the respiratory system, kidneys and a number of diseases of the cardiovascular system” when he was captured.
"He was taken prisoner in April of this year while trying to break through a checkpoint controlled by the Donetsk People’s Republic servicemen," she added.
"In addition, he was in a depressed psychological state. Despite the severity of the alleged crime, Paul Urey was provided with appropriate medical assistance.
"However, given the diagnoses and stress, he passed away on July 10."
He is the first British national known to have died in Russian captivity.
- Louis Allwood
Latest on Snake Island
The UK's Ministry of Defence has revealed that following Russia's withdrawal from the Island they have attempted to deny Ukraine's use of it.
The Ministry said: "Since withdrawing from the strategically located Snake Island on 30 June 2022, Russia has been attempting to deny its use by Ukraine.
"However, on 13 July 2022 airstrikes by two Su-27 Russian fighter jets failed to hit the island. This follows the pattern of Russian air forces failing to successfully engage in the tactical battle."
- Louis Allwood
UK Ministry of Defence latest update
The UK's Ministry of Defence have claimed that Russia are making small progress although they still face some struggles.
The Ministry said: "In the Donbas, Russian and pro-Russian Luhansk People's Republic separatist forces claim to have entered the outskirts of Siversk.
"This has not been corroborated, however, Russian forces have been slowly advancing westwards following shelling and probing assaults towards Siversk from Lysychansk to open a pathway onward to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk."
- Louis Allwood
Horror moment Ukrainians flee
THIS is the horror moment terrified Ukrainians fled for their lives as another barbaric Russian missile strike annihilated a city centre.
At least 23 people were killed and more than 100 left wounded after Putin's butchers viciously bombed the Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia.
Shocking CCTV footage captured the moment the force of the blast knocked pedestrians and cyclists to the ground.
Civilians strolling through a square are seen frantically running to find shelter as a dark mushroom cloud of smoke and debris sweeps over them, turning day into night.
Other terrifying footage shows the moment a coffee shop worker and a customer are thrown to the floor as the windows explode from the force of the rocket attack.
- Louis Allwood
Ukraine claims Russia are targeting their education system
It has been reported that around 10 Russian missiles have hit two of Mykolaiv’s biggest universities.
Video footage shows smoke billowing from the targeted areas.
Vitaliy Kim, the area’s governor, pleaded for Western nations to “claim Russia what it is really is – the Terrorist” following the attack.
Mr Kim added that the Kremlin was targeting Ukraine’s education system specifically.
- Louis Allwood
Three children dead in missile attack
Ukraine's state emergency service said three children, including a 4-year-old girl named Lisa, were killed in Thursday's attack. Another 71 people were hospitalised and 29 others were missing.
It posted a photograph on its Telegram channel of a toy kitten, a toy dog and flowers lying in the grass. "The little girl Lisa, killed by the Russians today, has become a ray of sunshine," it said.
The attack overshadowed the start of a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Indonesia on Friday, where the top U.S. and Canadian representatives accused Russian officials in attendance of culpability in atrocities.
- Louis Allwood
The attack targeted 'an ordinary, peaceful city'
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called Russia a "terrorist" state, urged more sanctions against the Kremlin and said the death toll in Vinnytsia could rise.
"Unfortunately, this is not the final number. Debris clearance continues. Dozens of people are reported missing. There are seriously injured (people) among those hospitalised,” he said in a video address.
Zelenskiy told an international conference aimed at prosecuting war crimes in Ukraine that the attack had been mounted on "an ordinary, peaceful city".
- Louis Allwood
Horror attack on Ukraine
A LITTLE girl with down syndrome is confirmed dead after Russia's unprovoked attack on a west-central city in Ukraine, just 400 kilometres from Lviv.
A mother, Irisha Dmitrieva and her little girl Liza, smiled and took selfies together whilst strolling in Vinnystia, moments before Putin's army launched a horror strike on the previously regarded "safe" city.
A submarine lunched roughly four missiles from the Black Sea at the city, which obliterated parts of the city, and killed 23 people.
Vinnytsia is home to Irisha and her little girl who was reported to have down syndrome.
Reportedly, Irisha has been left critically ill in hospital from the injuries sustained from the attack. Devastatingly, her four year old daughter was killed in the blast.
