THE families of missing Russian soldiers have demanded answers from President Putin as the country's losses approach 40,000.
According to a report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 106 Russian families have called on Putin to answer for their missing sons, brothers and fathers.
The letter, delivered by hand to the president’s reception office on July 26 by families, read: "We demand that our loved ones be located and added to the lists of prisoners of war who have gone missing.
"Search operations are not underway as they are registered as missing in action. For more than 5 months, the Russian Ministry of Defense has been blocking the move to alter their status, regardless of incoming reports.
"Relatives are forced to search for facts and prove on their own that their sons, or husbands are in captivity (or have died) – this is happening throughout the country. The authorized bodies perform poorly and there is no assistance from military unit commanders."
Recent reports suggest Russian losses are set to reach 40,000 in the coming days.
Read our Ukraine war live blog below for the latest up-to-date news…
- Louis Allwood
Russia to withdraw from International Space Station
Russia has said it will withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024.
They will instead focus on building their own orbital outpost.
Yuri Borisov, who was appointed to lead the state-controlled space corporation Roscosmos earlier this month said "the decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made."
- Louis Allwood
EU renews Russian sanctions
The European Union has decided to renew its sanctions against Russia.
The sanctions will now last for a further six months, until the end of January 2023.
The decision was taken by EU energy ministers and refers to sanctions that were first introduced in 2014.
- Louis Allwood
Ukraine projects to recapture Kherson by September
The Ukrainian military forces aim to retake Kherson from Russian occupation.
It is hoped that this could be achieved by September with the help of western aid.
Aid sent from the west has has been a “turning point” for Ukrainian forces in defending their nation’s sovereignty and people.
- Louis Allwood
UK's Ministry of Defence latest update
Russia has claimed to have hit a "Ukrainian warship and a stockpile of anti-ship missiles" despite their being no "indication that such targets were at the location" according to the UK's Ministry of Defence.
The MoD said: "On 24 July 2022, Russian cruise missiles hit the dock-side in Ukraine’s Odesa Port.
"The Russian MoD claimed to have hit a Ukrainian warship and a stockpile of anti-ship missiles.
"There is no indication that such targets were at the location the missiles hit.
"Russia almost certainly perceives anti-ship missiles as a key threat which is limiting the effectiveness of their Black Sea Fleet."
- Louis Allwood
Russian cruise missile strikes
The Ukrainian military on Tuesday reported Russian cruise missile strikes in the south and that Ukrainian forces had hit enemy targets.
Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesman from the military administration in Odesa, told a Ukrainian television channel that a missile fired from the direction of the Black Sea had struck the region, but gave no information on casualties.
East of Odesa along the Black Sea coast, port infrastructure at Mykolaiv was damaged by an attack, according to the mayor Oleksandr Senkevich.
- Louis Allwood
Doomsday weapon
The Poseidon nuclear drone that can trigger tsunamis
- Putin’s massive Poseidon drone will carry a two-megaton nuclear weapon
- It could be in regular operation this year
- Putin said the weapon was designed so Russia could destroy enemy naval bases
- If deployed underwater, it could cause a tsunami as big as 300ft
- It will travel at speeds of 60-70 knots underwater in a specially built submarine
- The weapon was unveiled by Vladimir Putin during his State of the Nation address on March 1, 2018
- Experts have warned the damage could match Japan’s 2011 tsunami when 20,000 people died
Missile attacks in Black Sea coastal regions
Russia said it will cut gas supplies to Europe from Wednesday in a blow to countries that have backed Ukraine.
It comes as missile attacks in Black Sea coastal regions raised doubts about whether Russia will stick to a deal to let Ukraine export grain.
The first ships from Ukraine may set sail in days under a deal agreed on Friday, the United Nations said, despite a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian port of Odesa over the weekend.
A spokesman for the military administration in the saying another missile had hit the Odesa region on Tuesday morning.
Sam Ryder reminds fans that Eurovision 'is still Ukraine's party'
Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder reminded fans that next year's competition will still be "Ukraine's party" following the announcement that it will be held in the UK in 2023.
The British singer said his "heart was heavy" knowing that the world-famous song contest could not be held in Ukraine but was quick to add that the UK would be part of a group of "loving facilitators".
Organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), previously decided the event could not be held in war-torn Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
This was despite Ukrainian entry Kalush Orchestra triumphing at this year's competition in Turin, Italy.
"Hey friends, just a couple of thoughts," Ryder said in an Instagram video.
