The Latest Breaking News from Moscow

The European Union wants swift accountability for "horrific" crimes in Ukraine, EU justice ministers said on Friday, even as they differed over the methods in a debate about how to bring prosecutions, seek evidence or fund war damage repairs.

Russia has stepped up attempts to break through Ukraine's defences with heavy fighting in the east of the country, underlining Kyiv's need of more Western weapons, Ukrainian officials said on Friday. Read FRANCE 24's liveblog below to see how the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).

Japan tightened sanctions against Russia on Friday following its latest wave of missile attacks in Ukraine, adding goods to an export ban list and freezing the assets of Russian officials and entities.

Ukraine on Friday battled Russian troops trying to pierce its lines in the east and northeast, and artillery bombardments intensified after Western allies promised the Kyiv government it would send them tanks to repel the invaders.

The Russian leader appeared to smile for the camera in a rare visit in Moscow in which he could be seen in height-boosting footwear, but insiders claim the visitor was in fact a doppelgänger

War experts are divided on how effective Germany’s Leopard 2 and US Abrams tanks will be against Russian forces.

Vladimir Putin’s brutal military assault on sovereign neighbour continues in face of heavy losses and near-unanimous international condemnation

Washington says Moscow is relying on Wagner Group in Ukraine war amid biting Western sanctions and battlefield setbacks.

A new song by a well-known Russian comic that satirises Moscow's war in Ukraine and its supporters has been referred to prosecutors by a patriotic organisation which believes it discredits the army, now a criminal offence.