Journalist welcomed by visibly emotional people in Kherson
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Ukrainian soldiers in the liberated city Kherson said they have found bins stuffed with discarded Russian uniforms as Vladimir Putin’s troops that have left behind try to blend in with civilians.
Stanislav Stoikobv, head of the territorial defence in the region, told The Independent that the Ukrainian military estimated as many as 15 per cent of Moscow’s troops stationed in Kherson had been left behind.
On Sunday, Kherson was closed for ‘filtration’, a process by which Ukrainian authorities hope to identify the Russian soldiers.
Mr Stoikobv said: “We have to find them, they have no contact with Russian troops on the other side of the river. We are concerned Russia will start heavily shelling Kherson but we are panicking.”
Russia could send “more cannon fodder” to Ukraine after its setback in Kherson, the UK’s defence secretary Ben Wallace said while Kherson residents celebrated the liberation.
He said Russia will be “worried” and “disappointed” by the loss of Kherson, and that it was important not to “underestimate” how “brutal” Moscow can be even “to their own”.
Key points
Show latest update
1668396487
Can feel Ukraine’s victory in war approaching, says Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky said everyone in his country engaged in the war can feel Ukraine’s victory against Russia approaching as he said that those repelling Moscow’s attacks, including soldiers, civilians and diplomats, have not had a day’s rest.
“All of us already feel the approach of our victory. Because we preserve our unity and know that we are rightfully on our land,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
Starting his address, the Ukrainian president said that he was working together with his team on Sunday. “The office is working, Kyiv doesn’t stop, the country works non-stop. Look around – there are always people fighting and working without weekends for the sake of our victory,” he said.
“The frontline has no weekends. Rescuers and sappers have no weekends. Doctors helping the wounded have no weekends. Doctors helping our children have no weekends as well. Ukrainian energy workers fighting against Iranian drones have no rest,” Mr Zelensky said.
He added: “Diplomats working almost round the clock for 263 days already… Communication workers, security forces, hundreds and hundreds of other spheres, thousands of organisations and enterprises, millions of people.”
Arpan Rai14 November 2022 03:28
1668394800
ICYMI: Russia could send ‘more cannon fodder’ after Kherson
The UK’s defence secretary Ben Wallace said Russia will be “worried” and “disappointed” by the loss of Kherson.
He also said it was important not to “underestimate” Moscow and urged “caution” when considering the jubilant scenes on the streets of the liberated city.
“History will remind you that Russia can be brutal to their own. And if they need more cannon fodder, that is what they’ll be doing,” he told reporters in Westminster earlier on Sunday.
Lamiat Sabin14 November 2022 03:00
1668391200
MTV EMA audience wave Ukraine flags for Kalush Orchestra
Kalush Orchestra got a warm welcome at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) with members of the audience waving Ukrainian flags as they took to the stage on Sunday night.
The folk-rap group performed their Eurovision-winning track Stefania as the award ceremony drew to a close at the PSD Bank Dome in Dusseldorf, Germany.
The group were supported by dancers who donned the trademark pink bucket hat of lead singer Oleg Psyuk.
Traditional designs from the war-torn country and an image of a raised and clenched fist were projected across the stage.
Kalush Orchestra perform at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2022
(Ian West/PA)
Before the performance, Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi, who was hosting with his partner Rita Ora, said the group were wearing costumes that “dated back thousands of years”.
He described their music as “bringing a hip hop infusion to traditional Ukrainian folk music”.
Ora added: “Along with our worldwide winners, we’d like to welcome them from Kyiv, Ukraine – Kalush Orchestra.”
Speaking earlier on the red carpet, Psyuk told the PA news agency “culture is one of our weapons” in the war against Russia “so today we are are soldiers that present Ukraine’s culture”.
Performers wore traditional costumes and pink bucket hats
(Martin Meissner/Associated Press)
The group have become international spokespeople for the Ukrainian war effort since sweeping to victory at Eurovision in May.
They later raised more than £700,000 for the Ukrainian army by auctioning off their crystal microphone trophy, and are touring with a portion of proceeds going to relief efforts at home.
Psyuk recently said they were “grateful” to the UK for showing solidarity with Ukraine by hosting Eurovision next year on its behalf.
Lamiat Sabin14 November 2022 02:00
1668387600
‘Russia is a rogue state,’ Sunak is to tell G20 leaders
The Telegraph’s front page today (Monday) features a story about Rishi Sunak at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, where he is expected to tell other leaders that Russia is a “rogue state”.
He will also criticise Vladimir Putin for failing to attend the summit and instead sending Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in his place.
In writing for the newspaper, the prime minister says: “We will not let our economic future be held hostage by the actions of a rogue state – and nor will our allies.
