Seven killed in Ukraine, Putin to cut military spending
Russian missile attacks have killed at least seven people and wounded more than 20 in southern Ukraine, officials say.
Five people were killed in the industrial city of Samar in Ukraine's southeast, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on the Telegram app.
Officials gave no immediate details on damage in the city, where an attack on an unidentified infrastructure facility on Tuesday killed two people.
In the port city of Odessa, Russian combat drones killed at least two people and wounded six overnight, military administrator Oleh Kiper said.
One drone struck the upper floors of a 21-storey residential building, causing a fire. After extinguishing the blaze, rescuers discovered the bodies of a married couple in the rubble, Kiper reported.
There were several explosions in the city and fires broke out in several districts, Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov said.
Hundreds of kilometres to the south, in the Kherson region, authorities urged residents to prepare for extended periods without power after a Russian attack hit a key energy facility.
Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram that "Russians decided to plunge the region into darkness".
In recent weeks Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly its capital Kyiv, more than three years into the war that followed its full-scale invasion.
Separately, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia was looking to cut its military expenditure from next year, contrasting that with NATO's plan to ramp up defence spending over the next decade.
NATO allies on Wednesday agreed to raise their collective spending goal to five per cent of gross domestic product in the next 10 years, citing what they called the long-term threat posed by Russia and the need to strengthen civil and military resilience.
Putin told a press conference in Minsk the NATO spending would go on "purchases from the USA and on supporting their military-industrial complex", and this was NATO's business, not Russia's.
"But now here is the most important thing. We are planning to reduce defence spending. For us, next year and the year after, over the next three-year period, we are planning for this," he said.
Putin said there was no final agreement yet between the defence, finance and economy ministries, "but overall, everyone is thinking in this direction. And Europe is thinking about how to increase its spending, on the contrary. So who is preparing for some kind of aggressive actions? Us or them?"
Putin's comments are likely to be greeted with extreme scepticism in the West, given that Russia has massively increased defence spending since the start of the Ukraine war.
The conflict shows no sign of ending and has actually intensified in recent weeks, as negotiations have made no visible progress towards a ceasefire or a permanent settlement.
Putin said Russia appreciated efforts by US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war.
"He recently stated that it turned out to be more difficult than it seemed from the outside. Well, that's true," Putin said.
Trump said this week that he believed Putin wanted to find a way to settle the conflict, but Ukraine and many of its European allies believe the Kremlin leader has no real interest in a peace deal and is intent on capturing more territory.
Putin said Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were in constant contact, and Moscow was ready to return the bodies of 3000 more Ukrainian soldiers.
Russia is seeing a sharp slowdown in economic growth as the budget comes under pressure from falling energy revenues and the central bank is trying to bring down inflation.
with AP and DPA
Russian missile attacks have killed at least seven people and wounded more than 20 in southern Ukraine, officials say.
Five people were killed in the industrial city of Samar in Ukraine's southeast, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on the Telegram app.
Officials gave no immediate details on damage in the city, where an attack on an unidentified infrastructure facility on Tuesday killed two people.
In the port city of Odessa, Russian combat drones killed at least two people and wounded six overnight, military administrator Oleh Kiper said.
One drone struck the upper floors of a 21-storey residential building, causing a fire. After extinguishing the blaze, rescuers discovered the bodies of a married couple in the rubble, Kiper reported.
There were several explosions in the city and fires broke out in several districts, Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov said.
Hundreds of kilometres to the south, in the Kherson region, authorities urged residents to prepare for extended periods without power after a Russian attack hit a key energy facility.
Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram that "Russians decided to plunge the region into darkness".
In recent weeks Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly its capital Kyiv, more than three years into the war that followed its full-scale invasion.
Separately, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia was looking to cut its military expenditure from next year, contrasting that with NATO's plan to ramp up defence spending over the next decade.
NATO allies on Wednesday agreed to raise their collective spending goal to five per cent of gross domestic product in the next 10 years, citing what they called the long-term threat posed by Russia and the need to strengthen civil and military resilience.
