Before and after photos of Mariupol show devastation of city where more than 1,500 killed

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has been denounced by the world for his horrific invasion of Ukraine and the treatment of its people, however a startling lesson from history shows he could be much worse. During Russia's invasion of Chechnya in the 1990's, Vladimir Putin's forces employed a range of torture techniques including asphyxiation and chemical baths, it has been claimed. The horrific conflict came relatively early on in the despot's premiership and has many alarming parallels to his latest move in Ukraine, although there has been so far no evidence to suggest Russia is torturing Ukrainians.

Statista. And over the years, celebs have met with Russian President Vladimir Putin while visiting the country for events, like professional fights and concerts. Here’s a look at some celebs who either once hobnobbed or briefly met with Putin.Mickey RourkeIn an interview with Fox News Digital, Mickey Rourke recalled meeting Putin when Rourke had a “professional fight four years ago” in Russia.“I had the time of my life,” Rourke told Fox News Digital about visiting the country. “The people couldn’t have been nicer, more polite, more respectful.

Amanda Holden, 51, has witnessed the devastation caused by the war in Ukraine after she travelled to a refugee camp in Medyka, Poland.The Britain’s Got Talent judge has been reporting from the ground on her Global podcast Ukraine’s Hidden Voices, which launched earlier this month.She took to Instagram yesterday to share a picture of an exhausted Ukrainian woman, in view of her 1.8 million followers.The poignant photo showed a young Ukrainian woman sleeping while sitting on a chair and using a bag as a pillow.Next to her, another woman looked at her phone with her bag clutched between her legs.Amanda, who was left speechless by the scenes she had witnessed, hit out at the Home Secretary over some of her latest remarks on the refugee crisis.She captioned the shot: “Priti Patel has said Vladimir Putin might try to use Ukrainian women and children to infiltrate the UK.

The British government has condemned the “abduction and deportation” of Ukrainians from the besieged city of Mariupol, in a move that has been likened to Nazi Germany.

Ukrainian civilians are being rounded up by Russian troops and sent to “work camps” thousands of miles from their homes, a Ukrainian MP has claimed. Inna Sovsun told Times Radio yesterday that as many as 5,000 civilians had been being taken to “very distant parts of Russia” and “forced to sign papers saying that they will stay in that area for two or three years and they will work for free in those areas”.

As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, many industries have sanctioned Russia, including Hollywood.  Although Russia isn’t a leading market for Hollywood, it was one of the top six box office markets worldwide in revenue in 2021, according to Statista.  And over the years, celebs have met with Russian President Vladimir Putin while visiting the country for events, like professional fights and concerts.  Here’s a look at some celebs who either once hobnobbed or briefly met with Putin. Mickey Rourke In an interview with Fox News Digital, Mickey Rourke recalled meeting Putin when Rourke had a "professional fight four years ago" in Russia.

A small band of Moscow’s elite is plotting to topple Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian intelligence officials claim.

Formula 1 fans couldn't help but see the funny side after Kevin Magnussen, who stepped in as Russian driver Nikita Mazepin's Haas replacement earlier this month, finished fifth in the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.Mazepin was dropped by Haas in light of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February, having initially joined the team ahead of the 2021 season, though he never managed to finish higher than 14th all year.While they were a few surprises in Bahrain this afternoon, including the dramatic retirement of both Red Bulls cars, Magnussen's emphatic performance has probably already done enough to suggest that Haas made a smart decision.Fans flooded to social media after the race, displaying very little sympathy for the ousted Russian driver."Imagine being Mazepin and seeing Kevin finishing on P5 with "your" car. Whoops," one fan tweeted."I’d like to see Mazepin come 5th in the first race of the season," posted another.A third wrote: "Lol Magnussen got 5th in Mazepin's car," while a fourth said: "Ditch the Russian Mazepin and then you go get P5.

World War Three can’t be ruled out because of the “uncharted territory” of the brutal conflict in Ukraine, the former head of the British Army has warned. General Sir Mike Jackson said the bloody Russian invasion is a “very delicate” situation and admitted he is worried nuclear weapons will become involved.He told Alastair Stewart on GB News: “We haven't, thank God, seen nuclear weapons used since 1945.

