Covert Ukrainian drone operation strikes dozens of Russian jets
A covert Ukrainian drone operation struck 41 Russian jets on military bases inside Russia, according to Ukrainian officials. They describe the operation which included releasing drones by remote control from trucks outside the military bases. Russia is calling the operation terrorism. NBC News' Keir Simmons reports.
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Reuters
8 minutes ago
- Reuters
Alternative Transbalkan gas route excludes Russian supply to Ukraine, source says
KYIV, June 4 (Reuters) - An alternative Transbalkan gas import route for Ukraine has been developed that allows for cheaper imports to Ukraine that avoid Russian-origin gas, an Ukrainian industry source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The route will be operational from June, the source said, adding it could allow Ukraine to import up to 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in the more lucrative June-October period, including 100 million cubic meters (mcm) in June. Ukraine currently imports gas via Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Formerly one of the largest importers of Russian gas, Ukraine has not been buying it since 2015 and in January, stopped the transit of Russian gas through its territory to Europe. Ukrainian officials have previously said that Kyiv would not allow gas purchases from a country that is at war with Ukraine. Ukraine said last month its energy regulator had approved a gas import mechanism that will avoid the high transit fees of gas supplied through the Transbalkan pipeline from Greece to Ukraine. "The planning (of gas shipping via Transbalkan pipeline) took into account the condition that natural gas can be supplied to the entry point in Greece from Greek LNG terminals or the TAP pipeline with Azerbaijani gas or reverse flow from Italy," the source said. "This minimises the possibility of transporting gas of Russian origin," he added. "All parties to the project agreed with this (the absence of Russian gas)." The daily import capacity is expected at 7 mcm of gas. "The cost of the route can compete with alternative routes for gas imports to Ukraine," he added. The Kyiv government has said Ukraine needs to import at least 4 bcm of gas for the new 2025/26 heating season while analysts and former officials estimated the imports at about 6.3 bcm.
Telegraph
25 minutes ago
- Telegraph
British Wagner spies ‘plotted to kidnap Mayfair restaurant owner'
Two men took money from the Russian-backed Wagner terrorist group to firebomb a Mayfair restaurant and nearby wine store and kidnap the owner, a court has heard. Dylan Earl, 21, and Jake Reeves, 23, have admitted taking cash from the notorious mercenary organisation to carry out an arson attack at the Hide Restaurant in Piccadilly and Hedonism Wines in Davies Street. They were also planning to kidnap the owner in order to 'influence the Government' for the 'purpose of advancing a political and ideological cause', the Old Bailey was told. Details of the kidnap and bombing plot emerged as a group of men, allegedly recruited by the pair, went on trial accused of setting fire to a warehouse in east London that was storing and sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The court heard the warehouse also contained a business that supplied StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine. Earl and Reeves have already admitted their role in the blaze at the premises in Leyton on the evening of March 24 last year, which caused an estimated £1 million worth of damage. They have also pleaded guilty to plotting to attack the Mayfair restaurant and wine store. The Wagner Group is a mercenary group set up by the Kremlin in 2014 to help its initial invasion of Ukraine's eastern Donbas. It was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK in September 2023. Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 22, Jakeem Barrington Rose, 22, and Ugnius Asmena, 19, deny aggravated arson in connection with the fire at the east London warehouse. Dmitrijus Paulauskas and Ashton Evans deny two counts of failure to disclose information about terrorist acts. On the first day of the trial at the Old Bailey, Duncan Penny KC, said the prosecution case was that, acting under the direction of Earl, Reeves had recruited Mr Mensah and Mr Asmena to carry out the warehouse attack. It is also alleged Mr Mensah in turn recruited Mr Rose, while Mr Asmena recruited Mr English to act as a driver. Mr Mensah filmed the arson attack on his mobile phone and livestreamed it on FaceTime, jurors were told. Mr Penny said the fire had caused a 'risk to human life' and destroyed £100,000 worth of goods bound for Ukraine. He said: 'The reason for the selection of this building as a particular target … appears to have been its connection to Ukraine, to be more precise, the fact that the business conducted there was concerned in logistics, frequently delivering goods to Ukraine, including StarLink satellite equipment. 'The businesses which operated from there were also involved in organising humanitarian aid efforts to support Ukraine.' Plotter contacted Wagner on social media The prosecutor went on: 'This was deliberate and calculated criminality – at the behest of foreign influence. In the case of these defendants, at the time of the fire they may have been ignorant of that influence and the motive may have been financial – good old-fashioned greed. 