Ukraine war latest: 'Let Ukraine strike back!' - Calls to remove restrictions on use of Western weapons (2024)

Key points
  • Zelenskyy warns Russian troops preparing to intensify attacks on second front
  • Number killed rising after Russian attack on DIY store kills more than 40 people| 16 confirmed dead
  • Ukrainian boy, 13, takes DNA test to identify father's body
  • Eyewitness:Russia producing shells three times faster than Ukraine's allies
  • Live reporting by Michael Drummond and (earlier)Brad Young

22:04:07

Vladimir Putin arrives in Uzbekistan

Vladimir Putin has arrived in Uzbekistan ahead of formal talks on Monday.

The Russian president laid a wreath at a monument to Uzbekistan's independence in the capital, Tashkent.

He is expected to hold formal talks withPresident Shavkay Mirziyoyev that are expected to focus on deepening the countries' relations.

The pair spoke in what were described by the Kremlin as informal talks on Sunday.

The visit is President Putin's third foreign trip since being inaugurated for a fifth term in May.

He first went to China , where he expressed appreciation for China's proposals for talks to end the Ukraine conflict, and later to Belarus.

For context: Now separated from Russia by Kazakhstan in central Asia, Uzbekistan was once part of the Soviet Union.

However, the invasion of Ukraine is believed to have accelerated a process of reducing Russian influence in the country.

In the two-plus years since February 2022, Uzbekistan has also boosted its relations with the EU.

21:03:22

Ukrainian forces mount assaults as Russian troops try and overwhelm defences

Fighting continues along the Kharkiv frontline as Russian forces try to overwhelm defenders.

In an update on Sunday evening, Ukraine's armed forces said its troops were seeking to repel attacks and in places have mounted offensives.

The General Staff said on social media: "The Russian aggressor is trying to use superiority in manpower and equipment and air support.

"Ukrainian soldiers are giving battle to the enemy, and in some directions they themselves are carrying out effective assault actions to improve the stability of the defence and restore positions."

Twelve clashes were reported in the direction of Kharkiv, the update said, as well as near the villages of Lyptsi and Ternova.

"The situation is under control," the statement said.

20:19:01

'Let Ukraine strike back!'

Ukrainians gathered outside the US embassy in Kyiv as part of mounting demands to remove restrictions on where Ukraine can use Western weapons.

Many NATO countries who provide military aid to Ukraine currently do so on the condition that it is not used to strike targets inside Russia.

The US and Germany in particular have been strict on this issue, likely out of concern about escalation with Moscow.

Other countries - the UK and Sweden, for example - have confirmed or suggested that Ukraine can use their weapons to hit targets across the border.

In Kyiv today, activists held up placards saying "let Ukraine strike back" and "remove the restriction".

19:59:01

US will participate in Ukraine peace summit

The US will participate in Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace summit next month, an official has said.

It comes after the Ukrainian president called on America's President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping to attend the event.

However the US official did not say who would attend or at what level.

The summit, co-hosted by Switzerland, starts on 15 June and, according to President Zelenskyy, 80 countries have already confirmed their attendance.

19:39:01

'We have to keep holding the Russians back'

Battling against the odds, the Ukrainians say they have become skilled at trying to make every round count.

"Often, with just one, two or three shells, we can completely destroy a target," said Senior Lieutenant Kostiantin, an artillery battery commander with the 57th Brigade.

His troops are fighting against a new Russian invasion into the Kharkiv region, in the northeast of Ukraine.

"We have to keep holding the Russians back… and make every metre of land they try to take cost them hundreds of lives."

Watch this report from our defence and security editor, Deborah Haynes:

19:09:50

Georgians celebrate Independence Day - and protest against 'Russian law'

Crowds of people marched through the Georgian capital, Tblisi, today to mark the country's Independence Day - and also to protest against the government's divisive "foreign agents" law.

The legislation is seen by some as threatening press and civic freedoms and there are concerns it's modelled on laws used by Vladimir Putin in neighbouring Russia.

Hundreds of people walked through the city on Sunday, as the EU anthem played.

