Kursk clashes becoming deadlier, say Ukrainian troops

Clashes in the southern border region of Kursk are becoming deadlier, Ukrainian troops say, as Russian resistance and counterattacks slow Kyiv’s advances.

Ukraine launched its first major incursion into Russian territory last month, quickly capturing nearly 500 square miles.

But after President Volodymyr Zelensky said this week that Russian forces had begun a concerted counterattack, Ukrainian soldiers returning from the front report that clashes are growing deadlier as Moscow deploys more soldiers and increases aerial bombardments.

“There is more resistance,” one soldier, Yurii, told the New York Times. There are more drones, “more shells, and even anti-tank guided missiles. Their intelligence is also working very hard. As soon as a vehicle moves out, their artillery starts firing immediately.”

Another soldier, Vasyl, told CNN: “It will get more and more difficult. There will be more artillery fire, more soldiers, and there will be very big and difficult battles... Russia is sending a lot of troops and artillery. We have a lot of guys who have been killed and we have a lot of destroyed hardware.”

However, Mr Zelensky said on Friday that the incursion had succeeded in diverting Russia’s military resources from Ukrainian territory.

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05:07 PM BST

That’s all for today

Thanks for following the latest updates from Ukraine. Today’s highlights include:

• Keir Starmer and Joe Biden gave no updates about whether a decision had been taken on allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles in Russia following their meeting yesterday, as Ukrainian officials renewed their calls

• At the same time, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister claimed Moscow knew an agreement had been made and promised “brutal” consequences. Senior security official and former president Dmitry Medvedev threatened to turn Kyiv into a “giant melted spot” if the West permits the use of the missiles

• Russia launched a fresh drone assault on Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine overnight, although air defences reportedly shot down most of them

• 206 POWs were freed in a major prisoner exchange - 103 from each side. Photos and videos showed freed Ukrainians getting updates about the conflict, embracing fellow servicemen and phoning family members

• The outgoing head of Nato said the military alliance could have done more to prevent Russia’s invasion by providing more arms to Ukraine earlier

04:54 PM BST

Michael Douglas meets Zelensky in Kyiv

Hollywood actor Michael Douglas met President Zelensky and his wife Olena in Kyiv yesterday, to express his support for Ukraine as a UN Messenger of Peace.

“You are a source of inspiration and a wonderful reminder to our country of what democracy means, of how everyone should be responsible,” the Oscar winner said.

UN Messengers of Peace are high-profile people chosen by the Secretary General of the United Nations to help raise awareness of the work of the UN.

04:41 PM BST

Iran reacts to sanctions over Russia arms supply

Iran says it is open to diplomacy to resolve disputes but not “threats and pressure” after the US and three European powers imposed sanctions against the country’s aviation sector, in reaction to reports that Tehran supplied Russia with ballistic missiles for its war against Ukraine.

“Iran continues on its own path with strength, although we have always been open to talks to resolve disputes... but dialogue should be based on mutual respect, not on threats and pressure,” said Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, according to the official news agency IRNA.

On Wednesday, Araqchi denied that Tehran had delivered ballistic missiles to Russia, a day after the US, Germany, Britain and France imposed new sanctions, including measures against its national airline Iran Air.

Also on Saturday, Iran launched a satellite into space with a rocket built by the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, state-run media reported, as part of a program the West fears will help Tehran advance its ballistic missile program.

03:53 PM BST

Russia claims West has approved Ukraine’s long-range missile plan

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov claims that Western leaders have given Kyiv the go ahead to use Western-supplied long-range missiles in Russia.

“The decision [to allow Kyiv to strike] is there, all the carte blanche, indulgences have been issued to Kyiv’s clients,” he said on Saturday.

Earlier in the day he claimed Moscow knew that a decision had been taken and relayed to Kyiv but did not say what that decision was.

However, there has been no public announcement following Starmer’s meeting with Biden yesterday and it remains unclear if a decision has been reached in response to Kyiv’s pleas.

Ryabkov continued the threats that Moscow has been making over the issue, telling Russian news agency Tass that “we will respond in a brutal way. There is an element of serious risk here, because the opponents in Washington, London, and other places clearly underestimate the degree of danger of the game they continue to play”.

03:31 PM BST

Pictured: Storm Shadow missiles

There’s a lot of talk today about Britain’s Storm Shadow missiles amid ongoing speculation as to whether Western leaders will permit Ukraine to use them in Russia.

In case you’re wondering, here’s what they look like - this photo shows two Storm Shadow missiles loaded onto a Tornado GR4 aircraft.

03:21 PM BST

Freed Ukrainian POWs react to news of Kursk incursion

A video has emerged of some of the Ukrainians freed in today’s prisoner swap reacting with awe as they learn about the latest developments in the war.

Some of the POWs were captured in the early days of the war and have had little idea about how the conflict was developing, according to Belarusian opposition media outlet Nexta, which shared the video.

In the footage, which appears to be taken on a coach transporting the POWs, two men react with confusion when asked if they “know anything about the Kursk region”. Their faces light up in disbelief when they are told “we have captured part of [it]”, with one noting that parts of Kursk have Ukrainian history.

