Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv hits back at Russian calls to 'hang ...

Ukrainian officials have denounced a call by Russia's embassy in Britain for fighters from the Azov regiment to face a “humiliating” execution, ... SkiptomaincontentSkiptonavigationSkiptokeyeventsAdvertisementNewsOpinionSportCultureLifestyleShowMoreShowMoreNewsWorldnewsUKnewsCoronavirusClimatecrisisEnvironmentScienceGlobaldevelopmentFootballTechBusinessObituariesOpinionTheGuardianviewColumnistsCartoonsOpinionvideosLettersSportFootballCricketRugbyunionTennisCyclingF1GolfUSsportsCultureBooksMusicTV&radioArt&designFilmGamesClassicalStageLifestyleFashionFoodRecipesLove&sexHealth&fitnessHome&gardenWomenMenFamilyTravelMoneyMakeacontributionSubscribeSearchjobsHolidaysDigitalArchiveGuardianPuzzlesappGuardiancontentlicensingsiteTheGuardianappVideoPodcastsPicturesNewslettersToday'spaperInsidetheGuardianTheObserverGuardianWeeklyCrosswordsFacebookTwitterSearchjobsHolidaysDigitalArchiveGuardianPuzzlesappGuardiancontentlicensingsiteWorldEuropeUSAmericasAsiaAustraliaMiddleEastAfricaInequalityGlobaldevelopmentUkrainewarliveUkraineRussia-Ukrainewar:KyivhitsbackatRussiancallsto‘hang’and‘humiliate’Azovfighters–asithappenedUkrainesayscommentsfromRussianembassyTwitteraccountshowsRussia‘isastatesponsorofterrorism’ Ukrainecatch-up:thisweek’smust-readnewsandanalysis  Updated 11hagoNadeemBadshah(now),JoeMiddleton(earlier)Sat30Jul202218.11BSTFirstpublishedonSat30Jul202207.05BSTKeyevents11hagoAsummaryoftoday'sdevelopments13hagoSummary14hagoUkrainehitsbackatRussiancallsto'hang'Azovfighters18hagoSummary18hagoRussianshellingleavesonedeadandstrikesschoolinKharkiv18hagoRussia'runningoutofsteam',saysMI6chief20hagoGazpromsuspendsgassuppliestoLatvia22hagoSummaryPhotojournalistEvgeniyMaloletkarunsfromablazeinaburningwheatfieldintheKharkivregionPhotograph:MstyslavChernov/APPhotojournalistEvgeniyMaloletkarunsfromablazeinaburningwheatfieldintheKharkivregionPhotograph:MstyslavChernov/APNadeemBadshah(now),JoeMiddleton(earlier)Sat30Jul202218.11BSTFirstpublishedonSat30Jul202207.05BSTShowkeyeventsonlyPleaseturnonJavaScripttousethisfeatureLivefeedFrom14hagoUkrainianofficialsonSaturdaydenouncedacallbyRussia’sembassyinBritainforfightersfromtheAzovregimenttofacea“humiliating”execution,AFPhasreported.TheRussianembassy’stweetsaid:Azovmilitantsdeserveexecution,butdeathnotbyfiringsquadbutbyhanging,becausethey’renotrealsoldiers.Theydeserveahumiliatingdeath.Twittersaidtheembassyhadviolateditsruleson“hatefulconduct”butputawarningonthetweetratherthanbanthepostabouttheAzov,aUkrainianbattalionthatretainssomefar-rightaffiliations.AndriyYermak,theheadoftheofficeoftheUkrainianpresidency,respondedonTelegram:Russiaisaterroriststate.Inthe21stcentury,onlysavagesandterroristscantalkatthediplomaticlevelaboutthefactthatpeopledeservetobeexecutedbyhanging.Russiaisastatesponsorofterrorism.Whatmoreevidenceisneeded?Keyevents11hagoAsummaryoftoday'sdevelopments13hagoSummary14hagoUkrainehitsbackatRussiancallsto'hang'Azovfighters18hagoSummary18hagoRussianshellingleavesonedeadandstrikesschoolinKharkiv18hagoRussia'runningoutofsteam',saysMI6chief20hagoGazpromsuspendsgassuppliestoLatvia22hagoSummaryShowkeyeventsonlyPleaseturnonJavaScripttousethisfeature