Putin told a press conference in Minsk the NATO spending would go on "purchases from the USA and on supporting their military-industrial complex", and this was NATO's business, not Russia's.
"But now here is the most important thing. We are planning to reduce defence spending. For us, next year and the year after, over the next three-year period, we are planning for this," he said.
Putin said there was no final agreement yet between the defence, finance and economy ministries, "but overall, everyone is thinking in this direction. And Europe is thinking about how to increase its spending, on the contrary. So who is preparing for some kind of aggressive actions? Us or them?"
Putin's comments are likely to be greeted with extreme scepticism in the West, given that Russia has massively increased defence spending since the start of the Ukraine war.
The conflict shows no sign of ending and has actually intensified in recent weeks, as negotiations have made no visible progress towards a ceasefire or a permanent settlement.
Putin said Russia appreciated efforts by US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war.
"He recently stated that it turned out to be more difficult than it seemed from the outside. Well, that's true," Putin said.
Trump said this week that he believed Putin wanted to find a way to settle the conflict, but Ukraine and many of its European allies believe the Kremlin leader has no real interest in a peace deal and is intent on capturing more territory.
Putin said Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were in constant contact, and Moscow was ready to return the bodies of 3000 more Ukrainian soldiers.
Russia is seeing a sharp slowdown in economic growth as the budget comes under pressure from falling energy revenues and the central bank is trying to bring down inflation.
with AP and DPA
Russian missile attacks have killed at least seven people and wounded more than 20 in southern Ukraine, officials say.
Five people were killed in the industrial city of Samar in Ukraine's southeast, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on the Telegram app.
Officials gave no immediate details on damage in the city, where an attack on an unidentified infrastructure facility on Tuesday killed two people.
In the port city of Odessa, Russian combat drones killed at least two people and wounded six overnight, military administrator Oleh Kiper said.
One drone struck the upper floors of a 21-storey residential building, causing a fire. After extinguishing the blaze, rescuers discovered the bodies of a married couple in the rubble, Kiper reported.
There were several explosions in the city and fires broke out in several districts, Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov said.
Hundreds of kilometres to the south, in the Kherson region, authorities urged residents to prepare for extended periods without power after a Russian attack hit a key energy facility.
Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram that "Russians decided to plunge the region into darkness".
In recent weeks Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly its capital Kyiv, more than three years into the war that followed its full-scale invasion.
Separately, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia was looking to cut its military expenditure from next year, contrasting that with NATO's plan to ramp up defence spending over the next decade.
NATO allies on Wednesday agreed to raise their collective spending goal to five per cent of gross domestic product in the next 10 years, citing what they called the long-term threat posed by Russia and the need to strengthen civil and military resilience.
Putin told a press conference in Minsk the NATO spending would go on "purchases from the USA and on supporting their military-industrial complex", and this was NATO's business, not Russia's.
"But now here is the most important thing. We are planning to reduce defence spending. For us, next year and the year after, over the next three-year period, we are planning for this," he said.
Putin said there was no final agreement yet between the defence, finance and economy ministries, "but overall, everyone is thinking in this direction. And Europe is thinking about how to increase its spending, on the contrary. So who is preparing for some kind of aggressive actions? Us or them?"
Putin's comments are likely to be greeted with extreme scepticism in the West, given that Russia has massively increased defence spending since the start of the Ukraine war.
The conflict shows no sign of ending and has actually intensified in recent weeks, as negotiations have made no visible progress towards a ceasefire or a permanent settlement.
Putin said Russia appreciated efforts by US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war.
"He recently stated that it turned out to be more difficult than it seemed from the outside. Well, that's true," Putin said.
Trump said this week that he believed Putin wanted to find a way to settle the conflict, but Ukraine and many of its European allies believe the Kremlin leader has no real interest in a peace deal and is intent on capturing more territory.
Putin said Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were in constant contact, and Moscow was ready to return the bodies of 3000 more Ukrainian soldiers.
Russia is seeing a sharp slowdown in economic growth as the budget comes under pressure from falling energy revenues and the central bank is trying to bring down inflation.
with AP and DPA
Russian missile attacks have killed at least seven people and wounded more than 20 in southern Ukraine, officials say.
