5.20 a.m. BST 05:20
Julian Burger The Guardian’s global affairs correspondent, Julian Borger, brings us this report of drone pilots who stopped a Russian convoy heading to Kyiv. One week after its invasion of Ukraine, Russia assembled a 40-mile motorized column to carry out an overwhelming attack on Kyiv from the north. But the escort of armored vehicles and refueling trucks stopped within days and the attack failed, largely due to a series of night ambushes carried out by a group of 30 Ukrainian special forces and four-wheeled drone pilots, according to a Ukrainian commander. The drone pilots come from an air reconnaissance unit, Aerorozvidka, which started eight years ago as a team of volunteer IT specialists and hobbyists designing their own machines and has become a key element of Ukraine’s successful David-and-Goliath resistance. . However, while Western supporters in Ukraine have supplied thousands of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles and other military equipment, Aerorozvidka has been forced to resort to crowdfunding and a personal contact network to keep up with advanced modems such as advanced modems and export controls prohibiting their shipment to Ukraine. Read the full story below.
5.14 a.m. BST 05:14
The Ukrainian army has released its latest operational report since 6 a.m. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian forces continue to restrict Russian troops from taking control of key highways and settlements in the city of Kiev. A total of 5 enemy attacks were repulsed by Donetsk and Luhansk with Ukrainian soldiers destroying 2 tanks, an infantry fighting machine and a car, the report said. An earlier report released by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry claimed that Russia had been forced to withdraw its troops from Kyiv after heavy casualties. The withdrawal “significantly reduced” the intensity of Russia’s advance and forced some units to reorganize in Belarus, the general staff of the armed forces said. Officials added that they believe Russia also carried Iskander missiles at Kalinkovichi in the Gomel region of southeastern Belarus. Ukrainian soldiers stand in the village of Lukyanivka outside Kyiv. Photo: Marko Đurica / Reuters Updated at 5.14 p.m. BST
4.57 p.m. BST 04:57
Summary
Hello, Samantha Lock is with you as we deliver all the latest news from Ukraine. It is approaching 7 in the morning in Kyiv. Here is the situation at the moment:
US President Joe Biden has denied calling for regime change in Russia after saying during a visit to Poland that Putin “can not stay in power”. When asked by a journalist if he wanted to see Russian President Vladimir Putin step down, he said “no”. French President Emmanuel Macron had already distanced himself from Biden’s comments, while UK Cabinet Secretary Nadhim Zahawi dismissed his remarks from the British government. Representatives from Russia and Ukraine will meet this week for a new round of talks aimed at ending the war. Ukraine said the two sides would meet in Turkey on Monday. The Ukrainian military claims that Russia withdrew troops from surrounding Kyiv after suffering heavy casualties in its latest operation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy used a video interview with independent Russian media to express his willingness to discuss Ukraine’s adoption of a “neutral regime” and also to make compromises on the status of the eastern region in order to peace agreement with Russia. . However, he said he was not prepared to discuss the demilitarization of Ukraine and that Ukrainians would have to vote in a referendum to approve their country adopting a neutral regime. In a separate video late last night, Zelensky promised to work this week on new sanctions against Russia and spoke about the upcoming new round of talks, saying “we are looking for peace without delay.” Zelensky also claimed that 2,000 children from Mariupol had been arrested by Russia, according to a press release issued by the president’s office late Sunday. “According to our data, more than 2,000 children were deported. Which means they were abducted. Because we do not know the exact locations of all these children. There were children with and without parents. “It’s a disaster, it’s horrible.” Zelensky said the city remained under siege by the Russian military, describing the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe. “Food, medicine and water cannot be delivered. “Russian troops are bombing humanitarian aid convoys and killing drivers.” Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister has accused Russia of “irresponsible” actions around the occupied Chernobyl power plant that could send radiation to much of Europe and urged the United Nations to send a risk assessment mission to on her Telegram account. The United Kingdom’s defense ministry said Russia was “effectively isolating Ukraine from international maritime trade,” in a statement late Sunday. He also said that the Russian navy continues to carry out sporadic missile strikes against targets throughout Ukraine. Russia’s communications and internet regulator said in a public statement that it would investigate the media interviewed by Zelensky and told them not to distribute the interview. Putin is seeking to divide Ukraine into two, mimicking the post-war division between North and South Korea, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence has said. In comments that raise the prospect of a long and fierce icy conflict, General Kyrylo Budanov warned of a bloody guerrilla war. The French foreign minister said on Sunday that there would be “collective guilt” if nothing was done to help civilians in Mariupol, the Ukrainian city besieged by Russian forces. The UK’s top legal adviser has appointed a war crimes lawyer to advise Ukraine on the Russian invasion. Attorney General Suella Braverman announced Sunday that Sir Howard Morrison QC will act as an independent adviser to the Ukrainian Attorney General, Iryna Venediktova, the Press Association reported. Germany is considering buying a missile defense system to shield itself from a possible attack by Russia, Chancellor Olaf Solz said late Sunday. Despite reports that Zelensky was pushing to speak on video during the Oscars in Los Angeles tonight, attendees observed a 30-second silence in honor of the people of Ukraine.
