Igor Konashenkov: Last News

Russia's defence ministry has said it is pulling back forces from two areas in Ukraine's Kharkiv region where a Ukrainian counter-offensive has made significant advances in the past week.

Ukraine. Russian defence spokesman Igor Konashenkov claimed Ukraine was planning a 'false flag' operation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, the biggest power plant in Europe, tomorrow (Friday, August 19).Although Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations, speculation has now arisen that something could happen at the plant. READ MORE: Putin vows to give Russian mums one-off £13.5k payment if they have 10 children Russian radiological protection forces leader Lieutenant General Igor Kirllov suggested today that a nuclear disaster would most heavily impact Germany, Poland and Slovakia.

Russia's response to Ukrainian forces planting a flag on Snake Island was to launch a deadly attack, according to the Russian Defence Ministry. The small island, 80 miles off the southern tip of Ukraine – measuring just less than half a mile wide – was attacked and captured by Russian forces in February on the first day of the conflict.

Putin army after he went to fight in Ukraine has been dragged in front of a court and accused of being a mercenary.Aiden Aslin from Newark, Nottinghamshire, was captured in the city of Mariupol back in April by forces from the separatist Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), which is supported by Russia.The 28-year-old who goes by the name "Johnny" quit his job as a caseworker back home to volunteer with Ukrainian marines back in 2018.Following his capture earlier this year, horrifying images emerged showing him in a beaten state, raising his arms to reveal the handcuffs keeping his wrists tied.With a nasty looking bruise on his forehead, Aiden also appeared to have suffered a swollen right eye.Now, a DPR court says Mr Aslin has been charged with operating as a mercenary and could potentially face the death penalty.A statement from their Telegram published in Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti read: "Taking into account wartime, based on the provisions of the current criminal law, as a result of the trial, the mercenary may be given an exceptional measure of punishment – the death penalty"The report also suggested that a long prison sentence could also be likely.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.Following the capture of Aiden and other foreign volunteer fighters, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov commented that "foreign mercenaries" do not have the status of combatants under international humanitarian law.Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has threatened to strike new targets if the US supplies longer-range missiles to Ukraine.

Mariupol has been “completely liberated" from Ukrainians, according to Russia’s top military official.Nearly 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers left the Azovstal steelworks early this week, Russia had earlier claimed, ending a siege that kept an estimated 20,000 Russian troops tied up for over 80 days.Now, the Russian Defense Ministry claims that the strategically important site "has been completely liberated.""The territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol, where since April 21 the group of Ukrainian militants of the Azov Nazi formation has been blocked, has been completely liberated," Major General Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, said.The head of the department, Sergei Shoigu, reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the complete liberation of Mariupol from Ukrainian militants, Russian news reports stated.

More than 900 civilian bodies have been found near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the area's regional police chief has said.

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

Russia's defence ministry claims that it has used hypersonic missiles for the first time ever during combat.

Ukraine, sending a smoke cloud into the sky and turning night into day.