Ukraine war latest: Putin's closest EU ally to visit Ukraine - in a first since Russia invaded (2024)

Readers have been sending in their questions to our senior correspondents and military experts for their take on the changing battlefield environment in Ukraine.

Reader Rick S asks:

With the knowledge that Russia is gaining ground and villages around Kharkiv and on the presumption they succeed, is it safe to say Kyiv is next?

Military analyst Sean Bell has this to say...

Thanks, Rick, for this very topical question.

Russia is believed to have suffered nearly 500,000 casualties since the start of the war, and a further mobilisation campaign could prove deeply unpopular for Vladimir Putin.

As a result, although Russia has provided incentives (financial and passport) to encourage mercenaries from around the world to join the Russian effort, Russia cannot sustain its military campaign at current loss rates without compromising its own ability to withstand any Ukrainian counterattack.

Most informed defence sources believe that due to the very significant loss of Russian military capability since the start of the war - up to 3,000 modern battle tanks - Russia does not have the capacity or capability to mount a strategically decisive offensive anytime this year.

Despite this limitation, it would appear the Russian leadership has decided to capitalise on the fleeting window of opportunity provided by Ukraine's shortage of weapons and ammunition to attempt to break the deadlock on the frontline and perhaps make progress to achieving its objectives - even if that results in heavy casualties.

Kharkiv could be the start of a major Russian secondfront, but that appears unlikely given Russian military limitations.

More likely is that Russia is seeking to protect Belgorod and provide a buffer zone by pushing the nearby Ukrainian border back outside artillery range.

Russia would have massed more troops than required for two main reasons: to force Ukraine to divert limited resources to stem the Russian offensive; and to ensure sufficient resources to capitalise should the Ukrainian lines be breached.

In sum, Russia does not appear to have the military resources to take Kharkiv anytime soon, so Kyiv would almost certainly be a step too far.

Besides, if the prime objective of Putin's special military operation is to secure the Donbas, it would be military folly to dilute available resources away from main effort.

Putin might still harbour ambitions to subjugate the whole of Ukraine, but Russia lacks the military capability to achieve such ambitions - at least for the coming year.

Footage released by the Russian ministry of defence reportedly shows them attacking Ukrainian ammunition depots and military airports.

Missiles can be seen being fired from the ground.

Earlier today, reports emerged that Russian strikes at the Myrhorod airfield had destroyed five Ukrainian fighter jets, a claim which Ukraine contests.

More now from the missile attack at the Myrhorod airfield in Ukraine today, which Russia says managed to destroy SU-27 fighter jets.

A Ukrainian air force official, Yuriy Ihnat, confirmed the attack, though said the losses were not as great as those claimed by Russia.

Military bloggers from Ukraine reported that, prior to the strike, a Russian reconnaissance drone had been able to fly above the airfield.

"There is not enough means to destroy [reconnaissance[ drones," Ihnat told Reuters today, adding that they were a "very serious threat".

He added: "It flies and reports everything in real-time, thenIskander [missles] arrives in a couple of minutes. It is obvious."

Ukraine's defence minister will hold talks with his US counterpart Lloyd Austinin Washington today to discuss firming up military cooperationbetween the two countries.

Mr Austin and Rustem Umerov will discuss "bilateral defence cooperation" and "regional security issues", according to US deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.

The talks come after Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, renewed his plea over the weekend for moreweapons to be sent from Kyiv's allies.

The US is the largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine and has sent more than $50bn (£39.57bn) in military aid to the country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

"The sooner the world helps us deal with the Russian combat aircraft launching these bombs, the sooner we can strike – justifiably strike – at Russian military infrastructure, military airfields, the closer we will be to peace," Mr Zelenskyy said over the weekend.

Russia's defence ministry says it destroyed five Ukrainian SU-27 fighter jets and damaged two more today.

The ministry published footage which it says shows the attack. Smoke and flames can be seen rising from an airfield in the video.

"As a result of the Russian strike, five active SU-27 multi-purpose fighters were destroyed and two were damaged," the ministry said.

The operation was reportedly carried out in the Poltava region that lies between Kyiv and Kharkiv using Iskander-M missiles.

By Ed Conway, eocnomics and data editor

This is the story of how an obscure company based in an office block on a quiet street in Glasgow became an accessory in Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.

It is the story of how Europe and Russia remain locked in a tense relationship of economic dependence, even as they supposedly cut their ties. It is the story of the uncomfortable truth behind why the cost of living crisis came to an end.

But before all of that, it is the story of a ship - a very unusual ship indeed.

Read my full investigation here...

NATO is planning to station a senior civilian official in Kyiv as part of new measures designed to shore up long-term support for Ukraine.

According to report in the Wall Street Journal, the move is expected to be announced at NATO's summit in Washington next week.

The steps seek to build Ukraine’s prospects to eventually join the alliance without offering it membership.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has criticised the US for its hesitance to allow his country into NATO.

US national security council spokesperson John Kirby said last month that Ukraine must win the war with Russia before it could join.

In response, Mr Zelenskyy said: "It is so-called 'one step forward, two steps back' policy. I do not think that this is the policy of world leaders.

"If America is afraid of irritating (Vladimir) Putin, and that is why we are not invited, then we ask the United States to give us as much as possible that can protect us (from Russian aggression)."

Hungary's prime minister, Vikor Orban, will reportedly visit Kyiv today for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to a report by the Financial Times, the EU's most pro-Russian leader will meet with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials.

Mr Orban has regularly opposed ongoing military and financial aid given to Ukraine by the EU and NATO.

He is also one of two Western leaders, along with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, to have met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the last two years.

Mr Orban was seen speaking to Mr Zelenskyy in Brussels at an EU summit last week...

Welcome back to our coverage of the Ukraine war.

Yesterday, a British volunteer medic reportedly involved in saving more than 200 lives on the frontline died in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the US military increased security protection measures at its bases across Europe. The threat level was raised to "Charlie" -the second-highest level for service members.

Here are the other key updates from the last 24 hours:

• Ukrainian convicts were offered their freedom in exchange for their service in the war - including murderers;
• An intact guidance system from a long-range, US-made ATACMS missile was captured by Russian forces, Russia's RIA state news agency reported;
• The Russian defence ministry claimed its forces had taken control of two villages in Ukraine - Stepova Novoselivka in the northeastern Kharkiv region, and Novopokrovske in Donetsk, in the east;
• The governor of Russia's Belgorod region said acivilian was killed after Ukraine shelled an agricultural facility in the region;
• It was announced that Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, will chair theUS-based Human Rights Foundation (HRF);
• Russia was asked to stop interfering withEuropean satellite systems by a UN body - with air traffic control said to have been endangered.

The map below shows the latest territorial picture in Ukraine...