Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kremlin responds to US shift on military aid; deadliest strike in weeks claims more victims (2024)

That's it from our live coverage of the war in Ukraine for today.

We'll be back again with more updates, but here's a round up of a day that saw the death toll from the worst Russian strike in weeks rise to 18.

Another 78 were wounded when three missiles slammed into the northern city of Chernihiv, causing a building to collapse.

The strike redoubled Volodymyr Zelenskyy's calls for further air defence munitions, and forced that issue high up the agenda of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy.

It even seemed to spark some progress in Washington, where funding for Ukraine has been tangled up in political squabbles for more than 40 months.

Two arrested in Germany on Russian spy charges

Two men were arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting sabotage attacks, including on American military facilities, in an effort to undermine support for Ukraine, according toGerman prosecutors.

Authorities searched the homes and workplaces of the two suspects, both German-Russian nationals, who are accused of working for a foreign secret service.

Berlin's foreign ministry later summoned the Russian ambassador following the arrests.

Other key facts from the day include:

• Ukraine launches attack on Russian airfield in Crimea;
• Kremlin claims US aid won't help Ukraine;
• Russia claims Ukraine strike the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Ukraine needs $42bn (£34bn) in budgetary support this year as it continues to fightthe Russian invasion, the head of the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF) has said.

IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said Russia's war against Ukraine needed to end, calling it both a human tragedy and a drag on growth prospects for the global economy.

She added that she saw globalsupport for Ukraine remaining firm.

G7 membersare considering using nearly $300bn (£240bn) in frozen Russianassets as collateral to provide loans to Ukraine.

European Commission executive vice president Valdis Dombrovskis made the revelation at a meeting of the group's foreign ministers in Italy.

He added that different options were also under consideration,and the discussions were ongoing.

Mr Dombrovskis said he hoped the EU - where the bulk of the frozen assets are held - would approve a separate EUmeasure in coming months to use the profits or interest earnedon the assets to help Ukraine.

NATO is working tosend more air defence systems to Ukraine, secretary general JensStoltenberg has said.

Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministersof the G7, he said: "We have compiled data about the different air defencesystems we have in NATO and focused on the Patriot systems.

"Andwe are working with allies to ensure that they redeploy some oftheir systems to Ukraine.

"I am encouraged by the commitment and the determination byNATO allies to stand up for Ukraine."

Mr Stoltenberg added that he wasseeing encouraging signs that the US Congress might soonpass an aid package for Ukraine.

Here are the latest pictures from the front and from behind the lines as the war in Ukraine rages on.

Ukrainian strikes in Russia

A couple stand near a house damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack in Voronezh, Russia.

Several structures were destroyed in the strike.

G7 foreign ministers meet in Italy

Ukraine's air defences is a key issue for ministers gathered on the Italian island of Capri, following a German appeal on Wednesday to the EuropeanUnion and NATO to do more to help Kyiv.

German president inspects troops

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Bundeswher troops training in Munster, Germany.

Much of the tank training Ukrainian troops have undergone has taken place near the western German city.

Prague protest

Protesters carry wooden crosses in the colours of the Ukrainian flag and place them in front of the US embassy in Prague in protest at the lives lost due to "American hesitancy" during a rally called "Defend Ukrainian skies" in the Czech capital.

G7 foreign ministers have warned that Ukraine risks being defeated by Russia unless it receives more air defences.

More than two years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv is facing an ammunition shortage, with vital American funding still tied up in political wrangling on Capitol Hill andthe EU failing to deliver sufficient munitions promptly.

The ministers began a second day of talks on the Italian island of Capri by discussing the Middle East crisis and were expected to turn to Ukraine in the afternoon, when they were due to be joined by the head of NATO and Ukraine's foreign minister.

The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who attends G7 gatherings alongside his American Italian, German, French, British, Japanese and Canadian counterparts, urged EU nations to hand over air defence systems to help Ukraine protect its cities from Russia, which is targeting key infrastructure.

"Otherwise, the electricity system of Ukraine will be destroyed. And no country can fight without having electricity at home, in the factories, online, for everything," he told reporters.

Russian air defences shot down what they described as five Ukrainian balloons overnight, according to the Kremlin's defence ministry.

Neither Moscow nor Kyiv have provided details about the balloons, which Russian authorities reported appearing on the battlefield in recent weeks.

According to Russian news reports, the Ukrainian balloons are equipped with a GPS module and carry explosives.

They are allegedly are harder to detect and could carry larger payloads than conventional, smaller drones.

It is not clear if the balloons are lifted by helium, hot air or something else entirely.

They aren't controllable once in the air, with the GPS module likely being used to co-ordinate the release of explosives if the balloon floats over a specific area.

Three Ukrainian balloons and one drone were downed over the Voronezh region, which borders the occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine.

Two others were intercepted in the Belgorod region of Russia next to Ukraine, according to the Russian defence ministry.

As well as the balloons, Russia claimed it intercepted two Ukrainian tactical missiles, 19 rockets and 16 drones during the night.

A Russian missile attack on Dnipropetrovsk region this morning damaged aninfrastructure facility and a business, a local officialsaid.

Two people were injured and taken to hospital, according to the regionalgovernor, who added that the attack caused fires at two sites.

Ukraine'sair force issued a warning of a ballistic missile threat aheadof the strike.

Moscow has stepped up combined missile and drone strikestargeting Ukraine's power grid in recent weeks, resulting insignificant damage.

The Kremlin has also increased its use of harder-to-interceptballistic missiles.

The Kremlin claims that any new American military aid for Ukraine (see 9.36 post) won'tchange the situation at the front, which it described as "unfavourable" for Kyiv's forces.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov then said US aid, would, however, help the US defence industry and leave Ukraine in debt.

Assuming a bill in the House of Representatives passes, Ukraine will be the recipient of more than $60bn (£48bn) of lethal aid from Washington.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been calling on Ukraine's allies to provide more support, particularly air defence weapons, in light of increased missile bombardment by Russia.

Berlin's foreign ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador following the arrestof two German-Russian nationals on suspicion of plottingsabotage attacks, including on US military facilities, in Germany Bild reports.

Germany has become one of Kyiv's biggest suppliers ofmilitary aid since the war began and is a major target for Russianspying operations, according to authorities in Berlin.

"Our security authorities have prevented possible explosiveattacks that were intended to target and undermine our militaryassistance to Ukraine," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said earlier.

"It is a particularly serious case of alleged spy activityfor Putin's criminal regime."

The Kremlin earlier denied knowledge of the arrests.