03:02 PM BST

Ukraine renews calls on the West to approve long-range strikes on Russian territory

Ukraine has made a new call on the West to allow it to strike deeper into Russia after a meeting between Keir Starmer and Joe Biden produced no visible shift in policy.

“Russian terror begins at weapons depots, airfields, and military bases inside the Russian Federation,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Andriy Yermak said on Saturday. “Permission to strike deep into Russia will speed up the solution.”

The renewed appeal came as Russia launched more drone and artillery attacks into Ukraine overnight.

“We need to boost our air defence and long-range capabilities to protect our people,” President Zelensky wrote on social media. “We are working on this with all of Ukraine’s partners.”

02:28 PM BST

More photos from today’s significant prisoner exchange

01:16 PM BST

Moscow threatens to ‘melt’ Kyiv with new weapons

Russia could turn Kyiv into a “giant melted spot” if the West permits the use of long-range missiles, Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday.

The senior security official and former Russian president warned that Moscow had formal grounds to use nuclear weapons following Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk, but could instead choose to use new technologies to devastate the capital.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer left talks in Washington last night without any announcement on the question of allowing Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia.

01:14 PM BST

Yale historian Timothy Snyder leads charity race in Kyiv

US historian and author Timothy Snyder has led a charity run in Kyiv to raise awareness of the conditions under which Ukrainian prisoners of war are held in Russia.

People clapped and cheered after Snyder, a 55-year-old Yale University professor who has written extensively on eastern Europe and is much admired in Ukraine, addressed the nearly thousand runners. He then joined a workout and participated in the run.

“Thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers are illegally held in captivity during an illegal war,” Snyder told The Associated Press. “This race is about reminding everyone of that and expressing solidarity with Ukrainians and giving Ukrainians a chance to do something together.”

The 5 and 10-kilometre runs took place around a sprawling park in the Ukrainian capital created out of a renovated Soviet-era exhibition centre.

The runners included members of the public, servicemen and women and veterans, as well as wives of the POWs.

After the race, Snyder was surrounded by fans waiting in line for autographs and selfies.

Earlier in the week, he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who thanked him for his charity work.

12:57 PM BST

Images of freed prisoners of war

Ukraine’s ministry of defence has released photos of the 103 Ukrainian POWs freed in a major exchange with Russia today.

It said the freed prisoners include soldiers of the armed forces, national guard, border guard and police.

The photos show the men draped in flags, some waving and flashing a V for Victory.

12:48 PM BST

UK shares satellite images of destroyed Russian bridges

The UK Ministry of Defence has shared images of Russian bridges destroyed by Ukraine.

In its intelligence update on Saturday, the ministry said “Ukraine continue to hamper Russian logistics in the Kursk region in a series of strikes which destroyed road and pontoon bridges over the Seym river.”

Ukrainian forces captured territory in the region last month in their first major incursion into Russia, and promptly set about destroying key bridges.

12:28 PM BST

Photos mark Tank Forces Day

An aerial shot of a Ukrainian tank firing is one of several images that have been released to mark Tank Forces Day.

12:11 PM BST

North Korea pledges deeper ties with Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to deepen ties with Russia as he held talks with visiting security chief Sergei Shoigu, state media reported Saturday.

Western powers have accused cash-strapped North Korea of selling ammunition to Russia in defiance of sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

North Korea has recently bolstered military ties with Russia, with President Vladimir Putin making a rare visit to Pyongyang in June, where he signed a mutual defence agreement with Kim.

Pictures in North Korean state media showed Kim and Shoigu hugging and smiling at the end of their visit, with the North Korean leader “wishing the respected President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin good health and success in his work”.

The pair were described as having had “constructive” talks in “a friendly and trustworthy, warm atmosphere”.

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11:55 AM BST

Major prisoner swap frees 206 people

Russia and Ukraine each released 103 people in another prisoner exchange on Saturday, according to Russian news agency Interfax.

The Russian soldiers released in the exchange had been taken prisoner in Russia’s Kursk region, according to the agency, citing the ministry of defence. Ukrainian forces captured territory there last month in their first major incursion into Russia.

It comes after Ukraine said 49 of its citizens were released in a separate exchange on Friday, bringing the total number of Ukrainians freed in exchanges to 3,569 since the start of the war.

11:50 AM BST

Russia says it has captured another village in eastern Ukraine

Russia said on Saturday it had captured another village in eastern Ukraine, where it has made a string of advances.

“The locality of Zhelannoe Pervoe [Zhelanne Pershe in Ukrainian] was freed thanks to the active and decisive operations of the southern units,” the defence ministry said.

The village is located in the Pokrovsk district, an important logistical hub for the Ukrainian army.

Russian forces have advanced rapidly in the eastern region of Donetsk in recent weeks, putting pressure on a Ukrainian army that is short of both soldiers and weapons.

The Kremlin regularly claims its army has captured small villages in eastern Ukraine.

In a rarer announcement, it said on Tuesday it had captured a town in the region, called Krasnogorivka.

11:40 AM BST

Ukraine marks Tank Forces Day

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has released a video showing the country’s tanks in action to mark Tank Forces Day.