“Leaders take responsibility. They show up. Yet, at the G20 summit in Indonesia this week, one seat will remain vacant.
“The man who is responsible for so much bloodshed in Ukraine and economic strife around the world will not be there to face his peers. He won’t even attempt to explain his actions.
“Instead, he will stay at home and the rest of us will get on with the task at hand.”
Lamiat Sabin14 November 2022 01:00
1668384060
Zookeeper in Crimea steals animals from Kherson zoo
A Russian zookeeper has stolen raccoons from the liberated city of Kherson, it’s been reported.
In the heist, seven raccoons, two female wolves, peacocks, a llama and a donkey from Kherson Zoo were taken.
A private Crimean zoo, Taigan Lion Park, owned by Oleg Zubkov, filmed him grabbing raccoons by their tails and putting them in cages for a YouTube video – now unavailable to watch – titled: “We are in Kherson. Oleg Zubkov catches raccoons with BARE HANDS!!!”
The video showed him with two assistants forcing the llama into a van.
Another video uploaded on Sunday showed two wolves that he said were from Kherson Zoo being unloaded at the Crimean zoo.
Russian television channels filmed the event.
Zubkov said: “It will be much better for the wolves here: large territory, Crimean sun, and besides, after the quarantine, they will get a male. It’s been their dream to live here.”
He said the animals, including any wolf cubs, would be sent back after Russia reoccupies Kherson and that they are “in good hands”.
Ukraine’s defence ministry posted one of the videos and vowed to retaliate over the theft.
Lamiat Sabin14 November 2022 00:01
1668380457
Combat engineer dies during Kherson bomb clearance
A sapper – combat engineer – died while demining the liberated city of Kherson, it was revealed today.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said one died and four were injured during the bomb-clearing operations after Russian troops withdrew from the city in southern Ukraine.
Earlier, Yaroslav Yanushevych – head of the Kherson region’s military – said Russian troops had placed mines almost everywhere.”
He told Kherson citizens: “Please, please do not gather in crowded places.
“Moreover, we will be clearing mines in the city centre tomorrow, on 14 November. So please do not go to the central part of the city.”
Lamiat Sabin13 November 2022 23:00
1668376857
Fighting in Donetsk remains intense, Zelensky says
Fighting in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region has continued in its intensity, Volodymyr Zelensky said in describing the situation there as “hell”.
The Ukrainian president said in his nightly video address: “There it is just hell — there are extremely fierce battles there every day.
“But our units are defending bravely — they are withstanding the terrible pressure of the invaders, preserving our defence lines.”
“Battles in Donetsk region are just as intense as they have been in previous days,” the Ukrainian president also said.
“The level of Russian attacks has not declined. And the level of our resilience and courage is at its highest. We will not allow them through our defence,” he added.
Lamiat Sabin13 November 2022 22:00
1668375057
‘Bodies of Ukrainian troops and civilians found in Kherson’
More details have been released about Ukraine’s claim that more than 400 war crimes have been uncovered in Kherson.
Volodymyr Zelensky said investigators found the bodies of servicemen and civilians in areas of the Kherson region freed from Russian occupation.
During his nightly video address, the Ukrainian president said: “Investigators have already documented more than 400 Russian war crimes.
“Bodies of dead civilians and servicemen have been found.”
Mr Zelensky said “stabilisation and the restoration of law” had been established in 226 settlements affecting more than 100,000 residents.
Arrests of Russian soldiers and mercenaries were proceeding, he added.
Lamiat Sabin13 November 2022 21:30
1668372357
Moscow seeks to strip non Russian-born critics of passports
Vladimir Putin is reportedly seeking to strip some citizens of their Russian passports if they criticise the war in Ukraine.
He is said to be proposing changes to a law that, when enacted, would target Ukrainians who were forced into acquiring Russian passports during the occupation of Kherson – which has recently been liberated.
The actions that would be considered crimes include discrediting the Russian army, spreading fake news, and participating in the activities of an undesirable organisation, according to Russian independent media outlet Meduza – citing a Kremlin-run news agency.
The proposed amendment to a bill has only passed its first reading so far.
In March, Russian parliament imposed laws that criminalised protesting against the conflict in Ukraine and discrediting Russia’s army – acts that would be punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Lamiat Sabin13 November 2022 20:45
1668370557
Zelensky: ‘More than 400 Russian war crimes in Kherson’
Investigators in Kherson have uncovered more than 400 Russian war crimes.
This was claimed by Volodymyr Zelensky this evening, after the city was liberated from Vladimir Putin’s troops.
Lamiat Sabin13 November 2022 20:15