Moments before, Liza was toddling along the pavement, pushing her little pink and black pram.
After the blast, photos were taken of a pink and black pram toppled to the side with what looked like blood stains on the seat, against a smoke burnt back drop of tower buildings.
Irisha was hoping to celebrate little Liza's fifth birthday, after two years of Covid restrictions preventing celebrations for her daughter.
- Lauren Lomas
Future of Germany’s gas supply rests on demand and sanctions, says Russia
The foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, stipulated that the ban will depend on the demand from Europe.
It is claimed the pipeline has been shut for repairs.
Zakharova said: “As far as the gas pipeline’s work in future is concerned, a lot will depend on out partners in terms of gas demand and illegitimate sanctions, as happened with the turbines in Canada.”
- Lauren Lomas
More than 40 countries agree for investigations into Russia war crimes
The US and 40 other nations agreed at The Hague that Russia must be investigated for war crimes in Ukraine.
A declaration has been signed.
Russia has denied crimes where civilians have been targeted in attacks including torture, rape, and killings.
- Lauren Lomas
Ukraine officials want commission to track weapons
The Ukrainian government have proposed a commission to help track weapons from allies.
Andriy Yermak, head of office proposes a Temporary Special Commission, to “deal with the preparation and consideration of issues related to control over the use of weapons received from our partners,” reported Deutsche Welle.
- Lauren Lomas
Ukraine’s war against Russia updates
Live updates here at The Sun every thirty minutes.
Stick with The Sun for more information about the events unfolding in Ukraine.
- Lauren Lomas
Zelensky optimistic as progress on grain exports
Ukrainian President Zelensky appeared optimistic in late-night comments: “The Ukrainian delegation has reported to me that there is progress.
“In the coming days we will agree on the details with the U.N. secretary general.”
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said more work was needed before a deal was finalised.
“We have seen a critical step forward,” Guterres told reporters in New York. “We still need a lot of goodwill and commitments by all parties,” he said.
- Lauren Lomas
Meet the orphans who fled their home in Ukraine
A group of 56 Ukrainian youths have been living in the UK after leaving war-torn Ukraine in a rescue mission organised by an Edinburgh-based charity.
The orphans and their legal guardians, who have been staying in Scotland for the past four months, are on a sightseeing tour of Britain.
After hearing of their plight, Legoland kindly invited the group to enjoy a free day out at the theme park in Windsor, Berks.
Click here to read more about the Ukrainian children enjoying a day out at Legoland.
- Lauren Lomas
More than 130 ships stuck in the Black Sea
Negotiators are hoping to strike a deal so the exports are able to resume.
It has been reported that around 130 ships containing Ukrainian grain are being blocked from continuing on to delivering goods to other nations.
The ships are attempting to pass into the Danube but a Russian blockade is stopping the ships from moving forward.
- Lauren Lomas
Turkey announces deal with Ukraine, Russia and the UN
Grain exports could restart once again.
Russia blocked grain exports, which has risked millions of people going hungry around the world.
Turkey’s defence minister. Hulusi Akar, told the world on Wednesday that a deal will be signed next week to include joint controls on checking grains in ports.
The nation could ensure the safety of Black Sea exports for Ukrainian grain.
- Lauren Lomas
US made weapons sending Russians into frenzy
AMERICAN made weapons are reportedly sending Russian invaders into a frenzy as the long range heavy artillery damages Russia’s fighting abilities.
Ukraine’s counter-attacks against the Russian invaders has caused “massive damage” to their ammunition storages and long range missiles from far behind enemy lines.
Governor Serhiy Haidai from Luhansk told Newsweek: “As the whole world has seen over the past week or so, we have been able to inflict massive damage to their missile defence systems and ammunition storage facilities deep behind the enemy lines.”
He attributed it to being “largely down to the variety of weapons we have recently received from the West.
“And when we have sufficient amounts of such weaponry, we will be able to carry out further counterattacks.”
The HIMARS systems and guided munitions sent to Ukraine have a range of some 50 miles, giving the Ukrainian fighters an advantage to defend the region against Russian forces.
It is understood that Ukraine has eight HIMARS, and the US has promised four more.
Source: Read Full Article