The video, posted to Twitter, shows footage of soldiers with their tanks and firing ammunition in numerous locations.

“Ukrainian tankmen are the steel pillar of our Independence. May our tankers shots always be accurate and their armor impenetrable,” the ministry wrote alongside the video.

President Zelensky also released a series of photographs to mark the day on his Instagram account.

11:21 AM BST

No announcement of Storm Shadows decision ‘until the first missile lands’

The question all eyes are on today is whether Western leaders will agree to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles, especially British Storm Shadows, in Russia. There has been no announcement after a meeting between Starmer and Biden yesterday.

However, if there is an agreement, “The first announcement of this policy will land, when the first missile lands in Russia,” a Western official reportedly tells PBS correspondent Nick Schifrin.

11:01 AM BST

More than 3,500 Ukrainians freed in prisoner exchanges so far, says Zelensky

Another prisoner exchange on Friday brought 49 Ukrainians back home, including military personnel and civilians, President Zelensky said in his address to the nation last night.

It brings the total number of Ukrainians released in exchanges to 3,569, he added.

Those released yesterday include police officers, soldiers, border guards, defenders of Azovstal and military medic Viktor Ivchuk, who is a recipient of the “Hero of Ukraine” title. Among the civilians was Leniye Umerova, a young woman who was captured by the Russians in Crimea while on her way to visit her sick father, according to the Ukrainian president.

10:48 AM BST

Delay in long-range missiles decision benefits Putin, says Wallace

Nato should allow Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia, former UK defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace has told the BBC, adding that wrangling over the decision only benefits Moscow.

“I’m just disappointed that it’s yet again another tug of war around another capability,” the former Conservative MP told Radio 4.

Previously during the war there have been similar delays over decisions about whether to supply tanks and fighter jets.

“All of that delay, all of that tug of war favours Russia and allows Putin to insert, in the delay, threats and new red lines and efforts to divide and rule in the international community,” Mr Wallace said.

10:37 AM BST

Zelensky marks Tank Forces Day on Instagram

President Zelensky posted a series of photos of Ukrainian tanks to his Instagram account on Saturday, to mark Ukraine’s Tank Forces Day.

“Due to their professionalism, Ukrainian tank units achieve remarkable results in steadfast defence, successful counterattacks, precise fire, and the destruction of enemy forces and equipment,” he wrote.

“I thank our tank crews and all those who repair the vehicles for their bravery, exceptional skill, and true Ukrainian spirit.
On Ukraine’s Tank Forces Day, glory to all who fight for Ukraine’s independence.”

10:29 AM BST

Russia launches new drones barrage on Kyiv

Russia launched a new overnight drone attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on Saturday, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to issue a fresh appeal for more air defence and long-range capabilities.

Ukrainian air defences shot down 72 out of 76 Shahed drones over 12 regions in the centre, south and east of the country, the air force said. Air alerts sounded for three to five hours during the night in many regions across Ukraine.

“We need more capabilities to strengthen the air shield, air defence, and long-range capabilities to continue protecting life and our people,” Zelensky, who is due to travel to the United States later this month, said on the Telegram messaging app.

There were no immediate reports of casualties but authorities described damage to buildings in several parts of the country.

10:18 AM BST

Nato could have done more to prevent Ukraine war, says Stoltenberg

Nato could have done more to arm Ukraine to try to prevent Russia’s invasion, the outgoing head of Nato said in an interview published on Saturday.

“Now we provide military stuff to a war - then we could have provided military stuff to prevent the war,” Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told German newspaper FAS.

Stoltenberg pointed to Nato’s reluctance to provide weapons that Kyiv had asked for before Russia’s full-scale invasion because of fears of escalation.

Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, will step down in October from his role at Nato, which he has held since 2014. Dutch former Prime Minister Mark Rutte will be the organisation’s next boss.

In the interview, Stoltenberg said an end to the war in Ukraine would be achieved only at the negotiating table.

“To end this war there will have to be again dialogue with Russia at a certain stage. But it has to be based on Ukrainian strength,” he said.

10:07 AM BST

Russian official claims West has made up its mind on long-range strikes

The West has made a decision on whether to allow Ukraine to attack Russia with long-range missiles and has informed Kyiv, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed on Saturday.

However, Ryabkov did not clarify what the purported decision was and no formal announcement has been made.

09:58 AM BST

No announcement on long-range missiles following UK-US talks

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK and US have come to a “strong position” in their quest for a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine following his meeting with President Joe Biden.

The Prime Minister described his discussions with Mr Biden as “long and productive”, but would not be drawn on what the pair had decided regarding Ukraine’s potential use of Western weaponry against Russian targets.

He told reporters: “We had a wide-ranging discussion about strategy in Ukraine, of course, in the Middle East and other parts of the world.

“This wasn’t a meeting about a particular capability. That wasn’t why we got our heads down today.

“It was to allow ourselves the space, which we took, the time, which we took, to have a strategic discussion so that tactical decisions could be seen within the wider strategy.

Read more: Starmer set to leave US without approval for Storm Shadow strikes by Ukraine