Latest news with #Kelin
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin minister issues recession warning while Russia admits massive losses on frontline
Russian economy is 'on the verge of recession', the country's economy minister said yesterday as Moscow hosted the St Petersburg International Economic Forum for the fourth time since invading Ukraine in February 2022. His remarks come as Russian ambassador to the UK accidentally shared an estimate of Russia 's massive losses on the battlefield. Ambassador Andrey Kelin, talking to the CNN, dismissed the one million casualties figure but said that "about 600,000" Russian soldiers were fighting in Ukraine and said that Russia was enrolling 50,000-60,000 volunteers every month. Yesterday, Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed that he is willing to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky but only for a 'final phase' of talks. only join the talks to finally 'put an end' to the conflict. It is not the first time - nor will it be the last - that Putin has supposedly signalled a desire to end the war. Ukraine and its western backers say he is simply playing for time, appealing to Donald Trump while continuing to relentlessly bomb Ukraine in the meantime. Ukraine and Russia exchange more prisoners of war in latest swap Ukraine and Russia exchanged prisoners of war, officials from both countries said, the latest round of swaps under an agreement struck in Istanbul. President Volodymyr Zelensky posted images of the freed Ukrainian troops, smiling and draped in the national flag, most of whom had been held captive since the early months of Russia's February 2022 invasion, he said. The Ukrainian POWs exchanged yesterday were either sick or injured, according to Kyiv's coordinating council for POWs. The Russian POWs would also be sent for treatment and rehabilitation, Moscow's defence ministry said. Neither Ukraine nor Russia, whose talks on ending the war have yielded few results besides the exchange of prisoners or remains, provided an exact figure of how many POWs had been exchanged. Arpan Rai20 June 2025 06:45 Watch: Russia's defence of Iran shows need to tighten sanctions, says Zelensky Arpan Rai20 June 2025 06:40 North Korea will send 5,000 military construction workers to Russia, Kremlin says North Korea is sending 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Russia 's Kursk oblast, where Moscow is repairing widespread damage from a Ukrainian incursion, according to a top Kremlin official. Presidential security adviser Sergei Shoigu said the workers would help rebuild the strategic border region, which was invaded by the Ukrainian military last August and retaken by Russian forces earlier this year. The dispatch of the workers was discussed in Mr Shoigu's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, state media outlet KCNA reported on Wednesday. North Korea will send 5,000 military construction workers to Russia, says Kremlin Sergei Shoigu says North Korean workers will help repair damage from Ukrainian incursion in Kursk Arpan Rai20 June 2025 06:17 Russia claims South Africa invited Putin to G20 summit South Africa formally invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit, a Russian diplomat has claimed. "Last week, we received an official invitation. This is an appeal from the head of state, the president of South Africa (Cyril Ramaphosa), to his colleagues," Russian Ambassador-at-large Marat Berdyev told state-owned media outlet RIA. The summit will take place in Johannesburg from November 22 to 23. However, South Africa is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), meaning it is obliged to arrest Mr Putin on arrival. An arrest warrant was issued for the Russian leader in March 2023 over allegations of illegal deportation of Ukrainian children during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Arpan Rai20 June 2025 06:15 Spain rejects Nato defence spending increase Spain has rejected a Nato proposal to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence needs set to be unveiled next week, claiming it is "unreasonable." In a letter sent yesterday to Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said that Spain "cannot commit to a specific spending target in terms of GDP". His comments reveal divisions in the bloc ahead next week's Nato summit in The Hague. "For Spain, committing to a 5 per cent target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain away from optimal spending and it would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem," Mr Sanchez wrote in the letter seen by The Associated Press. Arpan Rai20 June 2025 06:05 Ukraine's nuclear plant cannot restart during war, says UN nuclear watchdog The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine cannot resume operations until challenges related to the availability of cooling water and off-site power are fully resolved, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said. "Based on the discussions at the site this week, it is clear that there is a general consensus among all parties that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant cannot start operating again as long as this large-scale war continues," the UN nuclear watchdog said in a statement. Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe's largest nuclear power plant (NPP) situated in Ukraine's east, has not been generating electricity for almost three years now, and its location on the frontline of the conflict continues to put nuclear safety in constant jeopardy, the IAEA said. 