
Suspect in killing of Russian general claims he was paid by Ukraine, Russia says
Lt Gen Moskalik was killed on Friday by a bomb in his car in Balashikha, just outside Moscow.
Ukrainian authorities did not comment on the attack, the second in four months targeting a top Russian military officer that Moscow has blamed on Ukraine amid the conflict between the neighbouring countries.
Lt Gen Igor Kirillov was killed on December 17 2024, when a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building exploded as he left for his office.
Ukraine's security agency acknowledged it was behind the attack.
Kirillov was the chief of Russia's Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces, the special troops tasked with protecting the military from the enemy's use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. His assistant also died in the attack.
Kirillov was under sanctions from several countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada, for his actions in the fighting in Ukraine.
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Wales Online
24 minutes ago
- Wales Online
12 new submarines set to be built in UK, the Government has announced
12 new submarines set to be built in UK, the Government has announced Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was due to say today: 'This plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country' John Healey appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg yesterday (Image: PA ) The Prime Minister was set to announce today, June 2, that the UK would build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and channel £15 billion into enhancing its warhead programme, as part of the Government's strategic defence review. The move will also support 30,000 jobs and is expected to create a further 40,000. The review includes 62 recommendations, with the Government expected to fully endorse significant investment in the UK's nuclear warhead programme during this parliament and the maintenance of the current arsenal. However, there has been some uncertainty regarding the Government's pledge to defence spending, following the Defence Secretary's inability to confirm whether the Treasury had secured funding to achieve a target of 3% of GDP by 2034. The construction of the new submarines, a key element of the Aukus alliance with the US and Australia, is expected to support 30,000 highly skilled jobs into the 2030s. It will also create 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate positions over the coming decade, according to the Ministry of Defence. Defence Secretary John Healey said: "Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression." Article continues below He added: "With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country." The Government's commitment to maintaining the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent, constructing a new fleet of Dreadnought submarines and delivering all future upgrades, will be supported by a £15 billion investment into the warhead programme. From the late 2030s, a fleet of up to 12 SSN-Aukus conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines will take over from the seven astute class attack submarines that the UK is set to begin operating. In line with the strategic defence review, the Government will also commit to: Getting the armed forces to a stage where it would be ready to fight a war Boosting weapons and equipment stockpiles and making sure there is capacity to scale up production if needed in a crisis or war Buying up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons in a move due to support 800 defence jobs Setting up a new cyber command and investing £1 billion in digital capabilities More than £1.5 billion of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing. Sir Keir Starmer was due to say: "From the supply lines to the front lines, this Government is foursquare behind the men and women upholding our nation's freedom and security. "National security is the foundation of my Plan for Change, and this plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country. "This strategic defence review will ensure the UK rises to the challenge and our armed forces have the equipment they need that keeps us safe at home while driving greater opportunity for our engineers, shipbuilders and technicians of the future." Both the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have expressed scepticism over Labour's commitment to financing what's proposed. After fulfilling its promise to elevate defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April, 2027, the Government has voiced its "ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament". Mr Healey told The Times there was "no doubt" the UK would hit the 3% mark. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . However, during Sunday's broadcast of BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Healey evaded the question regarding Treasury assurances for the proposed funding. He said he did not foresee an increase in armed forces personnel before the subsequent Parliamentary session amid ongoing recruitment and retention issues. Confronted with queries about when the Army might achieve its 73,000 personnel target, Mr Healey acknowledged: "We've narrowed the gap, but we've still got more people leaving than joining." His immediate priority is to reverse this trend before looking to expand numbers in the following Parliament. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: "All of Labour's Strategic Defence Review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them. "Whereas, far from guaranteeing the funding, John Healey has been hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves. As recently as Thursday, Healey promised that defence spending would definitely hit 3%, but today he's completely backtracked. "These submarines are not due to enter service till the late 2030s, so how can we have any confidence Labour will actually deliver them when they can't even sustain a policy on defence spending for more than 48 hours?". Lib Dem defence spokesperson Helen Maguire said: "This signals absolutely the right intent about the need to bolster the UK's defences in the face of Putin's imperialism and Trump's unreliability. "But this must come with a concrete commitment and detail on full funding. Labour's mere 'ambition' rather than commitment to reach 3% of GDP on defence leaves serious questions about whether the money for these projects will actually be forthcoming. "The 2034 timeline suggests a worrying lack of urgency from the Government. Unless Labour commits to holding cross-party talks on how to reach 3% much more rapidly than the mid-2030s, this announcement risks becoming a damp squib." Article continues below


Scottish Sun
32 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Russia's ‘Doomsday Radio' crackles into life after ‘Spiderweb' blitz – as Putin weighs options for terrifying revenge
