Ukraine-Russia war latest: 'Putin did not order Navalny death,' - US report; Another arrest over Moscow concert hall attack

As we mentioned in our previous post, Russia is aiming to capture the eastern Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar at all costs. 

The town sits in Ukraine's Donetsk region, less than 10km west of the occupied city of Bakhmut. 

Russian forces have been pushing forward in eastern Ukraine following their capture of Avdiivka in February, and have been swallowing up villages in the area. 

But Chasiv Yar is the key goal for Russia, which is using a grouping of more than 20,000 soldiers to attack the town. 

Ukraine is both outgunned and outnumbered in its defence, but it does have the advantage that Chasiv Yar lies on high ground which serves as a natural defensive structure. 

The town has the highest point in the area, and is divided in the east by the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal. 

Chasiv Yar was used as a Ukrainian stronghold when Russia initially invaded the Donbas region in 2014. 

It hosted a key military hospital and also served as the headquarters for the Joint Forces Operation. 

Ukraine has been using the town as a regrouping hub and fire support base during the full-scale invasion that started in 2022. 

There is another reason Russia has its sights set on the town.

The capture of Chasiv Yar would pave the way for Russia to launch a broader offensive in the Donetsk region - which is currently about 50% under Russian control. 

Russia has already reached the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, and Ukrainian officials have warned Moscow wants to seize the town by Russia's military holiday on 9 May. 

The Kremlin has said that it will explore ways to overcome what it called any illegal sanctions the European Union imposes on its liquified natural gas (LNG).

Earlier this week three EU sources said the European Commission's next sanctions package is expected to propose restrictions on LNG for the first time. 

The proposal would not ban imports of Russian LNG to Europe, but instead target trans-shipments, which move gas from one vessel to another that then sails onto its final destination. 

The transfers are usually done in port areas.

Reacting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Attempts to squeeze Russia out of energy markets and switch to more expensive markets are continuing.

"Of course, in any case, we will look for ways to overcome these illegal obstacles, unfair competition and illegal actions."

Why sanctions on LNG now?

The EU announced a ban on Russian seaborne oil imports soon after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but the bloc has stopped short of prohibiting LNG, despite repeated calls by the Baltic states and Poland.

But Russia supplies the EU with 40% of its gas and 30% of its oil.

In fact, imports of Russian LNG to Europe have increased since the war began, with Belgium, France, and Spain the biggest takers.

Finding an alternative LNG provider would have to be coordinated by the West. 

Moscow has sent more troops to the village of Ocheretyne in eastern Ukraine to reinforce their offensive there, the Ukrainian military has said. 

Russian troops have been slowly advancing through at least half a dozen villages on the eastern front after capturing the town of Avdiivka in February. 

While fierce fighting rages in Ocheretyne today, a spokesman for Ukraine's eastern command said his forces had the situation "under control" and that they still controlled two-thirds of the village. 

Nazar Voloshyn said his troops shelled the part of the village seized by Russian forces, adding "the enemy is blocked and measures are being taken to kick them out". 

He said he expected military aid from the US to help turn around the situation in the area. 

Russian forces are also trying to capture the strategic town of Chasiv Yar at all costs, Mr Voloshyn said. 

They have not yet managed to enter the town, which lies on high ground. 

A 12th person has been arrested in connection with a shooting massacre in a packed Moscow concert hall last month, according to a Moscow court ruling. 

Dzhumakhon Kurbonov is suspected of providing others involved in the attack with money and "telecommunications means".

The court ruled today that he should remain in custody until at least 22 May.

The man is believed to be from Tajikistan, according to Russian news reports.

At the end of last month 11 people, including four gunmen, had been arrested in connection to the incident.

At least 133 people died in the attack on the 6,000-capacity Crocus City Hall, in the western Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk - making it the second-deadliest single terror attack in Russia's history.

In April 2023 116 Russian military personnel were convicted of murder - 900% higher than the previous year. 

The same time this year, Russian media outlet Vertska reported that 190 former convicts were prosecuted again in criminal cases - 20 of whom were for murder or attempted murder.

One of those included an ex-Wagner prisoner who was sentenced to 22 years after murdering an elderly woman after his release.

The UK's Ministry of Defence puts this high number of murders by serving and veteran Russian soldiers down to enduring war-related chronic poor mental health issues. 

It says post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and battlefield desensitisation to violence are also likely contributors. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a new appeal for air defence systems after the latest strike on Ukraine's energy sector.

Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine needed sufficient quantities of air defence and other weapons to protect its cities and prevail on the frontline.

"Terror should always lose, and anyone who helps us stand against Russian terror is a true defender of life," he said.

Earlier, we reported that Ukraine's air force said that it had intercepted 21 out of 34 drones launched across the country.

Energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk in the south of the country and Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv in the west had been attacked.

Private energy operator DTEK reported "casualties" after four of its thermal power plants were damaged.

Maxim Timchenko, DTEK chief executive, said the strikes are a cause for stronger defence. 

"Last night's attacks underline the continued urgent need for Ukraine's allies to provide stronger air defence systems," he said.

The newest appeal comes in spite of a military aid package from the US which will provide munitions and equipment for its air defence launchers.

One person has died and 14 have been injured after attacks on several regions in Ukraine, local authorities have said.

The areas of Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk were all targeted overnight.

Kherson

In the Kherson region, one person died and eight others were injured, according to governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Kharkiv

While in Kharkiv, Russian forces hit a psychiatric hospital, injuring a 53-year-old patient.

Governor Oleh Syniehubov said 60 patients and five employees were in the hospital at the time. 

Donetsk

Russian troops launched a total of 16 attacks against settlements in the Donetsk region, destroying or damaging 12 houses and five other unnamed buildings, Vadym Filashkin, the regional governor, said.

Three people were injured.

Dnipropetrovsk

An 82-year-old woman was injured during several strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk area.

Governor Serhii Lysak said seven blocks of flats, a market and a beauty salon were among the buildings damaged.

Following on from our last post, the Kremlin has said China and Russia will continue to develop ties after efforts by the US to curb relations between the two nations. 

It follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying he had reiterated to China's top diplomat Wang Yi the serious concerns the US has about the country providing dual-use goods that are "powering Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine".

Those weapons are being used to "demolish a power grid and other civilian infrastructure and to kill innocent children, women and men", Mr Blinken said.

When asked about Mr Blinken's comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said China is an "absolutely sovereign state".

He added: "At the same time, it [China] is our close partner. We will further develop our co-operation." 

China maintains that it has not provided weaponry to any party and is "not a producer of or party involved in the Ukraine crisis".

The Kremlin has said there are currently no grounds for peace talks with Ukraine.  

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said the two nations would not discuss an end to the conflict after Kyiv put in place a formal refusal to negotiate. 

The comments refer to a 2022 decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy which declared the prospect of any talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin "impossible".

The decree states that the possibility for a discussion is still open to what Mr Zelenskyy called "another president of Russia".

Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, appearing to target the country's energy infrastructure.

Ukraine's air force said that it had intercepted 21 out of 34 drones launched across the country.

Energy minister Herman Halushchenko said energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk in the south of the country and Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv in the west had been attacked.

An engineer was reportedly injured, Mr Halushchenko said.

Private energy operator DTEK said four of its thermal power plants were damaged and that there were "casualties" but did not provide any further detail.

It comes after the security service of Ukraine confirmed that it had launched drones at the Slavyansk and Ilsky oil refineries in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region.

The source said drones also targeted Russia's Kushchevsk military airfield in the same region.