logo
Suspect in killing of Russian general claims he was paid by Ukraine, Russia says

Suspect in killing of Russian general claims he was paid by Ukraine, Russia says

Lt Gen Moskalik was killed on Friday by a bomb in his car in Balashikha, just outside Moscow.
Ukrainian authorities did not comment on the attack, the second in four months targeting a top Russian military officer that Moscow has blamed on Ukraine amid the conflict between the neighbouring countries.
Lt Gen Igor Kirillov was killed on December 17 2024, when a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building exploded as he left for his office.
Ukraine's security agency acknowledged it was behind the attack.
Kirillov was the chief of Russia's Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces, the special troops tasked with protecting the military from the enemy's use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. His assistant also died in the attack.
Kirillov was under sanctions from several countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada, for his actions in the fighting in Ukraine.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Massive protests sweep Kyiv over corruption reform in biggest challenge to Zelensky since Putin's invasion of Ukraine
Massive protests sweep Kyiv over corruption reform in biggest challenge to Zelensky since Putin's invasion of Ukraine

Scottish Sun

time42 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Massive protests sweep Kyiv over corruption reform in biggest challenge to Zelensky since Putin's invasion of Ukraine

MAJOR protests have started to sweep across Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a controversial corruption bill. Critics fear the new law may weaken the country's anti-corruption bodies by stripping the two main organisations in the embattled nation of their independence. 9 Protests have started across Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill that critics fear will weaken the country's anti-corruption bodies Credit: AFP 9 The demonstarions in central Kyiv continued late into the night Credit: AP 9 Lviv also saw similar remonstrations as did several cities in Ukraine Credit: Reuters 9 Many came armed with passionate placards Credit: Reuters Zelensky addressed the criticism he has faced in recent days but assured his fellow country men and women that both agencies would still "work" as usual. He warned that the bill needed to be passed in order to clear the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) of "Russian influence". The offices of the two agencies were raided by Ukraine's security services on Monday after infiltration allegations from Moscow emerged. All corruption cases in Ukraine will now placed under the control of the prosecutor general, Ruslan Kravchenko. Zelensky says this will allow criminal proceedings, sometimes worth in the billions, to be investigated quicker. He claims that the current anti-corruption infrastructure often allows for important cases to be left "lying dormant" for years. The President added that the prosecutor general would ensure "the inevitability of punishment" for those who broke the law. But many civilians strongly disagreed with his beliefs saying the bill now gives Zelensky ultimate power over independent bodies. After the bill passed, thousands of people came together in the capitla of Kyiv to take part in the biggest anti-government protest since the start of Russia's barbaric invasion in February 2022. Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran, is said to have first rallied Kyiv residents on Tuesday. Why Putin's $1 TRILLION military surge is just 'smoke and mirrors' - and even the tyrant knows it He urged people to gather at the square near the Ivan Franko Theatre due to it being "the closest viable spot to the President's Office". He announced plans on social media as he said: "Time is not on our side. "We must take to the streets tonight and urge Zelensky to prevent a return to the dark days of Yanukovych. See you this evening!" Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa also saw demonstrations overnight. The protests remained peaceful throughout despite an increased police presence across Ukraine. Many took homemade placards with messages directed towards the government. One read: "We chose Europe, not autocracy." Another said: "My father did not die for this." 9 Anti-government chants could be also be heard during the marches Credit: AP 9 The Ivan Franko National Theater building in Kyiv had the slogan 'Veto the law' projected onto it Credit: Getty 9 Zelensky says the new bill will allow criminal proceedings, sometimes worth in the billions, to be investigated quicker Credit: Getty Kyiv mayor and former world heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko, was among the protesters. He has clashed with Zelensky on dozens of occasions since becoming mayor as he told reporters on the ground: 'Sapo and Nabu must remain independent institutions." The issue is due to continue to rage on for some time after the Ukrainian parliament voted for the law on July 22. It was swiftly approved by the speaker shortly afterwards. The heads of NABU and SAPO quickly implored President Zelensky to go back on the decree. The issue of anti-corruption independence in Ukraine has also branched out across Europe in the past 24 hours. Several G7 ambassadors voiced their concerns over the bill. The European Union also warned against Ukraine's making any hasty judgements. What are Zelensky's controversial reforms? PRESIDENT Volodymyr Zelensky has signed into law a new bill surrounding the independence of Ukraine's two key anti-corruption institutions. The bill was passed with the support of 263 lawmakers, with 13 voting against it and 13 abstaining. The new law now brings the independent National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office under the lead of the prosecutor general of Ukraine, Ruslan Kravchenko. Ruslan is now able to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors. Zelensky believes the change will speed up the process of finalising cases as well as stamp out any alleged Russian influence. But the head of NABU says the bill will "destroy" Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. 9 Kyiv residents take part in the rally which remained peaceful Credit: Getty

