
Russia launched 270 drones, 10 missiles in overnight attack, Ukraine's air force says
The air force said it downed 230 drones and six missiles. It recorded strikes at 16 locations with four missiles and 40 drones.

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Reuters
25 minutes ago
- Reuters
Jailed French researcher faces Russian espionage charge, court says
Aug 21 (Reuters) - French researcher Laurent Vinatier, already jailed in Russia on charges of violating the country's "foreign agent" laws, now faces a new espionage charge, according to court documents cited by Russian news agencies. Vinatier was jailed for three years last October for failing to comply with laws requiring individuals deemed "foreign agents" to register and meet a number of stipulations. His appeal against the sentence was thrown out in February. The FSB security service had accused Vinatier of failing to register as a foreign agent in Russia while collecting military information of value to foreign intelligence services. Russian news agencies quoted documents from Moscow's Lefortovo Court as saying he would now be charged under espionage laws, without providing further details. A hearing was set for next Monday. Vinatier, 49, is one of several Westerners to have been charged under Russian security laws at a time of tense confrontation between Moscow and the West over the war in Ukraine. He told the court at his trial that he loved Russia and apologised for breaking the law. France said Vinatier had been arbitrarily detained and called for his release. President Emmanuel Macron denied that Vinatier worked for the French state and has described his arrest as part of a misinformation campaign by Moscow. Vinatier is an employee of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a Swiss-based conflict mediation organisation. Fellow academics who know him told Reuters he was a respected scholar involved in legitimate research.


Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ukraine's 'Iron General' refutes rumours he is 'quietly preparing to run for president' to replace Zelensky
Ukraine 's ambassador to the UK on Wednesday denied rumours he 'is quietly preparing a run for President' from his London HQ should peace break out. General Valerii Zaluzhnyi's team were forced to play down the claims stating that 'there is no talk of any campaign headquarters'. It followed posts by a journalist that 'his HQ is already active in London and recruitment is underway'. They claimed sources had told them his campaign had 'effectively begun' after Volodymyr Zelensky told Donald Trump that elections may be coming soon. Zaluzhnyi, known affectionately as the Iron General, would be a front-runner to defeat Mr Zelensky as he is remembered fondly for marshalling the heroic defence of Kyiv in 2022. He was then replaced by Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief and sidelined as Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK in July last year. Freelance journalist Katie Livingstone said sources had told her the Ukrainian opposition MP Viktoria Siumar would run any campaign with former BBC Ukraine reporter Oksana Torop handling his press. Kyiv Post Correspondent Jason Jay Smart said he had confirmed the claims, adding: 'Sources indicate that he gave the go-ahead to his team, over a month ago, to start planning his campaign.' But Ms Torop last night denied the rumours. She told the New Voice of Ukraine: 'There is no talk of any campaign headquarters. 'Valerii Zaluzhnyi has stated his position more than once, and as far as I know, it has not changed: while the war continues, we need to work to preserve the country, not think about elections.' Zaluzhnyi is Ukraine's most trusted public figure with recent polling finding 73 per cent of Ukrainians trust him compared with 67 per cent for Zelensky.


Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ukraine peace talks are in disarray as Russia and China demand a say on security guarantees
Ukraine peace talks were in disarray on Wednesday after Russia effectively demanded Moscow and Beijing get a veto on any security guarantees. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said Vladimir Putin had agreed to 'game-changing Article 5-like protections' for Kyiv when they met in Alaska last Friday. European leaders raced to build on the momentum and hammer out the details – with Britain and France considering putting boots on the ground while America would protect the skies. But yesterday serious questions arose over what exactly Mr Witkoff had secured as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow must be part of the security guarantees. Putin's man also said these 'should be provided on an equal basis with the participation of countries such as China, the United States, the UK and France'. Lavrov added: 'I'm sure in the West they understand that seriously discussing security issues without Russia is a utopia, it's a road to nowhere.' He claimed the terms are based on those Moscow tried to force Kyiv into signing in Istanbul in April 2022, two months after their invasion. Those terms effectively meant none of the guarantors would be allowed to defend Ukraine from Russia unless they all agreed, including China and Russia. Lavrov took aim at what he called Europe's 'clumsy attempts to change the position of the US President' in recent days. He said: 'We cannot agree with the fact that it is now proposed to resolve collective security issues without the Russian Federation. This will not work. 'We will firmly and strictly protect our legitimate interests.' That suggests the Kremlin has not moved at all on its maximalist position, with experts questioning what exactly Donald Trump's diplomacy had achieved. John Foreman, ex-UK defence attaché to Moscow and Kyiv, said Mr Witkoff has been left looking 'inexperienced' and 'naive'. He added: 'Trump and Witkoff misunderstood the Russians in Moscow and Alaska. They raised hopes about security guarantees and further talks, confused everyone, and the whole thing fell apart with Lavrov's intervention. 'Russia avoids sanctions for now. Putin remains immovable. Trump gave up his leverage and this is the result. What a fiasco.' Marko Mihkelson, head of the Estonian foreign affairs committee, posted: 'Russia wants to be a security guarantor for Ukraine. Seriously? Russia can only be stopped by force, not by red-carpet summits.' The development came as Mr Trump said Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky were 'in the process' of setting up a bilateral meeting but said: 'If necessary, I'll go.' He added: 'I think it would be better if they met without me'. Russia is pushing for Budapest as a location for a trilateral meeting with Mr Trump present – the venue where Ukraine agreed to give up nuclear weapons in 1994. A White House official last night said: 'President Trump and his national security team continue to engage with Russian and Ukrainian officials towards a bilateral meeting to stop the killing and end the war.'