'Its off-site power situation also remains extremely fragile, with only one power line currently functioning compared with ten before the conflict. In addition, the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in mid-2023 means the ZNPP does not have sufficient water to cool six operating reactors,' the statement yesterday added. Arpan Rai20 June 2025 05:52 German general dismisses Putin's Taurus warnings as 'nonsense' A German general dismissed repeated warnings by Russian president Vladimir Putin that delivering Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine might make it party to the war as 'nonsense'. "It is obviously nonsense and not correct that military aid - and this discussion has been going on for three years now - would constitute direct participation in the war," Major-General Christian Freuding, who is in charge of coordinating German military aid to Kyiv, told public broadcaster ZDF. 20 June 2025 05:36 Putin-Trump meeting 'not currently on the table', Kremlin says A meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is not currently on the table, the Kremlin has said. "Until the necessary 'homework' is done to remove the irritants in our relations with the United States, it makes no sense to organize a meeting," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. The US President has repeatedly raised the issue of meeting with Mr Putin, saying it would help accelerate efforts to end the war in Ukraine. However, the pair have not met since he began his second presidency in January. Arpan Rai20 June 2025 05:30 Zelensky to attend Nato summit in Hague - reports Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to attend the Nato summit in The Hague later this month, according to reports. A source in the Ukrainian presidency told AFP that Mr Zelensky would attend the summit, scheduled for June 24-25. 'The decision will be made on the eve of the summit. This is just the schedule,' the source said. They described the meeting as 'an opportunity to maintain support and promote a ceasefire'. Arpan Rai20 June 2025 05:08 Zelensky announces new commander of Ukraine's land forces Ukrainian presiden Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Hennadiy Shapovalov as commander of Ukraine's land forces, replacing a commander who resigned over a Russian strike on a training area. Mr Shapovalov, whose appointment was announced in a presidential decree, had previously acted as a liaison at a Nato coordination centre in Germany. Before that, he has served as commander of the forces of the Operational Command South. Mr Zelensky, speaking later in his nightly video address, said the incoming military chief's experience in working with Nato would be put to good use in introducing changes in Ukraine's forces. "All this useful experience of this coordination and all the real combat experience of our soldiers must be applied now within Ukraine's land forces," he said. "Changes are needed and this is an imperative." Mr Shapovalov takes over as head of land forces from Mykhailo Drapatyi, who tendered his resignation this month after a deadly Russian strike on a training camp in southeastern Ukraine. Arpan Rai
The Citizen
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
From weights to wins and wisdom
For Kelin Mills, Strongman is not just a sport, it's a calling. To get into the world of Strongman, Kelin was inspired by the great athletes like Bill Kazmaier, Brian Shaw and Big Z. Watching them lift massive weights and tackle insane challenges made Kelin realise he wanted to test his own limits and see how far he could push himself. Even though Kelin began his strength training journey by dipping his toes into bodybuilding first, he soon discovered that posing on stage wasn't his style. 'I've always had an interest in being stronger; I met Tristen Obrien started training. Later we met one of our mentors, Ettiene Smit, a legend in the sport and a SA Strongman and World Strongest Man competitor,' he shares. With titles like South Africa's Strongest Man (2018 and 2019) and Africa's Strongest Man (2022) under his belt, Kelin's journey into the world of Strongman competition is as strong as his weightlifting abilities. Also read: Gauteng's strongest men lift for a good cause 'I train four to five times a week. I usually split it into two days of event-specific Strongman training, like Atlas Stones, log presses, yoke carries,' he explains. The remaining two to three days, he focuses on foundational lifts like squats, deadlifts, overhead pressing, plus accessory work for weak points and conditioning. In his journey, Kelin has dealt with a few setbacks as he has had his fair share of injuries. 'I've dealt with some back and shoulder strains as well as pec tears over the years. Recovery involved a lot of physical therapy, mobility work and dialling back on intensity to rebuild strength safely. 'Learning to listen to my body and train smarter has been key. I've also torn the ligaments in my left knee and had to have surgery on the meniscus, MCL and ACL,' Kelin expresses. To balance his intense routine with everyday life, Kelin works around his schedule, makes time to recover from his injuries, and his family and friends understand and always back him up. His message to those who want to come into the Strongman World is to start small, be patient, and enjoy the process. 'Build a solid base before jumping into the crazy stuff. And remember, it's supposed to be fun.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Putin Ambassador Accuses UK Of Helping Ukraine Attack Russia – And Comes Up With A Bizarre British Motive
Vladimir Putin's ambassador to Britain has accused the UK of aiding Ukraine in its major attack against Russia last weekend. Ukraine deployed more than a hundred drones inside Russia last weekend in a sophisticated operation which destroyed more than 40 warplanes. Andrei Kelin told Sky News that Ukraine could only have achieved this 'serious escalation' if the UK had offered up its 'geospace data' for use. While denying that Kyiv's astonishing attack was a 'humiliation' for Moscow, Kelin warned Ukraine not to 'try to engulf World War III'. 'We know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together with Ukraine in targeting,' he said. The ambassador claimed only London and Washington have access to such 'geospace data', but that he does not believe Donald Trump would have aided Ukraine in such a way. According to Kelin, the UK wants to 'concentrate' on Russia to distract from its own internal issues. 'This story is as old as the world,' he told Sky News. 'When the government is not capable of dealing with internal economics and could not provide the population with normal conditions of life, then it tries to find an outside threat and concentrate on this threat.' It's worth noting that Putin's invasion of Ukraine has actually put a strain on Russia's economy because the president is redirecting funds to the defence sector and businesses tied to the war. As Alexandra Prokopenko, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre in Berlin, said, this means the life of Russian civilians suffers. The ambassador also questioned defence secretary John Healey's recent claim that the UK is getting 'daily threats' from Russia. 'We do not represent any threat to Britain, at all, neither on the sea or in the air,' Kelin insisted. Asked by Sky News if there was any accuracy to the claims, the UK's environment secretary Steve Reed said he was not aware of any further details. He said: 'I'm afraid that's not something I can give you an answer to because I don't know the answer to that. 'I know that we as a government, cross-party actually, are standing alongside Ukraine as they try to defend themselves against a brutal unprovoked illegal attack, an invasion, from Putin.' The White House previously claimed it had no prior knowledge of Ukraine's attack. Putin's 'Blatant Disregard' For Russian Troops Unveiled As Moscow Approaches 'Grizzly' Milestone Why Ukraine's Surprise Attack Is Being Called 'Russia's Pearl Harbour' Keir Starmer Puts The UK On A War Footing As He Warns Of 'Growing Russian Aggression'
