That's it from the live blog for tonight -- though you can still watch our TV coverage in the video player.

Join us again on Saturday morning for more updates on Russia's war in Ukraine.

Wimbledon's Russia ban prompts tours to cut ranking points

Professional tennis players will not receive ATP and WTA ranking points at this year's Wimbledon Championships following the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian competitors from the tournament.

Players from the two countries have been banned by the All England Lawn Tennis Club from all UK grass-court events after Russia's military invasion of Ukraine.

However, events outside of Wimbledon, such as Queen's and Eastbourne, will retain their ranking points.

The 2022 Wimbledon Championships will run from Monday 27th June to Sunday 10th July.

The organisers of the Wimbledon tournament on Friday described the action as "disproportionate".

(AP, AFP)

Russia 'takes full control' of Azovstal steel plant 

The Russian army said on Friday that it had "fully liberated" the Azovstal steel plant in the strategic southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol after the last Ukrainian soldiers there surrendered.

"Since 16 May, 2,439 Nazis from the Azov (regiment) and Ukrainian soldiers trapped in the plant have surrendered. Today, May 20, the last group of 531 fighters surrendered," Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement posted on Telegram.

"The underground facilities at the site, where the fighters were hiding, have come under the full control of the Russian armed forces," Konashenkov added.

According to this source, Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed by his Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu of "the end of the operation and the complete liberation of the (Azovstal) combine and the city of Mariupol".

Igor Konashenkov assured that the head of the Azov regiment fighters on the spot had surrendered and had been evacuated from the factory in a "special armoured vehicle" to prevent him from being attacked by hostile inhabitants. 

(AFP)

Italian police: Pro-Russian hackers behind new cyber attacks

Police in Italy say pro-Russian hackers attacked the websites of several Italian institutions and government ministries on Friday morning.

The attack was launched on Thursday evening, and by Friday morning the foreign ministry and national magistrates association websites were still offline.

Italian cyber-security group Yarix said in a statement they believed the Russian hacker group "Killnet" was behind the attack.

A similar attack took place on 11 May, and last weekend police said they had thwarted a cyber-assault on the latter stages of the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin which ended on Saturday with the victory of Ukraine's entry. 

The police attributed both attacks to the Killnet group and its affiliate Legion.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 Feb many Western governments have raised alert levels in anticipation of possible cyber attacks on IT systems and infrastructure.

Russia routinely denies it carries out offensive cyber operations.

(Reuters / Euronews)

Major Russian assault on Severodonetsk

Russian troops bombarded a riverside city on Friday in what appeared to herald a major assault to seize the last remaining Ukrainian-held territory in a province it claims on behalf of separatists.

Ukrainian officials said Russian forces had launched massive artillery bombardment against Severodonetsk, one of the last Ukrainian-held bastions in Luhansk, one of two southeastern provinces Moscow and its proxies proclaim as independent states.

The city, and its twin Lyshchansk on the opposite bank of the Siverskiy Donets river, form the eastern part of a Ukrainian-held pocket that Russia has been trying to overrun since mid-April after failing to capture the capital Kyiv.

Ukraine's general staff said Moscow had launched an offensive on Sievierodonetsk but had taken losses and was forced to retreat, part of what it described as major Russian offensive operations along a stretch of the frontline.

Despite losing ground elsewhere in recent weeks, Russian forces have advanced on the Luhansk front, in what some military analysts view as a major push to achieve scaled-down war aims of capturing all territory claimed by pro-Russian rebels.

"The Russian army has started very intensive destruction of the town of Sievierodonetsk, the intensity of shelling doubled, they are shelling residential quarters, destroying house by house," Luhansk governor Serhiy Gaidai said via his Telegram channel.

"We do not know how many people died, because it is simply impossible to go through and look at every apartment," he said.

(Reuters)

Russian missile strike 'injures 7' in Lozova

At least seven people, including a child, were injured in a powerful Russian missile strike on a newly rebuilt cultural centre in the eastern city of Lozova, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday.

"A Russian missile hit the newly rebuilt cultural centre. Seven victims, including an 11-year-old child," Zelensky said on Telegram.

According to Viktor Zabachta, a rescue service official quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine agency, the seven victims were injured, but there were no deaths.

