Dan Sabbagh
@dansabbagh
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Reporter @guardian. Defence and security editor.
Joined May 2009
Yvette Cooper asks in the Commons whether Alexander Lebedev was trying to arrange a private phone call between Johnson and *Sergey Lavrov* during the infamous off the books visit to Italy in April 2018. "Covering up over national security is a disgrace," the Labour MP adds.
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Russia is sustaining "1200, 1300 even 1500" casualties a day in its current offensive, mostly in Bakhmut. Killed to wounded ratio is one to three - senior Nato official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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Brexit cuts cost of red tape latest: £68 for a visa to cover the NATO summit in Madrid next week. Thanking my colleagues on right wing newspapers for this efficiency.
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Currently waiting in an underpass at Kyiv station after multiple drone strikes nearby. One explosion after I first arrived, the look of fear on some peoples faces. What a way to start a day
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Did Boris Johnson dodge a 'golden showers' moment?Newly released emails show that the PM, when London mayor, appeared keen on a two day private trip to Russia with Evgeny Lebedev in June 2014, tacked onto an official visit.
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Russia has taken 20,000 to 30,000 casualties in trying to take Bakhmut, killed to wounded ratio could be worse than one to three - Western officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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Western official: raid on Saky airbase knocked out "more than half" of Russia's combat naval aviation in Black Sea. Such raids for good for Ukrainian morale but overall "combat stasis" remains.
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Ukraine is taking "an order of magnitude less" - no figure given - in fighting where "several thousand" shells a day have been consumed on both sides.
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Ukraine ammunition expenditure currently running ahead of western production, official concedes, but no sign of defenders losing the city. However, there is a defensible ring of hills to the west that Ukraine army can retreat to if needed.
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Ukraine counter offensive may or may not come relatively quickly. Russians fear an attack south from Zaporizhzhia or in northern Luhansk. First half of the year critical for Ukraine to train and build capability, official adds.
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This is wild. A Ukrainian drone steals a Russian radio by hoicking it from the ground, allowing the Ukrainians to eavesdrop on Russian comms for nine days. .
А це дрон, який ми з вами купили підрозділу К2, забирає радєйку вбитого окупанта. Ці пентюхи не перепрошили зв’язок, тож наші ще 9 днів слухали секретні розмови окупантів. І чим більше було розмов, тим менше ставало окупантів ;)). Щоб було більше дронів: .
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On China - still no sign of Beijing supplying lethal aid to Moscow - but the senior Nato official warns it has not been taken off the table either. Intense western focus on this, not surprisingly.
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Is GB News a hiding in plain sight earnings racket for Conservative MPs? Channel has paid out 600x more to Tories compared to Labour. Perhaps Ofcom will notice. by my colleague @peterwalker99 .
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Unclear how long the battle for Bakhmut will continue. Front line in the city runs along the river which has become a "killing zone". Grim, intense fighting although signs shelling slightly abating.
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Tony Radakin, UK head of armed forces, says of Ukraine "the full counter offensive still hasn't happened". Describes Kyiv's current strategy as "starve, stretch and strike" to gradually break apart Russian defensive lines.
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Another Ukrainian village liberation video, S of Velyka Novosilka. This time Storozheve, also S of Neskuchne and W of Blahodatne, both formally claimed yesterday. This time its the 35th marine brigade (joining 68th + 129th in the area). Incremental, but real progress.
The Ukrainian 35th Marine Brigade liberate Storozheve. Source:
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Drove all day to get to Kherson, fifteen months in the front line and now its low-lying districts are being flooded. Water levels are rising 6 to 8cm every half hour since the Nova Kakhovka dam burst, as measured by Larysia Musian (fourth pic). 📷 Sean Nolan
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Spring has arrived in Kyiv, bright sun and a high of 14c. Another winter overcome, even if the war continues. A good time to be back
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"The police believe. that the people who tried to kill me in Ukraine, and possibly in Germany, will try again. I want to live. That’s why I’m writing this".
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Vicky Ford, who still seems to be a foreign office minister, clearly has no idea about this critical allegation as she responds. And fails to address Cooper's question - was Johnson, as foreign minister, being dragged into private talks with Russia.
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Russian mil blogger War Gonzo wrote on Telegram a couple of hours ago that situation on southern Donetsk front (Velyka Novosilka - Vuhledar) grows 'more alarming by the hour'
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Back in kherson. Water has risen 200m up the road in 24 hours
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Western officials say Ukraine has "pushed back" Russian forces at "several points" around Kherson, but decline to give any further details. Estimate Russia has c20k troops in the Kherson pocket. Heavy caution it is too soon to determine if Ukraine attack is succeeding however.