'For others, however, it appears to have been both political and ideological.' Describing the circumstances of the warehouse attack, Mr Penny said the company targeted was called Oddisey Ltd and it specialised in receiving and delivering goods ordered by customers mainly in post-Soviet countries. A company called Meest UK Ltd, the UK arm of a Ukrainian-based shipping company, was also based at the site. Following Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Oddisey Ltd handled, stored and delivered packages containing Starlink satellite devices and generators. The businesses were also involved in organising humanitarian aid efforts to support Ukraine, Mr Penny explained. The prosecutor said in March 2024, Dylan Earl, acting at the behest of the Wagner Group, commissioned the arson attack on the warehouses. He said: 'Dylan Earl contacted the Wagner Group when he joined a broadcast channel in its name on the social media application Telegram. 'From there, he became connected to two handlers who acted on behalf of the Wagner Group. 'It appears that Dylan Earl expressed a willingness to undertake 'missions' of which the Leyton arson attack was the first. It is apparent that he knew he was acting against Ukrainian, and for Russian, interests.' Explaining the other plot, Mr Penny said: 'Dylan Earl accepted acting on behalf of the Wagner Group and taking preparatory steps towards committing arson at Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines and kidnapping their owner. 'You might think that it is self-evident that these actions were designed to influence the Government and to intimidate at least a section of the public and furthermore were made for the purpose of advancing a political and ideological cause. 'At least one method of attack on the Mayfair premises discussed between Earl and Evans was by way of explosion.' Mr Penny said Reeves had also admitted an offence under the recently drafted National Security Act of agreeing to accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service – money from the Wagner Group that was to be provided by or on behalf of a Russian intelligence service. Mr Penny went on: 'He agreed to accept the money in return for taking part in the plan to commit arson at Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines and to kidnap their owner.'
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Gang 'live-streamed arson attacks in London' for Wagner Group
A group of arsonists livestreamed their attack on a business supplying Starlink to Ukraine after the Wagner Group recruited them. Around £1 million of damage was caused by the blaze at an industrial unit in Leyton, east London, last March 20, the Old Bailey was told. Dylan Earl, 20, and Jake Reeves, 23, orchestrated the attack and have admitted aggravated arson, done on behalf of the Wagner Group, and an offence under the National Security Act. Jakeem Rose, 23, Ugnius Asmena, 20, Nii Mensah, 23 and Paul English, 61, were allegedly recruited to set fire to the warehouse. Duncan Penny KC said the evidence against them was overwhelming – CCTV, traffic cameras and phone evidence all placed the accused at the scene of the fire. More footage captured Rose and Mensah getting out of the vehicle, climbing over a wall and approaching the warehouses, jurors heard. Rose is accused of filling a jerry can en route at a petrol station before pouring its contents onto warehouse unit doors and setting them alight. Mensah filmed the arson attack on his mobile phone and livestreamed it on FaceTime, jurors were told. It took eight fire crews to bring the blaze at Cromwell Industrial Estate under control. It caused 'extensive damage' and risked the lives of people nearby, Mr Penny said. 'This was deliberate and calculated criminality – at the behest of foreign influence. In the case of these defendants, at the time of the fire, they may have been ignorant of that influence, and the motive may have been financial – good old-fashioned greed. 'For others, however, it appears to have been both political and ideological.' The prosecutor said the warehouse was targeted for its connection to Ukraine and the fact that the business was involved in logistics. The firm frequently delivered goods to Ukraine, including StarLink satellite equipment, and was involved in organising humanitarian aid, the court was told. Earl was said to be the 'architect' of the warehouse attack, and first came into contact with Wagner on a Telegram Channel. Mr Penny said: 'It appears that Dylan Earl expressed a willingness to undertake 'missions' of which the Leyton arson attack was the first. 'It is apparent that Dylan Earl knew he was acting against Ukrainian interests, and for Russian interests.' Once Reeves discovered the motivation behind it, he was prepared to agree to accept money from a foreign intelligence service to target an individual and businesses in the capital, the jury was told. Earl, of Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, and Reeves, of Croydon, have admitted plots to set fire to the Hide Restaurant and Hedonism Wines in Mayfair, west London, and kidnapping their owner on behalf of the Wagner Group, the court heard. 'You might think that it is self-evident that these actions were designed to influence the government and to intimidate at least a section of the public, and were made to advance a political and ideological cause,' Mr Penny said. More Trending 'It is also relevant that at least one method of attack on the Mayfair premises discussed between Earl and Evans was by way of explosion.' Rose, of Croydon, Asmena, of no fixed address, Mensah, of Thornton Heath and English, of Roehampton, have denied aggravated arson. Two other defendants, Ashton Evans, 20, from Newport, Gwent, and Dmirjus Paulauskas, 23, from Croydon, are each charged with two counts of failing to disclose information about terrorist acts, which they deny. The Old Bailey trial continues. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Halving violence against women and girls will require more cash, watchdogs say MORE: Women who have a miscarriage in West Virginia could be prosecuted MORE: Boy, 14, 'hacked to death in an instant by man with Samurai sword' on way to school