Many held white and red Georgian flags, others the blue and yellow of the EU or the stars and stripes of the US.

There was also a military parade in the city centre as part of the celebrations, attended by Georgia's president and prime minister.

The pair are at odds over the "foreign agents" bill after President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the bill.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media congratulating the Georgian people on their Independence Day.

"Both our nations know all too well that freedom and independence are won rather than granted," he said on X.

"I wish the Georgian people to prosper and strengthen their statehood and ties will all other free nations. I also wish magnificent Georgian culture, identity, and hospitality to multiply over the years."

18:34:36

In pictures: Mother and father bid farewell to their five-year-old daughter

The parents of a Ukrainian girl who died after a Russian missile strike have bid goodbye to their daughter in emotional scenes at her funeral.

Just five years old,Zlata Rostochil was seriously wounded in an attack at the end of April and later died.

Today, her mother Nadiia and father Vyacheslav knelt beside her body during the memorial service in Odesa.

Other mourners stood solemnly behind them holding candles.

18:07:01

Russian troops making 'maximum efforts' to break through defences

Russian forces are making "maximum efforts" to break through Ukraine's defences, amid fighting on the frontline near Kharkiv.

Kyiv's armed forces said there have been 83 clashes with the enemy on Sunday.

"Ukrainian troops are taking measures to maintain positions and destroy the offensive potential of the enemy," the General Staff said in an update on social media.

It said there were "no major changes" in the direction of Kharkiv but Russian troops continue to mount offensives around Vovchansk city and the village of Lyptsi.

17:47:01

Military analyst talks about National Service

Is National Service a good idea?

Rishi Sunak has talked a lot this week about security in Europe and the need to invest in defence - and then he announced that he would bring back National Service.

Our military analyst Sean Bell broke down the announcement on Sky News earlier...

17:25:01

Can Zelenskyy's TV charisma still move mountains?

By John Sparks, international correspondent

If the war in Ukraine was fought in the media alone, the Russians would have been repelled months, or even years, ago.

While the Kremlin funds "debate shows" with far-right nationalists spouting historical theories from the 19th century, the Ukrainians fight their corner with slickly-produced content highlighting every aspect of their defence.

Want to see the Ukrainians blowing up Russian tanks? That will be on X.

The petition to send clapped out cars in London to the Ukrainian military? Head to "Insta".

The passionate address where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from a burnt-out book-making factory, pleading with Joe Biden and Xi Jinping to turn up at a peace summit?

That dropped this morning.

Read more:

Ukraine war latest: 'Let Ukraine strike back!' - Calls to remove restrictions on use of Western weapons (2024)

FAQs

Ukraine war latest: 'Let Ukraine strike back!' - Calls to remove restrictions on use of Western weapons? ›

Ukraine war latest: 'Let Ukraine strike back!' - Calls to remove restrictions on use of Western weapons. Ukrainians gather outside the US embassy in Kyiv as part of mounting demands to remove restrictions on the use of Western weapons.

What percentage of Ukraine is Russian? ›

Demographics of Ukraine
Major ethnicUkrainians (77.8%) 2001
Minor ethnicRussians (17.3%) 2001, Other (4.9%) 2001
Language
OfficialUkrainian
23 more rows

How much Ukrainian territory is controlled by Russia? ›

By 11 November 2022, the Institute for the Study of War calculated that Ukrainian forces had liberated an area of 74,443 km2 (28,743 sq mi) from Russian occupation, leaving Russia with control of about 18% of Ukraine's territory.

What countries support Russia? ›

Russia also maintains positive relations with countries that have been described as "Russia-leaning" according to The Economist. These countries include Algeria, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Laos, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda.

What language is spoken in Ukraine? ›

The official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian, a Slavic language, which is spoken regularly by 88% of Ukraine's population at home in their personal life, and as high as 87% at work or study. It is followed by Russian which is spoken by 34% in their personal life.

What percentage of Ukraine has left the country? ›

Over 14 million persons, nearly 35 per cent of the population, have been forced to flee from their homes, seeking refuge both within Ukraine and beyond. This has resulted in the separation of families, abandonment of homes, and loss of possessions, and has exacerbated numerous protection risks for displaced people.