The Ukrainian president accompanied his message with a video showing a powerful explosion pulverising the building in a plume of smoke, while two cars drove by, one then trying to flee the area.

"The occupiers have identified culture, education and humanity as their enemies. And they spare no missiles for them," Zelensky said.

Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokesman Oleksander Motuzianyk said the situation on the frontline remained "tense" on Friday and "showed signs of worsening".

"Russian occupation forces are carrying out intense fire all along the contact line and are trying to strike with artillery deep into the defences of Ukrainian troops," he told a press briefing.

(AFP)

Poland and Portugal vow to help bring Ukraine into EU

Poland and Portugal are trying to figure out ways of bringing Ukraine into the European Union even if some countries in the bloc balk at granting it speedy access.

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced the effort after talks Friday in Warsaw with visiting Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

Morawiecki said that “if some EU nations protest vehemently, together with Portugal we want to work out an appropriate package that would be attractive for Ukraine and will show that Ukraine’s place is in the EU.”

For example, Germany has spoken out against a swift EU membership path for Ukraine, which currently fighting a ferocious war against Russia’s invasion. All 27 EU members need to approve an enlargement to include Ukraine.

Costa said EU leaders should not stick to inflexible regulations but be “pragmatic and respond to the current events.” He urged a decision at an EU summit scheduled for June.

(AP)

G7 pledges $19.8 billion in aid to boost Ukraine's finances

Germany’s finance minister says the Group of Seven leading economies and global financial institutions are providing $19.8 billion (€18.75 billion) in aid to bolster Ukraine’s public finances.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner told reporters Friday that $9.5 billion of the total was mobilized at meetings of the G-7 finance ministers in Koenigswinter, Germany, this week.

He said the goal is to ensure that Ukraine’s financial situation does not affect its ability to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.

“We agreed on concrete actions to deepen multilateral economic cooperation and underlined our commitment to our united response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to our unwavering support to Ukraine,” a G-7 statement said.

(AP)

More than 1,900 Azovstal fighters have surrendered, Russia says

Russia's defense minister says 1,908 Ukrainian fighters who had been holed up at the Azovstal steelworks, the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the port city of Mariupol, have surrendered so far.

“Nationalists blocked off at the plant started to surrender. As of now, 1,908 people have laid down arms,” Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted by the Russian media as saying Friday.

On Thursday, the Russian military put the total of surrendered fighters at 1,730. It remains unclear how many fighters are still holed up in the giant steel plant’s maze of underground tunnels and bunkers.

On of the Ukrainian commanders at the plant said Kyiv had ordered them to "stop defending the city". (See earlier post)

(AP)

Red Cross has been visiting with POWs on “all sides” of the Ukraine conflict

The international Red Cross says it has been visiting prisoners of war on “all sides” since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine almost three months ago.

A Red Cross statement Friday said the POW visits had enabled it to pass on information to hundreds of families about their loved ones.

The ICRC did not specify how many families had been informed about their relatives, or where the visits took place. It said only that the visits had taken place “in recent months.”

The statement came a day after the humanitarian agency broke its silence about prisoners of war in the nearly three-month-long conflict, announcing it has registered “hundreds” of Ukrainian prisoners of war this week from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol who ended their defence against a weeks-long siege by Russian forces.

“Many more families need answers; the ICRC must have full access to POWs and civilian internees, wherever they are held, in order to provide those answers,” the Geneva-based organisation said.

Some humanitarian law experts have questioned why the ICRC took so long to announce its POW visits, a key part of its mandate.

The ICRC often operates confidentially in its role to help protect civilians, prisoners of war and other noncombatants in conflicts, and ensure the respect of the rules of war.

(AP)

EU disburses €600m to Ukraine via emergency Macro-Financial Assistance Program

Ex German chancellor Gerhard Schröder steps down from Rosneft board

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder will leave the board of directors of Rosneft, the Russian oil group announced on Friday.

According to its statement, Schröder informed the company that he could not extend his functions as chairman of the board of directors.

This came a day after the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, deprived him of some of his advantages as a former chancellor, including the allocation of offices. In Brussels, the European Parliament also voted on Thursday by a large majority for a non-binding resolution asking Schröder to resign from his posts.