UkrainianofficialshavedenouncedacallbyRussia’sembassyinBritainforfightersfromtheAzovregimenttofacea“humiliating”execution,AFPhasreported.Twittersaidtheembassyhadviolateditsruleson“hatefulconduct”butputawarningonthetweetratherthanbanthepostabouttheAzov,aUkrainianbattalionthatretainssomefar-rightaffiliations.AndriyYermak,theheadoftheofficeoftheUkrainianpresidency,respondedonTelegramonSaturday:“Russiaisaterroriststate.Inthe21stcentury,onlysavagesandterroristscantalkatthediplomaticlevelaboutthefactthatpeopledeservetobeexecutedbyhanging.Russiaisastatesponsorofterrorism.Whatmoreevidenceisneeded?” Russiaannounceditwasbanning32NewZealandofficialsandjournalistsfromenteringitsterritory,inresponsetosimilarmeasurestakenbyWellingtonagainstMoscowoveritsinvasionofUkraine,AgenceFrance-Pressereported.AmongthosesubjectedtosanctionsarethemayorofWellington,AndrewFoster;themayorofAuckland,PhilipGoff;thecommanderofNewZealand’snavy,CommodoreGarinGolding;andthejournalistsKateGreenandJosiePagani,Russia’sforeignministrysaidinastatement. RenewedRussianstrikesonUkraine’sfrontlinehaveleftonepersondeadinthesouthofthecountryandalsohitaschoolinKharkiv,officialssaid.ThemayorofthesoutherncityofMykolaivsaidonepersonwaskilledwhenrocketspoundedtworesidentialdistrictsovernight,AgenceFrance-Pressereported.InUkraine’ssecondcityofKharkiv,rocketsfromanS-300surface-to-airsystemdestroyedpartofaneducationalfacility,localauthoritiessaid. TheUkrainianmilitarysaidithadkilledscoresofRussiansoldiersanddestroyedtwoammunitiondumpsinfightingintheKhersonregion,thefocusofKyiv’scounter-offensiveinthesouthandakeylinkinMoscow’ssupplylines.Reutersreportedthemilitary’ssoutherncommandassayingrailtraffictoKhersonovertheDniproRiverhadbeencut,potentiallyfurtherisolatingRussianforceswestoftheriverfromsuppliesinoccupiedCrimeaandtheeast. TheUSambassadortotheUnitedNationssaidonFridaythereshouldnolongerbeanydoubtthatRussiaintendedtodismantleUkraine,Reutersreported.LindaThomas-GreenfieldtoldtheUNsecuritycouncilthattheUnitedStateswasseeinggrowingsignsofRussialayingthegroundworktoattempttoannexalloftheeasternUkrainianregionsofDonetskandLuhanskandthesouthernKhersonandZaporizhzhiaregions. GazpromhassuspendedgassuppliestoLatviafollowingtensionsbetweenMoscowandthewestovertheconflictinUkraineandsweepingsanctionsagainstRussia,AFPreports.ThecompanydrasticallycutgasdeliveriestoEuropeviatheNordStreampipelineonWednesdaytoabout20%ofitscapacity.EUstateshaveaccusedRussiaofsqueezingsuppliesinretaliationforwesternsanctionsoverMoscow’sinvasionofUkraine. Russiais“runningoutofsteam”initswaronUkraine,thechiefofBritain’sMI6intelligenceagency,RichardMoore,saidinabriefcommentonTwitteronSaturday.MooremadetheremarkaboveanearliertweetbytheMinistryofDefence(MoD)thatsaidtheKremlinwas“growingdesperate”. RussiaandUkrainehavebothlaunchedcriminalinvestigationsintostrikesthathavereportedlykilledatleast40Ukrainianprisonersofwarwhowereheldatapre-trialdetentioncentreinthevillageofOlenivka,afterbothcountriesblamedtheothersidefortheattack.TheUnitedNationsispreparedtosendagroupofexpertstoOlenivkatoinvestigatetheincident,ifitgetsconsentfrombothparties. Ukraine’sforeignminister,DmytroKuleba,hasaccusedRussiaofa“petrifyingwarcrime”overthekillingsandcalledonworldleadersto“recogniseRussiaasaterroriststate”. Ukrainehassaiditisreadyforgrainexportstoleaveitsportsagainbutiswaitingforthego-aheadfromtheUnitedNations. VideofootagehasemergedthatappearstoshowaRussiansoldiercastratingaUkrainianprisoner,whootherreportssuggestwassubsequentlymurdered.Thefootage,reviewedbytheGuardian,wasoriginallypostedonpro-RussianTelegramchannels.AricToler,attheinvestigativeoutletBellingcat,suggestedthatthevideo–whichshowsaRussiansoldier,wearingadistinctiveblackwide-brimmedhat,approachinganotherfigurewhohashishandsboundandislyingfacedownwiththebackofhistrouserscutaway–appearedtobeauthentic. UkraineandRussiahavetradedaccusationsoveramissilestrikeorexplosionthatappearedtohavekilleddozensofUkrainianprisonersofwarintheeasternDonetskregion.TheincidenttookplaceearlyonFridayinthefrontlinetownofOlenivka,whichisheldbyMoscow-backedseparatists.Russia’sdefenceministrypublishedalistofUkrainianprisonersofwarwhoitsaidwerekilledandwoundedinwhatitsaidwasamissilestrikebytheUkrainianmilitary.ItsaidthestrikebyUS-madeHimarsrocketshadkilled50prisonersandinjuredanother73,Reutersreports.Ukraine’sarmedforcesdeniedresponsibility,sayingRussianartilleryhadtargetedtheprisontohidethemistreatmentofthoseheldthere.TheUSsecretaryofstate,AntonyBlinken,expressedhiscondolencesoverthedeathsinaphonecallwithUkraine’sforeignminister,DmytroKuleba,accordingtoastatedepartmentstatement.TheUnitedStatesiscommittedto“holdRussiaaccountableforatrocitiescommittedbyitsforcesagainstthepeopleofUkraine,”BlinkentoldKuleba.TheUnitedNationsispreparedtosendagroupofexpertstoOlenivkatoinvestigatetheincident,ifitgetsconsentfrombothparties,saidUNspokespersonFarhanHaq.AninterestingdispatchontheimpactoftheconflictinthetownofIrpin,ontheoutskirtsofKyiv.SomesixmonthsintoRussia'swarinUkraine,CNN'sJasonCarrollvisitsthetownofIrpin,approximately45minutesnorthwestofKyiv.ThisiswhatsomeresidentshavetosayaftertheirapartmentswereleftinruinsbyRussianmissilestrikesduringtheearlystagesofthewar.pic.twitter.com/i9Ozc8aYBR—CNNInternational(@cnni)July30,2022 AfirefighterextinguishesablazeataschoolintheUkrainiancityofKharkivafteramissilestrike.Photograph:SergeyBobok/AFP/GettyImagesAfirefighterextinguishesablazeataschoolintheUkrainiancityofKharkivafteramissilestrike.Photograph:SergeyBobok/AFP/GettyImagesHereisasummaryofthelatestdevelopments: UkrainianofficialshavedenouncedacallbyRussia’sembassyinBritainforfightersfromtheAzovregimenttofacea“humiliating”execution,AFPhasreported.Twittersaidtheembassyhadviolateditsruleson“hatefulconduct”butputawarningonthetweetratherthanbanthepostabouttheAzov,aUkrainianbattalionthatretainssomefar-rightaffiliations.AndriyYermak,theheadoftheofficeoftheUkrainianpresidency,respondedonTelegramonSaturday:“Russiaisaterroriststate.Inthe21stcentury,onlysavagesandterroristscantalkatthediplomaticlevelaboutthefactthatpeopledeservetobeexecutedbyhanging.Russiaisastatesponsorofterrorism.Whatmoreevidenceisneeded?” RussiaannouncedonSaturdayitwasbanning32NewZealandofficialsandjournalistsfromenteringitsterritory,inresponsetosimilarmeasurestakenbyWellingtonagainstMoscowoveritsinvasionofUkraine,AgenceFrance-Pressereported.AmongthosesubjectedtosanctionsarethemayorofWellington,AndrewFoster;themayorofAuckland,PhilipGoff;thecommanderofNewZealand’snavy,CommodoreGarinGolding;andthejournalistsKateGreenandJosiePagani,Russia’sforeignministrysaidinastatement. RenewedRussianstrikesonUkraine’sfrontlinehaveleftonepersondeadinthesouthofthecountryandalsohitaschoolinKharkiv,officialssaidonSaturday.ThemayorofthesoutherncityofMykolaivsaidonepersonwaskilledwhenrocketspoundedtworesidentialdistrictsovernight,AgenceFrance-Pressereported.InUkraine’ssecondcityofKharkiv,rocketsfromanS-300surface-to-airsystemdestroyedpartofaneducationalfacility,localauthoritiessaid. TheUkrainianmilitarysaidonSaturdayithadkilledscoresofRussiansoldiersanddestroyedtwoammunitiondumpsinfightingintheKhersonregion,thefocusofKyiv’scounter-offensiveinthesouthandakeylinkinMoscow’ssupplylines.Reutersreportedthemilitary’ssoutherncommandassayingrailtraffictoKhersonovertheDniproRiverhadbeencut,potentiallyfurtherisolatingRussianforceswestoftheriverfromsuppliesinoccupiedCrimeaandtheeast. TheUSambassadortotheUnitedNationssaidonFridaythereshouldnolongerbeanydoubtthatRussiaintendedtodismantleUkraine,Reutersreported.LindaThomas-GreenfieldtoldtheUNsecuritycouncilthattheUnitedStateswasseeinggrowingsignsofRussialayingthegroundworktoattempttoannexalloftheeasternUkrainianregionsofDonetskandLuhanskandthesouthernKhersonandZaporizhzhiaregions. GazpromonSaturdaysuspendedgassuppliestoLatviafollowingtensionsbetweenMoscowandthewestovertheconflictinUkraineandsweepingsanctionsagainstRussia,AFPreports.ThecompanydrasticallycutgasdeliveriestoEuropeviatheNordStreampipelineonWednesdaytoabout20%ofitscapacity.EUstateshaveaccusedRussiaofsqueezingsuppliesinretaliationforwesternsanctionsoverMoscow’sinvasionofUkraine. Russiais“runningoutofsteam”initswaronUkraine,thechiefofBritain’sMI6intelligenceagency,RichardMoore,saidinabriefcommentonTwitteronSaturday.MooremadetheremarkaboveanearliertweetbytheMinistryofDefence(MoD)thatsaidtheKremlinwas“growingdesperate”. RussiaandUkrainehavebothlaunchedcriminalinvestigationsintostrikesthathavereportedlykilledatleast40Ukrainianprisonersofwarwhowereheldatapre-trialdetentioncentreinthevillageofOlenivka,afterbothcountriesblamedtheothersidefortheattack. Ukraine’sforeignminister,DmytroKuleba,hasaccusedRussiaofa“petrifyingwarcrime”overthekillingsandcalledonworldleadersto“recogniseRussiaasaterroriststate”. Ukrainehassaiditisreadyforgrainexportstoleaveitsportsagainbutiswaitingforthego-aheadfromtheUnitedNations. HorrificvideohasemergedthatappearstoshowaRussiansoldiercastratingaUkrainianprisoner,whootherreportssuggestwassubsequentlymurdered.Thefootage,reviewedbytheGuardian,wasoriginallypostedonpro-RussianTelegramchannels.AricToler,attheinvestigativeoutletBellingcat,suggestedthatthevideo–whichshowsaRussiansoldier,wearingadistinctiveblackwide-brimmedhat,approachinganotherfigurewhohashishandsboundandislyingfacedownwiththebackofhistrouserscutaway–appearedtobeauthentic. AfanwhotravelledtotheUkrainianbordertohelpfleeingrefugeesfollowingRussia’sinvasionofthecountrywasinvitedontothepitchtotakeapenaltyduringEverton’spre-seasongameagainstDynamoKyiv.TheteamandtheGoodisonParkcrowdgaveawarmwelcometoPaulStratton,whocalmlyslottedthepenaltyintothebottomcorner,addinganunofficialfourthgoaltothehosts’3-0winovertheUkrainianside.01:05EvertonfanwhohelpedUkrainianrefugeescomesontoscorepenaltyagainstDynamoKyiv–videoUkrainianofficialsonSaturdaydenouncedacallbyRussia’sembassyinBritainforfightersfromtheAzovregimenttofacea“humiliating”execution,AFPhasreported.TheRussianembassy’stweetsaid:Azovmilitantsdeserveexecution,butdeathnotbyfiringsquadbutbyhanging,becausethey’renotrealsoldiers.Theydeserveahumiliatingdeath.Twittersaidtheembassyhadviolateditsruleson“hatefulconduct”butputawarningonthetweetratherthanbanthepostabouttheAzov,aUkrainianbattalionthatretainssomefar-rightaffiliations.AndriyYermak,theheadoftheofficeoftheUkrainianpresidency,respondedonTelegram:Russiaisaterroriststate.Inthe21stcentury,onlysavagesandterroristscantalkatthediplomaticlevelaboutthefactthatpeopledeservetobeexecutedbyhanging.Russiaisastatesponsorofterrorism.Whatmoreevidenceisneeded?SimonJenkinsisaGuardiancolumnistandarguesthatwesternsanctionsagainstRussiaarenotworking:WesternsanctionsagainstRussiaarethemostill-conceivedandcounterproductivepolicyinrecentinternationalhistory.MilitaryaidtoUkraineisjustified,buttheeconomicwarisineffectiveagainsttheregimeinMoscow,anddevastatingforitsunintendedtargets.Worldenergypricesarerocketing,inflationissoaring,supplychainsarechaoticandmillionsarebeingstarvedofgas,grainandfertiliser.YetVladimirPutin’sbarbarityonlyescalates–asdoeshisholdoverhisownpeople.Tocriticisewesternsanctionsisclosetoanathema.Defenceanalystsaredumbonthesubject.Strategythinktanksaresilent.Britain’sputativeleaders,LizTrussandRishiSunak,competeinbelligerentrhetoric,promisingevertoughersanctionswithoutawordofpurpose.Yet,hintatscepticismonthesubjectandyouwillbeexcoriatedas“pro-Putin”andanti-Ukraine.Sanctionsarethewarcryofthewest’scrusade.Readmorehere:TheroubleissoaringandPutinisstrongerthanever–oursanctionshavebackfiredTheroubleissoaringandPutinisstrongerthanever-oursanctionshavebackfired|SimonJenkinsReadmoreAntonGerashchenko,anadvisertoKyiv’sministryofinternalaffairs,hassharedavideoofaprotestinthecapitalcitythatwascallingtorecogniseRussiaasstatesponsorsofterrorism.FamiliesandlovedonesofAzovstalDefendersheldademonstrationinKyivcallingtorecognizeRussiaasstatesponsorofterrorism.TheyremindedthatwhenAzovstalWarriorssurrenderedasPOWs,UNandRedCrossInternationalCommitteeassuredthattheywouldbesafe.pic.twitter.com/RnfWgzEPZI—AntonGerashchenko(@Gerashchenko_en)July30,2022 