How big is the Ukraine army compared to Russia? ›

Comparison of the military capabilities of Russia and Ukraine as of 2024
IndicatorRussiaUkraine
Estimated available manpower69,432,47222,806,303
Active soldiers1,320,000900,000
Reserve forces2,000,0001,200,000
Paramilitary units250,000100,000
9 more rows
Apr 26, 2024

Is Russia opening a new front? ›

Russia has opened up a new front in its invasion of Ukraine, launching a surprise offensive in the northeastern region of Kharkiv after focusing much of their forces this year on the east.

Who owns Crimea? ›

The region has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Called the Tauric Peninsula until the early modern period, Crimea has historically been at the boundary between the classical world and the steppe.

Why is Russia invading Ukraine? ›

In late 2021, Russia massed troops near Ukraine's borders and demanded security guarantees that Ukraine not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Who is Russia's best friend? ›

Similarly, a 2017 opinion poll by the Moscow-based non-governmental think tank Levada-Center states that Russians identified India as one of their top five "friends", with the others being Belarus, China, Kazakhstan and Syria.

Who would win between NATO and Russia? ›

Russia's capability

It has 1.33 million active military personnel, according to Statista, but only about 4,182 military aircraft compared with Nato's combined 20,633, and 598 military ships compared to Nato's 2,151. "Russia's ground combat vehicle capacity is more competitive," said Statista.

Who are Russia's greatest allies? ›

Who Are Russia's Top Allies?
  • Belarus: Russia's Closest Ally. ...
  • India and Russia: Long-Standing Allies, Close Defense Partners. ...
  • Are Russia and China Allies? ...
  • Iran and Russia: Friends in Need. ...
  • North Korea: A Win-Win for Kim and Putin. ...
  • Armenia and Other CSTO Members Distance Themselves from Russia. ...
  • Russia's Top Allies.
Feb 16, 2024

What type of food do Ukrainians eat? ›

The most famous traditional Ukrainian dishes are borshch, varenyky, holubtsi, Chicken Kyiv, banosh, and syrnyky, and it surely is not an exhaustive list. Borshch (sometimes written as borsch, borsht, bortsch, or borshch) is a sour soup with distinctive red colour.

Can Russians and Ukrainians understand each other? ›

Ukrainians understand Russian much better than Russians can understand Ukrainian (actually, few of them can), which can explain a lot. This asymmetry is great evidence that similarity is insufficient to understand both languages equally. Moreover, it says a lot about the political influence of Russia in Ukraine.

Is it better to learn Ukrainian or Russian? ›

The Ukrainian language is easier to learn than Russian, as Russian has more complex grammar. Learning Ukrainian also makes it easier to learn other Eastern European languages, as it is closer to Czech, Slovak, and Polish. Whereas, if you learn Russian, you can understand fewer languages naturally.

What percentage of Ukraine speaks Russian? ›

According to the survey, Russian is used at home by 43–46% of the population of the country (in other words a similar proportion to Ukrainian) and Russophones made a majority of the population in Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine: Autonomous Republic of Crimea — 77% of the population. Dnipropetrovsk Oblast — 32%

What is the ethnic breakdown of Ukraine? ›

43,745,640 (July 2021 est.) Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 est.)

What is the male to female ratio in Ukraine? ›

Male to female ratio of the total population

In 2020, male to female ratio for Ukraine was 86.33 males per 100 females. Male to female ratio of Ukraine increased from 75.2 males per 100 females in 1950 to 86.33 males per 100 females in 2020 growing at an average annual rate of 1.00%.

Are Russians and Ukrainians genetically the same? ›

Genetic studies show that Russians are closest to Poles, Belarusians, Ukrainians and to other Slavs as well as to Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Hungarians.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Errol Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6327

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Errol Quitzon

Birthday: 1993-04-02

Address: 70604 Haley Lane, Port Weldonside, TN 99233-0942

Phone: +9665282866296

Job: Product Retail Agent

Hobby: Computer programming, Horseback riding, Hooping, Dance, Ice skating, Backpacking, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.