In addition to his duties at Rosneft, Schröder is chairman of the shareholders' committee of Nord Stream AG, the consortium that manages the Nord Stream gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.

Another Rosneft board member, Matthias Warnig, a former German intelligence officer, is also resigning, according to the Russian group's statement.

Meanwhile, earlier on Friday Reuters reported that five vice-presidents or Rosneft, all foreigners, had resigned from the company ahead of the latest round of EU sanctions against Russia.

(Euronews / AFP)

Turkish president holds talks over Sweden and Finland's NATO bids 

Turkey’s president says he is engaged in “telephone diplomacy” with foreign counterparts over the bids by Sweden and Finland to join NATO.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Friday that his country is determined not to approve membership of the alliance for countries accused by Turkey of supporting what it calls “terror organisations.”

Erdogan has placed an obstacle to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance. He accuses Stockholm - and to a lesser extent Helsinki -- of supporting the Kurdish Workers’ Party, or PKK, and other groups that Turkey views as terrorists and a threat to its national security.

Turkey, which has the second largest army in NATO, also accuses the two Nordic countries of imposing restrictions on exports of defence industry equipment to Turkey and of failing to extradite suspects wanted by Turkey.

Erdogan told reporters that he spoke to Netherland’s Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday and would hold further discussions with British and Finnish leaders on Saturday.

Sweden and Finland formally applied to join the military alliance this week. All 30 NATO members need to approve the entry of new members.

(AP)

US Embassy welcomes plan to name Moscow square 'Defenders of Donbas'

The US Embassy in Moscow said on Friday that it was surprised but not offended by a proposal to name a nearby intersection "Defenders of Donbas Square", suggesting disingenuously that it was to honour Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russian aggression.

The Moscow city assembly said on Wednesday that its members were considering naming the intersection after soldiers fighting against alleged "Nazism" in the largely Russian-speaking Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Kyiv and the West say the allegation of fascism is a baseless pretext for an unprovoked act of aggression.

"Surprised but not offended by the Russian government's proposal to rename a part of downtown Moscow near the US Embassy 'Defenders of Donbas Square', presumably in honour of Ukrainian soldiers bravely defending their homeland from Kremlin aggression," the embassy said. "The country should know its heroes."

(Reuters)

Russia to build '12 new military bases' in response to likely NATO expansion

Read more in our story here: 

Russia to build '12 new military bases' in response to NATO expansion

Last soldiers remaining in Azovstal told to surrender by Kyiv

The last Ukrainian soldiers entrenched in the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol have been ordered by Kyiv to "stop defending the city", one of the commanders said in a video message on Friday, according to AFP.

"The higher military command has given the order to save the lives of the soldiers of our garrison and to stop defending the city," said Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov regiment, one of the Ukrainian units present in the steelworks.

Russia to suspend gas deliveries to Finland

Deliveries of natural gas from Russia to Finland will be suspended from Saturday morning, according to Finnish energy group Gasum.

The shut-off is a result of Finland's refusal to pay Russia's Gazprom in roubles.

"It is very regrettable that the contractual delivery of natural gas is suspended. However, we have been careful to prepare for this situation," Gasum's managing director Mika Wiljanen said in a statement. "There will be no cuts in the gas distribution network," he assured. 

Although Finland imports 95% of its natural gas from Russia, gas accounts for only around 5% of energy use and Finnish authorities have said they could compensate fairly easily for any loss of supply. 

(Euronews / AFP)

Russian soldier 'not guilty' in war crimes trial

The Russian soldier on trial for war crimes in Ukraine "is not guilty", his lawyer said on the third day of court proceedings in Kyiv.

Vadim Shysimarin, a 21-year-old sergeant in a Russian tank division, is accused of murdering an unarmed 62-year-old civilian, which is a war crime under international law. 

"In view of all the evidence and testimony, I believe that Mr Shysimarin is not guilty of the crime of which he is accused," defence attorney Viktor Ovsiannykov said in his closing arguments, asking the judges "to acquit (his) client," an AFP reporter noted.

The case marks a watershed moment as it is the first time a Russian soldier has been accused of war crimes since the invasion began in February. 

Shysimarin, who was brought before the court in a preliminary hearing, faces life imprisonment under charges of war crimes and premeditated murder, if found guilty. 

