Inside the Mariupol theater where hundreds were killed by Russian shelling
There is evidence that Russia has committed multiple war crimes in Ukraine, the first independent investigation of its kind has been found.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) released a 99-page report on the atrocities, including the bombing of a children’s theater in Mariupol and the forcible removal of thousands of Ukrainians to Russia.
In response to its findings, Neil Bush, the UK’s ambassador to OSCE, said: “Soldiers and commanders who issue or follow illegal orders need to understand that their actions will be documented, and they will be held to account. Justice will be served.”
Meanwhile, new satellite images suggest that Russia is increasing the number of its troops in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
“The outcome of the battle could be that both sides will be battered to the point when neither one will be able to conduct an offensive or a counter-offensive,” said Konrad Muzyka, director of Polish consultancy Rochan. “Ukrainians will defend their land to the last man. The Russians will incur significant losses.”
Baltic states call for more arms to be sent to Ukraine
The leaders of the three Baltic states traveled to Kyiv today to show their support for Ukraine.
“It is our duty to help Ukraine with all kinds of weapons,” Latvian president Egils Levits said.
Meanwhile, Gitanas Nauseda, his Lithuanian counterpart, said: “The future of Ukraine will be decided on the battlefield…Ukraine must win.”
This thought was echoed by the Estonian president Alar Karis. “President Putin must lose this war or there will be no peace in Europe,” he said.
Rory Sullivan13 April 2022 21:36
Trudeau backs labeling of Russian actions in Ukraine as ‘genocide’
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become the latest world leader to label Russia’s actions against Ukraine as “genocide”.
“I think as president Biden highlighted there are official processes around determinations of genocide, but I think it’s absolutely right that more and more people be talking and using the word genocide in terms of what Russia is doing, what Vladimir Putin has done,” he said.
The Kremlin has categorically rejected Mr Biden’s description of his actions.
Rory Sullivan13 April 2022 21:18
Italy seeks new gas supplies as Europe races to end reliance on Russian fuels
Rome seeks to end its reliance on Russian fuels in the wake of Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
To achieve this aim, Italian prime minister Mario Draghi and foreign minister Luigi di Maio traveled to Algiers on Monday to sign a gas deal with Algeria.
sophia barbarani reports from Rome:
Rory Sullivan13 April 2022 21:00
Jersey court freezes $7 billion of Abramovich’s assets
A court in Jersey has frozen more than $7 billion of assets linked to the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
In a statement, the crown dependency’s Law Officers’ Department said: “The Royal Court also imposed a formal freezing order on 12 April, known as a saisie judiciaire, over assets understood to be valued in excess of US$7 billion which are suspected to be connected to Mr Abramovich and which are either located in Jersey or owned by Jersey incorporated entities.”
Jersey police are now searching properties linked to the billionaire, it added.
Mr Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government earlier in the Ukraine war over his supposed ties to the Kremlin.
Rory Sullivan13 April 2022 20:40
1,567 Ukrainians evacuated along humanitarian corridors
In total, 1,567 Ukrainian civilians have been evacuated along humanitarian corridors today, a senior official has said.
This is fewer than the 2,671 who managed to escape on Tuesday, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, said in an online post.
Rory Sullivan13 April 2022 20:20
Russia expels Czech diplomat
Russia will expel a senior Czech diplomat in a tit-for-tat move, the Kremlin’s foreign ministry has said.
It added that the affected individual needs to leave Russia by the end of Saturday.
Rory Sullivan13 April 2022 20:00
Poland accuses Russia of ‘terrorism’
Polish president Andrzej Duda has accused Russia of “terrorism”, saying its leaders should be brought to justice for their country’s crimes.
“This is not war, this is terrorism,” Mr Duda said on a visit to Kyiv with the three leaders of the Baltic states.
Despite evidence to the contrary, Russia maintains that it has not targeted Ukrainian civilians.
Rory Sullivan13 April 2022 19:37
US authorities $800m assistance package to Ukraine
The US will provide Ukrainian defense forces with new capabilities including artillery systems and rounds, armored personnel carriers, and helicopters as part of an $800 million defense assistance package meant to help Ukraine fend off intensified Russian attacks in the Donbas region, president Joe Biden has said .
Read more on this breaking story here:
Andrew Feinberg 13 April 2022 19:19
Lithuanian president decries Russian regime’s ‘beastliness’ on trip to Borodyanka
The presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are visiting Kyiv today in an act of solidarity with Ukraine.
Before they met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in the capital, they traveled to the atrocity-hit town of Borodyanka.
“It’s difficult to express in words what we saw there, and how cruel is this (Russian) regime,” Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda said in a video tweeted by his office.
He added: “There were whole families murdered and then buried on the spot, there were infants raped. Hate and beastliness came out. These were not humans (who did it), they were a mistake of nature. This terrible war must be stopped.”
“The world must understand – there is no time for consideration, no time for diplomatic twists and turns. The civilized world must take immediate action to stop the aggressor.”
Moscow denies that its troops have committed war crimes in Ukraine.
Rory Sullivan13 April 2022 19:06
Zelensky and Biden discuss military and financial aid
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his US counterpart Joe Biden discussed military and financial aid on Wednesday, Kyiv has said.
“Continued constant dialogue with @POTUS. Assessed Russian war crimes. Discussed additional package of defensive and possible macro-financial aid. Agreed to enhance sanctions,” Mr Zelenskiy tweeted.
Russia continues to deny that it has carried out war crimes against the people of Ukraine.
Rory Sullivan13 April 2022 18:45
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