Month: March 2023

Russia has committed wide-ranging war crimes in Ukraine, including the forced deportations of children in areas it controls, a report from a United Nations-backed inquiry says. The allegations were detailed in a report released on Thursday by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, which said some acts may amount to crimes against humanity. … Read moreUN-backed investigation accuses Russia of war crimes in Ukraine

President Andrzej Duda says Poland will give Ukraine four MiG-29 fighter jets in the coming days, a move that will make his country the first NATO member to fulfil the Ukrainian government’s increasingly urgent requests for such aircraft. Poland currently has about a dozen Soviet-manufactured MiG-29s, which were taken over from former East German stocks … Read moreDuda says Poland to send 4 MiG-29s to Ukraine ‘within days’

United States President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have unveiled a plan that will see Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, allowing the country to become only the seventh in the world with such military technology. Under the deal, Australia will buy three US Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from … Read moreWhy Australia wants nuclear-powered submarines

Ukraine has said that Russia’s proposal to extend the wartime grain export deal for 60 days goes against the agreement between the two countries. A Russian delegation announced on Monday that Moscow was ready to extend the Ukraine grain export deal following talks with the United Nations – but only for a further 60 days. … Read moreKyiv criticises Russian proposal to extend grain deal for 60 days

Fierce fighting is raging for control of the centre of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian forces say, as both sides claim battlefield successes in the longest running and bloodiest battle of Moscow’s invasion. Ukraine said on Monday that Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, which has said it is leading Moscow’s charge for the industrial … Read moreUkrainian and Russian losses mount in fierce battle for Bakhmut

The leaders of the United States, United Kingdom and Australia have announced more details of how Australia will acquire nuclear submarines under a security pact for the Asia Pacific that was first unveiled 18 months ago. Under the AUKUS agreement, which is aimed at preserving a “free and open” Indo Pacific, Australia will buy three … Read moreAustralia, US and UK unveil AUKUS nuclear submarine plans

The Italian coastguard has launched multiple rescue operations to save hundreds of refugees packed aboard boats off the Calabria region, less than two weeks after at least 73 people drowned in a shipwreck. “The rescue operations … are particularly complex due to the large number of people on board the boats adrift,”  the coastguard said … Read moreItaly launches rescue for hundreds of refugees on boats

Ukraine has decided to fight on in the ruined city of Bakhmut because the battle is pinning down Russia’s best units in advance of a planned Ukrainian spring counteroffensive, an aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. The comments by Mykhailo Podolyak on Friday were the latest signal of a shift by Kyiv this week … Read moreUkraine says Bakhmut battle grinding down Russia’s best units

France and the United Kingdom have agreed on a multiyear financial package to stop migration across the Channel, days after the UK government drew criticism for a bill barring unauthorised arrivals. As part of the deal announced on Friday, the UK will help fund a detention centre in France while French authorities will deploy a … Read moreUK to fund France detention site as leaders agree migration deal

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called for caution following media reports that a pro-Ukrainian group may be responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines supplying Russian energy to Europe. While not pointing to any official Ukrainian involvement, a New York Times report published on Tuesday said intelligence reviewed by United States officials found a … Read moreNATO cautious amid ongoing Nord Stream blasts investigation