On Wednesday Vadim Shysimarin pleaded guilty, acknowledging all the charges against him. A verdict is due on Monday. 

(Euronews / AFP)

Russia to increase western units in response to Sweden and Finland's NATO bids

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Finland and Sweden joining NATO has led to an increase in military threats near the border and that Moscow is taking "adequate countermeasures", Interfax news agency reported on Friday.

RIA news agency quoted Shoigu as saying Russia would respond by forming 12 new units in its western military district.

Finland and Sweden formally applied to join the Western defence alliance NATO on Wednesday.

(Reuters)

Swedish foreign minister pushes back against Turkish claims

Sweden’s foreign minister, Ann Linde, has responded to claims made by Turkey that her country supports the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been labelled a terrorist organisation.

The presence of PKK activists in Sweden is seen as one of the main reasons for Turkey's currently opposition to Sweden joining NATO.

Writing on Twitter, Linde pointed out that Sweden was the first country after Turkey to list PKK as a terrorist organisation, way back in 1984.  

Moscow claims to have almost completed the conquest of Luhansk region 

The Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, said on Friday that the conquest of the Ukrainian region of Lugansk was almost complete.

"Units of the Russian armed forces, together with divisions of the People's Militia of the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics continue to increase control over the territories of Donbas. The liberation of the Lugansk People's Republic is almost complete," he said, according to Russian new agencies.

The claims could not be independently verified.

Shoigu also said that 1,908 Ukrainian soldiers entrenched in the Azovstal steel site in Mariupol had now surrendered.

Euronews' international correspondent Anelise Borges has sent the below images from Bashtanka, a city that was briefly occupied by Russian soldiers.

There are bullet holes and burned buildings everywhere, as a result of fighting to retake the city.

An update from Euronews' international correspondent Anelise Borges:

We're now heading to Mykolaiv and from there we're going to go further east. We are going to be given access today to a school that was occupied by Russian soldiers, because Ukrainian troops want to show us what these soldiers left behind. 

We are going to be in the same area that we've been over the last few days with them. The areas where they are actually fighting. They are calling this the Southern Front. 

This is part of a push to retake Kherson, the very first city that has been occupied by Russian troops. The soldiers have been telling us that they have what it takes to retake Kherson and even further, but what that means is anyone's guess.

They won't tell us exactly what equipment they're using, or what kind of ammunition or weaponry. We have seen at night quite a lot of military equipment going east, but we haven't really been allowed to see them using this military equipment.

We are never really taken to the line of contact. Soldiers tell us it's too dangerous. We are often kept in the first line of defence, immediately after that line of contact. Which is where we were with Deputy Commander Nazar, who showed us some of the trenches that had been dug by soldiers, and spoke to us about just how dangerous it is for them. 

He also told us how tiring it has been, especially the aspect of being far from their families. Some of their wives and children are outside of the country, and it's been three months. We heard some of the soldiers are getting passes to go and see their wives and children in, for example, Poland or other countries, for two or three days, and then they have to come back. That's some exceptional authorisation that some soldiers are getting, but I believe it depends on their ranking as well. 

We're gonna be there in Mykolaiv, in this region, the whole day today, and we'll keep you posted on what we see.

G7 to agree more than €17 billion in aid for Ukrainian defence

The Group of Seven leading economies are set to agree on more than $18 billion (€17 billion) in aid for Ukrainian defence efforts as meetings of finance ministers close Friday, Germany's finance minister told Bloomberg Television.

“I think it’s a very good signal that the G7 nations are standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine because they are not only defending themselves, they are defending our values,” German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said in an interview with Bloomberg.

A representative from the US Treasury Department declined to verify the amount allocated, and a spokesman from the German finance ministry declined to comment to The Associated Press.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other leaders spoke this week about the need for allies to put together enough additional aid to help Ukraine “get through" the Russian invasion.

“All of us pledged to do what’s necessary to fill the gap,” Yellen said Thursday as the ministers finished their first of two days of talks. "We’re going to put together the resources that they need.”

(AP)

Russian parliament to consider allowing over-40s to sign up for military

In a sign of Russia's urgent need to bolster its war effort in Ukraine, Russia's parliament said on Friday it would consider a bill to allow Russians over 40 and foreigners over 30 to sign up for the military.