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Extraordinary footage of today's attack on Sevastopol apparently from Ukraine drone cameras, via journalist Andriy Tsaplienko, suggesting Russian missile carrying warships were hit, incl flagship Admiral Makarov . Original:
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So, Boris Johnson finally admits he met former KGB agent (and Evening Standard owner) Alexander Lebedev "without officials" in 2018 to MPs when he was foreign secretary - although he seemed to be most embarrassed about admitting it was in Italy.
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Russia can replace 20,000 to 30,000 casualties a month meaning it can attack across the Ukrainian front. in some places, like the Serebryansky forest, months of attacks have been held off by units like Azov. But can the whole line hold?.
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Second liberation announced by Ukrainian forces (7th batt, 129th brigade) today, though happened on Sat. Neskuchne 2m SW of Velyka Novosilka (and N of Blahodatne, previously claimed by 68th brigade).
Officially - “On June 10, the 7th separate battalion AREY of 129th brigade liberated the settlement of Neskuchne”
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Here is the Foreign Office disclosure of Johnson's trip. No reference, curiously, to Alexander Lebedev, frmr KGB agent.
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Sherp all terrain rescue vehicle waiting for a call out. It can drive, and it can float when needed
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From Kharkiv: a city under aerial attack. Regular bombing, electricity short, air defences non-existent, politicians anxious - but for now only a small number of residents leaving. Can it hold without US aid?.
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John Healey, Labour's shadow defence sec:. "Given that the Prime Minister has been campaigning on the idea young people should complete a year’s national service, what does it say that he appears to have been unable to complete a single afternoon of it?"
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What is the point of broadcasting this?.
In an exclusive interview with Sky's @markaustintv the Russian Ambassador to the UK says Russia is trying to reduce Ukraine's military capabilities because it has become threatening to Russia and denies targeting civilians. 📺 Sky 501 and YouTube
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What a ridiculous headline from Unherd (whose publisher owns half of GB News. )
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Check out the small print on Sunak's defence pledge - includes money spent on Ukraine, Middle East/Yemen, parts of the intelligence budget too. So this takes defence spending on govt math to 2.32% of GDP - meaning that lifting to 2.5% by 2030 is not so dramatic
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Struggling with idea that it's okay for a serving spy chief, the head of GCHQ, is allowed by the BBC to become guest editor of the Today programme. In an interview at the end even Jeremy Fleming briefly concedes the point: ."It is a bit odd isn't it".
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Vladimir Putin would have wanted to stage a victory parade down Khreshchatyk, Kviv’s main shopping street. Instead he got this: a rusting display of burnt out Russian armour, the trophies of Ukrainian survival, endurance and unity.
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I'm on Korean Air plane that clipped an Icelandair plane at Heathrow - a passenger on the other side saw the incident told me the wing of our plane damaged the others' tail. Pic from earlier of the police and fire on the ground credit: Noah Sabbagh
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Reports coming in from locals of a dire humanitarian situation the town across the river from Kherson, Russian troops either fled or holed up in high buildings while there was no evacuation plan for civilians.
Before/after views of flooding in town of Oleshky, a town under Russian occupation on the left/east bank of the Dnipro, May 15 and June 7. (location: 46.615, 32.692).📸: @Maxar
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Blahodatne liberated says Ukraine's 68th brigade - video on their Facebook page - village is 3 miles S of Velyka Novosilka on Donetsk front.
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Several hundred gathering outside the Russian embassy right now, chanting "Stop Putin, stop the war".
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Starmer responds to Putin threats - as he flies to meet Biden - it's your war, you can end it; we have every right to defend Ukraine. Doesn't announce Storm Shadow decision - but it's been made.
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Johnny Mercer backs down and agrees to help SAS Afghanistan inquiry - threat of jail for former MP lifted at least for "for the time being"
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Looking like a multiple missile attack in and around Kyiv and elsewhere potentially targeted at energy, utilities etc. Sirens on since 7am and several (distant, from where I am) explosions heard.
Footage of shooting down one of the missiles in the skies of Kyiv Oblast. 📹
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I think there is a problem with my plane (yep, it's Heathrow)
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No equivalent figure for Ukrainian defenders is offered, other than "less than that" - but others have spoken of five Russians to one Ukrainian and even higher. Hard to assess in this hell on earth fighting.
