DESPERATE Vladimir Putin's tactics are "unsustainable" as strength of despot's army "DEGRADES", claims the UK's Ministry of Defence.
Russia is also using “unusual” tactics in their invasion of Ukraine which consist of "intense waves" of missile strikes.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence has said: “Ukrainian forces continue to consolidate their positions on higher ground in the city of Lyschansak, after falling back from Sieverodonetsk.
“Ukrainian forces continue to disrupt Russian command and control with successful strikes deep behind Russian lines.
“Over 24-26 June, Russia launched unusually intense waves of strikes across Ukraine using long-range missiles.
“These weapons highly likely included the Soviet-era AS-4 KITCHEN and more modern AS-23a KODIAK missiles, fired from both Belarusian and Russian airspace."
The Ministry added: "The Russian armed forces are increasingly hollowed out.
"They currently accept a level of degraded combat effectiveness, which is probably unsustainable in the long term."
Read our Ukraine-Russia war blog below for the latest news…
- Louis Allwood
Army chief warns of dangers to the UK
The British Army's newly appointed chief has warned of the dangers of heading to war with Vladimir Putin in his first official speech.
General Sir Patrick Sanders has warned Russia will likely be an "even greater threat" to Europe after the invasion in Ukraine and the UK must act "rapidly" to make sure it is not drawn into war.
"Let me be clear, the British Army is not mobilizing to provoke war. It is mobilising to prevent war," he explained of Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine..
The general said he has not seen "such a clear threat to the principles of sovereignty and democracy and the freedom to live without fear of violence" in all his years in the army.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that the British Army plays its part in averting war," he said.
- Louis Allwood
What tennis stars are missing Wimbledon due to the Russian ban?
World number one Daniil Medvedev will play no part at Wimbledon.
The US Open champion is banned along with all players who represent Russia.
Aslan Karatsev is excluded from Wimbledon as part of the Russian ban as well as Karen Khachanov.
World number six Aryna Sabalenka, a national of Belarus, is the highest ranked WTA player to be banned from Wimbledon.
Though a resident of Boca Raton, Florida, former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has been banned due to her Belarussian nationality.
- Louis Allwood
Russian attacks on civilians to be discussed by UN Security Council
The US ambassador to the UN has said the United Nations Security Council will meet later to discuss Russian attacks against civilians.
The news comes following Monday's missile strike on the Kremenchuk shopping centre.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield described the attack as "absolutely sickening".
- Louis Allwood
The UK's Ministry of Defence latest intelligence update
Russia is using "unusual" tactics in their invasion of Ukraine which will be "unsustainable" in the long run.
The UK's Ministry of Defence has said: "Ukrainian forces continue to consolidate their positions on higher ground in the city of Lyschansak, after falling back from Sieverodonetsk.
"Ukrainian forces continue to disrupt Russian command and control with successful strikes deep behind Russian lines.
"Over 24-26 June, Russia launched unusually intense waves of strikes across Ukraine using long-range missiles.
"These weapons highly likely included the Soviet-era AS-4 KITCHEN and more modern AS-23a KODIAK missiles, fired from both Belarusian and Russian airspace."
- Louis Allwood
The more weapons supplied the longer the conflict
According to Reuters Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has said the more weapons Western countries supply to Ukraine, the longer the conflict will last.
Speaking on a trip to Turkmenistan, Sergei Lavrov, reportedly echoed earlier claims by Russia's defence ministry regarding Monday's fatal attack on a shopping centre.
He reportedly said that its forces were targeting weapons near the centre, which was not in use.
- Louis Allwood
'This is our 1937 moment'
The new head of the British Army says we must be prepared to act rapidly to prevent the spread of war in Europe.
General Sir Patrick Sanders, the chief of the general staff, has said: “Let me be clear: the British Army is not mobilising to provoke war, it is mobilising to prevent war.
“We’re living through a period of history as profound as the one our forebears did 80 years ago. And now, as then, our choices will have a disproportionate effect on the future. This is our 1937 moment."
In his first public engagement, delivering a speech to the Royal United Services Institute think tank, Sanders says: “If we fail to deter, there are no good choices given the cost of a potential counterattack and the associated nuclear threat. We must therefore meet strength with strength from the outset and be unequivocally prepared to fight for Nato territory."
“This is the war that we are mobilising to prevent by preparing to win… And in doing so, it’s my hope that we never have to fight it."
- Louis Allwood
Boris goes back on campaign promise to keep defence spending above inflation
In his winning 2019 Conservative manifesto, Mr Johnson vowed to “continue to exceed the NATO target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence and increase the budget by at least 0.5 per cent above inflation every year of the new Parliament”.
Johnson has now gone back on this promise.
The government has responded to criticism of this move, by reminding Brits of the high cost of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A government source said: “The manifesto was written before £400 billion had to be spent locking people up for their own safety because of the global pandemic.”
They added: “There is a reality check on things that were offered in a different age which is the only reasonable thing that we can expect.”