The website of the State Duma, parliament's lower house, said the move would enable the military to utilise the skills of older professionals.

"For the use of high-precision weapons, the operation of weapons and military equipment, highly professional specialists are needed. Experience shows that they become such by the age of 40–45," it said.

Previously only Russians aged 18-40 and foreigners aged 18-30 could enter into a first contract with the military.

Russia has suffered huge setbacks and heavy losses of men and equipment in the 86-day-old war, prompting Western military analysts to say it urgently needs to mobilise more soldiers.

The Duma said the planned initiative would also make it easier to recruit civilian medics, engineers and operations and communications specialists.

(Reuters)

Odesa goes about its business, but with target on its back

Here is a dispatch from Euronews' international correspondent Anelise Borges in Odesa:

Good morning from Odessa. The city is waking up to another almost normal day. It's quite incredible to see so many people out and about. The transport system is working – we just saw a tram packed with people going somewhere, perhaps to work. 

It's been very interesting to observe how Odesa is a safe haven of sorts; very close to the more dangerous areas, the city has seen a relatively calm over the last almost three month now.

But there's been a spike in attacks here in recent weeks. We've seen shelling of different areas around Odesa. Last night we heard a very loud explosion, we have yet to have confirmation as to what was hit. Sporadic gunfire is also not something that is shocking to anyone here. The other day we got news that soldiers were trying to down a drone in the city centre.

It's a very surreal context for the city of Odesa. 

When we spoke to the mayor a couple of days ago, he told us that he expected Odesa to be targeted by Russia, because of the importance of this place, not only geographically speaking. If Russia was to conquer this corridor in the south it could connect Crimea, the Sea of Azov, to Transnistria, which is that pocket of territory controlled by Russian-backed separatists in Moldova. More importantly, the mayor said that they knew how important Odesa is for Russia in terms of history.

It's got centuries of Russian history, and it's a very symbolic city because of that.

Potential evidence of war crimes in Bucha uncovered by New York Times

The New York Times has published a harrowing investigative report that claims to show how Russian paratroopers executed at least eight Ukrainian men in a Kyiv suburb on 4th March, a potential war crime.

The American newspaper obtained witness statements and videos that purport to show Russian troops rounding up and then executing at least eight Ukrainian men in Bucha on 4th March.

Attack on Severodonetsk repulsed, says Ukraine

Russian forces have attacked the cities of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk in Ukraine’s eastern region of Luhansk, the region’s governor said Friday, according to the Associated Press.

Serhiy Haidai said in a Telegram post that 12 people were killed in Severodonetsk and more than 60 houses were destroyed across the region.

He added that the attack on Severodonetsk “was unsuccessful – the Russians suffered personnel losses and retreated.” His remarks could not be independently verified.

Ukraine’s General Staff in its morning update on Friday also said that the Russians tried to assault Severodonetsk but suffered losses and retreated.

White House working to put advanced anti-ship missiles in Ukraine's hands

The White House is working to put advanced anti-ship missiles in the hands of Ukrainian fighters to help defeat Russia's naval blockade, officials said, amid concerns more powerful weapons that could sink Russian warships would intensify the conflict.

Ukraine has made no secret it wants more advanced U.S. capabilities beyond its current inventory of artillery, Javelin and Stinger missiles, and other arms. Kyiv's list, for example, includes missiles that could push the Russian navy away from its Black Sea ports, allowing the restart of shipments of grain and other agricultural products worldwide.

Current and former US officials and congressional sources have cited roadblocks to sending longer range, more powerful weapons to Ukraine that include lengthy training requirements, difficulties maintaining equipment, or concerns US weaponry could be captured by Russian forces, in addition to the fear of escalation.

But three U.S. officials and two congressional sources said two types of powerful anti-ship missiles, the Harpoon made by Boeing and the Naval Strike Missile made by Kongsberg and Raytheon Technologies were in active consideration for either direct shipment to Ukraine, or through a transfer from a European ally that has the missiles.

(Reuters)

Donbas has been turned into 'hell', says Ukraine's President Zelenskyy

Ukraine's industrial Donbas region, the focus of recent Russian offensives, has been destroyed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as some of the world's richest countries pledged to bolster Kyiv with billions of dollars.

