When it comes to Ukraine War Briefing: putin threat to foreign embassies in kyiv , russia has urged foreign embassies to evacuate Kyiv before Moscow's Victory Day parade on Saturday, threatening strikes if Ukraine disrupts the commemorations. The warning came despite Volodymyr Zelenskyy's broader ceasefire proposal, as UN monitors reported at least 70 civilians killed and more than 500 wounded across Ukraine since last Friday.
Understanding Ukraine War Briefing: Putin Threat To Foreign Embassies In Kyiv
A Russian diplomatic note warned foreign missions and international organisations of a "retaliatory" attack on Ukraine's capital, "including against decision-making centres", should the celebrations be disrupted. It urged them to "ensure the timely evacuation of personnel from diplomatic and other missions, as well as citizens, from the city of Kyiv". Originally reported by The Guardian.
Vladimir Putin has demanded a narrowly defined ceasefire around his annual parade. Zelenskyy offered a halt beginning on 6 May, extending before, during and potentially beyond the anniversary if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine.
Russia didn't confirm participation. By late Wednesday morning, Zelenskyy said Russian forces had committed 1,820 violations.
"Russia's choice is an obvious spurning of a ceasefire and of saving lives," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Ukraine remained ready to pursue peace, he added, but challenged Putin's focus on the ceremony. "Russia has fought to the point where even their main parade now depends on us."
Sumy kindergarten struck as Hungary returns assets
Russian drones hit a kindergarten in the north-eastern city of Sumy on Wednesday, killing a security guard and wounding two others, officials said. No children were present, Luke Harding reported.
The UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said Wednesday that Russian attacks across 14 regions since last Friday had killed at least 70 civilians and injured more than 500. Separately, Sergei Aksyonov, the Russia-installed governor, said a Ukrainian drone strike killed five people in Dzhankoi, occupied Crimea.
Hungary, meanwhile, returned all cash and gold belonging to Ukraine's Oschadbank that Budapest's security service seized in March, Zelenskyy said Wednesday.
Seven Ukrainians transporting around $82m in cash and gold were detained under Viktor Orbán, now a lame-duck prime minister after losing recent elections to Péter Magyar. Ukraine called the seizure racketeering and described the shipment as routine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Hungary's "constructive approach and civilised step". Magyar takes his oath Saturday.
Pussy Riot protest closes Russia's Venice pavilion
The Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale temporarily closed after Pussy Riot protested Russia's inclusion. Wearing pink balaclavas, activists rushed towards the pavilion, lit pink, blue and yellow flares, played punk music and shouted slogans.
"Blood is Russia's art" was among slogans attributed to the protesters. Others, displayed on their bodies, read "Curated by Putin, dead bodies included", "Russia kills, biennale exhibits" and "Russian art, Ukrainian blood". A statue outside was wrapped in a Ukrainian flag.
Nadya Tolokonnikova, a founding Pussy Riot member who led the protest, criticised Europe for welcoming Russian propaganda while describing Ukraine as the continent's shield.
Ukraine is also seeking fewer Chinese components in its drones, with Taiwan emerging as an alternative, Alicia Chen and Yu-chen Li reported. Kyiv accuses Beijing of supplying Russia with military goods; China repeatedly denies it. Europe, the US and other countries likewise want alternatives to China-dominated supply chains.
Taiwan drone links and Baltic tanker scrutiny
Taiwan's semiconductor expertise and electronics integration make it "100% a valuable partner", said Bohdan Diorditsa, chief international alliances officer at Vyriy, a leading Ukrainian drone maker advocating local production and reduced dependence on Chinese parts.
Sweden's coast guard detained the Jin Hui, a tanker suspected of belonging to Russia's oil-carrying "shadow fleet". Officers boarded it Sunday in Swedish Baltic waters over suspected false-flag sailing and seaworthiness concerns. It was flying a Syrian flag.
The tanker appears on EU, UK and Ukrainian sanctions lists. It's the fifth vessel investigated in Swedish territorial waters in recent weeks. Russia's embassy in Sweden hadn't immediately answered a request for comment Wednesday.
A call attributed to Germany urged the EU to abolish unanimity rules that let members hold decisions "hostage". But the immediate diplomatic test remains Saturday: whether Russia and Ukraine can stop attacks beyond a parade-focused pause, while foreign missions weigh Moscow's warning to leave Kyiv.
Originally reported by The Guardian. View original.