Five people were killed in the industrial city of Samar in Ukraine's southeast, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on the Telegram app.
Officials gave no immediate details on damage in the city, where an attack on an unidentified infrastructure facility on Tuesday killed two people.
In the port city of Odessa, Russian combat drones killed at least two people and wounded six overnight, military administrator Oleh Kiper said.
One drone struck the upper floors of a 21-storey residential building, causing a fire. After extinguishing the blaze, rescuers discovered the bodies of a married couple in the rubble, Kiper reported.
There were several explosions in the city and fires broke out in several districts, Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov said.
Hundreds of kilometres to the south, in the Kherson region, authorities urged residents to prepare for extended periods without power after a Russian attack hit a key energy facility.
Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram that "Russians decided to plunge the region into darkness".
In recent weeks Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly its capital Kyiv, more than three years into the war that followed its full-scale invasion.
Separately, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia was looking to cut its military expenditure from next year, contrasting that with NATO's plan to ramp up defence spending over the next decade.
NATO allies on Wednesday agreed to raise their collective spending goal to five per cent of gross domestic product in the next 10 years, citing what they called the long-term threat posed by Russia and the need to strengthen civil and military resilience.
Putin told a press conference in Minsk the NATO spending would go on "purchases from the USA and on supporting their military-industrial complex", and this was NATO's business, not Russia's.
"But now here is the most important thing. We are planning to reduce defence spending. For us, next year and the year after, over the next three-year period, we are planning for this," he said.
Putin said there was no final agreement yet between the defence, finance and economy ministries, "but overall, everyone is thinking in this direction. And Europe is thinking about how to increase its spending, on the contrary. So who is preparing for some kind of aggressive actions? Us or them?"
Putin's comments are likely to be greeted with extreme scepticism in the West, given that Russia has massively increased defence spending since the start of the Ukraine war.
The conflict shows no sign of ending and has actually intensified in recent weeks, as negotiations have made no visible progress towards a ceasefire or a permanent settlement.
Putin said Russia appreciated efforts by US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war.
"He recently stated that it turned out to be more difficult than it seemed from the outside. Well, that's true," Putin said.
Trump said this week that he believed Putin wanted to find a way to settle the conflict, but Ukraine and many of its European allies believe the Kremlin leader has no real interest in a peace deal and is intent on capturing more territory.
Putin said Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were in constant contact, and Moscow was ready to return the bodies of 3000 more Ukrainian soldiers.
Russia is seeing a sharp slowdown in economic growth as the budget comes under pressure from falling energy revenues and the central bank is trying to bring down inflation.
with AP and DPA
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- News.com.au
Australia may boost defence budget if US asks for more ‘capability', minister says
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The Advertiser
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- The Advertiser
Capability to dictate Australian defence spending
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Mr Taylor said the budget for the military should be increased, regardless if there was pressure from the US. "If a government is not in a position to keep its people safe, then it has failed as a government," he said. Lifting the federal defence budget will be based on what Australia's military can achieve, rather an arbitrary dollar figure, a senior minister says. Pressure has mounted on the Albanese government to lift defence spending, after NATO allies agreed to boost theirs to five per cent of GDP. While Australia has pledged to increase its spend to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34, the US has called for a rise to 3.5 per cent. But Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia was already lifting its spending on the military, which would also centre on the ability of the armed forces to protect the country. "We start with the capability, we don't start with the dollars, and that's how we work with every financial decision that the government makes," Mr Burke told Sky News on Sunday. "With those capability decisions, we are already spending more than was spent before we came to office." Despite the push from the US, Mr Burke said Australia's relationship with America was not at risk. "The relationship with the United States is really important," he said. "We have mature, decent, respectful conversations with the United States, but as I say, the conversation doesn't start with the dollars at our end." Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the instability seen around the world reinforced the need for countries like Australia to spend more on defence. "We are seeing authoritarian regimes across the globe flexing their muscles, and open, democratic societies like ours need to stand up for what we believe in, and need to make sure we achieve peace through deterrence," he told Sky News. "There's a range of things that are very clear that we need to spend on ... and there's a whole series of areas which we're seeing are underfunded right now." Before the federal election, the opposition had pledged to increase the defence budget to three per cent of GDP. However, there was uncertainty about where the extra money would come from. Mr Taylor said the budget for the military should be increased, regardless if there was pressure from the US. "If a government is not in a position to keep its people safe, then it has failed as a government," he said. Lifting the federal defence budget will be based on what Australia's military can achieve, rather an arbitrary dollar figure, a senior minister says. Pressure has mounted on the Albanese government to lift defence spending, after NATO allies agreed to boost theirs to five per cent of GDP. While Australia has pledged to increase its spend to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34, the US has called for a rise to 3.5 per cent. But Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia was already lifting its spending on the military, which would also centre on the ability of the armed forces to protect the country. "We start with the capability, we don't start with the dollars, and that's how we work with every financial decision that the government makes," Mr Burke told Sky News on Sunday. "With those capability decisions, we are already spending more than was spent before we came to office." Despite the push from the US, Mr Burke said Australia's relationship with America was not at risk. "The relationship with the United States is really important," he said. "We have mature, decent, respectful conversations with the United States, but as I say, the conversation doesn't start with the dollars at our end." Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the instability seen around the world reinforced the need for countries like Australia to spend more on defence. "We are seeing authoritarian regimes across the globe flexing their muscles, and open, democratic societies like ours need to stand up for what we believe in, and need to make sure we achieve peace through deterrence," he told Sky News. "There's a range of things that are very clear that we need to spend on ... and there's a whole series of areas which we're seeing are underfunded right now." Before the federal election, the opposition had pledged to increase the defence budget to three per cent of GDP. However, there was uncertainty about where the extra money would come from. Mr Taylor said the budget for the military should be increased, regardless if there was pressure from the US. "If a government is not in a position to keep its people safe, then it has failed as a government," he said. Lifting the federal defence budget will be based on what Australia's military can achieve, rather an arbitrary dollar figure, a senior minister says. 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"We have mature, decent, respectful conversations with the United States, but as I say, the conversation doesn't start with the dollars at our end." Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the instability seen around the world reinforced the need for countries like Australia to spend more on defence. "We are seeing authoritarian regimes across the globe flexing their muscles, and open, democratic societies like ours need to stand up for what we believe in, and need to make sure we achieve peace through deterrence," he told Sky News. "There's a range of things that are very clear that we need to spend on ... and there's a whole series of areas which we're seeing are underfunded right now." Before the federal election, the opposition had pledged to increase the defence budget to three per cent of GDP. However, there was uncertainty about where the extra money would come from. 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- The Advertiser
Russia attacking key eastern city: Ukraine commander
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The city of Kostiantynivka has been a major target. Ukrainian forces have for months defended the city against fierce assaults, with the regional governor urging remaining residents this week to leave as infrastructure breaks down. Top Ukrainian commander Oleksander Syrskyi, writing on Telegram on Saturday, said the area around Kostiantynivka was gripped by heavy fighting. "The enemy is surging towards Kostiantynivka but apart from sustaining numerous losses, has achieved nothing," Syrskyi said. "The aggressor is trying to break through our defences and advance along three operating sectors." A spokesman for Ukrainian forces in the east, Viktor Trehubov, told the Ukrinform news agency that Kostiantynivka and the city of Pokrovsk to the west were "the main arena of battles and the Kremlin's strategic ambitions". Syrskyi also said that Ukrainian forces had withstood in the past week a powerful attack near the village of Yablunivka in northeastern Sumy region, where Russian forces have been trying to establish a buffer zone inside the Ukrainian border. Russia's Defence Ministry, in a report earlier in the day, said its forces had seized the village of Chervona Zirka - further southwest, near the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk region. Russia's slow