Putin's 'witch-hunt' to root out 'guilty' men behind botched Ukraine invasion

Ukrainian soldiers have been recorded clearing away dangerous anti-tank mines from a road with their feet.The footage, which has been shared across social media, shows the soldiers moving Russian mines to the side to allow vehicles to pass.According to reports, this road is a route out of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and mines have been left by Vladimir Putin’s troops as they fall back.The anti-tank mines require a large amount of pressure to denote but they are still a dangerous explosive.However, these Ukrainian soldiers appear relatively calm as they kick the mines to the sides of the road to clear a path through.The bravery of these soldiers comes after footage of a civilian in Kyiv Oblast was captured driving carefully through dozens of mines left by Russian forces.The mines were placed carefully in rows of four but the dangers of these mines did not stop Ukrainian civilians from precariously chancing their luck.Footage shows several drivers going through the mines with the slightest mistake in their vehicle potentially leading to their death.Of the cars captured in the footage, all drivers managed to successfully navigate through the mines.In a report by Human Rights Watch, Russian troops have been placing POM-3 landmines, which are believed to be banned under international treaties.The US-based group said the mines were discovered in the besieged city of Kharkiv on Monday. Speaking to the Independent, Steve Goose, arms director of Human Rights Watch, said: “Countries around the world should forcefully condemn Russia’s use of banned antipersonnel landmines in Ukraine.

Russian troops are reported to have executed 13 Ukrainian civilians as they attempted to flee the capital of Kyiv.The bodies of the deceased were found along the E-40 motorway, which has been dubbed the “Highway of Death”.Vladimir Putin’s troops were focused on trying to take the capital of Kyiv but have failed in their attempts as a large number of citizens fled the city.According to the BBC, the bodies were found on the same stretch of road where Russian troops were recorded executing a couple last month.Two of the deceased have been identified but the identities of the others are yet to be confirmed.The stretch of road, which is located between the villages of Mria and Myla, is a scene of destruction with dozens of burned out cars, petrol stations and numerous buildings in ruins.According to the BBC, the couple killed last month were Maksim Iowenko and his wife Ksjena.They are said to have been killed when the 10 vehicle civilian convoy was attacked by a Russian tank.Maksim got out of the car and raised his hands but he was shot dead along with his wife.His six-year-old son and an elderly friend both survived after being captured and later released by Russian forces.The reports come as a Russian fuel depot, one of their main logistics hubs, was attacked with Moscow officials claiming it was an attack by Ukrainian helicopters.Ukraine said it would neither confirm nor deny responsibility for the huge fire at the fuel depot in the Russian city of Belgorod.

Vladimir Putin could be suffering from a "Napoleon complex" that has pushed the world to the brink of war, an expert has claimed.The Russian President is just 5ft 7ins tall, which is three inches smaller than the average Russian and may explain Putin's maniacal behaviour.The image-conscious president could join a list of rulers including Napoleon, Hitler and Stalin as failed leaders whose height got the better of them, leading to the provocation of bloody wars in Europe.Professor Abraham Buunk and Professor Mark van Vugt argue that Putin is suffering from a bad Napoleon Complex, with some reports suggesting the Russian President could be as short as 5ft 2ins.The psychological claim allegedly afflicted French emperor Napoleon, who was often depicted as short.Theories stemming from the Napoleon complex mentality claim that some insecure smaller men tend to be more aggressive and domineering, seeking to assert themselves and their power over others through ruthless means.Experts have since claimed that Putin is showing all the signs of a classic Napoleon complex case, The Sun reported.Snaps of the Russian President show Putin wearing some oddly clunky shoes, with some theorising that the chunky high heeled shoes are there to boost his height, with lifts buried inside the shoes.Professor van Vugt has said the tyrant is adopting ruthless tactics like poisoning and warfare to "compensate for his lack of physical strength" and said world leaders must be "very careful that... [pushing him] doesn't start a third world war".Speaking to The Sun, the professor said: "He wants to come across as a strong leader.

Vladimir Putin is “constantly” accompanied by a doctor specialising in thyroid cancer as rumours of his ill health refuse to disappear, a new investigation shows.Surgeon Yevgeny Selivanov, of Moscow's Central Clinical Hospital, has flown to the Russian leader no less than 35 times in Black Sea resort Sochi, his favourite place of residence.The respected doctor’s thesis - showing his area of medical expertise - was entitled: ”Peculiarities of diagnostics and surgical treatment of elderly and senile patients with thyroid cancer".This follows reports that Putin is dying in agony from terminal bowel cancer, according to intelligence from the Pentagon and in Ukraine. His “puffy face” is a sign he is taking chemotherapy drugs or steroids and his unsmiling expression shows he is in constant pain, US sources say.The recent discovery by investigative media Project (or Proekt) media - blocked in Russia and now functioning from abroad - backs recent theories that Putin declared war when he was suffering medical problems hidden from the Russian people.

Tokyo. Kabaeva, who won bronze in all-around at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and gold in the same category at Athens 2004, agreed to a rare appearance on television to defend the performance of Dina Averina and criticise the judgement of the officials.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stripped two top military officials of their ranks after they were accused of being traitors. The furious leader branded two generals as “anti-heroes” who had “ violated an oath to their country” during his nightly address to the nation.

Vladimir Putin's troops have been seen smiling and laughing as they 'waste ammunition' in a viral video.The footage, which was posted to the r/ukraine subreddit, caused an uproar online after showing several Russian mercenaries aimlessly firing rocket launchers and machine guns at nearby buildings. However, there appears to be no oncoming fire towards them.

Vladimir Putin has threatened to shut off gas supplies to “unfriendly countries” in Europe from tomorrow (April 1) unless leaders agree to pay for it in roubles. The Russian leader has warned those nationals who rely on Russia ’s gas supplies to open a “roubles account with a Russian bank” in order to continue using the resource.

