Three killed in Ukrainian drone attack on central Russia
An Ukrainian official confirmed that two long-range drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck the Kupol plant from a distance of around 1,300 km (807 miles)."Each such special operation reduces the enemy's offensive potential, disrupts military production chains and demonstrates that even deep in Russia's rear, there are no safe zones for its military infrastructure," the source said in comments reported by Ukrainian media.A video posted on social media and verified by the BBC showed an explosion on the roof of a building, followed by a large plume of black smoke rising over a factory-type chimney.Russia's civil aviation regulator Rosaviatsia imposed restrictions on operations at Izhevsk airport, before lifting them a few hours later.
This is second Ukrainian drone attack on the Kupol factory since November - although that strike had not resulted in any casualties.For its part, Moscow continues to carry out attacks in Ukraine. At the weekend Russia launched a record 537 drones and missiles on various locations across the country, including Kyiv and the Western city of Lviv. On Monday Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky granted the Hero of Ukraine award posthumously to an F-16 pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, who was killed while trying to repel the aerial attack.On the battlefield, while Russia's advance on the Sumy region seems to have stalled, Moscow appears to be targeting the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region. Unconfirmed reports in Russian media suggested Moscow's forces took control of the first village in the region.Two rounds of talks aimed at agreeing a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow have taken place at the behest of US President Donald Trump since May, but have failed to produce tangible results. Last week, President Putin said Russia was ready to hold a new round of peace negotiations although he said that the Russian and Ukrainian peace proposals were "absolutely contradictory".On Monday Zelensky again expressed scepticism of Putin's intentions. "Putin has already stolen practically half a year from diplomacy... on top of the entire duration of this war," the Ukrainian leader said."Russia is not changing its plans and is not looking for a way out of this war. On the contrary, they are preparing for new operations, including on the territory of European countries."US senior envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg echoed this on Monday, when he wrote on X that Russia could not "continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine". Moscow swiftly pushed back, saying it was not "interested in stalling anything" and thanking the US for its support.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Macron and Putin discuss Iran in first call in three years
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, spoke to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for the first time in three years on Tuesday in an attempt to de-escalate the Iran crisis, as Tehran confirmed it was ending all cooperation with the UN nuclear inspectorate, including banning its inspectors from visiting any of its nuclear sites. Macron had refused to speak to Putin since the Russian leader ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but Paris has become frustrated that the lack of communication with Moscow is not solving multiple crises, and leaving the diplomatic events exposed to the relationship between Putin and Donald Trump. In statements after the two-hour phone call, a French spokesperson said Macron was left more positive about the possibility of Russia pressing Iran to restore cooperation with the nuclear inspectorate, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The French indicated a willingness to discuss the Iranian red line that it must have a right to enrich uranium domestically. One reason given by Iran for ending cooperation with the IAEA is the failure of the agency's leadership to condemn the Israeli attacks on its nuclear sites as a flagrant violation of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The German foreign ministry said Iran's decision to suspend cooperation with the IAEA sent a 'disastrous signal'. 'For a diplomatic solution it is essential for Iran to work with the IAEA,' German officials said. Germany added it had been informed of the Macron call to Putin in advance. In an interview with Le Monde, the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, also urged Iran to cooperate with the IAEA. But he also said Israel's strikes 'are not in accordance with international law. They have certainly set back Iran's nuclear programme. But only a negotiated framework will allow us to permanently avert the danger.' He added: 'We support the resumption of US negotiations with Iran, but it is essential that our security interests be taken into account. European territory is potentially within range of missiles designed in Iran.' Asked about Iran's right to domestic enrichment he said: 'What is essential is that Iran cannot acquire a nuclear weapon under any circumstances.' French officials did not rule out Iranian domestic enrichment, as allowed in the 2015 nuclear deal. The Kremlin readout of the Macron-Putin call said: 'It was noted that respecting Tehran's legitimate right to develop peaceful nuclear technology and continue to fulfil its obligations under the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, which includes cooperating with the IAEA, was crucial. It added 'the two leaders spoke in favour of settling the crisis around Iran's nuclear programme and any other differences arising in the Middle East exclusively via political and diplomatic means. They agreed to maintain contact in order to coordinate their stances if necessary.' Iran has been steadily moving towards freezing out the IAEA, making it harder for any independent assessment to be made of the scale of the damage inflicted on Iran's nuclear sites by the US and Israel strikes. On 25 June, the day after the ceasefire that ended 12 days of war, the Iranian parliament overwhelmingly voted for a bill suspending cooperation between Iran and UN agency. The law was then approved by the guardian council, the body responsible for reviewing legislation in Iran, before being ratified by the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian. It is thought there a small number of IAEA inspectors still in the country Asked about efforts to revive the postponed UN special conference on the two-state solution, Barrot said France was discussing a possible date as soon as possible with the conference co-chairs Saudi Arabia. He said: 'There is an emergency. An emergency in Gaza, for the hostages and the Palestinian population. It is also urgent to restore a political horizon that alone will allow us to emerge from the permanent state of war and offer both peoples a response to their legitimate aspirations. 'The solution is more than ever undermined by colonisation in the West Bank, by the destruction in Gaza, and by a form of resignation on the part of the international community. The danger would be that this political solution comes too late'. Analysis by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz claimed Iran launched more than 500 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which landed in open areas, throughout the recent 12-day conflict. Israel and the United States intercepted the remainder with about 200 missile interceptors at an estimated cost of 5bn shekels (nearly $1.5bn or £1.1bn), according to an analysis of IDF data and open-source information. Data compiled by Haaretz from IDF reports over the course of the war shows that Iran carried out 42 missile barrages, firing roughly 530 ballistic missiles at Israel. The IDF reported that, over the 12-day conflict, 36 Iranian missiles struck built-up areas, while air defenfe systems achieved an interception rate of 86%.
