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Ukraine-Russia war updates: Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is concentrating troops in eastern regions, New Zealand to send C-130 Hercules and personnel to assist

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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told South Korea's National Assembly in a video address that Russia is concentrating thousands of troops in Ukraine's eastern regions, saying his country will "need more help if we are to survive this war".

Take a look back at Monday's events in our blog. 

Key events

Live updates

By Caitlyn Davey

Closing the blog

We're going to wrap up the blog there, but we'll be back tomorrow with more updates. 

Stay safe. 

By Caitlyn Davey

Russia says it destroyed S-300 missile systems given to Ukraine by European state

Russia says it has used cruise missiles to destroy S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems which had been supplied to Ukraine by an unidentified European country.

Russia launched Kalibr cruise missiles on Sunday against four S-300 launchers which were concealed in a hangar on the outskirts of the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, the defence ministry said.

Russia says 25 Ukrainian troops were hit in the attack.

"High-precision sea-launched Kalibr missiles destroyed the equipment of a S-300 anti-aircraft missile division which had been delivered to the Kyiv regime by a European country," the ministry said.

Russia did not say which European country had supplied the S-300 systems.

By Caitlyn Davey

ICYMI: Accounts of torture and kidnapping continue to emerge in Ukraine's north

Evidence of widespread atrocities continue to emerge in the wake of the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine's north.

Watch it on YouTube. 

By Caitlyn Davey

Zelenskyy asks South Korea for weapons 'from airplanes to tanks' 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked South Korea for weaponry in an appeal, saying he expects Russian attacks to amplify in coming days. 

He did not specify which weapons he sought, but said South Korea had many weapons that could not only help save the lives of ordinary Ukrainians, but help prevent Russia from attacking other nations.

"Ukraine needs various military technologies from airplanes to tanks," he said through an interpreter. "South Korea can help us."

By Caitlyn Davey

Germany's Foreign Minister says evidence of war crimes 

The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says there is "massive evidence" of war crimes committed in Ukraine by Russian troops. Speaking in Luxembourg, she told reporters: "In the end the courts will have to decide, but for us it is central to secure all evidence." 

By Caitlyn Davey

Russian offensive moves east  the map 

By Caitlyn Davey

Russia's offensive in the east going to be brutal and bloody says retired general

Sitting down to peace talks with Russians would be difficult but, if it stopped another massacre, it would have to be done.

In an interview with ABC's PM, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba revealed how tough his people would find it in facing their invaders.

"It's extremely difficult to sit down with people who … find excuses for all these atrocities … who have inflicted such tremendous damage on Ukraine," he said.

"But I understand one thing — if sitting down with the Russians will help me to prevent at least one massacre like Bucha … I have to take that opportunity."

However, retired Major General Mick Ryan warned the war was moving to another phase in the east and it would be long and brutal.

"We're seeing the Ukrainian government recommend its citizens leave the east of the country. It knows this fight. This coming Russian offensive in the east is going to be brutal. It's going to be bloody and it's going to be a long fight of attrition," he said.

"The Ukrainian government, unlike the Russians, is trying to save its own civilians from this kind of warfare."

He also said he believed Russia deliberately triggered the refugee crisis to negatively impact the West.

"It's part of the Russian playbook. It's exactly what they did in Syria."

By Caitlyn Davey

French agents arrive in Lviv to investigate war crimes

France has sent several specialist police to Ukraine to assist with the investigation into claims of war crimes committed in Kyiv towns. 

The team arrived today in Lviv. 

By Caitlyn Davey

Jacinda Ardern says conflict at a great distance, but still significant to New Zealand 

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the country is playing a significant part in supporting Ukraine. 

Prime Minister Ardern announced New Zealand was deploying a C-130 Hercules aircraft and a 50-person team to Europe to help with the transport and distribution of aid to the war-torn nation. 

"This is a conflict at a great distance to New Zealand, but still of significance to New Zealand," Ms Ardern said.

"What is happening in Ukraine has an impact on the entire world. It is a threat to the sovereignty of a nation and that is why we are playing our part in a significant way."

By Caitlyn Davey

EU discusses embargo on Russian oil

The European Union's executive is drafting proposals for a possible EU oil embargo on Russia, the foreign ministers of Ireland, Lithuania and the Netherlands say, although there is still no agreement to ban Russian crude.

"They are now working on ensuring that oil is part of the next sanctions package," Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said of the European Commission as he arrived for a meeting with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg.