Ukraine have now left the plant with reports suggesting it was down to radiation concerns.Energoatom, who are state-owned and oversees Ukraine's nuclear power plants, announced today that troops have withdrawn from the plant.In a statement published on Telegram, they said: "It was confirmed that the occupiers, who seized the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and other facilities in the Exclusion Zone, marched in two columns towards the Ukrainian border with the Republic of Belarus."Energoatom said earlier that Russia had formally agreed to hand back the responsibility for protecting Chernobyl to Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin snubbed a handshake from Carles Puyol before gleefully greeting Ronaldo Nazario at a Moscow five-a-side pitch during the 2018 World Cup. During the Russian-based tournament the President, 69, appeared at a Moscow fan park to enjoy a kick-about with some locals - as well as a few former professionals.

Will Smith.The Chancellor of the Exchequer suggested in a new interview that he can relate to Smith, who assaulted Chris Rock at the Oscars on Sunday (March 27) for a joke made about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, because he has felt similar defensive emotions recently.Labour said last week that Sunak has “very serious questions to answer” over his wife Akshata Murty’s shares in Infosys, a firm co-founded by her father, that operates in Russia.Sunak has said that he has “nothing to do” with the company, and previously encouraged UK firms to sever ties with Russia to punish Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.Sunak told the BBC’s Newscast podcast: “I think it’s totally fine for people to take shots at me. It’s fair game.

Russian troops are said to be abandoning the Chernobyl nuclear site and walking into Belarus in what the US military sources have called a "major climbdown".The site of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine was captured shortly after Russian troops invaded and heavy fire around the plant sparked fears of another catastrophe.But now, Pentagon sources have claimed that Vladimir Putin's troops are "walking away" from the Chernobyl facility and heading towards Belarus.An official said: "Chernobyl is [an] area where they [the Russians] are beginning to reposition some of their troops."They added that the Russians are "leaving, walking away from the Chernobyl facility and moving into Belarus" but can't confirm that all troops have left the area. On March 30, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said troops had also been sighted leaving the capital Kyiv towards Belarus.

Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed it will not axe Russian dancers Katya Jones and Luba Mushtuk from its professional line-up amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The popular BBC dancing show has confirmed the stars for the new series after dancer Katya finally spoke out condemning the atrocities committed by Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Teenagers aged just 13 should be armed with rifles to prepare for a war, an Australian politician has sensationally claimed.Queensland MP Bob Katter claims training kids for warfare with firing ranges open 24/7 is Australia's best chance of defending itself from China.Drawing inspiration from Ukraine's fierce resistance against Vladimir Putin's Russian troops, Mr Katter said it proves what can be achieved when "everyone has a gun".He told Sky News Australia that introducing measures to toughen up the country's defences is becoming increasingly necessary with tensions escalating between Australia and China.Mr Katter said: “How are you going to defend this country? You’ve got no fuel, you’ve got no petrol, you’ve got no missiles, you’ve got no army.“They would be 13 and they would be trained to use that rifle... That was the way it was when I went to school as a kid, at 12 I was handed a giant .303 rifle as big as I was.”To safely practice shooting their new rifle, the MP suggests teenagers could make use of their local firing ranges which would have their opening times extended to accommodate the rise in demand.Do that and Mr Katter believes Australia would be capable of holding off a shock attack from China.He said: “There is a firing range right in the centre of Sydney actually...

Vladimir Putin's evil 'Butcher of Mariupol' is one of the latest high profile Russians to be sanctioned by the UK. Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev ordered the murder of 300 civilians by blowing up a theatre in Mariupol, Ukraine which around 1,300 people were using as shelter. The blood-thirsty brute has been included on UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss's extended hit list of economic punishment for the war on Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin if they want to play at Wimbledon this summer. Sport Minister Nigel Huddleston discussed restrictions for Russian and Belarusian athletes last week during a meeting with national governing bodies.

Vladimir Putin's sex-mad gymnast lover has a reported net worth three times bigger than that of former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson.Alina Kabaeva is rumoured to be the long-term secret mistress of the Russian president and is said to currently be hidden in Switzerland with her and Putin's twin daughters.The 38-year-old is a former Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast who was once described by a photographer as being "full of sex" and she has a net worth larger than boxing great Tyson.Kabaeva is understood to be valued at a staggering £7.6million thanks to her work as a gymnast, politician and media manager.In contrast, two-time former heavyweight world champion Tyson has a reported net worth of just £2.3million, which is more than three times less than that of Kabaeva.Tyson made over £300million in his boxing career but his net value is believed to have dwindled in his retirement years. Former gymnast Kabaeva won medals at two Olympic games during her career, which ended with retirement in 2007 and also included a doping ban in 2001.At the age of 16 she won rhythmic gymnastics bronze in the all-around competition at the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney before winning gold four years later in the same event in Athens.Her glittering career also featured nine world championship gold medals and a further 15 from the European championships.Following her retirement, rumours of a relationship with Putin have repeatedly swirled, with Kabaeva admitting in 2014 that "everyone should have their own little secrets."However, she did later add that: "I hope that someday the gossipers will calm down."Putin has also shut down the rumours in the past, responding to one report by saying: "Those who with their snotty noses and erotic

Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered Russian state media to cancel all mentions of Roman Abramovich from their coverage of Ukraine peace negotiations. The Chelsea FC owner will be written out of TV and news reports after it was claimed earlier this week that he had suffered suspected poisoning during a peace talk meeting in Kyiv earlier this month, it is claimed.The decision to blank Abramovich, who is allegedly linked to Putin, 69, has been revealed by leading opposition politician and journalist Ksenia Sobchak.

Good evening and welcome to Wednesday’s news briefing.