‘Liquidated': Ukraine kills Russian agents blamed for assassination
CCTV footage showed a man dressed in black and wearing a mask running toward the Ukrainian officer as he walked from his apartment to his car, shooting him several times.
Voronych was part of an elite unit that conducted 'grey zone' operations against the Russians behind enemy lines, The New York Times reported on Sunday.
While the SBU did not say how many FSB agents were involved, it released a video showing two bodies.
The latest operations follow Ukraine's success on June 1 in sending agents into Russia over an 18-month period to target air bases from civilian trucks carrying drones.
Known as Operation Spider Web, this led to serious damage to five Russian air bases on June 1.
In April, a car bomb killed Russian general Yaroslav Moskalik in Moscow, in what Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described as terrorism. Russian authorities later that month arrested a 42-year-old Russian national who had previously lived in Ukraine, charging him with planting the bomb.
In a similar attack last December, an explosion from an electric scooter killed Russian general Igor Kirillov in Moscow, one day after the SBU had publicly blamed him for authorising the use of chemical weapons in the war. The SBU took responsibility for the assassination.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week welcomed 'good signals' from the US about the restoration of weapon deliveries, after the Pentagon froze shipments and Trump denied knowing who had ordered the freeze.
Zelensky said on Sunday that Russian forces had attacked Ukraine with more than 1800 drones, 1200 guided aerial bombs and 83 missiles over the past week.
'The Russians are intensifying terror against cities and communities to increasingly intimidate our people,' he said.
Trump signalled last Thursday that he would make a major statement on the war on Monday, and he confirmed the US would send weapons to Europe so they could be supplied to Ukraine and paid for by European NATO members.
'I think I'll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday,' he told NBC.
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Sky News AU
an hour ago
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US President Donald Trump threatens 'very severe' tariffs if Russia fails to agree Ukraine ceasefire in 50 days
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
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US President Donald Trump has announced a toughened stance against Russia for its war in Ukraine, promising a fresh wave of missiles and other weaponry for Ukraine and giving the Kremlin 50 days to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions. In the Oval Office at an announcement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump told reporters he had become deeply frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Putin is pleasant to speak with on the phone but then turns around and unleashes withering bombing raids on Ukraine. "I don't want to say he's an assassin but he's a tough guy," Trump said, noting that several of his predecessors had also become disillusioned with Putin. The decision by Trump to send arms to Ukraine represented a turning point for the Republican president, who has spent the early months of his term trying to coax Putin into a ceasefire agreement only to be turned down every time. Under the deal, Trump said the United States will supply weapons that will be paid for by NATO countries. Rutte said massive numbers of weapons would be sent, including missiles, as part of a first wave of equipment. Trump said the "top of the line" equipment, including Patriot missile systems and batteries, would be arriving very soon. "We're going to have some come very soon, within days ... a couple of the countries that have Patriots are going to swap over and will replace the Patriots with the ones they have," he said. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made regular appeals to the US and its NATO military alliance allies for weapons to help defend itself in the grinding war. Trump coupled his arms announcement with a vow to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia if it will not make a ceasefire agreement within 50 days. US Congressional leaders have been working on a Russia sanctions package. A White House official said Trump's intent is to impose "100 per cent tariffs on Russia" and secondary sanctions on other countries that buy oil from Russia if a deal is not struck in 50 days. "If I was Vladimir Putin today, and you're speaking about what you are planning to do in 50 days ... I would reconsider whether I should not take negotiations about Ukraine more seriously," Rutte said. Rutte said Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Canada all want to be a part of rearming Ukraine. "They all want to be part of this. And this is only the first wave. There will be more. So what we will do is work through the NATO systems to make sure that we know what Ukrainians need to make packages," he said. Trump's promise that NATO would pay for the weapons satisfies his demand that the US not continue bankrolling the war and puts the financial burden on US allies in Europe. Zelenskiy on Monday asked First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to lead a new government, setting the stage for a political reshuffle in Ukraine. The nomination, which requires parliamentary approval, comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fourth year, have stalled and as Ukraine seeks to revive its cash-strapped economy and build up a domestic arms industry. "We ... discussed concrete measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programs for Ukrainians, and scale up our domestic weapons production," Zelenskiy wrote on X. "In pursuit of this goal, we are initiating a transformation of the executive branch in Ukraine," he said, adding that he had proposed that Svyrydenko lead the government and "significantly renew its work". Svyrydenko, 39, is an economist by training and has served as first deputy prime minister since 2021. US President Donald Trump has announced a toughened stance against Russia for its war in Ukraine, promising a fresh wave of missiles and other weaponry for Ukraine and giving the Kremlin 50 days to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions. In the Oval Office at an announcement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump told reporters he had become deeply frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Putin is pleasant to speak with on the phone but then turns around and unleashes withering bombing raids on Ukraine. "I don't want to say he's an assassin but he's a tough guy," Trump said, noting that several of his predecessors had also become disillusioned with Putin. The decision by Trump to send arms to Ukraine represented a turning point for the Republican president, who has spent the early months of his term trying to coax Putin into a ceasefire agreement only to be turned down every time. Under the deal, Trump said the United States will supply weapons that will be paid for by NATO countries. Rutte said massive numbers of weapons would be sent, including missiles, as part of a first wave of equipment. Trump said the "top of the line" equipment, including Patriot missile systems and batteries, would be arriving very soon. "We're going to have some come very soon, within days ... a couple of the countries that have Patriots are going to swap over and will replace the Patriots with the ones they have," he said. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made regular appeals to the US and its NATO military alliance allies for weapons to help defend itself in the grinding war. Trump coupled his arms announcement with a vow to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia if it will not make a ceasefire agreement within 50 days. US Congressional leaders have been working on a Russia sanctions package. A White House official said Trump's intent is to impose "100 per cent tariffs on Russia" and secondary sanctions on other countries that buy oil from Russia if a deal is not struck in 50 days. "If I was Vladimir Putin today, and you're speaking about what you are planning to do in 50 days ... I would reconsider whether I should not take negotiations about Ukraine more seriously," Rutte said. Rutte said Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Canada all want to be a part of rearming Ukraine. "They all want to be part of this. And this is only the first wave. There will be more. So what we will do is work through the NATO systems to make sure that we know what Ukrainians need to make packages," he said. Trump's promise that NATO would pay for the weapons satisfies his demand that the US not continue bankrolling the war and puts the financial burden on US allies in Europe. Zelenskiy on Monday asked First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to lead a new government, setting the stage for a political reshuffle in Ukraine. The nomination, which requires parliamentary approval, comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fourth year, have stalled and as Ukraine seeks to revive its cash-strapped economy and build up a domestic arms industry. "We ... discussed concrete measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programs for Ukrainians, and scale up our domestic weapons production," Zelenskiy wrote on X. "In pursuit of this goal, we are initiating a transformation of the executive branch in Ukraine," he said, adding that he had proposed that Svyrydenko lead the government and "significantly renew its work". Svyrydenko, 39, is an economist by training and has served as first deputy prime minister since 2021. US President Donald Trump has announced a toughened stance against Russia for its war in Ukraine, promising a fresh wave of missiles and other weaponry for Ukraine and giving the Kremlin 50 days to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions. In the Oval Office at an announcement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump told reporters he had become deeply frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Putin is pleasant to speak with on the phone but then turns around and unleashes withering bombing raids on Ukraine. "I don't want to say he's an assassin but he's a tough guy," Trump said, noting that several of his predecessors had also become disillusioned with Putin. The decision by Trump to send arms to Ukraine represented a turning point for the Republican president, who has spent the early months of his term trying to coax Putin into a ceasefire agreement only to be turned down every time. Under the deal, Trump said the United States will supply weapons that will be paid for by NATO countries. Rutte said massive numbers of weapons would be sent, including missiles, as part of a first wave of equipment. Trump said the "top of the line" equipment, including Patriot missile systems and batteries, would be arriving very soon. "We're going to have some come very soon, within days ... a couple of the countries that have Patriots are going to swap over and will replace the Patriots with the ones they have," he said. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made regular appeals to the US and its NATO military alliance allies for weapons to help defend itself in the grinding war. Trump coupled his arms announcement with a vow to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia if it will not make a ceasefire agreement within 50 days. US Congressional leaders have been working on a Russia sanctions package. A White House official said Trump's intent is to impose "100 per cent tariffs on Russia" and secondary sanctions on other countries that buy oil from Russia if a deal is not struck in 50 days. "If I was Vladimir Putin today, and you're speaking about what you are planning to do in 50 days ... I would reconsider whether I should not take negotiations about Ukraine more seriously," Rutte said. Rutte said Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Canada all want to be a part of rearming Ukraine. "They all want to be part of this. And this is only the first wave. There will be more. So what we will do is work through the NATO systems to make sure that we know what Ukrainians need to make packages," he said. Trump's promise that NATO would pay for the weapons satisfies his demand that the US not continue bankrolling the war and puts the financial burden on US allies in Europe. Zelenskiy on Monday asked First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to lead a new government, setting the stage for a political reshuffle in Ukraine. The nomination, which requires parliamentary approval, comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fourth year, have stalled and as Ukraine seeks to revive its cash-strapped economy and build up a domestic arms industry. "We ... discussed concrete measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programs for Ukrainians, and scale up our domestic weapons production," Zelenskiy wrote on X. "In pursuit of this goal, we are initiating a transformation of the executive branch in Ukraine," he said, adding that he had proposed that Svyrydenko lead the government and "significantly renew its work". Svyrydenko, 39, is an economist by training and has served as first deputy prime minister since 2021.
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
Trump gives Putin 50-day Ukraine deadline, threatens new Russia sanctions
Welcome to our live coverage of US politics. US President Donald Trump has said he is 'very unhappy' with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has set a 50-day deadline for a ceasefire, He added the US will send more weapons and has flagged huge tariffs on Russia to try and bring the conflict to an end. On Monday, US time, Mr Trump met with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte in Washington DC. He seems particularly perturbed by Moscow's habit, as he sees it, of talking peace to him and then bombing Ukraine shortly afterwards. On the weekend, the US president flagged he would be sending more air defence missiles to Kyiv. He has now said Russia could face 'secondary tariffs' of 100 per cent. However that's still far less than the 500 per cent tariffs some in his party favour of Moscow. The Royal Family has meanwhile announce that Mr Trump's state visit to the UK will occur in September. But in a curious move, it will take place when the UK parliament is in recess meaning Mr Trump will not get the opportunity to address parliament. Read on for more updates. Originally published as US politics live: Furious Trump flags huge tariffs on Russia