By Caitlyn Davey

Drone footage shows the damage in Mariupol in Ukraine's south-east.

By Caitlyn Davey

Key Event

Tens of thousands likely killed in Mariupol 

That's according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Mariupol in Ukraine's south-east has suffered heavy shelling and was the site of the theatre attack. 

By Caitlyn Davey

'We need more help if we are to survive this war' says Zelenskyy 

That's what the Ukrainian President said while addressing the South Korean National Assembly in a video address. 

By Caitlyn Davey

Key Event

Zelenskyy says Russia assembling thousands of troops for next offensive 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also told South Korea's National Assembly that Russia was concentrating tens of thousands of troops for its next offensive as it focused on Ukraine's eastern regions. 

By Caitlyn Davey

Zelenskyy tells South Koreans that war threatens all of Europe, not just Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told South Korean leaders that the current invasion threatens all of Europe not just Ukraine.

In a video address to the National Assembly of South Korea, Mr Zelenskyy said more than 300 hospitals have been destroyed in the Russian attacks and that the invaders would not stop until they were forced to withdraw. 

By Caitlyn Davey

Tiny kitten rescued in Borodyanka

A small kitten has been rescued from the ruins in Borodyanka after rescuers heard her crying. 

By Caitlyn Davey

More than 1,200 bodies found in Kyiv towns 

Accusing Moscow of war crimes, Ukraine says it has discovered a trail of more than 1,220 bodies outside Kyiv in towns where the Russian army has retreated.

"We have actually now, only for this morning, 1,222 dead people only in Kyiv region," Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said in an interview, without specifying how many of those were civilians. 

She says 5,600 cases have been opened into alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces since the start of the February 24 invasion.

At least two bodies were discovered in a manhole at a petrol station west of Kyiv, an AFP reporter says.

By Caitlyn Davey

Ukrainian MP returns to Kyiv after witnessing sites of alleged war crimes in Bucha and Irpin

Ukrainian politician Oleksander Merezkhohas says life is returning to some sense of normality in Kyiv after weeks of intense shelling and fighting, but he fears for other parts of his country.

"Now it's much more cheerful and I see Kyiv is coming back to life," he told The World Today's Sally Sara.

"In the last few days I haven't heard explosions, so generally speaking Kyiv more and more looks like before."

The MP and Chair of Ukrainian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, who has remained in Kyiv along with his wife and two young daughters, said it seems more people are coming back, lights were on once again in empty apartments and cafes and restaurants were reopening.

But after touring places including Bucha and Irpin where it was clear residential buildings were targeted on purpose by Russian troops, he knows the fight is not yet over.

"We saw everything where some of the bodies remained, we saw whole buildings which were destroyed and charred walls and broken windows," he said.

"I spoke to people who survived and I noticed a fear in their eyes - people who survived this ordeal - they were scared."

He also saw a 'cemetery of cars' and some turned upside down by explosions and saw images of people trying to flee.

Mr Merezkhohas said he feared things would also get worse in the east and south.

"Putin needs a victory before Victory Day (May 9) and most likely he will start offensive in the coming days," he warned.

By Caitlyn Davey

Ukraine President is addressing the National Assembly of South Korea now

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is addressing South Korea's leaders via video link. We'll keep you updated with what he says. 

By Caitlyn Davey

Ukrainian nuns open their monastery doors to the displaced

Beneath the ancient beech forests of the Carpathian Mountains, a quiet monastery in the western Ukrainian village of Hoshiv has transformed itself into a giant playground for a dozen children who've been displaced by the war with their families.

Nuns at the Greek Catholic Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family, 100 kilometers from Lviv, have granted refuge to some 40 people fleeing fighting with Russian forces in eastern and central Ukraine.

The sound of birdsong and the gentle drone of prayers are a relief for 59-year-old Ryma Stryzhko, who fled from Kharkiv.

“It seemed that the planes were flying in the middle of the house. And you could hear the sound of bombing,” she recalled. She often had to duck behind cars as she was going to buy bread or medicines.

“After what we saw, (the monastery) is a paradise.”

The monastery is in itself a symbol of resilience, built after Ukraine’s independence in the early 1990s.

The previous monastery in the village had been closed by communist authorities while the area was part of the Soviet Union, and the nuns sent to Siberia.

“All our prayers are now focused on peace in Ukraine, for our soldiers, for those innocent people who died, who were murdered,” said Sister Dominica, the head nun.

Reporting by AP. 

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