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Last war between Russia and Ukraine: Russia says the warship was “severely damaged” after an explosion of ammunition; The United States will send $ 800 million in military aid to Ukraine – live Ukraine

16 seconds ago06: 37

Negotiations are under way to exchange 169 servicemen from Ukraine’s National Guard who were captured at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukrainian authorities said.

The Ministry made the announcement in an update of the Telegram communications application, referring to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denis Monastyrsky.

Chernobyl is a tragic page in our history. Unfortunately, we have to state that 169 servicemen from the National Guard were captured there.

Today, some of them, according to our information, are located in the Republic of Belarus, some – in Russia. We were at the place where they were kept. This is a dungeon without light, without the possibility of proper communication. They were deprived of all means of communication while they were there. And then they took them out. Unfortunately, I can’t say what their fate is.

Negotiations are underway for their exchange. But we understand that this will probably happen only after the end of the active phase of hostilities.

2 minutes ago 06:35

Here are some of the latest images that will come out of Ukraine today.

A 12-year-old boy is holding a cat standing on the rubble of his house, destroyed by shelling by Russian forces on the outskirts of Chernihiv, Ukraine.

His mother, Ludmila Koval, had to amputate her leg and was wounded in the abdomen after the shooting. She is still awaiting appropriate medical treatment, the Associated Press reports.

Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine, was besieged by Russian forces.

Shells and bombs raining down the city for weeks have turned its buildings and neighborhoods into ruins.

Danik Rak, 12, is holding a cat standing on the rubble of his house, destroyed by shelling by Russian forces on the outskirts of Chernihiv, Ukraine. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / APA Ukrainian stands among the ruins in a residential area damaged by shelling in Lisichansk, Ukraine Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty Images. Shooting by Russian forces on the outskirts of Chernihiv, Ukraine. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / AP8m before 06:29

The United States is sending $ 800 million in military aid to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden had earlier announced $ 800 million in military aid to Ukraine, including heavy artillery, ahead of a wider Russian attack expected in eastern Ukraine.

The package, which brought total military aid to more than $ 2.5 billion since the Russian invasion in February, includes artillery systems, artillery shells, armored personnel carriers and unmanned coastal defense boats, Biden said in a statement after a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Vladimir. Green.

This new aid package will include many of the high-performance weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities in line with the wider attack we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine. These new capabilities include artillery systems, artillery shells and armored personnel carriers.

Biden also said he approved the transfer of additional helicopters, saying the equipment provided to Ukraine was “critical” as it faced the invasion.

“We can’t rest now. “As I assured President Zelensky, the American people will continue to stand by the brave Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom,” Biden said.

As @POTUS assured @ZelenskyyUa today, we continue to stand by the brave Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom. To this end, this latest support package contains many of the high-performance weapon systems we have already provided, along with critical new capabilities. pic.twitter.com/kwbp2tPvoP

– Minister of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) April 14, 2022

The new package includes 11 Mi-17 helicopters and 18,155 mm howitzers, along with 40,000 artillery shots, anti-artillery radars, 200 armored personnel carriers and 300 additional Switchblade drones.

This will be the first time howitzers have been provided to Ukraine by the United States.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said some systems, such as howitzers and radars, would require additional training for Ukrainian forces not used to using US military equipment.

“We are aware of the clock and we know that time is not our friend,” Kirby said when asked about the speed of supply.

27 minutes ago 06:11

Russia says the warship was “severely damaged” after an explosion of ammunition

Russia’s defense ministry says the entire crew of the Moscow warship, which was reportedly hit by two Ukrainian missiles in the Black Sea late Wednesday night, was “severely damaged” after an explosion of ammunition and a fire on the ship. .

The ship was known to have been challenged by Ukrainian troops on Snake Island at the start of the war. Moscow is the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet.

“The cruiser” Moscow “of the Black Sea Fleet was seriously damaged as a result of the detonation of ammunition caused by fire, the crew was evacuated,” Russian state media told TASS, citing the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“As a result of the fire, ammunition was detonated on the missile cruiser” Moscow “. The ship is badly damaged. The crew was completely evacuated, “the ministry added.

