Live updates on war in Ukraine Russia sparks outrage with

Live updates on war in Ukraine: Russia sparks outrage with plan for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus; Ukrainian city now ‘post-apocalyptic’ – CNBC

44 minutes ago

“Post-apocalyptic” scenes in Avdiivka, near Bakhmut, as the fighting rages on

Residential buildings damaged by Russian strikes in the frontline town of Avdiivka on March 23, 2023 in Ukraine.

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Intense attacks on the eastern Donetsk city of Avdiivka and the damage they caused prompted a Ukrainian official to compare the destruction to what you would see in a “post-apocalyptic” movie.

Utility workers were evacuated from Avdiivka, a town just over 50 miles southwest of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, as fighting intensified over the weekend.

“Avdiivka is becoming more and more like a place from post-apocalyptic movies… Therefore, a difficult decision was made to evacuate the rest of our heroes – utility workers who at least tried to keep the city clean and livable,” Vitaliy Barabash , head of the Avdiivka city military administration , said on Sunday in the telegram.

Barabash urged all remaining residents to leave the city while they were still able, saying: “So I’m not asking now, I strongly recommend leaving Avdiivka because Russian missiles and projectiles spare no one and nothing, it doesn’t matter which ones.” views you hold,” he said.

Ukrainian military officials have already warned that the city could be a “second Bakhmut” where fierce fighting has been going on for over seven months.

On Monday, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia was concentrating its offensives on Lyman, Bakhmut and Avdiivka and two other settlements, adding that its forces had repelled more than 60 attacks along the eastern front in the past 24 hours.

— Holly Ellyatt

Before an hour

Putin denies that Russia and China form a military alliance

Russia and China are stepping up cooperation in a variety of areas, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday, but insisted his country not form a military alliance with the Asian nation.

“This is absolutely wrong,” Putin said when asked in a television interview on Sunday whether cooperation between Moscow and Beijing posed a threat to the West.

“We are not establishing a military alliance with China. Yes, we also cooperate on the path of military-technical cooperation, we don’t hide it, but it’s transparent, there’s nothing secret about it,” Putin told Rossiya-24 TV channel, according to statements published by the state news agency TASS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping leave Moscow’s Kremlin March 21, 2023 after a reception honoring the Chinese leader’s visit to Moscow.

Grigory Sysoev | Sputnik | via Portal

Nonetheless, Putin said Moscow is developing its military cooperation with Beijing, including joint exercises.

“By the way, not only with China, but also with other countries. We continue it even now, despite the developments in Donbass, Zaporizhia and Kherson,” he said, referring to areas in Ukraine that Russia has declared for annexation. a move not recognized by most of the international community.

“We’re going ahead anyway, it’s all transparent, but it’s not a military alliance,” Putin added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a high-profile state visit to Moscow last week, during which both leaders reaffirmed their strategic partnership. Beijing is seen as the senior partner in the relationship.

There have been concerns that China could help Russia with deadly military aid, but Western nations have warned such a move would result in sanctions against Beijing.

— Holly Ellyatt

48 minutes ago

NATO has criticized the Russian stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus

NATO has criticized Russia’s nuclear rhetoric after Moscow announced over the weekend that it would station a stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Pascal Rossignol | Portal

NATO has criticized Russia’s nuclear rhetoric after Moscow announced over the weekend that it would station a stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

“Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible,” a spokesman told NBC News.

“NATO is vigilant and we are closely monitoring the situation. We have seen no changes in Russia’s nuclear stance that would cause us to adjust our own. We are committed to protecting and defending all NATO allies,” the spokesman added.

Over the weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory does not violate non-proliferation agreements because the weapons are under Russian control.

“Again, there is nothing unusual: First, the United States has been doing this for decades. They have long deployed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allied countries,” Putin said.

“We agreed that we will do the same – without violating our commitments, I stress, without violating our international non-proliferation commitments,” he added.

However, NATO said “Russia’s reference to NATO’s nuclear sharing is totally misleading” but added that “NATO allies are acting in full respect of their international obligations”.

“Russia has consistently broken its arms control commitments and most recently suspended its participation in the new START treaty.”

“Russia must return to compliance and act in good faith,” the spokesman added.

— Holly Ellyatt

Before an hour

Russia has sparked outrage over plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus

NATO and Ukraine’s western allies have expressed dismay at Russia’s announcement over the weekend that it would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the move on Saturday, saying a deal had been reached with his ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a leader seen as subservient to Moscow.

Putin claimed Lukashenko had long asked for the weapons to be stationed in Belarus, a country bordering NATO member Poland.

The Russian President said 10 aircraft capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons have already been transferred to Belarus and construction of weapons storage facilities in Belarus will be completed by July 1.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko December 19, 2022 at the Palace of Independence in Minsk, Belarus.

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A spokesman for the western military alliance NATO responded to the move by branding “Russia’s nuclear rhetoric” as “dangerous and irresponsible”, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged Belarus not to host Russian nuclear weapons, commenting on Twitter: “Belarus is hosting Russian nuclear weapons would mean an irresponsible escalation and threat to European security.” Borrell also warned against sanctions against Minsk.

A senior Ukrainian official, meanwhile, said the Kremlin had “taken Belarus as a nuclear hostage” and was trying to destabilize Belarus with the deal.

Defense experts and academics dispute the term, but “tactical” nuclear weapons generally refer to weapons intended to be used on the battlefield for specific tactical purposes, rather than the complete destruction of larger targets such as cities.

In announcing the move, Putin insisted that the plan would not violate non-proliferation agreements since the weapons are under Russian control.

“Again, there is nothing unusual: First, the United States has been doing this for decades. They have long deployed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allied countries,” Putin said.

“We agreed to do the same – without violating our commitments, I stress, without violating our international non-proliferation commitments.”

— Holly Ellyatt