"It's Ukraine's party, we're just inviting them to throw it at our house.
"I know how much it meant to Kalush and the Ukrainian delegation that it would be held at home in Ukraine next year. I'm not the only one whose heart is heavy knowing that that can't be the case at this moment in time.
He added: "We know how to throw a party here in the UK and our excitement is outshone only by our focus on that one sole objective to hold space and be on hand to help wherever needed to host an event that celebrates Ukrainian culture, history and music and to stand in solidarity with the rest of the globe shining a unified light.
"The rest of us are just loving facilitators and there is no doubt in my mind that we will all come together in the spirit of unity that Eurovision has always been about to celebrate the wonderful people of Ukraine."
China developing nuclear drone torpedo to match Putin’s Doomsday Poseidon nuke
The fearsome nuclear drone torpedoes would be able to fire swarms of devastating torpedoes across the entire Pacific Ocean.
Beijing scientists claim the new torpedo could be mass-produced, allowing it to be fired from virtually any warship or submarine.
Chinese news sources brag that the new torpedoes would be an improvement on Russia‘s underwater Poseidon nuclear drone, which Putin first flaunted back in 2018.
The Poseidon was hailed by the Kremlin as the world’s first nuclear-propelled underwater drone.
It is designed to bypass US missile defences and attack coastal targets by using its cobalt warhead to generate a 300ft radioactive tsunami, according to the US ODIN military training database.
In January this year, it was reported that the Belgorod, Vlad’s 600ft “city killer” nuke submarine will be primed for war this year.
Click here to read more.
- henry moore
Odesa official slams Russia for ‘lying’ after port bombing
Oleksiy Goncharenko, an official working in Odesa, has accused Russia of ‘lying’ after they denied launching missiles at the port of Odesa.
“They are lying all the time. Four missiles, the most powerful and the most precise of all Russian missiles, attacked Odesa,” Goncharenko told Al Jazeera from Washington, DC.
“It is clear who did it. Russia doesn’t want any grain deal. They want as much chaos as possible,” he said.
“They want people starving in North Africa and the Middle East and other regions. They want people to suffer and have social unrests and hunger riots. That’s why immediately after they signed the deal, they started to disrupt it,” he added.
- henry moore
Catch all the most important live updates
Stick with The Sun to get all the most important updates about Ukraine.
Readers are given updates every 30 minutes, with breaking news posted straight away.
- henry moore
US ‘seriously considering’ declaring Russia a state sponsor of terrorism
According to the Kyiv Independent, the United States are on the verge of declaring Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
According to the report: “U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said on July 24 that Washington was looking into the decision, but it has to be ‘carefully analyzed in accordance with American law.’ ”
This comes just hours after the Russian government admitted to bombing the Ukrainian port of Odesa.
- henry moore
Russian families demand Putin answers for missing troops
According to a report Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, over 100 Russian families have called on Putin to answer for their missing sons, brothers and fathers.
Reports suggest Russian losses are set to reach 40,000 in the coming days.
This comes as the European Union has decided to renew its sanctions against Russia.
The sanctions will now last for a further six months, until the end of January 2023.
The decision was taken by EU energy ministers and refers to sanctions that were first introduced in 2014.
- henry moore
Putin health scare
Vladimir Putin required paramedics at his bedside after he suffered a “severe” health scare on the weekend, new reports have claimed.
According to the Telegram channel which claims to monitor the Russian leader’s health, Vladimir Putin suffered a case of “severe nausea”.
This occurred overnight on Friday into Saturday morning, as medical professionals reportedly rushed to his bedside.
The medical help stayed with the dictator for around three hours according to the General SVR channel.
It is thought he may even be replaced by a body double, or “deepfakes,” forging his appearance while he recovers from the mystery illness.
This comes after Britain’s MI6 director announced: “There is no evidence that Putin is suffering from serious illness,” which Richard Moore told a security summit in America last week.
- henry moore
Doomsday weapon
The Poseidon nuclear drone that can trigger tsunamis
- Putin’s massive Poseidon drone will carry a two-megaton nuclear weapon
- It could be in regular operation this year
- Putin said the weapon was designed so Russia could destroy enemy naval bases
- If deployed underwater, it could cause a tsunami as big as 300ft
- It will travel at speeds of 60-70 knots underwater in a specially built submarine
- The weapon was unveiled by Vladimir Putin during his State of the Nation address on March 1, 2018
- Experts have warned the damage could match Japan’s 2011 tsunami when 20,000 people died
- henry moore
Russia's losses as of July 26
Russia's losses are approaching 40,000 as the war in Ukraine rages on.
