VLADIMIR Putin travels outside of the Soviet Union to strengthen his foreign alliances as EU sets sanctions against Russia.
The Russian dictator will soon meet with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ensuring whatever few alliances Russia has left stay in tact.
He called the sanctions imposed on his nation "economic war"
An Iranian official told Associated Press: "We need a strong ally, and Moscow is a superpower."
Mr Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said: "The contact with Khamenei is very important.
"A trusting dialogue has developed between them on the most important issues on the bilateral and international agenda.
"On most issues, our positions are close or identical."
Read our Ukraine war live blog below for the latest up-to-date news…
- Lauren Lomas
Unexplained incident reportedly kills Russian soldiers in Ukrainian power plant
Reports have surfaced that troops at Zaporizhzhia had to be hospitalised.
The mayor of Enerhodar, Dmytro Orlov, said that troops were "so scared they ran around in a panic" and had to be taken to hospital.
Russian troops were using the power plant to store weapons and missile systems.
- Lauren Lomas
Russia fines internet giant Google over banned content
Google is reported to have fined to restrict access to "prohibited" material.
The country's communications regulator Roskomnadzor, said the information that was allowed to slip through Russia's tight net was "fake," according to Reuters.
This included "fake" reports that urged people to protest.
Google is yet to comment, but it did remove commercial services in Russia.
However it did not remove search, maps and YouTube, in order to provide Russians access to "global information and perspectives."
- Lauren Lomas
Russia’s top female tennis star Daria Kasatkina in tears as she slams Ukraine war
Russia's top female tennis player has bravely come out as gay – and tearfully slammed Vladimir Putin's ongoing war with Ukraine.
Daria Kasatkina, 25, is the world No12 and reached the semi-final of the French Open earlier this year.
Russian law forbids the discussion of LGBTQ relationships which "promotes non-traditional sexual relations" to minors.
There are even discussions within the nation's parliament over making the rules even more strict.
Yet Kasatkina – who lives and trains in Barcelona, Spain – has bravely come out as gay and even shared a snap of her with her significant other on social media.
When asked if she was dating a woman, Kasatkina replied, "Yes", before admitting "living in the closet" would not be sustainable.
Click here to read more.
- Lauren Lomas
European Union to sanction against Russian gold exports
President Zelenskiy has called on European powers to "do everything to strengthen" sanctions.
While the EU freezes oligarch finances and places embargos on Russia, Politico writer Jamie Dettmer believes Ukrainian officials think this is not enough.
He wrote: "Ukrainians push for a gas embargo, of course, and they remain frustrated with the recent Canadian-German agreement to waive restrictions on a key component – a turbine – needed for Nord Stream, Russia's natural gas pipeline running to Germany."
- Lauren Lomas
Putin set to visit Iran for talks on grain blockade
Vladimir Putin is about to meet with Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to Turkish officials, they will be discussing Ukraine, grain exports from Ukriane and Syria.
- Lauren Lomas
Odesa in flames, Russian shelling: In pictures
Firefighters are working tirelessly to put out relentless flames in Odesa after Russia shells the city.
Ukrainian firefighters are pictured working hard at a scene after shelling in Odesa.
The city was hit by missiles, three days ago on 16 July, Russian missiles allegedly ruined the Ukrainian army's warehouse, full of anti-ship missiles, according to Russian reports.
However, Ukrainian press insists that Russia actually hit a civilian manufacturing and trading company warehouse.
Reports were made by Ukrinform.
Firefighters work at a scene after a shelling, as Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine continues in a location given as OdesaCredit: Reuters - Lauren Lomas
Cuts to wheat harvest this year, if Russia continues to blockade the Black Sea
Exports from Ukraine have been majorly hindered after Russia prevents any ships containing exports from leaving ports.
Ukrainian agricultural minister has spoken out about the global shortage that the situation could cause.
Mykola Solskyi said farmers will be reducing their winter sowing of seeds by up to two thirds.
The Financial Times reported that the shortage has left poorer countries in African and the Middle East struggling to secure wheat, and that the blockade is preventing "cash flow" to farmers in Ukraine.
