VLADIMIR Putin is desperately looking for a way to save face before he'll consider ending his invasion of Ukraine, a sanctioned oligarch has claimed.
Oleg Tinkov, 52, is a Russian banking millionaire famous for his ice-breaking superyacht who was sanctioned by the West in the days after Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine.
Yet even he has now taken to social media to blast the war as "crazy", and condemn Russia's generals who are "waking up with a hangover" to realise they have a "s**tty army".
"And how will the army be good, if everything else in the country is sh*t and mired in nippotism [sic], servility and servility?" he said on Instagram.
He went on to plead with the West to "please give Mr. Putin a clear exit to save his face and stop this massacre", saying he feels the tyrant won't end the invasion until he can do so without humiliation.
The oligarch's claims come as Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol have been offered a fresh ultimatum to surrender despite every single soldier rejecting the same offer on Tuesday.
Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up-to-the-minute updates…
- John Hall
Russia 'will hold ceasefire around Mariupol steel plant'
A ceasefire will be held in the area around the Azovstal steel and iron works in the southern city of Mariupol today, according to the RIA state news agency.
The agency cited the Russian defence ministry as confirming the move.
- John Hall
Hundreds of Bucha massacre victims buried in mass grave
Harrowing images show corpses being buried in a mass grave after hundreds of innocent civilians were massacred in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.
Workers can be seen digging plots and erecting crucifixes on the site as distraught family members said goodbye to their loved ones more than a fortnight after the ruthless killings took place.
Funerals were conducted by Andriy Holovin, the priest of the Church of St Andrew Pervozvannoho All Saints, as ceremonies were held on behalf of the dead.
Hancrafted objects were placed on each of the marked gravestones after authorities tragically confirmed that more than 300 had been killed.
Priest Andriy previously said the bodies had been moved to the site after reporting that the rotten corpses were being feasted upon by dogs in apocalyptic scenes.
- John Hall
Boris Johnson highlights the need for more military support
Boris Johnson underscored the need for further military support to be sent to Ukraine in a call with Western leaders yesterday, a readout from his office said.
"The Prime Minister updated the leaders on his visit to Kyiv earlier this month," the readout said. "He underscored the critical need for further military support to Ukraine in the face of a major Russian offensive in the Donbas and ongoing attacks elsewhere.
"They discussed the need to increase the pressure on Russia with more sanctions against Putin's war machine, as well as further diplomatic isolation," it said, adding that Johnson had welcomed the leadership from U.S. President Joe Biden.
- John Hall
MSNBC’s Malcolm Nance joins war against Russia in Ukraine
MSNBC’s Malcolm Nance has left the network to fight in Ukraine’s war against Russia.
The former naval intelligence officer, 61, appeared on Joy Reid’s program The Reid Out on Monday night wearing full combat gear and carrying a firearm.
The Ukrainian and American flags could be seen on his body armor.
Nance spent time in Ukraine before Russia launched the invasion and said he had friends fearing for their survival.
Speaking from a secure location, Nance told Reid: “The more I saw of the war going on, the more I thought, I’m done talking all right? It’s time to take action here.
“I am here to help this country fight what essentially is a war of extermination.”
- John Hall
Britain sending Stormer missile launchers to Ukraine
BORIS Johnson will hand Stormer armoured missile launchers to Ukraine to unleash hell on Mad Vlad Putin’s army.
Their 17 Starstreak missiles can blitz low-flying jets and helicopters.
The 13-ton, high-tech launchers can be loaded on to C-17 transport planes and flown to the war in days.
They only need a crew of three — a driver, commander and gunner.
Read more here.
- John Hall
Ukraine renews plea for Mariupol humanitarian corridors
Ukraine has called on Moscow to allow the opening of a humanitarian corridor to let people safely leave the city.
There were no corridors running yesterday after officials from both countries failed to agree a plan.
Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk also requested a second corridor from the area of the Azovstal steelworks as the industrial plant is under holdout.
This would allow a safe exit route for women, children and other civilians.
Writing on Telegram, Vereshchuk warned the Russians could be found liable for war crimes if they refused to open exit routes.
- John Hall
PM says Britain to give more artillery weapons to Ukraine
Britain will give more artillery weapons to Ukraine as the conflict with Russia moves into a new phase, Boris Johnson said yesterday.
Speaking in the Commons, the PM said: "This will become an artillery conflict, they need support with more artillery, that is what we will be giving them… in addition to many other forms of support."
- John Hall
Good morning
This is John Hall taking over The Sun's Ukraine-Russia war live blog for the next few hours.
- John Hall
Ukraine’s richest man vows to rebuild city of Mariupol
Ukraine’s richest man has pledged to help rebuild the besieged city of Mariupol.
Rinat Akhmetov, who owns Ukraine’s biggest steelmaker, Metinvest, said he was sure the country’s “brave soldiers” would defend the southern city.
He said: “Mariupol is a global tragedy and a global example of heroism. For me, Mariupol has been and will always be a Ukrainian city.
“I believe that our brave soldiers will defend the city, though I understand how difficult and hard it is for them.”
Mr Akhmetov addedd: “I talked to people in the streets, I met with workers. My ambition is to return to a Ukrainian Mariupol and implement our (new production) plans so that Mariupol-produced steel can compete in global markets as before.”
According to Forbes magazine, Mr Akhmetov’s net worth in 2013 reached $15.4 billion and it currently stands at $3.9 billion.
“For us, the war broke out in 2014. We lost all of our assets both in Crimea and in the temporarily occupied territory of Donbas. We lost our businesses, but it made us tougher and stronger,” he added.
“I am confident that, as the country’s biggest private business, SCM will play a key role in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
“We will definitely need an unprecedented international reconstruction programme, a Marshall Plan for Ukraine.
“I trust that we all will rebuild a free, European, democratic, and successful Ukraine after our victory in this war.”
- John Hall
Boris Johnson among others barred entry to Russia
Earlier we reported that Russia’s foreign ministry has banned Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and 10 other British government members from entering Russia.
The move was taken “in view of the unprecedented hostile action by the British government, in particular the imposition of sanctions against senior Russian officials,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that it would expand the list soon.
Also banned from entering Russia are:
- Dominic Raab
- Grant Shapps
- Priti Patel
- Rishi Sunak
- Kwasi Kwarteng
- Nadine Dorries
- James Heappey
- Nicola Sturgeon
- Suella Braverman
- Theresa May
Why is Russia invading Ukraine?
In December 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he had no plans to attack Ukraine, however, on February 24, 2022, he launched an attack on the country.
Putin is believed to want to reclaim many territories lost at the fall of the Soviet Union.
A month after the war began, Putin offered to end the war if Ukraine gave up the city of Mariupol, but Ukraine denied the chilling ultimatum.
As a result of the invasion, many countries have implemented sanctions against Russia that have reportedly already begun hurting their economy.
At this time, it remains unclear if NATO countries will get involved in the war.
All you need to know about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Everything you need to know about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…
- Why is Russia invading Ukraine?
- Will the UK go to war?
- How can I join the Ukraine foreign legion?
- What can I do to help Ukraine?
- Who is Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy?
- How much gas does the UK get from Russia?
- Is Russia a part of Nato?
- Does Russia have nuclear weapons?
- Why is Ukraine not in Nato?
- How big is the Russian army?
- What is Article 5 of the Nato treaty?
- What is the Minsk agreement?
- Which countries were in the Soviet Union?
- What does the Z mean on Russian tanks? Meaning behind symbols explained
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