Sky News
3 hours ago
- Sky News
Reality of war with Russia and who had '90% success' in Iran: Catch up on Michael Clarke Q&A
The 'real threat' to Estonia, the reality of a UK-Russia conflict and who won in Iran: A summary of what Michael Clarke covered Michael Clarke has answered lots more of your questions today. Here's a quick summary of some of the important topics he covered: Clarke said Russia's claim to have taken all of the Luhansk region of Ukraine was "probably true"; Asked by a half Estonian living in London about the threat Russia poses to Tallinn, Clarke explained the threat is real - but explained it was not necessarily from invasion, but of Russia trying to engineer a destabilising crisis which would challenge NATO's Article 5 principle of an attack on one equalling an attack on all members; Clarke also explained Russia is set for a "very bumpy" 2025 economically when asked why Vladimir Putin had announced he would cut military spending. "Nobody can get money to develop their businesses - all the available credit is being directed into war production," Clarke said, which is why "the pendulum will probably start to swing against them, at least economically, if this war goes on"; He sees no signs Russia will take the Sumy region or city from Ukraine; Whether or not NATO could fight off a Russian attack as it stands today would depend on the scenario, Clarke said - but NATO with America would "wipe the floor" with Russia. Without the US, European NATO would struggle, he added. But in three to five years time, European NATO members will be in better shape; Asked about the Sky News Wargame podcast, which ran through a fictional scenario in which Russia attacked the UK, Clarke said it's hard to imagine a real-life scenario in which the Kremlin attacked Britain alone. But the podcast rightly highlighted that the US would not commit to defend the UK under the Trump administration, Clarke added. Smaller agreements - like the recent UK defence pact with Germany - could become more common, Clarke added. Watch our previous Sky News Q&A with the makers of The Wargame below: Clarke adds that the scenario of an attack on the Faslane base in Scotland - where the UK's nuclear submarines are based - is likely in the event of a full-scale war, as depicted in The Wargame. The UK would "almost certainly" lose the base - but in a military confrontation, all the submarines would likely be at sea, Clarke added; Still on the theme of a hypothetical UK-Russia war, Clarke stressed Britain "would never" win a traditional war against the Kremlin without allies; Asked about the UK's plans to buy F-35A jets which can carry American nuclear weapons, Clarke said the US would have to give permission for the bombs to be used. But Clarke added the F-35As are "worth having in any case" and are "stealthy aircraft". He has spoken to other experts, though, who think buying the jets is a "foolish decision" - done for the "glamour" of being part of the US nuclear club; Moving on to Iran, Clarke explained Russia could help Iran enrich Uranium to get a nuclear weapon - but he doesn't think they will, as it would squander the chance for the Kremlin to keep mending relations with the US under Trump; What happened with the trucks at Fordow, the Iranian nuclear site buried in a mountain which the US later bombed? Clarke said we don't know if the lorries were moving uranium out, as has been speculated. But feasibly, Iran could have moved its nuclear material. Clarke was also asked if the Israel-Iran conflict had made China attacking Taiwan more or less likely - he said the Chinese will feel "a bit more deterred - but only a bit" after Trump's US bombed Iran; The US attack on Iran changed the behaviour of the Iranian regime, Clarke said, when asked why the Americans hadn't "finished the job" in Iran. He said they didn't carry on because they were never sure if attacking in the first place was a good idea or not; Who came out of the Israel-Iran conflict as the winner? "Undoubtedly, so far, this has been a 90% success for Israel and the US," Clarke said. He added Israel will now feel it has more military options than before - while the Iranians have proved to be an "empty vessel... for all their boasting". But Clarke added Iran's "not going to disappear".