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Radakin insists war is slowly going Ukraine's way. "Even in the last few weeks. Ukraine has taken more ground than Russia has taken in the last year". and . "Russia is so weak, it does not have the strength for a significant counter offensive".
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Extraordinary. The Home Office has officially discovered there are *security* risks to giving foreign billionaires British visas on the basis of their wealth alone.
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None of these three brigades are listed (in the Discord leaks) as having been kitted with western weapons, interestingly.
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Western officials - on impact of G7 agreeing a price cap on Russian oil. Would be "a major step forward" in slashing Kremlin income incl "the chilling effects it will have on other countries" who do buy Russian oil because they can "drive much harder price bargains".
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Ukrainian soldiers on the original video say Russians lost 50 dead and they took 4 prisoners, and captured a truck (pictured) full of ammo. Link:
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It was a Conservative government (Liz Truss) that took the decision to open talks on sovereignty of the Chagos islands with a view to transfer to Mauritius.
This is absolutely appalling. Surrendering sovereignty here creates read across to other British bases. It's a weak and deeply regrettable act from this government:. UK will give sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
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Zero degrees and driving snow in frontline Donbas city of Kostyantynivka today. Looks like a Christmas card but thudding artillery is audible in the distance, aimed at Chasiv Yar, a few k away. War carries on, whatever the weather
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"Russia has managed to normalise these civilian missile strikes, and even though it’s possible to identify the type of weapon and prove that something was a civilian target. ". War crimes are not normal. by @ngumenyuk.
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Ukraine railway map, Lviv station. Not all lines fully operational sadly but the trains to Kyiv run just fine, as they always did…I’m heading over for the fifth time since the war began. Reporting to come
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Kyiv, Sunday afternoon by the mighty Dnieper. Life is for living.
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Wrong for Lineker to tweet out his political opinions (because the BBC is supposed to be impartial) - but quite right for the Home Office to use BBC news (and one of its best known faces) to promote its migration bill? Who can keep up?.
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. it's unfair to speculate or hold Ukraine to timelines, says Radakin, rejecting talk that the counter offensive is going slowly. Counter offensive was "never a singular act" is also economic and diplomatic he adds.
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Extraordinary story from Ivan, a Ukrainian soldier recovering in Dnipro. After watching three of his comrades killed in the Donbas front line he nearly gave in. Reinforcements found him in a trench holding a grenade, waiting to blow himself up if the Russians got to him first.
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Explosion came in 1 - 2 minutes after the sirens. Not heard that happen so fast. Suggests a ballistic missile but this is my supposition.
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Some people interview themselves. Was fortunate to meet w Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize winner + human rights activist Oleksandra Matviichuk, who unfolded a lucid argument as to why the intl legal community should act on Russian war crimes now.
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Ranking at half time. Badenoch - 1.Sunak - 2.Mordaunt - 3 .Tugendhat - 4.Truss - 5. NB they are all Tories.
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I spent two days in Mykolaiv, Ukraine last week. It is cynically shelled most days by the Russians and over 148 civilians have been killed. There has been no mains drinking water since March either - but the defiance of the residents is remarkable -->.
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Visited the flooded area of Kherson w photographer @EdR4m and translator @ArtemMazhulin. Astounded by the resilience + determination of most locals in the face of still rising waters. For now it is about survival, the long reconstruction is to come. 📸 Sean Nolan
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Ukrainian families may have been displaced from their homes near the border as a result of the incursion into Russia - but they largely support the attack and understand the reasoning. "I felt euphoria," said one woman I spoke to today.
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Today we were in the village of Bilozerka, west of Kherson, where two dozen houses were underwater. It took 24 hours for the flood to come, when it did some were inundated within an hour and a half. A lifetime of possessions lost, many pets and animals too
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Reviewing notes from earlier. Western official indicated they believe attacks in occupied Kherson, Crimea also Belarus are likely the work of special forces / partisans without making a firm attribution. "Ukraine is achieving kinetic effects deep behind enemy lines".
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Western official: Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant should be able to withstand most direct military fire. Built strong enough to resist impact of a civilian airliner. Concerns focused around whether plant suffers a loss of cooling due to loss of back up electricity.
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Western official: estimates Russia has "low thousands" of troops in Kherson + west of Dnipro. Russia has pontoon bridges and two ferry bridges to bring reinforcements despite the damaged main bridges. But they are "not as effective" for resupply.
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Shuttle bus to Nato summit with not at all subtle Ukrainian propaganda painted on
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Spanish officials tell me this visa is also required for fashion models. This can't be right surely. .
