BBC branded ‘tone deaf’ for airing The Muppets film where Kermit dances with cheering Russian soldiers

Good afternoon Insider team. Max Goldbart back in the saddle for your weekly dose of news as the Russia/Ukraine invasion continues to have huge ramifications for the film and TV world and vice versa.

Vladimir Putin has displayed a distinctive walk, which could be linked to KGB training.

Russian armada has been spotted lurking in the Black Sea and advancing toward Odessa, with fears that the Ukrainian port is Vladimir Putin's next target.The Ukrainian defence ministry warned that invading forces could be prepping for a possible attack.A Russian invasion of Ukraine's third largest city could open a corridor to Kyiv from the south for Russian forces to move through.Landing ships capable of launching tanks and hundreds of troops ashore have been spotted off the coast.Following the sighting of Russian personnel in the Black Sea heading toward Odessa, the Ukrainian defence ministry released a statement.In the statement, the ministry said: "In the waters of the Black Sea, we are observing a landing detachment of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, consisting of four large landing ships accompanied by three rocket boats, advancing toward Odessa." Experts have warned that if Russia seize the port then they would be given a "chokehold" on Ukraine's economy, with comparisons made to the UK losing Dover. General Sir Richard Barrons, a former military chief, said the city was a "big prize" in the Russian invasion.

Russian vodka off their shelves for the "foreseeable future" over the invasion of Ukraine, becoming the first UK supermarket to do so.It comes as more than one million people have fled Ukraine while Vladimir Putin's bloody bombardment of the country enters its second week.Russian Standard is one the best selling vodkas in the UK, brought to our shores in 1998 by billionaire Roustam Tariko.It had been priced at £14 per 70cl bottle, but has now disappeared from Co-op's website. Explaining the move, a Co-op spokesperson said: "In response to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces and as a sign of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, we have taken the decision to remove from sale Russian-made vodka."Russian Standard has been taken off sale with immediate effect because it is overtly marketed as being Russian and produced there."It will not be stocked for the foreseeable future."They added: "Our members and customers will also be able to support the humanitarian response to help those displaced by the conflict by donating at our stores to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal."The appeal will launch across our 2,600 stores today (Thursday 3 March 2022) and we’ll be match funding our customers donations up to £100,000."Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, and those in Russia who oppose this invasion."Although Co-op are the first supermarket move against Russian vodka, this isn't the first example of UK businesses showing solidarity with the Ukrainian cause.

“You are looking at live pictures of a fire that has broken out at a Ukrainian nuclear power plant in the town of Enerhohrad after an attack by Russian troops,” said CNN’s Erin Burnett tonight in what could literally be the most explosive story out of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the Eastern European nation so far

Lord of the Rings character Gollum this week, using the character to criticise the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Serkis was discussing his voice work on The Lord of the Rings. He demonstrated the voice of Gollum and in doing so, criticised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by taking aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin.It comes after Ukraine severed diplomatic ties with Russia and declared martial law after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an attack on the neighbouring nation last Thursday (February 24).“Gollum was on this side and Sméagol was on this side,” Serkis said in the segment.“And he would say things like, ‘We wants it.

Russia is in control of the area around the plant but has not taken control of the plant itself.“They have the physical control of the perimeter, including the village where most of the employees live,” he said. During an emergency meeting he expressed his concerns over the power plant and said: “The situation in Ukraine is unprecedented and I continue to be gravely concerned.“It is the first time a military conflict is happening amidst the facilities of a large, established nuclear power program.”After nearly a week of bloodshed, Vladimir Putin finally admitted how many of his soldiers have died during the invasion of Ukraine.Russia’s Defence Ministry said in its first report of military casualties since the start of the invasion, that some 498 Russian troops have been killed in Ukraine, with 1,597 wounded.

Ukraine, WWE has said it will no longer broadcast events in the country. The wrestling association said that "effective immediately" it would shut down the WWE Network in Russia and remove access to its on-demand library.

Dancing With The Stars professional dancer Maksim Chemerkovskiy has been reunited with his wife Peta Murgatroyd after a horrendous ordeal in his native Ukraine. Maksim, 42, was seen embracing his wife after making it through passport control at Los Angeles Airport. Before he made it through the airport, Peta, 35, was seen nervously awaiting her husband’s return.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has got himself a bit of a reputation for terrible time keeping.

A Russian oligarch was found dead in the garage of his luxury UK mansion just days after the invasion of Ukraine commenced.

While leaders around the world, including President Biden, have announced sanctions on Russia over its multifront war on Ukraine, major players in Hollywood are taking swift action of their own to condemn President Vladimir Putin's actions. Over the last week, musicians, festival organizers and industry leaders have announced their decisions to postpone events in Russia, severely limiting entertainment offerings in the country. Musicians press pause  The band "Imagine Dragons" was scheduled to perform in both Russia and Ukraine this coming June, but revealed over the weekend its decision to halt the shows.

Spotify has shuttered its Moscow office in response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and will restrict the discoverability of content owned and operated by Russian state-affiliated media.“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the unprovoked attack on Ukraine,” a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement.“Our first priority over the past week has been the safety of our employees and to ensure that Spotify continues to serve as an important source of global and regional news at a time when access to information is more important than ever.”Confirming its Moscow office would be closed “indefinitely”, the streaming platform said they were “providing individual support to our personnel” in Moscow, as well as their “global community of Ukrainian employees”.In addition to restricting the discoverability of Russian state-affiliated media, the platform has also removed all content from Kremlin-backed outlets RT and Sputnik that was hosted on Spotify in the European Union and other markets. Additionally, it has launched a guide on the platform that directs users to localised “trusted news” sources.Spotify has stopped short of shutting off access for their Russian users, however, saying they believe it’s “critically important to try to keep our service operational in Russia to allow for the global flow of information”.“We are exploring additional steps that we can take and will continue to do what is in the best interest of our employees and our listeners,” the statement concluded.Ukraine has been under attack since last Thursday (February 24), when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation in the neighbouring country.

Russian-born model Irina Shayk shared her support for Ukraine on Monday via Instagram. Shayk, 36, shared a photo of a black and white peace sign on her personal Instagram account as Russia continues to invade Ukraine. "No To War," she wrote, adding prayer and broken heart emojis.

Vladimir Putin's aggressive invasion of the country isn't going entirely to plan.A week has passed since Russian troops entered the country and resistance from the Ukrainians has been fierce. Today (March 2), Russia’s Defence Ministry's casualty report revealed that 498 Russian troops have been killed in Ukraine, with 1,597 wounded since they invaded.

Roman Abramovich, the Russian owner of England’s Chelsea FC, one of soccer’s biggest clubs, said Wednesday that he is selling the franchise, with the proceeds to go to a foundation that will benefit war victims in Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine. Wetherspoon is one of many businesses placing their own sanctions on Russia as they have removed Russian beer from every fridge of their pubs up and down the country.

Russian national team and all clubs from the country in light of the Ukraine invasion. In a statement this afternoon, the sports gaming company announced they were taking action after Vladimir Putin's actions in recent days.

Ricky Gervais has skewered celebrities appearing on BBC Who Do You Think You Are and crying over their long lost family members. The comedian has slammed celebrites over their tears. Ricky fumed: "I like the way the actors cry.

RICKY Gervais has ripped into the BBC's sobbing Who Do You Think You Are? celebs and revealed why he'll NEVER go on the show. The After Life star has never been afraid of taking the mick out of some of showbiz's most famous faces.

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon says it will no longer sell Russian beer due to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.