Earlier this evening, Ukraine said it had struck and damaged a Russian warship in the Black Sea, according to a telegram sent by Odessa Governor Maxim Marchenko.

The missile cruiser “Moscow” went exactly where it was sent by our border guards to Snake Island! Glory to Ukraine! 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/zqfdWI7EsA

– Armed Forces 🇺🇦 (@ArmedForcesUkr) 14 April 2022 The Russian warship Moscow, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, was known to have been provoked by Ukrainian troops on Snake Island at the start of the war. Photo: Alexei Pavlishak / Reuters

“Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage to the Russian ship. Glory to Ukraine! “Marchenko’s message read.

“It has been confirmed that today the missile cruiser” Moscow “went exactly where it was sent by our border guards to Snake Island!”

On the first day of the invasion, the small garrison rejected calls from the ship to surrender, telling the ship to “fuck off.”

Aide to Ukrainian President Alexei Arestovich said the 12,500-ton ship could have up to 510 crew members on board.

Russian news agencies reported that Moscow was armed with 16 Vulcan anti-ship cruise missiles with a range of at least 700 km (440 miles).

Last month, Ukraine said it had destroyed a large Russian landing ship, the Orsk, in the smaller Sea of ​​Azov northeast of the Black Sea.

This satellite image, provided by Maxar Technologies, shows the cruiser Moscow in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on April 7. Photo: AP32m before 06:05

Summary and welcome

Hello and welcome back to the Guardian’s live broadcast of the war in Ukraine.

My name is Samantha Locke and I will present all the latest developments before my colleague Martin Bellam takes over later.

Here is the current situation:

  • Russia’s defense ministry says the entire crew of the warship Moscow, which was reportedly hit by Ukraine in the Black Sea late Wednesday, was evacuated after an explosion of ammunition led to the ship’s fire. “The cruiser” Moscow “of the Black Sea Fleet was seriously damaged as a result of the detonation of ammunition caused by fire, the crew was evacuated,” Russian state media told TASS, citing the Russian Ministry of Defense. The ship was challenged by Ukrainian troops on Snake Island at the start of the war.
  • A Ukrainian official previously said that “Moscow” was hit by two missiles, but did not provide any evidence. The 12,500-ton ship has a crew of about 500 people.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for an oil embargo in his address Wednesday night. “First of all, we need an oil embargo. And the clear readiness of Europe to give up all Russian energy. The European Union must stop sponsoring Russia’s military machine.
  • Zelenski confirmed that criminal investigators from the International Criminal Court visited Bucha on Wednesday to investigate possible war crimes. “The responsibility of the Russian military for war crimes is inevitable. We will drag them all to the tribunal. And not only for what was done in Bucha. ” International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan told reporters that “Ukraine is a crime scene” following a visit to Bucha on Wednesday.
  • US President Joe Biden has announced additional $ 800 million in military aid to Ukraine, including heavy artillery, ahead of a wider Russian attack expected in eastern Ukraine. The package, which brought total military aid to more than $ 2.5 billion since the Russian invasion in February, includes artillery systems, artillery shells, armored personnel carriers and unmanned boats for coastal defense, Biden said in a statement after a telephone conversation with Zelensky.
  • The US State Department on Wednesday defended Biden’s accusation that Russia was committing genocide in Ukraine, saying its forces were trying to destroy the country and its civilian population. Biden made the first accusation against President Vladimir Putin’s forces on Tuesday, saying it was “becoming clearer and clearer that Putin is simply trying to erase the idea of ​​even being a Ukrainian.” U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Newland told CNN: “I will predict that what President Biden called it is what we will probably find out in the end when we manage to gather all this evidence. Because what happens on earth is not accidental.
  • French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to reiterate Biden’s accusation that Russia is committing “genocide” against Ukrainians, warning that verbal escalations will not help end the war. Zelenski replied: “Such things are very painful for us, …