- Louis Allwood
Russia vows to respond to Japanese sanctions
Russia promised on Monday to hit Japan with countermeasures in response to Tokyo’s imposition of sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Japan has joined the West in hitting Russia with an unprecedented package of sanctions in the four months since Russia launched its war against Ukraine.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Tokyo’s latest moves earlier on Monday, including a ban on Russian gold imports, new asset freezes and export bans on a host of Russian individuals and companies.
Russia’s ambassador to Japan slammed the move and blamed Tokyo for destroying relations between the two countries.
Sanctions are “short-sighted and harm Japan itself, especially the business community,” ambassador Mikhail Galuzin said in a statement posted on the Russian embassy’s Facebook page.
“Of course, such an increase in a hostile policy towards Russia will be taken into account by us in our future approach towards Japan and will not go unanswered,” he added.
- Louis Allwood
Kharkiv being hit 'hour by hour' claims mayor
The mayor of Ukraine's second city has claimed that Kharkiv is being hit with Russian missiles constantly.
"There is a morning bombardment, there is a day bombardment, and there is a night bombardment of the city of Kharkiv. All this comes from the territory of the Russian Federation — from the Belgorod region," Ihor Terekhov said.
The end goal of these attacks? "exterminating us as a nation," claims that mayor.
- Louis Allwood
G7 SLAMS Russia for inhumane attack on civilians.
The G7 came together this week to discuss the world's response to Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine.
Last night, reports emerged that Russia had attacked a shopping mall, killing at least 16 civilians in the process.
In a joint statement, the G7 condemned the attack:
In a joint statement, the leaders of the world said: "We, the leaders of the G7, solemnly condemn the abominable attack on a shopping mall in Kremenchuk.
"Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account."
- Louis Allwood
Russia's statement after yesterdays missile attack on a shopping centre
Russia has today denied hitting the shopping mall with missiles, saying that it had struck a nearby depot of US and European arms, triggering an explosion which ignited the fire in the mall.
Russia's defence ministry said in a daily statement on the war: "In Kremenchuk, Russian forces struck a weapons depot storing arms received from the United States and Europe with high-precision air-based weapons".
"The detonation of stored ammunition for Western weapons caused a fire in a non-functioning shopping centre located next to the depot," it added.
At least 18 people were killed on Monday by the missile strike.
- Louis Allwood
Shock moment terrified mums flee with kids as Putin annihilates Ukraine mall
THIS is the shocking moment terrified families cowered in fear and fled as Vladimir Putin blasted a Ukrainian shopping centre nearby.
CCTV footage from a park close to the blitzed mall shows the initial blast blowing debris into the pond as panicked mums with their kids watched on.
Upon impact, the camera trembles as couples and families who were in the park near the Amstor mall in Kremenchug leave their belongings and run away.
A second strike then hits, turning the screen orange. The couple then crouch down, as the alarmed man flings himself into the pond.
He is then seen diving down into the water to avoid getting injured by the flying debris.
The woman is captured running away as litter rains around her, and dark clouds form in the skies above.
- Louis Allwood
Russian forces capture Kherson mayor
The elected mayor of the city of Kherson has been captured by pro-Russian forces Russian media reports.
Igor Kolykhayev has been 'kidnapped' according to Councillor Galyna Lyashevska.
Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian-backed Kherson administration, told state news agency RIA Novosti that "ex-mayor Kolykhayev has been detained".
- Louis Allwood
KGB veteran suspected of aiding Russia in Ukraine
The Interfax-Ukraine news agency report that the Lviv regional prosecutors' office has notified a local resident that he is suspected of treason.
The resident, a veteran KGB agent, has been suspected of assisting Russian forces in Ukraine.
According to the investigation, the man, "assisted the aggressor state and its military formations in carrying out subversive actions against Ukraine".
"Using an on-line messenger, the man sent to the Russians information about the locations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Lviv Region for the delivery of missile strikes," the prosecutor's office says.
- Louis Allwood
Russia makes claims about the shopping centre attack
Following the missile strike on a packed shopping centre in Ukraine multiple false stories were spread.
Russian Telegram channels and Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's deputy ambassador to the United Nations were just some that spread unproven claims.
They included rumours that the attack was "false" or "staged".
On Tuesday, Russia's defence ministry released a statement claiming the shopping centre was "non-functioning" and that the bombing of a nearby ammunitions dump sparked a secondary fire at the centre.
Those claims were flatly denied by Ukrainian officials.
- Louis Allwood
US imposes new sanctions on Russia
The US Treasury Department has confirmed that they have imposed new sanctions on over 100 targets and banned the import of new Russian gold.
In total 70 entities and 29 individuals have been blacklisted, which freezes any US-held assets and prohibits them from doing business with or conducting financial transactions with US institutions.
The Treasury Department says on its website that the US will target Russia's state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec and multiple banks, including the Bank of Moscow.
Also sanctioned was United Aircraft Corporation, the maker of Russia's MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets.
The US Treasury says this aims to "weaken Russia's ability to continue its aerial assault on Ukraine."
- Louis Allwood
Army chief warns of dangers to the UK
The British Army's newly appointed chief has warned of the dangers of heading to war with Vladimir Putin in his first official speech.