ThesearesomeofthelatestimagestobesenttousoverthenewswiresfromUkraineAmarketdestroyedbyaRussianmissilestrikeinBakhmut,Donetskregion,Ukraineon30July.Photograph:StateEmergencyServiceOfUkraine/ReutersKarina,aformertextileworkerofTajikorigin,sitsinamilitaryvehicleduringaninterviewwithAFPinDonbasregion,easternUkraine,on26July.Photograph:BülentKılıç/AFP/GettyImagesRelativesofdefendersoftheAzovstalIronandSteelWorksinMariupolholdarallyoutsideofDonetskon30July.Photograph:ValentynOgirenko/ReutersUkraine’sMinistryofForeignAffairshassharedthesepicturesofajournaliststandinginburningcrops.“Thesephotosareremindersofnotonlyburntharvestthatwassupposedtofeedtheworld,butalsooftheinhumancircumstances,inwhichjournalistsandphotographersareworkingtotelltheworldtruthaboutRussia’satrocities,”theministrywroteonTwitter.🔥Thesephotosareremindersofnotonlyburntharvestthatwassupposedtofeedtheworld,butalsooftheinhumancircumstances,inwhichjournalistsandphotographersareworkingtotelltheworldtruthabout#Russia’satrocities.📸mstyslav.chernovevgenymaloletkapic.twitter.com/Q9SHt1byOv—MFAofUkraine🇺🇦(@MFA_Ukraine)July30,2022 AnEvertonfanwhohasbeenhelpingUkrainianrefugeeswasbroughtontotakeapenaltyduringthePremierLeagueteam’spre-seasonmatchagainstDynamoKyiv,APhasreported.PaulStratton,44,hastravelledtoPolandtodeliversuppliestorefugeesfleeingRussia’sinvasionofUkraine.StrattoncameonasasubstitutetowardstheendofEvertonandDynamoKyiv’s“matchforpeace”atGoodisonParkonFridaynight.Everton’smanager,FrankLampard,gavehiminstructionsonthetouchlinebeforeStrattontuckedawayhispenalty.Thiswasthefirst“matchforpeace”inBritain.DynamoKyivhasplayedsimilargamesinotherEuropeancountriessincethestartofthewar.Thecrowdincluded2,000UkrainianrefugeeswhohavebeenresettledinMerseysidecommunities.Theyweregivenfreetickets.PaulStrattoncelebratesscoringEverton’sfourthgoalduringthepre-seasonfriendlywithDynamoKyivatGoodisonParkonFriday.Photograph:ChrisBrunskill/Fantasista/GettyImagesRussiaannouncedonSaturdayitwasbanning32NewZealandofficialsandjournalistsfromenteringitsterritory,inresponsetosimilarmeasurestakenbyWellingtonagainstMoscowoveritsinvasionofUkraine,AgenceFrance-Pressereported.AmongthosesubjectedtosanctionsarethemayorofWellington,AndrewFoster;themayorofAuckland,PhilipGoff;thecommanderofNewZealand’snavy,CommodoreGarinGolding;andthejournalistsKateGreenandJosiePagani,Russia’sforeignministrysaidinastatement.Thedecisionwastaken“inresponsetothegovernmentofNewZealand’ssanctions,whichincreasinglyaffectRussiancitizens”,thestatementsaid.InApril,RussiabannedNewZealand’sprimeminister,JacindaArdern,andahostofotherpoliticiansfromenteringitsterritory.TheUkrainianpresident,VolodymyrZelenskiy,hassaidthecountryisreadytobeginexportinggrainfromitsBlackSeaportsbutiswaitingforthego-aheadfromtheUNandTurkey,whichbrokeredadealwithRussiatoallowUkrainianshipssafepassage.ShipmentsfromtheportsofOdesa,ChornomorskandPivdennyiwillbeoverseenbyanIstanbul-basedjointcoordinationcentre,whichwillinvolveRussian,Ukrainian,TurkishandUNofficials.01:03Ukraineis'fullyprepared'toresumeexportinggrain,saysZelenskiy–videoHereisasummaryofthelatestdevelopments: RenewedRussianstrikesonUkraine’sfrontlinehaveleftonepersondeadinthesouthofthecountryandalsohitaschoolinKharkiv,officialssaidonSaturday.ThemayorofthesoutherncityofMykolaivsaidonepersonwaskilledwhenrocketspoundedtworesidentialdistrictsovernight,AgenceFrance-Pressereported.InUkraine’ssecondcityofKharkiv,rocketsfromanS-300surface-to-airsystemdestroyedpartofaneducationalfacility,localauthoritiessaid. TheUkrainianmilitarysaidonSaturdayithadkilledscoresofRussiansoldiersanddestroyedtwoammunitiondumpsinfightingintheKhersonregion,thefocusofKyiv’scounter-offensiveinthesouthandakeylinkinMoscow’ssupplylines.Reutersreportedthemilitary’ssoutherncommandassayingrailtraffictoKhersonovertheDniproRiverhadbeencut,potentiallyfurtherisolatingRussianforceswestoftheriverfromsuppliesinoccupiedCrimeaandtheeast. TheUSambassadortotheUnitedNationssaidonFridaythereshouldnolongerbeanydoubtthatRussiaintendedtodismantleUkraine,Reutersreports.LindaThomas-GreenfieldtoldtheUNsecuritycouncilthattheUnitedStateswasseeinggrowingsignsofRussialayingthegroundworktoattempttoannexalloftheeasternUkrainianregionsofDonetskandLuhanskandthesouthernKhersonandZaporizhzhiaregions. GazpromonSaturdaysuspendedgassuppliestoLatviafollowingtensionsbetweenMoscowandthewestovertheconflictinUkraineandsweepingsanctionsagainstRussia,AFPreports.ThecompanydrasticallycutgasdeliveriestoEuropeviatheNordStreampipelineonWednesdaytoabout20%ofitscapacity.EUstateshaveaccusedRussiaofsqueezingsuppliesinretaliationforwesternsanctionsoverMoscow’sinvasionofUkraine. Russiais“runningoutofsteam”initswaronUkraine,thechiefofBritain’sMI6intelligenceagency,RichardMoore,saidinabriefcommentonTwitteronSaturday.MooremadetheremarkaboveanearliertweetbytheMinistryofDefence(MoD)thatsaidtheKremlinwas“growingdesperate”. RussiaandUkrainehavebothlaunchedcriminalinvestigationsintostrikesthathavereportedlykilledatleast40Ukrainianprisonersofwarwhowereheldatapre-trialdetentioncentreinthevillageofOlenivka,afterbothcountriesblamedtheothersidefortheattack. Ukraine’sforeignminister,DmytroKuleba,hasaccusedRussiaofa“petrifyingwarcrime”overthekillingsandcalledonworldleadersto“recogniseRussiaasaterroriststate”. Ukrainehassaiditisreadyforgrainexportstoleaveitsportsagainbutiswaitingforthego-aheadfromtheUnitedNations. HorrificvideohasemergedthatappearstoshowaRussiansoldiercastratingaUkrainianprisoner,whootherreportssuggestwassubsequentlymurdered.Thefootage,reviewedbytheGuardian,wasoriginallypostedonpro-RussianTelegramchannels.AricToler,attheinvestigativeoutletBellingcat,suggestedthatthevideo–whichshowsaRussiansoldier,wearingadistinctiveblackwide-brimmedhat,approachinganotherfigurewhohashishandsboundandislyingfacedownwiththebackofhistrouserscutaway–appearedtobeauthentic. AtleastfivepeoplehavebeenkilledandseveninjuredinastrikeonabusstopinthecityofMykolaiv,accordingtotheregionalgovernor,VitaliyKim.Graphicimagesfromthesceneshowedthestreetlitteredwithbodies. VladimirPutin’spresssecretary,DmitryPeskov,saidonFridaythatRussiastaunchlysupportedChina’ssovereigntyandterritorialintegrity,aftertheChinesepresident,XiJinping,warnedtheUSpresident,JoeBiden,against“playingwithfire”overTaiwaninaphonecallonThursday. Germany’seconomyminister,RobertHabeck,saidonFridaythatputtingtheNordStream2gaspipelineintooperationwasnotanoptionasthatwouldonlyplayintoPutin’shands.ThereisgrowingangerinGermanyoversoaringenergyprices. RenewedRussianstrikesonUkraine’sfrontlinehaveleftonepersondeadinthesouthofthecountryandalsohitaschoolinKharkiv,officialssaidonSaturday.ThemayorofthesoutherncityofMykolaiv–closetowhereUkrainiantroopsareseekingtostageacounter-offensive–saidonepersonwaskilledwhenrocketspoundedtworesidentialdistrictsovernight,AgenceFrance-Pressereported.Sixotherswerewoundedinthestrikes,whichleft“windowsanddoorsbroken,andbalconiesdestroyed”,OleksandrSienkevychwroteonTelegram.InUkraine’ssecondcityofKharkiv,rocketsfromanS-300surface-to-airsystemdestroyedpartofaneducationalfacilityinastrikeintheearlyhoursofSaturday,localauthoritiessaid.Firefightersextinguishedablazeandtherewerenoreportsofcasualties,theauthoritiessaid.Russiais“runningoutofsteam”initswaronUkraine,thechiefofBritain’sMI6intelligenceagency,RichardMoore,saidinabriefcommentonTwitteronSaturday.MooremadetheremarkaboveanearliertweetbytheMinistryofDefence(MoD)thatsaidtheKremlinwas“growingdesperate”.TheMoD’spostadded:RussiahaslosttensofthousandsofsoldiersandisusingSoviet-eraweapons.TheiroutdatedmissilesarekillingandinjuringinnocentUkrainians.Russiawon’twinthisunjustwar.Runningoutofsteam…https://t.co/bExZXZ3l3z—RichardMoore(@ChiefMI6)July30,2022 PeterBeaumontreportsforusfromKyiv:VolodymyrZelenskiyhasdenouncedasawarcrimeanattackthatkilleddozensofUkrainianprisonersofwarinRussian-occupiedDonetsk,asbothsidestradedblameforthedeaths.InaFridaynightaddress,theUkrainianpresidentsaidmorethan50diedintheassaultonOlenivka,callingit“adeliberateRussianwarcrime,adeliberatemassmurderofUkrainianprisonersofwar”.Thecapturedfighters–whoRussia’sdefenceministrysaidincludedmembersoftheAzovbattalion,whodefendedtheAzovstalsteelplantinMariupol–shouldhavebeenprotectedbyguaranteessecuredbytheUnitedNationsandtheInternationalCommitteeoftheRedCross,saidZelenskiy,whojoinedhisforeignministerinurgingthoseorganisationstointerveneandinvestigate.Olenivkaisabout10km(6miles)southoftheoccupiedcityofDonetskandclosetothefrontline.Establishingresponsibilityislikelytobehighlychallengingwithoutindependentaccesstothesite.ReadmoreofPeterBeaumont’sreportfromKyiv:PrisonattackthatkilledUkrainePoWsawarcrime,saysZelenskiy,amidcallsforUNinquiryPrisonattackthatkilledUkrainePoWsawarcrime,saysZelenskiy,amidcallsforUNinquiryReadmoreNewestNewestPrevious1 of 2NextOldestOldestTopicsUkraineUkrainewarliveRussiaEuropeVolodymyrZelenskiyVladimirPutinReusethiscontentMostpopularMostpopularWorldEuropeUSAmericasAsiaAustraliaMiddleEastAfricaInequalityGlobaldevelopment