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Not sure residents had processed the scale of the disaster yet, but after 15 months of conflict can you blame them? One complained about the absence of sandbags, but perhaps not surprising civil defence is under pressure. PS this is a street:
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A dispatch from the southern Donbas frontline with sensational pix from @EdR4m - how Ukraine's drones are helping defeat the Russians around the town of Vuhledar. If it is the start of the Russian spring offensive, it has been a disaster.
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There's a lot to take in, in this story. ‘They enjoyed this’: Ukrainian woman from Enerhodar recounts a five-month nightmare of torture and imprisonment from its Russian occupiers .
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Ukraine's forces are broadly ready to start a counter offensive says a Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Key point is the "cognitive effect" any attack has on the Kremlin. It is "more important, arguably than cleaving through Russian lines" they add.
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Near the Donbas frontlines. Still civilians around, wounded, terrified amid Russian shelling. Pointless and depressing. What a fucking war.
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If involvement of US, UK and others is confirmed shortly, it does raise the question as to why these countries aren't willing to do the same for Ukraine. Is saving lives through air defence really escalatory?.
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Ukraine is also using Storm Shadow effectively, Radakin states. Although the long range guided missile is "reasonably sophisticated, but not at the super top end," he says, "it is defeating Russian air defence" because of added modifications.
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Battle for Bakhmut "may well last for another month," the official said, or "Ukrainians could decide to leave within a week". Nobody knows in short, but is it still worth Ukraine fighting to defend a small city of no great strategic significance?.
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"Despite her best efforts, the political project Truss had spent the summer constructing ended up falling apart in 24 hours.". Great read on Tory woes from @breeallegretti.@jessicaelgot.@PippaCrerar.
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Last day in Kyiv, just so beautiful in this city. Am in no doubt that when this sodding war is over that tourism here will be off the scale. And Ukraine will need all the money it can get.
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It took over five years for the British army to admit former soldier, Ebrima Bayo, was a victim of ‘anti-Islamic bias’ when he was discriminated against for trying to observe Ramadan.
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An unelected monarch appoints a prime minister without a general election. Britain 2022.
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Looks like UK is involved in trying to help shoot down Iranian drones and missiles tonight as rumours swirl of involvement of RAF Typhoons from Akrotiri. Downing St operational update coming soon.
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You have to love a night train in Ukraine. A room for the night with a supply of bread, cheese and crisps. Good to be back
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Russia has lost around 2,000 or 2,500 tanks in 18 months of fighting Radakin tells MPs, but can only replace them at the rate of 200 a year.
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Five explosions over Kyiv in the past 20 minutes or so, but quiet for the moment. Spotted one thin rocket trail in the distance coming up from the ground, which you can just about make out
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Ukraine fears western support will fade as media loses interest while frontline pressure remains intense and casualties mount. My latest after a week in Kyiv --->.
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Ben Wallace to MPs: "Today, I can confirm that the UK is donating Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine".
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Western official: significant efforts being made to understand if Ukraine can mount a successful counter attack in the south. Such attacks are not without risk. Near term unclear: "Both we and the Kremlin are entering unchartered territory".
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Joe Biden welcomes UK-Mauritius agreement over Chagos Islands, notes US base will remain in place 'into the next century'
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“We have plenty of kalashnikovs and machine guns. If we get enough heavy arms Russia will not be able to go any further. The west can change the outcome of this war.”. Dispatch from @lukeharding1968 in the front line city of Mykoliav.
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Rishi Sunak promises "hundreds of new long-range attack drones" to 🇺🇦 today. What are they? UK MoD is not saying. An expert specialising in UK drones says he has "absolutely no idea" and "the UK does not have such a capability". No doubt somebody knows.
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Safe now for children to play on, and for adults to peer at. Destroyed Russian armour and spent missile casings now displayed open air in a relatively safe Kyiv. Not so much history but reality
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Britain's MoD says RAF Typhoons have struck two targets in Yemen . - Bani NW Yemen - said to be a drone launch site.- Abbs airfield, also NW Yemen, drone and missile launch site. Adds "particular care" was taken to minimise impact on civilians but strike impact not yet clear
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Full email from Edward Lister, then Johnson's chief of staff, outlining plans for the mayor's potential Russia visit - including the "private weekend" with the owner of the Evening Standard:
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More explosions in Kyiv’s Shevchenkiv district reports Mayor Klitschko. Here’s what we saw earlier, some blocks away. Deliberately timed morning rush hour attack
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An initial analysis on Ukraine's counter attack and today's front line developments.
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