Metro
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Russia blames Britain for Ukraine's attack on airfields destroying 40 war planes
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Russian ambassador to the UK has blamed Britain for Ukraine's strikes on its airfields – and warned the action could lead to World War III. Andrei Kelin claimed it was thanks to Britain's advanced technology that Ukraine was able to hit targets deep inside Russian territory. Up to 40 Russian bombers and other large planes were destroyed at five bases on Sunday. Kelin claimed in an interview with Sky News, without providing evidence, that British intelligence played a major role in the covert operation, named Operation Spiderweb. The plan, 18 months in the making, was orchestrated by a former clothes merchant who worked as a DJ on the side. He said: 'This kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geo-spatial data, which can only be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington. 'I don't believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by President Trump, but it has not been denied by Britain. 'We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together in Ukraine.' Kelin said Ukraine's actions were 'bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation' and said Kyiv should not 'try to engulf World War III'. On Thursday night, Downing Street neither confirmed nor denied Britain's involvement in the operation. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: 'We never comment on operational matters at home or abroad.' Britain is a leader in the geo-spatial data field – but the technique wasn't necessarily needed to find and target the Russian bombers, which were parked out in the open on the runways of five air bases. An expert has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use 'game-changing' nuclear weapons in a show of strength in response to the operation. According to Russia's new nuclear doctrine, published in 2024, any attacks on military infrastructure which 'disrupt response actions by nuclear forces' could lead to nuke strikes in return. The drones used in Operation Spiderweb were smuggled into Russia and launched remotely off the back of trucks. Destroying the bombers, well out of reach of air defences, means months of repair, weakened deterrence, and morale collapse for the Kremlin. Ukraine says nearly 120 kamikaze drones simultaneously launched from the trailers, striking the airbases and crippling the Russian air force. More Trending In total, they inflicted in the region of $7billion worth of damage. Putin has vowed revenge for the audacious attacks, and has launched several strikes on Ukraine since then. Last night, four people died and 20 more injured after a Russian strike on the capital of Kyiv, its mayor said. Search and rescue operations are underway after multiple explosions were heard and falling debris set fires across several districts of the city. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Russia 'combat ready' while top general warns UK must prepare for attack MORE: New footage gives kamikaze drone pilot's view of attack on Russian airbases MORE: Gang 'live-streamed arson attacks in London' for Wagner Group
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Russia accuses UK of involvement in Ukraine drone strike that risks 'World War 3"
Sunday's surprise attack targeted Russian airbases holding bombers. Russia's ambassador to the UK has claimed Ukraine's recent drone attacks targeting nuclear bomber airbases risks escalating the ongoing conflict to "World War III", who also implied that Britain was involved. Andrei Kelin warned that the strikes "are bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation", adding that Kyiv should "not try to engulf World War III". The surprise attack on Sunday, June 1, was a heavy blow to the Russian military. It targeted bases holding nuclear-capable bombers, and reached as far away as Siberia. Satellite images show seven ruined bombers at a base in eastern Siberia, a target Ukraine later admitted to striking, the Mirror reports. Mr Kelin accused the UK of being involved when he said Ukraine must have been assisted. He told Sky News: "[This] kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geospaced data, which only can be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington. "I don't believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by President Trump, definitely, but it has not been denied by London. We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together with Ukraine." Ukraine said over 40 bombers, around a third of Russia's fleet, sustained damage or were destroyed. The aircraft affected were Tu-95s, Tu-22Ms and A-50s, targeted by drones that were deployed from containers carried on trucks parked near four bases. The operation is said to have been in the planning for 18 months, and demonstrated Ukraine's ability to strike high-value targets anywhere in Russia, resulting in humiliation and significant losses. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Although some Russian military bloggers compared it to the 1941 Pearl Harbour bombing by Japan, due to it being a surprise attack on a Sunday, others argued the extent of the damage was much less than claimed. Donald Trump has said Vladimir Putin told him "very strongly" in a call on Wednesday that he will respond to the incident as the deadlock over the conflict continues. Writing on social media, Trump said the phone call 'was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.'
