Pope Francis has criticised Russia for its “infantile” war in Ukraine, saying the world thought such behaviour was a thing of the “distant past”.
Speaking on a visit to Malta, the leader of the Catholic Church also appeared to criticise Russian president Vladimir Putin directly.
“Once again, some potentate, sadly caught up in anachronistic claims of nationalist interests, is provoking and fomenting conflicts, whereas ordinary people sense the need to build a future that, will either be shared, or not be at all.”
His criticism of Russia comes after Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Kremlin’s forces of leaving mines in homes and corpses near Kyiv as they carried out a “slow but noticeable” withdrawal from northern Ukraine. Moscow is thought to be regrouping and turning more of its attention to the eastern Donbass region.
“They are mining the whole territory. They are mining homes, mining equipment, even the bodies of people who were killed,” Mr Zelensky said last night, warning Ukrainians not to return to the area until it was safe to do so.
Russia says it will ‘target’ British weapons sent to Ukraine
Britain’s decision to send arms supplies to Ukraine is making the war “even bloodier”, the Russian ambassador to the UK has said.
After a video appeared to show a British Starstreak missile down a Russian helicopter, Andrey Kelin said British weapons being shipped into Ukraine would be a “legitimate target”. This comes after British defence secretary Mr Wallace promise to send more lethal aid to Kyiv.
Mr Kelin told TASS news agency: “All arms supplies are destabilising, particularly those mentioned by Wallace.
“They exacerbate the situation, making it even bloodier. Apparently, those are new, high-precision weapons.
“Naturally, our armed forces will view them as a legitimate target if those supplies get through the Ukrainian border.”
Rory Sullivan2 April 2022 14:24
35 dead in Russian air strike on Mykolaiv, says governor
At least 35 people were killed in a rocket attack on Tuesday in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, its governor has said.
Vitaliy Kim gave the latest figure in an online post on Saturday, as rescuer workers continue to search through the rubble for victims.
Rory Sullivan2 April 2022 14:10
Ukraine war in pictures
On Saturday, the family of 39-year-old Dmytro Pokhylenko buried him at a cemetery in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine.
The Ukrainian soldier was killed fighting against the invading Russian forces.
Protests against Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine continue around the world.
Here are some of the latest photographs from Ukraine and from demonstrations held outside of Ukraine:
Rory Sullivan2 April 2022 13:55
17,800 Russian soldiers dead, says Ukraine
Almost 18,000 Russian troops have died since the war started, Ukraine has claimed.
Ukraine’s army also reported that Moscow had lost 143 planes, 134 helicopters and 631 tanks in less than six weeks of fighting.
Rory Sullivan2 April 2022 13:35
Russian troops disperse pro-Ukraine rally in occupied town, local authorities say
Russian forces have reportedly violently dispersed a pro-Ukrainian rally and detained some participants in the occupied Ukrainian town of Enerhodar.
Residents had gathered in the centre of the town in the south of the country to talk and sing the Ukrainian national anthem, when Russian soldiers arrived and bundled some into detention vans, the local administration said in an online post.
“The occupiers are dispersing the protesters with explosions,” it said in a separate post on Telegram, sharing a video of what appeared to be multiple stun grenades landing in a square and letting off bangs and clouds of white smoke next to the town’s main cultural centre.
It also accused Russian forces of shelling another part of the town today and said four people had been wounded and were being treated in hospital as a result.
Chiara Giordano2 April 2022 13:17
How Putin’s war threatens Lukashenko’s fragile grip on power
Russia’s use of Belarus as a launchpad for its war in Ukraine risks unravelling Alexander Lukashenko’s regime as he faces growing opposition at home and condemnation from abroad, reports Borzou Daragahi
Chiara Giordano2 April 2022 13:05
India signs trade pact with Australia as calls grow for country to take stand on Russia
India has signed a trade deal with Australia as pressure mounts on the country to take a stand on Russia’s Ukraine invasion and as both the countries seek to counter the influence of China in the region.
India’s pact with western ally Australia, called the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, was signed today in a virtual ceremony by Australia’s trade minister Dan Tehan and his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal.
Peony Hirwani has more details:
Chiara Giordano2 April 2022 12:55
Russia and Kazakhstan urge deal for neutral, nuclear-free Ukraine
Russian president Vladimir Putin and Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev have agreed it is vital for an agreement to be reached for a neutral, non-aligned and nuclear-free Ukraine, according to Kazakhstan’s presidential office.
In a readout of a phone call held between the two leaders today, it said Putin had briefed Tokayev on the progress of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Chiara Giordano2 April 2022 12:38
Buses rescue thousands of Mariupol civilians as Russia accused of blocking evacuation
Civilians who managed to flee the devastated southern port city Mariupol have told The Independent’s Bel Trew of how their hometown has been “utterly destroyed”.
Chiara Giordano2 April 2022 12:17
Ukrainian war photographer killed near Kyiv
A 41-year-old Ukrainian photographer has reportedly been killed near Kyiv.
Maks Levin went missing in mid-March while has covering Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
A friend said his body was recovered yesterday:
Rory Sullivan2 April 2022 12:02