Ukraine war latest: Kremlin claims foreign military instructors are operating in Ukraine (2024)

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba looks set to lose his role in a cabinet reshuffle.

The shake-up is designed to reenergise the war effort.

Mr Kuleba tendered his resignation on Wednesday, though the parliament is yet to accept it.

The foreign minister was likely forced out because he clashes with President Zelenskyy's head of office, Andriy Yermak, according to one source that spoke to Politico.

"Everyone knew they had conflict. I once even witnessed an episode of it," the unnamed official told Politico.

"Due to his post, Kuleba had well-established direct contacts with [US secretary of state Antony] Blinken, with [German foreign minister Annalena] Baerbock, and many others.

"Even if he was 300% loyal, the president's office could not leave such a communication channel in the hands of a person they are not fully sure is their person, if you know what I mean," added the source, who had been granted anonymity.

The report also suggests Mr Zelenskyy is facing a backlash over power grab accusations.

Ukraine's shock invasion of the Russian border region of Kursk has given it fresh momentum in a war which is nearing its 30th month.

Readers have been sending in their questions to our senior correspondents and military experts for their take on what could happen next.

Today, Chris innocent asks:

Could Zelenskyy's buffer zone idea lead to a possible neutralisation of this war?

Military analyst Sean Bell says this...

What appears most likely is that Ukraine is seeking to seize the initiative after a very difficult few weeks of Russian progress in the Donbas region.

Some reports have suggested that the Ukrainian incursion could bolster Ukraine's negotiation position in the event of some form of ceasefire; however, in the circ*mstances that appears unlikely.

President Putin's reputation in Russia as "Mr Security" has been damaged by the first "invasion" of Russian territory since 1941.

President Zelenskyy and his military leadership team probably judged that any incursion would prompt a ruthless reaction from the Russian president that would inevitably ease pressure on the embattled Ukrainian frontline in the Donbas. However, Russia's military response to the incursion has, to date, been limited.

Regardless, President Putin is very unlikely to accept any form of enforced compromise to his "special military operation".

Instead, the Kremlin is already reassuring the Russian domestic audience that the Ukrainian incursion is of limited scale and will be dealt with once the priority objectives in the Donbas have been achieved.

As a result it appears unlikely that the Ukrainian action will cause Russia to seek a negotiated solution - at least not yet.

One person has been killed and three others have been injured in a Russian shelling attack in eastern Ukraine, prosecutors have said.

Moscow's forces shelled a residential area in the town of Kostiantynivka in the early hours of this morning, they said.

In a post on Telegram, prosecutors in the Donetsk region said the attack used a multiple rocket launcher.

Kostiantynivka has long been viewed as a key target forRussian forces advancing slowly westward through Donetsk.

It lies northeast of Pokrovsk - the area currently seeing the heaviestfighting on the eastern frontline.

Part of Europe's largest nuclear power plant will probably need to be destroyed after it was damaged in a fire, a UN watchdog has said.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency made the comment during a visit to the Zaporizhzhia plant yesterday.

Rafael Grossi said the cooling tower would not be usable in the future and should be demolished.

The plant has been under Russian control since the early days of the war, with Moscow and Kyiv regularly accusing each other of attacking it.

Last month, a fire tore through the tower and both sides have blamed each other for triggering the blaze.

"Until today, we hadn't been able to get to this point, highup in the tower, so we can assess in a much better way thedamage that occurred," Mr Grossi said on X.

"This big structure is not usable inthe future, so it will probably be demolished at some point."

Earlier this week, Mr Grossi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said matters were "very fragile" at Zaporizhzhia.

Foreign military instructors have been working in Ukraine, the Kremlin has claimed.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agencies that instructors from different countries had been taking part in military actions and training Ukrainian forces.

He added that Russia would continue its military operation in the country until all of its aims were achieved, saying the US and Europe had shown no interest in finding a diplomatic solution.

Russia's strategic objective is to control Ukraine, the defence and security thinktank RUSI said.

It explained that the most recent surrender terms proposed by Russian intermediaries include Ukraine ceding the territory already under Russian control along with Kharkiv, and in some versions Odesa; agreeing not to join NATO; and maintaining a head of state approved by Russia.

The only significant concession Russia has suggested is that what is left of Ukraine can join the EU, it added.

Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Heavy Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities continued yesterday, with seven people killed in the western city of Lviv.

Another strike in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left five people injured.

Meanwhile, a senior official in Poland said the country was aiming to ramp up ammunition production in case Russia decided to attack NATO.

We'll be bringing you the latest updates throughout the day but, before we do, here's a recap of other key events from the last 24 hours:

• Ukraine's parliament approved thedismissal of four ministersin a mass cabinet reshuffle to bring "new energy" to the war effort;
• However, the high profile dismissal of foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has not yet been voted on;
• Ireland and Ukraine signeda co-operation dealafter Irish premier Simon Harris said it would provide a €43m (£36m) funding package;
• Russia's defence ministry said its forces had taken control of two Ukrainian settlements near the city of Pokrovsk;
• Belgorod Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said three people were killed and two injured after Ukraine shelled a village in the Russian border region.

Here's the latest situation on the ground...

That brings an end to our live coverage of the Ukraine war for this evening.

We'll be back with any major developments overnight and our rolling updates will continue soon.

Before we go, here's a reminder of the day's key events:

• Seven people were killed in an overnight strike in the western city of Lviv. One injured man lost his wife and three daughters - aged 21, 18 and seven - in the strike;
• Another strike in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown left five people injured;
• Poland said it aims to ramp up ammunition production in anticipation of a Russian attack on NATO;
• Ukraine's parliament approved the dismissal of four ministers in a mass Cabinet reshuffle to bring "new energy" to the war effort but the highest profile dismissal so far, of foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, has not yet been voted on;
• Ireland and Ukraine signed a co-operation deal after Irish premier Simon Harris said it would provide a €43m (£36m) funding package.

Military analyst Michael Clarke says the campaign, which started early last month, "is not hurting Russia as much as hoped".

Watch his full analysis here...

Three civilians were killedand two wounded by Ukrainian shelling in a village in Russia'sBelgorod border region, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has said.

The Belgorod region has come under frequent cross-bordershelling and drone attacks in the course of the war.

It isadjacent to the Kursk region where Ukrainian forces piercedRussia's western border last month in an incursion that Moscow'sforces are still fighting to repel.

The US is set to accuse Russia of a campaign to influence the 2024 elections using online platforms to target American voters with disinformation

CNN reported that Russian state media network RT will be a focus of theannouncement.

The news comes just hours before attorney general MerrickGarland is due to make public remarks at a meeting of theJustice Department's election threats task force.

The department had previously warned that Russiaremains a threat to November's presidential election.

In a speech last month, deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco warned that President Vladimir Putin "and his proxies are using increasinglysophisticated techniques in their interference operations".

She said: "They're targeting specific voter demographics andswing-state voters in an effort to manipulate presidential andcongressional election outcomes.

"They're intent on co-opting unwitting Americans onsocial media to push narratives advancing Russian interests.They’re working to diminish American support for Ukraine. Andthey’re always adapting."

Parts of the Republican Party has been hugely critical of billions worth of funding packages provided to Ukraine - with previous House of Representatives' bills caught up by divisions in the GOP.

Donald Trump has said he can resolve the Ukraine war withpossible peace talks that might require Kyiv to cede territory.

The Democratic Party has been broadly supportive of maintaining Ukrainian funding.