Ukraine says its forces have retaken territory in an operation using only unmanned robots and drones, the first time this has happened in the course of the war.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian soldiers surrendered when confronted by army robots after an advance “carried out without infantry and without losses on our side”.
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones,” he said on X.
Zelensky said Ukraine has carried out 22,000 missions using unmanned systems in the past three months, saving potentially thousands of lives.
“This is about high technology protecting the highest value – human life,” he added.
Earlier, Hungary’s incoming prime minister Péter Magyar indicated that he would end Budapest’s refusal to allow the EU to loan €90bn to Ukraine, and that he would urge Russian president Vladimir Putin to end his war.
Four killed and dozens injured in attack on Dnipro
A Russian strike on Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed four people and injured 25, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.
Some 21 people have been hospitalised and 10 are in a serious condition, regional governor said on the Telegram messaging app.
We’ll bring you more on the attack as it comes in.
Zelensky discusses crucial PURL initiative with Rutte
Volodymyr Zelensky has met with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte about the PURL initiative, a programme which allows the procurement of US-made military equipment, including missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
Kyiv is “preparing updates” on the initiative which are set to be shared in due course, he said.
“It is important that we all coordinate and strengthen one another. Strength for air defense is our key priority, and people’s lives must be protected,” the Ukrainian president added in a post on X.
Zelensky: We survived the winter – but next winter we must be ready for anything
Zelensky says Kyiv is interested in the assistance of German companies in helping restore and recover Ukrainian energy infrastructure that has been targeted by Russian drones and missiles.
“Ukraine has survived the winter, despite constant Russian attacks, and the brutakl tactic of combining Shahed-drones, missiles and cruise missiles.
“Before next winter, we should be ready for anything,” he adds.
He thanks Germany for supporting efforts to peace, adding that Russia “needs to hear this signal and feel that they need to make a choice in favour of peace”.
Zelensky continues: “Therefore sanctions against Russia must continue, pressure against Russia must be maintained, and all the support for Ukraine that is necessary must continue.”
Zelensky: Europe needs to be able to sustain its own security
We’re hearing now from the Ukrainian president, who starts off by warning that Russia is not planning to scale down its destabilisation goals in Europe and Ukraine.
He thanks the German government for the three agreements “of various kinds” he says were signed today.
These included an agreement on on air defence and missiles, Zelensky adds.,
“We are hoping to get to the point where everything critical for our security is manufactured in Europe, and our technology, military and political capabilities should be sufficient to secure Europe, secure every country in Europe,” he says.
Zelensky adds that the cooperation between Berlin and Kyiv has reached a “meaningful level”.
Zelensky and Merz speaking to media in Berlin
We’re hearing now from Volodymyr Zelensky and Friedrich Merz, who are speaking to reporters in Berlin.
In his introductory remarks, the German chancellor says Europe is ramping up sanctions and trying to “increase the pressure” on Russia.
This includes targeting Russian military development and Russian shadow fleets of ships, he says.
Zelensky says he is pleased after a “special and meaningful” meeting with the German government.
Stay with us as we bring you the Ukrainian president’s comments as they come in.
Kremlin admits internet restrictions are disruptive for Russians – but says they are necessary for security
The Kremlin has spoken out about internet restrictions, admitting they had caused disruption for many Russias but declaring that they are necessary for security reasons.
The restrictions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted, did not represent a return to the past.
Moscow has tightened its control over the internet since the start of its war in Ukraine in February 2022, blocking messenger apps and virtual private networks (VPN) used to bypass online censorship, and shutting down the mobile internet.
Peskov suggested that some of the measures were temporary in nature and would be lifted once it was safe to do so.
Others were related to tech companies not complying with Russian law, he said.
Italian PM says economic pressure is ‘most effective weapon’ to push Moscow towards peace
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has been speaking about sanctions on Russia while in Verona, on the sidelines of wine fair Vinitaly.
She said that sanctions, exerting economic pressure on Russia, are the most “effective weapon” for pushing Moscow towards peace in Ukraine.
We’ll bring you more lines from Meloni as they come in.
Kremlin says Hungary’s new leader wants pragmatic dialogue with Russia
We’ve heard from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who says Moscow satisfied that the new leader of Hungary, pro-EU Peter Magyar, wants to engage in pragmatic dialogue with Russia.
It comes after Peskov said on Monday that Moscow is looking forward to “continuing our highly pragmatic engagement with Hungary’s new leadership”.
“We noted Magyar’s statement regarding his willingness to engage in dialogue. Naturally, this will be beneficial for both Moscow and Budapest,” he said, adding that Russia was not sure what the stance of the new leadership would be.
Russian drone attacks hospital in Kherson, injuring five
A Russian drone has attacked a hospital and civilian vehicle in the Tsentralnyi district of Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson , Ukrainian authorities said.
Four of the hospital’s employees and a 62-year-old man were injured in the attack at 9am local time (7am BST), according to military administration officials in the region.
The 62-year-old, a local resident, was diagnosed with a shrapnel wound to the head, concussion, a blast injury and a closed traumatic brain injury, and was rushed to hospital where his condition was assessed as moderate.
Officials believed a Molniya-type drone was used to carry out the attack – a low-cost kamikaze drone designed for tactical strikes behind front lines.
Source: independent.co.uk