Vladimir Putin to save Ukraine. Alex Stein, who preferred to be called "PrimeTime 99 Alex Stein", wore the colours of the Ukrainian flag - a blue suit and a yellow tie - to the council meeting of Plano city in Texas along with a mini speaker.He told the panel that he wanted to help the people in Ukraine and that he wrote a rap song to share it with the committee members."Go insane, for Ukraine, put a bullet in Putin's brain!" he shouts, and carries on mentioning that Putin is a "bad racist" and he has "to be put on the ground".Then he pays tribute to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and sings: "Zelenskyy! VIP! I am a Zelenskyy stan.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been shot dead by Ukraine's forces the besieged nation has claimed in yet another significant blow to Vladimir Putin's military.While Kyiv claims to have killed five army generals, first rank captain Andrey Paliy, 51, is the only senior naval officer allegedly killed in the war in Ukraine.His death came as Russia claimed to have hit a training facility for foreign fighters killing more than 100 special forces personnel and non-Ukrainian mercenaries.Konstantin Tsarenko, secretary of the public council of the Sevastopol Nakhimov Naval School and friend to Paliy, has appeared to confirm the officer's death, although it has not been officially acknowledged by Moscow.However, the exact circumstances of his reported death are not known, but one account said that the naval officer had been involved with Russian marine attacks near Mariupol.Paliy was born in Kyiv and in 1993 refused to take the Ukrainian military oath, instead serving in the Russian Northern Fleet.He had earlier served on the Russian nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great”, and as the deputy head of the Russian naval academy in Sevastopol, in annexed Crimea.Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko claimed Paliy’s death early today without giving further details.Russia again today used hypersonic Kinzhal missiles on “military targets” in Ukraine, according to the defence ministry in Moscow.“A Kinzhal attack on a fuel and lubricants base from which fuel for Ukrainian armoured vehicles was supplied was launched from the airspace over Crimea,” said a statement.High-precision airborne missiles also struck a training centre for “foreign mercenaries” near the village of Ovruch, in Zhytomyr Region, claimed then Russians.The type of missile

Russia and Vladimir Putin hemorrhages Western friends, they may be forced to turn to China and sell off assets after being crippled by a series of sanctions by European nations. This would render Russia, in effect, “China’s colony," claims Harry Kazianis, an expert on US foreign policy and national security issues involving China.

Vladimir Putin's rumoured lover Alina Kabaeva is one of the most decorated gymnasts in history - and she was once dubbed "Russia's most flexible woman". Kabaeva was born in Uzbekistan, but after the fall of the Soviet Union, she opted to represent Russia internationally.

Leicester City striker mentioned wanting a penguin or a giraffe as a pet. The former England international has also revealed he found out how to buy a giraffe. However, his comments have brought a warning from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who reminded the 35-year-old of how the sale of exotic pets can harm the animals.

Boris Johnson was accused of being a “threat to national security” following reports he was at a Tory party fundraising event on the night Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine.

Boris Johnson has compared the Ukrainian people's fight for freedom to British people voting for Brexit.

Fresh drone footage has revealed the moment Russia launched a hypersonic missile strike on Ukraine yesterday.

Boris Johnson has said that Vladimir Putin "was frightened" of Ukraine and described the invasion as a "turning point for the world" during a Tory conference. The Prime Minister claimed that the Russian president's brutal invasion of his neighbour was motivated by the fear a successful Ukraine would trigger a pro-democracy revolution in Moscow.

Vladimir Putin has sacked 1,000 of his personal staff as he is scared that they will try to poison him, a report has claimed.The Russian president has had hundreds of his personal staff replaced over his paranoia, including cooks, secretaries, laundry workers, and bodyguards.The news comes as Putin's invasion of Ukraine moves into into its fourth week, and Russian forces have so far failed to capture Kyev.Five Russian generals have also been killed so far, with thousands of Russian soldiers also reported killed.Several private jets belonging to Russian oligarchs have also been spotted heading to Dubai, prompting questions about the domestic security in Putin's Moscow.A French agent has claimed that it is possible that Putin will be removed from power by a coup coming from within the Kremlin, with assassination being one way that this could come about.Putin has also drawn ridicule in recent weeks as he has held meetings not only with foreign leaders, but also his own inner circle from an almost comically large distance away.Given that senior political figures have publicly encouraged those close to Putin to try and assassinate him, it seems that Putin's fears are not unfounded.Senator for South Carolina Lindsay Graham tweeted publicly calling for Putin's death, saying: "The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy [Putin] out."You would be doing your country — and the world — a great service." To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.The French intelligence operative claimed that poison is certainly a possible way for Putin to be assassinated if that is what happens.The Russian government is known to use poison, for example in the poisoning of

Vladimir Putin ramped up his offensive on Ukraine when he approved the use of a terrifying hypersonic missile for the first time ever, today.The Russian military says it used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile to destroy an underground ammunition depot in Delyatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, according to local news outlet Zvezda.The danger of the missile system, that accelerates at more than two miles per second, is that it is so fast that it cannot be intercepted by any current missile defence system.The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile, is allegedly capable of reaching Mach 10 speeds (7672 mph) and distances up to 1700 miles. It can also theoretically carry a nuclear warhead.

invasion of Ukraine staggers into its third week, Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin is coming under increasing pressure at home to bring the costly conflict to an end. But even as peace negotiations are beginning, the Russian war machine is still slowly grinding its way towards Ukrainian capital Kyiv in a bid to weaken President Zelenskyy’s bargaining position.US foreign policy expert Christopher S.