BREAKING: Gangs and people linked to people-smuggling named and shamed with new sanctions
BREAKING: Gangs and people linked to people-smuggling named and shamed with new sanctions

Daily Mirror

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

BREAKING: Gangs and people linked to people-smuggling named and shamed with new sanctions

Gang leaders and individuals linked to people-smuggling have been named and shamed today in a world's-first sanctions scheme. The government announced on Wednesday that 25 people "at the heart of people-smuggling networks" have been targeted. They include gang leaders based in the Balkans and North Africa , suppliers of people-smuggling equipment in Asia and money movers in the Middle East, the Foreign Office said. The individuals face having their assets seized and will be banned from entering the UK after being sanctioned. It is the first time any government in the world has announced such a scheme, which is similar to the targeting of Russian oligarchs linked to the invasion of Ukraine. Those named carried out a range of jobs facilitating dangerous crossings - from providing fake passports, transporting engine parts and moving cash. Ministers hope the move will help deliver a hammer blow to an industry which has grown to be worth over £10billion a year in the last five years. UK firms who deal with sanctioned individuals will face hefty fines worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'This is a landmark moment in the government's work to tackle organised immigration crime, reduce irregular migration to the UK, and deliver on the Plan for Change. 'From Europe to Asia we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world and making them pay for their actions. "My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account.' It comes days after a landmark treaty was signed with Germany - where gangs have been found to store small boat components - to work together on people smuggling. Announcing the sanctions regime would be put in place earlier this week, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The new sanctions regime marks a decisive step in our fight against the criminal gangs who profit from human misery. It will allow us to target the assets and operations of people-smugglers wherever they operate, cutting off their funding and dismantling their networks piece by piece." We'll be bringing you the latest updates on this Breaking Politics News story. Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story HERE. Get email updates on the day's biggest stories straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletters. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by following The Mirror every time you see our name.

Huge seaside resort built for 20k tourists bans foreigners weeks after opening
Huge seaside resort built for 20k tourists bans foreigners weeks after opening

Daily Mirror

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Huge seaside resort built for 20k tourists bans foreigners weeks after opening

Despite years of delays and a grand opening ceremony, the world's most controversial Benidorm-inspired seaside resort has 'temporarily' prohibited foreign travellers from visiting A Benidorm-inspired seaside resort with 2.5 miles of golden sandy beach has sensationally banned foreigners from visiting, just 17 days after its grand opening. The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone might look like any other coastal destination at first glance. Complete with 43 hotels and camping sites that hold capacity for a whopping 20,000 visitors, the resort boasts a huge water park with thrilling slides, a cinema, theatre, 'recreation centre', and pristine beach. ‌ However, this seaside haven isn't located on the sunny Costa Blanca (although it is rumoured to be based on the Spanish hotspot). Instead, it's situated in the cruel dictatorship of North Korea, which has been accused of a series of gross human rights violations. ‌ ‌ These include detaining residents in prison camps for trying to flee, severely restricting the rights to freedom of expression, and rejecting international aid while people starved due to food shortages. But in 2017, North Korea sent a delegation on a trip to Benidorm so officials could take note of how the hotspot had designed many of its hotels and attractions. Following years of delay, the tourist park - believed to be a crucial part of Kim Jong Un's ambitions to boost tourism in the country - opened on July 1 this year. ‌ According to reports, the first droves of Russian tourists arrived at the resort earlier this month, with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov branding the project a 'good tourist attraction' that he hoped would become popular amongst Russians. However, on July 18, North Korea updated its tourism website, declaring that foreigners are 'temporarily' not allowed to visit. This follows North Korea's decision to abruptly halt tourism from the West - including travellers from France, Germany and the UK, back in February. At the time of writing, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to North Korea. ‌ "The level of tension on the Korean Peninsula remains high. While daily life in the capital city, Pyongyang, may appear calm, the security situation in North Korea can change quickly with no advance warning about possible actions by the authorities," the body warns. "This poses significant risks to British visitors and residents." ‌ Even before the site had actually opened, it garnered heavy criticism from human rights groups - including the UN which warned of 'shock brigades'. This is where workers are subject to harsh conditions and long working hours without adequate compensation. Cho Chung Hui, a North Korean who effectively defected from the country, witnessed some of these brutal conditions, although he wasn't directly involved in building the resort. "The principle behind these [brigades] was that no matter what, you had to complete the task, even if it cost you your life," he told the BBC. "I saw many women who were under so much physical strain and eating so poorly that their periods stopped altogether."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store