On top of that, the country has lost a reported 222 planes and 1,737 tanks.
- Louis Allwood
The UK is to host Eurovision contest next year
2023’s competition will be hosted by the UK on behalf of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won this year’s competition, however organisers agreed it would not be safe to host the show in Ukraine next year.
The BBC said it will hold the “glorious Ukraine at it’s heart.”
- Louis Allwood
Britain calls fighting in Donbas ‘inconclusive’
The fighting is still ongoing in Donbas and Kherson.
British military intelligence’s updated bulletin said: “At least 300 damaged vehicles were present, including main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers and general support trucks,” as reported by Reuters.
- Louis Allwood
Footage shows the moment Odesa was bombed
Just a day after the UN deal to resume Ukraine's maritime grain exports was signed, Russia bombed Odesa.
- Louis Allwood
Zelensky’s wife tells Piers Morgan how Putin’s invasion has made her marriage stronger
VOLODYMYR Zelensky's wife Olena told The Sun's Piers Morgan that Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine has brought the couple closer together.
Piers travelled to Kyiv for a world exclusive TalkTV sit-down chat with Ukraine's first couple – which will be shown tomorrow at 8pm.
Speaking together for the first time to international media, the Zelenskys opened up about their relationship since the Vladimir Putin's vicious attack on Ukraine.
The couple have been married for almost 20 years after first meeting while they were at school – and they have two children, a son Kyrylo and a daughter Oleksandra.
"I agree with the theory that marriage gets stronger with challenges. I think in our case it would be the same," she told Piers.
"We have become more interested in each other. I think in our case it will be the same story.
"We have got something else to say to each other. That is why I wish that this challenge can make us more united.”
- Louis Allwood
Russian forces charge almost 100 Ukrainians with crimes against humanit
Shockingly, Moscow’s top investigative committee have charged 92 Ukrainians for crimes against peace, and security of humanity.
Reportedly another 96 are wanted.
The claims were reported by a government news outlet belonging to Russia.
Currently, Ukraine is investigating around 21,000 war crimes, since February this year.
- Louis Allwood
Space announcement comes amid rising tensions with the West
Russian space officials have previously mentioned a plan to leave the ISS in 2024 but this is the first time it's been officially confirmed by the head of Roscosmos.
Russia's announcement comes amid rising tensions with the West as the Kremlin continues the war in Ukraine.
Right now, Russian cosmonauts are currently onboard the ISS with European astronauts.
The ISS is actually a combination of two space stations.
One is known as the Russian segment and one is known as the American module.
- Louis Allwood
Putin health scare
Vladimir Putin required paramedics at his bedside after he suffered a "severe" health scare on the weekend, new reports have claimed.
According to the Telegram channel which claims to monitor the Russian leader's health, Vladimir Putin suffered a case of "severe nausea".
This occurred overnight on Friday into Saturday morning, as medical professionals reportedly rushed to his bedside.
The medical help stayed with the dictator for around three hours according to the General SVR channel.
It is thought he may even be replaced by a body double, or "deepfakes," forging his appearance while he recovers from the mystery illness.
This comes after Britain's MI6 director announced: "There is no evidence that Putin is suffering from serious illness," which Richard Moore told a security summit in America last week.
- Louis Allwood
Klitschko brothers tell Piers Morgan of tortured kids and bodies crushed by tanks
The Klitschko brothers have revealed the horrors of the war in Ukraine in a moving chat with The Sun's Piers Morgan.
Piers flew to Kyiv for a world exclusive TalkTV sit-down chat with the boxing legends – which will be shown tonight at 8pm.
The brothers are now heroically standing up for their country against Russia's brutal invasion.
Wladimir and Vitali have been on the frontline of the fight against Vladimir Putin – with all out war raging in Ukraine for the best part of six months.
Ukraine continues to mount a valiant defence against the the much larger Russian invading force – being supported with weapons and aide from a Western effort being led by Britain.
But the war has seen atrocities committed routinely by the Russians, with cities left decimated, civilians brutalised, and children killed.
- Louis Allwood
Russia to withdraw from International Space Station
Russia has said it will withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) after 2024.
They will instead focus on building their own orbital outpost.
Yuri Borisov, who was appointed to lead the state-controlled space corporation Roscosmos earlier this month said "the decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made."
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