Russian troops have advanced to the suburbs of Kyiv. Gunfire has been heard near the government quarter of the capital, as the city faces a barrage of missiles and an onslaught of tanks.
An intelligence update from the UK Ministry of Defence says that Russia has made “limited progress” today and Ukraine “retains control of key cities”.
Britain says at least 194 Ukrainians, including 57 civilians, have been killed, but the grim reality is that number will rise.
I will try to link to as much of the excellent reporting as I can:
- Our full story on a bloody day in the Ukrainian capital
- The Kremlin says it’s ‘ready to send a delegation to Belarus for talks’ (it also said it had no plans to invade Ukraine)
- The Russian military claims it has seized the strategic Antanov Airport outside of the Kyiv
- Defence Editor Robert Fox on how Putin is losing the propaganda war
- A timeline marking Ukraine’s turbulent history since independence in 1991
- The way the crisis is impacting UK households, from fuel to food
- Three ways you can support Ukraine right now
- The brave Ukrainian woman caught on video confronting a Russian soldier
- How the sporting world is turning on Russia, including Man Utd ending its sponsorship deal with Russian airline Aeroflot
Finally, I’d urge you to read today’s leader column.
There is of course plenty going on in London as well. We’ve got the latest short-term funding deal for TfL, which will keep services going until 24 June but comes with strings attached.
Speaking of which, brace yourself for the latest on next week’s tube strikes across the entire network – we’ve got a big explainer here. And TfL’s plans to issue a million tickets a year to speeding motorists in the capital following a massive expansion of 20mph limits and the roll-out of new, hi-tech speed cameras.
Also, in the last hour or so, Koci Selamaj, 36, who travelled to London from his home in Eastbourne to wait in a park to prey on a lone woman, has pled guilty to the premeditated murder of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa.
In the comment pages, Conservative MP and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat says the free world must work together to make tyrants pay.
Meanwhile, Samuel Fishwick cries ‘Help! I’m falling hook, line and stinker for swindlers like Anna Delvey,’ of New York’s glitterati.
And finally, the definitive guide to London’s vibe shift – out with self-improvement and in with the overdraft, says Alexandra Jones.
Have a good weekend.