Since turning away from Ukraine's capital, Russia is using massed artillery and armour to try to capture more territory in the Donbas, comprised of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, which Moscow claims on behalf of separatists.

"The occupiers are trying to exert even more pressure. It is hell there - and that is not an exaggeration," Zelenskyy said in a late Thursday address.

"(There are) constant strikes on the Odesa region, on the cities of central Ukraine. The Donbas is completely destroyed," he added.

(Reuters)

Russia could move too fast to redeploy Mariupol forces, says UK defence ministry

In its latest intelligence update, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has addressed the likely scenario as Russia looks to finally secure the city of Mariupol. It says that Russia will likely move their forces from in and around the city to reinforce operations in the Donbas.

However, it won’t be that easy:

“Staunch Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol since the start of the war means Russian forces in the area must be re-equipped and refurbished before they can be redeployed effectively. This can be a lengthy process when done thoroughly," it said.

"Russian commanders, however, are under pressure to demonstrably achieve operational objectives. This means that Russia will probably redistribute their forces swiftly without adequate preparation, which risks further force attrition.”

Zelenskyy thanks US for agreeing $40 (€38bn) billion aid package

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States for the $40 billion (€37.8bn) aid package, which got final congressional approval on Thursday.

“This is a demonstration of strong leadership and a necessary contribution to our common defence of freedom,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation.

He also thanked the European Union for its support.

“And for our partners this is not just an expense or a gift. This is their contribution to security,” Zelenskyy said. “For defending Ukraine also defends them from new wars and crises that Russia could provoke if it is successful in the war against Ukraine. Therefore, we must together ensure that Russia’s aggression against our state has no success, not militarily, economically or any other.”

Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s monthly budget deficit is $5 billion “and so to survive in the war for freedom, we need quick and sufficient financial support.”

The US has announced a shipment of $100 million in military equipment to Ukraine, separate from what will be coming from the $40 billion approved by Congress. The latest package includes 18 more howitzers as well as anti-artillery radar systems, both of which the US has provided to Ukraine already since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February.

(AP)

$100 million in US military equipment heading to Ukraine

The US has announced a shipment of $100 million (€94.4 million) in military equipment to Ukraine, separate from what will be coming from the $40 billion approved Thursday by Congress.

The latest package includes 18 more howitzers as well as anti-artillery radar systems, both of which the US has provided to Ukraine already since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the equipment will be in the hands of Ukrainian forces “very, very soon.”

With this latest shipment, the US has provided nearly $4 billion in military aid since 24th February and $6.6 billion since 2014, when Russia seized and annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.

Kirby said the US will consult with Ukraine, as it has frequently since the invasion, about what it needs in terms of equipment.

(AP)

Ukrainian troops surrendering at Mariupol registered as prisoners of war

Hundreds more Ukrainian fighters who made their stand inside Mariupol's bombed-out steel plant have surrendered, bringing the total to over 1,700, Russia said on Thursday, amid international fears about the fate of the prisoners in Moscow's hands.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said that it has registered hundreds of POWs from the plant under an agreement between Russia and Ukraine. 

Ukrainian troops surrendering at Mariupol registered as POWs

US accuses Russia of weaponising food in Ukraine war

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia on Thursday of weaponising food and holding grain for millions of people around the world hostage to help accomplish what its invasion of Ukraine has not -- “to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people.”

He told a UN Security Council meeting called by the United States that the war has halted maritime trade in large areas of the Black Sea and made the region unsafe for navigation, trapping Ukrainian agricultural exports and jeopardising global food supplies.

Since Russia’s invasion on 24th February, he said, its naval operations have sought to control access to the northwestern Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and to block Ukrainian ports which the United States assesses to be “a deliberate effort” to block safe passage and shut down shipping.

“As a result of the Russian government’s actions, some 20 million tons of grain sit unused in Ukrainian silos as global food supplies dwindle, prices skyrocket, causing more around the world to experience food insecurity,” Blinken said.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia dismissed as “absolutely false" claims by the U.S. and Western nations “that we want to starve everyone to death and that only you and Ukraine allegedly care about how to save the lives of the country.”

(AP)