Ukraine war latest: Huge explosion reported in Russian city - as Putin 'sacks four defence ministers' (2024)

A record number of NATO countries are expected to hit the military alliance's defence spending target this year, it's secretary general has said.

In total, more than 20 NATO allies will spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence, Jens Stoltenberg said.

The estimated figure marks a near fourfold increase from 2021 among the 32 members.

Only six nations were meeting the goal that year, before the war in Ukraine started.

The surge in spending reflects the worries of Western allies about the conflict.

Mr Stoltenberg made the comment during a visit to Washington, where he is laying the groundwork for what is expected to be a pivotal summit of NATO next month.

The mutual-defence alliance has grown in strength and size since Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago, with both Sweden and Finland joining.

It comes after US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a 10-yearbilateral security agreement, seen as "supporting a bridge to Ukraine's eventual membership in the NATO alliance" last week.

Away from the fighting, Ukraine has played Romania today in their first game of the Euros 2024.

Fans packed out the stadium in Munich, Germany, to watch the match and soldiers managed to tune in as well - although they were likely disappointed by the 3-0 loss.

Reuters captured these photos of Ukrainian servicemen watching the game near the frontline in the eastern Donetsk region.

A Ukrainian military unit has released a video claiming to show its men using a "vile weapon" - the SPG -9.

The clip, which has not been verified by Sky News, purports to show the soldiers from the Azov Regiment firing the recoilless gun in the Serebryansky forest in Luhansk.

The regiment described the weapon as a "silent tool for eliminating occupiers".

"Their effectiveness infuriates the enemy. Bombs explode around them and the forest burns. The Russians try to destroy them at any cost. But SPG operators continue to eliminate occupiers every day and night," the caption of the video reads.

The Azov Regiment, which has far-right and ultra-nationalistroots, is part of Ukraine's National Guard and evolved out of abattalion that was formed in 2014.

It fought againstRussian-backed separatists who carved out breakaway regions ineastern Ukraine.

Last week, the US cleared the way for the unit to use American weapons.

US law bars foreign security forces from US militaryassistance if they have committed gross violations of humanrights, but a review cleared the unit for US funds, the State Department said.

The unit said Western weapons wouldimprove the combat capabilities of their fighters and savelives.

Russian navy vessels have left Cuba's capital today, the state run news agency RIA has reported.

A warship and a nuclear-powered submarine arrived in Havana last week and were expected to depart today.

While their arrival wasn't seen as a threat by the West, the move was considered a Russian show of force amid heightened tensions due to the Ukraine war.

Four Ukrainian drones were allegedly downed during an attack on Russia's Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant today.

Igor Artamonov, the governor of Lipetsk Oblast, claimed one drone had been "suppressed" while another had been shot down "over the industrial territory of Lipetsk".

The factory, which produces civilian products, has continued to operate as normal, according to owners Novolipetsk Steel.

Lipetsk sits around 250 miles into Russia's mainland.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly sacked four deputy defence ministers.

According to Kremlin decrees, Nikolay Pankov, Ruslan Tsalikov, Tatyana Shevtsova, and Pavel Popov have all been let go.

Reports suggest that Mr Putin's cousin, Anna Tsivileva, has now become a deputy defence minister.

Mr Putin has appointed Anna Tsivileva, who Russian media said is the daughter of the president's cousin, as a deputy defence minister.

Leonid Gornin, a deputy finance minister, will be a first deputy defence minister under defence minister Andrei Belousov.

Pavel Fradkov, the son of former prime ministerMikhail Fradkov, was also appointed a deputy defence minister, along with Oleg Savelyev.

Vladimir Putin could authorise the use of a tactical nuclear weapon of Russia's army faces defeat in Ukraine, says the secretary of Kyiv's national security council.

Russian officials have made frequent threats to launch nuclear weapons since the Ukraine invasion begun in February 2022.

Oleksandr Lytvynenko told the Times that he couldn't see Putin deploying nuclear weapons while Russia had the upper hand in the war.

However, when asked if there were any circ*mstances under which Putin might resort to their use, Mr Lytvynenko said: "We can't rule out anything, if Russia is on the verge of a catastrophic defeat."

Mr Lytvynenko added that it still remained unlikely that Mr Putin would press the nuclear button and almost certainly trigger a third world war.

"He wants to live," he said.

A Russian missile attack onUkraine's east-central Poltava region today has left 55,000 people without power, the regional governor has said.

No one was killed in the strike, according to preliminary information, but at least nine people were injured. Several apartment blocks were also damaged.

Power lines were also hit, leaving private and industrial consumers without electricity.

Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's energy sector have intensified since March, resulting in blackouts in many regions as half of the country's power generating capacity has been knocked out.

A senior Ukrainian energy official has warned that emergency blackouts and scheduled power outages will intensify over the coming weeks as a result.

Former Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko presented the shell-blasted seats of a Kharkiv stadium to onlookers in Munich on Monday.

The Sonyachny Stadium was purpose-built for the 2012 European Championship but, a decade later, was destroyed by Russian shelling following their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In Munich, where Ukraine's national team take on Romania today, refugees, supporters and members of the public gathered in front of the seats where Shevchenko spoke.

"When I was the coach of the national team, we often came to Kharkiv for training," said the 47-year-old , now president of the Ukraine Football Association.

"We prepared for the Euro 2021 qualifiers at Sonyachny. Learning that the stadium was destroyed felt like finding out your home was ruined.

"Even if football pitches or stands cannot withstand Russian shells, we will never stop standing for our country and telling the world about this ruthless war."

More than 500 sports facilities have been destroyed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including 77 football stadiums.

Sir Rod Stewart has published a statement in support of Ukraine after the singer was booed in Germany when photos of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy were shown on screens at his concert.

Before performing his 1991 hit Rhythm Of My Heart - which he calls a war song - the Ukrainian flag and images of Mr Zelenskyy were shown on screens, prompting boos, shouts and whistles from the crowd.

"I have supported the Ukrainian people throughout this war," said Stewart today.

"From arranging for members of my family to take supplies to the country, to renting a house in the UK for a Ukrainian family, as well as employing two Ukrainians as part of my touring crew.

"So yes, I do support Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, and I will continue to do so. Putin must be stopped. I’m having the time of my life playing for German audiences, sharing some special memories and I'm looking forward to playing my remaining dates there."