advance through eastern Ukraine, claiming a string of villages day after day, has resulted in destruction of major cities and infrastructure. Russian authorities have insisted that progress towards a settlement of the 40-month-old war depends on Ukraine recognising Russia's control over four Ukrainian regions - Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian forces control about one-fifth of Ukraine's territory although they do not fully hold any of the four regions. Russia has said in recent weeks that its troops have made advances in areas adjacent to Dnipropetrovsk region, which lies next to both Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukrainian officials have denied those reports. Ukraine's top commander says his forces are facing a new onslaught against a key city on the eastern front of its war against Russia while the Kremlin says its military is making progress in another sector farther southwest. After their initial failed advance on the capital Kyiv in the first weeks after the February 2022 invasion, Russian troops have focused on capturing all of Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. The city of Kostiantynivka has been a major target. Ukrainian forces have for months defended the city against fierce assaults, with the regional governor urging remaining residents this week to leave as infrastructure breaks down. Top Ukrainian commander Oleksander Syrskyi, writing on Telegram on Saturday, said the area around Kostiantynivka was gripped by heavy fighting. "The enemy is surging towards Kostiantynivka but apart from sustaining numerous losses, has achieved nothing," Syrskyi said. "The aggressor is trying to break through our defences and advance along three operating sectors." A spokesman for Ukrainian forces in the east, Viktor Trehubov, told the Ukrinform news agency that Kostiantynivka and the city of Pokrovsk to the west were "the main arena of battles and the Kremlin's strategic ambitions". Syrskyi also said that Ukrainian forces had withstood in the past week a powerful attack near the village of Yablunivka in northeastern Sumy region, where Russian forces have been trying to establish a buffer zone inside the Ukrainian border. Russia's Defence Ministry, in a report earlier in the day, said its forces had seized the village of Chervona Zirka - further southwest, near the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk region. Russia's slow advance through eastern Ukraine, claiming a string of villages day after day, has resulted in destruction of major cities and infrastructure. Russian authorities have insisted that progress towards a settlement of the 40-month-old war depends on Ukraine recognising Russia's control over four Ukrainian regions - Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian forces control about one-fifth of Ukraine's territory although they do not fully hold any of the four regions. Russia has said in recent weeks that its troops have made advances in areas adjacent to Dnipropetrovsk region, which lies next to both Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukrainian officials have denied those reports. Ukraine's top commander says his forces are facing a new onslaught against a key city on the eastern front of its war against Russia while the Kremlin says its military is making progress in another sector farther southwest. After their initial failed advance on the capital Kyiv in the first weeks after the February 2022 invasion, Russian troops have focused on capturing all of Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. The city of Kostiantynivka has been a major target. Ukrainian forces have for months defended the city against fierce assaults, with the regional governor urging remaining residents this week to leave as infrastructure breaks down. Top Ukrainian commander Oleksander Syrskyi, writing on Telegram on Saturday, said the area around Kostiantynivka was gripped by heavy fighting. "The enemy is surging towards Kostiantynivka but apart from sustaining numerous losses, has achieved nothing," Syrskyi said. "The aggressor is trying to break through our defences and advance along three operating sectors." A spokesman for Ukrainian forces in the east, Viktor Trehubov, told the Ukrinform news agency that Kostiantynivka and the city of Pokrovsk to the west were "the main arena of battles and the Kremlin's strategic ambitions". Syrskyi also said that Ukrainian forces had withstood in the past week a powerful attack near the village of Yablunivka in northeastern Sumy region, where Russian forces have been trying to establish a buffer zone inside the Ukrainian border. Russia's Defence Ministry, in a report earlier in the day, said its forces had seized the village of Chervona Zirka - further southwest, near the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk region. Russia's slow advance through eastern Ukraine, claiming a string of villages day after day, has resulted in destruction of major cities and infrastructure. Russian authorities have insisted that progress towards a settlement of the 40-month-old war depends on Ukraine recognising Russia's control over four Ukrainian regions - Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian forces control about one-fifth of Ukraine's territory although they do not fully hold any of the four regions. Russia has said in recent weeks that its troops have made advances in areas adjacent to Dnipropetrovsk region, which lies next to both Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukrainian officials have denied those reports.