General Sir Patrick Sanders has warned Russia will likely be an "even greater threat" to Europe after the invasion in Ukraine and the UK must act "rapidly" to make sure it is not drawn into war.
"Let me be clear, the British Army is not mobilizing to provoke war. It is mobilising to prevent war," he explained of Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine..
The general said he has not seen "such a clear threat to the principles of sovereignty and democracy and the freedom to live without fear of violence" in all his years in the army.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that the British Army plays its part in averting war," he said.
- Louis Allwood
What tennis stars are missing Wimbledon due to the Russian ban?
World number one Daniil Medvedev will play no part at Wimbledon.
The US Open champion is banned along with all players who represent Russia.
Aslan Karatsev is excluded from Wimbledon as part of the Russian ban as well as Karen Khachanov.
World number six Aryna Sabalenka, a national of Belarus, is the highest ranked WTA player to be banned from Wimbledon.
Though a resident of Boca Raton, Florida, former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has been banned due to her Belarussian nationality.
- Louis Allwood
Russian attacks on civilians to be discussed by UN Security Council
The US ambassador to the UN has said the United Nations Security Council will meet later to discuss Russian attacks against civilians.
The news comes following Monday's missile strike on the Kremenchuk shopping centre.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield described the attack as "absolutely sickening".
- Louis Allwood
The UK's Ministry of Defence latest intelligence update
Russia is using "unusual" tactics in their invasion of Ukraine which will be "unsustainable" in the long run.
The UK's Ministry of Defence has said: "Ukrainian forces continue to consolidate their positions on higher ground in the city of Lyschansak, after falling back from Sieverodonetsk.
"Ukrainian forces continue to disrupt Russian command and control with successful strikes deep behind Russian lines.
"Over 24-26 June, Russia launched unusually intense waves of strikes across Ukraine using long-range missiles.
"These weapons highly likely included the Soviet-era AS-4 KITCHEN and more modern AS-23a KODIAK missiles, fired from both Belarusian and Russian airspace."
- Louis Allwood
The more weapons supplied the longer the conflict
According to Reuters Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has said the more weapons Western countries supply to Ukraine, the longer the conflict will last.
Speaking on a trip to Turkmenistan, Sergei Lavrov, reportedly echoed earlier claims by Russia's defence ministry regarding Monday's fatal attack on a shopping centre.
He reportedly said that its forces were targeting weapons near the centre, which was not in use.
- Louis Allwood
'This is our 1937 moment'
The new head of the British Army says we must be prepared to act rapidly to prevent the spread of war in Europe.
General Sir Patrick Sanders, the chief of the general staff, has said: “Let me be clear: the British Army is not mobilising to provoke war, it is mobilising to prevent war.
“We’re living through a period of history as profound as the one our forebears did 80 years ago. And now, as then, our choices will have a disproportionate effect on the future. This is our 1937 moment."
In his first public engagement, delivering a speech to the Royal United Services Institute think tank, Sanders says: “If we fail to deter, there are no good choices given the cost of a potential counterattack and the associated nuclear threat. We must therefore meet strength with strength from the outset and be unequivocally prepared to fight for Nato territory."
“This is the war that we are mobilising to prevent by preparing to win… And in doing so, it’s my hope that we never have to fight it."
- henry moore
Boris goes back on campaign promise to keep defence spending above inflation
In his winning 2019 Conservative manifesto, Mr Johnson vowed to “continue to exceed the NATO target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence and increase the budget by at least 0.5 per cent above inflation every year of the new Parliament”.
Johnson has now gone back on this promise.
The government has responded to criticism of this move, by reminding Brits of the high cost of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A government source said: “The manifesto was written before £400 billion had to be spent locking people up for their own safety because of the global pandemic.”
They added: “There is a reality check on things that were offered in a different age which is the only reasonable thing that we can expect.”
- henry moore
Russia vows to respond to Japanese sanctions
Russia promised on Monday to hit Japan with countermeasures in response to Tokyo’s imposition of sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Japan has joined the West in hitting Russia with an unprecedented package of sanctions in the four months since Russia launched its war against Ukraine.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Tokyo’s latest moves earlier on Monday, including a ban on Russian gold imports, new asset freezes and export bans on a host of Russian individuals and companies.
Russia’s ambassador to Japan slammed the move and blamed Tokyo for destroying relations between the two countries.
Sanctions are “short-sighted and harm Japan itself, especially the business community,” ambassador Mikhail Galuzin said in a statement posted on the Russian embassy’s Facebook page.
“Of course, such an increase in a hostile policy towards Russia will be taken into account by us in our future approach towards Japan and will not go unanswered,” he added.
- henry moore
Kharkiv being hit 'hour by hour' claims mayor
The mayor of Ukraine's second city has claimed that Kharkiv is being hit with Russian missiles constantly.
"There is a morning bombardment, there is a day bombardment, and there is a night bombardment of the city of Kharkiv. All this comes from the territory of the Russian Federation — from the Belgorod region," Ihor Terekhov said.
The end goal of these attacks? "exterminating us as a nation," claims that mayor.
Source: Read Full Article