Ukraine war: Civilians killed in missile strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv

Residential buildings were hit early on Tuesday in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, leaving five people killed and another 42 injured. They included two women of 40 and 56. The city mayor said part of a block of flats was destroyed and rescue workers searched the rubble for survivors. The sky over Kharkiv turned burnt…

Donetsk: Deadly blast hits market in Russia-held Ukraine city, officials say

Denis Pushilin said a Ukrainian strike, which also injured 20 people, had hit a busy market and that the casualty figures might change. Russia’s foreign ministry denounced the strike as a “barbaric terrorist attack” against civilians. There has so far been no comment from Ukraine on the incident. BBC News was not able to immediately…

South African Report on Alleged Arms Supply to Russia Classified

By André van Wyk Cape Town — The Democratic Alliance will oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plan to classify the findings of a probe that determined whether arms and ammunition supplied from South Africa were loaded onto a Russian cargo vessel in 2022. This comes after Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya  confirmed the probe was not an official commission…

South African Army Boss Visits Russia Amid Weapons Spat with U.S.

Amid a crisis in relations with the United States over South Africa’s growing relations with Russia, head of the SA army Lieutenant-General Lawrence Mbatha is visiting Moscow for talks on ‘improving combat readiness’, according to Russia’s defence ministry, citing TASS, the state-run news agency. The Daily Maverick’s Peter Fabricius writes that Lieutenant-General Lawrence Mbatha is meeting, among others, his…

Putin’s Blue-eyed Man Visits West Africa in sign of deepening ties

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, on a one-day visit to Mali, has said Moscow will continue to help Bamako improve its military capabilities. Mali junta leaders want Russia’s help to battle an Islamist insurgency that remains entrenched despite years of fighting. Since taking control of Mali in two coups since August 2020, the military junta…

Russia ‘massively’ attacks Ukraine in latest round of raids

Russia launches 76 missiles on least four cities in new attack on Ukraine’s infrastructure with casualties reported. Russia launched at least 76 missiles at Ukrainian energy facilities and other infrastructure in its latest wave of deadly attacks that have caused widespread power outages across the country. The bombardment on Friday hit at least four cities, killing at…

Putin tells security services to find ‘traitors and spies’

Russian President also ordered strengthening of Russia’s borders and safety of residents in annexed regions of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the strengthening of Russia’s borders and instructed security services to keep greater control of society and root out “traitors, spies and saboteurs”, the country’s news agencies have reported. Speaking on Security Services…

Putin grants Russian citizenship to US whistleblower Snowden

Former US security contractor Snowden is one of 75 foreign nationals listed by the decree as being granted Russian citizenship. President Vladimir Putin has granted Russian citizenship to former US security contractor Edward Snowden, according to a decree signed by the Russian leader. Snowden is one of 75 foreign nationals granted Russian citizenship by the decree…