SEEING RED Russia's 'Doomsday Radio' crackles into life after 'Spiderweb' blitz – as Putin weighs options for terrifying revenge Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSIA'S mysterious doomsday radio station called "The Buzzer" burst into action after Ukraine's daring Operation Spiderweb blitz. A raging Vladimir Putin is now said to be preparing for a terrifying revenge attack after Kyiv obliterated more than 40 Russian aircraft in a humiliating blow. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Radio station UVB-76 produces an eerie sound that buzzes 24 hours a day, seven days a week 5 The moment one of dozens of Ukrainian drones flies out of a truck in the Irkutsk region, in Siberia, before striking the 'Belaya' air base 5 Russian Tu-95 bombers burning 'en masse' according to a Ukrainian SBU source Credit: Ukraine's Security Service 5 Pictures show a huge stockpile of FPV drones hidden inside a secret compartment in a container Credit: 24 TV/SBU 5 Russian President Vladimir Putin pictured today after Ukraine's drone assault Credit: Reuters In the wake of the heavy losses, Russia's sinister doomsday radio burst into activity, spewing out codewords. Known to be used by the KGB during the height of the Cold War, Radio station UVB-76 has been continuously buzzing since the late '70s to allegedly exchange secret military messages. But its activity is known to increase following major military or political events. Among the cryptic words it uttered in Russian were Duck, Walrus, Meadow, Bee-eater, and Fun. While one knows what these eerie signals indicate, speculations are that they are linked to secret military operations or even nuclear protocols. UVB-76 transmits on the frequency 4625 kHz and is characterised by an eerie sound that buzzes 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It has been active this year previously after Putin's telephone calls with Donald Trump. A furious Putin is now expected to attack Ukraine in a revenge blitz. Just hours after Kyiv's audacious mass drone strike, Moscow launched, Russia launched a wave of retaliatory strikes overnight. The deadly strikes overnight killed five in Zaporizhzhia, injured six in Sumy, and several more in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian authorities. It comes as Russian and Ukrainian delegations are set to meet today in Istanbul for a second round of peace talks. Follow our live blog below as we bring you the latest updates...


STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
UK to be 'war-ready' as Government to build up to 12 attack submarines
The UK will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and invest £15bn in its warhead programme, the Prime Minister will announce on Monday as the Government unveils its strategic defence review. Significant investment in the UK nuclear warhead programme this parliament and maintaining the existing stockpile are among the 62 recommendations that the Government is expected to accept in full. But questions were also raised about its commitment to defence spending after the Defence Secretary could not confirm the Treasury had guaranteed funding to bring it up to 3% of GDP by 2034. Building the new submarines, which is part of the Aukus partnership with the US and Australia, will support 30,000 highly skilled jobs into the 2030s as well as 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next 10 years, the Ministry of Defence said. Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression. 'With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country.' PA Media Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK 'must act decisively to face down Russian aggression' (Yui Mok/PA). The £15bn investment into the warhead programme will back the Government's commitments to maintain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent, build a new fleet of Dreadnought submarines and deliver all future upgrades. From the late 2030s, the fleet of up to 12 SSN-Aukus conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines will replace seven astute class attack submarines the UK is due to start operating. In response to the strategic defence review, the Government will also commit to: – Getting the armed forces to a stage where it would be ready to fight a war – Boosting weapons and equipment stockpiles and making sure there is capacity to scale up production if needed in a crisis or war – Buying up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons in a move due to support 800 defence jobs – Setting up a new cyber command and investing £1bn in digital capabilities – More than £1.5bn of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing. Sir Keir Starmer will say: 'From the supply lines to the front lines, this Government is foursquare behind the men and women upholding our nation's freedom and security. 'National security is the foundation of my Plan for Change, and this plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country. 'This strategic defence review will ensure the UK rises to the challenge and our armed forces have the equipment they need that keeps us safe at home while driving greater opportunity for our engineers, shipbuilders and technicians of the future.' The Conservatives and Lib Dems questioned Labour's commitment to funding the promises it was making. The Government has previously set out its 'ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament', after meeting its pledge to ratchet up defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027. Healey had said there was 'no doubt' the UK would reach 3% in an interview with The Times. But on Sunday, he sidestepped questions about whether he had any guarantee from the Treasury to provide the funding when asked on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme. He said he does not expect to increase the number of people in the armed forces until the next Parliament amid a recruitment and retention crisis. Asked when the Army would reach the target of 73,000, Healey said: 'We've narrowed the gap, but we've still got more people leaving than joining. 'The first job is to reverse that trend and then I want to see in the next parliament our ability to start to increase the number.' Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: 'All of Labour's Strategic Defence Review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them. 'Whereas, far from guaranteeing the funding, John Healey has been hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves. 'As recently as Thursday, Healey promised that defence spending would definitely hit 3%, but today he's completely backtracked. 'These submarines are not due to enter service till the late 2030s, so how can we have any confidence Labour will actually deliver them when they can't even sustain a policy on defence spending for more than 48 hours?' Lib Dem defence spokesperson Helen Maguire said: 'This signals absolutely the right intent about the need to bolster the UK's defences in the face of Putin's imperialism and Trump's unreliability. 'But this must come with a concrete commitment and detail on full funding. 'Labour's mere 'ambition' rather than commitment to reach 3% of GDP on defence leaves serious questions about whether the money for these projects will actually be forthcoming. 'The 2034 timeline suggests a worrying lack of urgency from the Government. 'Unless Labour commits to holding cross-party talks on how to reach 3% much more rapidly than the mid-2030s, this announcement risks becoming a damp squib.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country