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
North Korea ‘offers 30,000 MORE troops' for Putin's meatgrinder war after tyrant Kim Jong-un wept over soldiers' coffins
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NORTH Korea is reportedly planning to send 30,000 more troops to fight alongside the Russians against Ukraine. It comes just a day after tyrant Kim Jong-un wept over the coffins of his soldiers whom he sent to die in Vladimir Putin's meatgrinder war. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of a new partnership in Pyongyang Credit: AP 12 A young-looking North Korean fighter stares down the lens of a Ukrainian drone Credit: Rex 12 Leaked footage showed Kim Jong-un's soliders training in Kursk Credit: Telegram 12 North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un posing with troops during an inspection at a training base Credit: AFP North Korea has so far sent an estimated total of 14,000 troops, including 3,000 reinforcements to replace its losses, according to Ukrainian officials. And a new Ukrainian intelligence assessment says Pyongyang is preparing to dispatch 30,000 more soldiers in the coming months to join the fight with the Russians, CNN reports. According to the intel report, there is a high chance that troops from North Korea will soon enter Russian-occupied Ukraine 'to strengthen the Russian contingent, including during the large-scale offensive operations.' The document adds Russian Ministry of Defence is "capable of providing needed equipment, weapons and ammunition' with the aim of 'further integration to Russian combat units.' Ukrainian intelligence also reported that Russian military aircraft are being modified to carry thousands of military personnel. Last week, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) told a closed-door parliamentary committee meeting that a dispatch of those 6,000 additional military personnel will likely come as early as July or August, North Korea has begun recruiting soldiers to be sent to Russia, according to Lee Seong Kweun, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. He told reporters the NIS noted that North Korea's dispatch of combat troops last year came about one month after Shoigu visited North Korea and signed an agreement with Pyongyang officials. In return for North Korea's supply of troops and weapons, Russia is believed to have given North Korea military and economic assistance. South Korea, the US and their allies are concerned that Russia could even transfer sensitive technologies that can enhance North Korea's nuclear program. Watch moment North Korean quadbike troops WIPED OUT as Putin sends waves into meatgrinder to retake Kursk from Ukraine In April, Kim Jong-un confirmed for the first time that North Korean troops were sent to fight alongside the Russians against Ukraine. Pyongyang's state TV and Kim's propaganda machine KCNA reported that North Korean soldiers made an "important contribution" to help the Russians flush out Kyiv's troops from Kursk. It said Kim deployed "sub-units of our armed forces" to Russia as part of a treaty with Moscow. The troops "participated in the operations for liberating the Kursk areas," the report added. North Korea "regards it as an honor to have an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation," KCNA said. Just two days ago, Kim draped flags over at least six coffins, and could be seen resting his hands on them in reflection. Watching the scenes back, the dictator's eyes shone with emotion. Other members of the audience - which reportedly included North Korean and Russian soldiers - were also visibly moved. Kim hosted a ceremony which remembered the soldiers taken out by Zelensky's brave army - and things got emotional for the tyrant. Thousands of North Koreans stood to attention in the vast auditorium, with Kim in the front row. Images of Kim draping the North Korean flag over soldiers' coffins were broadcast on a giant screen at the front while a huge orchestra played emotional music. Women in long dresses sang passionately and there was even a harp player stationed on the stage. 12 Kim Jong-un teared up as he watched himself laying the North Korean flag over soldiers' coffins Credit: Reuters 12 The coffins are thought to contain the bodies of North Koreans killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine Credit: X 12 Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un attend a state reception in Pyongyang Credit: Reuters 12 North Korea's Storm Corps pictured in Moscow Credit: X In January, Ukraine claimed to have captured two North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region. They were among the first 11,000 of Kim's troops drafted into Putin's illegal war after the pariah pair sealed a pact to unite against the West. The military card of one of the captured men shows that the Russians gave the North Koreans fake identities with the pretence that they were from a remote region of Siberia. One of the captives was given a false Russian identity of Antonin Ayasovich Arankyn, born 03.10.1998 in the republic of Tuva. His document shows him to be single, with secondary higher education and the profession of a tailor. The ID was issued by the Military Commissariat of the Pyi-Khemsky district, of Tuva, a mountainous Russian republic bordering Mongolia. The other had no documents. The SBU believes the pair are North Koreans after saying that the captive soldiers do not speak Ukrainian, English or Russian. The soldier with the Russian identity said this was issued to him when he was brought to fight in the war. Images have shown a line of dead North Korean troops laid out in the snow moments after they joined the fight on the front lines. Numerous reports have shown a disturbing pattern beginning to emerge of North Korean troops being sent out on suicide missions on behalf of Russia. Footage emerged recently of Kim Jong-un's fighters being sent to jog through snowy no-man's-land and fatally soak up Ukrainian ammo. 12 One of the men was found with documents giving him a fake identity Credit: East2West 12 The Russian-issued false document claimed that the man was from a remote region of Siberia Credit: East2West 12 A captured North Korean soldier said he thought he was sent for training