Ukraine is having talks with Turkey and Russia over resuming exports, as more than one hundred ships are stuck in the Black Sea.
- Lauren Lomas
Shelling kills six in eastern Ukraine
A collapsed two storey building is thought to have trapped civilians.
The town of Toretsk was heavily shelled by Russian artillery.
Reports have said that emergency services had recovered five bodies from the rubble.
One was alive when pulled out, but later passed away in hospital, according to Agence France-Press.
- Lauren Lomas
Russia could reopen major gas pipeline to Germany
Nord Stream 1 was cut off for "maintenance" works, and was meant to remain closed until September this year.
Gazprom told customers it can't guarantee gas, due to "extraordinary circumstances," according to Reuters.
- Lauren Lomas
Missile strikes hit multiple Ukrainian cities
Shells have his Sumy, Odesa and Mykolaiv.
Reuters reported that cluster bombs have hit Mykolaiv, missile strikes hit Odesa and shelling in Sumy.
Ukraine has accused Russia of killing many civilians, while Russia insists it has hit military bases.
- Lauren Lomas
Zelenskiy appoints new spy chief
This comes after SBU chief, Ivan Bakanov, was "sacked" from his position.
There were rumours that the childhood friend of Zelenskiy had been removed or was still "under investigation" according to reports, but it is confirmed he has been replaced.
He has been replaced by Vasyl Maliuk, former first deputy hed of the SBU.
Maliuk reportedly led the anti-corruption and organised crime unit.
- Louis Allwood
British prisoner forced to sing Russian anthem on state TV
A British fighter has been captured by the Russian military, and is being sentenced to death.
He was forced to sing the Russian national anthem in front of millions across Russia’s state television network.
The 28 year old was forced to sing to a firing squad.
Chillingly, US exile John Mark Dougan, a former American police officer who works for Russian propaganda outfit Sputnik International, told Aiden: “I have goosebumps, man. That was f***ing amazing.”
Aslin replies: “Really?” Dougan goes on: “Absolutely. You’ve got the talent, man. On that note, dude, thanks. Amazing voice.”
- Louis Allwood
Russia has ‘already lost the Ukraine war’ UK army chief claims
Russia will fail in its attempts to invade Ukraine Head of the Armed forces Sir Tony Radakin told the BBC this morning.
“What you’re seeing is a Russia, if we focus on the Donbas, that is less than 10 per cent of the territory of Ukraine and we are approaching 150 days,’ he told the BBC,” he said.
“Russia is struggling to take that territory, and it is struggling because of the courage and determination of the Ukrainian armed forces.”
- Louis Allwood
Russia using mercenary group Wagner to reinforce Ukraine frontlines
British military intelligence said on Monday that Russia has used the private military contractor Wagner to reinforce its frontline forces in the Ukraine conflict.
Wagner is lowering its recruitment standards and hiring convicts and formerly blacklisted individuals, potentially impacting Russian military effectiveness, the Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update.
- Louis Allwood
Ukraine's Defence Minister visits parliament
The UK's Defence Minister welcomed Volodymyr Havrylov to Parliament on Monday.
It comes as the Ukrainian Minister is visiting the UK to see how Ukrainian military personnel are getting on with training.
- Louis Allwood
'These investigations will hang over them for the rest of their lives'
It may take years to hold perpetrators of war crimes in Ukraine accountable, according to the the European Union’s top justice official.
Speaking to Reuters he said those responsible should know the threat of prosecution will hang over them “forever”.
The EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said: “It will be for the next weeks, next months, next years, maybe for the next decades. For some cases, it will be very fast. It will be longer for others.
“But it is also a clear message to the Russian authorities – the risk of these investigations and prosecutions and trials will hang over them for the rest of their lives. It’s forever.”
- Louis Allwood
Zelensky appoints Vasyl Maliuk as acting chief of the SBU
Zelensky has appointed an experienced security official and corruption fighter as the acting head of the domestic security agency after Ivan Bakanov's removal.
Zelensky suspended childhood friend Ivan Bakanov over what he portrayed as a failure to root out treason in the agency.
- Louis Allwood
Shock as furious Zelensky SACKS top spy chief
TREASON has rattled the Ukrainian government as top officials were found to be secretly collaborating with Russia behind President Zelensky's back.
