Russia's defence ministry said the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, a Moskva missile cruiser, was on fire on Thursday and has been badly damaged after ammunition on board was blown up as a result. Ukraine has taken responsibility for the incident, claiming it hit the 12,500 tonne ship with two anti-ship missiles.
According to Sky News, there was no evidence provided for this, but Odesa's governor Maksim Marchenko said on Telegram: "It has been confirmed that the missile cruiser Moscow today went exactly where it was sent by our border guards on Snake Island! Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage to the Russian ship. Glory to Ukraine!"
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has approved $800 million (£610m) in military assistance for Ukraine, including artillery and helicopters, to bolster its defences against a Russian offensive in the country’s east. Mr Biden announced the aid after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to coordinate the delivery of the assistance, which he said included artillery systems, artillery rounds and armoured personnel carriers, as well as helicopters.
“This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine,” Mr Biden said.
President Zelensky expressed "sincere gratitude" to the US after the announcement. In his nightly address, he also warned Russia will either seek peace, or be forced to "leave the international arena forever" following its invasion of Ukraine.
And he discussed the dangerous process of mine clearance in liberated areas of the north, warning: "Everyone who wants to return home to the liberated territory should be as careful as possible, as attentive as possible. And immediately inform the police and rescuers in case you find a strange object, an explosive object."
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Ukraine claims missile attack on Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship
Russia's defence ministry said the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, a Moskva missile cruiser, was on fire on Thursday and has been badly damaged after ammunition on board was blown up as a result. Ukraine has taken responsibility for the incident, claiming it hit the 12,500 tonne ship with two anti-ship missiles.
According to Sky News, there was no evidence provided for this, but Odesa's governor Maksim Marchenko said on Telegram: "It has been confirmed that the missile cruiser Moscow today went exactly where it was sent by our border guards on Snake Island! Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage to the Russian ship. Glory to Ukraine!"
In comments reported by the Tass news agency, Russia's defence ministry said: "As a result of a fire on the Moskva missile cruiser, ammunition detonated." The statement did not confirm what had caused the initial fire. The incident is still under investigation, but it has been confirmed that the 500-strong crew had all been saved.
It came as Ukraine warned that Russia was getting closer to taking control of Mariupol, one of Ukraine's major cities. Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday that the Mariupol's port had come under Russian control, and that 1,026 soldiers from Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade had surrendered.
Ukraine's general staff confirmed that Russian forces were attacking the port area but, despite soldiers based at Mariupol who have been fighting for weeks while running out of food, water and ammunition, there was no information about a surrender.
Biden agrees to send artillery and helicopters to Ukraine
US President Joe Biden approved $800 million (£610m) in military assistance for Ukraine, including artillery and helicopters, to bolster its defences against a Russian offensive in the country’s east. Mr Biden announced the aid after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to coordinate the delivery of the assistance, which he said included artillery systems, artillery rounds and armoured personnel carriers, as well as helicopters.
“This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine,” Mr Biden said. He added that the US will continue to work with allies to share additional weapons and resources as the conflict continues.
“The steady supply of weapons the United States and its allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion,” Mr Biden said. “It has helped ensure that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin failed in his initial war aims to conquer and control Ukraine. We cannot rest now.”
Zelensky: Russia will seek peace or leave international arena forever
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia will either seek peace, or be forced to "leave the international arena forever" following its invasion of Ukraine. In his nightly address on Wednesday, the president hailed "fruitful" negotiations with the leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, who visited Kyiv.
Zelensky again called for an embargo on Russian oil, saying: "The European Union must stop sponsoring Russia's military machine." And he spoke with international experts to determine measures to prevent Russia from exploiting "loopholes" in existing sanctions.
He expressed "sincere gratitude" to the US after talks with President Joe Biden, who has approved $800 million in military assistance for Ukraine, including artillery and helicopters, to bolster its defences against a Russian offensive in the country’s east.
And he discussed the dangerous process of mine clearance in liberated areas of the north, warning: "Everyone who wants to return home to the liberated territory should be as careful as possible, as attentive as possible. And immediately inform the police and rescuers in case you find a strange object, an explosive object."
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