President Volodymry Zelensky has fired the head of Ukraine's domestic security agency.
SBU chief, Ivan Bakanov, is thought to be a childhood friend and close confidant of the Ukrainian President.
Ivan was first investigated in June, for multiple failures, as reported by Politico.
The prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, who was in charge of prosecuting Russian war crimes, has shockingly also been given the boot.
It is reported that in total there were around 651 cases of treason and more than 60 officials under Venediktova and Bakanov have sided with the enemy.
The SBU is more than seven times the size of Britain’s MI5 and almost matches the scale of America's FBI, even though Ukraine is just 16 times smaller than America.
- Louis Allwood
Putin and Erdogan to discuss grain exports on Tuesday
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan will discuss the export of Ukrainian grain at their meeting in Tehran on Tuesday, a Kremlin aide has told reporters.
Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations are expected to sign a deal later this week aimed at resuming the shipping of grain from Ukraine across the Black Sea, which has been all but choked off by Russia's decision last February to send its armed forces into Ukraine.
- Louis Allwood
Russian shelling kills six in east Ukrainian town
A Russian shell smashed into a two-storey building in the eastern Ukrainian town of Toretsk on Monday, killing six civilians who were sheltering there, the State Emergency Service said.
It said on Facebook that rescuers found five bodies in the rubble and pulled three people out alive, but one later died in hospital.
"The town of Toretsk was under fire today from early in this morning. A two-storey building sheltering people was destroyed as a shell slammed into it," the State Emergency Service said.
- Louis Allwood
Shadowy Putin rival ‘plotting to overthrow tyrant’ is ‘POISONED’ in assassination attempt
One of Vladimir Putin's key aides and a favourite to succeed him has reportedly survived an assassination attempt, a Kremlin insider has claimed.
Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Russian security council, has been described in some circles as the only person that Putin truly trusts.
The 71-year-old is claimed to have been poisoned, according to sources in the Kremlin.
"It is known that Nikolai Patrushev felt unwell in the evening after work, almost immediately after he went home," the source claimed.
"Security quickly worked, immediately calling a team of doctors to him.
"After the examination, the medical workers who arrived said that urgent hospitalization was necessary and Patrushev was taken by the FSO officers in their transport, accompanied by medical workers, to the medical unit that serves the president."
- Louis Allwood
Man who ditched family for Ukrainian lodger admits his career is ruined
Tony Garnett, 29, walked out on partner Lorna and their two kids for refugee Sofiia Karkadym, 22, just 10 days after she took shelter in the family's Bradford home.
The new couple faced torrents of abuse, with some social media users claiming they'll start petitions to get Sofiia deported.
And now Tony says the backlash has boiled over into his professional life – leaving his business in tatters.
He told the Daily Star: "I’ve been trying to get by and survive with Sofiia with nowt.
"I want to show people that I’m not a scrounger for government benefits, I know what's right.
"I used to have a very successful business. I’ve dedicated myself to it, some weeks I put over 80 hours a week into it."
But he said that he's now a carer for Sofiia, who is partially blind after suffering an eye infection on her journey to the UK from Lviv.
Click here to read more.
- Louis Allwood
Russian forces ‘hiding behind civilians’ say Ukraine’s armed forces
It has been reported that the Russian army are changing their tactics.
The Operational Command south have said that Russian soldiers are hiding behind the Ukrainian masses, so that Ukraine won’t air strike it’s own people.
- Louis Allwood
Russia must be recognised as terrorist state, says Ukraine prosecutor general
This year marks the eighth anniversary of Malaysian airline’s MH17 being downed over Donetsk in Ukraine.
While Russia denied involvement, evidence from thorough investigations showed that an anti-aircraft missile launcher could have been at play, causing the deaths of 298 people.
Iryna Venediktova Tweeted: “Russia must he recognised as a terrorist state.”
- Louis Allwood
Zelensky meets with President of Brazil
Zelensky has met with the President of Brazil today to discuss the "importance of resuming Ukraine's grain exports".
Zelensky added that it is crucial to resume the exports "to prevent a global food crisis provoked by Russia".
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